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Name: Dao Thai
Address: 230 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL, 60611
Telephone: (312) 337-0000
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.02

Dao Thai

230 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL, 60611

(312) 337-0000
Store is closed

Dao Thai Menu

Appetizers

Cream Cheese Crab Ragoon

Poh-pie Tod (shrimp Egg Rolls) (2)

Mini Vegetable Egg Rolls (4)

Spring Rolls (2)

Vietnamese Spring Rolls (2)

Goong Hor (shrimp In Blankets) (6)

Shu Mai (shrimp Dumplings)

Gyoza (pot Stickers)

Satay (chicken)

Spicy Beef

Fried Tofu Vegetarian (soy Bean Curd Cake)

Gyo Tod (fried Wontons)

Tod Mun Pla (fish Cakes)

Shrimp-vegetable Tempura
Soups

Miso Soup

Chicken Rice

Shrimp Wonton

Tofu

Tom Yum Noodles

Tom Yum

Tom Kha Kai
Salads

Ajard (cucumber Salad)

Som Tum (papaya Salad)

Yum Woon Sen (silver Bean Thread Salad)

Naem Sod (chicken White Meat Salad)

Larb (chopped Chicken Salad)

Nam Tok (beef Salad)

Yum Nue (beef And Cucumber Salad)

Yum Pla Muk (squid Salad)
Entrees

Thai Pepper Steak

Stir Fried String Beans

Almond Beef

Pra Ram Loung Song (rama Chicken)

Kai Kra-tiem (pepper & Garlic Chicken)

Teriyaki Salmon

Stir-fried Spicy Eggplant (vegetarian Style)

Pad Prik (fried Hot And Spice Meat)

Pad Kra-prao (fried Spicy Basil Leaves With Meat)

Nue Nam Mun Hoy (oyster Beef)

Kow Pad Karee (curry Fried Rice)

Kow Pad (fried Rice)

Pad Preow Warn (sweet And Sour Chicken)

Pad Ruam Mit (mixed Vegetables)
Dao's Recommendations

Cashew Chicken

Pad Num Prik Pao (chicken Supreme)

Kanar Num Mun Hoy (beef & Broccoli)

Chicken Pad Ped (red Hot Curry Chicken)

Kang Kheaw Wan (green Curry Beef)

Kang Karee Kai (mild Curry Chicken)

Kai Pad Khing (ginger Chicken)

Panang Nue (beef Curry)

Chuchee Salmon

Pla Sarm Rose (fresh Whole Red Snapper)

Mussaman Curry

Pla-duk Pad Ped
Noodles

Pad Thai (thai Style Noodles)

Pad Khee Mao (spicy Crazy Noodles)

Pad Woon Sen (fried Bean Thread)

Pad See Eiw (fried Large Noodles W/ Garlic And Soy Sauce)

Lard Nar (large Noodles With Gravy)

Singapore Noodle (southern Thailand Style)

Dao's Noodle Delight
Noodles In Bowls

Bamee & Bbq Pork

Wonton & Bbq Pork

Rice Stick Noodles
Desserts

Ice Cream

Lychee On Ice

Moh Kong

Thai Banana In Sticky Rice
Beverages

Soft Drink

Dao's Iced Coffee Deluxe

Iced Tea

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

Thai Iced Tea Deluxe

Coffee Tea
Imported Beers

Singha

Phuket

Chang

Beerlao

Beck's

Amstel Light

Heineken

Stella
Domestic Beers

Bud Light

Budweiser

Miller Light

Mgd

Samuel Adams
House Wine

Merlot

Chardonnay

Sake

Plum Wine

Healthy Meal suggestions for Dao Thai

Appetizers

Cream Cheese Crab Ragoon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Poh-pie Tod (shrimp Egg Rolls) (2) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mini Vegetable Egg Rolls (4) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Rolls (2) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vietnamese Spring Rolls (2) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Goong Hor (shrimp In Blankets) (6) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shu Mai (shrimp Dumplings) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyoza (pot Stickers) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Satay (chicken) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Tofu Vegetarian (soy Bean Curd Cake) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyo Tod (fried Wontons) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tod Mun Pla (fish Cakes) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp-vegetable Tempura [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soups

Miso Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Wonton [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tom Yum Noodles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tom Yum [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tom Kha Kai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Ajard (cucumber Salad) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Som Tum (papaya Salad) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yum Woon Sen (silver Bean Thread Salad) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Naem Sod (chicken White Meat Salad) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Larb (chopped Chicken Salad) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nam Tok (beef Salad) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yum Nue (beef And Cucumber Salad) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yum Pla Muk (squid Salad) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Thai Pepper Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stir Fried String Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Almond Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pra Ram Loung Song (rama Chicken) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kai Kra-tiem (pepper & Garlic Chicken) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Teriyaki Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stir-fried Spicy Eggplant (vegetarian Style) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad Prik (fried Hot And Spice Meat) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad Kra-prao (fried Spicy Basil Leaves With Meat) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nue Nam Mun Hoy (oyster Beef) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kow Pad Karee (curry Fried Rice) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kow Pad (fried Rice) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad Preow Warn (sweet And Sour Chicken) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad Ruam Mit (mixed Vegetables) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dao's Recommendations

Cashew Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad Num Prik Pao (chicken Supreme) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kanar Num Mun Hoy (beef & Broccoli) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Pad Ped (red Hot Curry Chicken) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kang Kheaw Wan (green Curry Beef) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kang Karee Kai (mild Curry Chicken) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kai Pad Khing (ginger Chicken) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Panang Nue (beef Curry) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chuchee Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pla Sarm Rose (fresh Whole Red Snapper) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussaman Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pla-duk Pad Ped [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Noodles

Pad Thai (thai Style Noodles) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad Khee Mao (spicy Crazy Noodles) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad Woon Sen (fried Bean Thread) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad See Eiw (fried Large Noodles W/ Garlic And Soy Sauce) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lard Nar (large Noodles With Gravy) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Singapore Noodle (southern Thailand Style) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dao's Noodle Delight [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Noodles In Bowls

Bamee & Bbq Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wonton & Bbq Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rice Stick Noodles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lychee On Ice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moh Kong [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Banana In Sticky Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages

Soft Drink [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dao's Iced Coffee Deluxe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Iced Tea Deluxe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coffee Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Imported Beers

Singha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Phuket [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chang [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beerlao [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beck's [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Amstel Light [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Heineken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stella [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Domestic Beers

Bud Light [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Budweiser [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miller Light [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mgd [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Samuel Adams [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
House Wine

Merlot [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chardonnay [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Plum Wine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Amyn Z.

It's a nice ambience and good restaurant but a few small issues. We went there and the waitress was too eager to take the full order before even serving drinks. It seemed like there was only one condiment tray between all the tables with soy sauce and the waitress took it away from our table while we were still eating our food. The worst part was a demand for a 15% gratuity for a table of two before even giving the change for our food bill. And when we requested there was nothing mentioned about an enforced gratuity the waitress and the manager almost jumped on us and we had to run out of the restaurant.
(2)
Yiyin Y.

Four stars for ambiance- thai drawing, shining golden headdress and some Chinese art pieces. But three for their food and service. Theres some review on yelp saying they have the best pad see ew in town and then I ordered it but it turned out too oilly and sweet to me. The chicken is dry and chewy. I had far better pad see ew in some thai restaurant in Skokie downtown. For the service, we ordered the thai ice tea and hot tea but we had to tell the lady so many times. (well, at last we actually asked help from another waiter)
(3)
Kristy N.

Stopped in for a quick Friday lunch and was underwhelmed. Granted, I did order one of the more bland dishes on the menu (mixed vegetables with chicken) but the 2-star rating was mostly for the service. We were seated for at least 5 minutes before anyone stopped by the table. The only question that the server asked was 'ready to order?'. I said 'not yet but' and before I could finish my sentence she had already walked away. If they were slammed I would have (sorta) understood..but they weren't. Our food did come out pretty quick and we really never saw the sever again until she dropped off the check. I did notice that they have $8 martinis..that and the proximity to my office just may lure me back for dinner at some point. But probably not soon.
(2)
Jennifer C.

I found the food to be extremely bland. I had the chicken supreme and my husband had the sweet and sour chicken. The chicken supreme had a little bit of flavor but was still quite bland, the sweet and sour chicken on the other hand had no flavor. The service was average at best, the prices were good but I expect big, bold flavors at a thai restaurant and this did not deliver. With so many Thai options in the city I will definitely not be back.
(2)
Tiago P.

Not too many good Thai restaurants in/near the Loop. This one doesn't do much better. Ordered the Pad see ew. Bland, boring, and is not spicy (considering I ordered it extra spicy). Ordered carry-out but when I went in, the place looked a little dumpy. The worst was the fact they had an open kitchen, and the kitchen was full of Mexicans. Now, I don't expect to have Thai cooks, but I do think it's kind of odd, considering the rest of the restaurant (front-house) are all Thai. If you want to keep the Mexican, close up the kitchen. Another option would be to just have better food, then people won't complain who's actually cooking your food.
(2)
Jane G.

Since our favorite neighborhood restaurant closed, we were looking for an alternative and gave Dao a chance. We ordered appetizers, spring rolls, vietnamese spring rolls and chicken satay. The food was average at best. You feel there is sugar in everything. The spring rolls main ingredient was bean sprouts, a cheap filler. We won't be back.
(2)
Pavan T.

Very bad service and food was not at all tasty! I ordered pad Thai and it was different than what it should be and also tasteless, service was bad too! Never coming back .
(1)
Lisa L.

GREAT place and great prices. Been coming here since 1997. If you want fast service and good prices this is the place. Peanut sauce is the best here and the noodle dishes are so flavorful.
(5)
Sally L.

Their crab rangoo is amazing! And I really like their drunken/crazy spicy noodles. Good prices for the huge portions you get. I'll order from there again. I've had some not-so-tasty dishes so I'd go with finding something you love and stick with it. Definitely don't get the spring rolls...
(4)
Beth G.

The sister restaurant of Star of Siam, Dao promises affordable, well-spiced Thai fare, festive drinks, and decent service. Sit in one of the central tables if possible. The Panang Nue - spicy, creamy, thick peanut sauce, served with beef, chicken, shrimp, or tofu - is among my favorite dishes in Chicago. I always get it with tofu, and for $7.95, it's quite a deal (and I always have enough to take home one full additional meal). Because I love this dish so much, unfortunately, I've never really tried anything else. Appetizers are standard but good. Specialty "martinis" are tasty, and the import beer selection is decent. Remember to ask for chopsticks, because they won't automatically bring them to you.
(4)
Lynn C.

i'm torn between a 2 star to 3 star..i feel like i didnt eat enough here to give a fair rating though. All I had is the tom yum soup noodle and it was just okay...edible, but not great. i did love how spicy it was. my favourite part about this place is its outdoor patio. loved it! thats probably why i rounded up.
(3)
Matthew B.

I learned something about Chicago today, and it was scarier than a horror movie. There is a legion of people without tongues roaming the streets. Look for them in horn-rimmed glasses and apparently eating at Dao restaurant. How will you know that one of the tongue-less horde has eaten here? They will have rated Dao as more than one star. This place is AWFUL. Rating it over 1 star can only mean that you have no taste buds. The Pad Thai at Noodles and Co. is 5 star cuisine compared to the AWFUL food that comes from Dao's kitchen. We ordered over $50 worth of food and would have been more satisfied covering the bills in Sriracha and imagining being in Bangkok. The panang curry was HORRIFYING. It was thick, it tasted like peanut butter, and it had pools of oil cutting through it like the veins of an obese person. The pad thai was yellow, the noodles were gummy and sour, the shrimp tasted like rot, and the vegetables looked like they were brought over years ago. If the veggies in my pad thai were children, they would be driving by now. The Tom Kha Gai was LOADED with cabbage, which is bizarre because Tom Kha doesn't HAVE cabbage in it. It TASTED good, but unless you want cabbage, then you're best staying away. The tempura (I know, I should have known better than to order tempura at a Thai place) was way over battered and greasy. The Thai iced tea was sickly sweet, more so than is appropriate and I like my drinks sweet. It was also small for the price $2.50. The cashew chicken was an abomination, everything besides the chicken tasted of rot. STAY AWAY FROM DAO. It's awful and you seriously are better off going ANYPLACE else. FYI: You can always rate the quality of a restuarants food by the soy sauce they send with your meal. The soy sauce they send with the meal here is the cheapest I've EVER seen. It's cheaper than Panda, and that says a LOT. You've been warned.
(1)
Valerie R.

Finally, a Thai restaurant with food that has flavor and delivers to my work ! I got the Pad See Eiw and had a veggie egg roll; Both were very flavorful and fresh. The Pad See Eiw had a lot of garlic, which I'm not used to in it, but it was a fantastic addition to one of my favorite dishes. My friend got the won ton soup- huge portion at a good price, and she really enjoyed it. From now on, getting delivery won't be such a disappointing endeavor and I can finally enjoy Thai food for lunch again!
(4)
Allison S.

My boyfriend and I tried this place due to its location to our hotel. The gyoza was tasty, but his pad tai was just so-so and my barbecue beef with wontons was decent but not noteworthy. We've had better in the area (though the name is escaping me). If you're looking for great food look elsewhere.
(3)
Anuj S.

The thing I remember most about this place was that the food is very average. The restaurant ambiance and all is decent. But if you don't hit the nail on food, then the rest is just whip cream on top of spoiled apple pie.
(1)
Jai R.

Dao in the neighborhood of Streeterville east of the Magnificent Mile serves some good Thai food. The fried shrimp wrap appetizer and the squid salad are among the menu items I can order again. However, their panang beef curry was a bit disappointing. It's surprisingly bland. The place is decorated with lots of Thai inspired sculptures so if you Thai architecture, you'll like the ambiance here. They even have an elevated outdoor patio.
(3)
Jasmine P.

mmmm gotta love a place that uses chinese broccoli (instead of regular broccoli) in their pad see eiw. Been here only for take-out, but in waiting for my food, I observed the ambiance of the restaurant. Dao seems to cater to the downtown/Streeterville tourist, whether visiting from out of town or the suburbs. There are some patrons on their lunch break that seemed to be served rather quickly. The restaurant features traditional seating where it feels like you are sitting on top of a pillow on an elevated floor, but it actually has the center cut out so you can dangle your legs and sit "normally." So I guess I would liken it more to sitting an a bench with a pillow on top for your seat. It's a fun alternative to the standard chair and table arrangement! Dao gets really busy during lunch, but I didn't have to wait more than 5 mins. to receive my order that I called in. I would definitely return again for some yummy thai food!
(4)
Adam J.

Again... the WORST food and service ever. I decided to give this so called restaurant another chance after my first very bad experience.... but i was dead wrong..... I honestly believe that the beef and chicken they serve is dogs and cats food !!! i couldnt believe how bad the beef i ordered tasted !!! YEKKKKK.......PLEASE AVOID THIS VERY BAD RESTAURANT AT ALL COST.
(1)
tbird M.

This is one of our favorite luncheon spots from the work crew.....even though the office mov ed, well take the bus over when we need it. spicy basil is our fav - but we have 1 get it with beef, 1 chicken, and 1 tofu - no fish sauce. But it's everyones favorite!
(4)
Shana M.

Cute atmosphere, super close to the office, really nice looking patio. Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) had 1 shrimp on top, was too sweet and the chicken over cooked (why is it Always over cooked??). Lots of basil though, acceptably spicy, but still not quite enough. 1 question, is Pad Kee Mao supposed to be made with jalepenos? I find this very hard to believe, since jalepenos aren't from the Thai region, but the evidence here in Chicago seems to go against my preconceptions. Any way, we also ordered a spicy papaya salad appetizer that was unique from any thing I've ever tasted and quite good. It was composed of thin julienne slices of papaya, spiced cold shrimp and a sauce that was tasty, if a little too heavy on the fish sauce. What...You didn't know they use something called Fish Sauce in Thai cooking? Oh yeah. The great stuff comes in a huge bottle with a picture of a squid on it and smells perfectly rank. Mm hm fish sauce.
(3)
Alana M.

Don't eat here unless you like hair in your food. I went here over the summer and I had a lovely beef dish which I was thoroughly enjoying until I found a long black hair in the middle of my bowl. I let them know and they didn't charge me for my meal. Call me idiotic, but I went back. I thought "well sometimes restaurants mess up, sometimes cooks make mistakes. I can understand this" Soooo my friend and I decided to grab a quick lunch on Christmas (we were the only ones in the place) and we ate our food I enjoying some pad see ew and her eating a bowl of soup. Then half way through I heard.... "You are not going to believe this but I have hair in my food" Seriously, SERIOUSLY I gave this place another try and they let me down. As much as their flavors rock their lack of cleanliness earns them less than 1 star.
(1)
Ben K.

If you're not in the mood for a Potbelly sandwich, it can be challenging to find a meal in this neighborhood for under $8. Enter Dao, a relatively straightforward thai place with an average menu and decent food that rates pretty high on my list simply for filling a need. In an area completely devoid of the cheap thai and mexican places that populate the rest of Chicago proper, Dao has been the source of many a cheap dinner for me, and for that I thank it profusely. In my opinion, the best item on the menu is the chicken pad-ped, a rockin spicy curry dish served with an abundance of long thin bamboo shoots. I get it with rice but you could almost eat it without and be convinced you had scarfed up your carb-fix just because of the bamboo. Delicious!
(4)
Amanda F.

Great place for some thai food. Convenient, easy and affordable. We ordered way too much food for the two of us, but other than that it was a success. The appetizers were my favorite-- chicken satay and gyoza. For entrees we split the tom ka ghai soup, spicy basil leaf shrimp dish and a meat dish.
(4)
Kyle B.

I've lived near Dao for a few years now, and gotten food from them dozens and dozens of times. I will agree with those who say that Dao fills a definite void in the Streeterville area. There is not much else in the way of cheap, good Asian food that you can take out, so Dao has been a godsend many times for me and my friends on random weeknights. The food itself is generally quite good. My favorite dishes are the mild curry chicken and the pad see ew. My friends have also really liked their pad thai and pad khee mao (spicy crazy noodles). Usually I get delivery, and it is always hot and delicious, and prepared very quickly. Dining in, the decor is very nice and the service is appropriate. Overall, I recommend Dao as a solid choice in the Streeterville area.
(4)
Nate J.

Dao is a great place for Thai in the Streeterville neighborhood. It has a big menu of Thai favorites. I usually get the cashew chicken or mild chicken curry. The Crab Rangoon is a great way to start the meal. Overall, good restaurant and very cool atmosphere. Its not a trendy place, but does get busy during dinner rush for Friday or Saturday nights.
(4)
Rahshonda K.

I have to admit I have had better Thai food but its quick and cheap. Is the service not the best? Well...No its not! They are focused on getting your food out to you quick no small talk. If you do not know what you want their response is...I will come back and walk away before you can ask a question or even respond. Overall I have not had a bad experience. I ordered the Pad Thai which was pretty good. The Gyoza is delish. I really enjoyed the Thai Iced Tea actually that was the best I ever had. I think for cheap thai on your lunch break its worth it. I will be back!!!!
(3)
Bryan S.

I'm glad I ventured out to this place at lunch. It is walking distance from where I work, and I could see the open sign all the way from Fairbanks. When I walked in there were two people ahead of me, both asking to seat one. I took a chance and asked the guy in front of me if he wanted to sit together, since there are obviously no single seats. He agreed, and this is probably the best decision I have made in a while. We ended up talking a lot and he was a fellow yelper ! Now for the food, I usually judge a thai rest. by its Pad Thai. When I saw it on a table as I walked by, it didn't look all that good. So I went with the Pad Gee Mao (Spicy Crazy Flat Noodles, with Shrimp). It came fast and was really flavorful. I also ordered the Tom Yum Soup, which came as a huge portion. I wasn't planning on splitting it with my new found friend, but we did anyways. He ordered the Veggie rolls and the Pad Thai, which he claimed were good. I'm not really used to paying $14 for lunch, but it was really good and pretty fast. The seating in the middle of the restaurant looked really comfortable and it looked like everyone was sitting cross-legged( optical illusion). Next time you have to eat alone, take a stab and ask someone if they want to dine with you...You won't regret it, I didn't ...
(4)
Lily L.

It was a pleasant surprise with this restaurant. I didn't expect much with a Thai restaurant in this area. But upon entering, the restaurant looked better from the outside & the curry aroma was very appetizing. The satay chicken & spicy beef were good. The satay sauce was especially delicious that we used it over our Pad Thai. Prices for the dishes were very good for the neighborhood too.
(3)
Gaurang S.

At first I thought I was in a space warp that transformed me to Star of Siam. Identical dÃ©cor, and identical menu. And then, I hypothesized that they're both owned by the same person, because otherwise what are the odds this is a coincidence? Decent food, weak drinks (but if you're here for the drinks I feel bad for you already), and right sized portions. It's no opart thai house ( yelp.com/biz/opart-thai-â€¦ ), but in a pinch, it'll do.
(3)
Jessica B.

This is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood. Food is consistently excellent and staff is so friendly. They know our order before we even sit down! Chicken Satay, Crab Rangoon, Chicken Pad seiu. I'm sure I spelled that wrong, but we never even have to look at a menu! Excellent!
(5)
Meghan M.

Don't waste your time. I ordered Pad Thai spicy and it came to me with jalepenos in it. I have eaten Thai A LOT and have NEVER had jalepenos in my dish. It was all I tasted. I took two bites, asked for my bill and walked out.
(1)
Leanna S.

I've only had the crab rangoon and beef fried rice from here, but both are really delicious. Their crab rangoon is amaaazing! The beef fried rice is usually good, but occasionally the beef is super dry and chewy. Regardless, I continue to order frequently from them and their delivery is always on time or early.
(4)
ZZ K.

I will keep this simple. Pros: Cheap prices. Reasonably good food. Large portions. Good and fast service. Convenient location. Wide variety of items. Laid back atmosphere. Cons: Yes, some items are a little bit bland (I say add some sauce to it). You don't always get mild when you order it...my poor stomach can attest to that. Despite my tears and screaming internal organs, I ate every last bit of that curry chicken...Dammit! It was good. You have to pay extra for rice...whatever. Are they the best Thai in Chicago? No...and they don't claim to be. Are they pretty good....yeah. Go and enjoy.
(4)
Hajra L.

Decided to order in for lunch one day after a co-worker suggested it. The food was more than 30 minutes late and had no flavor! I asked for my Yellow Curry to be spicy - it clearly wasn't! lacked spice and salt. Another person ordered the pad thai - it looked like ramen noodles minus the color or flavor! horrible - avoid if possible and sober!
(1)
Moose P.

Got the second star based on their reasonable pricing for what I got. The food was okay--I was pleased that the peanut sauce had a little heat to it, but it was pretty gloppy. My main issue was with the service, which totally sucked. When I asked for a high chair, the overwhelmed hostess (with about three other tables already seated, no one coming in behind me) waved vaguely and said "over there." I wondered just how greasy a greasy spoon I had wandered into... As the lunch hour continued, they got moderately busy--about half full, but waiting for taking orders and getting food took forever.
(2)
Jason L.

"Undecided" would be my vote. Dao Thai is extremely affordable. Surprisingly so for the area and it's never crowded except maybe during lunches. Not spectacular but barely makes it as a standby either. It could be so much better than it is. Several people mentioned the restaurant is beautiful and that is certainly true. But the menu and its execution leave a lot to be desired. The egg rolls are boring. Beef items should be avoided, especially the spicy beef skewer appetizer. Chicken pad Thai is overly bland. I hear the soups are very good and thus may be their specialty. But I'm not a soup person so I may be stuck with mediocre here, and therefore looking for an alternative elsewhere. But the food settles well so I'll give it another few tries. It's walkable from AMC River East if you just saw a movie, but it's not open late. 10pm is the cutoff. It is however a huge space especially if you include the garden area. And they have a wheelchair lift. I have seen groups of people very happy here so you may like it more than I did.
(3)
Varun M.

I never could imagine what a 1 star restaurant could be till I went to DAO Thai. It was down the street from my parents apartment so we went to lunch with our family. It was our second stop on our quest for good Thai food in Chicago and it was terrible. The restaurant looked exactly like Singha except it smelled even funnier, it was cold and the food was awful. The service as another reader describes "is hilariously awful". I ordered Pad See Ew and it came with a huge hair right smack dab on top. I called the waiter who unapologetically took it away with out saying a word. They brought it back 5 minutes later without saying a word and walked away. I was unsure the whole time after that. The crab rangoons we had over appetizers were cold and not good, the leftovers we just left there. I highly recommend no one go here, it doesn't even do Cheap Thai any justice.
(1)
Shradha A.

Not good at all! I have lived in Singapore and visited Bangkok several times. Trust me, this is the worst Thai I've ever had!!! The restaurant was huge, but completely empty. The ambience is pretty and I wondered why no one was there when I walked in. Now I know!!! This is not even remotely decent food.
(1)
Beth M.

I'd come here based on the great decor. There are numerous fancy helmet/headdress things, statuary, wall hangings... I love the platform seating! Ok, it isn't the most skirt-friendly, but they have "regular" tables if you aren't prepared to clamber into the seats. The food is pretty decent; ask for "Thai spicy" for a proper level of spiciness. I usually get the pad khee mao (spicy crazy noodles) with tofu instead of the prawn. You can request a vegan version of most dishes. It's a heaping serving; I almost always have some to bring home. One of the bad things about this place is that you have to order rice a la carte. Seriously, rice is super-cheap and should always be a part of the meal. Why the stinginess? Strangely, you do get a small cucumber salad with your entree. Go figure. I like how this place is close to the Mag Mile, but it's not right by all the bustling people. Good for a quick bite while shopping or for a lunch meeting.
(4)
Colie J.

Okay, this restaurant has a great story (which you may or may not find interesting). First time I went to Chicago with my mom she RAVED about a Thai restaurant she had. "It was near one of those parking garages with the white/black signs". No kidding she made us walk around in circles for 2 hours because she was convinced it was right around the corner. We ended up finding Amarit (at its Delaware location) and eating there instead. Now if you know anything about Chicago you know that Amarit is on the OTHER side of Michigan. 2 hours of walking, wasted. Then we walked to Navy Pier the next day and saw Dao Thai the restaurant mom raved about. We ate here and determined the food at Amarit was better and likely the same people since the menus were identical. Onto the food. Everything we ordered was good and the seating is strange, you step into the seat. This platform with holes. When we came the last two times we thought Amarit was closed so we ate here. I haven't had anything bad. Would go again next time I am in Chicago.
(4)
Adele n.

The service is hilariously awful. My friend and I waited 45 minutes to give our orders when the place was more than half empty. We waved our hands and made eye contact with every person working there. They acknowledged us, but they did not come to our table. I have no idea what's going on with this, because when they do get to your table, they are nice as can be. Baffling. Anyway, the food is just so-so. Not great. Not terrible. The decor is nice. The price is right. Dao is not a terrible choice if you're in the neighborhood and don't mind lingering for a very long time over your meal. However, it is decidedly not a destination dining location.
(2)
Kate S.

Been here twice and both times got burned. Not going back. It's just not good--and several friends agree. Too bad because they have a great deck.
(2)
erica w.

My absolute favorite Thai restaurant in Chicago!!! 1. Tofu pad thai is amazingly delicious and the tofu is cooked just right, lots of peanuts and the portion is huge. I pretty much only order pad thai when i go to any Thai restaurant and this is by far the best I've had. 2. Affordable. A dinner for two with drinks costs less than 30 bucks. 3. Atmosphere. Very eclectic and laid-back environment; the booth seating in the middle of the restaurant are the best seats in the house and a conversation starter. 4. Good date place! Not too loud, not too quiet. Food comes quick--in and out in 30 min.
(4)
Esther K.

1. It's close (and I'm lazy). 2. There's no pho near here so the noodle soup is the best substitute after a long night out. 3. The meat is really tough...don't bother getting the chicken ever because it's too dry to eat. 4. The Deluxe Iced Tea is super watered down...skip it. 5. I recommend just doing take out because you get way more food.
(2)
Meredith K.

I'm only giving this place 2 stars because the dumplings were good and the delivery was on time. But when I opened my bag it smelled like bad potpourri - not the way I want to start a meal and things went downhill from there. The pad thai was AWFUL. I'm not sure it its because I moved from NY and I'm expecting my pad thai a certain way, but I have not had any good pad thai in the 3 months since I've been here! And I have it once a week. Someone please help me! It was awful because there was absolutely no peanut sauce on the noodles at all. I'm sorry, but chopped peanuts do not pad thai make in my opinion. The noodles were too thick and completely bland. They tried to flavor them with red and green bell pepper. Excuse me? Bell pepper on pad thai? Unheard of! Not the right flavor combination at all. Someone please tell me where I can get decent, gooey, pad thai on the new east side! I might have to fly back to NYC every weekend to get my fix!
(2)
Katy H.

I came here for lunch with a friend of mine who has been here many times before. She loves the restaurant and was very excited to come. When we arrived at around 12:10 on a Tuesday afternoon, there was hardly anyone inside and we were seated at one of the booths in the middle. The cushion I sat on was dirty, as was the area around me. It was a unique concept, but my excitement ended there. Our booth was in the middle of the restaurant and I was facing the mens room at the far side and all I could smell was pee. It was disgusting and needless to say I did not have much of an appetite. I did order the beef with broccoli. The ginger was an interesting element that I hadn't seen before, but overall it was just blah. Due to the extremely terrible smell coming from that bathroom (at least I hope that's where it was coming from), I will not be going back.
(2)
Tom S.

A better Star of Siam I love me some Dao, when I'm in the mood for Thai food. I used to work near there and had Dao Thai about twice a week and still find myself going back for their delicious fare. The space is nice and large, but the management hasn't stuffed the place full of tables, instead the center of the room as the bench seating and either side has the tables pushed up against the windows/wall. The dÃ©cor is fun and colorful and the carpeted bench seating is comfortable. Dao is a bigger, cleaner, nicer Star of Siam I almost always start with Dao's crab Rangoon. They are wonderfully hot and crispy with the most crabmeat/cream cheese mixture I've had in a crab Rangoon; they're so cute: they're folded and fried to look like little turkeys! The dipping sauce is nice and sweet with a faint hint of heat, of which I would like to taste more. I also have this un-natural obsession with Gyoza [pot stickers] and theirs are usually perfectly cooked. The soups at Dao are all heart-warming and soul satisfying, so don't pass, especially on the Tom Kha Gai or their Tom Yum [Hot & Sour], some of the best ever. Their entrÃ©es are always fresh and flavorful. When I'm feeling a little peeked, their Pad Ruam Mit [stir-fried plain vegetables], but I also love their Roast Duck and colorful and delicious Cashew Chicken. Service is usually very good and the kitchen is very accommodating towards vegetarians and can make almost any dish you request. You can also request a favorite dish not shown on the menu.
(4)
Thomas S.

I have to say, the atmosphere at this restaurant is fun. Tables are setup in traditional "sit on the floor" style, although the dining room is surrounded with regular seating as well. Service was great, location is perfect, just one issue.... My pad see ew was just bland. I should not complain however, as this is probably the cheapest meal in Chicago.
(2)
Laure N.

I have been here a couple of times. The crazy noodles with shrimp is very good and spicy. I like the Thai ice tea very sweet. Overall good experience here. Service is good during the day. The later you go the more packed it will be at night around 9:00pm on the weekend. The sit down seating with pillows is ok but they have booths too. Casual dress . Well priced food, good atmosphere.
(3)
Jessica K.

I love Thai food because it's cheap. When my out of town guests want to eat out Thai THIS is where I usually take them. Located right by Michigan Ave, it's a perfect place to dine if you want to avoid big crowds. It's also a perfect place to dine if your entertaining out of town guests who live in white, ethnic food-less suburbia. Why? Because the ambiance is very Thai in that you "kind of" sit on the floor and you find yourself surrounded by Thai statues and cultural paintings. ooooo... When arriving inside, don't be shocked if the place is kind of empty. It's Thai food and we all know Thai food is meant to be ordered and delivered, right? So don't judge this particular place based on # of dine in customers. That formula doesn't work here. Food is good. I have had better in Chicago but to be honest, Thai food is pretty much the same everywhere. Either it's notably HORRIBLE or it's good. Very rarely does it stand out.. Dao is one of those Thai restaurants where the food does it's job. It's good. But what gives it an extra star compared to it's competitors is the fact that the ambiance is authentic and it's um pretty inside. I recommend the Pad Thai. It's pretty good here. Pad See Ew is not too bad. Beef and Chicken is a bit dry...sometimes. Curry Fried Rice -big portion, same problem with the beef and chicken.
(4)
Lisa S.

Dao Restaurant is just okay. In Chicago, you can find way better Thai food. This place has a lot of potential if they made some improvements. The servers are not friendly at all and the bathroom was not that clean (this is downtown Chicago , people!) However, the outside seating is great in the summertime and the atmosphere/decor inside is nice.
(3)
Kalyan M.

Finally, after living next door to DAO for almost 8 months,we tried it out last night. The restaurant has unique seating arrangement. We tried tofu fry appetizer, it was okay. My wife order fried egg-plant curry which could have been much better. Finally I ordered rice stick noodle with soup, it was pretty good. Overall it was ok.. nothing special. Good if you are in hurry to get something and go.
(3)
Lara M.

I should have listened to the terrible reviews below. Honestly, the WORST thai food I have ever had. I was looking forward to Thai food on a Friday night and there are not many to chose from in the area so I figured I would give it a try... Pad Thai - bland ... ew. Mini Veg. Egg rolls - Bitter and tasteless Crab Ragoon - blah. Took one bite of each dish, put the containers back in the bag and walked straight to the garbage. $20 down the garbage and I'm still hungry for dinner.
(1)
Doe L.

I was rather surprised at the size of this place when I walked in. The decor is amazingly cute. The middle section of the restaurant looks like a big cushioned seat. It looks like the traditional asian style where everyone sits on their legs on top of a little pillow on the floor. (example: dkimages.com/discover/prâ€¦ ) But don't worry, theres a hole under each table so that you can sit normally. This aspect in itself made me bump the rating to at least three stars. I've always dreamed of opening an asian restaurant that had these tables and now i'm infuriated that someone beat me to it! They did an excellent job though so i'll forgive them for now... oh btw, If these tables scare you, don't worry, there's normal tables along the sides. I guess I should talk about the other stuff huh? The food was pretty good. I always like to try some sort of peanut dish so I got the Penang Nue with beef. The sauce was really yummy, especially when you smother rice with it. (Rice does NOT come with it, which is REALLY lame considering it's meant to be with rice... so make sure you order some) My friend got Pad-see-u which was pretty good too. The one thing that bumped this down one star was the service. If you're impatient or in a rush, I wouldn't advise coming here. The food comes out pretty fast but they're kinda bad about checking up on you and stuff. Worse comes to worse, just wave them down. All in all, yummy food. very nicely decorated. pretty cheap and filling!
(4)
Jessica M.

Okay, it's official. The only things worth ordering here are their curries (particularly the green curry) and the ginger chicken with extra vegetables. Everything else - it's crap! I decided to stray from my usual and try the sweet and sour chicken. OMG it was the worst! Do not order it! Terrible.
(2)
Shawn C.

I work in Streeterville and I agree finding a good cheap restaurant for lunch sometimes can be challenging. Sure there is Potbelly's and Chipotle, but at times you want something different. I wanted something spicy and something asian influenced. Well in Streeteville there is Dao THai. I only ordered takeout so I can't comment on the wait service, just the food here. I went with another reviewers recommendation of the chicken pad-ped. I'm glad I did, it was a very nice spicy red curry mix of yumminess. It was all that it said it was, hot, spicy, coconuty and full of bamboo shoots. It was perfect actually. My takeout order was ready when they said it was and it was complete, meaning, plates, soy sauce, hot sauce (which most places forget) and everything was neatly wrapped. The price was just right and the portion allowed me another lunch for the next day. Can't beat that for around 8 bucks. I will definitely order from here again and I'm glad that there is an alternative to the chipotle/potbelly combo that seems to pop up in every hood and are rarely if ever a block a part from each other - weird.
(4)
Stacey D.

I don't care for Thai. But I LOVE their cashew chicken with white rice. It's really really good. Lots of chicken, pineapples, cashews, peppers, and tasty sauce. The service is hit of miss around lunchtime, and often busy around 12:15. But the food is consistently good, and excellent for carry-out, too. For someone who hates Thai, I crave this place an awful lot and demand to go there for lunch often. Drooling thinking about it now.
(4)
Peter L.

I'm no expert on Chicago's Thai food, but I live across the street from Dao Thai and I've ordered takeout there at least once a week for over two years. I judge my restaurants by price and quantity, and for both of those Dao Thai can't be beat. In terms of quality, I've definitely ordered a few things that tasted kind of wack, but the typical Thai dishes are pretty good. I'm not going to lie, for the past year and a half I've ordered the same exact thing every time -- green curry beef, chicken pad see ew, and a small rice. It costs under $20 and makes a solid dinner and lunch for two. And they have the food ready to pick up in 15 minutes. I love this place.
(4)
Frank F.

