Are you starting to feel like most Thai restaurants are pretty much the same? Think again! These spicy spots speak to the adventurous, the ones with a hearty appetite and those craving a little Thai with a twist.
Thai Classic
File under: Big ol’ buffet
Kick off your shoes and grab a floor cushion at this pretty Thai eatery. If you’re a little shy about showing off your sock, feel free to settle into one of Thai Classic’s Western-style tables. Locals love this place for the laid-back atmosphere, quality of the food and consistency in service. The weekend buffet lets patrons take a walk on the wild side by offering just about everything on the menu—including exotic dishes you might not consider ordering otherwise. Standards like pad thai, red and green curries and pad siew are offered, as well as dishes like squid salad and crab fried rice.
New Pot
File under: Watch em’ at work
There’s something comforting about watching your food being prepared while you wait. New Pot’s open kitchen lets you witness the magic. This huge open space may seem a little over-the-top to some, but most consider the environment casually hip. Service can be a teensy bit slow at times, but once your fried red snapper or spicy curry fried rice arrives, you’ll forget about the wait and realize why it took a few extra minutes to prepare. Each dish comes piping hot and prepared nearly perfectly. Fried wontons are a favorite, as well as savory soups and a well-above average pad thai. Parking is a piece of cake. Don’t forget to BYOB.
Erawan Royal Thai Cuisine
File Under: High-end Thai
Erawan serves up top-notch Thai cuisine in a beautiful setting complete with teak columns and canopies. Entrees are equally as stunning—enough so that you might not want to eat them. Presentation reigns—expect entrees served in the shape of swans or animal-carved veggies. Appetizers like venison satay and foie gras-shiitake-shumai are a great preview of what’s to come. Entrees include dishes like Lamb Mussaman (Tamarind chili-braised shank in mild curry sauce with roasted garlic-potato croquette) and steamed escolar (fish filet steamed with shiitake mushrooms and scallions in exotic black bean-ginger sauce). Erawan offers a nice selection of wines and champagnes.
Joy’s Noodles and Rice
File under: BYOB and smoke-free
Perfect for people watching and even better for pad thai, Joy’s delivers entertainment and good eats in a casual-cool environment. During the hot summer months, Joy’s outdoor garden in back and open front façade contribute a pleasant and airy setting. But during the cold winter months, Joy’s transforms into a warm, cozy retreat filled with spicy scents and the smell of hot jasmine tea. Grab a booth or a small table and enjoy everything from hearty lad nar to fresh rama broccoli. You’ll be impressed with the amazingly friendly service and dependable Thai. Feel free to BYOB—with no corkage fee.
Amarit
File under: Get your lunch on
Whether you’re lunching or shopping, Amarit offers a relaxing environment where you can take a break from buying or a breather from the downtown grind. Sizable dishes are priced just right—impressive considering its Gold Coast location—and range from pot stickers to crazy noodles and pad dra proa (spicy basil chicken). If curries are your thing, Amarit is definitely a can’t-miss spot. Don’t forget to check out the Thai and East Asian beers. Service tends to be fast and friendly and waits are kept to a minimum.
Thai Village
File under: Best-kept secret
I really don’t want to let the cat out of the bag about this one, but Thai Village deserves a mention. This place serves up fresh Thai cuisine in an environment that makes you want to grab the remote and kick up your feet. Yeah, it’s that cozy. Ginger chicken and chili over rice are popular dishes, as well as the ever-famous pad siew and pad woon sen. The family-run establishment is pleasantly pretension-free and remains one of the last vestiges in this gentrified neighborhood. BYOB.
Dharma Garden Thai
File under: Vegetarian Heaven
Vegetarians rejoice! You don’t have to worry about substituting this for that or that for this. Dharma Garden prepares meatless dishes without MSG, processed sugar, fish sauce or artificial ingredients in a heart-healthy and tasty manner. Opt for traditional floor seating or regular seating, then sample stir-fried soy duck or tasty vegetable pot stickers. Seafood dishes are also available—but cha’ gotta ask for them. My how the tables have turned.
Muang Thai
File under: Thai-American fusion
Have you ever tried Pad Macaroni? How about Spaghetti Ki-Mao? It may sound strange, but Muang Thai offers up Thai cuisine with a twist. Expect American cuisine-inspired dishes and others, including Greenlip mussels served in a clay pot, steamed in a blend of Thai basil, galangal and lemongrass; tender beef salad; and spicy pad siew. Portions are huge, so one dish would be more than enough for two. Prices rarely stray above $7, and the BYOB policy makes it an even better deal.
Royal Thai Cuisine
File under: Off the beaten path
Easy street parking and a whole lotta bang for your buck make this Thai palace number one among neighborhood and city dwellers alike. The large attractive dining room seats about 30 comfortably, and the kitchen cranks out fresh vegetable dishes and spicy seafood entrees daily. Try the Royal Thai prawns or vegetable dumplings for an appetizer and the ginger chicken for an entree. Other dishes include kee mow (stir-fried noodles, lettuce, carrots, onions, bell peppers, bean sprouts, tomatoes and basil leaves), green curry, and Royal Thai Tofu. Lunch specials include an appetizer of your choice, soup (try the Tom Yum) and an entree, all for just $5.50.
Thai Spice
File under: Authentic with a capital “A”
They say big things come in small packages: Thai Spice offers all the proof you need. Tiny, comfortable and cute, this Devon Avenue eatery serves up awesome pineapple chicken fried rice, chef-recommended satay chicken skewers, and damn good pad thai. If you’re opting for a spicy dish, make sure you get a Thai iced tea to quell the heat. A warm and friendly staff will greet you with a smile and remember you when you return, and trust me…you will.
Thai Linda
File under: Let’s just hang
Call up your friends and tell them to meet you here for dinner. Thai Linda is a great place for groups who want to have a good time exchanging crazy stories or who are on their way to one of the many bars in Roscoe Village. Family-owned and cozy as hell, Thai Linda always serves up fresh dishes, including specialties like duck, deep-fried catfish, and light and tasty lemongrass chicken. During the warm summer months a nice shaded sidewalk cafe offers interesting views of this somewhat busy Roscoe Street strip. Thai Linda has a huge take-out business, and offers the friendliest service whether you decide to dine in or out.
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