Very good food and a great place to bring the family. We the 3 toddlers, which were thrilled to receive their own plastic themed plates and cups. Overall, both the service and food were excellent. Nice portions as well. We'll definitely be going back to this location.
(5)
Katrina B.
I went for lunch and it was mediocre. I could not finish the soup, a simple broth, because it tasted off. The pad kee mao was slimy, bland, and full of asparagus which was an unpleasant surprise.
(3)
Elly L.
This is the best Thai food I have ever had besides Arun's and I think that's really saying something. I have been here with my family dozens of times, and I also love dragging new people with me and they always always fall in love. The whole jalapeño red snapper in a must, along with their signature amarinds noodles. Out of this world!! And they are so consistent and on point with flavors. Reasonably priced, good service, but it's byob, which can be fun. I'll never stop going to amarinds! It's an at least 2 times a year thing.
(5)
Thomas C.
This is really good Thai Food and it's byob as well. Not much else to say, the Pad Thai is great, love the stuffed chicken wing, their spring rolls are a must. The dining room is small, the service is efficient and effective ... every time I go here I wonder why I don't go here more often because the food is really good.
(4)
Natalie S.
We were in Oak Park on a play date with some friends and it turned into a lunch date too. Yay! This place was close to where we were so we stopped in. They had some lunch specials for $7 or $8 that came with soup, an appetizer and an entree. I had a chicken soup, fried tofu and pad thai with tofu (my kiddo loves tofu and we were sharing). Everything was of above average quality, I was a big fan! The staff was super nice. When they saw 4 adults strolling in with 6 kids, no one even flinched. They got us a table with the right number of high chairs and boosters and were very attentive. They even had cute little kids' plates and forks!
(4)
Lisa A.
It's my first try here and I could give it 5 stars, but for 2 things. The pad thai noodles were just a little too firm as far as texture, but flavorful and they do not offer green papaya salad which is one of my favorite salads. Our meal included: as appetizers Decorative Pancakes (enough for 6-7 to share) crispy & doughy with a good tamarind sauce Fried Stuffed Prawn (4 pieces) with a sweet and sour sauce Thai Style Crepe (4 pieces) [not bad, but I have had better] Chicken Satay (5 pieces) with a decent peanut sauce as entrees: Pad Thai with Tofu Pad See Ewe with Beef was very flavorful Lard Nar with Tofu Amarind's Noodles were just as tasty and good as the Yelp reviews suggested Chicken Panang Curry with just enough spiciness as ordered Service was a bit slow to start, but once the order was placed the food soon followed. I would definitely come back.
(4)
Ekow M.
The family gets food from here about once a week. I have never had a poor meal and there is absolutely no MSG. EXCELENCE PLACE!
(5)
christine s.
Finally found a great Thai restaurant. Fresh and delicious! We tried 3 flavor beef, pad kee mao, and chicken fried rice. The food was not greasy which I appreciate. The beef was tender and had layers of flavor and the noodles and rice were both delicious. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
J M.
Super yummy Thai food. We've ordered it about 5 times so far and loved each meal. Highly recommend it!
(5)
Rachel R.
Great dinner! Tom kha chicken soup was excellent, and I ordered the chicken panang curry and also we had some chicken pad see eu-everything was delicious! Will definitely come here again, but probably leave my toddler daughter at home. Felt like we were interrupting everyone's dinner with her noise!
(5)
Yvonne O.
So, I've been on a thai kick lately and we walked over here the other night to pick up some take-away. I got my usual mini egg rolls and beef pad see eiw, partly because it is my standard and partly to compare it to the place across the street since I had this same meal earlier in the week. Unfortunately, it just wasn't as good. The beef was too dry and the veggies kind of limp. The egg rolls were fine and I do love their sauce (I think they make it in house) Husband tried something called three way chicken and really liked it - I stole a bite and it was tasty! I wouldn't stop going here - maybe it was an off night, because we have been coming here for the 8 years we have lived in the area, but I'm going to need to try some new things! And - their packaging for take-out is still excellent - nothing spills, nothing spoils, just perfect.
(3)
Romualdo F.
I have been a Thai food fanatic since 1990's and tried almost all of the Thai restaurants in Chicago. Last night I went to this place for the first time with my friends and their families, total 9 people. We ordered our usual favorites, requested to have 3 SEPARATE TICKETS since there are 3 families to simplify payment after eating. Their pad thai was bland and one of the worst, the appetizers such and satay was ok, spring roll, bland. But the Basil beef was actually good, amarind noodles was ok. Overall the food was not impressive at all but its fine. The part that pisses me off the most was when we received our 3 SEPARATE TICKETS, not only their food was very expensive for a thai food, they FUCKED US with their mandatory gratuity of I believe 13% PER TICKET! THERE ARE 3 SEPARATE TICKETS. Don't get me wrong, if it was only one bill, and more than 6 people I get it but 3 separate tickets and 13% "gratuity" charge for each for only 9 people? Total of about 31% gratuity forced upon us for a shitty food? NEVER AGAIN we will come back to this shit hole!
(1)
Lauren T.
Went here tonight for the second time with a friend and we both agreed everything was excellent. We were seated immediately despite it being pretty packed. Our server was friendly and gave us plenty of time to make our selections without hovering. Our food didn't take too long to arrive which was surprising on a busy Friday night. But everything was piping hot and tasty. I ordered the Pad See Ewe and was delighted. The variety of ingredients in the dish made for amazing flavor combinations. I liked that there was a plentiful amount of meat and vegetables instead of them just loading the plate with noodles. Another plus was that the portions were fairly large. My meal pretty much took up the whole plate (which was a large one). I'm always thrilled to find a place with both great service and great food. I definitely look forward to dining here again.
(5)
Emm M.
We love this place! The chicken and beef dishes we had seemed like better quality meat than most thai places and the food was fresh and not greasy. We will definitely be back to this place.
(5)
Lars J.
I dig this nice food and queit little space. Do not, I repeat do not order your food to be traditional hot.
(4)
Brian F.
I've been coming here for lunch for many years now and this is my favorite Thai restaurant period. The lunch special menu is very inexpensive less than $10 for soup, appetizer, and entree. The Thai iced coffee here is delicious but the main reason I come time and time again is the Pad Woon Sen. With yummy noodles, plenty of fresh veggies, and just the right amount of oil and spice, this dish is my idea of the perfect comfort food. Many negative reviews complain of the lack of heat in the food. That is most definitely true. The chef here relies on subtle flavors to entertain the palate. I had a Tom Kha Gai today which is a dish, in my opinion, that must have some heat to offset the sweetness of the coconut milk. When it arrived, though, there was only a hint of heat. After adding about 5 spoonfuls of hot pepper paste, though, I got it up to temperature and the perfect melding of flavors. My only real criticism is that on very crowded days the noise level becomes unnacceptable. There's something about the acoustics in the dining room that seems to amplify the conversations of others.
(5)
Samuel M.
Awesome food! Spicy pork is a must if you want a flavor explosion. The asparagus chicken is very good as well. It is byob so if you want wine you must bring your own. Very friendly atmosphere also. We will most certainly be returning!
(5)
Arlene G.
went here with 1of my besties last week for dinner & we both really enjoyed our food. she got the tom yum soup and i had the lemongrass chicken. we shared our entrees& thought both of them were pretty tasty.
(4)
Jaci Y.
Amarind restaurant was a good experience. Now, since I am in my first trimester of pregnancy, almost any food makes me feel nauseous. However, with Amarind's food despite my nauseousness I was able to take their good food. I liked their Amarind Noodles with the spinach noodles and the crab meat. I felt their pad see ew althought tasty was pricey and it wasn't enough on the plate to share with more than two people. I would return this restaurant once I am feeling better, so that to enjoy their food at a full capacity.
(4)
Jack P.
If I could give this place zero stars I would. I tried to place an order for delivery and they told me that I live too far from them. I said to the woman on the other line that according to their map on the back of the menu that I was well within their delivery zone and that they have delivered to me before. She said that it just changed recently. I told her that I live less than 2 miles from them and by car it would take less than 5 minutes to get to my place. I asked her then how far do you go and she didn't know. Are you kidding me! Forget this place, I know that I will. What terrible service.
(1)
Patricia S.
Great lunch hour specials! And their servers are polite and cheerful. Their pad Thai is not nearly the best I've had and their soups aren't anything to rave about but the majority of their food is tasty and better than your average lunch special
(3)
Brianne M.
Love it here! I found this in an "eating out veg" guide book, which I can't find right now to quote from...but it stated something like "vegan options available." The waitstaff understands what vegan means, so they will not use fish or oyster sauce in your dishes, which is always a big plus in my book. You just have to inform them. They are helpful, so don't be afraid to ask questions. Everytime I have been here, it is during an off hour, and I'm usually there with a total of three other customers, but I know this place can get packed during peak hours, so...call ahead about waiting times. I LOVE the pad see ew...it's something I crave. It's on the expensive side (...well, for the "making-my-way-through-grad-school, living-off-of-selling-paintings-and-babysitting" kinda girl, like me) It's a very very rare treat!
(5)
Ben H.
This is the best place in the area for Thai food, no question. Everything is fresh and tasty at a good value. I've eaten in only once but have gotten take-out here pretty much once a week for a year. FAVS: Seafood Curry - this is a hidden gem. A bit pricier but they don't skimp out on the seafood, and it's all perfectly cooked. This is my absolute favorite dish on the menu. Green Curry Chicken - perfect balance of spice, lots of good veggies. This is my bride's favorite. Pad Woon Sen A La Bankok - my kids' favorite and I love it too. THisn glass noodles with a spicy/sweet sauce and good mix of veggies. Unique and tasty. Other good dishes we commonly order: Pad See Ewe, Pad Thai, & 3 Flavor Chicken. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG HERE.
(4)
Ramya P.
Certainly not the "best"! I found this joint accidentally when me n the hubby had a few hours to kill while our car was being serviced at Mcgrath city. I was surprised to read the reviews n blogs that call this one of the "best" places to get authentic thai food. Take in my opinion with a grain of salt, as I hv never been to Thailand but I have definitely tasted better thai food than this. We got the green curry n a veggie combination dish that clearly need more flavor infusion into the sauce. Average but not outstanding!
(3)
Comensal A.
Amarind's has been a favorite Thai restaurant for me for many years. It's not edgy and "authentic," like TAC Quick, but it does serve a nice variety of Thai favorites in a lovely environment featuring gracious staff and a compact selection of appropriate beer & wine. It is my go-to spot for comfortable, conversation friendly Thai dining in the Oak Park area. This visit was no exception. Our table of four enjoyed miniature eggrolls, chive dumplings, crab rolls and golden cups for starters; all were delicious and nicely presented. I enjoyed basil chicken; it was relatively mild, but all the ingredients were fresh and the flavors were good. I sampled another diner's beef panang curry; it was also tasty and similarly mild. Everyone in our party seemed to enjoy their food. If you like more "heat" in yoor meal, ask for it, of course. NOTE: Yelp says Amarind's is open from 11:30am through dinner M-F, but this is not really the case. It is closed from 3:30 - 5:00 on weekdays.
(4)
Anne K.
They now deliver! And they've added veggie egg rolls to their menu! We love Amarind's!
(5)
Stephanie V.
Omgg this place is amazingggg. I was in thailand for a month soooo ive become very picky about my thai food and let me tell you, this place is the next best thing next to thailand! During the week they have great lunch specials and they have tons of thai dishes to choose from and delicious thai iced coffee!! Their meals are represented beautifully as well. I recommend their stuffed prawns, and kahn chicken soup as appetizers, and the pad mee kao, although everything is delicious!! next week i will be trying the green curry! this will be my new weekly hot spot!
(5)
Patricia S.