Dao Thai should be renamed Dull Thai. There was nothing great about our meal for $90 (for 3 adults and 3 kids). My Penang curry tasted like they accidentally dropped an entire bottle of peanut butter in it. My wife's pad see ew was ok but the chicken overcooked to a tooth breaking nugget. After that was all over we waited another 15 minutes before anyone came by with a bill. Never once was my tiny water glass refilled. Stay away.
(1)
jeremy s.

Good average Thai food. I have had better and have had worse. Their pad thai was very good! The center tables are a bit funny, of course I got seated there, but adds to the places charm. Overall, I've had better, I've had worse. For the price, and not having many other options for Thai in that area, it's a good place to eat. 3.5 if I could.
(4)
Negin J.

My fav is Pad See Eiw but their fried rice is also good. Chicken rice soup is my partner's fav and we go there to order that whenever he catches a cold!
(5)
Venetta L.

So much love for Dao (pretty much just their Pad See Ew). Amarit has, hands down the best Pad See Ew in the city. It is garlic-y and the sauce is oh so amazing. I will not eat Pad See Ew anywhere else, it is not the same. So... I go to Dao and the menu looks incredibly familiar... It looks like the exact format (down to the font and layout) of Amarit. So I ask the waiter what their association is, and turns out, at one point, the owners of Amarit, Tiparos (on Clark and North) and Dao were all associated at one time even though the owners are not the same at the time. I can't recommend anything else cause I haven't tried it - but the Pad See Ew... excellent.
(3)
Yaw N.

A reliably delicious Thai meal that is available in a timely fashion! The Pad Thai is amazing and when I ask them to make it extra spicy they always deliver. I recommend this place both for dining-in and take-out.
(3)
Susan K.

This is one of my favorite downtown spots. Good food and great prices in a lovely space. I tend to order the same favorites. I've never had a bad meal here.
(5)
Roger Y.

I've been in Chicago for a month now and this place was by far the worst, i would give it 0 star if i could. I had their pad thai and satay. The pad thai was too sweet and the tofu tasted weird, the whole dish didnt tasted fresh. As for the satay, the meat was okay and I was so looking forward to the satay peanut sauce because it's my favorite meat dipping sauce, but the peanut sauce here tasted like mud, seriously..... i am sure it's not mud but the texture smell and taste really does reminds me of mud.
(1)
Rene V.

Service was very...ok, hurry come in, eat and get out. Yes, we arrived at 9:30...30 minutes prior to closing. But, a customer is a customer. The food was ok. Nothing special. Spicy wasn't spicy. The fried rice was ok. Not even close to my top 5 Thai restaurants. They do have interesting seating. You'll see.
(3)
Valerie E.

I am by no means well-versed in Thai food. However, the few dishes I have had at Dao were quite good, my favorites being the yellow curry chicken and potstickers. This place is quite close to where I work, so I've been here occasionally with coworkers and it's always decent (and importantly, AFFORDABLE) food. This place gets bonus points from me for the interesting decor and seating areas, but minus a couple for the "meh" service. In my opinion, it's still worth it for a tasty lunch.
(3)
Dave P.

Good Thai food and very inexpensive considering the neighborhood. Cashew chicken and yellow curry are my favorites.
(4)
Tim C.

Small, and bland portions of food that has relatively no taste to it. Service was largely absent and vaguely hostile. The only thing I enjoyed was that the food was quick and cheap.
(2)
Tina W.

Not a bad Thai restaurant for an area with a sparsity of decent cheap places to eat. I work in the area and there are NO good restaurants: Panera, Chipotle, and Potbelly's are pretty much it. So considering the alternatives, Dao is a good option when you're sick of fast food. Whenever I go there, I make sure to know what I want before the waitress comes because they are SO SLOW, especially during lunch rush hour. I like their mild chicken curry. It's also spacious (for bigger groups) and well-decorated.
(3)
Crystal P.

Love Dao Thai. I work down th street so the the delivery is super fast when I can't break away from my desk. I get the Panag Curry with tofu and veggies and a thai iced tea! A lot of food! and if you order before 3 it's a dollar less! Panag curry here is great thick and peanutty not runny and fishy like some places ! Yum!
(4)
AJ M.

I live across from Dao Thai and it does its job - it isn't spectacular, but it it isn't terrible either. Pad Thai: I usually get the chicken pad thai and it is a lot of food. I enjoy this entree a lot and is probably the reason why I come back to this place when I need to a quick bite to eat. Pad See Eew: Not bad. But nothing really outstanding here. Spring Rolls: Not that good. I would pass on them. Mild Chicken Curry: Average. Nothing too special here. Nam Tok Beef Salad: I like this dish. There's a lot of cilantro and red onions in this dish and it is spicy. If you're really into bold flavors and like something with a kick to it, I would give this a try.
(3)
Kevin T.

Pretty standard fare thai food. I really enjoyed my food, but I was also starving from a day of walking around the city. The Pad Khee Mao was not spicy at all, a super letdown... we should have asked for 'very spicy' instead of 'medium'. The massamun curry was pretty good, and everything was super normal thai food. Nothing extraordinary, a good cheap price. I can't compare to other Chicago Thai places, but the taste is not as good as the Thai food I have in LA.
(3)
Martin G.

This is my absolute favorite Thai food in Chicago and every other city I've eaten in as well. All of the ingredients taste fresh, especially the spring rolls...omg are they delicious! Their wide rice noodles are cut thick and are the best noodles I've ever had. They are vegetarian/vegan friendly, even writing this on their home page, "For our vegetarian customers, most items can be cooked without meat, and if there is a Thai dish you enjoy and do not see in our menu". Other than the fresh spring rolls, I recommend the fried tofu appetizer, and for an entree I recommend the #34 Dao's Noodles Delight. Everything is priced amazingly low for the location. I had to take a star away for the slow service, and it has not improved over the years. It takes forever to get the attention of the staff. You will sit a long time before you are given your drinks or asked what you would like to order. You have to practically get up and get more water yourself. Street parking can be difficult. All in all I highly recommend this Thai restaurant; I have never once been disappointed by the food.
(4)
Shayne W.

I've eaten at Dao far more than I should for my health, so I consider myself an expert. I work a couple of blocks away, so it is a favorite amongst my staff. We all tend to stick with our regulars, and are never disappointed. It is definitely commercialized Thai, and they use a lot of MSG, but it is seriously tasty. I recommend ordering the Pad Kra Prao, but ask for it with tofu instead, and get brown rice. My colleagues also love the Dao Noodle delight and ask for additional veggies in it.
(4)
konamichan k.

While the chicken satay was pretty good, coconut ice cream should not involve vanilla ice cream with bits of coconut haphazardly thrown in. But maybe that is just me. Thumbs up for the fried basil with tofu - nice n' spicy.
(2)
Jay V.

Looking for something a little out-of-the ordinary? Look no further. I had the opportunity to share this little gem of a restaurant with some clients - two from China, one from Toronto and two from Florida. We shared four appetizers - ordered & shared six different entrees. Not all were Thai - but all were enjoyed. Dinners ranged from Ped Yarng (Roast Duck) to Cashew Chicken to Red Hot Curry Chicken to Pla Sarm Rose (3 flavor Snapper). We sampled several Thai beers and ended up with Green Tea and Coconut Ice Cream. We elected to sit at a "regular table" with chairs - but the restaurant also offers traditional "on the floor" seating. (not bad for a romantic dinner - a little tough on a business outing). All in all - to quote Arnold, "I'll Be Back"! daothai.com
(3)
Gino Z.

I'm a Thai food junkie, and Dao is among the worst Thai food I've ever had. Spring rolls smothered in a sweet gelatinous syrup (rather than peanut/chili sauce for dipping), and green curry that was overly salty and dotted with frozen peas made for a meal I couldn't wait to get away from. The chop sticks should've given it away...
(2)
Rachel L.

Pretty good food and cute decor. We were there on a Monday and were surprised at how busy it was. They were obviously understaffed, but I'm still giving it 4 stars because the friend who took me said that poor service usually isn't an issue.
(4)
Craig A.

Good, not great.
(3)
Jim W.

I was hoping for something acceptable to the palette since it's so close to home, but unfortunately I don't think I'm coming back here. As I mentioned in my review of Siam Rice, I base my Thai reviews off one dish: pad kra prao. At Dao, it was sweet instead of spicy, my chicken came in chunks, and they charged me another dollar for the rice that should have been part of the dish. My friend's Pad See eiw tasted like a pound of sugar went in the dish. Overall, very Americanized taste. And don't get me started on the dingy elevated carpet seating platform thingamajig. To their defense, the place is cheap, and they get an extra star for refilling my water 4x. But as my friend who lives 2 blocks away said , "unless I'm dying of hunger and too lazy to walk further, not coming back here."
(2)
Aaron R.

I've been to this Thai restaurant twice do two different visits in the windy city. I LOVE Thai food -- so typically it's difficult for me to not enjoy it. But in my most recent experience, I had probably one of the best service I've had in restaurants. So the story is: I made the mistake of not indicating the level of spiciness i could handle ((seriously -- rookie mistake)), so while I am eating my delicious beef green curry, I couldn't stop sweating because I of the level of spiciness. While being well aware this was my mistake, I informed the waiter -- and with a smile he swiftly took my curry and made me a much milder version with no hesitation. I LOVED that service. Now on the food: Their curry is really creamy -- so if your stomach can handle a good dose of coconut-milk, definitely go for it. On my previous visit I've had their noodles ((Pad Thai and Pad-See-Ew)) and both were good, moist and had a nice taste. I also ordered their crab stuffed wonton, which was decent -- though i've had better at different Thai restaurants.
(4)
Michael C.

I'm giving this 3 stars because when I compare this to Star of Siam (which should close down), I feel this is the best I can get in town thus far at a reasonable price. However, comparing to California standards, I would have to give this 2 stars, 1 star for food, the other for the student price. I suggest avoiding the Pad Thai and going for Pad Khee Mao. First time I ordered this dish, I asked, "what's in it"? Waiter replies, "Chicken, blah blah blah....and 1 shrimp". 1 shrimp? I couldn't stop laughing when I heard that as he was walking away. I was pleasantly surprised to see 2 prawns :)
(3)
Jessica W.

I think there are better Thai places around. I asked for the red curry to be mild. Usually places are okay with this, but apparently here, it means... no flavor. The curry was just watery and it was bland and not appetizing. I guess it's partially my fault for the special request, but I thought lots of people do it! I guess if you come here, just order normally! I tried my friend's pad see ew and I've definitely had much better... Also, the seating is weird. In the middle of the room, there are like cushions on benches and it just makes me uncomfortable.
(2)
Jonathan A.

I love Dao Thai for lunch and sometimes dinner. It's cheap, super fast (I think they once delivered our food at work in like 15 min). I LOVE the pad thai chicken and peanut sauce. I would include it in my execution style final meal. It may not be authentic Thai but then I guess I don't care. I also base this review on this one dish because I rarely bring myself to order anything else. The pad thai is on the sweeter side when comparing apples to apples in other thai restaurants. The noodles are always good and the chicken, big white and juicy, whereas it is usually dry in other restaurants.
(4)
Adam S.

The food and the ambiance are wonderful. It is safe to say the authenticity of the food is superior to the many Thai restaurants in Chicago, being of Thai background and having traveled to Bangkok and many cities in Thailand. To start, the fresh spring rolls are delectable. The fact that the spring rolls are not deep-fried shows that the food is prepared fresh. I ordered the panang nue beef my first visit and was very satisfied. If you have not yet already, add Singha or Chang beer to your meal. As for the food and restaurant in whole, there is no doubt I plan on taking my dad to Dao when he comes to visit!
(5)
PJ T.

this is my need-some-soul-food-no-brainer-place. been here 4 times and ordered the exact same thing every single time. YES ! I know !! I would not go here if you are looking for authentic thai food or delicate flavors. I would go here if you want some quick grub that hits the spot. My fave - spicy crazy noodles. The name says it all. Plus the fresh spring rolls are pretty decent. That's my standard order. However, I once ordered the pad-thai and was sorely disappointed to the extent that I had it returned (Gasp - me returning food...that means it really must be bad) Service is just okay too. Don't expect any frills though the dining area is quite spruced up ;-)
(3)
Erica T.

This place is right by my work, so I have been here a couple of times with my coworkers. The decor is pretty cool, especially the short tables in the middle where you sit on cushions to eat, although I'm not sure how comfortable that would be because I've never sat there. The service seemed pretty good although I remember the staff had a little trouble communicating in English. Last time I was here I had the Tom Kha soup, which is a gi-normous serving that could probably feed 3 people. It was very coconut-milky and not as flavorful as other Tom Kha soups that I've had - I didn't mind so much because I like the taste of coconut milk but I can understand how that would not fly with others. One of the girls was ordering takeout from Dao yesterday and asked if I wanted in. I was having a horrendous day, so I said YES!! I got the green curry beef, which I picked because it had eggplant and because I like green curry. What was odd was that on their menu they list certain dishes with a specific type of protein - "red curry chicken" or "panang curry beef" for example. Most places list a choice of proteins, and I would have preferred tofu with my dish and I'm sure they would have accomodated that but I was in too much of a hurry. Anywho, I was super excited when I saw the green curry - it was chock full of yummy eggplant and peas, and smelled absolutely delicious. But then I tasted it. It turned out that the dish was also chock full of jalapenos, and was ridiculously spicy. And I understand that curries are meant to be spicy, but this would have been labeled ATOMIC on the spicy chart. I still ate some because besides the spicyness it was still good, and even the beef was well cooked, but I ended up saving about 75% of it for my husband, who actually likes his curries extra spicy. Overall this place is OK but it would not be my first pick for Thai food around work. Next time I would probably pick Silver Spoon down the street.
(3)
A-train R.

I've tried a few Thai restaurants now b/c my gf loves her Thai food. I believe this is the best one we've tried. We ordered common dishes like the shrimp rolls, chicken fried rice, and I think the pad kow. They were all really good. I had a bloody mary but I've had much better so I won't exactly recommend it. However, the food, service, and cleanliness was very good. The bathrooms were spotless. I was very surprised that we didn't have to wait to be seated. You can also sit in booths that simulate the sitting on the ground thing and they looked pretty sweet, but we didn't sit there. I can't really say much negative about this place and maybe it was just not packed b/c it was a little later on a Friday night. I'll definitely be back to DAO"S.
(4)
Janet L.

I'm going to be moving near Dao Thai in a few months, so I'm glad there will be some decent/affordable Thai food nearby. Pros: 1. pretty fast if you're getting take out 2. they're cheap 3. nice takeout containers that you can reuse as tupperware 4. not sure if they deliver, but if they do - awesome I've never actually sat and eaten in the restaurant, but it's got some interesting decor. I only ever get one type of dish because of a mild nut allergy, so all I can say is their pad see ew (chicken or beef) tastes yummy to me!
(4)
Diana T.

I have never given a restaurant 1 star before but I think this will be my first. My coworkers love to come here for Thai (not sure why) now that I've tried it. Maybe for convenience? Lack of taste buds?? After I had their tom yum soup, pad thai, even crab ragoon, everything left me SO DISAPPOINTED. They have good service, don't doubt that, but I rather have better thai food with sucky service.
(1)
Lisa H.

this review still haunts me. I think 1 star is more honest. 1 1/2 for decor.
(1)
Tiffany B.

I had the Pad See Ew (#30). It was a tad bit on the greasy side, the chicken was real and made for great lunch leftovers the next day. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Luisa T.

We came in for a late lunch on a Friday. It wasn't too crowded and we got a table right away. We had chicken pad thai, shrimp pad thai, thai beef, and cashew chicken. I have to say the food was just okay. The prices were good if you are in the area and just looking for a quick bite to eat. It's not bad, it's just not memorable. The shrimp pad thai had just a few jumbo shrimp mixed in with the pad thai. I really liked the veggies in the chicken cashew. They weren't too crispy or overcooked. The perfect texture. But it was like chicken and some veggies and pineapple cooked together then add a sauce. Kind of disappointed.
(3)
caroline k.

I've ordered from this place several times, and each time I regret. What's funny is they actually have an item on the menu (Hor Mok) that they actually tell you, "you won't like that - most customers don't." Then why is it on the menu? I have had the Pad See Ew, Pad Thai, Papaya Salad, Rama Chicken, Cashew Chicken, Tom Yum - and none have impressed. As a huge thai fan, and thought maybe Dao wasn't what I was used to as it states to be 'northern thai". Regardless, not a fan.
(2)
Nicole L.

It's been many years since I was last here, but I do recall enjoying the cuisine and especially the atmosphere.
(3)
David M.

Took guests there this week. They were visiting from China, and while not wanting Chinese food, wanted something that would be comfortable after several days of the all-American meals. I had been to the restaurant several times in the past, and the decor has not changed a bit. By that I mean what was once nice and unique, is not pretty tired. So we ventured out to the patio to dine, on a lovely summer Chicago evening. The food was good for an American version of Thai. I would say it is consistent in this regard. The service was a little lax, as the waitress seemed overworked, but this was only a minor issue. If you want That in the hear of downtown Chicago, I think this restaurant is nice, as well as inexpensive. Just don't expect too much.
(3)
Henry A.

Very well priced, especially considering the area, good food, huge portions, and comfortable. This is a great place to go for a cheap dinner or lunch out if you're in the area. Most entrees are less than $10. I've also never had a bad experience with service and I go here pretty often. It's not the best Thai food I've ever had, but I think it's definitely well above average. I especially like the curry dishes. Maybe it's just me, I get the feeling the food is noticeably better when you eat in compared to getting take-out. The portions for the noodle dishes are humongous - one dish is always at least 2 meals for me.
(4)
B K.

Consistently good food and surprisingly delicious (and strong!) martinis. As other yelpers have mentioned, cool decor too. I have come here with very small (2) and large (13) groups of people and have been seated within a few minutes, no matter what. Beware there is a heavy lunch rush since Dao is so close to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the Med School, and Law School ... not to mention other businesses in close proximity. So this might not be the best place for you if you're interested in a quiet lunch during the week! I docked one point only for occasional aloofness of the staff and service ... such as not coming to get our order for a good 5 minutes even though our menus were closed (as in, the universal signal that one is ready to order!), or not bringing us chopsticks after asking twice (upon which I finally got up and got them myself since our food had already arrived). But I only docked a total of 1 star for all of these collectively, because out of all the times I've eaten here (close to 40 probably), these mishaps have only happened on a few occasions ... but I thought it still warranted mentioning. Surprisingly, their martinis are also VERY good -- definitely on the strong side though, be forewarned! Last but not least, if you can't decide what to order, just trust me and get the pad khee mao and thai iced tea ... so delicious.
(4)
Arielle S.

Dao is in my neighborhood and owned and has the same menu as Star of Siam. Star of Siam has nicer decor but I don't really care about whats hanging on the walls when I am grabbing a quick bite with friends... PROS: -The menu is extensive and... All the dishes I have had a good, under $10 and there's always enough to share or take home. (Which gets this review to a 3) Cons: -depending on the crowd, the service is good to OK - the decor/ backless seats in the middle section What makes Dao a 4 is the location! A block away from the Mag Mile, it is one of the cheapest/ non-chain restaurants you can find in the area. Also, you can usually get a table on a Friday or Saturday night if you don't go too late- which is important! In this area are tons of hotels and the guests book their dinners a week or so in advance, so the locals (like me) are forced to eat in other neighborhoods unless we plan our meals far in advance! Overall, good thai food and worth checking out if you are in the area (but not worth visiting if you are not nearby).
(4)
Yiyu Z.

Ah, Dao Thai. A staple for those of us unfortunate enough to live in Streeterville without the time or means of going somewhere else for dinner, or paying a fortune. Or going to TGIF/Chilis (ugh). If you're looking for delicious and authentic - sweaty brow, burning mouth, and a huge smile - then you won't find it here. But if you're looking for cheap and abundant, Dao delivers. Student pro-tip: for whatever reason, it seems like Dao portions are way bigger for takeout/delivery than if you eat there. If you're a student mired in debt, this is an important consideration!
(3)
Keerthi A.

They have a funky cushion seating area but we sat at a table. We asked the waiter to recommend a wine, he flat out declared that he had no idea. Strike One. We ordered a Malbec and it was pretty decent. When the waitress poured me water, I told her there was something in my water and asked if I may please have another glass of water. She insisted I show her the 'thing' in my water and spent about 20 seconds looking for it. Strike Two. We ordered the curry fried rice and Red Curry. I kid you not, the food arrived in less than 5 minutes. Either they have a bunch of cooks whipping up my order in a frenzy or they stuck the food in an oven and reheated it. Take your pick. The curry fried rice was average, but the curry was all peanut sauce, just out-of-a-jar, nothing else. Their curries and other entrees do not come with rice, they charge you extra if you want rice with your entree, which is just plain idiotic. Strike Three. Never going back. Ever.
(1)
Bill M.

This is an unobtrusive Thai restaurant along busy Ohio Street. Except for the neon signs in the windows, most will not notice this building at all. Come in and have your favorite Thai dishes. I tend to go for the noodle dishes.
(3)
Erika G.

Not recommended except for the decor, which is gorgeous. There's much better Thai in the city. My Tom Kha Gai soup was way too sweet and bland.
(2)
Matthew G.

Dao definitely has its plusses and minuses. On the plus side: The entrees are fresh and inexpensive. For the area, the price can't be beat. Their Tom Yum Noodle Soup is something I frequently crave! The decor is great -- lots of cool Thai masks and murals. In the summertime, they have a wonderful patio for some relaxing al fresco lunching. The location is very convenient to Michigan Avenue and provides an economical alternative to the swanky yet pricey eateries in the area. Now for the minuses: The service is terribly inattentive. They are always very quick to take your order, the food comes out pretty fast, but there is little contact otherwise. If you need another beverage, or if you run out of chili sauce -- good luck! Often it is easier and less time consuming to get up and get it yourself. Even getting the check seems to take forever. Rice is not included. While the entree prices are low, rice is an additional charge. This is just a bit too "nickel and dime-y" for my taste. Isn't rice a main staple in the Asian diet? They should just add the rice into the cost of the dish even if it means that the menu prices would increase by a dollar or so. In my opinion, the plusses outweigh the minuses. It is not the absolute best Thai food in Chicago, but it's a good bet for the price and the area.
(3)
Ashley W.

The food here is not like going on Argyle, but it's decent and inexpensive. I went here during my lunch break based on the recommendation of friends who live in the area. I must say the decor was cute and of course I sat in the "floor seated" area. Loved it! The food was ok, it definitely needed the tableside accoutrements. The place wasn't packed, but it was a bit after 1 pm. Service was quick and attentative without being overbearing.
(2)
Robin W.

It's truly the best Thai in the city. There are so many restaurants that make one thing well, and the rest sucks. I've been eating at Dao since 1997, and I've tried many dishes. We just ordered in for lunch at my office, and everyone agreed that what they ordered was the best prepared they'd ever had. The only downfall were the eggrolls....so, I guess you go to Chinatown for those. Overall, very, very good, and I'm a total FOODIE!! Compared to what's been chosen for the alcohol comment, yes, Dao does have a full bar. Not sure why people have marked "none". The bar is RIGHT THERE. lol
(5)
Ann V.

Disclaimer: This review is for the noodle dishes only. I ordered the chicken pad thai only to find out that they charge $1 more to add meat and $2 more to add shrimp! These pad thai noodles are close to the worst pad thai dish I've had in a long time. I suggest walking the extra few blocks over to Silver Spoon. Its cheaper and has better food!
(1)
Lu C.

Since my bf lives right across the street from this place, we and other friends probably go here about once every three days. For the money, it's definitely worth it! Lots of variety- I love the thai iced tea :), the pad see ew, and the green curry (spicy!). Also suppper fast service. Secret: if you get this delivered or as take out, you get way more! :) Yes, I know this place all too well...
(4)
Jesse W.

3.5/5 I've ordered only carryout twice from Dao. By stepping in to pickup my order, I agree with others' comments: the decor is cool. I can't comment on the supposedly poor service since I've had only carryout. Their dishes seem to taste better after a few hours of letting it sit out or in the fridge. For the price, the portions are great! I can usually squeeze 3 meals out of 1 noodle dish. I've avoided their non-noodle dishes because Dao will charge you $1-2 for some rice. Each of their dishes come with a side of hot sauce. I prefer sarachi hot sauce or chili oil served in Chinese restaurants because Dao's hot sauce is quite vinegary. I had Pad See Eiw and Lard Nar (I think??? It was a green curry beef noodle dish), and I tasted some of my friend's shrimp fried rice. Although the fried rice was packed with shrimp, the shrimp were the size of macaroni. Overall flavor of the dish was pretty bland. For my 2 noodle dishes, I was unimpressed at first. However, I had leftovers the next day, and damn! The flavors seem to set in and open up. Like Little Caesar's pizza, this cheap fast food tastes well worth its cost the next day out of the fridge.
(4)
Paul C.

I went for lunch today because I was able to earn miles through my airline mileage account. I had the spring rolls which were much larger (er, longer) than expected. Certainly enough for two but I ate it by myself. I'm so fat. I had the crazy noodles which I guess would be assumed to be hot, but it was not. I did add to dry peppers and chili sauce and that brought it up to par with my tastes. The server did not ask me if I wanted another beer though my glass was empty for some time. Overall, I enjoyed the meal and would return again with company. I don't like to eat alone!
(3)
Crystal B.

The WORST Thai I've ever had. Ordered the shrimp in massaman curry, which had an "off" taste. It tasted gross, aside from the fact that I didn't expect canned pineapple chunks in my curry dish. The food was not fresh and the presentation was lacking. My husband ordered sweet and sour chicken, a bigger mistake. That was just disgusting. We won't be going back, and would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Jeff L.

I have not eaten in this restaurant, but I have ordered take out several times. Their curry's are all appealing on some level. My favorite being the peanut curry, whose name currently escapes me. Other reviewers complained that it tastes like spicy peanut butter. Except that is the exact reason why I enjoy it so much. I mix it with rice, and now I have spicy peanut buttered rice, brilliant. Their crab rangoon is also exceptional. It's just the restaurant itself is rather average.
(3)
andrea b.

i didn't think i'd see the day when i'd write a one-star review. and because of Pad Thai? never. today, however, is most certainly the day. i love Pad Thai -- fancy-n-delicate or quick-n-dirty, spicy or not, chicken or tofu -- you get the picture. to call what i got at Dao Thai Restaurant "Pad Thai" is almost an insult to Thai food. i would say that it had no flavoring (when have you ever seen entirely white rice noodles in Pad Thai?) except that the little flavoring it did have managed to be objectionable. and what gave it an "intermediate" level of spice? a tub of pour-it-on-yourself sweet-and-sour type sauce. was there a slice of lemon or lime? no. were there at least sprouts? no. seriously. after venturing out from my hotel room in the frigid Chicago weather, then getting this back to my room 20 minutes later, i couldn't bring myself eat more that a few bites. sad.
(1)
Peter F.

I agree with many of the other yelpers - it is just OK. Nothing special... hit or miss food and service. Cheap prices.
(2)
Ira S.

As other reviewers have noted, this is a remarkably inexpensive restaurant. The physical space is elegant despite its austerity. The food is all worthwhile, with special kudos for the soups (great on a cold day) and catfish dishes (ranging from spicy to SPICY!). The help is always pleasant and efficient. We have been eating at Dao for over 10 years and have brought many friends to the Dao. As far as we know, all are still our friends-- so the food must be pretty good.
(5)
Matthew T.

Dao Thai...I sincerely doubt I will eat there again. Their food is not good at all. It's bland almost to the point of tastelessness. I love good Thai food, whether its lower priced and savory, or expense and exquisite. This just isn't it. You would be better off buying fast food than this stuff. Even at $7 per plate it isn't worth it. I've had plenty of good Thai food at reasonable prices, but Dao isn't worth the trip.
(2)
Stephanie K.

Update 12/23: My work friends and I went to Dao for lunch one day. It was a blustery, winter day, and I thought soup would really hit the spot. Since there was only one size of soup on the menu, I asked the waitress if there was a smaller size - she said no, so one of my friends said he'd share the dish with me. So, when we ordered, we asked for two bowls, and she refused, saying that if we wanted soup for two, we'd have to get the bigger size. At that, I decided that I wouldn't get the soup at all, so I just defaulted to Pad Thai. For the rest of the meal, I got attitude from this waitress. Including the response to my question of whether there were any specials (which is VERY common in Asian restaurants, especially at lunchtime): "Everything is special." Personally, I don't find that response witty at all - I think it's rude of both the waitress and the restaurant to not offer any deals at the lunch hour. So, my 3-star review dropped to a 1-star review. And like many others on Yelp, if I could give it zero, I would. Never going back, there are many other businesses I'd rather give my hard-earned money to. __________________________ On a beautiful day during the Chicago summer, Dao is a great place to grab a table on their patio and eat outside. They have a full Thai menu--and everything looked good. The food came quickly and we were out in less than an hour and for less than $20 for two people. Next time I dine at Dao, I'm going to check out the cool seating Chris O. describes in his review.
(1)
Lisa B.

This is definitely the prettiest Thai restaurant I've ever been to. The walls are covered with Asian artifacts, but the effect is lovely, not so busy it would give you a headache. Some of the seating is in a long banquette with holes cut through for your feet -- this requires a little climbing and can be tricky if you're wearing a skirt. The food is quite good too, and reasonably priced for the prime location. I have only gone for lunch, and have had no problems with service or refills.
(4)
JB M.

Very middle of the road. Not bad, necessarily, but really couldn't be more unexciting. I wish there was another Thai option within walking distance to work.
(2)
Eric V.

Dao Thai? More like, "Don't Try". Sorry if that's harsh, but when your fiancee is half Thai you figure out what good Thai food really tastes like. The Pad See Eiw was bland and dull, the noodles were mushy, and the chicken was dry. One star for the food (only cause I have to) and one star because they deliver.
(2)
Jesse C.

Pad woon sen and yum woon sen both good. Pad thai strangely bad, spring rolls worse. Service so-so.
(2)
Amanda Z.

I'm Thai - this is good, authentic Thai food. Tons of options, everything I've tried is great and fresh ingredients. I've never eaten in the restaurant, but get delivery often and they are SUPER quick! This is a regular take-out option for me and I would suggest it to anyone who likes AUTHENTIC Thai food.
(4)
Michael D.

It's OK - one of the better options in the area for some fairly cheap grub, and the curries are good (as other yelpers have noted). The atmosphere is OK - very straightforward type of place. Do sit in the middle section if you're able. The service is good, although we've had some problems getting drinks in a reasonable amount of time.
(3)
Larry B.

4 stars because of atmosphere and price. Sure, the food is 3 stars, but it is very cheap and much better than typical take out. I love sitting in the middle risen floor on the Thai cushions while I eat. I go back to this place a lot, no complaints.
(4)
Jennifer K.

This is a low-key Thai Restaurant, cheap and delicious. No, it's not the best Thai restaurant, but for what you're paying, it's def worth it. Since it's so close to the AMC and Dominick's, it's a great place to rewind and enjoy a simple meal. Their curry and noodles dishes are excellent, especially when accompanied by their Thai iced tea. You won't pay more than $10 for an entree and a beverage.
(3)
Antonio A.

Hit and miss. Always order what you already tried for it's very risky. I always eat here whenever I'm in Chicago, but the few times I tried to give the other items a chance I always end up disappointed. The fried rice is good, noodles are all not ok!!!! The best was the phad thai and it's just average - have not tried the curry. I always get fried chicken at dominicks and eat their fried rice.
(3)
Nancy C.

Ordered several appetizers and all were mediocre except for the dumplings. At least those were good. I ordered pad thai and it was disgustingly sweet. I couldn't even eat most of it. It felt like a dessert rather than an entree. Also ordered green tea martini which was also saturated with sugar. Overall was disappointing. Skip it!
(2)
Chloe R.

This place is bloat haven! Me and 2 coworkers stopped in here for lunch. Little did we know we were going to be bloated from all the sodium 30 minutes later. I guess we didn't have to finish our plates but seriously I have NEVER felt like that after Thai food. I order the spicy basil chicken which was tasty but lacked serious veggies except for the warm mushy tomatoes... ewww! It took me the rest of the day, a gallon of water and some serious boot camp action to get me somewhat feeling comfortable again.
(2)
Sarah A.

Went on a Friday night. Not crowded at all. Ordered the following: Pad Thai - aweful. smells like sweat Shrimp Tom Yum Soup - decent Crab Rangoon - WAY too creamy and not enough crab Roasted duck - terrible AND it was an odd color of red not the typical brown skin. Beef Curry Panang Nue - aweful. more peanut butter than a whole can of skippy. Go to Lincoln Park's "Aroy Thai". Everything is delicious there!
(1)
Renee B.

I'm surprised there aren't better reviews for this place! Dao Thai is hands down my favorite Thai in the city. Everything I've had from Pad Thai to Curries (and they know how to do a spicy curry right) has been delicious.
(5)
L E.

The most veggie-laden, healthy & light food within several blocks in the 'hood! Servers speak English well, & always get the order perfectly when placing takeout orders over the phone. Entrees lack protein, but I'll dismiss the chicken little for the variety & crispness of their veggies they overload into those reusable (yes!) takeout containers. No discounts or coupons, but the consistency & quality of service, food, & timely preparation will trump a marginal savings via Valpak!
(5)
Sincer J.

Food is decent, service is absolutely HORRIBLE. Don't even think about bringing a group of people (six or more), because it is just WAY too much work for them. Don't bother with this place, they don't deserve your money with the way they treat you. You should go to 900/950 N. Michigan Ave for Thai food- food is much better and service is great!
(1)
susan f.

3.5 to 4 stars - bad service, awesome food Went to Dao Thai on a Monday night around 9 PM. The place was packed and the service was awful. BUT, the food was some of the best Thai I've had outside Thailand. We ordered the shumai, the potstickers and the pad thai. Nothing terribly adventurous. We were tired after a long conference and needed comfort food. The wrap on the potstickers was paper thin and tasted fresh and home-made. The pork filling was flavorful and delicious. Ditro for the shumai. The pad thai was simple and also tasted like a home-cooked meal. If I lived in Chicago, I'd certainly go back and try more dishes.
(3)
Miss B.

First time here. Ordered online for pick up, showed up transaction went seamlessly. The place was vibrant with activity and smelt delish. The seating is adorable it made me wish I hadn't ordered to go. Took my food back to the office, I ordered the Kai Kra Tiem Chicken, and spring rolls. First time I've had this and I must say very delicious. Spring rolls are standard, the sauces they come with are outstanding. Overall, a magnificent find with Dao. I'm looking forward to going back soon!
(4)
Michael M.

I went to Dao Thai last weekend based on a friend's recommendation. We were all at the Windy City Wine Festival, and we were all getting quite hungry. Dao is nicely decorated, and the patio (where we sat) is perfect when the weather is nice. The appetizers were very good, especially the crab rangoon which was freshly cooked and served at just the right temperature. I had the Pad Woon Sen which was excellent. The noodles were cooked to the perfect consistency, and they definitely did not skimp on the meat. My fiancee had the red curry chicken, and as soon as she took her first bite, I could see that she was not ready for how spicy it was. I tried it and I will attest to the heat factor. We are used to spice but this was on a whole new level. All in all, it was a good experience and if we are downtown and in the mood for Thai, we will be heading to Dao.
(4)
Cathy G.

Wow. This was the worst Thai food I have actually ever had ...and I have loved Thai food for years. I remember Star of Siam as being passable...and this place is run by the same folks. I had a Vietnamese Spring roll - the rice wrap was thick and gummy, the sprouts were canned..no joke, the pork was positively scary and the sauce they gave me was made from gravy-in-a-jar with some sort of additive...the cucumber salad was at least not toxic- hard to mess up Thai cucumber salad. Rice was gloppy like overcooked Uncle Bens even though I had ordered Jasmine rice. Oh and did I mention this awful array of food cost me almost 9 dollars at lunch? Dreadful.
(1)
E H.

Pad Thai is ok. Cashew chic was pretty good. What's up with no free rice with your lunch?
(3)
Da J.

Dao is definitely the closest Thai restaurant, and makes very decent curries. It accommodated our very large (14+?) group for lunch without a reservation, and without becoming too disgruntled.
(4)
Andrew T.

Only equivalent is Thai Sookdee in Evanston. This place is great for a quick pad-see-ew fix downtown. My buddy likes it "extra dark, extra crispy" to make sure it's well done. Perfect blend of sweetness, without overpowering the brown sauce. Sometimes I order other stuff and I always wish I'd gotten the pad-see-ew. Once I was boozin' here and forgot my ID, he was going to hook me up anyway before I found it in the end. Patio could be nice on a nice day. All the other restaurants in the area cost much more..
(4)
David S.

I love Dao. The food is fresh and flavorful. They are flexible with food customization (therefore veganizable) and have those crazy leg hole tables. Heh. The service is spotty though. Twice i've ordered a beer and they completely forgot it!
(4)
Helena D.

