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Kalaya Thai Kitchen in Philadelphia
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Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, US
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Phone: +1 215-385-3777
Site: http://kalaya.net/
Site: http://kalaya.net/
Opening hours
- Monday:5–10PM
- Tuesday:5–10PM
- Wednesday:5–10PM
- Thursday:5–10PM
- Friday:5–10PM
- Saturday:4–10PM
- Sunday:3–10PM
Comments (199)
Wonderful restaurant—and realized that I preferred the cooking here to the fare that I enjoyed on a week-long holiday in Bangkok! The staff are great and one can tell that they really try their best to make the best food possible. One of the staff informed us that the recipes are actually from a collection of home recipes from the owner’s family. How great is that?!The portions are generous, so arrive hungry! They were very accommodating and offer enough real choices for even the most discriminating palate. The prices are okay, and worth every cent. My only regret: it’s in Philadelphia and I was on long weekend getaway!
Best Thai Restaurant EVER! It’s unique, fresh & delicious. Note: Be prepared to order too much because everything is so yummy.
Phenomenal food. Best Thai curry. Definitely on the pricy side but my friend and I split an appetizer, entree, and dessert for a reasonable pp cost. Awesome dumplings, they tasted kind of like a condensed banh mi (a beautiful thing imo).
Perfect little BYO for a date night. Everything we ordered was delicious and exceeded our expectations. Server was very knowledgeable and helpful.
Beautifully presented dishes with attention to details on ingredients. All the foods were authentic taste to street Thai foods as I recall my trip to Thailand a few years back. I was most impressed with the coconut rice, you can not only taste the coconut milk in the rice but fresh pandan leaves extract as well (it was a must have side dish for us). We got papaya salad, sakoo hed (tapioca dumping filled mushroom), goong ob woonsen, pla pad prik king, and a side of coconut rice. You can always judge an Asian restaurant by how good all the rice tasted, from the sticky rice that comes with papaya salad, to the white jasmine rice that came with pla pad prik king, to the side coconut rice all were treated with love and was fabulous. A very memorial Thai meal and would recommend.
Food is nicely presented. Staff is very nice and welcoming. The crab curry is decadent a dish I have not seen on the menu at a Thai restaurant before. The prices are expensive. In my opinion, overpriced. I believe, equally good and better priced Thai food is available elsewhere in the city.
Service was prompt, knowledgeable, and friendly. The drinks were delicious. Most dishes were good, but not spectacular and rather expensive. The pork dish was extraordinary, as well as the coconut Pana cotta with pineapple dessert. The music was a bit loud for table conversations. But, we thought overall still a good visit and we will be back again to try more.
Happy to say this place exceeded the hype. Unpretentious, delicious, authentic Thai food from an owner and a team who clearly exude pride and love for their food and the dining experience they present. Every item was delicious. Really enjoyed the Nua Pad Prik Thai Dum, Sakoo Hed, and Shaw Muang (presentation was on point). Excited to come back again to try everything else or even just for take out. This goes down as one of the best meals I’ve ever had in Philly, and clearly makes me agree whole heartedly with the rave reviews and national attention this spot has garnered. Well done!
It is pretty decent Thai place. The ingredients are definitely top notch and high quality. But, you pay for what you get..Overall, their flavor is pretty good, spicy and sweet. Note that their spicy level is not adjustable.. order Thai ice tea if you re not use to hot spicy food.I really like that they have a good variety of mushrooms inside the Tom yum soup. The fish were very fresh. But the river prawns (large lobster looking prawn) were not as fresh as the other ingredients.The crab curry has big and lumpy crab meat and spicy!!The staffs and owner re super duper friendly and hand-on. All their staffs seems to know the menu really well.
Our favorite Thai in Philadelphia! Every single dish it’s like a piece of art. Highly recommend
2.5 stars!!!The food here is okay at best. I think they do use all organic and fresh ingredients, but the seafood tasted farm raised, NOT wild caught. The curry sauces are too thick. I LOVE spicy food, but I imagine their food would be too spicy for some since they dont adjust recipes.I have had better Thai food in Philly from places like Erawan, Cily Chicken Rice, Penang (Malaysian), and Golden Triangle.Dont let the pics fool you, the food is not as good as it looks. I doubt Ill recommend this place or return.I paid $45 before taxes and mandatory gratuity was added. $55 total for this dish in the pic.
The service “Leslie” super friendly and nice. Little bit pricey but the entrees portions big tho & tasty. Is worth it to me!
Kalaya has the kind of food that sits just right in your soul. You can pull the memory of it up easily. It’s clearly made with love and feels like home. From the moment we sat down, to the time we left, our party felt very comfortable and satisfied.Kalaya was a bright spot for me, during the pandemic, when they ran a whole operation to feel restaurant folks “staff meal”. I took advantage a few times and it was support like this that really made an impact, for a lot of us, during a pretty scary time. Can’t be grateful enough and love being in a position where I can support this special gem of a place by eating there now!
Whisk me away to Thailand with one bite... Everything about this place is great, from the service to decor, and especially the food. Will be back, cant wait for the next adventure...
Everything was delicious! Service was great too. If you’re looking for authentic Thai food, this is where you should go!
Really one of the best restaurants I have been to! Im not a huge fan of Thai food but if every Thai restaurant was like Kalaya that would change! Kalaya BYOB has a changing menu & large portions designed for sharing so I would recommend coming with a group and trying many things off the menu. Not everything is hot (scoville scale) & heat levels cannot be adjusted, each dish is designed to taste they way it tastes.
First time at Kalaya. Cannot wait to go back. Everything was so delicious. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The owner came to the table several times to check on us. Very attentive!
Just an honest, personal opinion. Overpriced bad tasting food. I’m a big fan of Thai food until this time, unfortunately. Manhattan prices with semi-rude to no service, non-decorative squishy tables, is kinda funny.Ordered southern styled chicken curry with coconut rice, eggplant, etc. Curry is nothing expect for the shredded meat, red chili on top, no consistency in spicy flavor. Eggplant was soaked in the oil. It’s hard to describe the bitterness throughout the dishes, and the twisted salty flavor). I don’t believe these are ‘home styles’ .NOT recommended.
Went for dinner on a recent Saturday evening. Food was outstanding - very fresh & flavorful. Filled with wonderful spices and so very enjoyable. The food alone will lure me back for another visit. The service was also very good - very attentive to our group, getting beverage refills, etc.... If you are looking for a truly wonderful Thai dining experience - this is a really good option.
Not a lot of vegetarian options, but whats there was delicious. Not the traditional Thai dishes Ive seen most places, but the spiciness and flavors were perfect. BYOB for alcohol. Great experience. Will definitely go again.
I read all of the one star reviews and I’m dying lol. I agree the food is pricey. I ordered takeout and got the rice cake with coconut shrimp app. It was delicious. My entree was the scallops which had crab and red chili in it. Also extremely delicious. Spice level was on par with what was indicated on the menu (xx). Complaining that Thai food is too spicy isn’t legitimate in my opinion. Thai food is always spicy. Great food for my first experience. I’ll be back.