The atmosphere was very homely, the service was fair, the food was tasty,and the price was reasonable. It was a week day during the afternoon hours and my husband and I took a chance on this place. When we walked in we were escorted to our seats by a waitress. There weren't many guests dinning in on this day, so we didn't feel crowded. We really didn't know what we wanted so the waitress provided some suggestive ideas. We figured out what we wanted..my husband ordered the three flavored beef and I ordered the curry pork w/scrimp. Both of our meals was yummy, fresh and cooked to perfection. The pork was tender and the scrimp popped w/ juicy flavor. The beef was mouth watering and seasoned w/ a distinctive flavor that lit up our taste buds. Overall, we enjoyed our experience. But, we would have given this restaurant five stars,yet, waitress service wasn't top notch...the waitress should practice smiling more and checking in more to see if guests needs are being met.
(4)
Omar G.
Awesome food, There big bowl sure filled me up, and it takes a lot to fill me up for a skinny guy. My family also enjoy the food. And the price wasn't bad either,. The service is pretty good too. They gave my son some fruit candy when we were leaving. Don't know a lot of places that would do that.
(5)
Sarah S.
Amarind's is my favorite place for thai food in Oak Park. The prices are reasonable and the food is excellent. I highly recommend the basil chicken and the spicy grilled pork. I eat a lot of thai food, and I am always happy when I find a place that consistently gets the flavors right. Amarind's also seems to try to incorporate more vegetables into it's dishes than many other thai restuarants, which is a plus in my book. My biggest complaint about Amarind's is the spice level. For just once I would like them to make it actually spicy! Frequently the servers won't even ask about the spice level, and bring you dishes that have little or no spiciness. I usually end up having to ask for chili and just spice it up myself. Amarinds is easy to get to and parking is a cinch. They have a small cramped lot behind the store, but it is usually easier just to find a spot on the street. I have never had to wait to be seated, even though it is a small restaurant. The other thing I really like about Amarind's is how quiet it is. I feel like I can have a conversation at a normal level, rather than shouting like in some more bustling restaurants. Service can be hit or miss. Usually after placing my order it feels like forever before the food finally arrives. You may want to consider ordering an appetizer if you are really hungry. When the food does finally get to the table, however, I have never been disappointed!
(5)
Melissa T.
I'm hovering between 3 and 4 stars here but am going to stick with an A-Ok until my next visit can raise my opinion. This is good thai food tucked inside a quaint building with a darling interior - it's neither too ornate nor too plane. I've only done carryout on my two visits, but with both service was prompt and friendly. Out of many of the thai restaurants in the area, this is Amarind's is high on my list on the "I want to dine in" scale. Now onto my favorite: food assessment! Caveat: I have a lot to assess, so this'll be a long review. Happy Reading. APPETIZERS: Chicken Satay: Least favorite - I'd say it's simply ok. The peanut sauce was definitely good, but the chicken was like a chicken cutlet on a stick. A little too "I could have gotten this at TGI Fridays" for me when it comes to satay. Chive Dumpling: These tasted fresh - always a good thing, I'd admit. I wish the tapioca dumpling had been fried a bit (not like deep fried but like how they'll be slightly fried like a potsticker at some places) to add a new level of texture. Otherwise, the filing tasted incredibly fresh and delicious. Also, they serve this with sweet soy (I like to add extra chili peppers to my soy), which is the way I like these served. Crispy Egg Batter (Thai style omelet): Delicious and worth the $9. The chili sauce accompanies the dish perfectly. Crab Rangoon: (We know by now that I'm a girl who loves her crab rangoon, and being from St Louis - the "crab rangoon is rumored to have been created in STL and therefore is the" crab rangoon capital of the world - I'm very picky about my rangoon.) In any case, these were very good - cream cheese mixture was creamier than some other places, the flavor was krab-ier than other places, and the pieces of krab and celery were clearly visible in the mix. I love the way they fry these crab rangoon too - they're not overly fried like some places; in fact, the wonton skin is a little bit undone around the center's corners. Whether or not intended, it adds an extra richness to the appetizer. Entrees: Pad Kee Mao with beef: Although not like the kee mao from LOS that I am always chasing the dragon for when I try it at other restaurants, this was good. They delivered on spice, but I also asked for extra spicy, so I'll definitely remember to ask them to add the heat if I choose to order this again. The different vegetables were good; it just didn't really seem like the kee mao as I would expect it. The thick noodles were good though, perfect thickness with a little bit of crispness from the stir-frying. Pad See Ewe with beef: Meh - definitely not the best. I loved the addition of the bok choy but was disappointed by the use of american broccoli. Further, the bok choy wasn't completely cleaned at the stems, so I would encounter a dirt taste that would overpower the thai flavors from time to time. I probably wouldn't order it again. Kaosoy with chicken: I will admit that I don't like thin noodles. I thought this dish might have thick noodles b/c it's known as a northern thai dish (and they have other northern thai dishes on the menu), but it didn't. Despite the thinner noodles, it was still good, but the curry was actually kind of bland. Panang with Chicken: The panang was good - you definitely need to ask for it extra spicy if you want the heat - although as another yelper pointed out, it has no veggies in it. I'd order it again; it fits in with that, "I want something comforting after a long day" type curry, of which I'm a HUGE fan. Oh and the steamed rice that accompanied the curry: some of the best I've had in the area. In any case, Amarind's is good; I just haven't had a knock-me-out delicious dish that I would crave as I have had with some other places. Hopefully, my next visit will lead to a boost in ratings. Right now, I'd say it's a solid 3.5.
(3)
Shannon P.
There are plenty of Thai restaurants in the Chicago area, and plenty even in an area as small as Oak Park. Having been to nearly all of them within a 5 mile radius nothing holds up against the flavor, freshness, and obvious home-made'ness of Amarind's. Lunch is amazingly well priced and a nice combination of soup, appetizer and entree--any combination of which work nicely. The portion size is nice for lunch and the pricing scales well for dinner. My favorite green curry by a landslide, we rarely skip it. It is drinkably delicious. Duck is luscious-(dinner menu). Pad thai, delicious but so are all the noodle dishes. Soups are fresh. Our favorite finish is the sticky rice with custard, a treat in the winter that brings cravings. You can adjust the spice level and flavor, (not always joined). Just know that it's your own IQ that has either helped or hurt you. We have sat and listened to customers complain about how overly spicy it is when they ordered, Thai Spicy. Seek clarification or it will be obvious you couldn't even find Thailand on a map let alone tally the amount of capsaicin that will exit your rear in the WC. As for service, we have always (2 years) had friendly and kind experiences. This is a place that has roots and cares. Check the flowers and artwork when you walk in, they love their place. So do we. My wish is for them to ditch the Styrofoam take-aways. It's worth it to go eco!
(5)
Jacqueline L.
Always enjoy coming here. The food is wonderful, the restaurant is always clean and the staff is very polite. The Thai Iced Tea is def a favorite!
(4)
Ron S.
Amarind's prepares Thai food with a subtle flair. If you are looking for spices that will bowl you over or start your mouth on fire, this is the wrong place. On the other hand, the flavor of the fresh ingredients is what they specialize in. I love the decor (and usually I couldn't give a crap about decor) and how clean the restaurant is. I wish that we still lived in the neighborhood. I'm still looking for Thai food in the Western burbs that comes close to Amarind's.
(4)
Josh B.
Not bad Thai. Apps were good- egg / spring rolls/satay all satisfying but not outstanding. Glass noodle salad was fiery hot-spice wise-and good. Along with decent pad Thai. What really stuck out to me was for a party of nine- 4,apps and 4 entrees with drinks was a rather paltry $140! One dish that also strode out was the "thai calamari" that's what I called it to get kids to try it- very good. All in all a good evening of reasonably priced and tasty food. I still think I will do done digging for other Thai places in the area but this one was solid too!
(3)
Jie S.
If you just started a diet plan like I did, I recommend a few veggi dishes here. My favorite is Basil vegetable with steam rice. Or mixed vegetables if you don't like basil. Cucumber salad is also delicious.
(5)
Mike T.
This place just turned BYOB . We have been here a few times and have found the food quality and consistency great. Now that it is byob , we will go here more often. Servers are polite and cheerful.
(5)
Jerome H.
Really good Thai food, one of my favorites in the Oak Park area. If I recall, it's slightly more expensive than other Thai food, but it's very solid stuff. Appetizers: Have never been disappointed. Crab rangoon are very good (they add more crab and vegetables like scallions or something on the inside), the pancake/crepe things are totally unique and delicious. Don't think I've ever had the shumai or spring rolls here, but I have had the chive dumplings and they're also a unique treat - not really fried at all, more of a gelatinous dough on the outside, but interesting and good nonetheless. Entrees: Curry is okay, not outstanding, short on the vegetables compared to other places and slightly bland. Other stuff is fairly good, but nothing Earth-shattering. Noodle dishes are the same way. The noodles are good quality and they have that cravable taste of whatever dish it is (the whole point of ordering Thai, IMO), but it's nothing that you're going to make you shout for joy from the mountaintops. Service: Service here is very quick and friendly, never had a problem. Interior of the place is very nice for a Thai restaurant and parking is about as easy as it gets off North Avenue. It's always a hassle to go to places like New Pot or Chang Thai because parking can be a mess; not at Amarind's. High 4-star place overall. Very solid food and no drawbacks that I've found.
(4)
Rachel W.
I think its possible I didn't know how Thai food was supposed to taste until eating here, which is huge, since I consider Thai to be one of my favorite cuisines. The food is AMAZING. The decorative pancakes are a must, and my two favorite dishes are the Three-Flavored Chicken and the Kao Soy. My only regret is that they don't deliver.
(5)
Nicole S.
I've eaten at Amarind's a few times now and I've never had a bad experience. Great service and the restaurant itself is pleasant and clean. Everything I've tried has been tasty, although nothing too extraordinary. The Green curry was good but also a little mild for my taste. (I did not specify how much heat I like) Although they are fairly close to home for me, it's not usually the first place that comes to mind when I'm in the mood for Thai. I will definatelycontinue to back and try out new dishes though.
(4)
Lisa B.
Ok, I would give this place 5 stars, but the service is pretty bad at times. I've been here about 4 times (now that I've found it) and love their pad thai with chicken. They have an awesome deal for lunch. It is $7.95 for a soup/salad, eggroll/wonton, and then your main dish. There are a couple of other choices for the first two, but those are the best. I love the cucumber salad. It is so simple. I wish I knew how they made the 'dressing' This is the first pad thai that I've had, so I can't compare, but it is so good. Everything is always fresh, but be prepared for a long lunch. The service is usually slow. Since the food is so good, I can over look some of it. The place is also very small, so if you have a bigger group call ahead.
(4)
Suzanne B.
Having lived in Thailand, I eat Thai food all the time. When I read Steve Dolinsky's Top 5 Thai restaurants list on WBEZ, I made it a goal to try all five. I had already been to Sticky Rice (see previous reviews-- Sticky Rice is STILL my favorite!) and to Spoon---pretty good, so it was time to try Amarind's. So, my girlfriend, Jen, & I went on Friday & we enjoyed ourselves but didn't have anything that was "the best." We ordered crab rolls & golden baskets to start. The crab rolls were not at all what we expected. They were more like Northern Style sausages...not that tasty--just not a lot of flavor. The golden baskets were not good--- mostly corn (which dominated the flavor) & some other veggies. The Tom Kha soup, though, was delicious. Great flavor---exactly as it should be. We ordered a three spice whole red snapper. That was actually delicious. It was very much like we've eaten in Thailand... We also had Pad Kee Mow (one of my favorites) it was pretty yummy, but I did need to add some fish sauce, sugar & chilies so it would be just how I like it. Jen ordered the Chicken Basil--it was just so-so. The Pineapple Fried RIce was very tasty -- in Thailand we would eat this quite often --this version was almost as good. Service was mediocre at best. So- It was a decent restaurant, but not great. It is sort of close to our house, so we'll probably go back eventually, but not as a favorite.
(3)
Erin S.
One of my favorite Thai places. Delicious food. Beautiful presentation. Friendly wait staff. Only thing I wouldn't recommend is the spring rolls. They're just not that great here.
(5)
Tanya S.