This is the best Thai restaurant in town for Pad Kra Prao with Beef -- it's like Beef Pepper Steak, but spicy and with basil leaves. Incredibly delicious and not the least bit sweet (I tend to gravitate towards salty foods.) I've dined in the restaurant with friends and love the unique seating arrangements. Their soups are so good and incredible in size - you could have a bowl of the Shrimp Wonton Soup and not eat anything else - with the drop of sesame oil, it is a beautiful melody of flavors that will whisk you to Southeast Asia...We are well-traveled and definite foodies and we stand behind these two dishes in particular. Their potstickers are solid and tasty, as are the Vietnamese Spring Rolls which are fresh, served cold, and fantastic with a bit of the spicy soy sauce. Don't overlook dessert - they also serve green tea and coconut ice cream. It's so good, we get food delivered (lightning quick) or dine there several times a month.
(5)
Ziggy I.

(If only Yelp allowed half-star ratings... I'd like to give this place 4.5 stars, and 5 seems excessive, so 4 stars will have to do. Rating breakdown: 4 on food, 5 on service) I was surprised to see that Dao Thai only received 3 stars on Yelp, as it's easily the best Thai restaurant in River North/Streeterville these days--and this isn't just because the competition is weak/scarce. It's also quite reasonably priced, and I think two dollar signs is a bit of an exaggeration of the actual price range--almost everything is under $9. While its sister restaurant, Star of Siam (Illinois between State and Wabash), unfortunately has been in something of a decline in recent years, Dao has more than picked up the slack. I've been to Dao four or five times and have never been let down. The restaurant is usually busy, but the space is ample (not to mention attractive) and the staff seem especially adept at managing crowds and keeping wait times to a minimum; I've never had to wait, even at peak dinner hour on a weekend. The SERVICE is prompt, courteous, and flexible. A friend and I once lingered for several hours before close, working on a project, and our waitress was kind enough to offer us an outlet to plug in our laptop--talk about consideration that goes above and beyond! The FOOD is consistently very good, and my sampling of a range of curries, rice dishes, noodle dishes, soups, and appetizers allows me to say with great confidence that there are no weaknesses on Dao's menu. I've also had drinks from their BAR, and Dao doesn't mess around when it comes to booze. Always doubly refreshing when a restaurant's default is to make drinks good n' stiff without having to be asked. Some highlights: the pad see eiw and pad woon sen are always done to perfection, never gooey and always loaded with vegetables and tofu (or the meat of your choice, if that's your bag; there's an extra charge for shrimp, but show me a Thai place where that isn't the case and I'll eat my hat); the curries (particular standouts are the Penang and green curries) are tangy, balanced, and are always spiced to order; the Vietnamese spring rolls are some of the best I've had in the city; and the Mai Thai is strong enough to stand up for itself. Great food and great value in the heart of downtown. Highly recommended.
(4)
Jacob M.

I stumbled into this place while I was walking back to my hotel while at a conference in March '10. I was craving some vegetarian cuisine as I was tired of just eating salads and pizza, the typical during conferences for me. It was lunch time mid-week and because I was a by myself I was seated immediately. The decor was nice, and staff friendly. I ordered the spring roll, and the Lard Nar with tofu. The veggie spring roll was different and not much to my tastes. However, when I got the Lard Nar I was in heaven. It was hands down the best Lard Nar I have ever had. I was very upset after only being able to conquer half of it, as I didn't have a fridge at the hotel to store the left overs. On my next trip to Chicago, I will definitely be coming back. My only concern was the price, as it was a bit more than I am used to paying for the same food, but the quality of the dish made it all worth it.
(4)
Anonymous F.

When did Dao get so bad? I used to love going here when I first moved to the area. I took a brief hiatus from the place, and when I started going back all the food was bad. The food tasted really cheap and...my pad see ew smelled funny. It was weird. One of my friends' rice tasted like rubber, it had probably been sitting in the rice cooker for a few hours. How do you screw up rice?? It's cheap, and the decor is nice, but the food sucks.
(2)
Chris O.

I tried their Tom Yum (spicy Shrimp soup) and thought it was very, very good -- almost as good as the real thing I've had in Bangkok. The portion size was huge and the price was reasonable. (The same bowl of soup in my hometown of Houston costs approximately twice as much and everything up in Chicago is usually more expensive.) The atmosphere is very nice. Tons of thai artifacts litter the walls. In the middle of the restaurant there is a unique sitting arrangement where the tables are positioned in square cutout holes in carpet covered wooden platorm that rises about a foot to a foot and a half off the ground. When you walk in, you think diners are sitting Indian style, but they are in fact sitting on the platform with their feet dangling under the tables in the coutouts. For an appetizer I had their spicy beef skewers. To me they were a little on the tough and crusty side. I'm thinking they are supposed to be that way, but I wouldn't order them again. They are almost like beef jerkey on a stick. I believe they have a sister restaruant on Clark St. It was equally as good.
(4)
Deirdre L.

Why can't I give ZERO stars? Yick. Yes it was inexpensive compared to other places in the area, but it was disgusting. Chicken Satay had weird seasoning and was still pink in the middle.. The marinade/seasoning on the chicken kinda smelled like an Indian curry rather than the traditional Thai Satay seasonings. Not good. The Vietnamese spring rolls had the icky, scary processed Chinese pink BBQ pork in them instead of crab and the plum sauce was outright bad. My friend's egg roll wasn't much different from the ones in your local grocers freezer. Not good at all. I'm definitely not the world's pickiest eater and I couldn't take more than a bite of anything. Won't order from here again. Never. Ever. Ever. If I hadn't eaten in days, I probably still not would not eat here. +++ Update 8/7+++ 2 Months later and my stomach still turns a little when I think about the food we got from here. I just cannot tell you how icky it was. Gross. Seriously.
(1)
Jeanine S.

this place does in a pinch, a pinch being stuck at work. their pad thai is how i like it, but the red curry with tofu is lacking a bit. so is the tom yum soup. a friend of mine won't eat here anymore becuase he broke out in hives after eating the rama chicken- and isn't allergic to peanuts! the patio is nice-when its actually open. but being said that i stop in here for my lunch break from work once in a while, just because i wear hospital scrubs and/or come for a table for one does not mean i need to be placed at the worst table to hear all the clamor of the kitchen.
(2)
Elizabeth P.

Love this place - it's near work so I've been here several times. My boyfriend lives out of town and wants to eat here every time he visits....that should tell you something. I've had several of these dishes and they were all good. They tend to be very busy at lunch so if you go, try to get there early or decide to go late to miss the rush.
(4)
Barry M.

Have to agree with the consensus below -- average (at best) Thai food in a decent environment. The one big plus is that it is by far the cheapest dinner I've had in the city (outside an obligatory hot dog or fast food indulgence every now and again). Like a movie that got not-so-great reviews, go in with low expectations and you won't be disappointed.
(2)
A.S. V.

I first started going here when there was a movie theater a couple doors down. I go here for convenience, and often wish I was at my beloved Thai Classic instead, which is about 20% cheaper and BYOB. Dao is fine, except I can't get over how they can screw up Pad Thai. It's way too sweet, and last time I couldn't even finish it, which was a first.
(3)
Johanna C.

The service sucks - expect to ask for water or other items several times before you have to get up and get it yourself. The food isn't that great either - bland or just not so good. The food is priced between $5 - $10 for an entree. You can get better Thai for that price. The deck area is a nice place to sit but get ready for your waiter to forget about you if you're sitting up there.
(1)
Clare D.

I have never been to the actual restaurant so this is for their delivery. It is great and cheap thai food. They have this chicken over broccoli with this peanut sauce which is to die for. That is the reason I am giving them four stars. Their pad thai is great for the price. Egg rolls are not that special.
(4)
Kara M.

going to NW we get a lot of dao for lunch. it's good food though, I really like the pad thai, different than any other pad thai i've ever had but it's really good. their prices are a little steep so I rarely go here. only the free stuff for me! i like it though!
(4)
Dario B.

Tables are pretty fancy and food is good. Price is cheap, the deal is done.
(3)
Suz C.

I was really surprised to see all the negative reviews. I think this is a great Thai restaurant, never crowded, quick service, and delicious food. I've never had a bad meal or deficient service here. I think the prices are reasonable, the location is unbeatable, and the fact that it is not overrun with tourists is even better. I agree with John F. that Dao does the pad thai, pad see eiw, curry and rama chicken the best. I think the spring rolls are great, too. A good, quick pick before you head to River East 21 to catch a flick.
(4)
Eric L.

Food is decent hear, although most of the dishes are very simple. My fav is the beef pepper steak and phad see eu Price are also very reasonable. Only issue is the decor is unattractive and the place feels a bit dirty.
(3)
Terry N.

This place can be great on one day and bad the next. If you can beat the lunch rush you'll get served rather quickly. On some days when it's rather busy I'll be sitting waiting for my check for quite a while before going to get it myself from the front. About the food, the noodles and curries are usually pretty good, although I didn't particularly care for their Tom Yum soup.
(3)
J F.

Average service, decent food, but if you live close to the area, it's a great place to grab some thai food because they make the food fast for eat-in or take-out. You can always count on the pad thai, pad see eiw, yellow curry, and rama chicken. Price is usually around 7 bucks.
(3)
Nick H.

Dao is ok. It's super cheap but you get what you pay for with regards to service and quality of food. The service sucks. It's like pulling teeth in order to get a refill or something along those lines. If you live in the area and want to get take-away, then it's ok. If you value a dining experience, then go somewhere else but if you want cheap average food with crap service, then stop on by.
(3)
My B.

Not bad at all for the price. I can meet up with friends here for a quik under an hour lunch.
(3)
Alex C.

This is my favorite delivery Thai place in the area. I have been there once for lunch and it was not so tasty. Yet, somehow their dinner delivery is awesome. Do the dishes get better as they marinade in their sauce or something? Who knows but I love their spicy basil chicken, beef pad sie ew, and beef fried rice. The restaurant is nice if I remember correctly from that one visit. But seriously, stick to their delivery service and you won't be disappointed with great portions and good food.
(4)
Jon T.

Acceptable, but nothing great. At least they get you in and out within the lunch hour and a dish + soda is about $10 with tip. Refills can be difficult to get. The #4 Rama Chicken is great and their peanut sauce is a bit thicker than the usual, but tasty nonetheless.
(3)
Pri P.

Well I got the Pad Kee Mao and it was decent, not great but okay. However, my boyfriend got their pad thai and was extremely disappointed. The crab rangoon and gyoza was okay, and the service was less than stellar. Also, for dessert we got the iced lychees bc we both love them, but they were clearly from a can and were pretty gross. I mean if i want canned lychees I'll just buy them myself, don't have something on the menu that you are literally just openning a can and serving to your customers. All in all, will probably not be going back there
(2)
Will M.

you can't beat dao for cheap crazy thai food. plus, they deliver. though the food definitely loses something on delivery, it's still good.
(4)
Megha K.

This place is TERRIBLE. I've been there a few times and am disappointed each time and have officially banned it. It's a sorry excuse for Thai food. I ordered take out recently and had the spicy beef skewers which were overcooked and essentially burnt. If I had eaten at the restaurant I would have sent them back. Also I ordered the chicken pad prik and it was completely tasteless. Very disappointed and will not be going there again.
(1)
Stephanie B.

I'm echoing the review of several peeps on here. I've had a few things from here and each time I'm disappointed. (Third time is a charm...I'm never going back). The service is even worse. A few things worth mentioning: - bland sauces and soups - oily and greasy noodle dishes (i.e. pad see eww) - unattentive servers Prices are pretty fair considering it's on Ohio off the Mag Mile. I just haven't been impressed with the handful of times I've gone. I'm still searching for a Thai place that is close to my work.
(2)
S. M.

The ambiance itself is so inviting, the seating and the beautiful gold headdresses all add a great flare. However it is obviously the food that keeps me coming back. I was first introduced to this place 4 years ago and I've kept coming back. The crab Rangoon has always been served hot and fresh, the sauce that they serve on the side is delicious, both sweet and spicy. The pad see ew, ohhhh the pad see ew is amazing(I like it on the sweeter side). While I'm certainly not a Thai food expert, I have tried a lot of different pad thai and pad see ew and I haven't come across another place with such good pad see ew. Apparently a lot of yelpers don't feel the same way. But I have brought many of my friends here and I have also brought in larger groups and they have always loved the food here. I took one star away because the service has not always been the greatest, it can get kind of slow. But did I mention this place is CHEAP? I mean really CHEAP, for the price you can't getter Thai. Promise.
(4)
Rachael T.

First, let me be clear: Dao Thai Restaurant, Singha, and Star of Siam are ALL owned by the same people. I actually asked one of the managers and was confirmed in this suspicion. So what they serve you in one location they will serve you in another! So here's the real deal: these people are *Pea-to-the-Nut Crazy*. They don't care if on the menu they have written "Curry"; what they really mean is Peanut Sauce. Lots of Peanut Sauce. It's chicken drenched in some spiced-up Skippy. This might work for the random tourist walking by and entering on the off-chance that everything is great. But certainly not for the savvy local or for the Yelp-savvy tourist. Stay away!
(1)
Shannon H.

I stopped in here the other night with my family and was very pleased with my experience. The staff was helpful and nice, the food was good, and the prices were also quite reasonable. I ordered the Pad See Ew which I really liked, although the chicken was a little on the dry side so next time I'll try the beef. They we're out of the first beer that I ordered, but the waitress came back and apologized and gave me a suggestion for a different one which I ended up enjoying quite a bit. It was my first experience with Thai beer and I have to say I'm a fan. This place may not live up the gourmet food that you will find all over this area, but given the price you pay it is definitely worth it! I'm not going to bother trying to compare this place to Epic or Howell and Hood, because that's not what this place is, but it is one of the few affordable places to eat in the neighborhood. I would definitely go back!
(3)
Katie P.

I've been to Dao so many times I can't even keep track! I started coming here years ago because it's one of my parents favorite places in the city (they don't have any Thai restaurants in their town) and so we usually meet up here when they're come to town. I've never had anything here I haven't liked. In fact, they have the best Pad Prik that I've ever had anywhere. The only reason they don't get a full five stars is due to the fact that they do not include rice with dishes that would otherwise include rice. I don't like having to pay for something that every other place in the city includes with the dish. Anyhow... with as many times as my family has gone to this restaurant we have surely tried most everything the place makes. I've liked everything... even their squid salad and I don't like squid salad! The place also has excellent service and the space is also awesome! I'm always happy after going to Dao... totally worth a try if you haven't been there before!
(4)
Brittany F.

I give this place not necessarily four stars for the food, but for their service and understanding for a late take out order. We were headed back on Sunday night from riot fest and were starving. As we walked by this place at 9:45 (they were closing at 10) we figured we'd try it and see if they'd let us place a take out order. They were extremely accommodating and set us up with containers of chili sauce, soy sauce, plates and plastic silver wear and to our surprise, FREE fresh spring rolls in addition to our delicious noodle dishes! The meal was very satisfying and customer service like that should be rewarded with return visits in the future!
(4)
Melody C.

Good thai iced tea. Good pad see ew (if you like it on the slightly sweeter side. Also, interesting indoor seating area with cushions for kneeling by the table but also the option of sitting normally with your feet under the table. we sat outside after a kayak tour that left our clothes still a little damp after walking around a bit, so the outdoor seating was a perfect option. i expected a small patio with room for like 2 or 3 tables, but the outdoor seating was both large and private feeling at the same time - i really liked it. the only down side was that it was in between two buildings so it got no sunlight. another downside was no free refills on my club soda. we ordered a fried catfish with curry sauce but it was not really a curry, it was more like a thin red chili sauce drizzled on the catfish and eggplant. if you want a curry, get a red or green curry. but the prices are so damned right - i've been to many an over-priced thai restaurant and it was always hard for me to eat thai food alone carryout because it would always be so expensive to order more than one entree. but here, i can have dinner under $10 if i just get a curry or something. but if i also felt like some pad thai on the side, i dont end up paying $30 either! yay!
(4)
Dave H.

Tried this, being that it is close to the hotel I am staying at. After trying 3 different Thai places in the Loop general area, decided to give Dao Thai a try. Tried nothing very challenging, Pad Thai and fried rice. In SF Bay Area there is much better Thai and Viet food in general. Still, this was the best I've tried so far walking around Chicago thus far. I am more partial to the brighter/lighter/fresher tastes of Vietnamese, but this Thai place was tasty enough. I wouldn't travel far out of my way to return, but being just a 5 minute walk from the hotel, I'll be back.
(3)
Francis R.

SOLID. I had one goal since moving to my new place in Chicago. Find the best beef pad see eiw. Well lucky I didn't have to go too far or check out too many places! Stir-fried large rice noodle with beef, egg, Chinese broccoli and caramelized garlic soy sauce sauce cooked to perfection. Comes out fast and the price is really reasonable. Will definitely be back here many many times to come in the future. Til next time, cheers!
(5)
Alisha J.

I have always been a huge fan of Thai food and I have to say, based on the reviews for this place I was disappointed. The dishes were mediocre. The service was okay. The restaurant itself seems a little confused about what it wants to be. It's hidden off the street, so not super easy to find. We ordered pad kee mao and Thai curry, and like I said mediocre. We also ordered lychee for dessert, which was served out of a can on top of giant ice cubes in a bowl. Not exactly what I would call "worth it". Will not be returning.
(2)
Sherri O.

Not a good experience "Fresh spring rolls" are raw flour egg rolls They were rude and not helpful to switch to something edible Gross duck sauce poured all over it
(1)
David H.

This was without a doubt the single worst Thai restaurant I've ever been to anywhere in the world. Went with my wife for lunch and I got spicy basil chicken (Thai spicy) and she got the tom yum soup. It took 30 minutes to arrive despite the place being nearly empty during the lunch hour. The only thing you could taste at all was sodium from soy sauce, they used absolutely no nam pla (fish sauce) that is distinctive in what I had ordered. Instead it was not spicy at all, had no taste apart from sodium, and the best part? They put TOMATOES in my dish. What planet is this?
(1)
Amara H.

before I delve in further, I would just like to say: STAY AWAY from this place! I was visiting my brother and SIL, who live in the area, during the middle of a work week. My SIL and I finally decided to try out the nearby restaurants and get to know the area. Unfortunately, we were craving thai food and therefore stumbled upon this place. We were optimistic for a good experience given the lunch rush [although, I doubt there was a rush here] was over and it was a weekday. While the interior decor transported us to Thailand, the food did not. We started off with an appetizer. Initially, we were going to order either a vegetarian item [vietnamese spring roll] or a shrimp item. I just decided to ask if there was any meat byproduct in the items [due to my dietary restriction]. The waitress did not know and did not feel it important to ask the cooking staff. I had to therefore ask her to check. Shockingly, these items was misleading as there was meat byproduct in it [in one or both items, I cannot recall]. Therefore, we opted for the Tod Mun Pla [walleye fish cakes]. What a horrendous option. The cakes tasted stale and old, not a good combination, particularly for seafood. They also appeared/taste re-fried [that is, fried once, then frozen, then defrosted, and fried again]. We would have left at this point but we had already ordered our entrees. I ordered a fish entree [the pla-duk pad fed; I clearly ordered this before trying the appetizer] and my SIL ordered the panang chicken. The food quality was poor beyond belief. The fish was again stale and chewy. The panang chicken was essentially chicken with a peanut butter paste. We had specifically asked if there were any vegetables mixed in with the dish. It just came with steamed broccoli [likely frozen broccoli that was defrosted]. When we asked for more sauce, we had to pay extra and got a marginal amount [for how much we paid]. After this experience, I've sadly had an aversion to thai food. This restaurant has a prime location in prime real estate. Unfortunately, I don't believe there is much business here and thus the resultant poor food quality.
(1)
Asenath N.

One of my favorite Thai food places in Chicago. The place is decorated very nicely and they even have seatings where it looks like your seating on the floor and your legs are under the table. The food was very good and flavorful. I been here a couple of times and I plan to go back. I have tried different dishes on the menu and have not been disappointed yet. If you love Thai food give this place a try, they have many options for you to try!!
(4)
Padma A.

I enjoy going for a quick work lunch especially on their half off Sushi wednesdays. Food is pretty quick & tasty.Quiet enough to have a conversation.
(4)
Kelly C.

Ordered pad thai and steamed dumplings for take-out - food was decent. We ordered mild, but still filled with spicy peppers - either our palettes are sensitive or they don't really pay attention to how hot you want your food. Convenient to Prentice which was why we ordered.
(3)
Phil D.

Decent Thai restaurant, and probably one of the cheaper meals in streeterville. Went here with a bunch of friends and got to sample a variety of different dishes, including the classics(Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, Panang Curry, etc.). They also have some fusion dishes(I saw something that looked like Pho), which I would probably try to stay away from. The Pad Thai was adequate, though nothing I would really return for, and the Curry was strange in that there was a small ratio of liquid to everything else(in fact there was no curry item on the menu but this was just a curry style meat dish). That alone is a sign that it's a little suspect as an authentic Thai restaurant. Nonetheless, my drunken noodles came with mixed vegetables and proteins(chicken, beef, shrimp), and was actually fairly decent. And at $9.25, you could do far worse for dinner in streeterville. If someone is feeling Thai and doesn't want to go very far, I wouldn't complain.
(3)
Lily Z.

My coworkers decided they wanted Thai food for our upcoming staff meeting. For the group, I ordered Thai ice tea, 2 orders of crab rangoon, pot stickers and their entrees. Everything was good! The portion sizes were incredible. I felt like I hardly made a dent into my Pad See Ewe, but I think it's because I underestimated the amount of crab ragoon in each order. The papaya salad could have been a bit spicier. Overall, I think it's a solid place for takeout.
(4)
Emily J.

I moved to Chicago from Denver last spring and one of the things I was most concerned about finding here was a fantastic Thai place. I was such a frequent customer to my Denver haunt that I'm surprised if they are still in business with my absence. Dao Thai has filed the pad Thai shaped hold in my heart and I am so happy that I found this place. I get the crazy spicy noodles or the pad Thai and both have been delicious. Dao is on Grub Hub and delivery usually takes an hour but the location in Streeterville is really convenience to pick up from as well. They do a great gluten free pad Thai too! Happy eating.
(4)
Marc G.

First time visit to Chicago on business. Staying at the Fairmont (see review) and wanting to have more simple fair than the higher end hotel resturants and Steakhouses. DAO is a short walk from thr Faimont and the prices, ambience and food are spot on! Enjoyed my long island iced tea (strong) and #22 beef panukt (? ). Great meal for under $20 total Only very minor issue is they have a very wide opening from the dining area to a brightly florescent lit kitchen area full of racks, freezers and working counters. Great place for a bead cutain or partition. Any seat on the window side of the restaurant gets to stare at it.....but no biggie.
(4)
Vivian Q.

I would give a zero if there is one. Very unauthentic. The Tom yum soup is even worse then some of the frozen food I tried. Super slow as well. Forty minutes already and not one entree yet. Good location that is all I can say. Don't waste your time here
(1)
Adrian G.

Usually good, my last visit was terrible. I ordered the Tom Yum Noodle soup. I don't know what they served me but it was one of the worst things I've had at a restaurant. Read my other reviews and I try to be pretty even keel about things; rational and support reviews. This was unacceptably bad. It was NOT tom yum anything. It was overly salty chicken broth (it also tasted of old salt; salt that has been sitting in a cabinet too long and absorbing the funk of a cabinet). There was nothing sour about it and the chicken was simply bland. I'm pretty sure they just used speghetti rather than rice noodles. It was riddled with celery (which I've never run across in a tom yum noodle soup). I asked the server about it and she condescendingly suggested I didn't know what I was talking about. I love thai food and have had thai all over the world. I know the difference between "chicken noodle soup" (that's terrible) and tom yum with noodles. That said, I've been to Dao many times and this is the first of such a terrible experience. I'll go back to see what the story is and change my rating should it be better but this was a serious strike.
(2)
Haneen O.

We came here today (Christmas) after the nearby BBQ joint told us it would be 1 hour and 45 min wait. There was no wait which was nice, and the seating was unique and cute. I ordered the pad thai with shrimp and it was too sweet for my liking, plus they didn't ask for my preferred spice level so I asked for their hot chili sauce. The shrimp wasn't good and the tofu was just okay. However, the cream cheese wontons were delicious! Piping hot and crunchy. The service was okay, but it was busy so I don't really blame them.
(3)
Jill K.

We were visiting from out of state. It was a party of 4 of us. We originally requested to sit in a booth but while being escorted to our seats we our mind about our seating location. The hostess was very rude and demanded that we sit where we originally asked to be seated. Food was great. After our meal they didn't ask if we were all going to be on the same ticket but assumed we were and brought one ticket with all of us on one ticket. I told our waiter we wanted the ticket split because we were not going to be on the same ticket. He became very rude and upset and told me I should have told him in advance!
(2)
Natalka K.

Nice place for lunch or dinner off of Michigan Ave. The seating area has tables & chairs on the sides and a row of table with pillows in the middle to sit and eat which was different. Had the pad thai and steak with broccoli and noodles.
(4)
Kari H.

The staff is very friendly and understanding as they try their best to communicate with you about your order and your needs. Yay! The rama chicken tasted like it has a lot of peanut butter in it. and had too much sauce. The broccoli, however, was cooked nicely and had a nice crunch to it. The pad thai had lemon in it. Wah :(. The pad thai sauce was too sweet for me. I want lime because it tastes ... sharper? Lemon tastes sweeter and doesn't cut through the sweet and sourness of the pad thai as much as lime can. I like how they can bring a tray of different spices on for you. I wish they had labels, though, because I added a spoonful of BBQ spice to my pad thai, thinking it was red chili pepper spice. The seating at the carpeted area is fun and it's located close to nearby residential areas.
(3)
Lise S.

Dao Thai is my neighborhood go-to spot for Thai and they are terrific! I have to admit I mainly stop by and get food to go, and their staff are always friendly and quick to provide service. My favorites are: 1) Mussaman Curry - Beef or chicken in traditional homemade massaman thick curry - ask for rice. Sometimes they forget to ask/include it. 2) Pad Num Prik Pao - Stir-fried chicken breast marinated in spices and served with vegetables like baby corn, mushrooms, pea pods, etc. 3) Kai Pad Khing - Ginger Chicken - sauteed chicken breast with shredded fresh ginger, saw mushrooms, and hot peppers - yummy! Atmosphere is casual and friendly and would be a great place to bring family or groups.
(4)
Bob J.

The potstickers were outstanding and shrimp wanton and wonton/pork noodle bowls were excellent. Get the bowl with the broth soup.
(4)
Hang T.

What's up with all the bad reviews? I thought the food was pretty damn tasty. I will say that I did not sit and eat here though. My family and I ordered to go and ate at our hotel. We order potstickers, tom yum soup, beef pad see ewe, chicken fried rice, chicken satay, and papaya salad. I love everything and the portions were really good. We had leftovers. It all tasted authentic and I went in for seconds and thirds. They correctly packed up everything we ordered and provided everything that we would need: a variety of sauces, plates, utensils, etc. That helped out a lot when we had a young baby who needed constant attention. There could be no room for error. :P I think people should really try this place again. If the service is the problem, order the food to go and your problem is solved. Tip: You can place your order online with the Yelp app and it's very easy.
(5)
Shari B.

This is our local Thai restaurant which we usually order to-go. I'm definitely a fan of this restaurant because they do my favorite salad noodle dish well- Yum Woon Sen. Bean thread noodles, chicken, tomato, lettuce, tomato and a sour & sweet sauce. I always order it- it is that good. I've also had their green duck curry with rice as well as their chicken satay. All were good, no complaints.
(4)
Harsha R.

Food is below average. They refused to take back a dish which smelled and tasted very bad!!
(2)
Fan Y.

Very reasonably priced authentic Thai restuarant. I ordered a noodle dish which was very appetizing. Service was great. Tried the tom yum soup, which was still a awkwardly foreign taste to my chinese-american palate, but that was entirely my own fault. I would definitely eat here again if I am in town!
(4)
Jo C.

This restaurant is considerably cushy. I can exclaim that the interior is sumptuous! It reminds me of my last visit to Thailand. The staff is also friendly and kind as well. But the thing is when I tried their iced Thai tea is not quite authentic while claiming it as a deluxe one. Thai tea is one of my favourite beverages and unfortunately theirs is unable to meet my expectation. I ordered shrimp spring rolls as my starters and they were ridiculously yummy! And lastly, their pad Thai is sooooooo fine! I would definitely date it! I'm so glad to find this gem.
(4)
Tran M.

Really like the Thai interior. Authentic Thai restaurant, especially the Yellow curry ones. Besides Thai food, they also have some great vegie dishes for you if you just want to have some healthy slight snacks.
(3)
Joseph D.

Stayed at the Doubletree Hotel down the street and got takeout from this place. Ordered some dumplings and pad see ew with chicken and it was as a 3 star Yelp review would tell you "a-ok." Not going to light your world on fire but not going to disappoint either. Portion was generous and priced right and there was a fair amount of chicken so bonus there. Dumplings were also good served with a soy based sauce as well as a hot and sour sauce which was a nice touch. That gave what could be an otherwise plain dish a bit of a kick. If you want Thai and you're in the area, this place is fine but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to get here...
(3)
Norm J.

I have to be honest and say that Dao Thai is my go to place whenever I'm hungry, but I don't know what I want. In all the years I've been coming to Dao Thai I've never been disappointed. The food is always delicious, satisfying and filling. You can't go wrong when visiting Dao Thai. Items to try: - cream cheese crab rangoon - gyo tod (fried wantons) - spicy eggplant stir fried - pad thai - pad see eiw (with beef or chicken) - kow pad (fried rice with beef)
(4)
Bee J.

Food was hot and fresh but the service was awful!! They were rude from the time we entered the restaurant to the time we paid our check! Such a shame considering how good the meal was.
(2)
Frank O.

Got a coupon in the mailed so I gave Dao a chance. Quick delivery (20 min when you live 5 blocks away haha). The Pad Thai was pretty good and the Pad See Eiw was also solid. The Som Tum (papaya salad) had a ridiculously spicy kick to it, very surprising and too much to enjoy it. The Nam tok beef wasn't anything great, I'd skip it next time. Price with delivery and coupon was on par with places in the Loop, meaning 15% more expensive than I deem worthy.
(3)
David R.

I used to eat here years ago with a girlfriend who lived nearby. I remember liking it but since then I know that I have had much better Thai here in Chicago. My sister and I stopped in here on Friday night, deeming it the most convenient Thai option between an afternoon at the Art Institute and a concert at the Chicago Theater. I was afraid that we would be the only ones in the restaurant, but there were several other tables despite the early hour (5-6). Also, they seem to do a healthy takeout and delivery business. Food was hit-or-miss. The spring rolls were solid but not spectacular. I felt that the sauce was a little too gooey and had that vague sense of artificiality (corn syrup?). We shared an interesting noodle salad, the yum woon sen (silver bean thread salad). The chicken was dry, but the dressing had a very intriguing flavor of lemons and maybe a light, sweet curry...? Not sure, but in any case, interesting and unique and enjoyable. I was glad to branch out of my usual choices with that one. I should have branched out further, because my chicken pad thai was terrible. The noodles were dry and gummy, and flavor was seriously lacking. Also, there were plenty of peanuts and some green onions but no sprouts. This was D+ pad thai. However, my sister's entree was delicious--pad khee mao (spicy crazy noodles). This dish had a wonderful flavor, although it was not very spicy. The noodles were slightly gelatinous, but I could have devoured the entire plate. The prices here are reasonable, especially for the downtown setting and the relatively elegant interior.
(3)
Sachin M.

*** Food **** Price *** Ambiance Not the best Thai food I have had but not bad either. Whoever cooks that Red Hot Chicken curry needs to go easy on Bamboo shoots.
(3)
amanda A.

stopped in last night before the movies. the gyoza were quite tasty but the dipping sauce tasted like that you might expect a vaguely asian version of pancake syrup would be. i ordered the nue nam mun hoy (oyster beef) i asked if it could be made with chicken and very spicy. what i received was very over cooked chicken a nice gingery sauce without a single bit of spice and CANNED mushrooms! canned? seriously? the only time i have ever been served canned mushrooms at a restaurant was maybe pizza hut as a kid. gross. needless to say i ate a plate of white rice for dinner (which cost extra by the way)
(1)
Cali M.

I stopped in for a afternoon dinner after a long hard day of shopping. I got off my feet by sitting in one of the tables nested inside of the floor. I found them preferable to an actual table, extremely comfortable. The menu has all of your regular Thai cuisine. I ordered Tom Yum Soup which had a different flavor than I am used to, more sour. The shrimp in the soup was a good quality and actually de-veined, unlike many Thai restaurants. I had the shrimp in blankets which I wasn't crazy about (the deep fried shrimp quality was not on par) but I did enjoy the accompanying sauce. I had one of their peanut chicken curries. It was good, but not exceptional. The potatoes were very soft but didn't retain any of the flavor of the curry which was disappointing. The service was fantastic, my water was always full and the food was served politely and quickly. The dishes all came out hot and at a perfect pace. I would recommend this restaurant if you're in the area already and you'd like some reasonably priced Thai food and funky ambiance.
(4)
Maurice Y.

Let's get this straight. The food here is good. Never had a problem with the quality of thai food here. The 2 stars is for the service. I came here for a quick dinner with a few friends. At first, it was a party of 4. We ordered multiple dishes along with beer. When two more friends joined us later in the dinner, they ordered beer but no food. The beers came without additional glasses and I had to get up and request the glasses myself. I practically climbed behind the bar to grab them myself. We were only there for an additional 20 minutes. When our final bill came, there was an automatic charge of 18% gratuity tacked on for a party of 6 along with a smiley face behind it. How shady is that? Dao, you didn't even bring out glasses for the beers that my friends ordered. They stayed a total of 20 minutes and you charged our party for automatic 18% gratuity. When I interrogated them, I quickly learned that I don't talk thai. You can't hide bad service behind decent pad see ew. I no longer love you long time.
(2)
Dotty K.

Good food. Tried their shu mai, pad khee mao and penang curry. All were delicious. Tom Yum soup was great too. Would go there again.
(4)
Jessica Y.

So I came here for a friend's birthday and what can I tell you? If the owner is in the house, be prepared to have a blast!! I can't speak for the food on a normal because ours was cooked by the owner, but I have heard that it isn't bad and better than Singha's! However, if you are lucky enough to have the owner donning the chef's apron, then you are in for a treat! Our service was great and we were given a great deal on the birthday dinner! There were serveral courses, which definitely filled everyone up and the owner was very accomodating as we had one vegetarian in the group of at least 20-30 and cooked 1-2 special dishes just for her! Not many restaurants would do that with a set menu. I would definitely go back for the service alone! It might be hard to find parking during busy hours, but it's a great choice for Thai food!
(3)
Nick L.

3.5 stars. It's not the greatest Thai food on the planet but it's also not the worst. I've been here multiple times, dining in and take-out. It's a good price for either imo and they do their best. The restaurant area is pleasant, clean and quiet. Service was acceptable and the food came out hot. I'd recommend the rama chicken as that was my go to dish when coming here. Same for take out. It's a feel good food that deserves credit. Other people have had the soupy noodles and enjoyed it. Whenever I'm in the area on a budget, you can't go wrong with Dao.
(3)
Somchai S.

This is the closest thai spot by my office building so I just go to it because of my laziness to walk elsewhere. The food in general is decent, however, the service is a little stuck up. I always order carry out and they seem to give you a dirty look whenever I pick up my food. If i had any other thai restaurants in my radius I would go there. But their portions are good, I always have enough to take home after lunch. The price for the entrees and noodles are very reasonable. The appetizers are a little bit pricey.
(3)
Michael O.

Great Thai food with excellent service and a fun atmosphere!
(4)
Te D.

My first experience with Dao was at an office Lunch and Learn. The food was delicious and plentiful $110 for 13 people with leftovers- pretty frickin' awesome on the credit card! The only con is they rarely deliver on time. Even a few minutes late gets critical when you need to set up the conference room for a presentation so I just order a little earlier. I've eaten in and picked up my order too. The other yelpers are right, they do like to improvise with their dishes sometimes, but it's still delicious. I've taken my Mom and Dad and they love it for the ambiance and the yummy food and oversized portions. Pot stickers Chicken Pad Thai Pad Woo Sen Chicken Rice Soup Mixed Vegetables Spicy Basil Chicken Spicy Crazy Noodle are my absolute favorties. The waiters aren't always that friendly, but I didn't come to the restaurant to make friends, I came to eat. Just bring my food right (they always do) and fill my water without an attitude. I'm happy. You get a tip. You're happy. Yay Dao!
(5)
Patrick B.

This is a cool place to take a date, really busy and a great atmosphere. I was there on business, and just wanted Pad Thai , so I stopped in - saw how busy it was and then ordered delivery to my hotel room. The pad thai was pretty good, but not the best I've had .. Needless to say , I ate it all - and would order. I'd go againi and eat there this time
(4)
Dan K.