Great food, slice beef salad was delicious, so many flavors.. definitely get the mushroom side and the crab and scallops were amazing, wish I lived closer! Subtract 1 from the spice level you think you want 😂
Absolutely delicious and worth the wait. Each dish is packed with various flavors. The space is comfortable and artsy with excellent service from the staff
Incredible meal, family style is the way to go. Lindsay was our server and she was INCREDIBLE. I’m so thankful for her amiability and suggestions. A guide we greatly appreciate. Can’t wait to come back.Ps-don’t be afraid of the spice, not as bad as you’d think and so worth it.
I truly enjoyed my dinner at Kalaya but the true highlight was the boiled fish. It was fresh, well seasoned and beautifully adorned. I cant wait to try more of their dishes.
I don’t typically take the time to write reviews for restaurants, but I have for so much love for Kalaya. I’ve been for dinner countless times, tried new things each time I visit and have never been disappointed. Every dish that Chef Nok creates is so flavorful and cooked beautifully.
Service was great, food was good, but not really worth the AAA restaurant pricing. The main reason I say that is that it’s basically a hole in the wall spot with factory issue steel chairs, plain lighting, etc. Most restaurants you go to paying $40-60 a person are serving up a nicer overall experience. And the food wasn’t *so* crazy good to justify those prices on their own.
Lindsay was the nicest waitress I’ve ever encountered!!! Our experience felt like we were on a cloud!!We started with the Sakoo Head Dumplings. Which were a super interesting texture and flavor. So creative!Then we ordered the curry goat paired with the mustard greens side. The spice was incredible and by pairing it with the mustard greens it helped to accentuate the spice. (Lindsays suggestion)We ended with the Thai chili gelato and hibiscus lychee push pop.My only regret is I wish I could have eaten more!
Very EXPENSIVE!!!! One entree, one drink, one appetizer & one side dish $80!!!!! I do not think this is appropriate..... I would not come here again. The dishes were good but not for what you pay.
Top 3 Thai places in the US for me. Their menu is unique and far cry from the standard takeout thai. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and guided us through the menu and it was a great experience. Must visit if youre in the area
Overall a very good experience. Food was delicious and unique to what I normally expect from Thai- the lump crab fried rice was excellent and had a very deep flavor vs. some places where it is just very salty.We didn’t have a great experience with the service- had some weird comments from our waiter about someone else trying to serve us and then we didn’t get our drinks until over half way through the meal. Normally I wouldn’t care but when 20% gratuity is included with the meal no matter your party size you want a better experience.
I lived in Thailand for 8 months and I can tell you that this is the real thing. Its not your normal pad thai and drunken noodle spot. This is the good stuff. Its a bit pricey but worth it because of the excellent service and diligent COVID precautions. We had some dumplings, softshell crab salad, crab fried rice, and goat curry. It was all delicious but the softshell crab salad and the crab fried rice was the best. The hallmark of Thai food is spiciness and balance and their food ticks both boxes.
We went on a nice late Sunday afternoon. We were lucky to be seated right away despite not having reservations. The space is pretty small though so Id definitely recommend reservations for larger parties or busier times. Food was a beautiful melange of spicy (though plenty of non spicy items on the menu), salty, sour and sweet. Flavors were fresh and rivaled those of the best Thai restaurants Ive had in NYC and Thailand. The staff were attentive and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in authentic Thai food in the city. I will certainly be going back!
Tasty, spicy, amazing. I dont usually like dessert but the durian-pandan ice cream sandwich blew my mind.I wish I knew before going that its BYOB only, they couldve let me know when I called to reserve.
This place was a massive let down.We ordered one thing here - the $65 Tom Yum soup.No, thats not a typo - this place seriously charges $65 for Tom Yum.The audacity of that cannot be ignored, so of course my wife and I tried it. If they charge $65 for it, surely its amazing right?Spoiler: Its not.There are 4 things I dont like about the Tom Yum soup here:1) This first one admittedly is preference. There are essentially two kinds of Tom Yum. One kind uses a noticeable amount of coconut milk, and I dont enjoy this type as much - this is the kind of Tom Yum made at Kalaya. The other kind focuses more on the citrus/sour flavor, and uses little to no coconut milk. I like that one better. So, I am a bit biased against the type of Tom Yum this is, but my other following reasons will be more objective. But if you dont like coconut milk Tom Yum, be aware of that before ordering it - fortunately the menu does list coconut milk as an ingredient to let you know.2) The Tom Yum soup came out not very hot. It wasnt cold, but it barely tasted above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Tom Yum is best when nice and hot. Its possible that the soup is served not very hot on purpose at this location, to perhaps try and avoid overcooking the seafood in the dish, but I think thats the wrong call here - the broth needs to be very hot in temperature when its served. The lukewarmness of the soup heavily detracted from our ability to enjoy it.3) Because the soup has coconut milk in it, coconut milk in any soup starts to taste significantly less good once the soup temperature drops. The problem of this low temperature Tom Yum soup here gets magnified by the coconut milk - again as the soup gets colder, it tastes worse and worse.4) I cant quantify exactly whats wrong with the Tom Yum broth as a whole, but both my wife and I agreed that the flavors werent balanced correctly. It had plenty of heat (spiciness), but something else about it just isnt right, and its not the coconut milk that Ive mentioned previously. Perhaps there is too much chili heat in this Tom Yum - the point of Tom Yum is not to be spicy hot; there are many flavors in Tom Yum soup, and to have it drowned out by hotness is kind of a waste. To be fair, it is VERY hard to make good Tom Yum soup, but considering that this place charges $65 for it, I expected it to make the cut.So, the Tom Yum is not worth $65.To be fair to the restaurant, I can only review this one dish, because thats all I ordered. I didnt want to order anything else after it. But perhaps the other dishes are better?Perhaps indeed. But, before I end this review, I want to leave you the reader with the following anecdotal data points:A) None of the staff/employees that we interacted with or saw were asian, be it Thai or otherwiseB) None of the other customers around us were asian, be it Thai or otherwise. My wife and I were the only asians.Interpret that how you will, but my takeaway from those observations is that this restaurant does not make the kind of Thai food that is an attractive employee perk that easily makes asians want to work for them, or the kind of Thai food that easily makes asians want to come to it as customers. So, perhaps that can help you determine whether or not this is a restaurant that offers the kind of food youre looking for.
Any cursory google search will tell you this is an incredible spot and it’s absolutely correct. We got the cabbage (holy moly), woonsen (so tasty), and the chicken dumplings which are not just art but absolutely delicious. We got a bottle from 9th street bottle shop to pair and the best service in the world, as well as a hello from the GOAT, Nok. She is all things courteous and genuine.
Disgustingly rude. They delivered the wrong order then tried to bring the correct order one hour later and demanded the previous order. The food was open, Im not giving back open containers so they can repackage it to another, thats a health hazard. I did them a favor by neither complaining or demanding my money back which Im within my right as the customer to do. Instead of apologizing to me they called to complain again for their mistake because i didnt give opened food back. I didnt get what I ordered, just terrible stuff I never asked for. Your fault, not mine and im actually the one who was wronged. So because of your rudeness and incompetence, enjoy this completely honest review. Shameful.
One of the only places that it is so good it has compelled me to write a review. The tofu and green bean curry was phenomenal, the fried branzino with tamarind sauce will be something I crave all the time now. Funny enough, my absolute favorite part of the meal was the coconut rice - so aromatic with the slightest sweetness that made all the other dishes more delicious. It is pricey but the portions are generous and it makes for such a great treat. Will definitely be back.
