Every restaurant has a story, but few are as deeply intertwined with survival, love, and cultural heritage as Khmai, a Cambodian fine dining restaurant in the heart of Chicago’s North side. Located at 6580 N. Sheridan Road, Khmai isn’t just a place to eat—it’s a sanctuary built by a mother and daughter. For many, it’s a taste of something deliciously new, but for the Sang family, it’s a living homage to strength, healing, and tradition.
Behind Khmai’s stunning rise lies the inspiring journey of Mona Sang, the executive chef, and her mother, Sarom Sieng. The road to creating this renowned restaurant was a deep, raw need for solace in the face of unimaginable loss. Sarom is a survivor of the Cambodian genocide, a brutal regime that took her three sons and left her with a silence so profound that she wouldn’t speak for months.
As her family struggled to piece together a new life in America, Sarom found small comfort in cooking for the church community. But when the pandemic hit, Mona, who had been furloughed from her job, knew her mother needed more than just survival. She needed healing—and so did their family.
The spark came in the kitchen. As Mona began cooking for her mother, hoping to reignite something within her, it finally happened. Sarom spoke, for the first time in ages, correcting her daughter with the most beautiful words Mona had ever heard: “You’re doing it wrong.”
That moment marked the beginning of Khmai, a restaurant born from grief but anchored by love and a deep respect for Cambodian culture.
The name Khmai is itself a blend of the family’s heritage. Derived from Khmer (the language of Cambodia) and Mai(meaning “mother”), the restaurant is both a celebration of culture and a tribute to Sarom’s journey. The menu draws heavily from Khmer royal cuisine, an intricate culinary tradition reserved for the palace, now lovingly brought to Chicago.
New food offerings like trei chien, a whole fried red snapper bursting with umami, ginger, and garlic, sit alongside comforting staples such as kaw ko. Kaw Ko is a slow-braised oxtail with rich bone marrow, star anise, and fragrant lemongrass. All of these are executed with precision and reverence, they speak to the quality and refinement of royal Khmer cooking.
At Khmai, every plate tells a story. The delicate bangkea tuk ampil, large shrimp slathered in spicy tamarind sauce with palm sugar and shrimp paste, not only tantalizes taste buds but evokes a rich culinary heritage that spans centuries. And ofcourse, their beloved egg rolls, crispy and flavorful, are a nod to Sarom’s early cooking days—offering a taste of home with every bite.
The original Khmai location in Rogers Park closed in November 2023, and the restaurant has since relocated to a new space near Loyola University on Sheridan Road. The new location is more upscale and includes a casual sister spot, Kaun Khmai. Both restaurants now operate from this new space at 6580 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago.
For those lucky enough to snag a reservation, Khmai offers more than just a meal. It’s an invitation into a family’s kitchen, a glimpse into the resilience of two women who turned sorrow into a culinary empire. Since its debut, Khmai has earned a devoted following, even being named one of the 15 Best New Restaurants in America and receiving a semifinalist nod from the James Beard Foundation.
The Sang family’s journey didn’t stop with the opening of Khmai. In June, they debuted a second venture, Kaun Khmai, a more casual sister restaurant that offers a playful twist on Cambodian street food. Think skewers of grilled meats, fruity cocktails, and a smash burger made with spicy twa ko (Cambodian sausage).
In every dish, you can taste not just the complex layers of Cambodian flavors, but the love and dedication poured into each creation. As Sarom continues to heal, so does Khmai evolve, blossoming into one of the most unique dining experiences in Chicago.
Khmai isn’t just a restaurant. It’s a testament to the power of family, resilience, and the deeply rooted traditions that sustain us, even in the darkest times. What began as a small kitchen project between mother and daughter has now grown into a beloved community hub, where food becomes the ultimate form of expression, love, and connection.
Whether you’re drawn by the allure of its rich royal cuisine or the inspiring story behind its creation, Khmai is an experience that transcends the plate, reminding us that every meal has a story, and some stories are truly unforgettable.