This place has some pretty bland Thai food. The worst part is that it's super convenient to get to from my apartment. I've had the Pad Thai and the chicken with peanut sauce and they are both just OK. To be fair, it's a cool looking restaurant and the prices are reasonable for the area.
(3)
Joe E.

Dao Thai is one of the long standing Thai restaurants in downtown Chicago. Near the Mag Mile, this restaurant is a place to go when all other reservations fall through and you don't want to wait. Unfortunately, whenever I ask others what they thought, everyone agreed it was an average Thai restaurant. There are definitely much better places in the city, but everyone agreed for the cost, size, and location, Dao at least gets an average rating. Be careful what you order... nothing is going to be as authentic as you may think and if you don't like raw vegetables stay away from the menu items I show below.
(2)
Zhiyou D.

Maybe we went at a wrong time. But we're kept waiting forever... Be prepared to be starved.
(3)
Samuel M.

Came here for dinner tonight with a group of friends. I had a thai beef salad, which was fresh with lots of classic vegetables. However, the dressing was way too salty, and although my server cautioned me about the heat level, it was nowhere to be found. Pricing is very reasonable (entrees are around $8), especially for Streeterville. For that reason alone, I'll probably come back
(3)
Scott A.

3.5 stars for average tasting Thai food. I bumped it up .5 stars because the prices were reasonable. It's not great and nothing stands out, but if you're craving Thai food and don't want to spend a lot, this is your place.
(3)
Athena C.

A friend of a friend recommended Dao Thai. Normally, I would follow up with some research of the place before accepting random recommendations but I happen to be in the city the next day so I figured...why not? Oh my regrets and I found out why not... I did not like it. My friends did not like it. I got a chicken curry dish that was just not very flavorful. And the noodle dishes other people got did not look appetizing. I did not even want to try it based on the way it looked and based on the way they looked when they tasted it. One of the noodle dishes was the singapore noodles which is traditionally stir-fry vermicelli with curry and whatever meat the restaurant chooses to use. Here it was rice noodles instead of vermicelli with squid and shrimp. Plenty of meat for my standard but very pale looking overall and the noodles seemed mushy after the stir-fry. The second noodle dish was Pad Thai. It looked the part but again, the rice noodles looked mushy. The Goong Hor that we got for the appetizer (deep fried shrimp in egg roll wrapper) was good. But not good enough to ever get me to return to this place. The service was good. The wait staff was attentive and friendly. But when the food is so bad, I just can't give it another chance. Well, I feel mean saying bad here...maybe let's just say..."not good"... Oh...I should note, there is a "pit" seating in the middle of the restaurant where some may sit on the floor and have their feet dangle in the "pit" for an authentic experience (?) but it was not too appealing to me as it looked dirty.
(2)
Krista K.

I think the food is quite good, especially for the price. This is a relatively cheap place to eat and the quality and quantity is good. All in all, it is a great value for your money.. Their delivery has always been on time with food hot. Overall, this place is good... nothing spectacular, but definitely worth trying out or returning.
(3)
Heidi S.

Great place! Excellent green curry beef. Great prices. Excellent service.
(4)
Barbara B.

Had a really bad takeout experience where my Pad See Ew was just drowning in oil. It tasted terrible and made me feel terrible. I have promised to not eat take out from here anymore, and I recommend you eat with caution. EDIT- had to change this and give it 3 stars because I started doing takeout from them again. The key is to request "light on oil" then it is still oily but not drowning in oil. Much better that way. You can also add extra veggies to whatever you get for a dollar. That helps me feel slightly healthier.
(2)
Linna C.

I'm not sure what kind of food they are serving, but its DEFINITELY NOT THAI!! My family and I stopped in on a Sunday night for dinner, the atmosphere is unique with warm interiors adorned with various thai styled artifacts, the restaurant also has a small patio that fits about 4 tables of 4... The food was HORRIFIC. The pad thai was bland, with absolutely no flavoring, the chicken and beef were both DRY, even the Tom Yum failed below expectation. A massive menu revival is needed for this place; I can't imagine feeding your customers this type of food! What a shame for all the tourists this place lures in! STAY AWAY!!!
(1)
Sonali K.

I know the 2-stars make me seem ungrateful for my free lunch, but I love Thai food, and this place failed to satisy. While ordering from Dao at lunch today from work was a nice change of pace from the usual places they go - CPK, Gran Luxe, Cheesecake, etc., I was quite disappointed in it overall. I ordered the papaya salad - no shrimp, and the red curry - no chicken, but with extra vegetables. The papaya salad was actually decent - it was fresh and had enough spice in it for the perfect amount of heat. While the red curry was full of veggies, which made me very happy, when I took my first bite it lacked ANY kind of seasoning or spices that even somewhat hinted that I was eating red curry. I could only eat a few bites because it was so bland. Yes, I like things spicy, but this wasn't just a matter of it missing heat, it was just plain flavorless. I'm not sure how everyone else's dish turned out, but maybe I'd give Dao one more chance with a noodle dish. I would only order again from here if work was buying lunch again though.
(2)
Osmond S.

Dao Thai is right next to my place so I frequent it a lot, but never actually eat in. Actually, I'm eating Green Curry right now as I type this out. :) Overall I'm pleased with the food. Good flavor and not too crazy in terms of cost (less than $10 for entree and rice). I've tried out most of their curries and like them a lot. The only reason I can't give it more stars is because they do strange things with the food. Nothing over the top (like using cat meat instead of chicken), but the other day I had pineapples in my Mussaman curry. WTH?! I've eaten Thai all over the place and NEVER had pineapples in my curries! It tasted a lot like its supposed to but the extra fruit just threw off the flavor. Very strange... Also, the Green Curry on my plate right now has some odd vegetable I've never seen before.... I'll get back to you on that later. Oh well, try it out if you can.
(3)
D J.

Some nights, you crave the ordinary - the dependable, affordable, predictable, don't try too hard but get something good anyway stuff -- for all those nights, Dao responds to those tummy calls. This is a review about food :) I had the perfectly ordinary, yet perfectly acceptable fried rice for under 10 bucks in mind - seriously! Everyone needs a Dao -- not every night, just every now and then!
(3)
Sue Anne C.

Really wanted this place to work :-( I called for pick up and asked if they could make the pad Thai spicy. They said yes. When I got the food I was disappointed to see that the noodles were not spicy at all; they just gave me a small container of "spicy sauce" on the side. And my search for spicy pad Thai continues....
(2)
Roxy H.

10 stars would have been my first choice! I love me some Thai! I'm always seeking out new places to get my Thai on, and I will go to specific Thai restaurants for specific purposes. Dao is my favorite Thai place to go to downtown. I love the location because it is right off Michigan Avenue and I highly recommend just about anything on the menu. I seriously come here for lunch and dinner, or order for carry out on a weekly basis. I even had dinner here on Christmas with some friends when I first moved to Chicago two years ago. I have had a chance to sample almost everything on the menu and my favorite is the: Gyoza, Shrimp Won ton Soup with extra chicken, and the Dao Noodle Delight with Tofu. Whether you're looking for stir fried noodles, curries, rice, or regional specialties, Dao has you covered. The staff is very sweet and the restaurant is decorated very nice with a fun Buddha influence. -Roxy
(5)
Sania K.

Their pad thai was horrible as well as their cashew chicken. It was loaded with tons of soya sauce so all you could really taste was sodium. Ambiance was okay.
(2)
Toby Q.

Take a tour in Chicago and find this restaurant on Yelp. Great restaurant here... Excellent price for dishes and sides. Totally will be here again.
(5)
Dave D.

Pleasant atmosphere. I had the almond beef, which was tasty and featured tender beef, plenty of green onions, and mushrooms (large portion too). I'd definitely come back.
(3)
Mint S.

We ordered food for delivery last night, they were pad kra-prao and yum woon sen. The order came pretty quick like 40 minutes. However, the food were extremely flavorless especially the yum woon sen. The glass noodles smell very awful. We went to this place for dining-in several times. The food tastes fine though. I don't know what's wrong with my order this time.
(1)
Sarena W.

Warm, satisfying food but not incredibly memorable.
(3)
Qixin H.

Horrible pad Thai and green curry. Pad see ehw noodle was tasty, but beef is too tough to bite
(2)
Tony N.

The only good thing this place has is decor. The decor seems to be nice and gives an authentic feeling. I don't know if others will even agree that the decor is good but the rest is very mediocre. The food I feel can be cooked at home without much effort. If I eat something and feel like it can be cooked at home then the restaurant has failed to produce top of the line food. But the food isn't bad so if you're lazy and don't want to cook then it's acceptable. The staff was okay as well. Overall, mediocre is all I can say, so keep trying as there is still room for improvement.
(2)
Tamara K.

We were in the mood for a late snack and saw this place open. We were given the impression that they were doing us a favor to serve us :-( Food was ok, service was terrible. Happy they were open on Christmas though.
(1)
Michele S.

First time to Chicago and stopped here for lunch. Good was exceptional. Huge portions and great flavour. Would highly recommend
(5)
Ritu W.

The decor of this place is more in line with other thai restaurants in the vicinity. Even though this place has got more thai temple like feel to it. But then u do not want to see three servers standing idle and chatting right in front of u. I wonder if the place is disabled friendly coz u have to take a few steps (5) and there is no other way. I arrived here with my husband after biking along the lake shore for 26 miles so was really starved & with that stomach the food here tasted just about 7 or 7.5 on 10. So not bad and portions were decent. For a Sunday afternoon the place was not crowded at all, only saw 3 tables out of like 20 occupied. Contrary to another yelper's comment I liked the kitchen view. Now one thing I did nt appreciate was the server running up to me for not tipping enough and handed me the tip brochure which had the tipping guideline written in 6 different languages. I mean we only ordered 3 things. Well if the restaurant traffic is slow u shud not overstaff it and then force ur staff to hound the diners for tips.
(3)
Sinisa J.

Had a carry out. Food was done in 10 minutes and the portion size was huuuge. Real good noodles. When walked in got great service and good food. 45 for dinner for 2 isnt a bad deal. Incl. Apppitizer, 2 entrees and desser. I drink. Good deal, ha?!
(4)
Reggie R.

I would give Dao two stars, because everything was just...fine. I LOVE Thai food, and by Thai food I really mean pad see eiw (I order this 92% of the time). Dao's version was subpar and included a ton of spinach, when that wasn't an ingredient listed on the menu. I liked my dish more when re-heated, likely because I had picked out all the soggy spinach by then! We got a couple apps that were all just ehhh. We sat on the patio and that was pretty nice. Overall I would not go back or recommend this place to others.
(2)
Anais T.

Food is amazing...I had the pad Thai chicken.....big portion... My son n I ate ...n we had leftovers.....price was good 2
(5)
Jill L.

I was disappointed with my pad thai. This place gave me a pad thai that was only slightly a little better than what you can get from Noodles & Co (and that's not saying much). I didn't see any nuts, just a few slivers of chives, and not a lot of bean sprouts. It was mostly noodles. I expected a whole lot more since 1) it's supposedly a Thai restaurant, 2) we're in Chicago, such a foodie area! (I've had better pad thai from a little town in Michigan)
(2)
Tahsin I.

Went here last night to order take out with cousin, so purely judging on the food here. Take out staff were quick and polite, basically the normal fare. I ordered the chicken pad see eiw which my cousin highly recommended. Overall it was a mediocre experience. The pad see eiw wasn't bad by any standards but definitely nothing to write home about. Definitely was some soggy spinach as other reviewers have stated. The best thing is probably the portion size. I'm generally a big eater and I could only eat about half of my portion. So really I'd recommend this to anyone who wants some decent or mediocre Thai food with large portions. I'd be willing to come here again and maybe try something other than the pad see eiw.
(3)
J B.

Went to this place as recommended by a friend. Suprisingly, it is a few blocks away from michigan avenue, (aka magnificent mile). upon entering, We were delighted by the homey thai ambiance in the restaurant. A waiter quickly ushered us to the tables in the center (as we requested). We ordered the massaman curry, pad thai, as well as crab rangoons for apetizers and thai iced tea as a beverage. Now here's what I think: 1.) Crab Rangoons - Minus one star because of this. Their crab rangoons aren't what I expected; It was oily and what I could taste was a plain cheese stuffing, contrary to other thai restaurants where additional ingredients (such as crab meat) are added into the dish. Dipping sauce was so-so, it seems that the cheese stuffing and the dipping sauce didn't please my taste buds that much! 2.) Pad Thai - JUST PERFECT! From the texture of the noodles to the serving portion, as well as the toppings and meat (i chose chicken) made this dish superb! Not having too much spices (and just the right amount) made the dish a joy to eat using chopsticks. 3.) Massaman curry - I couldn't say much about the curry because it's what my friend ordered. Bit according to her, it's the second time she ordered that dish and it was to die for. :) I wish I did try it in the first place! 4.) Thai Iced Tea - just one of my many, favorite beverages i would order in an asian restaurant. With Just the right amount of milk and tea, ( and sweetness) it complements my pad thai meal for lunch. Our food came within 10 minutes (or even less) of ordering. Staff is courteous and prompt. I suggest taking tables in the center of the restaurant, gives you a thai-like experience while enjoying your dish. =)
(4)
Jonathan N.

Dear Thai Place, You have effectively ruined my life, as now my girlfriend wants thai food non-stop. So from the bottom of my heart let me thank you for adding peanut butter to her curry. Now she eats curry and associated asian foods nonstop.
(5)
Ana C.

Worst excuse for thai I have ever had. First of all I had to wait 30 minutes for a take out order. Got home and it was wrong- I should have checked. The spring rolls fell apart and we're tasteless. They did not include the sauce. The lab gai was overcooked and again tastless. The pad thai was the palest I have ever seen - the whole dish was a pale yellow. Not sure the tofu was cooked and again tasteless. Please do not ever go there!
(1)
Jennie C.

OK when in a pinch. This is one of few Thai places near my work. I like the pad woon sen and pad khee mao. Flavors tend to be sweeter than Argyle Thai places. Good portion for the price in this neighborhood. Service is always attentive and efficient.
(3)
Patrick G.

This is the world's okayest Thai food. Generous portions. Polite staff. Nice decor. They play a top 40 radio station, which is bizarre. Food is decent.
(2)
Libby P.

Went to this place craving drunken noodles(mixture of thin rice noodles, veggies, and full of flavor and spice). Walked in to an empty restaurant aside from one couple on the patio and several employees. Decor was strange, abundant, and confusing. Menu pricing seemed reasonable but the beverages weren't priced... Ordered the tom yum soup and Pad Woon Sen. Soup was enough for 3-4 which our server pointed out, but I still ordered and he was thrown off that I ordered more. My friend and I both got the Pad Woon Sen and requested it to be made spicy. My soup had amazing flavor but was a bit different than some tom yum soup I've had and the noodles were flavorless and had one shrimp strategically placed on top. Had to add a ton of chili sauce, soy, and fish sauce just to be at all worthy of eating. The chicken was pretty dry and flavorless. Our servers(not sure which one was our actual server but had 3 people at our table throughout the meal) were not attentive and when our bill arrived we requested it be split respectively between 3. My friends discovered why they don't list pricing on their mediocre cocktails... $10-12 and they were watered down and not mixed properly. Probably won't be back... Good luck!
(2)
Catherine S.

This was a wonderful remedy for my sinuses! The Tom Kha KHA Soup, Massaman Curry, and the Pad Thai were all very good. The portions were plentiful filling us up and leaving leftovers to go. The staff was attentive and friendly. Their decor was nice with both eastern and western seating.
(4)
Ermelinda C.

I have been back here twice already and have really enjoyed my food both times. The crab rangoon appetizer and the vegetable rolls are an easy and delicious sway to prepare your stomach for that delicious Thai food! You cannot go wrong here whether you order fried rice, curry or noodle dishes. The Pad Thai and the vegetable fried rice are two of my favorite dishes here.
(3)
Lynette H.

The food is fine. Good.. But Nothing special about it. It's close by so my husband and I have eaten at the restaurant a few times. Our go to is Yellow Chicken Curry (the veggies don't seem fresh) and Pad Se Eiw. Never order here for delivery. It will take almost two hours for it to arrive and their delivery person cannot figure out how to use a call box. If you want to get food from here I suggest picking it up on your way home.
(2)
Tarek E.

Hands down the best crab rangoons I had. Friendly and timely service, with a wide selection. Price was very reasonable. So why not 5*? For the lack of a duck meat option on the noodles, and for using way too much eggs. Regardless, I'm making this place my go to Thai food spot when I'm watching movies at AMC downtown.
(4)
connie l.

Food never disappoints. The service is much better than it used to be. Good sized portions.
(4)
Sal M.

Great and friendly service,picked up dinner from here and tried their Pineapple Rice with Chicken & Beef and some Pad See Ew with shrimp (huge shrimp). Fast service and great food.
(4)
Catherine W.

Probably about 3.5 stars. Got takeout here. Easy online ordering makes it convenient. The Pad See Ew and the Pad Thai were great. Also tried 2 entrÃ©e dishes (eggplant) and a beef with peppers dish (just okay). Portions a bit on the small side.
(3)
Najah H.

Takeout kinda night. It really wasn't that bad. Got the crazy spicy noodles and some shrimp egg rolls. The chicken was a kinda dry but noodles were yum and had a nice kick to it.
(3)
Sahar M.

Simply terrible!!! Well let me correct, food can sometimes be delicious and that is why I gave it two stars. Service however is terrible!!! If u want to know RUDE, you better get this place a chance. We ordered egg rolls which came out frozen. When I called the waiter to tell her, she started arguing with me that I am the only one who said that. Daaaaa, others might got heated properly! My boyfriend ordered Mussaman curry. He finished his rice and asked for more. Instead, our waitress said there is an extra charge for it, do you still want it???? I live in the neighborhood and love Thai food but I will never ever go back!!!!!!
(2)
Chris T.

I've been here a few times now, not because it's the best Thai place, but because it's dirt cheap, great service, and you can always get seated. It' pretty standard Thai food. On my most recent outing I got the Pad Num Prik Pao (Chicken Supreme) and my friend got the Pad See Eiw. Both were good, but nothing to write home about. Fairly average I'd say. I don't think anyone would ever be disgusted or grossly disappointed with anything they get here.
(3)
Erin D.

The mini egg rolls were terrible because they had no taste. I ordered the Tom yum noodle soup, and when I got to the hotel, I didn't get the right soup. Instead, I received the chicken broth soup. The noodles were hard by the time I reached the hotel less than a ten minute walk away. They'd congealed so much even the scalding hot soup (burned my tongue) wasn't able to separate the noodles. I've done takeout for noodle soups plenty of times and haven't had a problem elsewhere. I threw away the noodle soup and two egg rolls. What a waste!
(2)
Chris K.

I have been here several times, and the staff has always been very fast and friendly (they always keep the glass full, give a big "thank you and have a nice day" on the way out), and the food is consistently good. Appetizers and entrees are very well priced and the decor is memorable.
(4)
Alissa S.

It isn't my favorite Thai place in the city.. or even the neighborhood. It is big inside and they have a section where you can sit Thai style.. so basically you sit on the floor and the your feet dangle under the table... if I'm not explaining that well I mean that its kinda cool. The food is decent but I think Thai Spoon which is a little more northwest is better (its close to water tower)
(3)
Shannon C.

I work in a building on the same block and its ultra-convenient. I pretty much always get the Pad See Eiw (with beef) because its just really good. Nice ample portions, great meat to noodle ratio, and always hot and fresh. Usually takes about 15 minutes (or less). The staff is friendly, quick, and accurate. Honestly, I find that most Thai restaurants are not as good as the ones that opened up in Chicago 15 years ago (when I first started eating Thai). People no longer stir fry the broad noodles before lumping them into the sauce and some of the punchier flavors tend to be missing. That being said, this place is solid. Don't expect anything you haven't had before, but you'll be pleased.
(4)
Chris R.

I forgot that I already wrote a review for this place, but it was so bad that I remembered it even now. Literally the worst Thai food I've ever had.
(1)
Laura S.

Cute place. The food was delicious. I asked for clear noodles and my friend for pad thai and was everything so tasty. If I was not living in Seattle, I will come back more times. The staff also is nice and polite.
(5)
Diane H.

Probably one of the most "not so good" Thai food I've eaten in a long time. Panang was flavorless and just heat. Nice enough atmosphere. Hoping my leftovers will taste better tomorrow!
(2)
Kate K.

Dao is a pretty basic quick Thai place, very clutch for delivery, when hungover, etc. I've tried a couple of their entrees and noodles and enjoyed all of them. All of the dishes I've had have lots of vegetables that seem very fresh. I've only had Dao delivered, but it's pretty fast, low delivery minimum and their entrees are all pretty cheap ($7-10). I've found that even their "spicy" menu items are not very spicy, but they always include styrofoam bowls of hot sauce so I can't complain.
(3)
Michelle P.

Great for take out since I live across the st. Their soup is my go-to comfort food!!
(4)
Mark S.

I come here fairly often because I live about two blocks away and the dishes are so cheap compared to other restaurants in the area. I usually get my meals to go which only takes around 5-10 minutes - it's pretty quick. I'd say the food is average; I've had better Thai food, and I've definitely had worse. I can't really complain because of how cheap the food is. My favorite dishes are the Cashew Chicken and the fried rice dishes. The portions are also large despite the low price - I usually save some for a snack later.
(3)
Laci B.

Cute place! I got the half carafe of Chardonnay and it was a great deal! The mussaman chicken curry was thick and creamy and it was a huge portion. You do need to order rice on the side, unlike many other Thai places. The panang was equally as tasty, but a bit spicier. The attire of the wait staff was cute... Our waitress had a cute kitten tie which I thought was a little personality addition. She also was very conversational. Clean bathrooms! I'd come back.
(4)
Dalveender S.

If there is - star, I would have given them. Waited 40 minutes for the food to arrive, other guests were served first, when prompted them they said other guests ordered appetizers but then what about my tom yam soup ordered way earlier? Other guests that walked in 30 minutes later got their tom yam soup first. The food served were below average. Hope to see major improvements.
(1)
Strtrvl C.

As people like to say, I wish I could give zero (or even negative) stars. I was tasked with ordering food from here to be delivered for a work meeting of seven people. I called the day before to place the order, ran through it at least a couple times to ensure accuracy, and paid in advance. I even called again the next day to confirm. When the food arrived several people's orders were partially or completely missing. Looking at the barely legible order ticket, I could see that a couple of the items were never even written down, despite going over the order multiple times. I had to call them to bring all of the missing items and they actually had the gall to charge me more money in spite of ruining half our meeting attendees' lunches and causing general chaos (I had to spend the entire meeting dealing with this issue and was not able to participate). None of the employees I spoke with were polite or helpful. The customer service was atrocious. It goes without saying that we will never order from this restaurant ever again.
(1)
Nick N.

Great food, friendly waitstaff, and reasonable prices. The crab rangoon is the best I've had and the Pad Thai is very enjoyable. Parking outside is tough, you may have to walk a few blocks or pay a parking lot for parking, so plan ahead.
(5)
Jessica D.

AMAZING Thai. It was a freezing cold Black Friday and we took refuge here, not knowing what to expect. I was so excited when I saw our fried tofu appetizer and my fresh squeezed lemonade make their way over to me. And nothing warms me up better than an asian noodle soup, I picked the shrimp wonton and bbq pork with soup. I couldn't help myself and I also got the lychees on ice--one of my all time favorite desserts. The decor is really lovely with a touch of ethnic and lots of hand-painted art on the pillars and walls. The restrooms are passable and everything works, well lit. The restaurant's many square sit-in tables are comfy if you don't have two toddlers from the next table over hitting you in the kidneys over and over again -- but gotta love little pink British toddlers, yea? MMM yum yum yum I will definitely be back if I'm in the neighborhood.
(5)
Cheryl K.

Best Thai I've ever had but I'm not exactly a foodie. Love the atmosphere, love the service and the Mussaman Curry really is the best food in the world, as the menu says.
(5)
Shelby J.

We got the Pad See Ew and the Pad Thai. Both were just fine with us. We got them to go. I'm used to a different sort of Pad Thai with more sauce for it. This one had just some chili sauce to pour over it. And a lemon on the side to squeeze onto it. I'm used to having either more sauce to put on it, or it already in the sauce. But that was no biggie, as it was still tasty. The Pad See Ew was salty and sweet tastiness, it had bok choy instead of broccoli, I liked that addition. Overall this place is just what the review states, "A-OK." Though, I still really really miss my west coast Thai food.
(3)
Peter N.

Actually ate here due to a last minute change. The place looks old and dingy. The people here did not speak english well and got my order wrong. The food was not that great, but edible. Hopefully I do not have to eat here again.
(3)
Andrew A.

Very midwestern 1990s Americanized Thai food. If you like someplace like Sticky Rice, or any of the better Thai places that all seem to be in Lincoln Square, you will be disappointed. I was.
(2)
Christina S.

My pad see eew obsession moves to Chicago! My parents and I stopped in here because it was one block from our hotel. The restaurant is adorable, brightly lit with a good mix of people. I ordered my pad see eew with chicken and waited excitedly for my food. My noodles were just a little bit too sweet, with not enough egg and not enough veggies. There was hardly a hint of garlic, but the noodles themselves were pretty awesome. Not amazing. But not horrible.
(3)
Evie H.

Convenient Thai restaurant in the heart of a touristy area. My pad see-ew was okay, nothing too special and pretty standard. The only thing I didn't like was that instead of American broccoli, they used Chinese broccoli which just didn't taste well with the noodles. The veggies were slightly bitter too. The other dishes looked pretty good so I'll have to try those if I come again, but for now, 3 stars is just about right. The ambiance is pretty nice inside. They have regular seating tables as well as more Asian style booths.
(3)
William H.

I agree with the other reviewer who put this at 3.5 stars. It's very OK Thai good. The "chicken massaman curry" fell very flat, but our other two dishes were pretty good. Plenty of room here for improvement.
(3)
Giang N.

The food is really tasty. love the squid salad :)
(4)
G Love S.

The service was just ok. They made us wait for a table in a non busy restaurant for a long time for no reason other than no one wanted to seat us. The Pad Thai is not good. They break the noodles before they cook them. That means it is extremely hard to eat and the noodle to sprout ratio is way off. It's also not flavorful. We also had the beef and broccoli which was for sure not flavored with anything, my four year old wanted to add spice to it. The basil chicken was pretty good. However, the water they give you when you sit down has a unique flavor that water usually does not have. I would suggest they buy a Brita ASAP. I never buy water in a restaurant and had to when we ate there.
(2)
Amy L.

I've been here several times during different times of the day and the food is great each time. Service is ok, but mostly good. The staff is friendly. Decent size portions and enjoyable inside and outside atmosphere.
(4)
Steve D.

Service was very good. Food was hot, and not horrible. But definitely not good. This isn't even good as "American Thai". And nowhere close to real Thai food.
(2)
Yelp F.

Food was decent. Service was pretty bad. The Green curry had too many green chillies. Seems like they were trying to save money by replacing them for bell pepper.portion size was good. Overall okay experience.
(3)
Mark C.

So, I like this place... but I just placed a $125 delivery order through grub hub, and they called to inform me that I needed to give the driver $1.10 extra because we asked for shrimp instead of chicken on a dish. To top it all off, when the driver arrived, I gave a dollar and she asked for the extra dime. I didn't have it, so I gave another dollar... and of course she didn't have change. Look, I know, it's a $1.10... it's not a federal case. But the way it was handled just reeks of really poor customer appreciation on all fronts. As a side note: I pre-tipped 15% (as in, while placing the order), in case you're wondering if there was some cause for them to get snooty. I'm sorry... but that's just poor service. We ordered from here all the time, but not any more!
(1)
Junchen F.

Portion is good and price is reasonable. Problem is that dishes are too salty and waiting time is a bit too long.
(3)
Abigail T.

Dao is my go to Thai restaurant in the city. I spent a month in Thailand last year and this is the closest I've found to the fresh, authentic flavors that I experienced while I was there. It was my favorite Thai place before the trip and then confirmed when I got back. A few of my favorite dishes: Beef Pad See Eiw, Rama Chicken, Cashew Chicken, Chicken Fried Rice, Crab Rangoon I don't recommend Shrimp Vegetable Tempura is you're getting delivery because it gets a little soggy.
(4)
Dani B.

Tried out Dao Thai the other night and was disappointed overall. Decor was nice and service was good. The food is, unfortunately, why I will never come back. Started with gyoza appetizer which was decent. Then came the entrees and that's where the meal went downhill.... We shared one chicken dish and one noodle dish. Both were dry and had flavor that was just not up to par. (Note: this is not my first time eating Thai, and normally I love it!) - I would say skip this place and spend your money elsewhere.
(2)
Alvin Y.

It's been more than 6 months since I wrote my first review for Dao Thai, which was largely positive. Since then though, I feel the quality of the place has really gone down the drain. The food I order now always comes so bland and I can barely eat a few bites before having to stop. I usually order pad thai or one of the curries, which doesn't seem to have very fresh vegetables. I will no longer be coming to Dao Thai or ordering food there and I would encourage others to find other Thai alternative in downtown Chicago.
(1)
Jenn L.

We stopped by Dao Thai for lunch. Perhaps we should have checked the Yelp reviews first because either we ordered the wrong items or this place is just plain bad. I just wasn't impressed at all. We ordered the pad thai, broccoli with beef, and tom yum noodle soup to share. Out of the three, the one I enjoyed the most was the tom yum noodle soup, although it was nothing like the tom yum soup I was expecting. It wasn't a red spicy soup but rather like a chicken broth (partially my fault; I probably should have ordered the regular Tom Yum Soup, but why call it Tom Yum Soup if it's actually a chicken broth?) I enjoyed the noodles, but the chicken, while plentiful, was very dry to the point where I didn't even want to eat it. The fried shrimp wontons placed inside the soup were already pretty soggy. It was mostly made of deep fried wonton dough rather than shrimp and you could taste the oil. It would have been better off served on the side. The pad thai was probably the most underwhelming pad thai I've ever had. It tasted better than it looked, but that's not saying much. The sauce was too strong and unpleasantly sweet that I think they got it straight out of a bottle. One thing I HATE about pad thai (or any noodle dishes for that matter) is when restaurants use filler vegetables like bean sprouts to make up half of the dish, and that's exactly what they did here. The chicken was again, dry. The dish came with a slice of lemon, but I thought lime was typically used in thai cuisine? Either way, we tried it with a squeeze of lemon juice towards the end and it did nothing. The broccoli and beef dish was made with oyster sauce, which I think is more indicative of Chinese cuisine than Thai. The beef was tough and we didn't even finish the meat. All in all it was a rather disappointing meal, which is a shame because I love Thai food and was looking forward to it. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with some great art pieces. Again, perhaps we just ordered the wrong things, but if you can't even get a staple dish like pad thai right, it's probably not the best sign. On the way to the washrooms I saw another table with a curry dish that looked fairly decent. Who knows? I wouldn't recommend this place for authentic Thai.
(1)
Jesse P.

This places was ok. Their fresh spring rolls aren't the usual ones wrapped in rice paper and they are covered in sauce. I wasn't a fan. Their masseman chicken was good. I'd go here for wick Thai but the quality wasn't all the way there :-/
(2)
Cao T.

Everything is ok but the food. Maybe I made a wrong choice but the green curry is too sweet and the Dao delight noodle is so wrong, so blank.
(2)
Gerry T.

This place is our favorite Thai restaurant, parking may be tricky and if you can take it to go, that's a good option as well. Our favorites are pad Thai chicken, beef pad see ewe, tom yum soup with chicken and Green curry with chicken. The servings are generous and they are very quick with having your tasty order ready for you. I also enjoy sprinkling their hot sauce on all of my food, it's a nice blend of hot and tanginess for some of the sweeter dishes. Before heading back to I-94, we stop by Garrett's popcorn (Right around the block) for a medium blend (cheese and caramel). My fingers are nice and orangey when we get home, perfect timing for Thai food from Dao's. :)
(5)
Michelle C.

I was famished after 6 hours of traveling.... I needed a beer and some food ASAP at 9PM on a Wednesday night when I came across this restaurant. It had a very casual ambiance- it's nothing fancy, but comfortable. I was greeted and sat right away at a small but clean, simple table. A server came to drop off the menu. She didn't greet me or try to explain the menu. She left before I could place my drink order. She returned when I was on the phone- demanded that I order... I got a beer and pad thai with shrimp. The beer was dropped by a second server, and my food was delivered by a third server. After 10 minutes, no one came by to see how the food was. The only person that came by was yet a fourth server who wanted to see if he can take my tray of condiments (pepper flakes, soy sauce, mustard, etc). Pad thai was okay- there were 5 pieces of shrimp. It wasn't very fresh- you can taste the fishiness when you bite in. But for $7.95 (+$2 for shrimp), I guess I can't complain too much! If you want to get in and out and don't care about having a dining "experience", this is a good, cost-effective place to fill up. But if you're looking for good, attentive service or are on a date on a Friday night, I'd suggest that you find another place.
(3)
Mike R.

This place really is your standard Thai place. While the interior can be kind of cool, part of it seems to be getting outdated pretty fast. The first time I had this place was a few years ago and I remember it being better. I had it recently again and things seemed to not be very great. While it is certainly not bad, there are certainly better Thai places out there than this. Average Thai food.
(3)
Lola K P.

This is a good place if you're in the area and really want some Thai food - it's decent, it's done up in generic Thai decor, and it's got good prices especially for this area, covering that very neglected budget segment here in Tourist Central between fussy expensive restaurants and cheap fast food.
(3)
Heather L.

It is not easy to find a sit down restaurant two blocks from Michigan Avenue with dinner entree prices below $10. In fact, if you know of a place, I'd love to hear it. So when I'm downtown looking for cheap eats at a restaurant that will bring my food to me, here I come. I'm not saying this is the best Thai you will ever eat but it's good and they have a fun atmosphere with this cheesy cut out seating that makes you feel like you are sitting on the floor but you aren't and that's a good thing. My favorite is the pad see ewe beef and the Tom yum chicken soup. Singapore with squid is also decent as is the pad Thai. The spring rolls are good but ask for the sweet and sour sauce on the side or they will drown it. And to wash it all down, the Long Island ice tea packs a punch. This would get two to three stars elsewhere but by virtue of price at that location, they get four.
(4)
Andrew D.

I came here with my girlfriend on a whim after spending the day with family in the area. I lived in the Streeterville area for 6 years and the Gold Coast area for over 20 years. I cannot begin to recall the number of times I told myself next time I am in the mood for Thai food I am going to Dao. Guess what, I never came back. I am loyal to a fault when I find a restaurant I like and I rarely go elsewhere. My go to Thai place has always been Tiparos on Clark Street and North Ave. So when we were looking for a place to eat I suggested several places in the area, but thankfully my girlfriend wisely suggested we try Dao. What a treat it turned out to be for both of us! First, the decor of the place was bright, clean and beautifully decorated. When we were seated the waitress was attentive, polite and did not rush us. We decided to start our meal with a carafe of the red house wine. It was great, as well as being an enormous carafe of wine. Bottles of wine are 750 ml; the carafe the waitress brought to the table was at least 1000 ml. We both looked at each other with wide eyes and quietly debated whether it was to much for just the two of us. The waitress smiled politely and asked if we would prefer the half carafe instead. We opted to keep the full carafe and savor it over dinner. It was delious and surprisingly light for a red wine. For an appetizer we had the Miso soup. It was good, but it should have been hotter. Next came our entrees. I had the panang beef curry with brocoli and my girlfriend ordered the Thai chicken chopped salad. The panang beef curry was delicious without being to spicy. Again, the only complaint i had was that the food could have been hotter. My girlfriend however had to send back her dish because it was so saturated in curry that it was inedible. When it was brought to the attention of the waitress she returned it to the kitchen immediately and returned with a fresh batch a lot less spicy. She also returned to the table several more times to make sure the dish was edible and to my girlfriends liking. It was! For dessert we had the Thai custard. It was good, as well as being a reasonable portion size. Both me and my girlfriend loved this place. With dinner and drinks the bill was 50 dollars. Remember, this place is located only one block east of Michigan Ave. Awesome deal and great food! We will be returning again and again very soon!
(4)
Lizzy L.

My favorite part: tables built into the floor so that you swing your feet in and sit inside a box-like area. Not so favorite part: the curry made with peanut butter. It was so thick and peanut butter-y that I had to take it home because it was so heavy! We ordered brown rice to go with the curry and I don't think they charged extra for brown vs. white rice which was a plus. My friend ordered the won ton noodle soup and loved it though. The food did arrive pretty fast and I liked the decor and atmosphere despite the not so great curry.
(3)
Nic Z.

Ordered takeaway, and it arrived cold. Even after dumping the container of chili sauce and our own bottle of soy sauce, the food remained flavorless for both of us. It was a pretty disappointing experience, and we ended up resorting to the fridge halfway through our meal. We had a voucher from seamless; had we paid full price, apathy would have been anger.
(2)
Krupa U.