I live next door and these outdoor dining sheds are INFESTED with cockroaches. If you go there at night there are THOUSANDS of roaches crawling around. The sheds have to go. Because of covid they expanded from 10 tables inside to 40+ outdoor tables. Outdoor dining takes up our parking spots and now i have roachez in my apartment. So inconsiderate of them
Dumplings were very good, and I enjoyed the flavors overall. Wasnt particularly impressed with the cuts of meat, the beef for example was very tough and chewy. Might try again to test out a different option.
The fish cake is delicious. All the dishes are fine but just too salty. Must eat with rice and definitely need something to drink.
Delicious food! Makes me want to go back to Thailand. Best Thai Ive had in the states. The scallop curry is just... wow.
Lives up to its reputation as the finest Thai food in Philadelphia with totally authentic flavors and heat levels and an admirable creative streak that steers away from rote interpretation of the cuisine to include seasonal notes and unusual ingredients. Anyone scared of spice should note the menu indications are accurate and the highest heat is enough to test a true chili head 🔥😝🌶😅🔥
Very easily the best and most authentic Thai food Ive ever had, well worth the money. Cant say enough good things
Phenomenal!! Authentic southern Thai food!My all time favorite grilled chicken, Guyyaan is amazing and it goes with sticky rice !Will def come back!
Delicious food, fantastic presentation. The sweet, the heat and the salt are on great balance. Pictured is the Pad Thai. My only criticism would be that the indoor space echoes a lot so it gets noisy . Some rugs or acoustics foam in the corners might mitigate that. However we will definitely be back.
Wow, just spectacular. After reading about their James Beard nomination for best new restaurant, we had to go. We started with Kanom Jeeb and Sakoo Moo appetizers; the Sakoo Moo was one of the best things Ive ever eaten. For dinner we had the Kant Ghai plate, which is meant for two. It was the perfect balance since I dont like spice and my husband does, and this had one of each plus rice and cabbage sides.The Kang Ghai Plate includes KANG GHAI KHAO MUN (Southern style chicken curry) and NUA PAD LUK PHAK CHEE (Stir-fried beef with coriander seed, palm sugar, fish sauce) and KALUM TOD NAM PLA (Stir-fried cabbage in fish sauce & palm sugar). Everything was phenomenal.For dessert there was only one option - coconut sticky rice with fresh mango- but its the only option you need. The mango was unbelievably fresh and it tastes just like the dish I had on the island of Koh Lanta in Thailand.Our server, Lindsay, we wonderful. I have a number of food allergies and cant have too much spice, and she was extremely helpful in making recommendations. Everyone was very attentive including the owner/chef who was constantly checking on tables. We were very well taken care of! We will absolutely be back!
Some of the dishes were ok. The chicken dumpling was good. Overpriced for the food. Place was too hot, not sure if the ac was broken.
This was the best Thai meal we have ever had. We especially liked the dumplings, the duck salad and the crab rice.
Incredible food and quick service, portion size is small compared to other Philly Thai restaurants but it makes up in taste and quality. Worth the hype mentioned in Eater Philly.
I’ve been waiting eagerly for a serious Thai restaurant to open in Philadelphia since I moved here, and this is it. We had a terrific meal. The food is beautifully presented and packed with flavor. The menu is thoughtfully considered and the dishes balance each other extremely well. Everything was delicious, but the mushroom laab, steamed bronzino, stir fried monkfish, and dry red curry were particular standouts. We had a few small issues with the server mixing up our order, but the restaurant is brand new, so I’ll chalk it up to growing pains. The food is on par with the best Thai food I’ve had in New York, the Bay Area, and Los Angeles. It’s an exciting addition to Philly’s dining scene, and I can’t wait to come back to try the rest of the menu![UPDATE: I went back a couple of weeks after my initial review, and had another great meal. The chicken curry, tofu and mushroom dry curry, and an off-menu green curry were particularly delicious. Chef Nok and My-Le are also both really welcoming.]
We ordered three dishes (one appetizer and two curries) despite the servers’ insisting we should order more. Those three dishes were more than enough food for two people.The food was very good.Our only hesitation about this place is that some of the servers were a bit belligerently animated for our tastes. For those who don’t mind that kind of service with dinner, you’ll enjoy this one.
Everything is so delicious and unique for Philly. Love all the flavors in the dishes. Been here twice, and everything weve tried has been incredible.
Truly amazing from start to finish. One of the most memorable meals of the year. Such an amazing blend of flavors and textures. Every dish was beautiful in presentation and taste. Outstanding and unpretentious service. The chef makes you feel like she is cooking just for you in her kitchen. The very best of Philly (or anywhere)! Not to be missed!
Extremely tasty stuff but you should know what youre getting yourselves into! Its pricey and they wont alter anything on the menu. They sort of imply you should get things to share, but its difficult if people have restrictive diets or different tastes. For the vegans, theres a dumpling option (you get 5 for $17 and I wouldnt get them again) but the mushroom salad and tofu curry were delicious. There arent many other options for vegans. Also pretty sure they include gratuity but dont tell you, which probably often results in double tippage. Cool spot but I wont be going here often
🤫 dont tell anyone. This is one of the best things going. Our server, Lindsey, has been there since they opened, and is an absolute delight. We gorged ourselves @$60 a person, and still couldnt attempt to order everything we wanted to eat. Im not one to photograph food, but it looks great too
Did such a great job in the new normal! Loved eating out with my family. Plenty of outdoor seating, staff wearing masks, touchless pay, and could overhear staff sharing best practices and explaining to clients why they couldnt open BYOB wine bottles and that the customer would have to open them with a provided corkscrew. It felt really safe and appreciated their work making the new normal.The food is as amazing as ever and the staff is always so warm and kind. On top of the donations they have given to healthcare workers, Chef Nok and her team have really gone above and beyond in this unique moment!
Not veg friendly and expensive. Tom Yum Kalaya for $65 is a bit much! However, dishes on the menu were all unique vs your average Thai spot.
This place was amazing from greeting to service to food recommendations to the dishes we ordered. Duck salad was a standout, as was dessert. Best Thai food Ive ever had. Would definitely go back.My only disappointment was that when we offered to show our proof of vaccination--we were sitting indoors--, we were told that we didnt need it, since we will have herd immunity soon. Im not sure that was her choice to make for all the diners. A 9 out of 10
Such nice people. The front door receptionist and owner were so welcoming and they helped us with our order. This place has authentic Thai food they do not serve pad Thai so I ventured out and ordered something I didnt know but the server helped us out and the crab dish we chose was DELICIOUS!!!!!! The sauteed cabbage app was delicious as well. The manager kept coming up and asking us how everything was. I will definitely go back I enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Great place!!!!!
Food was beyond amazing! TASTY, FLAVORFUL AROMATIC! Shareable portions and enough for us to take some home. We ate in the outdoor bungalow, space heaters provided: definitely kept us warm all night!The staff ! And we got to meet the owner/culinary genius! Everyone was extremely hospitable and attentive. Our server, the hostess, the busser, everyone provide us with excellent service from beginning to end! Cant wait to go back again and again!