Best thai in the area. Good portion, good flavor., nice dining area. Panang Curry Rocks. Pad See Mao- YUM!
(5)
Samantha C.
I just finished my leftover Amarind's noodles SO GOOD! I got it earlier tonight and could not stop munching on it. I got takeout and everything was hot when I got home. I got the crispy shrimp wonton app which comes with a sweet and sour apricot sauce. The sauce was great, something different from the regular sweet and sour sauce. And it wasn't too sweet either. I also liked that the wontons were actually bite sized and not big and messy. And the filling was great too haha. As my entree I tried the Amarin'ds noodles. Best noodles dish I've ever tried! The taste is like a combination of pad thai and fried rice. It comes with spinach noodles and shrimp, crab meat, bean sprouts and chives in a chili sauce. Seriously amazing and highly recommend this noodle dish to anyone! Can't wait to try more stuff!
(5)
Inbalsp S.
Amarind is the best Thai restaurant in Oak Park. As someone who spent 3 months traveling through Thailand, I love how authentic their flavors and dishes are. Fabulous Thom Yum and Thom Kha soups, great curries, and a nice smoky undertone to their Thai iced tea. We visit regularly and haven't been disappointed yet!
(5)
Bess R.
They had me at parking lot. Be still my lazy self. Met a few friends up here on a Thursday for early dinner. I had a couple glasses of reasonably priced wine, and one of the curries for dinner. I don't remember the name of it, but it was awesome. If only I lived closer...sigh.
(4)
Tim M.
We have been ordering takeout from Amarind's for 7+ years and have NEVER had anything less than remarkable food. The outstanding quality and consistency is truly amazing. I would recommend Amarind's to anyone without hesitation.
(5)
Janeen W.
I work down the street from here and I would eat lunch here alllllll the time!! Great Pad See Ewe I would just ask for extra sauce. Good spring rolls. Very Clean. Try this place!
(4)
C T.
Nice place. Very friendly woman at the counter. I ordered pick-up which was ready in 15 minutes. I had Crab Rangoon which, after living in St Louis for a year myself, was nothing to write home about. Mini Eggrolls were ok. The Pad Thai was pretty bland but okay. Chicken was a little dry. And finally the Pad See Ewe- it was Ewwww! Didn't have more than a few bites and didn't care for the smell. I was excited to try this restaurant but I don't think I'll be back. Bummed.
(2)
Seth P.
Why do people like this place? Even Steve Dolinsky, who is always right, likes this place. But he's wrong this time. I've tried this place three times over the years to see what the fuss was about, and -- three strikes yer out. This time I tried the garlic pork -- cooked with scallions, black and white pepper, some other type of onion etc. etc. -- all those different types of flavorings and seasonings and it still didn't taste like shit! I mean this food is BLAND! I don't mean bland for Thai food, I mean bland for American food! That bland! How do you make pork tasteless? When I'm hongry as hell, and I don't eat my food, to quote the great eighth grade teacher Mrs. Stein, "Something is radically wrong!"
(1)
Karen Anne B.
I had seen rave reviews of this place on other sites, and mixed reviews here, but still went with high hopes. All I can say is "Eh." Some of the food was fine, some was bland. They do have some interesting choices that you don't see in other Thai restaurants. I tried the Tom Kha with tofu, and the Pad Thai becuase it is a good standard dish to get an idea of their food. The soup was a bit bland. The Pad Thai was pretty good but seemed to be lacking something. The decor is nice and the service was ok. I guess it's worth a try if you want to check out someplace different, but I can think of 3 other Thai restaurants in the area that I'd probably rather go to.
(2)
Nessie V.
This place was OK. The prices were a little more than what an OK place usually charges. I guess upkeep is high on a castle. Service was nice though.
(3)
Emily D.
Go here if only for the lunch specials. It's an unbelievable deal. I usually have pad thai, but felt like an adventure (so rare for me) and got pad see ew and wasn't disappointed. For $7, I had a great soup, some wontons and a full plate of the yummy wide noodles, that had little charred bits on them and fresh broccoli. It was a pleasure, though FREEZING. Turn up the heat, folks. I can't get warm just on red pepper flakes.
(4)
Bee L.
Ive tried pad thai in many trendy lil spots in the chi but none compare to the pad thai served here ! A++++++++ the cucumber salad is also very delicious. the lunch special is also an amazing price, they serve good portions the waitresses are always friendly and the place def has a good cozy small vibe. the only con about this place is that it is pretty small and I always feel like i am in everyone elses conversations because there isnt much room for the tables to be spread out haha. anyhow this is my fav thai joint :) (EVEN THO THEY RAISED THE LUNCHSPECIAL PRICE :( like a dollar more)
(5)
Mariah S.
came here for dinner shortly after 5pm. parking is located behind the building as it's along the main road. not in a congested area so entering/exiting here was a snap. decor was relaxing and atmosphere seemed classy. only just a few couples were dining but after we were seated, for some reason it took a while for the food server to finally approach us and take our order. ordered the beef larb as appetizer. was able to taste the varying flavors which incorporated the sweet, hot, and sour but was missing the fresh mint i'm used to from eating this dish numerous times in other thai places. entree was a tofu with mixed vegetables in a brown sauce. also had two lite beers. all cost $25. next time i come here it'll be to try the lunch specials.
(2)
Amanda L.
Don't get me wrong, the food was delicious. Amarind's makes the best crab rangoon I've ever had! And my boyfriend & I thoroughly enjoyed the chicken pad thai we ordered as our main course! HOWEVER, the service was absolutely ATROCIOUS. We asked our waitress to box up our left-overs & to give us the check once she returned. She came back with only the check. Puzzled, I asked her where our food was. She and a few of the other waitresses frantically flocked to the kitchen in search of our elusive meal. After about 15 minutes or so, she approached us to say that she had WRAPPED UP OUR DINNER AND MISTAKENLY GAVE IT TO ANOTHER CUSTOMER!!! We were completely appalled!!! I asked her to replace it, as the check came out to $50. Instead of honoring my request, she belligerently refused and insisted that I was being "unreasonable." I will never go back, and I'd certainly never recommend this disgustingly negligent, the-customer-comes-last establishment to anyone! Save your money & go somewhere else! At least then you might be able to guarantee that your food was eaten by you and you alone!
(1)
Kate P.
If you go here and you like spicy dishes you must try their Jalapeno Red Snapper! It was a whole Red Snapper Fillet grilled to perfection and stuffed with jalapeno peppers and other really great Thai spices. It tantalized my taste buds and was so spicy I didn't need to add the red sauce to it and if you know me, you know how HOT I like my Thai dishes to be! Also, if you order this dish I highly recommend that you order a glass of plum wine and try the crab pot stickers as an appetizer. They both compliment the meal very nicely.
(4)
Richard S.
One of the the best thai restaurants. Pawns in garlic sauce, delicious.
(5)
Leo I.
Definitely one of the best Thai restaurants in the region, Amarind serves imaginative dishes but lacks in consistency of service quality. On a good night you'll get the best Thai food in Chicagoland. On a bad night you'll get ok good. On quite nights the service tends to be less attentive. This is not the place to order Pad Thai or any other plain dish that you can find even in the frozen section of your local grocery. Order the Amarind Noodles or another of the unique/signature dishes this restaurant offers.
(4)
Colt E.
I haven't eaten at dozens of Thai restaurants in Chicago, but when I heard Amarind's was one of the best in the city we decided to drive out to Oak Park and try it out. We were hoping to not be disappointed when we walked in on Saturday night and noticed the mostly empty restaurant. However, the food was fresh and good and the service was nice. The food definitely had the homemade feel to it and wasn't weighed down by oils and coloring that some of the lesser Thai places can be. We weren't however blown away by the flavors of the food. It seems like Amarind's is playing it a bit too safe to be considered the best in my opinion. Good food though, you can't go wrong with almost anything on their menu. Everything is done well and sometimes that's enough.
(4)
Mischa D.
This is a great place to stop in for a quick dinner. I love their curry and noodle dishes. They even seem to keep reinventing their dishes and mixing things up (plating, presentation, etc.). Everyone is really friendly and the service is prompt and consistent.
(4)
Melissa T.
Love the thai ice tea and the coconut curry! Yum and yum. Also, the crab rangoon is pretty awsome
(5)
Sam S.
One of the better Thai places I've been to. Their stir-fried glass noodle (Pad Woon Sen) is super yummy, and Tom Yum soup flavorful. The fried rice isn't bad, either. Make sure you leave room for the warm yucca potato custard for dessert. It's a must! A bit more expensive than the other Thai restaurants in the area, but the quality is generally better. There's a parking lot right next to it, and there's always room.
(4)
Jason G.
forget arun. amarind is simply the best thai food outside of bangkok. authentic and meticulously prepared. a very disappointing wine list, but everything else is top-notch. don't miss the stuffed wings, mini spring rolls, three flavored beef and the incredible curries! opt for a thai beer or the thai iced tea or iced coffee, rather than wine... :(
(5)
Happy Mama M.
Good thai food- I have had better but this might be the best Ive had in chicago! The service was great. I would definitely recommend it!
(3)
Carolynne M.
It's not the best Thai food I have ever had, but I was pleased with the varied menu options and the ambiance. The exterior has an old castle-look about it. Theres an outside area in the back which you can see from the street, but it looked rather unused and run-down. Could just be that its all junky at the moment due to the time of year, but I thought it would be really spectacular if it was spruced up for outdoor dining in the summer. Would be very charming outdoor eating. The interior is possibly the nicest looking for a Thai restaurant I have been in in Chicago. The decorations are not chintzy, the lighting is good and everything just sort of works very harmoniously. Our server was very prompt and efficient and we never felt like we were being ignored, even though it was a rather busy Friday night. I had the Amarind Noodle, which, on closer inspection, was nothing more than a jazzed-up Pad Thai. Spinach noodles with shrimp, crab meat, scrambled egg, and bean sprouts had a mild tamarind and chili sauce. Tasty, but not terribly exciting as I'd hoped. The chive dumplings were unlike any I'd had before. Three pure white dough mounds glistened wetly on the plate enveloping steamed chives, accompanied by a rich soy sauce. They were on the bland side, but my opinion could have been skewed abit after my dining companion announced he thought they looked "like snot". He had the Three Flavoured Beef, which I thought was done very well. It's Beef marinated with a three flavoured sauce, chili paste and sesame oil, accompained by sauteed vegetables. Beef was tender, vegetables were crisp, and the sauce added just enough flavour. He also ordered the chicken satay, which he loved, but I thought the chicken was too dry. But the peanut sauce that came with it was very tasty.
(3)
Angelina S.
It seems like the best restaurants are in the most unlikely places. That is how I feel about Amarind's. Amarind's is located on the northwest side of Chicago, located near the suburb of Oak Park. Amarind's is a great restaurant. The service is great for both dining in and take out. The restaurant is cozy and extremely inviting to all diners. Their menu is extensive and extra yummy (try their chicken satay with the peanut sauce -- it's to die for!!). The entree prices are extremely affordable. So you won't feel guilty from enjoying the great food at this restaurant. I am definitely a fan and will continue to visit this restaurant.
(5)
Dean L.
The food was good (though, yes, one dish was rather bland, as other reviewers have mentioned) and their menu does not indicate if a dish will be spicy or not. Worst service I have had in a long time (in this country). Even though the restaurant was not that busy on a cold Sunday evening, the service was slow and the waitress kept forgetting to bring things. We ended up having to go up to the counter in the front every time we wanted a tea refill and when we wanted the check. There were three people working as servers and two tables of customers (no take-out orders during the time we were there). Guess they had better things to do! Also, they apparently have decided to save some money by not heating the place. Most customers had their coats, or at least a scarf and hat, on the entire time while dining. I would be willing to try it again because of the food, but if the service sucks again, I will put this down as a "take out only" restaurant.
(2)
Sujan P.