I almost didn't go to this restaurant because it only had 3 stars, and since I'm rarely in Chicago, I only wanted to go to 4-5 star reviewed places. But I had such a strong hankering for Thai that I changed my mind last second while on my way to another restaurant and decided to stop here! I'm so glad I did! My girlfriends and I ordered the mini veggie spring rolls which were delicious. The plum sauce that came on the side wasn't that good, but hey they had sriracha, so we were saved :-) I ordered the Chicken Pad Ped with white rice for just $8.75! I made the mistake of ordering it medium plus - I needed a fire hydrant for my tongue later! The gravy was nice and coconut creamy with tons of bamboo shoots which I love and the dish was super meaty, which I also love! Their crab rangoon was wonderfully overstuffed with a really nice crispy deep fried shell. The service was a little slow but it was a lazy sunday afternoon so they only had one server trying to handle 5-6 tables. But they did turn the AC up when asked instead of ignoring us like some places may lol. So i guess it all evens out :-) I would definitely recommend this place to Thai lovers in the Chi.
(4)
Jim V.

Great authentic thai food, reasonably priced and high quality. Not sure why the negative reviews....
(4)
Dixie Q.

After a long day sightseeing and pretty much being on our feet all day, we headed to Dao Thai for a sustaining meal before going out for the night. I ordered the Cashew Chicken, and I believe my friend ordered the the Pad Thai. I typically order an item I am familiar with in an unknown restaurant. The cashew chicken was delicious. Another thing I liked about this restaurant is the seating space. In the middle of the restaurant they have a raised bed, where you can sit on the cushions and have your feet dangling. From the outside, it looks like you are indeed sitting on the floor. It was not only fun, but a relief to take off my shoes, relax my tired, weary feet and enjoy dinner.
(3)
Nida K.

Their crab rangoon was a bit too cream cheesy, but their pad see yew is on point. I would come back just for that.
(4)
Meera T.

Came here before a movie at AMC River East. It's one of the only non-chain restaurants by the theater, which is a plus. We were seated super quickly at 6pm on a Saturday, and there was hardly anyone there. Odd, but the restaurant started filling up slowly after. We started with a few beers and appetizers. The rest at my table shared the Crab Rangoons, and I ordered the Veggie Egg Rolls. They were your standard egg rolls, nothing too spectacular. For dinner, I ordered the Spicy Eggplant dish. It's kind of a big inconvenience that you have to PAY for rice here. I understand paying a bit extra for brown rice, but no, you have to pay for white as well. The dish came with big pieces of eggplant, bell peppers, and basil. Since the eggplant was quite large, it wasn't as tasty as it could have been. Smaller pieces would be better, and would have allowed more of the sauce to infuse. The entire dish was decent, but nothing spectacular. I wish they mentioned more vegetarian options, or at least gave you the option of having veggies/tofu substituted for the meat on the menu.
(3)
Christina Y.

I'm happy that a finally found a descent Thai restaurant to order take out from. I have my usual dishes I like to order for Thai food, and this place does a great job making them great. Out of the 5, I was only disappointed by 1 dish. So, I consider that pretty good. I'd rather have 4 dishes be great, except for 1. These odds are much better. I've never dinned in, so not so sure about decor or atmosphere of the restaurant. I'm not too worried about that, because the quality of the food is what's most important to me. It took me a while to find a Thai restaurant that made all my favorite dishes well, and I'm going to stick with this place. When you find something good, don't want to stray and be disappointed again. So, I believe this is my go to Thai food restaurant and happy to have finally found it. I would recommend it to others, because I doubt anyone would be disappointed with the food. It can be hard to find good Thai food, so I'm happy that I don't need to search any further at least for this type of food. I totally can't say that for other ethnic foods.
(4)
Irene G.

Went to lunch here the other day and I just feel the need to mention that the the crab rangoon here is super good-unlike anything I've ever tasted at other places! You have to try it - words can't describe the amazing-ness of it! :) Service again was great. It was sort of busy, but the servers were attentive and did not rush us one bit.
(4)
Stephanie H.

PRO: large portions and nice ambience CON: the food here really isn't authentic. It's pretty much americanized "thai" food
(3)
Amanda D.

We came here because they were open on Christmas and cannot deny the opportunity to eat Thai food because nothing in Atlanta has really been impressive. This wasn't that impressive either though. The service was as good as it could be for having 11 tables of customers and only 2 servers. It took a bit to get an order placed but everything came out in a timely manner and water never went empty, and it's always a plus to not constantly be bothered. We ordered gyoza to start, and they were really good. I was expecting that we'd get maybe 6, but the plate held a dozen perfectly fried potstickers. I ordered pad kee mao, and it was decent. I've never been somewhere that serves it with a prawn (although I had two, the menu says one), but I don't like 99% of seafood so I ignored them. The noodles were REALLY broad or had stuck together which made it kind of hard to eat. It would have been nice to have the condiment tray because it wasn't as spicy as I'd like. Thai iced tea was strong and good. Overall they satisfied our need for food on a holiday well, and the tables in the middle are fun to sit at because it makes other people jealous, and then they want to one.
(3)
Adam L.

Looks great when you walk in but everything after that kinda sucked. The beef was seasoned well but completely overcooked. Serving it with a big bowl of siracha was an odd choice in my opinion. The service was abysmal and then to top it off the bathroom was scary. Stay away from here if you ask me.
(2)
Heshan W.

I agree with most people about this place. The Thai food is average. However, the restaurant's ambiance combined with its multitude of Thai artifacts, artwork and ornaments makes it a unique place compared to other Thai restaurants I have been to in the U.S. There's even a seating area where you can eat Indian/Asian style, on the floor!! I ordered the Chicken Gyoza which was good, but it was really the sweet and spicy sauce that came with with it that made this appetizer stand out (4 out of 5). I also ordered the Thai chicken fried rice. Which was ok, I have had better (3 out of 5). FInally, the Thai iced coffee, was average, usually the Thai iced coffee is strong, that was weak and lacked a strong coffee flavor that I am used to (3 out of 5). Overall, if your in downtown Chicago, near the Navy Pier and craving Thai food (like I was) or your looking for an intimate place with a "Thai" style ambiance or even for a quick business meeting lunch, then go here. But if you want to eat "GREAT" Thai food in Chicago, do not go here. LOL Additionally, its quite expensive for lunch, considering this place is average for Thai food. I ended up paying over $19 for lunch!!!
(3)
A H.

Good vibe, OK food, affordable in downtown Chicago, great location, attentive service pretty much sum up what this place is about. We had pre-dinner drinks and dinner here, and also got take-out for a friend. Everything went without a hitch. Not a "must-visit" restaurant but it's a good Asian fusion place if you are hungry and in need of something between fast food and an upscale dining experience.
(3)
Samantha E.

Thai is Thai. It takes a lot to impress me when it comes to Thai food and Dao is a pretty standard spot. Nothing too great but also not bad. We order it in a lot for meetings so I can't complain.
(3)
Doreen B.

do me a favor go somewhere else if you are thinking of coming here. the pad tai wasnt even real most of it was sprouts and weird noodles. the chicken is flavorless and unfresh! yuck...
(1)
C D.

My boyfriend favorite takeout place! He loves the Panang beef in curry sauce. I would recommend the spring roll because it is so good. It has cream cheese, carrot, cilantro, and cucumber in it with plum sauce on top!
(3)
Sarah T.

Very 2.5 star place. What my friend says after dinner tonight: "I know it's fusion, but it's like an excuse to not do things right." The spring rolls were pretty disgusting: cucumber wrapped in dry rice wrapping, covered in some sticky sweet sauce. Not good. Pad Thai and Pepper Steak was edible, but nothing worth writing about. Disappointing. Will not be back.
(3)
Christine T.

The ambience was decent, and the servers were super-nice. Very accommodating for a toddler. However, we couldn't get over the food. Maybe we're used to the more authentic tastes of Thai food from San Francisco, which are still a far cry from the Thai food in Thailand. However, there was something burnt-tasting to their larb, and their pad thai was too sweet and the noodles broke into small pieces. Texture is important in Asian cuisine, and the ability to hold that texture together is paramount. Imagine broken spaghetti noodles -- Chef Boyardee style? The sweetness of their pad thai actually got to my tooth, and I had to stop eating the leftovers we took back to the hotel. My husband wouldn't touch the larb again. The tom yum soup was good, but overall, we can't recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Brenda B.

My boyfriend and I spent Christmas Day 2014, in downtown Chicago, before we headed back to the suburbs we were determined to grab a bite to eat. Most places had 45-2 hour waits, Dao took us right in. At first we were worried it wouldn't be good since they didn't have a wait, but that was not the case. He started with vegetable tempura, just the way he liked it! I started with the Tom kha Kai soup, chicken in coconut milk broth. I love this soup and have had at several places, this was not the best I've had, yet still very good. By the way, the soup was enough for two, as well was the tempura. Be careful you don't order too much food unless you are ok with taking home leftovers. I ordered the spicy curry for main dish, boyfriend had the Pad Thai. Pad Thai was probably one of the best I have tried in a long time and my curry was quite good as well, again I've had better. Service was decent, it was Christmas and I was just happy these folks were willing to be there! If we are ever looking for very good Thai food again we will certainly be back, who knows this may become a tradition. Oh yea, they were very reasonably priced.
(4)
Van S.

considering that i live down the street from this location, I've kept things simple and only ordered the pad thai with chicken and shrimp. i've personally had great service and well prepared food. i've ordered over the phone a few times and dined in on a couple of ocassions. never a problem, service has been great.
(4)
Nelson M.

Restaurant review Is all thai food created equal? After my experience eating at Dao, I would have to say no. Previous to my experience here, I would say that even thai food on a bad day was still okay, however I was recently here with my in-laws and we were able to try multple dishes in one sitting and I was very disappointed. To start with the thai pepper steak was overcoked beef with a very gravy like sauce that had minimal flavor. The penang nue (beef curry) was in a super thick sauce that was overdosed with peanut butter to the point where it was difficult to swallow. One highlight was the pad thai was reasonable, a bit on the sweet side but comparable to other experiences. I would have to echo that the noodle dishes were saturated in oil. All and all an experience that won't have me returning anytime soon. Pro: cheap asian food that you can get for carry out, can order online for pickup Cons: RICE NOT INCLUDED! what asian restaurant charges for rice with your entree, disappointing dishes as noted above Hidden gem: order carry out and save money on tip, better than a tv dinner
(2)
Allison V.

I went here for a friend's birthday. There were 9 of us and we did not have a reservation and this place still accommodated us! We had crab rangoon, egg rolls, tofu, chicken and beef pad see ew. They do not know how to make Long Beach/Long Island Iced Teas, but the drink they made was tasty. The tables are placed in a sort of cut out box so you can sit on the main area and have your legs inside the box. Requires some crawling in and out. We had a lot of fun and the service was just fine.
(4)
Derek D.

Food - always reliable. Nothing AMAZING - but you don't go here for that. It's what you pay for. Service - GREAT! Thank you DAO.
(3)
Daliah F.

I just moved to this neighborhood and this place is right down the street. My friend said it was really good. Since it's downtown, I figured it was an okay place to order beef - not always the smart choice for a Thai place. I ordered Pad Thai with beef - the pad thai was okay tasting, but greasy and the beef was very poor quality. The inside of the restaurant looked decent enough - cute. The only real positive was that my carry out order was ready in less than 15 mins.
(2)
Heavy B.

Just finished a meal from this place. Very impressed! We ordered from Yelp and got our order delivered. It took over an hour - long time, but understandable cause we're not exactly around the corner. The lady from the restaurant had to call to clarify my order because I had a few extra requests. That was very nice. Food arrived hot and all of my requests were honored. Miso soup was great. We had Pad Sei Ew, Pad Thai with chicken added, Beef Fried Rice, and spring rolls. The food was fantastic! Not too oily and tastes great! And Huge portions! We have enough leftover to last a couple days. It was the best Thai food I've had in a long time!
(5)
Eric C.

Picked this place because it was close to my hotel. Food was bland and uninteresting.
(2)
Lora S.

Gotta have the Wonton & B.B.Q. Pork: steamed homemade shrimp wonton and bean sprout topped with green onion, cilantro, and B.B.Q. pork (stole the description from the Grubhub menu) with soup. I ordered it takeout and brought it back to work with me. I added some chili sauce to it, and it was DELICIOUS! I usually order crab rangoon and chicken pad thai, and I have tried a few other items, which are always good, but I was especially happy with the wonton & bbq pork with soup. It smelled and tasted amazing, and my co-workers were jealous of my lunch. I will definitely be back for more.
(5)
Jaby J.

I hate giving restaurants a failing grade. But, unfortunately, this one gets a 2-star rating from me; the 2nd star was only added due to a very nice decor. I was in chicago on business, and decided to explore. I saw thai, saw a beautiful restaurant, and decided to go in. The decor is fantastic, beautiful art, unique seating, etc. That all does not make up for the poor service, cold food and warm beer. I could forgive the cold food if it actually tasted good, but I think I have tasted better at mall food courts. I apologize if I sound harsh. But I need to be honest.
(2)
Jaime G.

I'm used to Thai food that is very aromatic and flavorful and this just didn't fit the bill on either account. Not only did our dishes (a noodle dish and a curry) lack spice, they also lacked flavor. Everything was pretty bland and we had to use all of the seasonings and oils on the condiment tray to make the food interesting at all. I certainly wouldn't return.
(2)
Kalista C.

Appropriate price, Asian rice foods, delicious and quick enough. Really love it. Now I've moved to California and never found that good Thai food sine then. Miss it!
(5)
Andrea B.

No, it's not the best Thai food you can get, but I love Dao anyways. Yes, I'm a fan. I typically only eat from here when my work department goes out for lunch or we order in for a meeting or some such. That's what got me hooked. The food is good, and it's cheap! I also LOVE their Thai iced tea. Nom. The space is nice and I've never really had to worry too much about heavy lunch crowds while at work; we can typically get seated right away. Also, they bring food out fast! I can easily eat out for lunch during work and not have to worry about being late (yay!). I took my friend here for lunch recently and I finally got to sit in the middle seating section where you can sit on pillows and your legs are hidden in the little box you're stuck in. That's not the best wording I can use to describe it (truthfully, I make it sound a little scary), but trust me, it's awesome. The service can be iffy at times; sometimes the waitresses are nice and attentive, other times you get the servers who barely talk to you and shove food in your face. Honestly, since it's not a Michelin star restaurant and I'm only there for the cheap Thai food and often quiet atmosphere, I could care less. Just try it already. I've never had a bad experience here, hence the four stars.
(4)
AnaPhylaxis B.

Freezing weather compelled my friend and I to seek the nearest available shelter which was this restaurant. I would say that the food is "ok" and it was nothing exceptional but I did enjoy the chicken and rice soup. It hit the spot and was the perfect comfort food for the cold weather.
(3)
O K.

I'll only go here if I'm desperate. Bland, oily Thai food and inconsistent service. Really, don't bother.
(2)
Katie V.

There were pros and cons here. Everything was fine, but nothing really great. I like the weird seats where you dangle your feet, though I'm not sure what function/effect is achieved. It's comfy, though, and unique - definitely the most memorable aspect of the decor. I had to order my glass of wine twice -- I think they forgot about it. But they were apologetic, at least. I shared an app that was translated to be "shrimps in blankets." The blankets were basically the fried wrappings you get on spring rolls. Not bad...they were kind of cigar-shaped, one shrimp per. Entrees: split two and the portions were generous. Yes, the rice is extra, but they have brown rice as an option, which is good. The Rama Chicken was good, albeit pretty sweet/definitely made from peanut butter. The green beef curry, which we were warned was very spicy, was indeed very spicy. Came with peas, eggplant, basil, and green peppers. Tasty, but maybe a little too spicy for me. Usually, I can handle heat, but I was out of my league. If I am in the neighborhood again, I might come back? Definitely doesn't compare to Tac Quick or Aroy.
(3)
Henry D.

This place is so so. I went there on a trip to Chicago, and it was just up the street from where we were staying. I had seen it pop up on Yahoo and Yelp, so I decided to give it a try. First, if you go to their web site, the prices are about $5- above what they say there. Second, the place is loud. We went on a Wednesday night, and the music in the background was loud, and the people trying to talk over it was even louder. The food was tasty, but not anything near what authentic Thai is, or should be. They only seemed to have chicken on the menu. They had a build your own stir-fry that looked fun, but we just wanted to sit down, get some Thai Food and get home, so we did not try it. They had about 10 waiters, but when we left the place was packed, so I guess they need them. I might have given them a 3 stars, but I just gave a great Chinese place 4 stars, and the Chinese place was so much better, I had to say consistent.
(3)
Cameron H.

For lunch, my colleagues and I were trying to find good place to eat. While walking to Chiptole, we saw this Thai place. We all agreed to try it as no one had ever eaten there. Overall, great place. Great service, quick food delivery, decent atmosphere, in expensive prices, and great food. I ordered the Tom Kai Ga. It was delicious. Nice portions. Another colleague ordered the Tom Yum soup. She loved it. And another colleague ordered the panang curry. He enjoyed his meal as well. Being that we will be working a few blocks from there for the next mos, we will be going back there. Great find!!!
(4)
Hina Q.

This was our first time at DAO. Ambiance is good, loved the tables where it appears you are sitting on the floor! Got seated within 5 mins and it was pretty busy. Food was good, Pad Thai was awesome. Service was were it lost stars for me. Appetizers came out fairly quickly but the entrees took a long time. We honestly thought they forgot. We were four people and we got our food 15 mins apart. Otherwise waiters were friendly. And kept coming to refill water. Probably will go back for Pad Thai and iced coffee!
(3)
Anne H.

Most of my experiences at Dao have been great with the exception of one take-out order. Interior is pleasant. Staff is polite and food comes quick. Prices are very affordable, especially downtown. WHAT I'VE TRIED: Pad Thai If you want it spicy, make sure to ask for it spicy. Tastes so much better if you eat in versus if you order it to go. I'm not sure why. Kang Karee Kai (MY TOP RECOMMENDATION) AMAZING! So creamy and delicious. Thai Iced Tea Yum. Pla Duk Pad Ped Taste is good. But I realized I don't like Thai eggplant. It's crunchy. Pad Ped Taste is good but beware, SO SPICY. I've only had it once because the heat is too much for me. But if you like painful hot, this is your dish. Fried Tofu Classic. Tasty. Nothing extraordinary but just good.
(4)
Lenny G.

Pretty average thai food, but very large portions and pretty good prices. For the part of the city it's in, it's a pretty nice place to get a quick bite. I would go here again.
(3)
Daniel N.

I had the mussaman curry as the menu stated it is one of the best foods and I tell you it did not disappoint. We also had the crab rangoon which were actually sub par. My fiancÃ© had the pad thai (no surprise because she always orders the pad thai) which was simply ok. So why the 4 stars? Seriously the mussaman curry was incredible, the service was quick and kind, the price was spot on. Need some Thai in the city but don't feel like over paying? Check this place out.
(4)
Ken O.

The restaurant is very understated for such a busy street. Service was really great. Never had to wait for my drink or food. The food is very good. The prices are very reasonable for the area. If you have a craving for Thai food - Dao is the place! I certainly will be back.
(3)
Paul K.

Overall, mediocre Thai food- had the Pad Thai with Shrimp (mediocre), the shu mai dumplings (mediocre) and the spicy basil beed (decent). The outdoor seating area is nice in warm weather, the inside has some seats where you basically sit on the floor cross-legged Asian style- avoid, uncomfortable. Service is fast but Asian-indifferent.
(3)
Sir C.

Horrid, whacked, and disgraceful! I got carry out from here and it was as bad as when my dog takes a doogie on my living room carpet. I had the hot and spicy shrimp and tom yum soup. There was a total of 6 pieces of shrimp in the hot and spicy shrimp. The shrimp was mushy and the only other thing in the dish was bamboo shoots and couple slices of peppers. Is there a fire-sale on bamboo shoots? They're using it like it is going out of style. The dish was watery, overly sweet, and not spicy. Horrid! The tom yum soup was okay at the moment, but then I got really dehydrated after. It is filled with MSG. Definitely do not recommend this restaurant. There are so many better options in the area for Thai.
(1)
Leon B.

I had the Pad Prik. As indicated on the menu, it actually had some spice to it! I feel like too often I'm disappointed in the spice department. Service was friendly and attentive! My server was busting her tail seating tables and serving, but did not neglect me. She was very personable and helped me and other tables make choices.
(4)
Lorena M.

So, my bf and I rolled into Chicago, checked into our hotel and were starving so we started walking. We were there about 30 mins into the trip and decided on this Thai place for dinner. It was a Friday night, around 7pm and while they were busy, we were seated quickly. In the middle of the restaraunt are the tables you sit indian style at on a raised platform and tables around it and against the walls. We were seated against a wall/window and our server came right over with water and our drink order. We started off with crab ragoon & chicken satay and decided on splitting the chicken pad tai because we didn't want to walk around the city. The pad tai noodles with overcooked and a bit mushy but other than that, everything was great!
(4)
Locoritz K.

First of all, I'm Asian. I LOVE the rice, moist and soft! Not too much the soup or the curry. Really Average. Like the decoration but the food... Maybe for Americans? Not me..
(3)
Steve L.

Ate here couple weeks ago with some of my friends before shopping. Good atmosphere and nice location. Service was average, nothing spectacular. Food was average also. We had the Pad see ewe, Massaman curry, and fried rice. Everything was little bland overall but a it was a good amount of food. As with most thai places, not that expensive. Most menu items were below $10, so they have that going for them.
(3)
Rebecca N.

stumbled upon this restaurant with a friend after going to the museum of contemporary art. pretty average thai food--very inexpensive! we got the Pad Saw Ewe and the Red Curry Chicken-- the pad saw ewe was pretty bland wouldn't recommend it; red curry was delicious! very fast service!!!
(3)
Anna P.

It might not be the BEST Thai food you can get, but it's an excellent option in the area: cheap, tasty food with good service and booze. I mean, really, what more could you want? ;) Also, the design of this place sets it apart from other Thai places in the area - the inside is nicely appointed with Thai decorations and the middle of the restaurant has floor-style seating, so if you're looking for a nicer environment than your typical Thai place, this is a good choice.
(3)
Sally N.

Food is alright. The dragon noodle we got taste ok, but nothing authentic, not impressive. The basil chicken taste better, however I think the presentation need some improvement. It looks basically just some ground chicken n basil. And the rice, is not cool well. Big no no to any Asian restaurant.
(2)
Charles S.

Great atmosphere and Singha on ice when you walk in.
(4)
Stephen S.

I asked for mine spicy, like really spicy, and the waitress gave me a look like "Yeah right." Sure enough, the food came out pretty mild, it was good but nothing special. I'd be a happier customer if they would've actually listened to me and brought some heat.
(2)
Joshua M.

I'm 100% torn about this restaurant. I ordered two dishes from them. One was fantastic. The other was terrible. If you go here, try the Pad Thai. Ask for it spicy, and they won't care. They'll give you some Thai Chili sauce, though, so you can make it kind of spicy yourself. Just weird that they won't make it spicy for you. The noodles were perfectly cooked. The peanut sauce was perfectly-proportioned. The dish was a home run. No matter what you do... You should ABSOLUTELY NOT try the Pad See Ew. It tastes like the beef was cooked in fish stock... Or something. I don't know, it just tasted like dead fish. Even the vegetables tasted terrible, and it looked like they had used some sort of greens (Maybe Chard?) in there. They just didn't work. The noodles were soggy and gummy. The dish looked horrible as well. Complete flop... Exact opposite of the Pad Thai. So, yeah, I'm torn. Maybe I'll order from this place again... But I'll stick to the Pad Thai. Oh, and they're on the DIning Rewards Network. That's a plus.
(3)
Helen C.

This place is 1 block from me so I so wanted it to be great.... alas, alack, and something to do with Yorick. Though the service is good, the food is not. And quantity, huge though it is, does not make up for bad quality in this case. My pad thai had a lot of big juicy shrimps but they were the best bit, and i could have done without the noodles which were over-laced with vinegar and under-laced with any Thai flavour at all. They were also strangely thin and chopped into short lengths. Weird. The dish really bore no resemblance to Pad Thai, and since that's pretty basic, I can only infer that the rest wouldn't either. Decor is ok, nice booths, and it's cheap and cheerful. Maybe better with a big group or something. But I'll go elsewhere if can be bothered.
(2)
Brian P.

Not great. The Pad Thai is weirdly dry, the Pad Siew is greasy, and the Tom Yum Soup is way too salty. I'd stay away from it if it wasn't for the fact that the other restaurants in the area are generally not much better.
(2)
Rafael P.

I do not know how many times I have been to Dao Thai Restaurant. It is definitely one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Chicago. The menu is very diverse and I love the quality and taste of their food. The decoration inside the restaurant is very authentic and unique, which makes customers have a more cultural experience as they eat their Thai food. Sometimes Dao gets really busy, which sometimes makes the food take a few extra minute to be brought to the table. Sometimes I order food over the phone and it is ready within 15 (fifteen) minutes. I definitely recommend Dao Thai to whoever is interested in having good Thai food at a nice restaurant!
(5)
Ryan P.

Good food...ordering for delivery is good but make sure yuo check your order before the driver leaves your door, and before you give him cash.
(4)
Titty T.

I stayed at the Doubletree hotel down the street from the restaurant for business. Being hungry after work, I went on to Yelp on my phone and use the monocle to search for a good decent in Chicago to eat. Knowing my co-worker (a old guy) would be too lazy to walk, I search for a close restaurant by the hotel. It's probably rank as one of the worst Thai restaurant I've ever ate. We looked at the menu and ask if there was anything spicy on the menu, the waiter recommended some shrimp course. It was not spicy at all. Hell, I could lick my finger and it'll prob be more spicy from the dirt from Chicago street I don't know how you can you can eat Thai food at a Thai restaurant and the food not have any spice to them. Thai people are known for their coconut and spice. Even though it's the only or one of the few Thai restaurant downtown, I would not recommend it. If I had a elephant, I'll tear the place down with it.
(2)
Hari K.

The food is great. I like the pad thai especially. The atmosphere is also pretty decent. The food arrives pretty quick. For deliverires the charge a fee. But they don't tell you about it
(4)
Sebastian R.

They gave a great cashew chicken. Perfect portion, great place to share different plates with your friends. Service was good, they would take care of u fast and accurately.
(4)
Doug D.

The food at Dao is quite good and can be spicy. As other reviewers have stated, the food can be a bit plain which is why I typically order the spicier dishes and load up the chili sauce. The last time I was there the service was quite slow for 4 people. For it's price and location, it is worth visiting for lunch.
(3)
Robert H.

Very reasonable prices. Service is friendly . Veggie egg rolls were great as was the chicken and rice soup. Went for lunch and came back for dinner.
(5)
Mikey J.

Dao is a pretty decent Thai place here in Streeterville. Having grown up in Skokie/Evanston with the awesome Ruby of Siam, my expectations for Thai food are pretty high. This restaurant somewhat makes the mark. The atmosphere here is great, with an authentic sit-down-on-floor type area. I tend to get the take-out here. Today's order for the Pad Khee Mao took much longer than expected and tasted alright. The vegetables could be fresher/more flavorful. I think their other dishes are better (such as Pad Thai). All in all a decent local Thai place. I hear their curry is good.
(3)
Desiree Anne A.

Dao is great. I've come here numerous times for dinner and take out. I must of tried over 10 different dishes from them since when I first ordered from here. A group of about 10+ people each got an entree or two and we all went back to the apartment to eat it all family style! Such good times. I've always had a good experience dinning in too. The condiments on the tables are great, and the waiters are very nice. They are kinda shy and soft spoken, so you might want to speak up. I recommend the appetizers and the tom yum soup (very hearty and flavorful) I don't think there is another place in the area with great seating and ambiance, good food, and cheap prices! Go Dao! :)
(4)
Nick A.

Fast, very affordable, good Thai food in an area where most choices are expensive or boring chains. Nearly everything on the menu is under $10 and portion size is fairly generous. The crab rangoon and the pot stickers are excellent, and my entree of choice is usually the massaman curry with chicken. The rama chicken is also very good, the peanut sauce is delicious. My one piece of advice is to get the sauce for everything on the side: they sometimes overdo it. The restaurant is usually most crowded around the lunch hours of 11-1p and picks up again around dinner; most of the patrons seem to be on lunch from Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Weekends aren't generally very crowded either. Servers are usually attentive and quick to bring out food, I don't think I've ever waited over 20 minutes for an entree during the lunch hour. During the summer they open an outdoor patio area, if it's a sunny day and you sit out there for lunch make sure to get a table under an umbrella or bring sunglasses. For delivery I've ordered online several times without a problem, both individual meals and catering, and always received my order within the estimate given or at the time specified. They include plates, cutlery, and napkins with your order.
(5)
Curt L.

Considering the pricing (very good price point) here and the downtown/convenient location.....maybe i should give Dao Thai 4 stars. Let's just say for value (food + location) maybe this truly is a 4 star. But with Thai Food.....I guess I am looking for above and beyond flavors. The interior is authentic Thai crafts. The service was very friendly and helpful. In our case the grand kids had ordered water....I suggested to the kids they try a freshly made lemonade. The kids agreed....so the waitron gave me a free Singha to take home with me (as I sold 2 lemonades for her!!). Good karma I assume???
(3)
Michael O.

Food is good, service was horrible. Also, there's an awkwardness about both coming and getting a seat and when you leave....hard to explain. I actually had to get up and find some hot sauce on my own during my meal even though I had asked for it twice. I do like the outdoor seating for nice weather. Great way to spend a lunch break with my gal-pal Tills.
(3)
Michael B.

Simple and sweet: Try the #22, the Pnang Nue (beef with peanut butter curry sauce) over rice, and your world will change. Sure i've had other things from Dao Thai, but one taste of this dish, and all of the sudden- nothing else matters. The Pnang Nue is worth 20 stars. It may even be worth 20,000 stars. That is all.
(5)
Laura F.

Other than the price, this place is not worth a second visit. There are plenty of good Thai restaurants out there and this one is just average. I usually order Pad See Ew at Thai restaurants, and reviews indicated that Dao's was good. Personally, I thought it was bland and had to ask for a tray of sauces to doctor it up (I used Soy and a red one that looked spicy). Also, I requested medium - hot spicy and found the dish to have no spice whatsoever. (My husband asked for his Pad Thai to be spicy hot - and also found his to have no spice at all) I should also mention that there was only one poor waiter waiting all the tables, so service was painfully slow.
(2)
Mark C.

So, I like this place... but I just placed a $125 delivery order through grub hub, and they called to inform me that I needed to give the driver $1.10 extra because we asked for shrimp instead of chicken on a dish. To top it all off, when the driver arrived, I gave a dollar and she asked for the extra dime. I didn't have it, so I gave another dollar... and of course she didn't have change. Look, I know, it's a $1.10... it's not a federal case. But the way it was handled just reeks of really poor customer appreciation on all fronts. As a side note: I pre-tipped 15% (as in, while placing the order), in case you're wondering if there was some cause for them to get snooty. I'm sorry... but that's just poor service. We ordered from here all the time, but not any more!
(1)
Junchen F.

Portion is good and price is reasonable. Problem is that dishes are too salty and waiting time is a bit too long.
(3)
Abigail T.

Dao is my go to Thai restaurant in the city. I spent a month in Thailand last year and this is the closest I've found to the fresh, authentic flavors that I experienced while I was there. It was my favorite Thai place before the trip and then confirmed when I got back. A few of my favorite dishes: Beef Pad See Eiw, Rama Chicken, Cashew Chicken, Chicken Fried Rice, Crab Rangoon I don't recommend Shrimp Vegetable Tempura is you're getting delivery because it gets a little soggy.
(4)
Jenn L.

We stopped by Dao Thai for lunch. Perhaps we should have checked the Yelp reviews first because either we ordered the wrong items or this place is just plain bad. I just wasn't impressed at all. We ordered the pad thai, broccoli with beef, and tom yum noodle soup to share. Out of the three, the one I enjoyed the most was the tom yum noodle soup, although it was nothing like the tom yum soup I was expecting. It wasn't a red spicy soup but rather like a chicken broth (partially my fault; I probably should have ordered the regular Tom Yum Soup, but why call it Tom Yum Soup if it's actually a chicken broth?) I enjoyed the noodles, but the chicken, while plentiful, was very dry to the point where I didn't even want to eat it. The fried shrimp wontons placed inside the soup were already pretty soggy. It was mostly made of deep fried wonton dough rather than shrimp and you could taste the oil. It would have been better off served on the side. The pad thai was probably the most underwhelming pad thai I've ever had. It tasted better than it looked, but that's not saying much. The sauce was too strong and unpleasantly sweet that I think they got it straight out of a bottle. One thing I HATE about pad thai (or any noodle dishes for that matter) is when restaurants use filler vegetables like bean sprouts to make up half of the dish, and that's exactly what they did here. The chicken was again, dry. The dish came with a slice of lemon, but I thought lime was typically used in thai cuisine? Either way, we tried it with a squeeze of lemon juice towards the end and it did nothing. The broccoli and beef dish was made with oyster sauce, which I think is more indicative of Chinese cuisine than Thai. The beef was tough and we didn't even finish the meat. All in all it was a rather disappointing meal, which is a shame because I love Thai food and was looking forward to it. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with some great art pieces. Again, perhaps we just ordered the wrong things, but if you can't even get a staple dish like pad thai right, it's probably not the best sign. On the way to the washrooms I saw another table with a curry dish that looked fairly decent. Who knows? I wouldn't recommend this place for authentic Thai.
(1)
Michele S.

First time to Chicago and stopped here for lunch. Good was exceptional. Huge portions and great flavour. Would highly recommend
(5)
Ritu W.

The decor of this place is more in line with other thai restaurants in the vicinity. Even though this place has got more thai temple like feel to it. But then u do not want to see three servers standing idle and chatting right in front of u. I wonder if the place is disabled friendly coz u have to take a few steps (5) and there is no other way. I arrived here with my husband after biking along the lake shore for 26 miles so was really starved & with that stomach the food here tasted just about 7 or 7.5 on 10. So not bad and portions were decent. For a Sunday afternoon the place was not crowded at all, only saw 3 tables out of like 20 occupied. Contrary to another yelper's comment I liked the kitchen view. Now one thing I did nt appreciate was the server running up to me for not tipping enough and handed me the tip brochure which had the tipping guideline written in 6 different languages. I mean we only ordered 3 things. Well if the restaurant traffic is slow u shud not overstaff it and then force ur staff to hound the diners for tips.
(3)
Sinisa J.

Had a carry out. Food was done in 10 minutes and the portion size was huuuge. Real good noodles. When walked in got great service and good food. 45 for dinner for 2 isnt a bad deal. Incl. Apppitizer, 2 entrees and desser. I drink. Good deal, ha?!
(4)
Reggie R.

I would give Dao two stars, because everything was just...fine. I LOVE Thai food, and by Thai food I really mean pad see eiw (I order this 92% of the time). Dao's version was subpar and included a ton of spinach, when that wasn't an ingredient listed on the menu. I liked my dish more when re-heated, likely because I had picked out all the soggy spinach by then! We got a couple apps that were all just ehhh. We sat on the patio and that was pretty nice. Overall I would not go back or recommend this place to others.
(2)
Jim V.

Great authentic thai food, reasonably priced and high quality. Not sure why the negative reviews....
(4)
Dixie Q.

After a long day sightseeing and pretty much being on our feet all day, we headed to Dao Thai for a sustaining meal before going out for the night. I ordered the Cashew Chicken, and I believe my friend ordered the the Pad Thai. I typically order an item I am familiar with in an unknown restaurant. The cashew chicken was delicious. Another thing I liked about this restaurant is the seating space. In the middle of the restaurant they have a raised bed, where you can sit on the cushions and have your feet dangling. From the outside, it looks like you are indeed sitting on the floor. It was not only fun, but a relief to take off my shoes, relax my tired, weary feet and enjoy dinner.
(3)
Nida K.

Their crab rangoon was a bit too cream cheesy, but their pad see yew is on point. I would come back just for that.
(4)
Meera T.

Came here before a movie at AMC River East. It's one of the only non-chain restaurants by the theater, which is a plus. We were seated super quickly at 6pm on a Saturday, and there was hardly anyone there. Odd, but the restaurant started filling up slowly after. We started with a few beers and appetizers. The rest at my table shared the Crab Rangoons, and I ordered the Veggie Egg Rolls. They were your standard egg rolls, nothing too spectacular. For dinner, I ordered the Spicy Eggplant dish. It's kind of a big inconvenience that you have to PAY for rice here. I understand paying a bit extra for brown rice, but no, you have to pay for white as well. The dish came with big pieces of eggplant, bell peppers, and basil. Since the eggplant was quite large, it wasn't as tasty as it could have been. Smaller pieces would be better, and would have allowed more of the sauce to infuse. The entire dish was decent, but nothing spectacular. I wish they mentioned more vegetarian options, or at least gave you the option of having veggies/tofu substituted for the meat on the menu.
(3)
Nic Z.