Food was 10/10 both in presentation + tasteThe servers was so helpful/friendly - definitely recommend!
Unique Thai food with lots of interesting options. The Pu Pad Pong Karee crab dish was very good. The portions are designed for two people to be sharing throughout but I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to eat here solo as well. The service could be slightly more sincere but overall they’re quite friendly and even the owner likes to come out and engage with her guests. Definitely worth coming back for!
Food was excellent, menu is very different from regular Thai restaurants. Should be ready to handle spice and hotness. But way too expensive.
I live nearby and the outdoor huts have gotta go! Countless times each day delivery trucks cant make that turn because of the huts. This results in horn honking constantly. Also the place is unsufferable at night with 60 people in these huts. The original restaurant at most sat 20 people, but these huts make it so 60 extra people are outside. The point of the huts is not to triple the seats for a restaurant. They were a temporary solution to keep restaurants afloat during covid, which is over. Lastly, the huts take up 6-8 parking spots. Enough is enough.
We eat a lot of Thai food…and this was the best we’ve had in Philadelphia. Our waitress was so helpful in describing what to order, and recommended a steak salad paired with a curry to have something lighter & spicier (salad) with a heavier, creamier dish (curry). Both out of this world! Get the salad…soooo much steak!I saw some people saying it’s expensive, but we thought for the quality & amount of food, it was very reasonable. At around $25-30 an entree, we went home with leftovers…which compared to other places, we might pay $15 for an entree, but leave with nothing. Comes out the same to us. Also, the chef came out to ask how everything was & she was so kind.
A truly special restaurant. The food is out of this world- every plate is packed full of flavor and keeps you coming back bite after bite. The dumplings are legendary and both the laab and beef salad are must haves. Kalaya is definitely not for the faint of heart though- I sincerely hope you enjoy spice!!The service is always attentive and friendly- Lindsey is particularly delightful. Staff is very well educated on the menu and it’s BYOB. Plus the leftovers travel well. Throw some crab curry over soft scrambled eggs the following morning and thank me later.
I loved it! The owner walks around making sure dining experience is okay. Well, it was more than okay!! The food was incredible!! Staff was courteous and knowledgeable about the food.My friend brought me there cause she had been the night before. It was that good, she said, that she had to go back and taste other dishes!! 2 nights in a row she was there - its that good!!!
Oh my goodness this food is AMAZING! Kelly was our waitress and made the best suggestions on food combinations. It was an absolutely delightful experience!
Very expensive for the food. We were seated outside in those makeshift enclosure on the street in freezing cold. While there were space heaters it was still cold and the price did not feel justified.
I cannot give this enough stars. Kalaya is a gift to Philly. A truly wonderful food experience. I’ve never eaten food like this. Every dish is incredibly complex and beautifully presented. The service we got from Lindsey was, in one word, caring, which just made it all that much better. She was wonderful to us! The owner also came around to check on us, which was a really nice touch. One word on the food though: you absolutely MUST like spicy food. I eat spicy food very often and this is next level spicy. Like real and true authentic Thai spicy, which does not compare to the American version of spicy. Don’t let that deter you though!Treat yourself and check this little gem out. You will not be disappointed.
Fanciest and tastiest Thai food that Ive ever had!
The food is five stars. I’m here to tell you about Daniel. I am straight. This man is a dream. His service is the perfect balance of humor, professionalism, and good care. Thanks, Daniel.
Horrible experience. Spent 118 but didn’t even give me all the stuff。 I ordered som Tum ,the entire order is missing . Called them like 5 times but never respond. Horrible customer service , food is way too spicy but might be good for someone else
Authentic Thai restaurant in Bella Vista near Italian Market. Service was gracious and friendly. The owner/chef came out and personally thanked us for coming. Enjoyed papaya salad, chai tea and blue tapioca balls. We asked for the least spicy items which were still a little too spicy for me. Kalaya has added streetery seating with art by Urquhat.
Service and food exceed our high expectation. If you are looking for authentic Thai....this is the place!!! Laab hed yang jae, yum nua ma kua pao, and tom yum goong maenum pla kra-pong all fantastic!
A friend recommended this place and did it live up to it. The food was amazing, just the perfect amount of spice and flavors. I recommend getting there early or having a reservation. Definitely will be coming back with friends.
Amazing flavors and service. Mango sticky rice was a 10 for dessert.
Truly amazing new restaurant. Crab curry was mind-blowing. I love and can handle spice food and it had me sweating in the best way. I cannot wait to go back!!!!
We had a wonderful dinner, thanks to Lindsay, the terrific waitress! Not knowing much about Thai food, we asked for her suggestions. We decided that she would just bring out food, whatever she felt was best. We tried things that we might not have ordered if left to our own. Great meal, terrific experience. Thank you!
It doesn’t get any better than this. If you can make it, come eat dinner here. The staff is so friendly and fun, the food is some of the best I have ever had in my life. So many different flavors and textures to explore. I wish I could try the whole menu. Ask the staff for recommendations or pick at random, it is impossible to be disappointed. 6 out of 5 stars!
Amazing flavors! Curry chicken was very delicious with just the right slice. Mouth was very warm but not too hot to effect the taste and flavors. Flower dumplings were fabulous as well. Just a touch spicy. Other entree was jumbo shrimp with glass noodles. Yummy!Some with find the prices a tad high but we both thought it was well worth it. Kind and friendly staff.
The Thai food is delicious! But service was sub par for the price point of the restaurant. They do not pour your wine and are pretty hands off after the server gets your order. This was my third time here and I probably wont be back. Still recommend first timers to come and try the food but I would suggest take out not dine in.
I am a skeptic by design and I was doubted Kalaya was going to be worth it. But my fiance wanted to try in and I was glad I listened to her (as always). The service and the food were excellent. The owner took a very hands on approach and made sure our dinning experience went smoothly. Everything was really good! If you have any interest in Thai food, this place is the new hot thing.
Not for sensitive stomachs. I think this was a case of mismatch between expectations and reality. I love Thai food at my regular place (pad Thai, etc.) and this was very different.The Sakoo Hed dumplings were mild and interesting. The Tod Mun Pla fish cakes were a little bland but nice with the dipping sauce.The problem was with my entree. While I understand the desire to make authentic dishes, the level of spice really did not suit my American palate (although I generally enjoy spicy food). The Kang Pae goat curry is probably delicious, but I couldn’t get anything other than spice. I thought I was going to pass out from my attempts to eat. My sister had the crab meat curry that was on special (I don’t know the name) and that was not as spicy, and flavorful.Again, I think this was a case where our palates and stomachs were not up to the challenge, but I wish the spice level was adjustable. I’ll confess that we both had stomach problems for the rest of the evening, which did not enhance the dining experience.
It’s a great experience. The atmosphere is very welcoming and charming. Amazing food and service. Staff are extremely knowledgeable and make great recommendations. They know what they’re doing and what they’re talking about, and you can tell making the customers happy is their main priority. Considering the quality, the price is reasonable. I have to say, I enjoyed every single bite of the meal .
Easily one of the top two Thai places Ive ever been to (the other is in DC). Very delicious, albeit spicy, even for our Indian tastes! I loved the coconut rice side the most. Highly recommend.
