Kahlo & Loyal, the newest bar and restaurant to take over the corner spot at 17th Ave NW and NW 56th St, is opening this month.
Chef and owner Sheldon Raju is opening Kahlo & Loyal at 5608 17th Ave NW—the former home of Little Prague Bakery, which closed in October 2024. A sign on the door says they’re currently looking for bar staff and servers: “We are now hiring trendy, hipster, tattoo’d, beard wielding, peacock riding expert barmen, bar maidens, and food servers.”
Raju grew up in Durban, South Africa, where his love for cooking was sparked during weekends spent with his grandfather at a local community temple. “Weekends at the temple were always abuzz with a Hindu wedding or cultural occasion,” his website notes. “It was this bustling energy, along with the captivating aromas streaming from the temple kitchens, that captured his heart and inspired his passion for cooking and the art of service.”
After graduating from culinary school in Durban, Raju gained experience working as a waiter and cook before moving to Cape Town, where he spent two years at the acclaimed restaurant Jardine. He later took his talents to Amsterdam and Germany, working in both restaurants and hotels, before returning to South Africa to continue his culinary journey at restaurants and safari lodges.
Eventually, Raju relocated to Seattle, where he launched Kahlo & Loyal as a pop-up and catering business. Now, he’s taking the next step by opening a permanent location.
Kahlo & Loyal will feature a globally inspired, daily changing tapas menu influenced by street food from around the world. “Our menu offers a delightful selection that caters to a variety of tastes and appetites—from quick solo bites to family-style sharing,” the website says.
Photo courtesy Kahlo & Loyal
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