Philadelphia｜Kalaya – The Thai Restaurant Rumored to Be Michelin

Went with friends over the weekend to try Kalaya, the Thai spot rumored to be on the path to a Michelin star ⭐. Located in Fishtown, the space is beautiful — sunlight streaming in, lush greenery everywhere, feels like dining in a tropical rainforest 🌿. We ordered four dishes: 🦀 Khao Pad Pu (Crab Fried Rice) Decent but nothing special — crab portion was modest. We all agreed Mawn’s version is better. 🍜 Khao Soi Nua (Northern Thai Beef Curry Noodles) Rich coconut milk broth, tender beef — good texture, but the spices felt a bit overpowering by the end. 🥩 Sua Rong Hai (Grilled Steak with Sticky Rice) Steak was fine, but the sticky rice was too firm and hard to chew. 🦆 Laab Ped (Duck Salad) Crispy fried duck skin was fragrant and delicious — very spicy and bold, but the spice balance felt a bit random, like they were just tossing in seasonings for fun 😂. Overall, we felt the flavors were a bit “overdone” — spices piled on without enough balance (maybe more suited to Western palates?). That said, the ambiance is gorgeous — super photogenic and great for catching up with friends. If you want to try this potentially future-Michelin Thai spot, go before it gets even more hyped! 📍 Address: 4 W Palmer St, Philadelphia, PA 19125 🍽️ Hours: Weekend brunch available — reservations recommended. 💰 Price: ~$40–50 per person #PhillyEats #KalayaThai #MichelinRumors #ThaiFood #FishtownPhilly #FoodReview #BrunchSpot