Khaluna TODOTC.com To Do in the Twin Cities Restaurants Khaluna Date: Nov 17, 2023 4000 Lyndale Ave S. Minneapolis MN 55409 Phone: (612) 345-5199 khaluna.com

Khâluna

Over the fourth of July break E&I visit a wine region. Two years ago, we went to Willamette Valley one of the top US Wine regions. While we were visiting wineries we sipped as we overlooked the beautiful Oregon Valley. Soon our eyes were taken up the hill. There it was a drop dead gorgeous Italian Villa that overlooked the entire countryside. I turned to someone next to us and said what in god’s name is THAT. The said that is Domain Serene Winery owned by a couple from MN, but you AREN’T getting in there without reservations six months in advance. I told E to get us in there. Thirty minutes later we were sipping wine there. We had a similar experience at Khâluna.

Rarely do I see a restaurant a block or so out that I can say this is going to be good. Is it fair to the restaurants that are not quite so palatial? I don’t really care. Half of great food is presentation. And the presentation equivalent to the Villa on the hill was incredible. This is a beautiful work of art restaurant.

Khâluna is the only Laotian restaurant we have ever been to… at least, I think. If I had three plates of food put in front of me and said pick the Laotian food, unless there was a burger on one, I would have zero chance. But that’s what we do for you, we try new things.

If you don’t know Laotian cooking comes from SE Asia near Vietnam. So, we expected a lotta spices, rice and things we may have never eaten. The only comparison would be some types of Chinese food.

I happen grab the text from their menu and placed it at the end of this review. To start out with Khâluna had five small plate options all priced under $24. We absolutely LOVE small plate restaurants. It’s like being at a sample food bar. Give me a taste of this and that, it’s in expensive yet you can try a variety.

Next, they had a group of five chilled plate options most priced under $24. These included Vegan friendly options. These included things like: shrimp, smoked salmon and a few things I was clueless about like shrimp flakes, banana blossoms, makrut leaf, beech. Open your mind and try it, no one is falling over dead or sending anything back.
The third group on the menu was eleven entrée’s priced under $40. The options here included: Laksa, Pork Belly Pun, Gaeng Toon, Massaman, Mango Fish, Duck Fried Rice. Things we regularly have at our evening meal. Where do you start? This placed could be visited a dozen times and still not have tried everything. And things that are ONLY available at Khâluna.

We settled for: Shrimp Rolls, Rainbow rice and Gaeng Toon. Gaeng Toon is fresh Sea Bass with sour curry broth, cucumber, cherry tomato, watercress, chili, tamarind. It was good. The absolutely ONLY let down for the night was the Rainbow Rice it was supposed to change color when sauce was poured on it. We must have had defective rice, it tasted fine but did not change color. Maybe next time.

They had a good selection of great wines as expected of a restaurant of this quality. E had her usual Cab and I had Nebout. Good pour, price and they went well with the meal.

Our final bill was $143, but that included $10 for Valet which was much appreciated to be paid for all at once. Making it $133 a bit more than our usual $100 but it was an incredible experience. And yes, they have a 5% surcharge which we absolutely hate but something we need to get used to.

Anyway, it was a very memorable great experience and yes, we will be back. I need to try that Massaman whatever that is!

SMALL PLATES
$15 BASIL WINGS: tempura fried wings, thai basil, jalapenos, signature dry rub
$16 SHRIMP ROLLS: shrimp roll, jicama, purple shiso, mint, cilantro, rice paper (DF)
$14 CHICKEN SAMOSAS: ground chicken, potatoes, thai chili, cilantro, madras spice (DF)
$14 SAKOO: shiitake, crimini, picked radish, peanuts, pistachios, tapioca pearls (V, DF, GF)
$16 SIIN SWAN: dried ginger sesame beef, roasted tomato jeow (DF, GF)

CHILLED PLATES
$21 MIENG PAA: puffed rice, banana blossoms, peanuts, yard beans, smoked salmon (DF, GF)
$19 SALAT MAK MAI: tropical fruits, almonds, peanuts, fish sauce, chili (DF, GF) available vegan
$21 LAAB HEED: shiitake, king trumpet, beech, mint, roasted rice powder, makrut lime leaf (DF, GF) available vegan
$23 RAINBOW RICE: anchan flower rice, puffed rice, shrimp flakes, peanuts, carrots, red bell peppers, grapefruit supreme, green mango, purple cabbage, yard bean (DF, GF) available vegan
$31 PINEAPPLE NOODLES: shrimp, crushed pineapple, green mango, shrimp flakes, coconut milk, thai chili, cilantro (DF, GF)

ENTRÉES
$28 LAKSA: malaysian curry broth, shrimp, tofu, pickled mustard greens, carrot, daikon, soft boiled egg (DF, GF) available vegan
$35 BUCATINI TALA: shrimp, squid, scallops, tobiko, thai basil, tom yum ragout
$32 MASSAMAN: beef short rib, shank, sweet potato, roasted red onion, massaman curry broth, toasted hazelnut (DF, GF)
MP MANGO FISH: whole fried red snapper, mango tamarind slaw (DF, GF)
$39 DUCK LAAB: aged duck breast, mint, cilantro, cucumber, spicy lemongrass slaw, toasted rice powder (GF)
$23 PORK BELLY PUN: braised pork belly, sweet soy glaze, napa & red cabbage, green apple, carrot, pickled fresno, cilantro, mint, peanuts (DF, GF)
$27 DUCK FRIED RICE: confit duck leg, sweet chili soy sauce, red onion, thai basil, crispy duck skin, puffed rice, fried garlic (DF, GF)
$17 LONGAN AND RICE:  longan, puffed rice, garlic, egg, kokuho rice (DF, GF) available vegan
$32 GAENG TOON: seasonal bass, sour curry broth, cucumber, cherry tomato, watercress, chili, tamarind (DF, GF)
$32 CHICKEN RED CURRY: pan-seared chicken, smoked red curry sauce, bell pepper (GF)
$28 YELLOW CURRY : butternut squash, bengali curry, coconut cream, thai basil (V, DF, GF)

SIDES
$6 MAK LEN/Roasted Tomato
$6 HEED/Roasted Mushroom
$2 JASMINE RICE
$3 STICKY RICE
$6 MAK PET/Roasted Green Chilies

Contact us Dennis@ToDoTC.com