Restaurant

Khmai

Name: Khmai
Address: 6580 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL, 60626, US
Telephone: (312) 626-7710
Price range: value

Global•Rogers Park•value

Khmai is one of the best global restaurants in Chicago for dinner, especially if you want a strong option in Rogers Park.

Here's the weight you carry into 6580 North Sheridan: Chef Mona Sang's family survived the Khmer Rouge, and the recipes she's cooking at Khmai nearly didn't.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Here's the weight you carry into 6580 North Sheridan: Chef Mona Sang's family survived the Khmer Rouge, and the recipes she's cooking at Khmai nearly didn't. Chicago's first traditional Cambodian restaurant isn't leaning on novelty or discovery — it's doing something more serious, which is resurrection. The format reflects that seriousness: a rotating tasting menu that reportedly maps different Cambodian provinces, served in an intimate dining room, alongside a looser, street-food-sharing mode on the casual side. Both rooms are doing what Chicago's broader dining scene chronically underdoes — treating a cuisine that almost vanished with full commitment and zero condescension. The verified dishes tell you exactly what this kitchen is preserving. Sach Ko Ang, the beef skewers, are known for reading deceptively simple on the menu while delivering something more considered — the marinade and preparation rooted in technique that most Southeast Asian cookbooks barely document. Amok Trei, the classic Cambodian fish curry steamed in banana leaf, is one of the dishes Sang is most associated with, a preparation that regulars and local food writers consistently point to as central to her project. Nom Bahn Chok, the fermented rice noodle dish, and Ya Hon, the hot pot, represent the kind of deeply traditional formats that put you closest to what she's actually trying to preserve. Bangkea Ampil rounds out the menu's range on the casual side, reportedly the move when you want something less ceremonial on a weeknight. Practical reality: Rogers Park keeps this at price-level-one, which, given the ambition of the tasting menu and the historical weight of the project, is genuinely difficult to rationalize. Book the tasting menu for your first visit to get the province-by-province structure in full. Come on a night you can slow down.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Cheap Eatsneighborhooddinnerlocal

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Taste ID

Rate this restaurant

Start with one score. Add details or a review when you want to help other diners.

Taste Score 8.0/10

Rating (Google) 9.2

460 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.0/10

Taste Score

Google 9.2 from 460 reviews

Best for

dinner and Cheap Eats

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Rogers Park | 6580 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626, USA

Price

Good value

Taste Score

8.0/10

Phone

(312) 626-7710

Watch

Khmai on video

Video: The Chicagoland Guide (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Video: Bam Khmer-American Archives (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Short: Thomas Poovathur (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Short: Jonathan Garcia (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Menu and ordering

Khmai menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Khmai is listed in the Good value price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Sach Ko Ang

Braised beef ribs, kreoung sweet chili, kampot pepper, Ya Hon BBQ sauce, house made pickles, and garlic egg noodles

Amok Trei

Braised salmon, coconut milk, crispy lime leaf, sauteed kutna broccoli, amok sauce

Nom Bahn Chok

National Cambodian dish. Rice noodles, fragrant lemongrass catfish broth, fermented mudfish, topped with fresh vegetables and herbs

Ya Hon

Bangkea Ampil

Lemongrass shrimp tossed in our spicy, savory coconut tamarind sauce. Topped with crispy taro

Check the current menu

Why go

What makes Khmai worth the move

Khmai is a clean first click in Rogers Park in Chicago when you want a global option you can trust. Kapi Khuor Cheng and Bangkea Ampil also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 460 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.2 from 460 Google reviews

Best for

dinner and Cheap Eats

Style

Global in Rogers Park

Spend

Good value

Best for

Cheap Eats neighborhood dinner local

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.2 from 460 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: Kapi Khuor Cheng, Bangkea Ampil, Nom Bahn Chok

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Khmai

Be the first TastyPals diner to reviewFirst-hand reviews are moderated before appearing publicly.

Google snapshot

9.2 from 460 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

No diner notes for Khmai yet.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 6580 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626, USA
Phone: (312) 626-7710
Price: value
TastyPals score: 8.0/10
Google rating: 9.2 (460 reviews)
Cuisine: Global
Neighborhood: Rogers Park

Read guide

Restaurants in Rogers Park

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Khmai serve?

Khmai is a Global restaurant located in Rogers Park, Chicago. Here's the weight you carry into 6580 North Sheridan: Chef Mona Sang's family survived the Khmer Rouge, and the recipes she's cooking at Khmai nearly didn't.

What is Khmai best for?

Khmai is best for cheap eats, neighborhood, dinner, local. Khmai is a clean first click in Rogers Park in Chicago when you want a global option you can trust. Kapi Khuor Cheng and Bangkea Ampil also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 460 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Khmai?

Khmai is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.2 from 460 reviews

What should I order at Khmai?

Start with Sach Ko Ang, Amok Trei, Nom Bahn Chok and Ya Hon. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Khmai worth visiting?

Khmai holds a 9.2 Google rating from 460 reviews. Khmai is a clean first click in Rogers Park in Chicago when you want a global option you can trust. Kapi Khuor Cheng and Bangkea Ampil also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 460 Google reviews.