I was a little nervous about this place given that it had a lot of Chinese dishes on the menu, but then quite a few items which were uniquely Thai not seen at other places. I had 1. Fried fish patties- delicious, nice use of fresh Thai herbs in the patties. 2. Spicy chicken salad- the first time I got this, delicious!!! generous amounts of herbs, rice powder, and good quality chicken (with the occasional tendon/fat part thrown in though). The second time wasn't as great (I ordered in the afternoon this time), it was a bit greasy. They must have had a different chef. 3. Tom yum veggies- delicious, light, a bit oily. 4.Chiengmai Larb (Northen Style)- the first time I got this I was amazed, amazed, amazed. I've never had larb prepared this way and the use of the "sawyer" leaves impart such a distinct flavor. This dish was delicious through and through, but the second time round it was another story, the "sawyer" spice didn't come through, there was more tendon/fatty bits thrown in, and was exceedingly oily. I think I tried teh shrimp salad, but not sure... I'm leaving my rating as a 4 because of my first experience with the larbs, but the last time I went I was scarred with the oiliness of the salads and haven't been bold enough to go back and try it again. The first time I had been requesting the laab thai-style (cold not warm) and perhaps this is why the oil-factor was less? I also agree with Emily--the place is cold, perhaps for the ppl working in the kitchen? The prices are also a bit higher than your typical Thai restaurant, so I would expect a bit more meticulous preparation of the chicken (leaving out the fat and tendon pieces).
(4)
Alissa G.
Amarind's is one of the nicer thai restaurants I've been to--and to mixed effect. On one hand, the decor was lovely and inviting--but the prices were a bit steep. Say, $2 more than most places for equal sized portions. They do have a killer lunch special m-f, $6.95 for soup, salad, and entree. Alas, i don't work nearby, but if I did, I'd be a regular! As for non-lunch times, if you're looking for good, fresh Thai(and maybe looking to wow that special someone, eh? eh?)) Almarind's is a great choice. But if you're just looking for some tasty thai to go, I'd have to guess(don't know the area super well) there are better options. PS They have wine and beer now, but you can bring your own wine for a $7 corkage fee(kiiinda not worth it).
(4)
Laura P.
We went here over the weekend with a group of friends. We walked right in at 7:30 on a Saturday night. We ordered and the food came quickly. Service was good as our water glasses never went dry. The food was just ok. It was decent in terms of freshness, but everything we had was bland. My husband ordered the garlic chicken and asked for it to be extra spicy, but there was hardly any heat to it at all. It was fine for what it was, but I think next time we will wait for a table at the Cuban restaurant next door. On a side note, I think it should be illegal to play an instrumental version of "A Whole New World" (especially in a Thai restaurant).
(2)
Parker L.
Amarind's is a really great place for Thai. Appetizers are prepared like little pieces of art. Love the Thai Iced Tea. But my favorite thing about Amarinds is that you feel like you are dining inside of your house. It is very small building, I think at one time it could have been someone's home. It is a bit pricey for thai, but definately worth the trip for a quiet sit down dinner. They also have several unque thai desserts, that we have tried and loved! Week nights are not too crowded.
(4)
Bex M.
What a find! Moving to Chicago from the Detroit area, we were worried we'd never find a place to compete with Bangkok Cuisine! We were so wrong. This place is delish, friendly service, adorable castle-like exterior. My husband and I have yet to have a bad meal there. Love it! All the apps are tasty and the Pad Thai is delish.
(4)
Melissa H.
Just visited this est. last night with my sister and our friend. It was Sunday night. The rest. closes at 9, and we arrived just around 7pm. We didn't wait too too long, appox 10 minutes while 2 of the waitresses cleared tables. We ordered drinks and appetizers. The Shumai that came was acutally really good. The are shrimp, pork and vegetable mixed dumplings that are real farmers food in Thailand supposedly. They were better then the Shumai that Ive had at 2 of my favorite Thai places, so that was a definite plus. My sister and I waited over 20 minutes for iced tea, which I t thought was a little ridiculous. The waitresses did not check on us very often which was also a turn off. We also had miniature egg rolls as a starter, and those were sub par compared to the Thai egg rolls that Ive pretty much have had at any other Thai restaurants. I ordered Pad Ke Mao, which is one of my favorite Thai dishes to order at a restaurant. In other places it can be called Drunken or Crazy noodles. I ordered it extra spicy, which they did not disappoint me with when it came out nearly too spicy to eat (though I asked for it and loved it like that anyway ha ha) My problem with it were a few things: First off, I believe that my pad ke mao was probably sitting waiting for my sisters Curry to come out for a few minutes, because when it got to the table, temp wise, it was luke warm. Secondly, the dish is similar to Basil Chicken in the fact that it uses A LOT of Basil as well as a brown sauce that is basically infused with fish sauce, dark soy and oyster sauce. However, when it came to the table, the noodles were on the dry side and did not have nearly enough basil or savory sauce. My sister had the curry and I had a taste and honestly I can say the Red Curry was better then Ive had at many places, so there...there were no complaints. I can recommend the curry. The bill came to almost $60 for the 3 of us, which for the slow service, and so so Thai, I thought was sort of a rip off. All in all, if we are up in that area again (my friend lives up there) I wouldn't HATE going there, but I am sure there are plenty good Thai places in the area that would Trump this place.
(2)
Tony K.
EXCELLENT food!!!!!!!!! Nice place too!
(4)
Tiara Lynn A.
Consistently outstanding every time we've been there. It's easy to overlook, but the food is just incredible. The Pad Siew is sweet and a little spicy, and the curries are to die for. Everything always tastes very fresh. After venturing out to a couple other places in the area and being disappointed, this is now the place we go when we crave Thai.
(5)
Tony L.
We went to Amarind's right after we got back from Las Vegas and it was very refreshing. There were a couple of reasons why we stopped at Amarind's. One, we were starving and two, we were sitting in very slow traffic on north avenue around 5P on a Thursday. So stopping in at Amarind's was a good idea at the time. I'm glad we did as well. Amarind's is a pretty nice place, we were greeted immediately and sat down pretty quickly. We got there before a big rush of people came in and our food came out pretty fast. The decor at Amarind's was nice, the chairs and tables were arranged kind of awkwardly but it all kind of came together with the Thai art on the walls. Again, whenever we hit up new restaurant we typically order a little bit more food just to sample and share as well as get an idea on how good the chef is. First we got the Moo Ping, which is a few pieces of pork on a skewer. I'm not sure of the sauce, but it was a darker sauce and the pork was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The dipping sauce they gave us with the Moo Ping was pretty good as well. Then we ordered our main dishes. I got the Pad See Ewe and the Pad Thai and my wife got the Panang Curry. All three dishes were pretty good, the Pad Thai was good but not the best I've had. It was kind of lacking in some of flavorfullness that I've had in other Pad Thais at other restaurants. The Curry was pretty good as well, it had a good balance of all the flavors in the coconut milk and chicken. The Pad See Ewe was ok too, but it was kind of bland. I did notice that all dishes were lacking in the level of heat that typically accompanies Thai food. I wonder if I just didn't order it right, but I didn't remember seeing an option of how spicy I wanted my order. I think I would have liked the dishes better if they had some kick to them. But otherwise all the dishes were well prepared. I also noticed that all of the tables did not have any salt or pepper on the tables. Which I took as the chef not giving his customers a chance to screw up his dishes (high-five, chef).
(3)
Tara L.
I love this place. we live in oak park and it's so convenient for us. You can also order for take out which often comes in handy. Last time i had three flavor beef, which was so tasty and the mushrooms were so fresh i wanted to order a second plate full! Lucky for my waistline, I did not. It's so cozy and comfortable and a great neighborhood place.
(5)
Nilesh K.
Our favorite Thai place in Chicagoland area. Too bad we moved from Oak Park.
(5)
Dina D.
Excellent food with tasty vegetarian options! Flavor is added from use of fresh variety of vegetables and appropriate spices and NOT from dumping in extra cocunut milk to each dish. We order out from Amarind's weekly, its awesome! Their vegetable red curry with tofu is a mainstay for us! Even our meat-eating family and friends request to be taken there during repeat visits. The place itself has average decor and is family-friendly in nature...depends what you are looking for...Regardless, the food and service makes Amarind's a place worth visiting/ordering from...I love it. Great food is hard to find.
(5)
Veronicka L.
One of the most bland Thai restaurant I've been to. I've been here twice and was not impressed either time. They don't offer my favorite dish, panang curry. The tofu was a bit chewy. If you want good Thai food, go to Yum Thai in FP.
(2)
michele l.
Flavors are really pretty good. Service is okay. Portions pretty meager for Thai food. MSG is killer. My boyfriend got a terrible stomach ache while I was finishing my meal. Then about ten minutes later I thought that I'd have to go to the ER as my stomach was clenched into what felt like a fist. Then it would unclench only to clench again. It wasn't food poisoning, I know it was MSG and can name all the restaurants in Oak Park that use it based on the pain in my stomach. This place is THE worst for it, I understand the Asians love to use it, but this place uses more than any place I've ever eaten at. It's a shame the food is so delicious.
(1)
chris e.
we have driven by many times and i always said that i wanted to drop by and try Amarinds - parking lot ..yay! ..well tonight was the night and it was-- 'ok' .. the pricing is a little higher (but not obscenely so) than other Thai restaurants in the area.. We ordered 3 appetizers , presentation was nice but with the exception of the small side of cucumber salad that comes with the satay -and which is awesome- the actual taste of the appetizers was just 'ok' .. the main dishes were better than average - i really did enjoy the pad thai, but was a bit put off that they charged $1 extra for extra peanuts with it-first time ive ever had that happen with the way i order my pad thai anywhere else -and thats how i always order it =) .. the other thing that annoyed me is a peevish thing, but it annoyed me all the same. i asked for a large glass of ice with water as my drink - instead of bringing me a larger glass with ice in it (which they have for the iced teas and coffees), the server took my small glass of water away, came back with it half filled with ice and then poured new water into it. She was good about repouring the water when we would run out but that original ice was the only ice i got .. A small thing, but one thats more annoying for me than the $1 charge for the peanuts because the use of a large glass and keeping me stocked with ice -or at least asking if i wanted more- costs nothing. The one other thing that annoyed me was the table across from us had 4 people and ordered after we did -there were only 2 of us- . yet they got their food first. And the first dish that came out was pad thai -which was exactly what i had ordered as well. Service wasnt bad but i got the feeling that because we came in in jeans and tshirts and the other table was obviously a bit more well off their service came before ours. Would i go here again? i might come back to try the lunch special but to be honest, my favorite dinner place for Thai is still going to be Opart Thai.
(3)
Tina T.
I found a new place for my Thai fix! Definitely on the top of my list of places to frequent; in fact, I have even driven from Elmhurst to get takeout from here, it's so good! Just outside of Oak Park, they offer simply delicious thai food in a pleasant atmosphere. A friend had mentioned that their chef used to be at Arun's; don't know for sure that it's true but he's certainly great! Their menu was fairly extensive, with some unusual dishes, and all the food we tried was excellent. I just about slurped up the hot sauce from my dish because I did not want to miss a drop. It's cute and clean inside, a little more fancier than some Thai places, and the service was attentive and friendly. Prices were slightly higher than some other mom and pop establishments, but well worth it. The best shumai I've had, and it even looked artistic! Highly recommend it; I will be coming back here quite often!
(5)
Justin G.
This is my second favorite place to eat Thai. I prefer King and I in Oak Park for the selection and price, but this place has fresher taste but a little more expensive.
(5)
mike l.
wonderful, just wonderful. everything here had passion & flavor. best thai place since moving to chicago, & we've tried 4 or 5. the tom yum was a little flat, but it actually grew on me. miniature spring rolls were also a little flat (probably frozen). the whole snapper was a little pricey, but definitely worth it. whole chunks of fried fish with a sweet dipping sauce. the beef panang curry was pretty nice too. Lots of rice and friendly, but not annoying service. definitely definitely worth the drive.
(4)
linda O.
i come here with my family every chance i get. the kids love it too. they have some nice creative dishes on the menu as well as standard. they are a bit priceier. but we have never been disappointed. the curries are great! try the lunch special, you'll definately go back for dinner..
