Philly | Kalaya – Come Try the Little Bird Dumplings 🐦

On the way back from Philly to NYC, we braved Kalaya without a reservation—and ended up so glad we did! Originally told there were no tables for New Year’s first meal, we’d given up and were just sheltering from the wind inside while planning plan B. But a kind hostess quietly made room for us at the bar—above and beyond! We ordered three appetizers, one salad, and one rice to try as much as possible. Favorites in order of appearance: 🐦 Cod Dumplings (Bird-shaped!) 👍 Service was top-notch—they even asked if we wanted an extra dumpling so we could each have two. Not your usual dumpling: chewy, crispy in parts, spicy and savory. The heat lingers nicely into the next dish. 🍤🍚 Khao Niaw Na Goong (Coconut Shrimp Sticky Rice) 👍 Not spicy at all—coconut lovers and shrimp fans must order. Small but rich, with minced shrimp and creamy coconut sauce. So good! 🥗 Minced Pork Salad with Crispy Rice Balls 👍 Quite spicy, but the texture game is strong—crunchy, tangy, spicy, all at once. Worth trying once for the experience, though maybe not a repeat order. 🐙 Fried Squid with Fried Chilies & Lime Leaves 🤔 Squid was tasty, but the promised curry flavor wasn’t really there. Honestly, the fried lime leaves and chilies were the stars here. 🍚 Nam Prik Long Rua (DIY Farm-Style Rice Bowl) 🤔 Didn’t steal the show like the apps, but still very good. Salted duck egg slices over minced pork, with braised pork and assorted fresh veggies—fun to mix and match. Flavor overlapped a bit with the coconut shrimp rice. 🔥 Heads up: Most dishes are quite spicy. The couple next to us had to pack theirs to go. But if you handle heat well, you’ll probably love it. Next time, I’m trying all the Thai dumplings! #Philly #PhillyFood #PhillyLife #ThaiCuisine #InternationalStudentEats #SpicyFood #DumplingLove