Ordered takeaway, and it arrived cold. Even after dumping the container of chili sauce and our own bottle of soy sauce, the food remained flavorless for both of us. It was a pretty disappointing experience, and we ended up resorting to the fridge halfway through our meal. We had a voucher from seamless; had we paid full price, apathy would have been anger.
(2)
Christina Y.

I'm happy that a finally found a descent Thai restaurant to order take out from. I have my usual dishes I like to order for Thai food, and this place does a great job making them great. Out of the 5, I was only disappointed by 1 dish. So, I consider that pretty good. I'd rather have 4 dishes be great, except for 1. These odds are much better. I've never dinned in, so not so sure about decor or atmosphere of the restaurant. I'm not too worried about that, because the quality of the food is what's most important to me. It took me a while to find a Thai restaurant that made all my favorite dishes well, and I'm going to stick with this place. When you find something good, don't want to stray and be disappointed again. So, I believe this is my go to Thai food restaurant and happy to have finally found it. I would recommend it to others, because I doubt anyone would be disappointed with the food. It can be hard to find good Thai food, so I'm happy that I don't need to search any further at least for this type of food. I totally can't say that for other ethnic foods.
(4)
Irene G.

Went to lunch here the other day and I just feel the need to mention that the the crab rangoon here is super good-unlike anything I've ever tasted at other places! You have to try it - words can't describe the amazing-ness of it! :) Service again was great. It was sort of busy, but the servers were attentive and did not rush us one bit.
(4)
Stephanie H.

PRO: large portions and nice ambience CON: the food here really isn't authentic. It's pretty much americanized "thai" food
(3)
Amanda D.

We came here because they were open on Christmas and cannot deny the opportunity to eat Thai food because nothing in Atlanta has really been impressive. This wasn't that impressive either though. The service was as good as it could be for having 11 tables of customers and only 2 servers. It took a bit to get an order placed but everything came out in a timely manner and water never went empty, and it's always a plus to not constantly be bothered. We ordered gyoza to start, and they were really good. I was expecting that we'd get maybe 6, but the plate held a dozen perfectly fried potstickers. I ordered pad kee mao, and it was decent. I've never been somewhere that serves it with a prawn (although I had two, the menu says one), but I don't like 99% of seafood so I ignored them. The noodles were REALLY broad or had stuck together which made it kind of hard to eat. It would have been nice to have the condiment tray because it wasn't as spicy as I'd like. Thai iced tea was strong and good. Overall they satisfied our need for food on a holiday well, and the tables in the middle are fun to sit at because it makes other people jealous, and then they want to one.
(3)
Adam L.

Looks great when you walk in but everything after that kinda sucked. The beef was seasoned well but completely overcooked. Serving it with a big bowl of siracha was an odd choice in my opinion. The service was abysmal and then to top it off the bathroom was scary. Stay away from here if you ask me.
(2)
Dani B.

Tried out Dao Thai the other night and was disappointed overall. Decor was nice and service was good. The food is, unfortunately, why I will never come back. Started with gyoza appetizer which was decent. Then came the entrees and that's where the meal went downhill.... We shared one chicken dish and one noodle dish. Both were dry and had flavor that was just not up to par. (Note: this is not my first time eating Thai, and normally I love it!) - I would say skip this place and spend your money elsewhere.
(2)
Alvin Y.

It's been more than 6 months since I wrote my first review for Dao Thai, which was largely positive. Since then though, I feel the quality of the place has really gone down the drain. The food I order now always comes so bland and I can barely eat a few bites before having to stop. I usually order pad thai or one of the curries, which doesn't seem to have very fresh vegetables. I will no longer be coming to Dao Thai or ordering food there and I would encourage others to find other Thai alternative in downtown Chicago.
(1)
Heshan W.

I agree with most people about this place. The Thai food is average. However, the restaurant's ambiance combined with its multitude of Thai artifacts, artwork and ornaments makes it a unique place compared to other Thai restaurants I have been to in the U.S. There's even a seating area where you can eat Indian/Asian style, on the floor!! I ordered the Chicken Gyoza which was good, but it was really the sweet and spicy sauce that came with with it that made this appetizer stand out (4 out of 5). I also ordered the Thai chicken fried rice. Which was ok, I have had better (3 out of 5). FInally, the Thai iced coffee, was average, usually the Thai iced coffee is strong, that was weak and lacked a strong coffee flavor that I am used to (3 out of 5). Overall, if your in downtown Chicago, near the Navy Pier and craving Thai food (like I was) or your looking for an intimate place with a "Thai" style ambiance or even for a quick business meeting lunch, then go here. But if you want to eat "GREAT" Thai food in Chicago, do not go here. LOL Additionally, its quite expensive for lunch, considering this place is average for Thai food. I ended up paying over $19 for lunch!!!
(3)
A H.

Good vibe, OK food, affordable in downtown Chicago, great location, attentive service pretty much sum up what this place is about. We had pre-dinner drinks and dinner here, and also got take-out for a friend. Everything went without a hitch. Not a "must-visit" restaurant but it's a good Asian fusion place if you are hungry and in need of something between fast food and an upscale dining experience.
(3)
Samantha E.

Thai is Thai. It takes a lot to impress me when it comes to Thai food and Dao is a pretty standard spot. Nothing too great but also not bad. We order it in a lot for meetings so I can't complain.
(3)
Doreen B.

do me a favor go somewhere else if you are thinking of coming here. the pad tai wasnt even real most of it was sprouts and weird noodles. the chicken is flavorless and unfresh! yuck...
(1)
Nick H.

Dao is ok. It's super cheap but you get what you pay for with regards to service and quality of food. The service sucks. It's like pulling teeth in order to get a refill or something along those lines. If you live in the area and want to get take-away, then it's ok. If you value a dining experience, then go somewhere else but if you want cheap average food with crap service, then stop on by.
(3)
My B.

Not bad at all for the price. I can meet up with friends here for a quik under an hour lunch.
(3)
Alex C.

This is my favorite delivery Thai place in the area. I have been there once for lunch and it was not so tasty. Yet, somehow their dinner delivery is awesome. Do the dishes get better as they marinade in their sauce or something? Who knows but I love their spicy basil chicken, beef pad sie ew, and beef fried rice. The restaurant is nice if I remember correctly from that one visit. But seriously, stick to their delivery service and you won't be disappointed with great portions and good food.
(4)
Jon T.

Acceptable, but nothing great. At least they get you in and out within the lunch hour and a dish + soda is about $10 with tip. Refills can be difficult to get. The #4 Rama Chicken is great and their peanut sauce is a bit thicker than the usual, but tasty nonetheless.
(3)
Pri P.

Well I got the Pad Kee Mao and it was decent, not great but okay. However, my boyfriend got their pad thai and was extremely disappointed. The crab rangoon and gyoza was okay, and the service was less than stellar. Also, for dessert we got the iced lychees bc we both love them, but they were clearly from a can and were pretty gross. I mean if i want canned lychees I'll just buy them myself, don't have something on the menu that you are literally just openning a can and serving to your customers. All in all, will probably not be going back there
(2)
Will M.

you can't beat dao for cheap crazy thai food. plus, they deliver. though the food definitely loses something on delivery, it's still good.
(4)
Megha K.

This place is TERRIBLE. I've been there a few times and am disappointed each time and have officially banned it. It's a sorry excuse for Thai food. I ordered take out recently and had the spicy beef skewers which were overcooked and essentially burnt. If I had eaten at the restaurant I would have sent them back. Also I ordered the chicken pad prik and it was completely tasteless. Very disappointed and will not be going there again.
(1)
Jesse P.

This places was ok. Their fresh spring rolls aren't the usual ones wrapped in rice paper and they are covered in sauce. I wasn't a fan. Their masseman chicken was good. I'd go here for wick Thai but the quality wasn't all the way there :-/
(2)
Cao T.

Everything is ok but the food. Maybe I made a wrong choice but the green curry is too sweet and the Dao delight noodle is so wrong, so blank.
(2)
Andrew D.

I came here with my girlfriend on a whim after spending the day with family in the area. I lived in the Streeterville area for 6 years and the Gold Coast area for over 20 years. I cannot begin to recall the number of times I told myself next time I am in the mood for Thai food I am going to Dao. Guess what, I never came back. I am loyal to a fault when I find a restaurant I like and I rarely go elsewhere. My go to Thai place has always been Tiparos on Clark Street and North Ave. So when we were looking for a place to eat I suggested several places in the area, but thankfully my girlfriend wisely suggested we try Dao. What a treat it turned out to be for both of us! First, the decor of the place was bright, clean and beautifully decorated. When we were seated the waitress was attentive, polite and did not rush us. We decided to start our meal with a carafe of the red house wine. It was great, as well as being an enormous carafe of wine. Bottles of wine are 750 ml; the carafe the waitress brought to the table was at least 1000 ml. We both looked at each other with wide eyes and quietly debated whether it was to much for just the two of us. The waitress smiled politely and asked if we would prefer the half carafe instead. We opted to keep the full carafe and savor it over dinner. It was delious and surprisingly light for a red wine. For an appetizer we had the Miso soup. It was good, but it should have been hotter. Next came our entrees. I had the panang beef curry with brocoli and my girlfriend ordered the Thai chicken chopped salad. The panang beef curry was delicious without being to spicy. Again, the only complaint i had was that the food could have been hotter. My girlfriend however had to send back her dish because it was so saturated in curry that it was inedible. When it was brought to the attention of the waitress she returned it to the kitchen immediately and returned with a fresh batch a lot less spicy. She also returned to the table several more times to make sure the dish was edible and to my girlfriends liking. It was! For dessert we had the Thai custard. It was good, as well as being a reasonable portion size. Both me and my girlfriend loved this place. With dinner and drinks the bill was 50 dollars. Remember, this place is located only one block east of Michigan Ave. Awesome deal and great food! We will be returning again and again very soon!
(4)
Krupa U.

I almost didn't go to this restaurant because it only had 3 stars, and since I'm rarely in Chicago, I only wanted to go to 4-5 star reviewed places. But I had such a strong hankering for Thai that I changed my mind last second while on my way to another restaurant and decided to stop here! I'm so glad I did! My girlfriends and I ordered the mini veggie spring rolls which were delicious. The plum sauce that came on the side wasn't that good, but hey they had sriracha, so we were saved :-) I ordered the Chicken Pad Ped with white rice for just $8.75! I made the mistake of ordering it medium plus - I needed a fire hydrant for my tongue later! The gravy was nice and coconut creamy with tons of bamboo shoots which I love and the dish was super meaty, which I also love! Their crab rangoon was wonderfully overstuffed with a really nice crispy deep fried shell. The service was a little slow but it was a lazy sunday afternoon so they only had one server trying to handle 5-6 tables. But they did turn the AC up when asked instead of ignoring us like some places may lol. So i guess it all evens out :-) I would definitely recommend this place to Thai lovers in the Chi.
(4)
C D.

My boyfriend favorite takeout place! He loves the Panang beef in curry sauce. I would recommend the spring roll because it is so good. It has cream cheese, carrot, cilantro, and cucumber in it with plum sauce on top!
(3)
Sarah T.

Very 2.5 star place. What my friend says after dinner tonight: "I know it's fusion, but it's like an excuse to not do things right." The spring rolls were pretty disgusting: cucumber wrapped in dry rice wrapping, covered in some sticky sweet sauce. Not good. Pad Thai and Pepper Steak was edible, but nothing worth writing about. Disappointing. Will not be back.
(3)
Christine T.

The ambience was decent, and the servers were super-nice. Very accommodating for a toddler. However, we couldn't get over the food. Maybe we're used to the more authentic tastes of Thai food from San Francisco, which are still a far cry from the Thai food in Thailand. However, there was something burnt-tasting to their larb, and their pad thai was too sweet and the noodles broke into small pieces. Texture is important in Asian cuisine, and the ability to hold that texture together is paramount. Imagine broken spaghetti noodles -- Chef Boyardee style? The sweetness of their pad thai actually got to my tooth, and I had to stop eating the leftovers we took back to the hotel. My husband wouldn't touch the larb again. The tom yum soup was good, but overall, we can't recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Brenda B.

My boyfriend and I spent Christmas Day 2014, in downtown Chicago, before we headed back to the suburbs we were determined to grab a bite to eat. Most places had 45-2 hour waits, Dao took us right in. At first we were worried it wouldn't be good since they didn't have a wait, but that was not the case. He started with vegetable tempura, just the way he liked it! I started with the Tom kha Kai soup, chicken in coconut milk broth. I love this soup and have had at several places, this was not the best I've had, yet still very good. By the way, the soup was enough for two, as well was the tempura. Be careful you don't order too much food unless you are ok with taking home leftovers. I ordered the spicy curry for main dish, boyfriend had the Pad Thai. Pad Thai was probably one of the best I have tried in a long time and my curry was quite good as well, again I've had better. Service was decent, it was Christmas and I was just happy these folks were willing to be there! If we are ever looking for very good Thai food again we will certainly be back, who knows this may become a tradition. Oh yea, they were very reasonably priced.
(4)
Van S.

considering that i live down the street from this location, I've kept things simple and only ordered the pad thai with chicken and shrimp. i've personally had great service and well prepared food. i've ordered over the phone a few times and dined in on a couple of ocassions. never a problem, service has been great.
(4)
Lora S.

Gotta have the Wonton & B.B.Q. Pork: steamed homemade shrimp wonton and bean sprout topped with green onion, cilantro, and B.B.Q. pork (stole the description from the Grubhub menu) with soup. I ordered it takeout and brought it back to work with me. I added some chili sauce to it, and it was DELICIOUS! I usually order crab rangoon and chicken pad thai, and I have tried a few other items, which are always good, but I was especially happy with the wonton & bbq pork with soup. It smelled and tasted amazing, and my co-workers were jealous of my lunch. I will definitely be back for more.
(5)
Nelson M.

Restaurant review Is all thai food created equal? After my experience eating at Dao, I would have to say no. Previous to my experience here, I would say that even thai food on a bad day was still okay, however I was recently here with my in-laws and we were able to try multple dishes in one sitting and I was very disappointed. To start with the thai pepper steak was overcoked beef with a very gravy like sauce that had minimal flavor. The penang nue (beef curry) was in a super thick sauce that was overdosed with peanut butter to the point where it was difficult to swallow. One highlight was the pad thai was reasonable, a bit on the sweet side but comparable to other experiences. I would have to echo that the noodle dishes were saturated in oil. All and all an experience that won't have me returning anytime soon. Pro: cheap asian food that you can get for carry out, can order online for pickup Cons: RICE NOT INCLUDED! what asian restaurant charges for rice with your entree, disappointing dishes as noted above Hidden gem: order carry out and save money on tip, better than a tv dinner
(2)
Allison V.

I went here for a friend's birthday. There were 9 of us and we did not have a reservation and this place still accommodated us! We had crab rangoon, egg rolls, tofu, chicken and beef pad see ew. They do not know how to make Long Beach/Long Island Iced Teas, but the drink they made was tasty. The tables are placed in a sort of cut out box so you can sit on the main area and have your legs inside the box. Requires some crawling in and out. We had a lot of fun and the service was just fine.
(4)
Derek D.

Food - always reliable. Nothing AMAZING - but you don't go here for that. It's what you pay for. Service - GREAT! Thank you DAO.
(3)
Daliah F.

I just moved to this neighborhood and this place is right down the street. My friend said it was really good. Since it's downtown, I figured it was an okay place to order beef - not always the smart choice for a Thai place. I ordered Pad Thai with beef - the pad thai was okay tasting, but greasy and the beef was very poor quality. The inside of the restaurant looked decent enough - cute. The only real positive was that my carry out order was ready in less than 15 mins.
(2)
Heavy B.

Just finished a meal from this place. Very impressed! We ordered from Yelp and got our order delivered. It took over an hour - long time, but understandable cause we're not exactly around the corner. The lady from the restaurant had to call to clarify my order because I had a few extra requests. That was very nice. Food arrived hot and all of my requests were honored. Miso soup was great. We had Pad Sei Ew, Pad Thai with chicken added, Beef Fried Rice, and spring rolls. The food was fantastic! Not too oily and tastes great! And Huge portions! We have enough leftover to last a couple days. It was the best Thai food I've had in a long time!
(5)
Eric C.

Picked this place because it was close to my hotel. Food was bland and uninteresting.
(2)
Jaby J.

I hate giving restaurants a failing grade. But, unfortunately, this one gets a 2-star rating from me; the 2nd star was only added due to a very nice decor. I was in chicago on business, and decided to explore. I saw thai, saw a beautiful restaurant, and decided to go in. The decor is fantastic, beautiful art, unique seating, etc. That all does not make up for the poor service, cold food and warm beer. I could forgive the cold food if it actually tasted good, but I think I have tasted better at mall food courts. I apologize if I sound harsh. But I need to be honest.
(2)
Jaime G.

I'm used to Thai food that is very aromatic and flavorful and this just didn't fit the bill on either account. Not only did our dishes (a noodle dish and a curry) lack spice, they also lacked flavor. Everything was pretty bland and we had to use all of the seasonings and oils on the condiment tray to make the food interesting at all. I certainly wouldn't return.
(2)
Kalista C.

Appropriate price, Asian rice foods, delicious and quick enough. Really love it. Now I've moved to California and never found that good Thai food sine then. Miss it!
(5)
Andrea B.

No, it's not the best Thai food you can get, but I love Dao anyways. Yes, I'm a fan. I typically only eat from here when my work department goes out for lunch or we order in for a meeting or some such. That's what got me hooked. The food is good, and it's cheap! I also LOVE their Thai iced tea. Nom. The space is nice and I've never really had to worry too much about heavy lunch crowds while at work; we can typically get seated right away. Also, they bring food out fast! I can easily eat out for lunch during work and not have to worry about being late (yay!). I took my friend here for lunch recently and I finally got to sit in the middle seating section where you can sit on pillows and your legs are hidden in the little box you're stuck in. That's not the best wording I can use to describe it (truthfully, I make it sound a little scary), but trust me, it's awesome. The service can be iffy at times; sometimes the waitresses are nice and attentive, other times you get the servers who barely talk to you and shove food in your face. Honestly, since it's not a Michelin star restaurant and I'm only there for the cheap Thai food and often quiet atmosphere, I could care less. Just try it already. I've never had a bad experience here, hence the four stars.
(4)
AnaPhylaxis B.

Freezing weather compelled my friend and I to seek the nearest available shelter which was this restaurant. I would say that the food is "ok" and it was nothing exceptional but I did enjoy the chicken and rice soup. It hit the spot and was the perfect comfort food for the cold weather.
(3)
O K.

I'll only go here if I'm desperate. Bland, oily Thai food and inconsistent service. Really, don't bother.
(2)
Katie V.

There were pros and cons here. Everything was fine, but nothing really great. I like the weird seats where you dangle your feet, though I'm not sure what function/effect is achieved. It's comfy, though, and unique - definitely the most memorable aspect of the decor. I had to order my glass of wine twice -- I think they forgot about it. But they were apologetic, at least. I shared an app that was translated to be "shrimps in blankets." The blankets were basically the fried wrappings you get on spring rolls. Not bad...they were kind of cigar-shaped, one shrimp per. Entrees: split two and the portions were generous. Yes, the rice is extra, but they have brown rice as an option, which is good. The Rama Chicken was good, albeit pretty sweet/definitely made from peanut butter. The green beef curry, which we were warned was very spicy, was indeed very spicy. Came with peas, eggplant, basil, and green peppers. Tasty, but maybe a little too spicy for me. Usually, I can handle heat, but I was out of my league. If I am in the neighborhood again, I might come back? Definitely doesn't compare to Tac Quick or Aroy.
(3)
Henry D.

This place is so so. I went there on a trip to Chicago, and it was just up the street from where we were staying. I had seen it pop up on Yahoo and Yelp, so I decided to give it a try. First, if you go to their web site, the prices are about $5- above what they say there. Second, the place is loud. We went on a Wednesday night, and the music in the background was loud, and the people trying to talk over it was even louder. The food was tasty, but not anything near what authentic Thai is, or should be. They only seemed to have chicken on the menu. They had a build your own stir-fry that looked fun, but we just wanted to sit down, get some Thai Food and get home, so we did not try it. They had about 10 waiters, but when we left the place was packed, so I guess they need them. I might have given them a 3 stars, but I just gave a great Chinese place 4 stars, and the Chinese place was so much better, I had to say consistent.
(3)
Cameron H.

For lunch, my colleagues and I were trying to find good place to eat. While walking to Chiptole, we saw this Thai place. We all agreed to try it as no one had ever eaten there. Overall, great place. Great service, quick food delivery, decent atmosphere, in expensive prices, and great food. I ordered the Tom Kai Ga. It was delicious. Nice portions. Another colleague ordered the Tom Yum soup. She loved it. And another colleague ordered the panang curry. He enjoyed his meal as well. Being that we will be working a few blocks from there for the next mos, we will be going back there. Great find!!!
(4)
Anne H.

Most of my experiences at Dao have been great with the exception of one take-out order. Interior is pleasant. Staff is polite and food comes quick. Prices are very affordable, especially downtown. WHAT I'VE TRIED: Pad Thai If you want it spicy, make sure to ask for it spicy. Tastes so much better if you eat in versus if you order it to go. I'm not sure why. Kang Karee Kai (MY TOP RECOMMENDATION) AMAZING! So creamy and delicious. Thai Iced Tea Yum. Pla Duk Pad Ped Taste is good. But I realized I don't like Thai eggplant. It's crunchy. Pad Ped Taste is good but beware, SO SPICY. I've only had it once because the heat is too much for me. But if you like painful hot, this is your dish. Fried Tofu Classic. Tasty. Nothing extraordinary but just good.
(4)
Lenny G.

Pretty average thai food, but very large portions and pretty good prices. For the part of the city it's in, it's a pretty nice place to get a quick bite. I would go here again.
(3)
Daniel N.

I had the mussaman curry as the menu stated it is one of the best foods and I tell you it did not disappoint. We also had the crab rangoon which were actually sub par. My fiancÃ© had the pad thai (no surprise because she always orders the pad thai) which was simply ok. So why the 4 stars? Seriously the mussaman curry was incredible, the service was quick and kind, the price was spot on. Need some Thai in the city but don't feel like over paying? Check this place out.
(4)
Ken O.

The restaurant is very understated for such a busy street. Service was really great. Never had to wait for my drink or food. The food is very good. The prices are very reasonable for the area. If you have a craving for Thai food - Dao is the place! I certainly will be back.
(3)
Paul K.

Overall, mediocre Thai food- had the Pad Thai with Shrimp (mediocre), the shu mai dumplings (mediocre) and the spicy basil beed (decent). The outdoor seating area is nice in warm weather, the inside has some seats where you basically sit on the floor cross-legged Asian style- avoid, uncomfortable. Service is fast but Asian-indifferent.
(3)
Sir C.

Horrid, whacked, and disgraceful! I got carry out from here and it was as bad as when my dog takes a doogie on my living room carpet. I had the hot and spicy shrimp and tom yum soup. There was a total of 6 pieces of shrimp in the hot and spicy shrimp. The shrimp was mushy and the only other thing in the dish was bamboo shoots and couple slices of peppers. Is there a fire-sale on bamboo shoots? They're using it like it is going out of style. The dish was watery, overly sweet, and not spicy. Horrid! The tom yum soup was okay at the moment, but then I got really dehydrated after. It is filled with MSG. Definitely do not recommend this restaurant. There are so many better options in the area for Thai.
(1)
Leon B.

I had the Pad Prik. As indicated on the menu, it actually had some spice to it! I feel like too often I'm disappointed in the spice department. Service was friendly and attentive! My server was busting her tail seating tables and serving, but did not neglect me. She was very personable and helped me and other tables make choices.
(4)
Lorena M.

So, my bf and I rolled into Chicago, checked into our hotel and were starving so we started walking. We were there about 30 mins into the trip and decided on this Thai place for dinner. It was a Friday night, around 7pm and while they were busy, we were seated quickly. In the middle of the restaraunt are the tables you sit indian style at on a raised platform and tables around it and against the walls. We were seated against a wall/window and our server came right over with water and our drink order. We started off with crab ragoon & chicken satay and decided on splitting the chicken pad tai because we didn't want to walk around the city. The pad tai noodles with overcooked and a bit mushy but other than that, everything was great!
(4)
Locoritz K.

First of all, I'm Asian. I LOVE the rice, moist and soft! Not too much the soup or the curry. Really Average. Like the decoration but the food... Maybe for Americans? Not me..
(3)
Steve L.

Ate here couple weeks ago with some of my friends before shopping. Good atmosphere and nice location. Service was average, nothing spectacular. Food was average also. We had the Pad see ewe, Massaman curry, and fried rice. Everything was little bland overall but a it was a good amount of food. As with most thai places, not that expensive. Most menu items were below $10, so they have that going for them.
(3)
Rebecca N.

stumbled upon this restaurant with a friend after going to the museum of contemporary art. pretty average thai food--very inexpensive! we got the Pad Saw Ewe and the Red Curry Chicken-- the pad saw ewe was pretty bland wouldn't recommend it; red curry was delicious! very fast service!!!
(3)
Anna P.

It might not be the BEST Thai food you can get, but it's an excellent option in the area: cheap, tasty food with good service and booze. I mean, really, what more could you want? ;) Also, the design of this place sets it apart from other Thai places in the area - the inside is nicely appointed with Thai decorations and the middle of the restaurant has floor-style seating, so if you're looking for a nicer environment than your typical Thai place, this is a good choice.
(3)
Sally N.

Food is alright. The dragon noodle we got taste ok, but nothing authentic, not impressive. The basil chicken taste better, however I think the presentation need some improvement. It looks basically just some ground chicken n basil. And the rice, is not cool well. Big no no to any Asian restaurant.
(2)
Charles S.

Great atmosphere and Singha on ice when you walk in.
(4)
Stephen S.

I asked for mine spicy, like really spicy, and the waitress gave me a look like "Yeah right." Sure enough, the food came out pretty mild, it was good but nothing special. I'd be a happier customer if they would've actually listened to me and brought some heat.
(2)
Joshua M.

I'm 100% torn about this restaurant. I ordered two dishes from them. One was fantastic. The other was terrible. If you go here, try the Pad Thai. Ask for it spicy, and they won't care. They'll give you some Thai Chili sauce, though, so you can make it kind of spicy yourself. Just weird that they won't make it spicy for you. The noodles were perfectly cooked. The peanut sauce was perfectly-proportioned. The dish was a home run. No matter what you do... You should ABSOLUTELY NOT try the Pad See Ew. It tastes like the beef was cooked in fish stock... Or something. I don't know, it just tasted like dead fish. Even the vegetables tasted terrible, and it looked like they had used some sort of greens (Maybe Chard?) in there. They just didn't work. The noodles were soggy and gummy. The dish looked horrible as well. Complete flop... Exact opposite of the Pad Thai. So, yeah, I'm torn. Maybe I'll order from this place again... But I'll stick to the Pad Thai. Oh, and they're on the DIning Rewards Network. That's a plus.
(3)
Helen C.

This place is 1 block from me so I so wanted it to be great.... alas, alack, and something to do with Yorick. Though the service is good, the food is not. And quantity, huge though it is, does not make up for bad quality in this case. My pad thai had a lot of big juicy shrimps but they were the best bit, and i could have done without the noodles which were over-laced with vinegar and under-laced with any Thai flavour at all. They were also strangely thin and chopped into short lengths. Weird. The dish really bore no resemblance to Pad Thai, and since that's pretty basic, I can only infer that the rest wouldn't either. Decor is ok, nice booths, and it's cheap and cheerful. Maybe better with a big group or something. But I'll go elsewhere if can be bothered.
(2)
Brian P.

Not great. The Pad Thai is weirdly dry, the Pad Siew is greasy, and the Tom Yum Soup is way too salty. I'd stay away from it if it wasn't for the fact that the other restaurants in the area are generally not much better.
(2)
Rafael P.

I do not know how many times I have been to Dao Thai Restaurant. It is definitely one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Chicago. The menu is very diverse and I love the quality and taste of their food. The decoration inside the restaurant is very authentic and unique, which makes customers have a more cultural experience as they eat their Thai food. Sometimes Dao gets really busy, which sometimes makes the food take a few extra minute to be brought to the table. Sometimes I order food over the phone and it is ready within 15 (fifteen) minutes. I definitely recommend Dao Thai to whoever is interested in having good Thai food at a nice restaurant!
(5)
Titty T.

I stayed at the Doubletree hotel down the street from the restaurant for business. Being hungry after work, I went on to Yelp on my phone and use the monocle to search for a good decent in Chicago to eat. Knowing my co-worker (a old guy) would be too lazy to walk, I search for a close restaurant by the hotel. It's probably rank as one of the worst Thai restaurant I've ever ate. We looked at the menu and ask if there was anything spicy on the menu, the waiter recommended some shrimp course. It was not spicy at all. Hell, I could lick my finger and it'll prob be more spicy from the dirt from Chicago street I don't know how you can you can eat Thai food at a Thai restaurant and the food not have any spice to them. Thai people are known for their coconut and spice. Even though it's the only or one of the few Thai restaurant downtown, I would not recommend it. If I had a elephant, I'll tear the place down with it.
(2)
Hari K.

The food is great. I like the pad thai especially. The atmosphere is also pretty decent. The food arrives pretty quick. For deliverires the charge a fee. But they don't tell you about it
(4)
Sebastian R.

They gave a great cashew chicken. Perfect portion, great place to share different plates with your friends. Service was good, they would take care of u fast and accurately.
(4)
Doug D.

The food at Dao is quite good and can be spicy. As other reviewers have stated, the food can be a bit plain which is why I typically order the spicier dishes and load up the chili sauce. The last time I was there the service was quite slow for 4 people. For it's price and location, it is worth visiting for lunch.
(3)
Robert H.

Very reasonable prices. Service is friendly . Veggie egg rolls were great as was the chicken and rice soup. Went for lunch and came back for dinner.
(5)
Mikey J.

Dao is a pretty decent Thai place here in Streeterville. Having grown up in Skokie/Evanston with the awesome Ruby of Siam, my expectations for Thai food are pretty high. This restaurant somewhat makes the mark. The atmosphere here is great, with an authentic sit-down-on-floor type area. I tend to get the take-out here. Today's order for the Pad Khee Mao took much longer than expected and tasted alright. The vegetables could be fresher/more flavorful. I think their other dishes are better (such as Pad Thai). All in all a decent local Thai place. I hear their curry is good.
(3)
Desiree Anne A.

Dao is great. I've come here numerous times for dinner and take out. I must of tried over 10 different dishes from them since when I first ordered from here. A group of about 10+ people each got an entree or two and we all went back to the apartment to eat it all family style! Such good times. I've always had a good experience dinning in too. The condiments on the tables are great, and the waiters are very nice. They are kinda shy and soft spoken, so you might want to speak up. I recommend the appetizers and the tom yum soup (very hearty and flavorful) I don't think there is another place in the area with great seating and ambiance, good food, and cheap prices! Go Dao! :)
(4)
Hina Q.

This was our first time at DAO. Ambiance is good, loved the tables where it appears you are sitting on the floor! Got seated within 5 mins and it was pretty busy. Food was good, Pad Thai was awesome. Service was were it lost stars for me. Appetizers came out fairly quickly but the entrees took a long time. We honestly thought they forgot. We were four people and we got our food 15 mins apart. Otherwise waiters were friendly. And kept coming to refill water. Probably will go back for Pad Thai and iced coffee!
(3)
Ryan P.

Good food...ordering for delivery is good but make sure yuo check your order before the driver leaves your door, and before you give him cash.
(4)
Pavan T.

Very bad service and food was not at all tasty! I ordered pad Thai and it was different than what it should be and also tasteless, service was bad too! Never coming back .
(1)
Lisa L.

GREAT place and great prices. Been coming here since 1997. If you want fast service and good prices this is the place. Peanut sauce is the best here and the noodle dishes are so flavorful.
(5)
Nick A.

Fast, very affordable, good Thai food in an area where most choices are expensive or boring chains. Nearly everything on the menu is under $10 and portion size is fairly generous. The crab rangoon and the pot stickers are excellent, and my entree of choice is usually the massaman curry with chicken. The rama chicken is also very good, the peanut sauce is delicious. My one piece of advice is to get the sauce for everything on the side: they sometimes overdo it. The restaurant is usually most crowded around the lunch hours of 11-1p and picks up again around dinner; most of the patrons seem to be on lunch from Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Weekends aren't generally very crowded either. Servers are usually attentive and quick to bring out food, I don't think I've ever waited over 20 minutes for an entree during the lunch hour. During the summer they open an outdoor patio area, if it's a sunny day and you sit out there for lunch make sure to get a table under an umbrella or bring sunglasses. For delivery I've ordered online several times without a problem, both individual meals and catering, and always received my order within the estimate given or at the time specified. They include plates, cutlery, and napkins with your order.
(5)
Curt L.

Considering the pricing (very good price point) here and the downtown/convenient location.....maybe i should give Dao Thai 4 stars. Let's just say for value (food + location) maybe this truly is a 4 star. But with Thai Food.....I guess I am looking for above and beyond flavors. The interior is authentic Thai crafts. The service was very friendly and helpful. In our case the grand kids had ordered water....I suggested to the kids they try a freshly made lemonade. The kids agreed....so the waitron gave me a free Singha to take home with me (as I sold 2 lemonades for her!!). Good karma I assume???
(3)
Michael O.

Food is good, service was horrible. Also, there's an awkwardness about both coming and getting a seat and when you leave....hard to explain. I actually had to get up and find some hot sauce on my own during my meal even though I had asked for it twice. I do like the outdoor seating for nice weather. Great way to spend a lunch break with my gal-pal Tills.
(3)
Tiago P.

Not too many good Thai restaurants in/near the Loop. This one doesn't do much better. Ordered the Pad see ew. Bland, boring, and is not spicy (considering I ordered it extra spicy). Ordered carry-out but when I went in, the place looked a little dumpy. The worst was the fact they had an open kitchen, and the kitchen was full of Mexicans. Now, I don't expect to have Thai cooks, but I do think it's kind of odd, considering the rest of the restaurant (front-house) are all Thai. If you want to keep the Mexican, close up the kitchen. Another option would be to just have better food, then people won't complain who's actually cooking your food.
(2)
Jane G.

Since our favorite neighborhood restaurant closed, we were looking for an alternative and gave Dao a chance. We ordered appetizers, spring rolls, vietnamese spring rolls and chicken satay. The food was average at best. You feel there is sugar in everything. The spring rolls main ingredient was bean sprouts, a cheap filler. We won't be back.
(2)
David R.

I used to eat here years ago with a girlfriend who lived nearby. I remember liking it but since then I know that I have had much better Thai here in Chicago. My sister and I stopped in here on Friday night, deeming it the most convenient Thai option between an afternoon at the Art Institute and a concert at the Chicago Theater. I was afraid that we would be the only ones in the restaurant, but there were several other tables despite the early hour (5-6). Also, they seem to do a healthy takeout and delivery business. Food was hit-or-miss. The spring rolls were solid but not spectacular. I felt that the sauce was a little too gooey and had that vague sense of artificiality (corn syrup?). We shared an interesting noodle salad, the yum woon sen (silver bean thread salad). The chicken was dry, but the dressing had a very intriguing flavor of lemons and maybe a light, sweet curry...? Not sure, but in any case, interesting and unique and enjoyable. I was glad to branch out of my usual choices with that one. I should have branched out further, because my chicken pad thai was terrible. The noodles were dry and gummy, and flavor was seriously lacking. Also, there were plenty of peanuts and some green onions but no sprouts. This was D+ pad thai. However, my sister's entree was delicious--pad khee mao (spicy crazy noodles). This dish had a wonderful flavor, although it was not very spicy. The noodles were slightly gelatinous, but I could have devoured the entire plate. The prices here are reasonable, especially for the downtown setting and the relatively elegant interior.
(3)
Sachin M.

*** Food **** Price *** Ambiance Not the best Thai food I have had but not bad either. Whoever cooks that Red Hot Chicken curry needs to go easy on Bamboo shoots.
(3)
amanda A.

stopped in last night before the movies. the gyoza were quite tasty but the dipping sauce tasted like that you might expect a vaguely asian version of pancake syrup would be. i ordered the nue nam mun hoy (oyster beef) i asked if it could be made with chicken and very spicy. what i received was very over cooked chicken a nice gingery sauce without a single bit of spice and CANNED mushrooms! canned? seriously? the only time i have ever been served canned mushrooms at a restaurant was maybe pizza hut as a kid. gross. needless to say i ate a plate of white rice for dinner (which cost extra by the way)
(1)
Cali M.