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Kris B.
Very good food and a great place to bring the family. We the 3 toddlers, which were thrilled to receive their own plastic themed plates and cups. Overall, both the service and food were excellent. Nice portions as well. We'll definitely be going back to this location.
(5)Katrina B.
I went for lunch and it was mediocre. I could not finish the soup, a simple broth, because it tasted off. The pad kee mao was slimy, bland, and full of asparagus which was an unpleasant surprise.
(3)Elly L.
This is the best Thai food I have ever had besides Arun's and I think that's really saying something. I have been here with my family dozens of times, and I also love dragging new people with me and they always always fall in love. The whole jalapeño red snapper in a must, along with their signature amarinds noodles. Out of this world!! And they are so consistent and on point with flavors. Reasonably priced, good service, but it's byob, which can be fun. I'll never stop going to amarinds! It's an at least 2 times a year thing.
(5)Thomas C.
This is really good Thai Food and it's byob as well. Not much else to say, the Pad Thai is great, love the stuffed chicken wing, their spring rolls are a must. The dining room is small, the service is efficient and effective ... every time I go here I wonder why I don't go here more often because the food is really good.
(4)Natalie S.
We were in Oak Park on a play date with some friends and it turned into a lunch date too. Yay! This place was close to where we were so we stopped in. They had some lunch specials for $7 or $8 that came with soup, an appetizer and an entree. I had a chicken soup, fried tofu and pad thai with tofu (my kiddo loves tofu and we were sharing). Everything was of above average quality, I was a big fan! The staff was super nice. When they saw 4 adults strolling in with 6 kids, no one even flinched. They got us a table with the right number of high chairs and boosters and were very attentive. They even had cute little kids' plates and forks!
(4)Lisa A.
It's my first try here and I could give it 5 stars, but for 2 things. The pad thai noodles were just a little too firm as far as texture, but flavorful and they do not offer green papaya salad which is one of my favorite salads. Our meal included: as appetizers Decorative Pancakes (enough for 6-7 to share) crispy & doughy with a good tamarind sauce Fried Stuffed Prawn (4 pieces) with a sweet and sour sauce Thai Style Crepe (4 pieces) [not bad, but I have had better] Chicken Satay (5 pieces) with a decent peanut sauce as entrees: Pad Thai with Tofu Pad See Ewe with Beef was very flavorful Lard Nar with Tofu Amarind's Noodles were just as tasty and good as the Yelp reviews suggested Chicken Panang Curry with just enough spiciness as ordered Service was a bit slow to start, but once the order was placed the food soon followed. I would definitely come back.
(4)Ekow M.
The family gets food from here about once a week. I have never had a poor meal and there is absolutely no MSG. EXCELENCE PLACE!
(5)christine s.
Finally found a great Thai restaurant. Fresh and delicious! We tried 3 flavor beef, pad kee mao, and chicken fried rice. The food was not greasy which I appreciate. The beef was tender and had layers of flavor and the noodles and rice were both delicious. Can't wait to go back.
(5)J M.
Super yummy Thai food. We've ordered it about 5 times so far and loved each meal. Highly recommend it!
(5)Rachel R.
Great dinner! Tom kha chicken soup was excellent, and I ordered the chicken panang curry and also we had some chicken pad see eu-everything was delicious! Will definitely come here again, but probably leave my toddler daughter at home. Felt like we were interrupting everyone's dinner with her noise!
(5)Yvonne O.
So, I've been on a thai kick lately and we walked over here the other night to pick up some take-away. I got my usual mini egg rolls and beef pad see eiw, partly because it is my standard and partly to compare it to the place across the street since I had this same meal earlier in the week. Unfortunately, it just wasn't as good. The beef was too dry and the veggies kind of limp. The egg rolls were fine and I do love their sauce (I think they make it in house) Husband tried something called three way chicken and really liked it - I stole a bite and it was tasty! I wouldn't stop going here - maybe it was an off night, because we have been coming here for the 8 years we have lived in the area, but I'm going to need to try some new things! And - their packaging for take-out is still excellent - nothing spills, nothing spoils, just perfect.
(3)Romualdo F.
I have been a Thai food fanatic since 1990's and tried almost all of the Thai restaurants in Chicago. Last night I went to this place for the first time with my friends and their families, total 9 people. We ordered our usual favorites, requested to have 3 SEPARATE TICKETS since there are 3 families to simplify payment after eating. Their pad thai was bland and one of the worst, the appetizers such and satay was ok, spring roll, bland. But the Basil beef was actually good, amarind noodles was ok. Overall the food was not impressive at all but its fine. The part that pisses me off the most was when we received our 3 SEPARATE TICKETS, not only their food was very expensive for a thai food, they FUCKED US with their mandatory gratuity of I believe 13% PER TICKET! THERE ARE 3 SEPARATE TICKETS. Don't get me wrong, if it was only one bill, and more than 6 people I get it but 3 separate tickets and 13% "gratuity" charge for each for only 9 people? Total of about 31% gratuity forced upon us for a shitty food? NEVER AGAIN we will come back to this shit hole!
(1)Lauren T.
Went here tonight for the second time with a friend and we both agreed everything was excellent. We were seated immediately despite it being pretty packed. Our server was friendly and gave us plenty of time to make our selections without hovering. Our food didn't take too long to arrive which was surprising on a busy Friday night. But everything was piping hot and tasty. I ordered the Pad See Ewe and was delighted. The variety of ingredients in the dish made for amazing flavor combinations. I liked that there was a plentiful amount of meat and vegetables instead of them just loading the plate with noodles. Another plus was that the portions were fairly large. My meal pretty much took up the whole plate (which was a large one). I'm always thrilled to find a place with both great service and great food. I definitely look forward to dining here again.
(5)Emm M.
We love this place! The chicken and beef dishes we had seemed like better quality meat than most thai places and the food was fresh and not greasy. We will definitely be back to this place.
(5)Lars J.
I dig this nice food and queit little space. Do not, I repeat do not order your food to be traditional hot.
(4)Brian F.
I've been coming here for lunch for many years now and this is my favorite Thai restaurant period. The lunch special menu is very inexpensive less than $10 for soup, appetizer, and entree. The Thai iced coffee here is delicious but the main reason I come time and time again is the Pad Woon Sen. With yummy noodles, plenty of fresh veggies, and just the right amount of oil and spice, this dish is my idea of the perfect comfort food. Many negative reviews complain of the lack of heat in the food. That is most definitely true. The chef here relies on subtle flavors to entertain the palate. I had a Tom Kha Gai today which is a dish, in my opinion, that must have some heat to offset the sweetness of the coconut milk. When it arrived, though, there was only a hint of heat. After adding about 5 spoonfuls of hot pepper paste, though, I got it up to temperature and the perfect melding of flavors. My only real criticism is that on very crowded days the noise level becomes unnacceptable. There's something about the acoustics in the dining room that seems to amplify the conversations of others.
(5)Samuel M.
Awesome food! Spicy pork is a must if you want a flavor explosion. The asparagus chicken is very good as well. It is byob so if you want wine you must bring your own. Very friendly atmosphere also. We will most certainly be returning!
(5)Arlene G.
went here with 1of my besties last week for dinner & we both really enjoyed our food. she got the tom yum soup and i had the lemongrass chicken. we shared our entrees& thought both of them were pretty tasty.
(4)Jaci Y.
Amarind restaurant was a good experience. Now, since I am in my first trimester of pregnancy, almost any food makes me feel nauseous. However, with Amarind's food despite my nauseousness I was able to take their good food. I liked their Amarind Noodles with the spinach noodles and the crab meat. I felt their pad see ew althought tasty was pricey and it wasn't enough on the plate to share with more than two people. I would return this restaurant once I am feeling better, so that to enjoy their food at a full capacity.
(4)Jack P.
If I could give this place zero stars I would. I tried to place an order for delivery and they told me that I live too far from them. I said to the woman on the other line that according to their map on the back of the menu that I was well within their delivery zone and that they have delivered to me before. She said that it just changed recently. I told her that I live less than 2 miles from them and by car it would take less than 5 minutes to get to my place. I asked her then how far do you go and she didn't know. Are you kidding me! Forget this place, I know that I will. What terrible service.
(1)Patricia S.
Great lunch hour specials! And their servers are polite and cheerful. Their pad Thai is not nearly the best I've had and their soups aren't anything to rave about but the majority of their food is tasty and better than your average lunch special
(3)Brianne M.
Love it here! I found this in an "eating out veg" guide book, which I can't find right now to quote from...but it stated something like "vegan options available." The waitstaff understands what vegan means, so they will not use fish or oyster sauce in your dishes, which is always a big plus in my book. You just have to inform them. They are helpful, so don't be afraid to ask questions. Everytime I have been here, it is during an off hour, and I'm usually there with a total of three other customers, but I know this place can get packed during peak hours, so...call ahead about waiting times. I LOVE the pad see ew...it's something I crave. It's on the expensive side (...well, for the "making-my-way-through-grad-school, living-off-of-selling-paintings-and-babysitting" kinda girl, like me) It's a very very rare treat!
(5)Ben H.
This is the best place in the area for Thai food, no question. Everything is fresh and tasty at a good value. I've eaten in only once but have gotten take-out here pretty much once a week for a year. FAVS: Seafood Curry - this is a hidden gem. A bit pricier but they don't skimp out on the seafood, and it's all perfectly cooked. This is my absolute favorite dish on the menu. Green Curry Chicken - perfect balance of spice, lots of good veggies. This is my bride's favorite. Pad Woon Sen A La Bankok - my kids' favorite and I love it too. THisn glass noodles with a spicy/sweet sauce and good mix of veggies. Unique and tasty. Other good dishes we commonly order: Pad See Ewe, Pad Thai, & 3 Flavor Chicken. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG HERE.
(4)Ramya P.
Certainly not the "best"! I found this joint accidentally when me n the hubby had a few hours to kill while our car was being serviced at Mcgrath city. I was surprised to read the reviews n blogs that call this one of the "best" places to get authentic thai food. Take in my opinion with a grain of salt, as I hv never been to Thailand but I have definitely tasted better thai food than this. We got the green curry n a veggie combination dish that clearly need more flavor infusion into the sauce. Average but not outstanding!
(3)Comensal A.
Amarind's has been a favorite Thai restaurant for me for many years. It's not edgy and "authentic," like TAC Quick, but it does serve a nice variety of Thai favorites in a lovely environment featuring gracious staff and a compact selection of appropriate beer & wine. It is my go-to spot for comfortable, conversation friendly Thai dining in the Oak Park area. This visit was no exception. Our table of four enjoyed miniature eggrolls, chive dumplings, crab rolls and golden cups for starters; all were delicious and nicely presented. I enjoyed basil chicken; it was relatively mild, but all the ingredients were fresh and the flavors were good. I sampled another diner's beef panang curry; it was also tasty and similarly mild. Everyone in our party seemed to enjoy their food. If you like more "heat" in yoor meal, ask for it, of course. NOTE: Yelp says Amarind's is open from 11:30am through dinner M-F, but this is not really the case. It is closed from 3:30 - 5:00 on weekdays.
(4)Anne K.
They now deliver! And they've added veggie egg rolls to their menu! We love Amarind's!
(5)Stephanie V.
Omgg this place is amazingggg. I was in thailand for a month soooo ive become very picky about my thai food and let me tell you, this place is the next best thing next to thailand! During the week they have great lunch specials and they have tons of thai dishes to choose from and delicious thai iced coffee!! Their meals are represented beautifully as well. I recommend their stuffed prawns, and kahn chicken soup as appetizers, and the pad mee kao, although everything is delicious!! next week i will be trying the green curry! this will be my new weekly hot spot!
(5)Patricia S.
