Khmai Fine Dining

05/25/2026

04/29/2026

Join us for the First Friday Music Series, an evening of live music that will take place on Sheridan Rd. between Devon and Pratt. Enjoy performances on Sister Jean Plaza by the Loyola Red Line station and outdoor patios at Raising Cane s Chicken Fingers, Mama s African Cuisine, Khmai, The 400 Theate...

04/10/2026

🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭 thank you Khmerican🫶🏼🫶🏼

Mona Sang () is the visionary Cambodian-American chef and co-founder of Khmai Fine Dining in Chicago’s Rogers Park, one of the city’s pioneering Cambodian tasting-menu spots. Inspired by her mother Sarom—a Khmer Rouge survivor who fled genocide in the 1980s, resettled in Chicago, and sustained their family through church-kitchen work and catering—Sang transforms heirloom recipes into elegant multi-course experiences featuring prahok ktiss (minced pork dip), fish amok, and bold fermented flavors.

After honing skills at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and running Mona Bella Catering pop-ups, she opened Khmai in June 2022, blending upscale dining with cultural storytelling via Aspara murals and traditional greetings. Accolades include 2023 James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant, Eater Chicago’s 2022 Chef of the Year and Best New Restaurant, and the 2026 Heart of a Woman Award as the first Cambodian-American recipient. Now with casual Kaun Khmai and fine-dining spaces near Loyola University, Sang heals generational trauma through cuisine, mentoring staff to share Cambodia’s resilient story.

DETAILS IN COMMENTS.

03/16/2026

There are foods that, beyond being delicious, carry for those who eat them a heavy symbolic meaning; this is true of glutinous rice cakes, ubiquitous in the cuisines of Southeast Asia, particularly seen in Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Laos. The cake in question today is known as នំអន្សម (num ânsâm) in Khmer.

Read more

cambodianess.com/article/num-ansam-cambodias-iconic-festive-sticky-rice-cake

Learn more at Wonders of Cambodia:

wondersofcambodia.com

03/14/2026

03/10/2026

With a bigger, renovated plaza, the Logan Square Arts Fest will be able to expand its vendor marketplace to feature double the amount of local makers and artists.

02/24/2026

F you cancer, you got me! I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The upside is that it’s early enough and noninvasive. In a couple of weeks I’m going to have a mastectomy in hopes of getting rid of the cancer. It’s been a lot to process for me, I was so angry at first, like why me? I eat healthy, I don’t drink or smoke, etc. Now I’ve had time to process I’m at peace with all of this and have a positive outlook.

What does this mean for ATOTP? My team will continue to serve you guys some delicious brunch! Unfortunately, I’ve had to shut down the catering side. As you guys know, the catering side accounts for half of the business and I need your help! If you able, please purchase a gift card for future use (my target date back is mid May). This will allow to offset the loss of catering income. Anything will help. The link is in my bio. Thanks so much for the support. Let’s kick this cancer’s ass!

02/01/2026

This is the most awesome cutest gift ever! Thank you for the wonderful bday gift!

01/27/2026

01/27/2026

When you attend Nine Muses, you’re doing more than enjoying an incredible night out.

💛 All proceeds support Evanston ASPAs:
• Community festivals
• Placemaking projects
• TEAACH education initiatives
• Multigenerational programs

Your ticket helps build belonging, connection, and opportunity in our community.

🎟️ Join us on Feb 5 → https://champ.ly/OYBJM9SP

01/19/2026

11/21/2025

11/13/2025

The Khmai family has lost someone special…..She was there by my side at the very start and stood by me when people hadn’t heard about Khmai yet and our tables were empty. She helped spread the word about what we were about and always pushed to drive awareness and appreciation of our culture, and she always brought a smile to every customer who came to our restaurant. Without her there at the beginning, Khmai wouldn’t be where it is today. She encouraged me to hold on when things got tough, and always worked to be there for employees and guests alike to make sure everyone was happy and having a good time. Sometimes I miss the simple times at the beginning, when we would wait together for customers to walk in while eating up what inventory we had, knowing we would take whatever money we might make that day to buy dinner at Tasty Sub, and we were ok with the 50 dollars we made together. You were that girl who knew how to make me laugh. You will alway be my Arbby… just like the sandwich.
Losing you hurts so much because there was still so much more you had left to share, for our friends and family, and for the daughter who you gave everything you had to. I’m sharing your story today so that people will know all the wonderful things you did for Khmai, how much of wonderful friend, family, and mother you were, and so that your legacy can continue in our memory and carry on through your beautiful daughter. I’m so broken right now… but in time remembering our good times will make me heal. Fly high Arbby

11/04/2025

All about that sauce