I stopped in for a afternoon dinner after a long hard day of shopping. I got off my feet by sitting in one of the tables nested inside of the floor. I found them preferable to an actual table, extremely comfortable. The menu has all of your regular Thai cuisine. I ordered Tom Yum Soup which had a different flavor than I am used to, more sour. The shrimp in the soup was a good quality and actually de-veined, unlike many Thai restaurants. I had the shrimp in blankets which I wasn't crazy about (the deep fried shrimp quality was not on par) but I did enjoy the accompanying sauce. I had one of their peanut chicken curries. It was good, but not exceptional. The potatoes were very soft but didn't retain any of the flavor of the curry which was disappointing. The service was fantastic, my water was always full and the food was served politely and quickly. The dishes all came out hot and at a perfect pace. I would recommend this restaurant if you're in the area already and you'd like some reasonably priced Thai food and funky ambiance.
(4)
Maurice Y.

Let's get this straight. The food here is good. Never had a problem with the quality of thai food here. The 2 stars is for the service. I came here for a quick dinner with a few friends. At first, it was a party of 4. We ordered multiple dishes along with beer. When two more friends joined us later in the dinner, they ordered beer but no food. The beers came without additional glasses and I had to get up and request the glasses myself. I practically climbed behind the bar to grab them myself. We were only there for an additional 20 minutes. When our final bill came, there was an automatic charge of 18% gratuity tacked on for a party of 6 along with a smiley face behind it. How shady is that? Dao, you didn't even bring out glasses for the beers that my friends ordered. They stayed a total of 20 minutes and you charged our party for automatic 18% gratuity. When I interrogated them, I quickly learned that I don't talk thai. You can't hide bad service behind decent pad see ew. I no longer love you long time.
(2)
Dotty K.

Good food. Tried their shu mai, pad khee mao and penang curry. All were delicious. Tom Yum soup was great too. Would go there again.
(4)
Jessica Y.

So I came here for a friend's birthday and what can I tell you? If the owner is in the house, be prepared to have a blast!! I can't speak for the food on a normal because ours was cooked by the owner, but I have heard that it isn't bad and better than Singha's! However, if you are lucky enough to have the owner donning the chef's apron, then you are in for a treat! Our service was great and we were given a great deal on the birthday dinner! There were serveral courses, which definitely filled everyone up and the owner was very accomodating as we had one vegetarian in the group of at least 20-30 and cooked 1-2 special dishes just for her! Not many restaurants would do that with a set menu. I would definitely go back for the service alone! It might be hard to find parking during busy hours, but it's a great choice for Thai food!
(3)
Nick L.

3.5 stars. It's not the greatest Thai food on the planet but it's also not the worst. I've been here multiple times, dining in and take-out. It's a good price for either imo and they do their best. The restaurant area is pleasant, clean and quiet. Service was acceptable and the food came out hot. I'd recommend the rama chicken as that was my go to dish when coming here. Same for take out. It's a feel good food that deserves credit. Other people have had the soupy noodles and enjoyed it. Whenever I'm in the area on a budget, you can't go wrong with Dao.
(3)
Somchai S.

This is the closest thai spot by my office building so I just go to it because of my laziness to walk elsewhere. The food in general is decent, however, the service is a little stuck up. I always order carry out and they seem to give you a dirty look whenever I pick up my food. If i had any other thai restaurants in my radius I would go there. But their portions are good, I always have enough to take home after lunch. The price for the entrees and noodles are very reasonable. The appetizers are a little bit pricey.
(3)
Michael O.

Great Thai food with excellent service and a fun atmosphere!
(4)
Te D.

My first experience with Dao was at an office Lunch and Learn. The food was delicious and plentiful $110 for 13 people with leftovers- pretty frickin' awesome on the credit card! The only con is they rarely deliver on time. Even a few minutes late gets critical when you need to set up the conference room for a presentation so I just order a little earlier. I've eaten in and picked up my order too. The other yelpers are right, they do like to improvise with their dishes sometimes, but it's still delicious. I've taken my Mom and Dad and they love it for the ambiance and the yummy food and oversized portions. Pot stickers Chicken Pad Thai Pad Woo Sen Chicken Rice Soup Mixed Vegetables Spicy Basil Chicken Spicy Crazy Noodle are my absolute favorties. The waiters aren't always that friendly, but I didn't come to the restaurant to make friends, I came to eat. Just bring my food right (they always do) and fill my water without an attitude. I'm happy. You get a tip. You're happy. Yay Dao!
(5)
Patrick B.

This is a cool place to take a date, really busy and a great atmosphere. I was there on business, and just wanted Pad Thai , so I stopped in - saw how busy it was and then ordered delivery to my hotel room. The pad thai was pretty good, but not the best I've had .. Needless to say , I ate it all - and would order. I'd go againi and eat there this time
(4)
Dan K.

This place has some pretty bland Thai food. The worst part is that it's super convenient to get to from my apartment. I've had the Pad Thai and the chicken with peanut sauce and they are both just OK. To be fair, it's a cool looking restaurant and the prices are reasonable for the area.
(3)
Joe E.

Dao Thai is one of the long standing Thai restaurants in downtown Chicago. Near the Mag Mile, this restaurant is a place to go when all other reservations fall through and you don't want to wait. Unfortunately, whenever I ask others what they thought, everyone agreed it was an average Thai restaurant. There are definitely much better places in the city, but everyone agreed for the cost, size, and location, Dao at least gets an average rating. Be careful what you order... nothing is going to be as authentic as you may think and if you don't like raw vegetables stay away from the menu items I show below.
(2)
Zhiyou D.

Maybe we went at a wrong time. But we're kept waiting forever... Be prepared to be starved.
(3)
Samuel M.

Came here for dinner tonight with a group of friends. I had a thai beef salad, which was fresh with lots of classic vegetables. However, the dressing was way too salty, and although my server cautioned me about the heat level, it was nowhere to be found. Pricing is very reasonable (entrees are around $8), especially for Streeterville. For that reason alone, I'll probably come back
(3)
Scott A.

3.5 stars for average tasting Thai food. I bumped it up .5 stars because the prices were reasonable. It's not great and nothing stands out, but if you're craving Thai food and don't want to spend a lot, this is your place.
(3)
Athena C.

A friend of a friend recommended Dao Thai. Normally, I would follow up with some research of the place before accepting random recommendations but I happen to be in the city the next day so I figured...why not? Oh my regrets and I found out why not... I did not like it. My friends did not like it. I got a chicken curry dish that was just not very flavorful. And the noodle dishes other people got did not look appetizing. I did not even want to try it based on the way it looked and based on the way they looked when they tasted it. One of the noodle dishes was the singapore noodles which is traditionally stir-fry vermicelli with curry and whatever meat the restaurant chooses to use. Here it was rice noodles instead of vermicelli with squid and shrimp. Plenty of meat for my standard but very pale looking overall and the noodles seemed mushy after the stir-fry. The second noodle dish was Pad Thai. It looked the part but again, the rice noodles looked mushy. The Goong Hor that we got for the appetizer (deep fried shrimp in egg roll wrapper) was good. But not good enough to ever get me to return to this place. The service was good. The wait staff was attentive and friendly. But when the food is so bad, I just can't give it another chance. Well, I feel mean saying bad here...maybe let's just say..."not good"... Oh...I should note, there is a "pit" seating in the middle of the restaurant where some may sit on the floor and have their feet dangle in the "pit" for an authentic experience (?) but it was not too appealing to me as it looked dirty.
(2)
Krista K.

I think the food is quite good, especially for the price. This is a relatively cheap place to eat and the quality and quantity is good. All in all, it is a great value for your money.. Their delivery has always been on time with food hot. Overall, this place is good... nothing spectacular, but definitely worth trying out or returning.
(3)
Heidi S.

Great place! Excellent green curry beef. Great prices. Excellent service.
(4)
Barbara B.

Had a really bad takeout experience where my Pad See Ew was just drowning in oil. It tasted terrible and made me feel terrible. I have promised to not eat take out from here anymore, and I recommend you eat with caution. EDIT- had to change this and give it 3 stars because I started doing takeout from them again. The key is to request "light on oil" then it is still oily but not drowning in oil. Much better that way. You can also add extra veggies to whatever you get for a dollar. That helps me feel slightly healthier.
(2)
Sally L.

Their crab rangoo is amazing! And I really like their drunken/crazy spicy noodles. Good prices for the huge portions you get. I'll order from there again. I've had some not-so-tasty dishes so I'd go with finding something you love and stick with it. Definitely don't get the spring rolls...
(4)
Sonali K.

I know the 2-stars make me seem ungrateful for my free lunch, but I love Thai food, and this place failed to satisy. While ordering from Dao at lunch today from work was a nice change of pace from the usual places they go - CPK, Gran Luxe, Cheesecake, etc., I was quite disappointed in it overall. I ordered the papaya salad - no shrimp, and the red curry - no chicken, but with extra vegetables. The papaya salad was actually decent - it was fresh and had enough spice in it for the perfect amount of heat. While the red curry was full of veggies, which made me very happy, when I took my first bite it lacked ANY kind of seasoning or spices that even somewhat hinted that I was eating red curry. I could only eat a few bites because it was so bland. Yes, I like things spicy, but this wasn't just a matter of it missing heat, it was just plain flavorless. I'm not sure how everyone else's dish turned out, but maybe I'd give Dao one more chance with a noodle dish. I would only order again from here if work was buying lunch again though.
(2)
Osmond S.

Dao Thai is right next to my place so I frequent it a lot, but never actually eat in. Actually, I'm eating Green Curry right now as I type this out. :) Overall I'm pleased with the food. Good flavor and not too crazy in terms of cost (less than $10 for entree and rice). I've tried out most of their curries and like them a lot. The only reason I can't give it more stars is because they do strange things with the food. Nothing over the top (like using cat meat instead of chicken), but the other day I had pineapples in my Mussaman curry. WTH?! I've eaten Thai all over the place and NEVER had pineapples in my curries! It tasted a lot like its supposed to but the extra fruit just threw off the flavor. Very strange... Also, the Green Curry on my plate right now has some odd vegetable I've never seen before.... I'll get back to you on that later. Oh well, try it out if you can.
(3)
D J.

Some nights, you crave the ordinary - the dependable, affordable, predictable, don't try too hard but get something good anyway stuff -- for all those nights, Dao responds to those tummy calls. This is a review about food :) I had the perfectly ordinary, yet perfectly acceptable fried rice for under 10 bucks in mind - seriously! Everyone needs a Dao -- not every night, just every now and then!
(3)
Stephanie B.

I'm echoing the review of several peeps on here. I've had a few things from here and each time I'm disappointed. (Third time is a charm...I'm never going back). The service is even worse. A few things worth mentioning: - bland sauces and soups - oily and greasy noodle dishes (i.e. pad see eww) - unattentive servers Prices are pretty fair considering it's on Ohio off the Mag Mile. I just haven't been impressed with the handful of times I've gone. I'm still searching for a Thai place that is close to my work.
(2)
S. M.

The ambiance itself is so inviting, the seating and the beautiful gold headdresses all add a great flare. However it is obviously the food that keeps me coming back. I was first introduced to this place 4 years ago and I've kept coming back. The crab Rangoon has always been served hot and fresh, the sauce that they serve on the side is delicious, both sweet and spicy. The pad see ew, ohhhh the pad see ew is amazing(I like it on the sweeter side). While I'm certainly not a Thai food expert, I have tried a lot of different pad thai and pad see ew and I haven't come across another place with such good pad see ew. Apparently a lot of yelpers don't feel the same way. But I have brought many of my friends here and I have also brought in larger groups and they have always loved the food here. I took one star away because the service has not always been the greatest, it can get kind of slow. But did I mention this place is CHEAP? I mean really CHEAP, for the price you can't getter Thai. Promise.
(4)
Rachael T.

First, let me be clear: Dao Thai Restaurant, Singha, and Star of Siam are ALL owned by the same people. I actually asked one of the managers and was confirmed in this suspicion. So what they serve you in one location they will serve you in another! So here's the real deal: these people are *Pea-to-the-Nut Crazy*. They don't care if on the menu they have written "Curry"; what they really mean is Peanut Sauce. Lots of Peanut Sauce. It's chicken drenched in some spiced-up Skippy. This might work for the random tourist walking by and entering on the off-chance that everything is great. But certainly not for the savvy local or for the Yelp-savvy tourist. Stay away!
(1)
Shannon H.

I stopped in here the other night with my family and was very pleased with my experience. The staff was helpful and nice, the food was good, and the prices were also quite reasonable. I ordered the Pad See Ew which I really liked, although the chicken was a little on the dry side so next time I'll try the beef. They we're out of the first beer that I ordered, but the waitress came back and apologized and gave me a suggestion for a different one which I ended up enjoying quite a bit. It was my first experience with Thai beer and I have to say I'm a fan. This place may not live up the gourmet food that you will find all over this area, but given the price you pay it is definitely worth it! I'm not going to bother trying to compare this place to Epic or Howell and Hood, because that's not what this place is, but it is one of the few affordable places to eat in the neighborhood. I would definitely go back!
(3)
Katie P.

I've been to Dao so many times I can't even keep track! I started coming here years ago because it's one of my parents favorite places in the city (they don't have any Thai restaurants in their town) and so we usually meet up here when they're come to town. I've never had anything here I haven't liked. In fact, they have the best Pad Prik that I've ever had anywhere. The only reason they don't get a full five stars is due to the fact that they do not include rice with dishes that would otherwise include rice. I don't like having to pay for something that every other place in the city includes with the dish. Anyhow... with as many times as my family has gone to this restaurant we have surely tried most everything the place makes. I've liked everything... even their squid salad and I don't like squid salad! The place also has excellent service and the space is also awesome! I'm always happy after going to Dao... totally worth a try if you haven't been there before!
(4)
Beth G.

The sister restaurant of Star of Siam, Dao promises affordable, well-spiced Thai fare, festive drinks, and decent service. Sit in one of the central tables if possible. The Panang Nue - spicy, creamy, thick peanut sauce, served with beef, chicken, shrimp, or tofu - is among my favorite dishes in Chicago. I always get it with tofu, and for $7.95, it's quite a deal (and I always have enough to take home one full additional meal). Because I love this dish so much, unfortunately, I've never really tried anything else. Appetizers are standard but good. Specialty "martinis" are tasty, and the import beer selection is decent. Remember to ask for chopsticks, because they won't automatically bring them to you.
(4)
Lynn C.

i'm torn between a 2 star to 3 star..i feel like i didnt eat enough here to give a fair rating though. All I had is the tom yum soup noodle and it was just okay...edible, but not great. i did love how spicy it was. my favourite part about this place is its outdoor patio. loved it! thats probably why i rounded up.
(3)
Matthew B.

I learned something about Chicago today, and it was scarier than a horror movie. There is a legion of people without tongues roaming the streets. Look for them in horn-rimmed glasses and apparently eating at Dao restaurant. How will you know that one of the tongue-less horde has eaten here? They will have rated Dao as more than one star. This place is AWFUL. Rating it over 1 star can only mean that you have no taste buds. The Pad Thai at Noodles and Co. is 5 star cuisine compared to the AWFUL food that comes from Dao's kitchen. We ordered over $50 worth of food and would have been more satisfied covering the bills in Sriracha and imagining being in Bangkok. The panang curry was HORRIFYING. It was thick, it tasted like peanut butter, and it had pools of oil cutting through it like the veins of an obese person. The pad thai was yellow, the noodles were gummy and sour, the shrimp tasted like rot, and the vegetables looked like they were brought over years ago. If the veggies in my pad thai were children, they would be driving by now. The Tom Kha Gai was LOADED with cabbage, which is bizarre because Tom Kha doesn't HAVE cabbage in it. It TASTED good, but unless you want cabbage, then you're best staying away. The tempura (I know, I should have known better than to order tempura at a Thai place) was way over battered and greasy. The Thai iced tea was sickly sweet, more so than is appropriate and I like my drinks sweet. It was also small for the price $2.50. The cashew chicken was an abomination, everything besides the chicken tasted of rot. STAY AWAY FROM DAO. It's awful and you seriously are better off going ANYPLACE else. FYI: You can always rate the quality of a restuarants food by the soy sauce they send with your meal. The soy sauce they send with the meal here is the cheapest I've EVER seen. It's cheaper than Panda, and that says a LOT. You've been warned.
(1)
Valerie R.

Finally, a Thai restaurant with food that has flavor and delivers to my work ! I got the Pad See Eiw and had a veggie egg roll; Both were very flavorful and fresh. The Pad See Eiw had a lot of garlic, which I'm not used to in it, but it was a fantastic addition to one of my favorite dishes. My friend got the won ton soup- huge portion at a good price, and she really enjoyed it. From now on, getting delivery won't be such a disappointing endeavor and I can finally enjoy Thai food for lunch again!
(4)
Allison S.

My boyfriend and I tried this place due to its location to our hotel. The gyoza was tasty, but his pad tai was just so-so and my barbecue beef with wontons was decent but not noteworthy. We've had better in the area (though the name is escaping me). If you're looking for great food look elsewhere.
(3)
Anuj S.

The thing I remember most about this place was that the food is very average. The restaurant ambiance and all is decent. But if you don't hit the nail on food, then the rest is just whip cream on top of spoiled apple pie.
(1)
Jai R.

Dao in the neighborhood of Streeterville east of the Magnificent Mile serves some good Thai food. The fried shrimp wrap appetizer and the squid salad are among the menu items I can order again. However, their panang beef curry was a bit disappointing. It's surprisingly bland. The place is decorated with lots of Thai inspired sculptures so if you Thai architecture, you'll like the ambiance here. They even have an elevated outdoor patio.
(3)
Jasmine P.

mmmm gotta love a place that uses chinese broccoli (instead of regular broccoli) in their pad see eiw. Been here only for take-out, but in waiting for my food, I observed the ambiance of the restaurant. Dao seems to cater to the downtown/Streeterville tourist, whether visiting from out of town or the suburbs. There are some patrons on their lunch break that seemed to be served rather quickly. The restaurant features traditional seating where it feels like you are sitting on top of a pillow on an elevated floor, but it actually has the center cut out so you can dangle your legs and sit "normally." So I guess I would liken it more to sitting an a bench with a pillow on top for your seat. It's a fun alternative to the standard chair and table arrangement! Dao gets really busy during lunch, but I didn't have to wait more than 5 mins. to receive my order that I called in. I would definitely return again for some yummy thai food!
(4)
Shana M.

Cute atmosphere, super close to the office, really nice looking patio. Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) had 1 shrimp on top, was too sweet and the chicken over cooked (why is it Always over cooked??). Lots of basil though, acceptably spicy, but still not quite enough. 1 question, is Pad Kee Mao supposed to be made with jalepenos? I find this very hard to believe, since jalepenos aren't from the Thai region, but the evidence here in Chicago seems to go against my preconceptions. Any way, we also ordered a spicy papaya salad appetizer that was unique from any thing I've ever tasted and quite good. It was composed of thin julienne slices of papaya, spiced cold shrimp and a sauce that was tasty, if a little too heavy on the fish sauce. What...You didn't know they use something called Fish Sauce in Thai cooking? Oh yeah. The great stuff comes in a huge bottle with a picture of a squid on it and smells perfectly rank. Mm hm fish sauce.
(3)
Alana M.

Don't eat here unless you like hair in your food. I went here over the summer and I had a lovely beef dish which I was thoroughly enjoying until I found a long black hair in the middle of my bowl. I let them know and they didn't charge me for my meal. Call me idiotic, but I went back. I thought "well sometimes restaurants mess up, sometimes cooks make mistakes. I can understand this" Soooo my friend and I decided to grab a quick lunch on Christmas (we were the only ones in the place) and we ate our food I enjoying some pad see ew and her eating a bowl of soup. Then half way through I heard.... "You are not going to believe this but I have hair in my food" Seriously, SERIOUSLY I gave this place another try and they let me down. As much as their flavors rock their lack of cleanliness earns them less than 1 star.
(1)
Ben K.

If you're not in the mood for a Potbelly sandwich, it can be challenging to find a meal in this neighborhood for under $8. Enter Dao, a relatively straightforward thai place with an average menu and decent food that rates pretty high on my list simply for filling a need. In an area completely devoid of the cheap thai and mexican places that populate the rest of Chicago proper, Dao has been the source of many a cheap dinner for me, and for that I thank it profusely. In my opinion, the best item on the menu is the chicken pad-ped, a rockin spicy curry dish served with an abundance of long thin bamboo shoots. I get it with rice but you could almost eat it without and be convinced you had scarfed up your carb-fix just because of the bamboo. Delicious!
(4)
Amanda F.

Great place for some thai food. Convenient, easy and affordable. We ordered way too much food for the two of us, but other than that it was a success. The appetizers were my favorite-- chicken satay and gyoza. For entrees we split the tom ka ghai soup, spicy basil leaf shrimp dish and a meat dish.
(4)
Kyle B.

I've lived near Dao for a few years now, and gotten food from them dozens and dozens of times. I will agree with those who say that Dao fills a definite void in the Streeterville area. There is not much else in the way of cheap, good Asian food that you can take out, so Dao has been a godsend many times for me and my friends on random weeknights. The food itself is generally quite good. My favorite dishes are the mild curry chicken and the pad see ew. My friends have also really liked their pad thai and pad khee mao (spicy crazy noodles). Usually I get delivery, and it is always hot and delicious, and prepared very quickly. Dining in, the decor is very nice and the service is appropriate. Overall, I recommend Dao as a solid choice in the Streeterville area.
(4)
Nate J.

Dao is a great place for Thai in the Streeterville neighborhood. It has a big menu of Thai favorites. I usually get the cashew chicken or mild chicken curry. The Crab Rangoon is a great way to start the meal. Overall, good restaurant and very cool atmosphere. Its not a trendy place, but does get busy during dinner rush for Friday or Saturday nights.
(4)
Rahshonda K.

I have to admit I have had better Thai food but its quick and cheap. Is the service not the best? Well...No its not! They are focused on getting your food out to you quick no small talk. If you do not know what you want their response is...I will come back and walk away before you can ask a question or even respond. Overall I have not had a bad experience. I ordered the Pad Thai which was pretty good. The Gyoza is delish. I really enjoyed the Thai Iced Tea actually that was the best I ever had. I think for cheap thai on your lunch break its worth it. I will be back!!!!
(3)
Bryan S.

I'm glad I ventured out to this place at lunch. It is walking distance from where I work, and I could see the open sign all the way from Fairbanks. When I walked in there were two people ahead of me, both asking to seat one. I took a chance and asked the guy in front of me if he wanted to sit together, since there are obviously no single seats. He agreed, and this is probably the best decision I have made in a while. We ended up talking a lot and he was a fellow yelper ! Now for the food, I usually judge a thai rest. by its Pad Thai. When I saw it on a table as I walked by, it didn't look all that good. So I went with the Pad Gee Mao (Spicy Crazy Flat Noodles, with Shrimp). It came fast and was really flavorful. I also ordered the Tom Yum Soup, which came as a huge portion. I wasn't planning on splitting it with my new found friend, but we did anyways. He ordered the Veggie rolls and the Pad Thai, which he claimed were good. I'm not really used to paying $14 for lunch, but it was really good and pretty fast. The seating in the middle of the restaurant looked really comfortable and it looked like everyone was sitting cross-legged( optical illusion). Next time you have to eat alone, take a stab and ask someone if they want to dine with you...You won't regret it, I didn't ...
(4)
Lily L.

It was a pleasant surprise with this restaurant. I didn't expect much with a Thai restaurant in this area. But upon entering, the restaurant looked better from the outside & the curry aroma was very appetizing. The satay chicken & spicy beef were good. The satay sauce was especially delicious that we used it over our Pad Thai. Prices for the dishes were very good for the neighborhood too.
(3)
Adam J.

Again... the WORST food and service ever. I decided to give this so called restaurant another chance after my first very bad experience.... but i was dead wrong..... I honestly believe that the beef and chicken they serve is dogs and cats food !!! i couldnt believe how bad the beef i ordered tasted !!! YEKKKKK.......PLEASE AVOID THIS VERY BAD RESTAURANT AT ALL COST.
(1)
tbird M.

This is one of our favorite luncheon spots from the work crew.....even though the office mov ed, well take the bus over when we need it. spicy basil is our fav - but we have 1 get it with beef, 1 chicken, and 1 tofu - no fish sauce. But it's everyones favorite!
(4)
Gaurang S.

At first I thought I was in a space warp that transformed me to Star of Siam. Identical dÃ©cor, and identical menu. And then, I hypothesized that they're both owned by the same person, because otherwise what are the odds this is a coincidence? Decent food, weak drinks (but if you're here for the drinks I feel bad for you already), and right sized portions. It's no opart thai house ( yelp.com/biz/opart-thai-â€¦ ), but in a pinch, it'll do.
(3)
Jessica B.

This is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood. Food is consistently excellent and staff is so friendly. They know our order before we even sit down! Chicken Satay, Crab Rangoon, Chicken Pad seiu. I'm sure I spelled that wrong, but we never even have to look at a menu! Excellent!
(5)
Meghan M.

Don't waste your time. I ordered Pad Thai spicy and it came to me with jalepenos in it. I have eaten Thai A LOT and have NEVER had jalepenos in my dish. It was all I tasted. I took two bites, asked for my bill and walked out.
(1)
Leanna S.

I've only had the crab rangoon and beef fried rice from here, but both are really delicious. Their crab rangoon is amaaazing! The beef fried rice is usually good, but occasionally the beef is super dry and chewy. Regardless, I continue to order frequently from them and their delivery is always on time or early.
(4)
ZZ K.

I will keep this simple. Pros: Cheap prices. Reasonably good food. Large portions. Good and fast service. Convenient location. Wide variety of items. Laid back atmosphere. Cons: Yes, some items are a little bit bland (I say add some sauce to it). You don't always get mild when you order it...my poor stomach can attest to that. Despite my tears and screaming internal organs, I ate every last bit of that curry chicken...Dammit! It was good. You have to pay extra for rice...whatever. Are they the best Thai in Chicago? No...and they don't claim to be. Are they pretty good....yeah. Go and enjoy.
(4)
Hajra L.

Decided to order in for lunch one day after a co-worker suggested it. The food was more than 30 minutes late and had no flavor! I asked for my Yellow Curry to be spicy - it clearly wasn't! lacked spice and salt. Another person ordered the pad thai - it looked like ramen noodles minus the color or flavor! horrible - avoid if possible and sober!
(1)
Moose P.

Got the second star based on their reasonable pricing for what I got. The food was okay--I was pleased that the peanut sauce had a little heat to it, but it was pretty gloppy. My main issue was with the service, which totally sucked. When I asked for a high chair, the overwhelmed hostess (with about three other tables already seated, no one coming in behind me) waved vaguely and said "over there." I wondered just how greasy a greasy spoon I had wandered into... As the lunch hour continued, they got moderately busy--about half full, but waiting for taking orders and getting food took forever.
(2)
Jason L.

"Undecided" would be my vote. Dao Thai is extremely affordable. Surprisingly so for the area and it's never crowded except maybe during lunches. Not spectacular but barely makes it as a standby either. It could be so much better than it is. Several people mentioned the restaurant is beautiful and that is certainly true. But the menu and its execution leave a lot to be desired. The egg rolls are boring. Beef items should be avoided, especially the spicy beef skewer appetizer. Chicken pad Thai is overly bland. I hear the soups are very good and thus may be their specialty. But I'm not a soup person so I may be stuck with mediocre here, and therefore looking for an alternative elsewhere. But the food settles well so I'll give it another few tries. It's walkable from AMC River East if you just saw a movie, but it's not open late. 10pm is the cutoff. It is however a huge space especially if you include the garden area. And they have a wheelchair lift. I have seen groups of people very happy here so you may like it more than I did.
(3)
Varun M.

I never could imagine what a 1 star restaurant could be till I went to DAO Thai. It was down the street from my parents apartment so we went to lunch with our family. It was our second stop on our quest for good Thai food in Chicago and it was terrible. The restaurant looked exactly like Singha except it smelled even funnier, it was cold and the food was awful. The service as another reader describes "is hilariously awful". I ordered Pad See Ew and it came with a huge hair right smack dab on top. I called the waiter who unapologetically took it away with out saying a word. They brought it back 5 minutes later without saying a word and walked away. I was unsure the whole time after that. The crab rangoons we had over appetizers were cold and not good, the leftovers we just left there. I highly recommend no one go here, it doesn't even do Cheap Thai any justice.
(1)
Shradha A.

Not good at all! I have lived in Singapore and visited Bangkok several times. Trust me, this is the worst Thai I've ever had!!! The restaurant was huge, but completely empty. The ambience is pretty and I wondered why no one was there when I walked in. Now I know!!! This is not even remotely decent food.
(1)
Beth M.

I'd come here based on the great decor. There are numerous fancy helmet/headdress things, statuary, wall hangings... I love the platform seating! Ok, it isn't the most skirt-friendly, but they have "regular" tables if you aren't prepared to clamber into the seats. The food is pretty decent; ask for "Thai spicy" for a proper level of spiciness. I usually get the pad khee mao (spicy crazy noodles) with tofu instead of the prawn. You can request a vegan version of most dishes. It's a heaping serving; I almost always have some to bring home. One of the bad things about this place is that you have to order rice a la carte. Seriously, rice is super-cheap and should always be a part of the meal. Why the stinginess? Strangely, you do get a small cucumber salad with your entree. Go figure. I like how this place is close to the Mag Mile, but it's not right by all the bustling people. Good for a quick bite while shopping or for a lunch meeting.
(4)
Colie J.

Okay, this restaurant has a great story (which you may or may not find interesting). First time I went to Chicago with my mom she RAVED about a Thai restaurant she had. "It was near one of those parking garages with the white/black signs". No kidding she made us walk around in circles for 2 hours because she was convinced it was right around the corner. We ended up finding Amarit (at its Delaware location) and eating there instead. Now if you know anything about Chicago you know that Amarit is on the OTHER side of Michigan. 2 hours of walking, wasted. Then we walked to Navy Pier the next day and saw Dao Thai the restaurant mom raved about. We ate here and determined the food at Amarit was better and likely the same people since the menus were identical. Onto the food. Everything we ordered was good and the seating is strange, you step into the seat. This platform with holes. When we came the last two times we thought Amarit was closed so we ate here. I haven't had anything bad. Would go again next time I am in Chicago.
(4)
Adele n.

The service is hilariously awful. My friend and I waited 45 minutes to give our orders when the place was more than half empty. We waved our hands and made eye contact with every person working there. They acknowledged us, but they did not come to our table. I have no idea what's going on with this, because when they do get to your table, they are nice as can be. Baffling. Anyway, the food is just so-so. Not great. Not terrible. The decor is nice. The price is right. Dao is not a terrible choice if you're in the neighborhood and don't mind lingering for a very long time over your meal. However, it is decidedly not a destination dining location.
(2)
Kate S.

Been here twice and both times got burned. Not going back. It's just not good--and several friends agree. Too bad because they have a great deck.
(2)
erica w.

My absolute favorite Thai restaurant in Chicago!!! 1. Tofu pad thai is amazingly delicious and the tofu is cooked just right, lots of peanuts and the portion is huge. I pretty much only order pad thai when i go to any Thai restaurant and this is by far the best I've had. 2. Affordable. A dinner for two with drinks costs less than 30 bucks. 3. Atmosphere. Very eclectic and laid-back environment; the booth seating in the middle of the restaurant are the best seats in the house and a conversation starter. 4. Good date place! Not too loud, not too quiet. Food comes quick--in and out in 30 min.
(4)
Esther K.

1. It's close (and I'm lazy). 2. There's no pho near here so the noodle soup is the best substitute after a long night out. 3. The meat is really tough...don't bother getting the chicken ever because it's too dry to eat. 4. The Deluxe Iced Tea is super watered down...skip it. 5. I recommend just doing take out because you get way more food.
(2)
Meredith K.

I'm only giving this place 2 stars because the dumplings were good and the delivery was on time. But when I opened my bag it smelled like bad potpourri - not the way I want to start a meal and things went downhill from there. The pad thai was AWFUL. I'm not sure it its because I moved from NY and I'm expecting my pad thai a certain way, but I have not had any good pad thai in the 3 months since I've been here! And I have it once a week. Someone please help me! It was awful because there was absolutely no peanut sauce on the noodles at all. I'm sorry, but chopped peanuts do not pad thai make in my opinion. The noodles were too thick and completely bland. They tried to flavor them with red and green bell pepper. Excuse me? Bell pepper on pad thai? Unheard of! Not the right flavor combination at all. Someone please tell me where I can get decent, gooey, pad thai on the new east side! I might have to fly back to NYC every weekend to get my fix!
(2)
Katy H.

I came here for lunch with a friend of mine who has been here many times before. She loves the restaurant and was very excited to come. When we arrived at around 12:10 on a Tuesday afternoon, there was hardly anyone inside and we were seated at one of the booths in the middle. The cushion I sat on was dirty, as was the area around me. It was a unique concept, but my excitement ended there. Our booth was in the middle of the restaurant and I was facing the mens room at the far side and all I could smell was pee. It was disgusting and needless to say I did not have much of an appetite. I did order the beef with broccoli. The ginger was an interesting element that I hadn't seen before, but overall it was just blah. Due to the extremely terrible smell coming from that bathroom (at least I hope that's where it was coming from), I will not be going back.
(2)
Tom S.

A better Star of Siam I love me some Dao, when I'm in the mood for Thai food. I used to work near there and had Dao Thai about twice a week and still find myself going back for their delicious fare. The space is nice and large, but the management hasn't stuffed the place full of tables, instead the center of the room as the bench seating and either side has the tables pushed up against the windows/wall. The dÃ©cor is fun and colorful and the carpeted bench seating is comfortable. Dao is a bigger, cleaner, nicer Star of Siam I almost always start with Dao's crab Rangoon. They are wonderfully hot and crispy with the most crabmeat/cream cheese mixture I've had in a crab Rangoon; they're so cute: they're folded and fried to look like little turkeys! The dipping sauce is nice and sweet with a faint hint of heat, of which I would like to taste more. I also have this un-natural obsession with Gyoza [pot stickers] and theirs are usually perfectly cooked. The soups at Dao are all heart-warming and soul satisfying, so don't pass, especially on the Tom Kha Gai or their Tom Yum [Hot & Sour], some of the best ever. Their entrÃ©es are always fresh and flavorful. When I'm feeling a little peeked, their Pad Ruam Mit [stir-fried plain vegetables], but I also love their Roast Duck and colorful and delicious Cashew Chicken. Service is usually very good and the kitchen is very accommodating towards vegetarians and can make almost any dish you request. You can also request a favorite dish not shown on the menu.
(4)
Thomas S.

I have to say, the atmosphere at this restaurant is fun. Tables are setup in traditional "sit on the floor" style, although the dining room is surrounded with regular seating as well. Service was great, location is perfect, just one issue.... My pad see ew was just bland. I should not complain however, as this is probably the cheapest meal in Chicago.
(2)
Laure N.

I have been here a couple of times. The crazy noodles with shrimp is very good and spicy. I like the Thai ice tea very sweet. Overall good experience here. Service is good during the day. The later you go the more packed it will be at night around 9:00pm on the weekend. The sit down seating with pillows is ok but they have booths too. Casual dress . Well priced food, good atmosphere.
(3)
Jessica K.

I love Thai food because it's cheap. When my out of town guests want to eat out Thai THIS is where I usually take them. Located right by Michigan Ave, it's a perfect place to dine if you want to avoid big crowds. It's also a perfect place to dine if your entertaining out of town guests who live in white, ethnic food-less suburbia. Why? Because the ambiance is very Thai in that you "kind of" sit on the floor and you find yourself surrounded by Thai statues and cultural paintings. ooooo... When arriving inside, don't be shocked if the place is kind of empty. It's Thai food and we all know Thai food is meant to be ordered and delivered, right? So don't judge this particular place based on # of dine in customers. That formula doesn't work here. Food is good. I have had better in Chicago but to be honest, Thai food is pretty much the same everywhere. Either it's notably HORRIBLE or it's good. Very rarely does it stand out.. Dao is one of those Thai restaurants where the food does it's job. It's good. But what gives it an extra star compared to it's competitors is the fact that the ambiance is authentic and it's um pretty inside. I recommend the Pad Thai. It's pretty good here. Pad See Ew is not too bad. Beef and Chicken is a bit dry...sometimes. Curry Fried Rice -big portion, same problem with the beef and chicken.
(4)
Lisa S.

Dao Restaurant is just okay. In Chicago, you can find way better Thai food. This place has a lot of potential if they made some improvements. The servers are not friendly at all and the bathroom was not that clean (this is downtown Chicago , people!) However, the outside seating is great in the summertime and the atmosphere/decor inside is nice.
(3)
Kalyan M.

Finally, after living next door to DAO for almost 8 months,we tried it out last night. The restaurant has unique seating arrangement. We tried tofu fry appetizer, it was okay. My wife order fried egg-plant curry which could have been much better. Finally I ordered rice stick noodle with soup, it was pretty good. Overall it was ok.. nothing special. Good if you are in hurry to get something and go.
(3)
Lara M.