Last night I ordered delivery from Kalaya and I was not disappointed. Ive been to their in-person dinning several times before and their take-out was just as good. Kalaya remains one of the best restaurants in the city and certainly the best Thai food Ive ever had. The only downside to delivery is that we didnt have the pleasure of seeing their sweet staff and owners. When in-person dinning returns, I will definitely go back. Until then, I will continue ordering in from them.
Uncompromisingly authentic food, easily on par with Thai standouts in other cities. For me it brought back fond memories of Michelin-starred (and sadly now closed) Uncle Boons in NYC. Prices are slightly north of what I expected--some are even breathtaking--and the $20-per person reservation hold policy stings a little, but its refunded upon your arrival and in these challenging times for restaurants maybe even acceptable, especially when the food is this good.
Best Thai food we’ve ever had. Different spice level for ever appetite. Staff is extremely informative, polite and warm. No arrogance or attitude here. We had the shrimp with glass noodles, the wok fried cabbage, the crab fried rice, the dumplings with mushrooms plus a special appetizer. The wok fried cabbage is wonderfully smoky and smooth. The shrimp dish was extremely fresh with complex flavor. The crab was jumbo lump in a very flavorful mix of rice, plus very rich and filling. The appetizers were so flavorful and memorable. The special appetizer were rice cakes with this incredibly delicious peanut sauce. Taking friends in a few weeks. Can’t wait. The mix of diners reminded me of Parc, where every type and every age of people makes the place even better.
I have been here twice and both times the food and the service were both incredible. The food was particularly amazing. I lived in Thailand for a while and even there, I rarely had anything this unique or delicious. I wouldnt go here hoping for your typical Pad Thai type of dish. This is much more authentic, and much more delicious. Its hard to make any specific recommendations. Ive tried 11 different dishes and loved them all. I cant wait to go back!
I was impressed with the menu offerings of traditional Thai food. The Tom Yum soup should come with a warning that its extremely spicy. I dont remember having anything quite that spicy when I was in Thailand.The food was fresh and well prepared. The best mango sticky rice I can find since having it in Thailand. I look forward to going back and sitting down inside the restaurant after Covid is over.
Food is expensive but everything is delicious. Perfect service is great. Definitely recommend
The ingredients are so fresh and everything is exquisitely prepared- it’s unparalleled. Not only is their food astonishing delicious, but they are amazingly generous members of our community- I will never forget their kindness to those in need. No joke, their food literally saved my aunt’s life. She is seriously ill with chemo, and the coconut rice is the only thing she’s been eating. Do yourself a favor and experience sincere and expert hospitality at this gem of a restaurant.
Food is excellent, but be wary of youre not too fond of spicy. There are non spicy options, but the spicy options are there headliners and you cant really all for them to not put the spice in. Wait staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. They say its family style but I found that the prior sizes were not too big to be eaten by a single person, so dont be afraid to order individually. Really great Thai food experience.
The food was great, truly authentic (not easy to find in the USA). Service by Angie and Grace was wow! - very friendly, helpful, patient and professional.
The best Thai food you will eat anywhere. That includes Thailand. I dont know how but the restaurant manages to be world class dining but also remains a neighborhood staple. They constantly have interesting events and during the pandemic have paired with other venues to bring them more notoriety. The owner Nok is incredible too.
Food is very expensive but it does come in family style and tastes 4 out of 5...pretty good tbh...The reason i gave 5 stars is because of the service and the server...She was great giving us top notch service and explaining everything about the menu...Being a server myself got to learn few things..Sorry i dont remember her name she even came out running to give us a gift card that we get every monday if we spend more than $100..Thats so kind of her..thanks we will be back for sure even though the food is expensive..
The food and service here is impeccable. I stumbled in for lunch and was already seated before I saw the prices - it was more than I wanted to spend for lunch, but I soon realized it was worth every penny. I am very sensitive to spicy and the server told me that they couldnt make anything less spicy (which, though I dont know much about Thai food, made me feel like they are serious about authenticity) but there was more than enough that my whimpy palate could handle and enjoy. It was absolutely delectable. I cant wait to come back.
The most authentic Thai food Ive had in the US
My first true Thai experience was an unforgettable one.There was a slight mix up with our reservation so we had to wait a little bit for our table, but it did not matter. Things happen, especially when you’re a smaller restaurant who just got a James Beard nom. The excellent staff and amazing food more than overcompensated for it.Every dish was incredible. Be ready for some spice. Papaya salad, prawn soup, chicken curry with coconut rice...all incredible. The staffs suggestions (and even some tips on how to eat them) were all spot on.My only knock on Kalaya is that the bar has been set so high for Thai food. Might never go anywhere else, and we look forward to making our return again soon!
Way too spicy and very expensive. I dont mind spicy food and I love Thai. It seems the only purpose of the chef here is to challenge people to eat food that is just too spicy. I didnt enjoy even the basic curry dishes as they had only one flavor profile... any guesses? Insane spice. Sadly I will not return for sure. Oh and its crazy expensive.
Had high expectations after reading about it, but this was still really outstanding. had the chicken appetizer, the beef curry, the branzino, the side of cabbage, and the mango sticky rice, split between 3. everything was delicious and flavorful and the service was very personal. definitely one of my new favorite restaurants here!
Authentic Thai food that goes beyond pad thai. Everything here is made with care and I particularly liked their salads. The restaurant is priced like a higher end Western cooking restaurant, which it totally should be, because the quality and techniques of the dishes exceed most other similarly priced restaurants.
This was a great experience. The place is small, so best to make reservations. We were a large group (9) and they had no issues making room for us. The service is excellent. The selection on the menu was expansive. I took a picture of the menu. It was not an inexpensive meal, but as they say, you get what you pay for. Come hear making sure to try different things on the menu. You will not be disappointed.
This is hands down one of the best thai restaurants we have visited even including whilst we have been in Thailand on multiple occasions. I was absolutely over the moon to have found out the meats (except pork) are halal. Everything was incredible, the only thing i would say I have had better elsewhere is the crab curry, which I am comparing to Fish Cheeks in NYC. But the fish cakes, chicken dumplings, beef stir fry and the pad thai hits differently. I wish i had some photos to do this justice but we ate in our car given COVID etc. I cannot wait to come back
If you like Thai food, you will LOVE Kalaya. If you think you dont like Thai food, try Kalaya and get the drumsticks (I forget the Thai name), they will change your mind. Service was a little weird but only due to some (hopefully) temporary Covid-related changes. The food was so flavorful and unlike any most have had before. Highly recommended!!!! They deserve all the acclaim.
Wonderful food is just the beginning here. Nok and her staff are some of the most welcoming and thoughtful in the city. I love that the menu is full of dishes that you may not be familiar with, it pushes you to try something new and I have never been disappointed. Kalaya is a great restaurant run by even better people.
The best thai food Ive ever had. Happy to finally experience this restaurant.
Finally really authentic Thai food in Philadelphia. It has the freshness I remember from the best I had in Thailand. Note that portions are large and meant for sharing, especially the salads. Also they take spice seriously. There are items on the menu that are not spicy, but you will be a bit limited. Great service.