The atmosphere was very homely, the service was fair, the food was tasty,and the price was reasonable. It was a week day during the afternoon hours and my husband and I took a chance on this place. When we walked in we were escorted to our seats by a waitress. There weren't many guests dinning in on this day, so we didn't feel crowded. We really didn't know what we wanted so the waitress provided some suggestive ideas. We figured out what we wanted..my husband ordered the three flavored beef and I ordered the curry pork w/scrimp. Both of our meals was yummy, fresh and cooked to perfection. The pork was tender and the scrimp popped w/ juicy flavor. The beef was mouth watering and seasoned w/ a distinctive flavor that lit up our taste buds. Overall, we enjoyed our experience. But, we would have given this restaurant five stars,yet, waitress service wasn't top notch...the waitress should practice smiling more and checking in more to see if guests needs are being met.
(4)Omar G.
Awesome food, There big bowl sure filled me up, and it takes a lot to fill me up for a skinny guy. My family also enjoy the food. And the price wasn't bad either,. The service is pretty good too. They gave my son some fruit candy when we were leaving. Don't know a lot of places that would do that.
(5)Sarah S.
Amarind's is my favorite place for thai food in Oak Park. The prices are reasonable and the food is excellent. I highly recommend the basil chicken and the spicy grilled pork. I eat a lot of thai food, and I am always happy when I find a place that consistently gets the flavors right. Amarind's also seems to try to incorporate more vegetables into it's dishes than many other thai restuarants, which is a plus in my book. My biggest complaint about Amarind's is the spice level. For just once I would like them to make it actually spicy! Frequently the servers won't even ask about the spice level, and bring you dishes that have little or no spiciness. I usually end up having to ask for chili and just spice it up myself. Amarinds is easy to get to and parking is a cinch. They have a small cramped lot behind the store, but it is usually easier just to find a spot on the street. I have never had to wait to be seated, even though it is a small restaurant. The other thing I really like about Amarind's is how quiet it is. I feel like I can have a conversation at a normal level, rather than shouting like in some more bustling restaurants. Service can be hit or miss. Usually after placing my order it feels like forever before the food finally arrives. You may want to consider ordering an appetizer if you are really hungry. When the food does finally get to the table, however, I have never been disappointed!
(5)Melissa T.
I'm hovering between 3 and 4 stars here but am going to stick with an A-Ok until my next visit can raise my opinion. This is good thai food tucked inside a quaint building with a darling interior - it's neither too ornate nor too plane. I've only done carryout on my two visits, but with both service was prompt and friendly. Out of many of the thai restaurants in the area, this is Amarind's is high on my list on the "I want to dine in" scale. Now onto my favorite: food assessment! Caveat: I have a lot to assess, so this'll be a long review. Happy Reading. APPETIZERS: Chicken Satay: Least favorite - I'd say it's simply ok. The peanut sauce was definitely good, but the chicken was like a chicken cutlet on a stick. A little too "I could have gotten this at TGI Fridays" for me when it comes to satay. Chive Dumpling: These tasted fresh - always a good thing, I'd admit. I wish the tapioca dumpling had been fried a bit (not like deep fried but like how they'll be slightly fried like a potsticker at some places) to add a new level of texture. Otherwise, the filing tasted incredibly fresh and delicious. Also, they serve this with sweet soy (I like to add extra chili peppers to my soy), which is the way I like these served. Crispy Egg Batter (Thai style omelet): Delicious and worth the $9. The chili sauce accompanies the dish perfectly. Crab Rangoon: (We know by now that I'm a girl who loves her crab rangoon, and being from St Louis - the "crab rangoon is rumored to have been created in STL and therefore is the" crab rangoon capital of the world - I'm very picky about my rangoon.) In any case, these were very good - cream cheese mixture was creamier than some other places, the flavor was krab-ier than other places, and the pieces of krab and celery were clearly visible in the mix. I love the way they fry these crab rangoon too - they're not overly fried like some places; in fact, the wonton skin is a little bit undone around the center's corners. Whether or not intended, it adds an extra richness to the appetizer. Entrees: Pad Kee Mao with beef: Although not like the kee mao from LOS that I am always chasing the dragon for when I try it at other restaurants, this was good. They delivered on spice, but I also asked for extra spicy, so I'll definitely remember to ask them to add the heat if I choose to order this again. The different vegetables were good; it just didn't really seem like the kee mao as I would expect it. The thick noodles were good though, perfect thickness with a little bit of crispness from the stir-frying. Pad See Ewe with beef: Meh - definitely not the best. I loved the addition of the bok choy but was disappointed by the use of american broccoli. Further, the bok choy wasn't completely cleaned at the stems, so I would encounter a dirt taste that would overpower the thai flavors from time to time. I probably wouldn't order it again. Kaosoy with chicken: I will admit that I don't like thin noodles. I thought this dish might have thick noodles b/c it's known as a northern thai dish (and they have other northern thai dishes on the menu), but it didn't. Despite the thinner noodles, it was still good, but the curry was actually kind of bland. Panang with Chicken: The panang was good - you definitely need to ask for it extra spicy if you want the heat - although as another yelper pointed out, it has no veggies in it. I'd order it again; it fits in with that, "I want something comforting after a long day" type curry, of which I'm a HUGE fan. Oh and the steamed rice that accompanied the curry: some of the best I've had in the area. In any case, Amarind's is good; I just haven't had a knock-me-out delicious dish that I would crave as I have had with some other places. Hopefully, my next visit will lead to a boost in ratings. Right now, I'd say it's a solid 3.5.
(3)Shannon P.
There are plenty of Thai restaurants in the Chicago area, and plenty even in an area as small as Oak Park. Having been to nearly all of them within a 5 mile radius nothing holds up against the flavor, freshness, and obvious home-made'ness of Amarind's. Lunch is amazingly well priced and a nice combination of soup, appetizer and entree--any combination of which work nicely. The portion size is nice for lunch and the pricing scales well for dinner. My favorite green curry by a landslide, we rarely skip it. It is drinkably delicious. Duck is luscious-(dinner menu). Pad thai, delicious but so are all the noodle dishes. Soups are fresh. Our favorite finish is the sticky rice with custard, a treat in the winter that brings cravings. You can adjust the spice level and flavor, (not always joined). Just know that it's your own IQ that has either helped or hurt you. We have sat and listened to customers complain about how overly spicy it is when they ordered, Thai Spicy. Seek clarification or it will be obvious you couldn't even find Thailand on a map let alone tally the amount of capsaicin that will exit your rear in the WC. As for service, we have always (2 years) had friendly and kind experiences. This is a place that has roots and cares. Check the flowers and artwork when you walk in, they love their place. So do we. My wish is for them to ditch the Styrofoam take-aways. It's worth it to go eco!
(5)Jacqueline L.
Always enjoy coming here. The food is wonderful, the restaurant is always clean and the staff is very polite. The Thai Iced Tea is def a favorite!
(4)Ron S.
Amarind's prepares Thai food with a subtle flair. If you are looking for spices that will bowl you over or start your mouth on fire, this is the wrong place. On the other hand, the flavor of the fresh ingredients is what they specialize in. I love the decor (and usually I couldn't give a crap about decor) and how clean the restaurant is. I wish that we still lived in the neighborhood. I'm still looking for Thai food in the Western burbs that comes close to Amarind's.
(4)Josh B.
Not bad Thai. Apps were good- egg / spring rolls/satay all satisfying but not outstanding. Glass noodle salad was fiery hot-spice wise-and good. Along with decent pad Thai. What really stuck out to me was for a party of nine- 4,apps and 4 entrees with drinks was a rather paltry $140! One dish that also strode out was the "thai calamari" that's what I called it to get kids to try it- very good. All in all a good evening of reasonably priced and tasty food. I still think I will do done digging for other Thai places in the area but this one was solid too!
(3)Jie S.
If you just started a diet plan like I did, I recommend a few veggi dishes here. My favorite is Basil vegetable with steam rice. Or mixed vegetables if you don't like basil. Cucumber salad is also delicious.
(5)Mike T.
This place just turned BYOB . We have been here a few times and have found the food quality and consistency great. Now that it is byob , we will go here more often. Servers are polite and cheerful.
(5)Jerome H.
Really good Thai food, one of my favorites in the Oak Park area. If I recall, it's slightly more expensive than other Thai food, but it's very solid stuff. Appetizers: Have never been disappointed. Crab rangoon are very good (they add more crab and vegetables like scallions or something on the inside), the pancake/crepe things are totally unique and delicious. Don't think I've ever had the shumai or spring rolls here, but I have had the chive dumplings and they're also a unique treat - not really fried at all, more of a gelatinous dough on the outside, but interesting and good nonetheless. Entrees: Curry is okay, not outstanding, short on the vegetables compared to other places and slightly bland. Other stuff is fairly good, but nothing Earth-shattering. Noodle dishes are the same way. The noodles are good quality and they have that cravable taste of whatever dish it is (the whole point of ordering Thai, IMO), but it's nothing that you're going to make you shout for joy from the mountaintops. Service: Service here is very quick and friendly, never had a problem. Interior of the place is very nice for a Thai restaurant and parking is about as easy as it gets off North Avenue. It's always a hassle to go to places like New Pot or Chang Thai because parking can be a mess; not at Amarind's. High 4-star place overall. Very solid food and no drawbacks that I've found.
(4)Rachel W.
I think its possible I didn't know how Thai food was supposed to taste until eating here, which is huge, since I consider Thai to be one of my favorite cuisines. The food is AMAZING. The decorative pancakes are a must, and my two favorite dishes are the Three-Flavored Chicken and the Kao Soy. My only regret is that they don't deliver.
(5)Nicole S.
I've eaten at Amarind's a few times now and I've never had a bad experience. Great service and the restaurant itself is pleasant and clean. Everything I've tried has been tasty, although nothing too extraordinary. The Green curry was good but also a little mild for my taste. (I did not specify how much heat I like) Although they are fairly close to home for me, it's not usually the first place that comes to mind when I'm in the mood for Thai. I will definatelycontinue to back and try out new dishes though.
(4)Lisa B.
Ok, I would give this place 5 stars, but the service is pretty bad at times. I've been here about 4 times (now that I've found it) and love their pad thai with chicken. They have an awesome deal for lunch. It is $7.95 for a soup/salad, eggroll/wonton, and then your main dish. There are a couple of other choices for the first two, but those are the best. I love the cucumber salad. It is so simple. I wish I knew how they made the 'dressing' This is the first pad thai that I've had, so I can't compare, but it is so good. Everything is always fresh, but be prepared for a long lunch. The service is usually slow. Since the food is so good, I can over look some of it. The place is also very small, so if you have a bigger group call ahead.
(4)Suzanne B.
Having lived in Thailand, I eat Thai food all the time. When I read Steve Dolinsky's Top 5 Thai restaurants list on WBEZ, I made it a goal to try all five. I had already been to Sticky Rice (see previous reviews-- Sticky Rice is STILL my favorite!) and to Spoon---pretty good, so it was time to try Amarind's. So, my girlfriend, Jen, & I went on Friday & we enjoyed ourselves but didn't have anything that was "the best." We ordered crab rolls & golden baskets to start. The crab rolls were not at all what we expected. They were more like Northern Style sausages...not that tasty--just not a lot of flavor. The golden baskets were not good--- mostly corn (which dominated the flavor) & some other veggies. The Tom Kha soup, though, was delicious. Great flavor---exactly as it should be. We ordered a three spice whole red snapper. That was actually delicious. It was very much like we've eaten in Thailand... We also had Pad Kee Mow (one of my favorites) it was pretty yummy, but I did need to add some fish sauce, sugar & chilies so it would be just how I like it. Jen ordered the Chicken Basil--it was just so-so. The Pineapple Fried RIce was very tasty -- in Thailand we would eat this quite often --this version was almost as good. Service was mediocre at best. So- It was a decent restaurant, but not great. It is sort of close to our house, so we'll probably go back eventually, but not as a favorite.
(3)Erin S.
One of my favorite Thai places. Delicious food. Beautiful presentation. Friendly wait staff. Only thing I wouldn't recommend is the spring rolls. They're just not that great here.
(5)Tanya S.
