Khâluna

“Everything at Khâluna blends together in a beautiful way: from the flower motifs in the food and decor, to the beachy atmosphere of the restaurant and seafood-inspired dishes, to the carefully chosen plates and stoneware that evoke an oceanic, breezy vibe, all is purposeful. The staff here particularly stand out as accommodating and friendly, there to provide their recommendations as well as show you how to eat the dishes. I enjoyed a house punch, and the sakoo appetizer, which is a delicious, chewy and umami bite that quite honestly, might have been one of the best dishes I've tried this year. The scallop crudo is paired with a rich acidic and spicy broth that's refreshing and light. For my entree I did the laksa, which has delicious shrimp, tofu, and a softboiled egg. To finish, I had the pistachio orange blossom cake, which was served hot and with a generous portion of the mousse. Lots of delightful textures in that dessert - crunchy, crackly bits on top along with a spongey moist cake.”

“Made reservations for Khaluna in Minneapolis during a visit over the weekend, and I am so glad that we did because this restaurant is definitely popular, vibrant, and reservations are required. We were greeted and taken to our table upon arrival. The restaurant overall has a very open vibe, with a bar and natural light flowing in, almost giving the feeling of an outdoor environment. Once we arrived at our table, we ordered some cocktails. Definitely looks like a very creative cocktail menu. I started with the Sunset in Luang, which was almost like a gin based martini with Japanese gin, sake, and nori liqueur. Refreshing, delicious and adventurous. We got the baby gem salad for the table, with a really nice miso citrus vinaigrette and kumquat. We did skip the quail egg. The salad was very refreshing and a good start to the meal. For main dishes, we chose the duck fried rice, which can also be made gluten free. It was very flavorful with a lot of shredded confit duck. Very creative dish and very filling, with a lot of flavor. We also got the seafood bucatini with a combination of scallops, squid, shrimp, and topped with a tom yum ragu. All the flavors were exceptionally well balanced. The food was absolutely amazing, very creative, and I would say more fusion than strictly Laotian, making it probably one of the most unique restaurants I have been to in a while. At the end, we decided to also get some dessert. We chose the pistachio orange blossom cake, which was absolutely divine. A warm pistachio brown butter cake on the bottom, with orange blossom mousse cream on top and touches of cardamom. But the best part was the crunchy baklava on the top. Incredible dessert. We also had a sorbet with seasonal fruit on the bottom and mango on top, which was light and refreshing. Overall, I think this is a must visit restaurant. One of the better ones, if not the best one, from our Minneapolis area visit. Lots of gluten free options, exceptional service, very attentive staff, and a fantastic vibe. This place is excellent. Highly recommended.”

“Had a great experience here trying a variety of dishes. The Sakoo was really unique and delicious paired with their in-house orange hot sauce, which is definitely something you should try. That orange sauce was honestly the highlight for me paired with Stick rice. It had the perfect spicy kick for people who enjoy spice, while still being super flavorful and addictive. We also had the red curry chicken, which was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. Everything tasted fresh and well prepared, and the presentation of the dishes was beautiful. The atmosphere was relaxing and welcoming, making the whole dining experience even better. Definitely a great place if you enjoy flavorful food, unique dishes, and good spice levels. Looking forward to coming back and trying more from the menu!”

“Came here to celebrate a birthday and had such a great meal. All the servers were very friendly. We asked for recommendations and could not have been happier. The star of the dinner was the massaman curry, one of the best curries I have had in the city. Duck fried rice was also delicious. Can’t go wrong with anything here. Plus the inside was one of the prettiest restaurants I’ve been too in a long time. 10/10 if you’re thinking about going here do it you won’t regret it!”

“What a fun place to meet up with friends! The best part? I felt so comfortable and cozy in this restaurant. It’s very boho and warm. We were a group of 4 and the restaurant has a family shareable experience with their entrees so we each got something different. We ordered the fried rice, French toast, wings and biscuits and gravy. It was super delicious! We also ordered drinks and my favorite part was that they serve a spoonful of their sticky rice as soon as you sit down. It was SO good that we raved about it and they brought us a second serving. The waitress was delightful and so kind. We had never been there for brunch so she did a wonderful job explaining the menu. We spent a few hours there eating and talking and we never felt rushed. The worst part? I don’t have really anything to add here. I’m not sure if I missed the parking lot but I found street parking easily. Prices are a little higher here but worth it in my opinion.”