What it's actually like
Khaluna is widely celebrated as one of Minneapolis's best restaurants, praised for innovative Laotian cuisine, beautiful tropical-resort atmosphere, and exceptional service. However, the experience is inconsistent—while most reviewers rave about flavorful dishes and attentive staff, several report poor service, inattentive servers, and slow food delivery. The restaurant is expensive but many feel it's worth the price for special occasions; parking and crowd management during peak times are occasional pain points.
tropical-resortwarm-elegantmodern-sophisticatedbeautifully-designedinviting
Diners keep mentioning
basil wingsduck fried ricemango fishgreen curry octopusmassaman curryshrimp rollsred currybucatini talay
Ambiance
upscale-casual
Noise level
moderate
Dress code
smart casual
Outdoor seating
Yes
Good for
date night, anniversary, birthday celebration
Reservations
OpenTable
Wait reality — Reservations strongly recommended, especially weekends. Some inconsistent service experiences with occasional long waits (20-25+ minutes reported), but many guests seated promptly with reservations. Best to arrive on time as doors lock between seatings.
Derived from 70 recent Google reviews — not marketing copy.
What's cooking
Appetizer
★ BASIL WINGS$17
tempura fried wings, thai basil, jalapenos, signature dry rub
LAAB HEEDdairy freegluten freevegan$24
shiitake, king trumpet, beech, mint, roasted rice powder, makrut lime leaf, available vegan
SAKOOvegandairy freegluten free$15
shiitake, cremini, pickled radish, peanuts, pistachios, tapioca pearls
SHRIMP ROLLSdairy free$18
shrimp roll, jicama, purple shiso, mint, cilantro, rice paper
SIIN SWANdairy freegluten free$18
dried ginger sesame beef, roasted tomato jeow
Salad
BABY GEMdairy free$17
baby gem lettuce, miso-lemon vinaigrette, soft-boiled egg, chives, dill, crispy potato, bonito flakes, chili
Soup
★ LAKSAdairy freegluten free$33
malaysian curry broth, shrimp, tofu, pickled mustard greens, carrot, daikon, soft boiled egg, available vegan
Pasta
BUCATINI TALAY$38
shrimp, squid, scallops, tobiko, thai basil, tom yum ragout
Entree
BISCUITS & GRAVY$19
white pepper bechamel, buttermilk biscuits, chives, lao sausage or roasted mushrooms
BREAKFAST FRIED RICE$27
pork belly, lao sausage, bacon, crispy fried egg, garlic, onion
BREAKFAST SANDWICH$21
brioche bun, lao sausage, crispy fried egg, bacon & jeow bong aioli
CHICKEN RED CURRYgluten free$36
pan-seared chicken, smoked red curry sauce, bell pepper
DUCK CONGEEdairy freegluten free$22
long grain rice porridge, ginger, puffed rice, crispy duck skin, fried shallot, confit duck leg, patongo
DUCK FRIED RICEdairy freegluten free$30
confit duck leg, sweet chili soy sauce, red onion, thai basil, crispy duck skin, puffed rice, fried garlic
FRIED CHICKEN & KHAO CHEE$19
tempura fried wings, signature dry rub, sticky rice patties, jeow bong maple syrup
HOT SMOKED SALMON BENEDICT$24
applewood hot smoked salmon, soft poached egg, calamansi maltaise, chili crisp
KHAO SOIdairy freegluten free$28
fresh rice noodles, chicken broth, tomato ragu, watercress, pan-roasted chicken or tofu
LONGAN AND RICEdairy freegluten free$18
longan, puffed rice, garlic, egg, kokuho rice, available vegan
MASSAMANdairy freegluten free$36
brisket, sweet potato, roasted red onion, massaman curry broth, toasted hazelnut
STEAK & EGGSdairy freegluten free$34
new york strip, breakfast potatoes, crispy fried eggs, jeow som tomatillo
TOM KEMdairy freegluten free$22
5 spice-braised pork belly, pickled mustard greens, daikon & carrot
YELLOW CURRYvegandairy freegluten free$30
butternut squash, bengali curry, coconut cream, thai basil
Steak
★ NEW YORK STRIP LAABdairy free$64
medium rare new york strip steak, lemongrass dressing, herb salad, toasted rice powder - served chilled
Side
BISCUIT$3
biscuit
BREAKFAST POTATOESdairy freegluten free$7
tossed with our signature dry rub
CRISPY FRIED EGGdairy freegluten free$3
crispy fried egg
HEED/Roasted Mushroomvegandairy freegluten free$7
roasted mushroom
JASMINE RICEvegandairy freegluten free$2
jasmine rice
LAO SAUSAGE PATTYdairy freegluten free$6
lao sausage patty
MAK LEN/Roasted Tomatovegandairy freegluten free$7
roasted tomato
MAK PET/Roasted Green Chiliesvegandairy freegluten free$7
roasted green chilies
STICKY RICEvegandairy freegluten free$3
sticky rice
STICKY RICE PATTYdairy freegluten free$4
sticky rice patty