Best thai in the area. Good portion, good flavor., nice dining area. Panang Curry Rocks. Pad See Mao- YUM!
(5)Samantha C.
I just finished my leftover Amarind's noodles SO GOOD! I got it earlier tonight and could not stop munching on it. I got takeout and everything was hot when I got home. I got the crispy shrimp wonton app which comes with a sweet and sour apricot sauce. The sauce was great, something different from the regular sweet and sour sauce. And it wasn't too sweet either. I also liked that the wontons were actually bite sized and not big and messy. And the filling was great too haha. As my entree I tried the Amarin'ds noodles. Best noodles dish I've ever tried! The taste is like a combination of pad thai and fried rice. It comes with spinach noodles and shrimp, crab meat, bean sprouts and chives in a chili sauce. Seriously amazing and highly recommend this noodle dish to anyone! Can't wait to try more stuff!
(5)Inbalsp S.
Amarind is the best Thai restaurant in Oak Park. As someone who spent 3 months traveling through Thailand, I love how authentic their flavors and dishes are. Fabulous Thom Yum and Thom Kha soups, great curries, and a nice smoky undertone to their Thai iced tea. We visit regularly and haven't been disappointed yet!
(5)Bess R.
They had me at parking lot. Be still my lazy self. Met a few friends up here on a Thursday for early dinner. I had a couple glasses of reasonably priced wine, and one of the curries for dinner. I don't remember the name of it, but it was awesome. If only I lived closer...sigh.
(4)Tim M.
We have been ordering takeout from Amarind's for 7+ years and have NEVER had anything less than remarkable food. The outstanding quality and consistency is truly amazing. I would recommend Amarind's to anyone without hesitation.
(5)Janeen W.
I work down the street from here and I would eat lunch here alllllll the time!! Great Pad See Ewe I would just ask for extra sauce. Good spring rolls. Very Clean. Try this place!
(4)C T.
Nice place. Very friendly woman at the counter. I ordered pick-up which was ready in 15 minutes. I had Crab Rangoon which, after living in St Louis for a year myself, was nothing to write home about. Mini Eggrolls were ok. The Pad Thai was pretty bland but okay. Chicken was a little dry. And finally the Pad See Ewe- it was Ewwww! Didn't have more than a few bites and didn't care for the smell. I was excited to try this restaurant but I don't think I'll be back. Bummed.
(2)Seth P.
Why do people like this place? Even Steve Dolinsky, who is always right, likes this place. But he's wrong this time. I've tried this place three times over the years to see what the fuss was about, and -- three strikes yer out. This time I tried the garlic pork -- cooked with scallions, black and white pepper, some other type of onion etc. etc. -- all those different types of flavorings and seasonings and it still didn't taste like shit! I mean this food is BLAND! I don't mean bland for Thai food, I mean bland for American food! That bland! How do you make pork tasteless? When I'm hongry as hell, and I don't eat my food, to quote the great eighth grade teacher Mrs. Stein, "Something is radically wrong!"
(1)Karen Anne B.
I had seen rave reviews of this place on other sites, and mixed reviews here, but still went with high hopes. All I can say is "Eh." Some of the food was fine, some was bland. They do have some interesting choices that you don't see in other Thai restaurants. I tried the Tom Kha with tofu, and the Pad Thai becuase it is a good standard dish to get an idea of their food. The soup was a bit bland. The Pad Thai was pretty good but seemed to be lacking something. The decor is nice and the service was ok. I guess it's worth a try if you want to check out someplace different, but I can think of 3 other Thai restaurants in the area that I'd probably rather go to.
(2)Nessie V.
This place was OK. The prices were a little more than what an OK place usually charges. I guess upkeep is high on a castle. Service was nice though.
(3)Emily D.
Go here if only for the lunch specials. It's an unbelievable deal. I usually have pad thai, but felt like an adventure (so rare for me) and got pad see ew and wasn't disappointed. For $7, I had a great soup, some wontons and a full plate of the yummy wide noodles, that had little charred bits on them and fresh broccoli. It was a pleasure, though FREEZING. Turn up the heat, folks. I can't get warm just on red pepper flakes.
(4)Bee L.
Ive tried pad thai in many trendy lil spots in the chi but none compare to the pad thai served here ! A++++++++ the cucumber salad is also very delicious. the lunch special is also an amazing price, they serve good portions the waitresses are always friendly and the place def has a good cozy small vibe. the only con about this place is that it is pretty small and I always feel like i am in everyone elses conversations because there isnt much room for the tables to be spread out haha. anyhow this is my fav thai joint :) (EVEN THO THEY RAISED THE LUNCHSPECIAL PRICE :( like a dollar more)
(5)Mariah S.
came here for dinner shortly after 5pm. parking is located behind the building as it's along the main road. not in a congested area so entering/exiting here was a snap. decor was relaxing and atmosphere seemed classy. only just a few couples were dining but after we were seated, for some reason it took a while for the food server to finally approach us and take our order. ordered the beef larb as appetizer. was able to taste the varying flavors which incorporated the sweet, hot, and sour but was missing the fresh mint i'm used to from eating this dish numerous times in other thai places. entree was a tofu with mixed vegetables in a brown sauce. also had two lite beers. all cost $25. next time i come here it'll be to try the lunch specials.
(2)Amanda L.
Don't get me wrong, the food was delicious. Amarind's makes the best crab rangoon I've ever had! And my boyfriend & I thoroughly enjoyed the chicken pad thai we ordered as our main course! HOWEVER, the service was absolutely ATROCIOUS. We asked our waitress to box up our left-overs & to give us the check once she returned. She came back with only the check. Puzzled, I asked her where our food was. She and a few of the other waitresses frantically flocked to the kitchen in search of our elusive meal. After about 15 minutes or so, she approached us to say that she had WRAPPED UP OUR DINNER AND MISTAKENLY GAVE IT TO ANOTHER CUSTOMER!!! We were completely appalled!!! I asked her to replace it, as the check came out to $50. Instead of honoring my request, she belligerently refused and insisted that I was being "unreasonable." I will never go back, and I'd certainly never recommend this disgustingly negligent, the-customer-comes-last establishment to anyone! Save your money & go somewhere else! At least then you might be able to guarantee that your food was eaten by you and you alone!
(1)Kate P.
If you go here and you like spicy dishes you must try their Jalapeno Red Snapper! It was a whole Red Snapper Fillet grilled to perfection and stuffed with jalapeno peppers and other really great Thai spices. It tantalized my taste buds and was so spicy I didn't need to add the red sauce to it and if you know me, you know how HOT I like my Thai dishes to be! Also, if you order this dish I highly recommend that you order a glass of plum wine and try the crab pot stickers as an appetizer. They both compliment the meal very nicely.
(4)Richard S.
One of the the best thai restaurants. Pawns in garlic sauce, delicious.
(5)Leo I.
Definitely one of the best Thai restaurants in the region, Amarind serves imaginative dishes but lacks in consistency of service quality. On a good night you'll get the best Thai food in Chicagoland. On a bad night you'll get ok good. On quite nights the service tends to be less attentive. This is not the place to order Pad Thai or any other plain dish that you can find even in the frozen section of your local grocery. Order the Amarind Noodles or another of the unique/signature dishes this restaurant offers.
(4)Colt E.
I haven't eaten at dozens of Thai restaurants in Chicago, but when I heard Amarind's was one of the best in the city we decided to drive out to Oak Park and try it out. We were hoping to not be disappointed when we walked in on Saturday night and noticed the mostly empty restaurant. However, the food was fresh and good and the service was nice. The food definitely had the homemade feel to it and wasn't weighed down by oils and coloring that some of the lesser Thai places can be. We weren't however blown away by the flavors of the food. It seems like Amarind's is playing it a bit too safe to be considered the best in my opinion. Good food though, you can't go wrong with almost anything on their menu. Everything is done well and sometimes that's enough.
(4)Mischa D.
This is a great place to stop in for a quick dinner. I love their curry and noodle dishes. They even seem to keep reinventing their dishes and mixing things up (plating, presentation, etc.). Everyone is really friendly and the service is prompt and consistent.
(4)Melissa T.
Love the thai ice tea and the coconut curry! Yum and yum. Also, the crab rangoon is pretty awsome
(5)Sam S.
One of the better Thai places I've been to. Their stir-fried glass noodle (Pad Woon Sen) is super yummy, and Tom Yum soup flavorful. The fried rice isn't bad, either. Make sure you leave room for the warm yucca potato custard for dessert. It's a must! A bit more expensive than the other Thai restaurants in the area, but the quality is generally better. There's a parking lot right next to it, and there's always room.
(4)Jason G.
forget arun. amarind is simply the best thai food outside of bangkok. authentic and meticulously prepared. a very disappointing wine list, but everything else is top-notch. don't miss the stuffed wings, mini spring rolls, three flavored beef and the incredible curries! opt for a thai beer or the thai iced tea or iced coffee, rather than wine... :(
(5)Happy Mama M.
Good thai food- I have had better but this might be the best Ive had in chicago! The service was great. I would definitely recommend it!
(3)Carolynne M.
It's not the best Thai food I have ever had, but I was pleased with the varied menu options and the ambiance. The exterior has an old castle-look about it. Theres an outside area in the back which you can see from the street, but it looked rather unused and run-down. Could just be that its all junky at the moment due to the time of year, but I thought it would be really spectacular if it was spruced up for outdoor dining in the summer. Would be very charming outdoor eating. The interior is possibly the nicest looking for a Thai restaurant I have been in in Chicago. The decorations are not chintzy, the lighting is good and everything just sort of works very harmoniously. Our server was very prompt and efficient and we never felt like we were being ignored, even though it was a rather busy Friday night. I had the Amarind Noodle, which, on closer inspection, was nothing more than a jazzed-up Pad Thai. Spinach noodles with shrimp, crab meat, scrambled egg, and bean sprouts had a mild tamarind and chili sauce. Tasty, but not terribly exciting as I'd hoped. The chive dumplings were unlike any I'd had before. Three pure white dough mounds glistened wetly on the plate enveloping steamed chives, accompanied by a rich soy sauce. They were on the bland side, but my opinion could have been skewed abit after my dining companion announced he thought they looked "like snot". He had the Three Flavoured Beef, which I thought was done very well. It's Beef marinated with a three flavoured sauce, chili paste and sesame oil, accompained by sauteed vegetables. Beef was tender, vegetables were crisp, and the sauce added just enough flavour. He also ordered the chicken satay, which he loved, but I thought the chicken was too dry. But the peanut sauce that came with it was very tasty.
(3)Angelina S.
It seems like the best restaurants are in the most unlikely places. That is how I feel about Amarind's. Amarind's is located on the northwest side of Chicago, located near the suburb of Oak Park. Amarind's is a great restaurant. The service is great for both dining in and take out. The restaurant is cozy and extremely inviting to all diners. Their menu is extensive and extra yummy (try their chicken satay with the peanut sauce -- it's to die for!!). The entree prices are extremely affordable. So you won't feel guilty from enjoying the great food at this restaurant. I am definitely a fan and will continue to visit this restaurant.
(5)Dean L.
The food was good (though, yes, one dish was rather bland, as other reviewers have mentioned) and their menu does not indicate if a dish will be spicy or not. Worst service I have had in a long time (in this country). Even though the restaurant was not that busy on a cold Sunday evening, the service was slow and the waitress kept forgetting to bring things. We ended up having to go up to the counter in the front every time we wanted a tea refill and when we wanted the check. There were three people working as servers and two tables of customers (no take-out orders during the time we were there). Guess they had better things to do! Also, they apparently have decided to save some money by not heating the place. Most customers had their coats, or at least a scarf and hat, on the entire time while dining. I would be willing to try it again because of the food, but if the service sucks again, I will put this down as a "take out only" restaurant.
(2)Sujan P.