I have dined at Kalaya for both lunch and dinner and have been thrilled by the experiences. My first taste proved this was not an ordinary thai restaurant. Explosions of unique and expertly crafted flavors, with just the right amount of spice, delighted my palette with each new dish.I took my girlfriend here for our anniversary, and while it was a little loud, we had a great time and were treated very well by the staff as well as Chef Nok. Highly highly highly recommend.
Fantastic new restaurant. The best, freshest, and most authentic Thai food I’ve tasted anywhere in the US. This place is destined to quickly take its place among the very top tier of restaurants in the city. It’s that good. No pretense, all quality. It might be hard to get a table once the word spreads. We’ll be back soon.
Fantastic Thai food. Recommended to all food lover
Wonderful experience with the restaurant’s customer service. They were understanding after our front desk turned away the delivery and they were forced to bring back the food. Called to check on our order and the owner personally came back out to deliver it. She refused any tip or extra compensation for her troubles. Kalaya represents the warmth and values of a small family owned restaurant in our community. We’re lucky to have them work so hard to provide a valuable service during this difficult time. The food was fantastic.
Bold, probably authentic Southeast Asian flavors, rarely presented in a boutique dining setup in this country, could be experienced at this vibrant South Philly/Italian market location. It is a gutsy move to serve salted-fish (a rare Indian and Southeast Asian delicacy) in a well integrated and flavorful salad that belies its otherwise challenging aroma (if I could call it that) for the uninitiated. Will definitely be going back with more family and friends!
Take out must be a whole different experience but I knocked on the door and no one answeredUntil someone else knocked and they accommodated him first knowing I knocked prior because i saw them. There was hair in my food and not enough crab for such a hefty priced rice dish. I expected better but it was probably an off day.— I was contacted by the chef who was very nice and apologetic and offered a refund. The manager was kind as well about the situation. It was very considerate of them. —
Great food. Chicken Curry is my fav. Ask for the Durian sticky rice dessert. Its the best.
One of the best Thai food experiences Ive ever had here or in Thailand! We had massiman chicken, fish cakes, cabbage, and beer salad; all executed perfectly with original touches that makes this place a foodie go to. Kalaya lived up to the hype.
Kalaya is a wonderful new addition to Bella Vista neighborhood! It is my second visit and have been very impressed with the food and service. This is not your pad thai joint. This is Southern Thai, boasting family dishes from the chefs mother! We loved the curry chicken with coconut rice. The lemongrass drink should not be missed! We will be back very soon!
Genuine Thai food with flavours that stand out. Each dish is freshly prepared keeping in mind the main ingredient of the dish.Dishes served are unique in taste. Each dish stands out even when combined with other dishes.A small menu making ordering easy and yes there is a dish that will appeal to every taste bud.A must visit... you will not regret it!
I just wish someone had told me sooner that Thai food could be like this. There were flavors in the food that I couldnt identify instantly loved. I could live on the coconut rice forever. This food is worth every penny!
Wonderful Thai food. It was nice e and cozy with wonderful service. The owner takes personal feedback about your experience.
If you are l like me and you love thai food this is the place for you. All their dishes are super authenic. They actually use chillies in their dishes. They have exactly the right ammount of heat. I have been disappointed too many times by so called authenic thai say their dishes are spicy but in reality they have zero heat. I definitely was not disappointed by kalaya! We started with tapioca dumlings with shiitake mushrooms & peanut filling. It was really good. The duck salad was excellent. The beef curry was firey but was really nice with jasmine rice. We topped the meal off with iced thai coffee. It was the perfect end to a perfect meal
Unbelievable food. Simultaneously authentic and modern. We ordered an obscene amount of food and everything was excellent — especially the crab curry…holy smokes!
This place is amazing! Went with a group of friends and everyone was blown away by the flavor of each dish. Truly authentic Thai food! Plates are shared. Service was amazing. It’s BYOB as well! Definitely coming back!!
The Best of The Best of Thai Food today in Philadelphia. Hospitable. Owners have a 101 relationship with their diners. My friends and I had kids for lunch. We were treated with so much warmth and the food was out of this world! Thai Food on another level.
Wow, what great flavors! We went in for dinner to try it out and were completely blown away by all the amazing food! Staff are friendly and helpful, and the menu is very clearly marked for dietary restrictions and preferences.Our highlights were the duck salad (spicy, though!), fried pork, fried monkfish, and coconut panna cotta with fresh pineapple. Just delicious - well definitely be back!
The food is very unique and not your typical Thai food you get at most American restaurants … I think the service could be a bit more accommodating/genuine but the food is definitely worth coming back for
Been meaning to try this place since it opened a few weeks ago. Finally got there tonight and had an amazingly authentic Thai meal (we were in Thailand a couple of months ago so the memories are still fresh for us!) The pad prik king hed (marinated mushroom and tofu in a sweet and spicy sauce with pea pods) was especially good and the chef told us all about the process of making it in-house. The kalum tod nam pla (sauteed cabbage) was also amazing for such a simple dish. Finally, we had durian with sticky rice (none of the bad smell, just the delicious taste) and bananas with coconut cream for dessert, both of which were perfectly balanced and not overly sweet. Definitely going back for another try and hoping theyll expand the vegan options on the menu.
So Im giving this restaurant 4 stars because the owner was very nice and the wings we had (I dont believe they were the ones on the menu. I think these ones were a special that night) were really good. I was disappointed because i really wanted the crab fried rice. Someone told me it was delicious. It was on the menu online, but when we got to the restaurant, they said theyd changed it. Instead of the fried rice, I got the crab omelette. It was okay. But i wasnt wowed by it. My brother got the monkfish dish, and it was very good. My mother got the branzino. It was pretty good... The wings were the star for me because they were very flavorful. But I left feeling a little disappointed.
I lived in Thailand for 7 years and this is the most authentic Thai food I have had outside the country! The dishes offered and the flavor they provide will give you a taste of the real Thailand. PNok and her staff are very friendly and very generous! Aroy mak mak ka!
I’ll give Kalaya sub-par-authenticity; the prices are egregious. $30 for Nu Pad Nam Mun Hoi?! The popularity is there and will continue to justify prices, but for those who are well traveled, this is far from authentic.
The food was tasty and authentic. The only thing is that in the end instead of bringing us the check, they brought us the credit card machine without the check, which was pretty weird.
The food was super salty and oily the night that we went. I was super disappointed and wondering if all the good reviews were making it too popular and they were starting to take shortcuts. The owner was rude and I got sick from the additives in the food. Sadly not the best Thai in Philadelphia in my opinion.
Wave108If you are looking for an authentic, un-Americanized Thai food, this is the place for you!Chef Nok uncompromising conviction of bringing her hometown food across the Atlantic is evident in every dish. You can taste hard to find dishes outside of Thailand right here. The flavours are well-balanced, spice level truly authentic and the presentation beautiful. Having dined there several times since they opened, my favorites are too many to name, but especially memorable are the pla nung manao (steamed branzino) ; pla thod kamin (monkfish) ; wok fried cabbage (if you desire something a bit mild) and the rice salad. Everything I tasted was unique, super fresh and a feast for the tastebuds! Go before its impossible to get a table as this is a rather small place.
This is the best Thai food in Philly hands down! The owner is friendly and wonderful, try the beef salad and the shrimp with glass noodles. FINALLY the real deal for Thai. So worth the price and it’s byob!