THICK CUT BACONdairy freegluten free$6
thick cut bacon
Dessert
DUTCH BABY$15
skillet baked pancake with orange and ginger marmalade, chocolate chantilly, coco powder
TROPICAL FRUIT BOWLvegandairy freegluten free$19
ripe papaya, kiwi, strawberries, raspberries, black berries, red and white dragon fruits
Cocktail
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS$16
trakal patagonia, goro satsuma shochu, casa di aristi xtabentun, nori, shiso, house-daikon cordial, lime
AGAVE ARCHIPELAGO$17
g4 blanco madera, agave de los andes rito, metiche salmiana, sotol ono, alma limon limoncello, house-jerk syrup, cats claw, key lime
BACK WHEN TIGERS SMOKED$16
song cai kha rice wine, smoked banana infused axta dry vermouth, bcn vermut ambre, jamaican #2 bitters, sirene china calisaia bitters
★ BLOODY MARY$15
secret spice mix, laksa curry, tomato, vegetarian fish sauce, sambal, chili hot sauce, citrus - Choose: haku vodka, aqara agreste, kasutori shochu
CEREAL MILK PUNCH$16
kokuto shochu, kome shochu, falernum, orgeat, passion fruit, lemon
CHAI QU$17
chai-infused kinmen baiju, jigaden shochu, pierre ferrand dry curacao, maleza pepita liqueur, fee bros orgeat, pineapple gum syrup, lime
FRENCH 75$16
skaalven yuzu gin, lemon-infused haku rice vodka, calamansi, jamaican #2 bitters, lemon
GRAPEFRUIT & SMOKE$16
palomo con mole mezcal, mizu barley shochu, don's mix, saline & msg, lime
★ KHALUNA BELLINI$14
Choose: calamansi, apricot, or carmelized pineapple
★ KHALUNA BELLINI FLIGHT$20
flight of khaluna bellini cocktails
★ KHALUNA OLD FASHIONED$35
persimmon-infused hibiki harmony japanese whisky, secret japanese whisky mix, maleza licor de pepita, calendula syrup, bittercube trinity bitters
MORNING NEGRONI$16
chinese breakfast tea-infused song cai dry gin, empirical symphony #6, casa di aristi xtabentun, rhubarb bitters, grapefruit & orange
MOTOKO KOME & RASPBERRY$15
motoko kome whisky and raspberry highball
MUGI BARLEY & CHOCOLATE PEANUT$15
mugi barley whisky and chocolate peanut highball
NIKKA DAYS & BLOOD ORANGE$15
nikka days whisky and blood orange highball
★ NOT YOUR GRANDMAS OLD FASHIONED$17
butterscotch candy infused toki whisky, bacon extract, orange bitters, orange juice
PURPLE PLANE$16
akashi ume whisky, st. agrestis paradiso, montenegro amaro, lemon
SUNTORY FEATURED COCKTAIL$16
toki whisky, apricot, yuzu curacao, lemon, absinthe, bolivar bitters
TAKAMINE SAKURA CASK$20
takamine sakura cask highball
TOKI JAPANESE WHISKY$15
toki japanese whisky highball
TRAKAL PATAGONIA & BLACK PEPPER$5
trakal patagonia and black pepper highball
VIETNAMESE COFFEE MARTINI$16
espresso liqueur, amargo de chili amaro, don ciccio & figli concerto, chocolate bitters, chipotle bitters
Wine
BDB HENRI CHAMPLIAU$15
Vin Mousseux - France NV
DR. THANISCH$15
Mosel - Germany 2023, Riesling
GEORG ALBRECHT SCHNEIDER$14
Rheinhessen - Germany 2020, Riesling
GRUNER VELTLINER - MALAT$15
Niederosterreich - Austria 2018
HILLICK & HOBBS$16
Seneca Lake, New York - USA 2021, Riesling
KUHLING-GILLOT$15
Rheinhessen - Germany 2022, Riesling
PINOT GRIGIO - MASSICAN$17
California - USA 2024
SULA CRÉMANT DE NASHIK$15
Nashik - India NV
Beer
MAKKU ORIGINAL$9
Sool Brewing, Korea
PRYES BLOOD ORANGE IPA$8
Pryes Brewing, MPLS
SUNTORY -196 SELTZERSdairy freegluten free$9
Beam Suntory, Japan
TROPICAL FUN PANTS$8
Lupulin Brewing, MPLS
Non alcoholic
LAST LOVEvegandairy free$14
agave de los andes aqara refugio, aplos calme, maraschino syrup, el guapo cucumber lavender bitters, lime
NO DHOS MARGARITA$14
long pepper-infused dhos tequila, agave de los andes aqara refugio, dhos orange liqueur, pineapple gum syrup, ginger, el guapo chicory pecan bitters, key lime
SPRITZ 75$14
dhos bittersweet aperitivo, mionetto aperitivo, calamansi syrup, el guapo cucumber lavender bitters, grapefruit
THE ELIXIRvegandairy free$14
the pathfinder, aplos arise, ginger, orange, lemon, CO2
Seafood
GREEN CURRY OCTOPUSgluten free$36
roasted octopus, green curry, potato puree, chinese sausage, roasted zucchini, peas
MANGO FISHgluten free$28
seared salmon, crispy salmon skin, chili tamarind glaze, fried shallot, hmong cilantro, mango salad
★ SCALLOP CRUDOdairy freegluten free$34
lightly cured scallop, bergamot oil, seasonal citrus, fresh turmeric, thai chili, cilantro, coconut lime broth
Find it
Address
4000 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN
Phone
612-345-5199
Restaurant group
independent