I was a little nervous about this place given that it had a lot of Chinese dishes on the menu, but then quite a few items which were uniquely Thai not seen at other places. I had 1. Fried fish patties- delicious, nice use of fresh Thai herbs in the patties. 2. Spicy chicken salad- the first time I got this, delicious!!! generous amounts of herbs, rice powder, and good quality chicken (with the occasional tendon/fat part thrown in though). The second time wasn't as great (I ordered in the afternoon this time), it was a bit greasy. They must have had a different chef. 3. Tom yum veggies- delicious, light, a bit oily. 4.Chiengmai Larb (Northen Style)- the first time I got this I was amazed, amazed, amazed. I've never had larb prepared this way and the use of the "sawyer" leaves impart such a distinct flavor. This dish was delicious through and through, but the second time round it was another story, the "sawyer" spice didn't come through, there was more tendon/fatty bits thrown in, and was exceedingly oily. I think I tried teh shrimp salad, but not sure... I'm leaving my rating as a 4 because of my first experience with the larbs, but the last time I went I was scarred with the oiliness of the salads and haven't been bold enough to go back and try it again. The first time I had been requesting the laab thai-style (cold not warm) and perhaps this is why the oil-factor was less? I also agree with Emily--the place is cold, perhaps for the ppl working in the kitchen? The prices are also a bit higher than your typical Thai restaurant, so I would expect a bit more meticulous preparation of the chicken (leaving out the fat and tendon pieces).
(4)Alissa G.
Amarind's is one of the nicer thai restaurants I've been to--and to mixed effect. On one hand, the decor was lovely and inviting--but the prices were a bit steep. Say, $2 more than most places for equal sized portions. They do have a killer lunch special m-f, $6.95 for soup, salad, and entree. Alas, i don't work nearby, but if I did, I'd be a regular! As for non-lunch times, if you're looking for good, fresh Thai(and maybe looking to wow that special someone, eh? eh?)) Almarind's is a great choice. But if you're just looking for some tasty thai to go, I'd have to guess(don't know the area super well) there are better options. PS They have wine and beer now, but you can bring your own wine for a $7 corkage fee(kiiinda not worth it).
(4)Laura P.
We went here over the weekend with a group of friends. We walked right in at 7:30 on a Saturday night. We ordered and the food came quickly. Service was good as our water glasses never went dry. The food was just ok. It was decent in terms of freshness, but everything we had was bland. My husband ordered the garlic chicken and asked for it to be extra spicy, but there was hardly any heat to it at all. It was fine for what it was, but I think next time we will wait for a table at the Cuban restaurant next door. On a side note, I think it should be illegal to play an instrumental version of "A Whole New World" (especially in a Thai restaurant).
(2)Parker L.
Amarind's is a really great place for Thai. Appetizers are prepared like little pieces of art. Love the Thai Iced Tea. But my favorite thing about Amarinds is that you feel like you are dining inside of your house. It is very small building, I think at one time it could have been someone's home. It is a bit pricey for thai, but definately worth the trip for a quiet sit down dinner. They also have several unque thai desserts, that we have tried and loved! Week nights are not too crowded.
(4)Bex M.
What a find! Moving to Chicago from the Detroit area, we were worried we'd never find a place to compete with Bangkok Cuisine! We were so wrong. This place is delish, friendly service, adorable castle-like exterior. My husband and I have yet to have a bad meal there. Love it! All the apps are tasty and the Pad Thai is delish.
(4)Melissa H.
Just visited this est. last night with my sister and our friend. It was Sunday night. The rest. closes at 9, and we arrived just around 7pm. We didn't wait too too long, appox 10 minutes while 2 of the waitresses cleared tables. We ordered drinks and appetizers. The Shumai that came was acutally really good. The are shrimp, pork and vegetable mixed dumplings that are real farmers food in Thailand supposedly. They were better then the Shumai that Ive had at 2 of my favorite Thai places, so that was a definite plus. My sister and I waited over 20 minutes for iced tea, which I t thought was a little ridiculous. The waitresses did not check on us very often which was also a turn off. We also had miniature egg rolls as a starter, and those were sub par compared to the Thai egg rolls that Ive pretty much have had at any other Thai restaurants. I ordered Pad Ke Mao, which is one of my favorite Thai dishes to order at a restaurant. In other places it can be called Drunken or Crazy noodles. I ordered it extra spicy, which they did not disappoint me with when it came out nearly too spicy to eat (though I asked for it and loved it like that anyway ha ha) My problem with it were a few things: First off, I believe that my pad ke mao was probably sitting waiting for my sisters Curry to come out for a few minutes, because when it got to the table, temp wise, it was luke warm. Secondly, the dish is similar to Basil Chicken in the fact that it uses A LOT of Basil as well as a brown sauce that is basically infused with fish sauce, dark soy and oyster sauce. However, when it came to the table, the noodles were on the dry side and did not have nearly enough basil or savory sauce. My sister had the curry and I had a taste and honestly I can say the Red Curry was better then Ive had at many places, so there...there were no complaints. I can recommend the curry. The bill came to almost $60 for the 3 of us, which for the slow service, and so so Thai, I thought was sort of a rip off. All in all, if we are up in that area again (my friend lives up there) I wouldn't HATE going there, but I am sure there are plenty good Thai places in the area that would Trump this place.
(2)Tony K.
EXCELLENT food!!!!!!!!! Nice place too!
(4)Tiara Lynn A.
Consistently outstanding every time we've been there. It's easy to overlook, but the food is just incredible. The Pad Siew is sweet and a little spicy, and the curries are to die for. Everything always tastes very fresh. After venturing out to a couple other places in the area and being disappointed, this is now the place we go when we crave Thai.
(5)Tony L.
We went to Amarind's right after we got back from Las Vegas and it was very refreshing. There were a couple of reasons why we stopped at Amarind's. One, we were starving and two, we were sitting in very slow traffic on north avenue around 5P on a Thursday. So stopping in at Amarind's was a good idea at the time. I'm glad we did as well. Amarind's is a pretty nice place, we were greeted immediately and sat down pretty quickly. We got there before a big rush of people came in and our food came out pretty fast. The decor at Amarind's was nice, the chairs and tables were arranged kind of awkwardly but it all kind of came together with the Thai art on the walls. Again, whenever we hit up new restaurant we typically order a little bit more food just to sample and share as well as get an idea on how good the chef is. First we got the Moo Ping, which is a few pieces of pork on a skewer. I'm not sure of the sauce, but it was a darker sauce and the pork was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The dipping sauce they gave us with the Moo Ping was pretty good as well. Then we ordered our main dishes. I got the Pad See Ewe and the Pad Thai and my wife got the Panang Curry. All three dishes were pretty good, the Pad Thai was good but not the best I've had. It was kind of lacking in some of flavorfullness that I've had in other Pad Thais at other restaurants. The Curry was pretty good as well, it had a good balance of all the flavors in the coconut milk and chicken. The Pad See Ewe was ok too, but it was kind of bland. I did notice that all dishes were lacking in the level of heat that typically accompanies Thai food. I wonder if I just didn't order it right, but I didn't remember seeing an option of how spicy I wanted my order. I think I would have liked the dishes better if they had some kick to them. But otherwise all the dishes were well prepared. I also noticed that all of the tables did not have any salt or pepper on the tables. Which I took as the chef not giving his customers a chance to screw up his dishes (high-five, chef).
(3)Tara L.
I love this place. we live in oak park and it's so convenient for us. You can also order for take out which often comes in handy. Last time i had three flavor beef, which was so tasty and the mushrooms were so fresh i wanted to order a second plate full! Lucky for my waistline, I did not. It's so cozy and comfortable and a great neighborhood place.
(5)Nilesh K.
Our favorite Thai place in Chicagoland area. Too bad we moved from Oak Park.
(5)Dina D.
Excellent food with tasty vegetarian options! Flavor is added from use of fresh variety of vegetables and appropriate spices and NOT from dumping in extra cocunut milk to each dish. We order out from Amarind's weekly, its awesome! Their vegetable red curry with tofu is a mainstay for us! Even our meat-eating family and friends request to be taken there during repeat visits. The place itself has average decor and is family-friendly in nature...depends what you are looking for...Regardless, the food and service makes Amarind's a place worth visiting/ordering from...I love it. Great food is hard to find.
(5)Veronicka L.
One of the most bland Thai restaurant I've been to. I've been here twice and was not impressed either time. They don't offer my favorite dish, panang curry. The tofu was a bit chewy. If you want good Thai food, go to Yum Thai in FP.
(2)michele l.
Flavors are really pretty good. Service is okay. Portions pretty meager for Thai food. MSG is killer. My boyfriend got a terrible stomach ache while I was finishing my meal. Then about ten minutes later I thought that I'd have to go to the ER as my stomach was clenched into what felt like a fist. Then it would unclench only to clench again. It wasn't food poisoning, I know it was MSG and can name all the restaurants in Oak Park that use it based on the pain in my stomach. This place is THE worst for it, I understand the Asians love to use it, but this place uses more than any place I've ever eaten at. It's a shame the food is so delicious.
(1)chris e.
we have driven by many times and i always said that i wanted to drop by and try Amarinds - parking lot ..yay! ..well tonight was the night and it was-- 'ok' .. the pricing is a little higher (but not obscenely so) than other Thai restaurants in the area.. We ordered 3 appetizers , presentation was nice but with the exception of the small side of cucumber salad that comes with the satay -and which is awesome- the actual taste of the appetizers was just 'ok' .. the main dishes were better than average - i really did enjoy the pad thai, but was a bit put off that they charged $1 extra for extra peanuts with it-first time ive ever had that happen with the way i order my pad thai anywhere else -and thats how i always order it =) .. the other thing that annoyed me is a peevish thing, but it annoyed me all the same. i asked for a large glass of ice with water as my drink - instead of bringing me a larger glass with ice in it (which they have for the iced teas and coffees), the server took my small glass of water away, came back with it half filled with ice and then poured new water into it. She was good about repouring the water when we would run out but that original ice was the only ice i got .. A small thing, but one thats more annoying for me than the $1 charge for the peanuts because the use of a large glass and keeping me stocked with ice -or at least asking if i wanted more- costs nothing. The one other thing that annoyed me was the table across from us had 4 people and ordered after we did -there were only 2 of us- . yet they got their food first. And the first dish that came out was pad thai -which was exactly what i had ordered as well. Service wasnt bad but i got the feeling that because we came in in jeans and tshirts and the other table was obviously a bit more well off their service came before ours. Would i go here again? i might come back to try the lunch special but to be honest, my favorite dinner place for Thai is still going to be Opart Thai.
(3)Tina T.
I found a new place for my Thai fix! Definitely on the top of my list of places to frequent; in fact, I have even driven from Elmhurst to get takeout from here, it's so good! Just outside of Oak Park, they offer simply delicious thai food in a pleasant atmosphere. A friend had mentioned that their chef used to be at Arun's; don't know for sure that it's true but he's certainly great! Their menu was fairly extensive, with some unusual dishes, and all the food we tried was excellent. I just about slurped up the hot sauce from my dish because I did not want to miss a drop. It's cute and clean inside, a little more fancier than some Thai places, and the service was attentive and friendly. Prices were slightly higher than some other mom and pop establishments, but well worth it. The best shumai I've had, and it even looked artistic! Highly recommend it; I will be coming back here quite often!
(5)Justin G.
This is my second favorite place to eat Thai. I prefer King and I in Oak Park for the selection and price, but this place has fresher taste but a little more expensive.
(5)mike l.
wonderful, just wonderful. everything here had passion & flavor. best thai place since moving to chicago, & we've tried 4 or 5. the tom yum was a little flat, but it actually grew on me. miniature spring rolls were also a little flat (probably frozen). the whole snapper was a little pricey, but definitely worth it. whole chunks of fried fish with a sweet dipping sauce. the beef panang curry was pretty nice too. Lots of rice and friendly, but not annoying service. definitely definitely worth the drive.
(4)linda O.
i come here with my family every chance i get. the kids love it too. they have some nice creative dishes on the menu as well as standard. they are a bit priceier. but we have never been disappointed. the curries are great! try the lunch special, you'll definately go back for dinner..
(4)