Had this for the first time last night, ordered delivery during the quarantine. Had the kang gai plate which includes several different dishes, along with the kanom jeeb, and tom sum. Truly, everything was incredible. By far the best Thai food I’ve had in Philly.
Chicken curry was very good. Portions are smaller than I hoped for price. Pricey menu for small portions. Red curry tofu was dry and not like a normal curry with sauce. Menu is not traditional and more modern mix.
Delicious, authentic Thai food. Very flavorful, well cooked food. Tends to be on the spicy side. Lots of seafood on the menu, but also has some vegetarian/vegan options. Restaurant is BYOB and also does takeout.
Delicious fresh made food with with extensive covid precautions provided by friendly and knowledgeable staff
What a Far Eastern gem amidst the South Philly Italian classics. The owners offer insights as to what would be paired with what, and the presentation is on point. The dining room is small and busy, but the cuisine is well worth it. The small single person bathroom was very clean and appointed with new fixtures.
My wife and I were very excited to try Kalaya, and I have to say our overall impression was that they just need a bit more time to settle in. The food was good, but the rest of the experience was chaotic. It would have been acceptable if it was much cheaper, but they charge a high premium, and you expect the whole experience to live up to that price. I feel like they will definitely improve, but they are just not quite there yet.My wife and I called the night of (Saturday) to see if they had any reservations for two left. The woman I spoke with said they did, so we put in our name. When we arrived, the first thing we noticed was a line out the door and a ton of confusion. The restaurant is small, so no one is posted as a host or hostess. No one arriving knew if there was a line, who if anyone was taking names, or what to do if you had a reservation. Finally I squeezed past the crowd at the door, and found the woman acting as the hostess. She said they were just getting the table ready. I thanked her, and told her that I would step outside, as it was so crowded. She acknowledged this, as well as how chaotic it seemed.A few minutes later, from outside, I saw several groups get seated at what looked like all of the open tables. At this point we went back inside, and realized that it seemed like she had forgotten us, and given our table away. We waited, and ended up getting seated about 15-20 minutes after our reservation time. The hostess apologized, but never actually acknowledged what the problem was. I will also note that later in the evening, we saw another group who had been waiting finally leave, complaining that they had a reservation which the restaurant did not keep.Once we were seated, service was extremely slow. Overall, the whole place just seemed slammed in a way that none of the staff were ready for. It was probably another 15 minutes before we were actually able to put in our order. It is byob, which is nice, and they seem happy to chill the wine for you. The service was very friendly and pleasant, but it was haphazard, and they all just seemed overwhelmed.We had a great table right in the front window, but some of the other tables, especially by the entrance were so close to where the crowds were waiting, that I feel like it would be very unpleasant to sit there. As some other reviewers have noted, it is extremely loud. My wife and I had to practically shout across the table to hear one another.We were not very hungry, so we just ordered a few items. What we had was good, and very different from any other Thai food weve been able to find in Philly, but we also werent blown away. We are used to strong flavors, but a few things just didnt make sense to us. For example: raw bitter melon in the ceviche. I like other preparations of bitter melon, and I dont know if raw is traditional (Ive never seen it raw) but it was difficult to eat. The monkfish dish we had, however, was really excellent. The plates were all very shareable, but the portions were quite small.We ordered just two appetizers, one main, and two desserts, and the total bill was just over $70, not counting tip, and dont forget not including alcohol. Again, we would have been fine with this if everything else had been perfect, but it was hard to justify paying that much for the small amount of food we had when the service, ambiance, and reservation system were all very lacking. And, for us, while the food was good, it kind of felt not worth the price.I wouldnt actively steer anyone away from Kalaya, but well definitely give it 6 months or so to calm down before we try again. This would normally be a 3 star review, but I give them the extra star because they seem to be aware of and working hard to remedy at least some of these problems.
This is a MUST VISIT, it is insanely good. i have never had a thai curry this spicy and good in my life.
If I could give zero stars and still review I would. Food may be decent but they are the worst type of employers. There are better Thai places that actually care about how they treat their employees in the face of Covid-19.
The food was fresh, restaurant was busy, everyone seemed to be enjoying their dinner. Perhaps they can add a small vestibule to help keep the cold air out of the restaurant. Service was really good, without being annoying. The food was a bit on the spicy side.
I came here for lunch after reading a great review on Philly Mag. We ordered the chicken curry and whole bronzino. The dishes we ordered were delicious! Give this new restaurant a try, you will not be disappointed.
Classist establishment that doesn’t accept cash. This is ILLEGAL in Philadelphia
There’s a lot to like. The food is fresh, not oily, the fish and meat in good proportion to vegetables. But overall taste is too clean- if that make sense. I found it odd to crave fish sauce.
Good food, good service even though they were very busy.
As a Thai national, I can say this is one of the best Thai food I had so far outside of Thailand. Big thumbs up!
Kalaya Thai Kitchen, a brand-new Thai BYOB centers on time-honored fare seldom seen in the States. In fact, the fare is based on family recipes handed down for generations such as toasted beef curry, stir-fried ground pork with salted egg yolk, along with wok-fried monkfish.
Wow. Amazing Thai food. I imagine this is what authentic Thai food is like. Definitely better than any other Thai restaurant in Philadelphia. Great place if you love spice. My favorite restaurant in Philly.
Food was good but need to bring your own drinks
We had a table of 4 and needed to fit one more and they did everything they could to accommodate that extra person on a booked solid night!Food was awesome. Very spicy! Very authentic! I will go back
Every bit as good as they say. Expensive but worth every penny. I had a few of my favorite Thai dishes here, and each of them was the best Ive tried.
Decided to try this place for the first time. Ordered curry. It was too oily and way to spicy, not the curry I expected. And way too pricey- 30$ with tip and tax.
Absolutely phenomenal. Exotic flavors, great atmosphere. Well be back
After one meal, its already apparent this is the best Thai food in the city. Also, everyone is very friendly, the chef came out to talk to us multiple times!
One of the worst dining experience in Philly.Highlights of the dinner;Terrible service.Hair in my food.Very EXPENSIVE food.Speaking of food. Was that a joke?Couldnt be more disappointing
Quality of food is good , but not the quantity. Also it’s pricey too. Taste is good
Too expensive，too salty，at least 20% tipWORST experience ever！！！
Best Thai food in town, hands down. If you don’t like this joint, you’re a clown. Beef stew and fried swordfish stood out.
Amaaaaaazing food, highly recommend if you like Thai food. Go in a small group so you can all get something different and taste each individually!
I dont say this lightly.. one of the best Thai restaurants you might eat at, even accounting for restaurants in Thailand
Amazing food, friendly service. This is the best Thai restaurant in the Philadelphia area bar none and on par with Thailand itself. The competition is not even close.
Nothing special. Virtue signaling place; bad, but it’s their call. The reason I did not like is because food is average and should be priced as it is.
Amazing food and great service! Was our first time and the lady that served us directed us well. Loved the heat from the spice
The food was delicious and the staff was amazing! Everybody was so nice. I would give this five stars if the portions were not so small.
The food was delicious best things had were the papaya salad and pineapple curry. Only downside is that it was very expensive.
ITS THE SAME FOOD YOU GET FROM A REST IN Thailand. This is authentic NOT Americanized!!!! If anyone complained about the raw bitter melon, they have never eaten an authentic Thai. People eat raw bitter melon in Thailand for the Ceviche style shrimps. So hellooo...google before complaining.Food is excellent. I have two favorite dishes - the Barramundi & monkfish. Im a fish person so I can guarantee they are very tasty. The service is great. Came here for lunch with a girl friend and we felt delighted and it was kinda quiet. So I recommend coming here for lunch on weekends to avoid the chaos.The price is reasonable for me in exchange for the freshness and the quality of the food we got. If you think any stuff is expensive, just remember it is NOT for you.
Quaint place with some authentic tasting Thai food. Good experience...a place to revisit time and again if ya like some flavor and heat.
Authentic beautiful cuisine. Its really perfect. Its a shame to miss this place everyone should go
Disappointing. No value foe for the price. A salad and two curries over 100. The ingredients are its redeeming quality.
Delicious Thai food. Not your typical restaurant food. Great service but very loud and hard to have a conversation.
Omg the crab curry 😍😍😍. Lovingly prepared. Id give 5 stars but the acoustics are painfully loud, I wish there were a solution for that
Kalaya was an amazing experience! The service was phenomenal and the dishes were delicious. Highly recommend this restaurant.
The best and the most sophisticated Thai food not only in Philadelphia, but arguably in North America.
I don’t know if it was an off night or if they need more time to settle in but the experience wasn’t very great. They are busy which is very good for them but it seems like they don’t know what they are doing.. The food is good but the overall experience is not worth the money
Good home made food. Make reservations. Even dishes with 3 chili peppers are super spicy.
Amazing food, great service!!!
Absolutely delightful! I could go into lots of detail, but that would just further delay you from eating this delicious food made by some genuine, caring people.
I did not not have a good experience, but the food is BRILLIANT. 5 Stars for food.
Tons of flavor, great staff. They accommodated a large group (10 top) in a small space. A+
Best thai place in Philly.
I really liked the dishes and they tasted great. My wife didn’t. The price was high.
Awesome mango and sticky rice
Wow is this place good. Their ingredients are so fresh and the flavors are absolutely on point.
Best meal I have ever had, and the service was outstanding! Highly recommend!!
Delicious takeout meal! I certainly plan on doing another date night takeout from here.
Total reviews rating 4.5
199 Reviews for Kalaya Thai Kitchen 2023:
Review №1
2022-02-26Thoroughly enjoyed our experience here. As open-minded eaters, my girlfriend and I decided to just hand the reigns over to our waitress Kelly and she did a phenomenal job of crafting a wonderful eating experience for us. Prices may seem steep at first glance, but when considering the portion sizes meant for family-style sharing, along with the quality of ingredients and delicious flavors, they fall in line quite nicely. Great place I would happily visit again to explore more of such an interesting menu.
Review №2
2022-05-29This restaurant feels like you’re in Thailand. The food is delicious and the staff is super friendly. Be aware that this is going to be a bit spicy and they have a few options to choose from. I’d say that the place itself isn’t that nice, looks traditional and a bit messy. I also think this restaurant is too overpriced for what it delivers, this is why it deserves 4 stars.
Review №3
2022-01-18Kalaya Thai is truly a gem if you are looking for delicious and authentic Thai food. The servers were all so friendly and hospitable, giving us a detailed run-down of the menu when we first arrived and checking in on us throughout the meal. We sat outside and the space was warm and comfortable. We ordered the massaman beef curry, the famous crab dish that they are known for which comes with rice, and stir-fried vegetables, all of which were absolutely mouth-watering. Because we spent over $100, the server also gave us a $30 coupon to spend next time, so we are planning on going back with more friends soon! All the dishes are meant for sharing so I would recommend bringing more friends. One point to remember is to make reservations, you have to give a $20/head deposit, which is refunded after your visit.
Review №4
2022-07-20One of a kind experience. We came here for my wifes birthday and she absolutely loved the food and place.The food was amazing and so was the plating. Food is a lot different than other Thai places that we have been to and this felt unique and authentic. Our server Lindsay was very helpful and did a great job with the recommendations and service.Shaw muang ( Chicken dumpling) was really good and delicious and does look like it is a dish made for the emperor. What surprised us the most is the Kalum tod num pa ( Cabbage) ..never have we ever had cabbage this delicious. We cant wait to come back and try more.Our recommendationsChicken dumplingsSouthern style Chicken curryCabbageStir Fried Pickled Mustard Greens with EggTom Yum Kalaya ( with Shrimps)Nam lycheeIG: journey_man16
Review №5
2022-06-19The food was amazing!!! Our server, Katherine was very knowledgeable and gave us great recommendations. We had appetizers, main dishes and desert. I would totally recommend the scallop curry and crab fried rice. Everything we had was exquisite.
Review №6
2022-07-05Finalist for best chef @kalayaphilly - Philly, PAAmazing fresh scallops & jumbo prawns + deep Thai flavors that Ive missed for a long time!Chef Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon ensures authentic Thai flavors by not allowing any substitutions or changes in spiciness. They make the curry paste & powders in-house and prawns are caught straight from the rivers of ThailandSome flavors & dishes were SPOT ON like the scallop curry, Khao yum tossed salad with dried shrimp & fish, shrimp crab & pork siu mai, stir fried cabbage.Some were lacking a bit of flavor or depth like the black pepper beef and prawn + vermicelli - it needed a bit more umami & garlic. I would almost think a char grilled soy + fish sauce + lemongrass beef would bring out more from the steakOverall a good experience. Got faked into the salad that was marked a 1 level spice that shouldve been a 5 level (my level 😂). I ended up eating most of it 😋100% try the scallop though, I dream about it sometimes!
Review №7
2021-10-30This was a fantastic meal. Large portions meant for sharing were great. The flower dumplings were incredibly eye-catching and equally delicious. The staff were excellent and will help you decide so dont be afraid to chat with them. A pleasantly different experience than a traditional dinner.
Review №8
2021-12-03Where do I begin... The food is good, very good and the flavors are different than ordinary Thai food. Everything is very nicely balanced and the food is on the spicy side. They have a few non spicy options in each category but just know that the vast majority of plates will be spicy and you cannot alter their heat level on request.The service and location are just ok for the prices they charge.The pricing... Its too high for what this is. One masaman beef curry is $45 and appetizers are close to $20 each. Expect to pay well over $65 dollars per person if you want to eat a lot. I think the hype for this place has allowed them to inflate their prices by a significant amount over what it really should be.The food is very good, but for the $$$ i feel it falls short on value.
Review №9
2022-08-05As delicious as it is authentic. Admittedly, my experiences with Thai cuisine is limited to the restaurants of KC. Even still, I can tell whats good and genuine. Service staff is extremely helpful and informative.
Review №10
2021-08-09Really great, AUTHENTIC Thai food. Im not the biggest fan of American Thai food so this was amazing for me (you wont find your sweet Pad Thai here). The waiter was so helpful and the owner checked up on us to make sure everything was perfect. Definitely spicy so the fact that the waiter recommended the cabbage side to balance everything out was perfect. The food really did hit the spot for me and reminded me of my familys homemade asian dishes.