I should have listened to the terrible reviews below. Honestly, the WORST thai food I have ever had. I was looking forward to Thai food on a Friday night and there are not many to chose from in the area so I figured I would give it a try... Pad Thai - bland ... ew. Mini Veg. Egg rolls - Bitter and tasteless Crab Ragoon - blah. Took one bite of each dish, put the containers back in the bag and walked straight to the garbage. $20 down the garbage and I'm still hungry for dinner.
(1)
Doe L.

I was rather surprised at the size of this place when I walked in. The decor is amazingly cute. The middle section of the restaurant looks like a big cushioned seat. It looks like the traditional asian style where everyone sits on their legs on top of a little pillow on the floor. (example: dkimages.com/discover/prâ€¦ ) But don't worry, theres a hole under each table so that you can sit normally. This aspect in itself made me bump the rating to at least three stars. I've always dreamed of opening an asian restaurant that had these tables and now i'm infuriated that someone beat me to it! They did an excellent job though so i'll forgive them for now... oh btw, If these tables scare you, don't worry, there's normal tables along the sides. I guess I should talk about the other stuff huh? The food was pretty good. I always like to try some sort of peanut dish so I got the Penang Nue with beef. The sauce was really yummy, especially when you smother rice with it. (Rice does NOT come with it, which is REALLY lame considering it's meant to be with rice... so make sure you order some) My friend got Pad-see-u which was pretty good too. The one thing that bumped this down one star was the service. If you're impatient or in a rush, I wouldn't advise coming here. The food comes out pretty fast but they're kinda bad about checking up on you and stuff. Worse comes to worse, just wave them down. All in all, yummy food. very nicely decorated. pretty cheap and filling!
(4)
Michael B.

Simple and sweet: Try the #22, the Pnang Nue (beef with peanut butter curry sauce) over rice, and your world will change. Sure i've had other things from Dao Thai, but one taste of this dish, and all of the sudden- nothing else matters. The Pnang Nue is worth 20 stars. It may even be worth 20,000 stars. That is all.
(5)
Laura F.

Other than the price, this place is not worth a second visit. There are plenty of good Thai restaurants out there and this one is just average. I usually order Pad See Ew at Thai restaurants, and reviews indicated that Dao's was good. Personally, I thought it was bland and had to ask for a tray of sauces to doctor it up (I used Soy and a red one that looked spicy). Also, I requested medium - hot spicy and found the dish to have no spice whatsoever. (My husband asked for his Pad Thai to be spicy hot - and also found his to have no spice at all) I should also mention that there was only one poor waiter waiting all the tables, so service was painfully slow.
(2)
Linna C.

I'm not sure what kind of food they are serving, but its DEFINITELY NOT THAI!! My family and I stopped in on a Sunday night for dinner, the atmosphere is unique with warm interiors adorned with various thai styled artifacts, the restaurant also has a small patio that fits about 4 tables of 4... The food was HORRIFIC. The pad thai was bland, with absolutely no flavoring, the chicken and beef were both DRY, even the Tom Yum failed below expectation. A massive menu revival is needed for this place; I can't imagine feeding your customers this type of food! What a shame for all the tourists this place lures in! STAY AWAY!!!
(1)
Brittany F.

I give this place not necessarily four stars for the food, but for their service and understanding for a late take out order. We were headed back on Sunday night from riot fest and were starving. As we walked by this place at 9:45 (they were closing at 10) we figured we'd try it and see if they'd let us place a take out order. They were extremely accommodating and set us up with containers of chili sauce, soy sauce, plates and plastic silver wear and to our surprise, FREE fresh spring rolls in addition to our delicious noodle dishes! The meal was very satisfying and customer service like that should be rewarded with return visits in the future!
(4)
Melody C.

Good thai iced tea. Good pad see ew (if you like it on the slightly sweeter side. Also, interesting indoor seating area with cushions for kneeling by the table but also the option of sitting normally with your feet under the table. we sat outside after a kayak tour that left our clothes still a little damp after walking around a bit, so the outdoor seating was a perfect option. i expected a small patio with room for like 2 or 3 tables, but the outdoor seating was both large and private feeling at the same time - i really liked it. the only down side was that it was in between two buildings so it got no sunlight. another downside was no free refills on my club soda. we ordered a fried catfish with curry sauce but it was not really a curry, it was more like a thin red chili sauce drizzled on the catfish and eggplant. if you want a curry, get a red or green curry. but the prices are so damned right - i've been to many an over-priced thai restaurant and it was always hard for me to eat thai food alone carryout because it would always be so expensive to order more than one entree. but here, i can have dinner under $10 if i just get a curry or something. but if i also felt like some pad thai on the side, i dont end up paying $30 either! yay!
(4)
Dave H.

Tried this, being that it is close to the hotel I am staying at. After trying 3 different Thai places in the Loop general area, decided to give Dao Thai a try. Tried nothing very challenging, Pad Thai and fried rice. In SF Bay Area there is much better Thai and Viet food in general. Still, this was the best I've tried so far walking around Chicago thus far. I am more partial to the brighter/lighter/fresher tastes of Vietnamese, but this Thai place was tasty enough. I wouldn't travel far out of my way to return, but being just a 5 minute walk from the hotel, I'll be back.
(3)
Amyn Z.

It's a nice ambience and good restaurant but a few small issues. We went there and the waitress was too eager to take the full order before even serving drinks. It seemed like there was only one condiment tray between all the tables with soy sauce and the waitress took it away from our table while we were still eating our food. The worst part was a demand for a 15% gratuity for a table of two before even giving the change for our food bill. And when we requested there was nothing mentioned about an enforced gratuity the waitress and the manager almost jumped on us and we had to run out of the restaurant.
(2)
Yiyin Y.

Four stars for ambiance- thai drawing, shining golden headdress and some Chinese art pieces. But three for their food and service. Theres some review on yelp saying they have the best pad see ew in town and then I ordered it but it turned out too oilly and sweet to me. The chicken is dry and chewy. I had far better pad see ew in some thai restaurant in Skokie downtown. For the service, we ordered the thai ice tea and hot tea but we had to tell the lady so many times. (well, at last we actually asked help from another waiter)
(3)
Kristy N.

Stopped in for a quick Friday lunch and was underwhelmed. Granted, I did order one of the more bland dishes on the menu (mixed vegetables with chicken) but the 2-star rating was mostly for the service. We were seated for at least 5 minutes before anyone stopped by the table. The only question that the server asked was 'ready to order?'. I said 'not yet but' and before I could finish my sentence she had already walked away. If they were slammed I would have (sorta) understood..but they weren't. Our food did come out pretty quick and we really never saw the sever again until she dropped off the check. I did notice that they have $8 martinis..that and the proximity to my office just may lure me back for dinner at some point. But probably not soon.
(2)
Jennifer C.

I found the food to be extremely bland. I had the chicken supreme and my husband had the sweet and sour chicken. The chicken supreme had a little bit of flavor but was still quite bland, the sweet and sour chicken on the other hand had no flavor. The service was average at best, the prices were good but I expect big, bold flavors at a thai restaurant and this did not deliver. With so many Thai options in the city I will definitely not be back.
(2)
Roger Y.

I've been in Chicago for a month now and this place was by far the worst, i would give it 0 star if i could. I had their pad thai and satay. The pad thai was too sweet and the tofu tasted weird, the whole dish didnt tasted fresh. As for the satay, the meat was okay and I was so looking forward to the satay peanut sauce because it's my favorite meat dipping sauce, but the peanut sauce here tasted like mud, seriously..... i am sure it's not mud but the texture smell and taste really does reminds me of mud.
(1)
Rene V.

Service was very...ok, hurry come in, eat and get out. Yes, we arrived at 9:30...30 minutes prior to closing. But, a customer is a customer. The food was ok. Nothing special. Spicy wasn't spicy. The fried rice was ok. Not even close to my top 5 Thai restaurants. They do have interesting seating. You'll see.
(3)
Valerie E.

I am by no means well-versed in Thai food. However, the few dishes I have had at Dao were quite good, my favorites being the yellow curry chicken and potstickers. This place is quite close to where I work, so I've been here occasionally with coworkers and it's always decent (and importantly, AFFORDABLE) food. This place gets bonus points from me for the interesting decor and seating areas, but minus a couple for the "meh" service. In my opinion, it's still worth it for a tasty lunch.
(3)
Dave P.

Good Thai food and very inexpensive considering the neighborhood. Cashew chicken and yellow curry are my favorites.
(4)
Tim C.

Small, and bland portions of food that has relatively no taste to it. Service was largely absent and vaguely hostile. The only thing I enjoyed was that the food was quick and cheap.
(2)
Tina W.

Not a bad Thai restaurant for an area with a sparsity of decent cheap places to eat. I work in the area and there are NO good restaurants: Panera, Chipotle, and Potbelly's are pretty much it. So considering the alternatives, Dao is a good option when you're sick of fast food. Whenever I go there, I make sure to know what I want before the waitress comes because they are SO SLOW, especially during lunch rush hour. I like their mild chicken curry. It's also spacious (for bigger groups) and well-decorated.
(3)
Crystal P.

Love Dao Thai. I work down th street so the the delivery is super fast when I can't break away from my desk. I get the Panag Curry with tofu and veggies and a thai iced tea! A lot of food! and if you order before 3 it's a dollar less! Panag curry here is great thick and peanutty not runny and fishy like some places ! Yum!
(4)
AJ M.

I live across from Dao Thai and it does its job - it isn't spectacular, but it it isn't terrible either. Pad Thai: I usually get the chicken pad thai and it is a lot of food. I enjoy this entree a lot and is probably the reason why I come back to this place when I need to a quick bite to eat. Pad See Eew: Not bad. But nothing really outstanding here. Spring Rolls: Not that good. I would pass on them. Mild Chicken Curry: Average. Nothing too special here. Nam Tok Beef Salad: I like this dish. There's a lot of cilantro and red onions in this dish and it is spicy. If you're really into bold flavors and like something with a kick to it, I would give this a try.
(3)
Kevin T.

Pretty standard fare thai food. I really enjoyed my food, but I was also starving from a day of walking around the city. The Pad Khee Mao was not spicy at all, a super letdown... we should have asked for 'very spicy' instead of 'medium'. The massamun curry was pretty good, and everything was super normal thai food. Nothing extraordinary, a good cheap price. I can't compare to other Chicago Thai places, but the taste is not as good as the Thai food I have in LA.
(3)
Martin G.

This is my absolute favorite Thai food in Chicago and every other city I've eaten in as well. All of the ingredients taste fresh, especially the spring rolls...omg are they delicious! Their wide rice noodles are cut thick and are the best noodles I've ever had. They are vegetarian/vegan friendly, even writing this on their home page, "For our vegetarian customers, most items can be cooked without meat, and if there is a Thai dish you enjoy and do not see in our menu". Other than the fresh spring rolls, I recommend the fried tofu appetizer, and for an entree I recommend the #34 Dao's Noodles Delight. Everything is priced amazingly low for the location. I had to take a star away for the slow service, and it has not improved over the years. It takes forever to get the attention of the staff. You will sit a long time before you are given your drinks or asked what you would like to order. You have to practically get up and get more water yourself. Street parking can be difficult. All in all I highly recommend this Thai restaurant; I have never once been disappointed by the food.
(4)
Shayne W.

I've eaten at Dao far more than I should for my health, so I consider myself an expert. I work a couple of blocks away, so it is a favorite amongst my staff. We all tend to stick with our regulars, and are never disappointed. It is definitely commercialized Thai, and they use a lot of MSG, but it is seriously tasty. I recommend ordering the Pad Kra Prao, but ask for it with tofu instead, and get brown rice. My colleagues also love the Dao Noodle delight and ask for additional veggies in it.
(4)
Jay V.

Looking for something a little out-of-the ordinary? Look no further. I had the opportunity to share this little gem of a restaurant with some clients - two from China, one from Toronto and two from Florida. We shared four appetizers - ordered & shared six different entrees. Not all were Thai - but all were enjoyed. Dinners ranged from Ped Yarng (Roast Duck) to Cashew Chicken to Red Hot Curry Chicken to Pla Sarm Rose (3 flavor Snapper). We sampled several Thai beers and ended up with Green Tea and Coconut Ice Cream. We elected to sit at a "regular table" with chairs - but the restaurant also offers traditional "on the floor" seating. (not bad for a romantic dinner - a little tough on a business outing). All in all - to quote Arnold, "I'll Be Back"! daothai.com
(3)
Gino Z.

I'm a Thai food junkie, and Dao is among the worst Thai food I've ever had. Spring rolls smothered in a sweet gelatinous syrup (rather than peanut/chili sauce for dipping), and green curry that was overly salty and dotted with frozen peas made for a meal I couldn't wait to get away from. The chop sticks should've given it away...
(2)
Rachel L.

Pretty good food and cute decor. We were there on a Monday and were surprised at how busy it was. They were obviously understaffed, but I'm still giving it 4 stars because the friend who took me said that poor service usually isn't an issue.
(4)
Craig A.

Good, not great.
(3)
Jim W.

I was hoping for something acceptable to the palette since it's so close to home, but unfortunately I don't think I'm coming back here. As I mentioned in my review of Siam Rice, I base my Thai reviews off one dish: pad kra prao. At Dao, it was sweet instead of spicy, my chicken came in chunks, and they charged me another dollar for the rice that should have been part of the dish. My friend's Pad See eiw tasted like a pound of sugar went in the dish. Overall, very Americanized taste. And don't get me started on the dingy elevated carpet seating platform thingamajig. To their defense, the place is cheap, and they get an extra star for refilling my water 4x. But as my friend who lives 2 blocks away said , "unless I'm dying of hunger and too lazy to walk further, not coming back here."
(2)
Aaron R.

I've been to this Thai restaurant twice do two different visits in the windy city. I LOVE Thai food -- so typically it's difficult for me to not enjoy it. But in my most recent experience, I had probably one of the best service I've had in restaurants. So the story is: I made the mistake of not indicating the level of spiciness i could handle ((seriously -- rookie mistake)), so while I am eating my delicious beef green curry, I couldn't stop sweating because I of the level of spiciness. While being well aware this was my mistake, I informed the waiter -- and with a smile he swiftly took my curry and made me a much milder version with no hesitation. I LOVED that service. Now on the food: Their curry is really creamy -- so if your stomach can handle a good dose of coconut-milk, definitely go for it. On my previous visit I've had their noodles ((Pad Thai and Pad-See-Ew)) and both were good, moist and had a nice taste. I also ordered their crab stuffed wonton, which was decent -- though i've had better at different Thai restaurants.
(4)
konamichan k.

While the chicken satay was pretty good, coconut ice cream should not involve vanilla ice cream with bits of coconut haphazardly thrown in. But maybe that is just me. Thumbs up for the fried basil with tofu - nice n' spicy.
(2)
Michael C.

I'm giving this 3 stars because when I compare this to Star of Siam (which should close down), I feel this is the best I can get in town thus far at a reasonable price. However, comparing to California standards, I would have to give this 2 stars, 1 star for food, the other for the student price. I suggest avoiding the Pad Thai and going for Pad Khee Mao. First time I ordered this dish, I asked, "what's in it"? Waiter replies, "Chicken, blah blah blah....and 1 shrimp". 1 shrimp? I couldn't stop laughing when I heard that as he was walking away. I was pleasantly surprised to see 2 prawns :)
(3)
Jessica W.

I think there are better Thai places around. I asked for the red curry to be mild. Usually places are okay with this, but apparently here, it means... no flavor. The curry was just watery and it was bland and not appetizing. I guess it's partially my fault for the special request, but I thought lots of people do it! I guess if you come here, just order normally! I tried my friend's pad see ew and I've definitely had much better... Also, the seating is weird. In the middle of the room, there are like cushions on benches and it just makes me uncomfortable.
(2)
Jonathan A.

I love Dao Thai for lunch and sometimes dinner. It's cheap, super fast (I think they once delivered our food at work in like 15 min). I LOVE the pad thai chicken and peanut sauce. I would include it in my execution style final meal. It may not be authentic Thai but then I guess I don't care. I also base this review on this one dish because I rarely bring myself to order anything else. The pad thai is on the sweeter side when comparing apples to apples in other thai restaurants. The noodles are always good and the chicken, big white and juicy, whereas it is usually dry in other restaurants.
(4)
Erica T.

This place is right by my work, so I have been here a couple of times with my coworkers. The decor is pretty cool, especially the short tables in the middle where you sit on cushions to eat, although I'm not sure how comfortable that would be because I've never sat there. The service seemed pretty good although I remember the staff had a little trouble communicating in English. Last time I was here I had the Tom Kha soup, which is a gi-normous serving that could probably feed 3 people. It was very coconut-milky and not as flavorful as other Tom Kha soups that I've had - I didn't mind so much because I like the taste of coconut milk but I can understand how that would not fly with others. One of the girls was ordering takeout from Dao yesterday and asked if I wanted in. I was having a horrendous day, so I said YES!! I got the green curry beef, which I picked because it had eggplant and because I like green curry. What was odd was that on their menu they list certain dishes with a specific type of protein - "red curry chicken" or "panang curry beef" for example. Most places list a choice of proteins, and I would have preferred tofu with my dish and I'm sure they would have accomodated that but I was in too much of a hurry. Anywho, I was super excited when I saw the green curry - it was chock full of yummy eggplant and peas, and smelled absolutely delicious. But then I tasted it. It turned out that the dish was also chock full of jalapenos, and was ridiculously spicy. And I understand that curries are meant to be spicy, but this would have been labeled ATOMIC on the spicy chart. I still ate some because besides the spicyness it was still good, and even the beef was well cooked, but I ended up saving about 75% of it for my husband, who actually likes his curries extra spicy. Overall this place is OK but it would not be my first pick for Thai food around work. Next time I would probably pick Silver Spoon down the street.
(3)
A-train R.

I've tried a few Thai restaurants now b/c my gf loves her Thai food. I believe this is the best one we've tried. We ordered common dishes like the shrimp rolls, chicken fried rice, and I think the pad kow. They were all really good. I had a bloody mary but I've had much better so I won't exactly recommend it. However, the food, service, and cleanliness was very good. The bathrooms were spotless. I was very surprised that we didn't have to wait to be seated. You can also sit in booths that simulate the sitting on the ground thing and they looked pretty sweet, but we didn't sit there. I can't really say much negative about this place and maybe it was just not packed b/c it was a little later on a Friday night. I'll definitely be back to DAO"S.
(4)
Janet L.

I'm going to be moving near Dao Thai in a few months, so I'm glad there will be some decent/affordable Thai food nearby. Pros: 1. pretty fast if you're getting take out 2. they're cheap 3. nice takeout containers that you can reuse as tupperware 4. not sure if they deliver, but if they do - awesome I've never actually sat and eaten in the restaurant, but it's got some interesting decor. I only ever get one type of dish because of a mild nut allergy, so all I can say is their pad see ew (chicken or beef) tastes yummy to me!
(4)
Adam S.

The food and the ambiance are wonderful. It is safe to say the authenticity of the food is superior to the many Thai restaurants in Chicago, being of Thai background and having traveled to Bangkok and many cities in Thailand. To start, the fresh spring rolls are delectable. The fact that the spring rolls are not deep-fried shows that the food is prepared fresh. I ordered the panang nue beef my first visit and was very satisfied. If you have not yet already, add Singha or Chang beer to your meal. As for the food and restaurant in whole, there is no doubt I plan on taking my dad to Dao when he comes to visit!
(5)
PJ T.

this is my need-some-soul-food-no-brainer-place. been here 4 times and ordered the exact same thing every single time. YES ! I know !! I would not go here if you are looking for authentic thai food or delicate flavors. I would go here if you want some quick grub that hits the spot. My fave - spicy crazy noodles. The name says it all. Plus the fresh spring rolls are pretty decent. That's my standard order. However, I once ordered the pad-thai and was sorely disappointed to the extent that I had it returned (Gasp - me returning food...that means it really must be bad) Service is just okay too. Don't expect any frills though the dining area is quite spruced up ;-)
(3)
Diana T.

I have never given a restaurant 1 star before but I think this will be my first. My coworkers love to come here for Thai (not sure why) now that I've tried it. Maybe for convenience? Lack of taste buds?? After I had their tom yum soup, pad thai, even crab ragoon, everything left me SO DISAPPOINTED. They have good service, don't doubt that, but I rather have better thai food with sucky service.
(1)
Lisa H.

this review still haunts me. I think 1 star is more honest. 1 1/2 for decor.
(1)
Tiffany B.

I had the Pad See Ew (#30). It was a tad bit on the greasy side, the chicken was real and made for great lunch leftovers the next day. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Luisa T.

We came in for a late lunch on a Friday. It wasn't too crowded and we got a table right away. We had chicken pad thai, shrimp pad thai, thai beef, and cashew chicken. I have to say the food was just okay. The prices were good if you are in the area and just looking for a quick bite to eat. It's not bad, it's just not memorable. The shrimp pad thai had just a few jumbo shrimp mixed in with the pad thai. I really liked the veggies in the chicken cashew. They weren't too crispy or overcooked. The perfect texture. But it was like chicken and some veggies and pineapple cooked together then add a sauce. Kind of disappointed.
(3)
caroline k.

I've ordered from this place several times, and each time I regret. What's funny is they actually have an item on the menu (Hor Mok) that they actually tell you, "you won't like that - most customers don't." Then why is it on the menu? I have had the Pad See Ew, Pad Thai, Papaya Salad, Rama Chicken, Cashew Chicken, Tom Yum - and none have impressed. As a huge thai fan, and thought maybe Dao wasn't what I was used to as it states to be 'northern thai". Regardless, not a fan.
(2)
Nicole L.

It's been many years since I was last here, but I do recall enjoying the cuisine and especially the atmosphere.
(3)
David M.

Took guests there this week. They were visiting from China, and while not wanting Chinese food, wanted something that would be comfortable after several days of the all-American meals. I had been to the restaurant several times in the past, and the decor has not changed a bit. By that I mean what was once nice and unique, is not pretty tired. So we ventured out to the patio to dine, on a lovely summer Chicago evening. The food was good for an American version of Thai. I would say it is consistent in this regard. The service was a little lax, as the waitress seemed overworked, but this was only a minor issue. If you want That in the hear of downtown Chicago, I think this restaurant is nice, as well as inexpensive. Just don't expect too much.
(3)
Henry A.

Very well priced, especially considering the area, good food, huge portions, and comfortable. This is a great place to go for a cheap dinner or lunch out if you're in the area. Most entrees are less than $10. I've also never had a bad experience with service and I go here pretty often. It's not the best Thai food I've ever had, but I think it's definitely well above average. I especially like the curry dishes. Maybe it's just me, I get the feeling the food is noticeably better when you eat in compared to getting take-out. The portions for the noodle dishes are humongous - one dish is always at least 2 meals for me.
(4)
B K.

Consistently good food and surprisingly delicious (and strong!) martinis. As other yelpers have mentioned, cool decor too. I have come here with very small (2) and large (13) groups of people and have been seated within a few minutes, no matter what. Beware there is a heavy lunch rush since Dao is so close to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the Med School, and Law School ... not to mention other businesses in close proximity. So this might not be the best place for you if you're interested in a quiet lunch during the week! I docked one point only for occasional aloofness of the staff and service ... such as not coming to get our order for a good 5 minutes even though our menus were closed (as in, the universal signal that one is ready to order!), or not bringing us chopsticks after asking twice (upon which I finally got up and got them myself since our food had already arrived). But I only docked a total of 1 star for all of these collectively, because out of all the times I've eaten here (close to 40 probably), these mishaps have only happened on a few occasions ... but I thought it still warranted mentioning. Surprisingly, their martinis are also VERY good -- definitely on the strong side though, be forewarned! Last but not least, if you can't decide what to order, just trust me and get the pad khee mao and thai iced tea ... so delicious.
(4)
Arielle S.

Dao is in my neighborhood and owned and has the same menu as Star of Siam. Star of Siam has nicer decor but I don't really care about whats hanging on the walls when I am grabbing a quick bite with friends... PROS: -The menu is extensive and... All the dishes I have had a good, under $10 and there's always enough to share or take home. (Which gets this review to a 3) Cons: -depending on the crowd, the service is good to OK - the decor/ backless seats in the middle section What makes Dao a 4 is the location! A block away from the Mag Mile, it is one of the cheapest/ non-chain restaurants you can find in the area. Also, you can usually get a table on a Friday or Saturday night if you don't go too late- which is important! In this area are tons of hotels and the guests book their dinners a week or so in advance, so the locals (like me) are forced to eat in other neighborhoods unless we plan our meals far in advance! Overall, good thai food and worth checking out if you are in the area (but not worth visiting if you are not nearby).
(4)
Yiyu Z.

Ah, Dao Thai. A staple for those of us unfortunate enough to live in Streeterville without the time or means of going somewhere else for dinner, or paying a fortune. Or going to TGIF/Chilis (ugh). If you're looking for delicious and authentic - sweaty brow, burning mouth, and a huge smile - then you won't find it here. But if you're looking for cheap and abundant, Dao delivers. Student pro-tip: for whatever reason, it seems like Dao portions are way bigger for takeout/delivery than if you eat there. If you're a student mired in debt, this is an important consideration!
(3)
Keerthi A.

They have a funky cushion seating area but we sat at a table. We asked the waiter to recommend a wine, he flat out declared that he had no idea. Strike One. We ordered a Malbec and it was pretty decent. When the waitress poured me water, I told her there was something in my water and asked if I may please have another glass of water. She insisted I show her the 'thing' in my water and spent about 20 seconds looking for it. Strike Two. We ordered the curry fried rice and Red Curry. I kid you not, the food arrived in less than 5 minutes. Either they have a bunch of cooks whipping up my order in a frenzy or they stuck the food in an oven and reheated it. Take your pick. The curry fried rice was average, but the curry was all peanut sauce, just out-of-a-jar, nothing else. Their curries and other entrees do not come with rice, they charge you extra if you want rice with your entree, which is just plain idiotic. Strike Three. Never going back. Ever.
(1)
Bill M.

This is an unobtrusive Thai restaurant along busy Ohio Street. Except for the neon signs in the windows, most will not notice this building at all. Come in and have your favorite Thai dishes. I tend to go for the noodle dishes.
(3)
Erika G.

Not recommended except for the decor, which is gorgeous. There's much better Thai in the city. My Tom Kha Gai soup was way too sweet and bland.
(2)
Matthew G.

Dao definitely has its plusses and minuses. On the plus side: The entrees are fresh and inexpensive. For the area, the price can't be beat. Their Tom Yum Noodle Soup is something I frequently crave! The decor is great -- lots of cool Thai masks and murals. In the summertime, they have a wonderful patio for some relaxing al fresco lunching. The location is very convenient to Michigan Avenue and provides an economical alternative to the swanky yet pricey eateries in the area. Now for the minuses: The service is terribly inattentive. They are always very quick to take your order, the food comes out pretty fast, but there is little contact otherwise. If you need another beverage, or if you run out of chili sauce -- good luck! Often it is easier and less time consuming to get up and get it yourself. Even getting the check seems to take forever. Rice is not included. While the entree prices are low, rice is an additional charge. This is just a bit too "nickel and dime-y" for my taste. Isn't rice a main staple in the Asian diet? They should just add the rice into the cost of the dish even if it means that the menu prices would increase by a dollar or so. In my opinion, the plusses outweigh the minuses. It is not the absolute best Thai food in Chicago, but it's a good bet for the price and the area.
(3)
Ashley W.

The food here is not like going on Argyle, but it's decent and inexpensive. I went here during my lunch break based on the recommendation of friends who live in the area. I must say the decor was cute and of course I sat in the "floor seated" area. Loved it! The food was ok, it definitely needed the tableside accoutrements. The place wasn't packed, but it was a bit after 1 pm. Service was quick and attentative without being overbearing.
(2)
Robin W.

It's truly the best Thai in the city. There are so many restaurants that make one thing well, and the rest sucks. I've been eating at Dao since 1997, and I've tried many dishes. We just ordered in for lunch at my office, and everyone agreed that what they ordered was the best prepared they'd ever had. The only downfall were the eggrolls....so, I guess you go to Chinatown for those. Overall, very, very good, and I'm a total FOODIE!! Compared to what's been chosen for the alcohol comment, yes, Dao does have a full bar. Not sure why people have marked "none". The bar is RIGHT THERE. lol
(5)
Ann V.

Disclaimer: This review is for the noodle dishes only. I ordered the chicken pad thai only to find out that they charge $1 more to add meat and $2 more to add shrimp! These pad thai noodles are close to the worst pad thai dish I've had in a long time. I suggest walking the extra few blocks over to Silver Spoon. Its cheaper and has better food!
(1)
Lu C.

Since my bf lives right across the street from this place, we and other friends probably go here about once every three days. For the money, it's definitely worth it! Lots of variety- I love the thai iced tea :), the pad see ew, and the green curry (spicy!). Also suppper fast service. Secret: if you get this delivered or as take out, you get way more! :) Yes, I know this place all too well...
(4)
Jesse W.

3.5/5 I've ordered only carryout twice from Dao. By stepping in to pickup my order, I agree with others' comments: the decor is cool. I can't comment on the supposedly poor service since I've had only carryout. Their dishes seem to taste better after a few hours of letting it sit out or in the fridge. For the price, the portions are great! I can usually squeeze 3 meals out of 1 noodle dish. I've avoided their non-noodle dishes because Dao will charge you $1-2 for some rice. Each of their dishes come with a side of hot sauce. I prefer sarachi hot sauce or chili oil served in Chinese restaurants because Dao's hot sauce is quite vinegary. I had Pad See Eiw and Lard Nar (I think??? It was a green curry beef noodle dish), and I tasted some of my friend's shrimp fried rice. Although the fried rice was packed with shrimp, the shrimp were the size of macaroni. Overall flavor of the dish was pretty bland. For my 2 noodle dishes, I was unimpressed at first. However, I had leftovers the next day, and damn! The flavors seem to set in and open up. Like Little Caesar's pizza, this cheap fast food tastes well worth its cost the next day out of the fridge.
(4)
Paul C.

I went for lunch today because I was able to earn miles through my airline mileage account. I had the spring rolls which were much larger (er, longer) than expected. Certainly enough for two but I ate it by myself. I'm so fat. I had the crazy noodles which I guess would be assumed to be hot, but it was not. I did add to dry peppers and chili sauce and that brought it up to par with my tastes. The server did not ask me if I wanted another beer though my glass was empty for some time. Overall, I enjoyed the meal and would return again with company. I don't like to eat alone!
(3)
Crystal B.

The WORST Thai I've ever had. Ordered the shrimp in massaman curry, which had an "off" taste. It tasted gross, aside from the fact that I didn't expect canned pineapple chunks in my curry dish. The food was not fresh and the presentation was lacking. My husband ordered sweet and sour chicken, a bigger mistake. That was just disgusting. We won't be going back, and would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Jeff L.

I have not eaten in this restaurant, but I have ordered take out several times. Their curry's are all appealing on some level. My favorite being the peanut curry, whose name currently escapes me. Other reviewers complained that it tastes like spicy peanut butter. Except that is the exact reason why I enjoy it so much. I mix it with rice, and now I have spicy peanut buttered rice, brilliant. Their crab rangoon is also exceptional. It's just the restaurant itself is rather average.
(3)
Jessica M.

Okay, it's official. The only things worth ordering here are their curries (particularly the green curry) and the ginger chicken with extra vegetables. Everything else - it's crap! I decided to stray from my usual and try the sweet and sour chicken. OMG it was the worst! Do not order it! Terrible.
(2)
Shawn C.

I work in Streeterville and I agree finding a good cheap restaurant for lunch sometimes can be challenging. Sure there is Potbelly's and Chipotle, but at times you want something different. I wanted something spicy and something asian influenced. Well in Streeteville there is Dao THai. I only ordered takeout so I can't comment on the wait service, just the food here. I went with another reviewers recommendation of the chicken pad-ped. I'm glad I did, it was a very nice spicy red curry mix of yumminess. It was all that it said it was, hot, spicy, coconuty and full of bamboo shoots. It was perfect actually. My takeout order was ready when they said it was and it was complete, meaning, plates, soy sauce, hot sauce (which most places forget) and everything was neatly wrapped. The price was just right and the portion allowed me another lunch for the next day. Can't beat that for around 8 bucks. I will definitely order from here again and I'm glad that there is an alternative to the chipotle/potbelly combo that seems to pop up in every hood and are rarely if ever a block a part from each other - weird.
(4)
Stacey D.

I don't care for Thai. But I LOVE their cashew chicken with white rice. It's really really good. Lots of chicken, pineapples, cashews, peppers, and tasty sauce. The service is hit of miss around lunchtime, and often busy around 12:15. But the food is consistently good, and excellent for carry-out, too. For someone who hates Thai, I crave this place an awful lot and demand to go there for lunch often. Drooling thinking about it now.
(4)
Peter L.

I'm no expert on Chicago's Thai food, but I live across the street from Dao Thai and I've ordered takeout there at least once a week for over two years. I judge my restaurants by price and quantity, and for both of those Dao Thai can't be beat. In terms of quality, I've definitely ordered a few things that tasted kind of wack, but the typical Thai dishes are pretty good. I'm not going to lie, for the past year and a half I've ordered the same exact thing every time -- green curry beef, chicken pad see ew, and a small rice. It costs under $20 and makes a solid dinner and lunch for two. And they have the food ready to pick up in 15 minutes. I love this place.
(4)
Frank F.

Dao Thai should be renamed Dull Thai. There was nothing great about our meal for $90 (for 3 adults and 3 kids). My Penang curry tasted like they accidentally dropped an entire bottle of peanut butter in it. My wife's pad see ew was ok but the chicken overcooked to a tooth breaking nugget. After that was all over we waited another 15 minutes before anyone came by with a bill. Never once was my tiny water glass refilled. Stay away.
(1)
jeremy s.

Good average Thai food. I have had better and have had worse. Their pad thai was very good! The center tables are a bit funny, of course I got seated there, but adds to the places charm. Overall, I've had better, I've had worse. For the price, and not having many other options for Thai in that area, it's a good place to eat. 3.5 if I could.
(4)
Negin J.

My fav is Pad See Eiw but their fried rice is also good. Chicken rice soup is my partner's fav and we go there to order that whenever he catches a cold!
(5)
Venetta L.

So much love for Dao (pretty much just their Pad See Ew). Amarit has, hands down the best Pad See Ew in the city. It is garlic-y and the sauce is oh so amazing. I will not eat Pad See Ew anywhere else, it is not the same. So... I go to Dao and the menu looks incredibly familiar... It looks like the exact format (down to the font and layout) of Amarit. So I ask the waiter what their association is, and turns out, at one point, the owners of Amarit, Tiparos (on Clark and North) and Dao were all associated at one time even though the owners are not the same at the time. I can't recommend anything else cause I haven't tried it - but the Pad See Ew... excellent.
(3)
Yaw N.

A reliably delicious Thai meal that is available in a timely fashion! The Pad Thai is amazing and when I ask them to make it extra spicy they always deliver. I recommend this place both for dining-in and take-out.
(3)
Susan K.

This is one of my favorite downtown spots. Good food and great prices in a lovely space. I tend to order the same favorites. I've never had a bad meal here.
(5)
andrea b.

i didn't think i'd see the day when i'd write a one-star review. and because of Pad Thai? never. today, however, is most certainly the day. i love Pad Thai -- fancy-n-delicate or quick-n-dirty, spicy or not, chicken or tofu -- you get the picture. to call what i got at Dao Thai Restaurant "Pad Thai" is almost an insult to Thai food. i would say that it had no flavoring (when have you ever seen entirely white rice noodles in Pad Thai?) except that the little flavoring it did have managed to be objectionable. and what gave it an "intermediate" level of spice? a tub of pour-it-on-yourself sweet-and-sour type sauce. was there a slice of lemon or lime? no. were there at least sprouts? no. seriously. after venturing out from my hotel room in the frigid Chicago weather, then getting this back to my room 20 minutes later, i couldn't bring myself eat more that a few bites. sad.
(1)
Peter F.

I agree with many of the other yelpers - it is just OK. Nothing special... hit or miss food and service. Cheap prices.
(2)
Ira S.

As other reviewers have noted, this is a remarkably inexpensive restaurant. The physical space is elegant despite its austerity. The food is all worthwhile, with special kudos for the soups (great on a cold day) and catfish dishes (ranging from spicy to SPICY!). The help is always pleasant and efficient. We have been eating at Dao for over 10 years and have brought many friends to the Dao. As far as we know, all are still our friends-- so the food must be pretty good.
(5)
Matthew T.

Dao Thai...I sincerely doubt I will eat there again. Their food is not good at all. It's bland almost to the point of tastelessness. I love good Thai food, whether its lower priced and savory, or expense and exquisite. This just isn't it. You would be better off buying fast food than this stuff. Even at $7 per plate it isn't worth it. I've had plenty of good Thai food at reasonable prices, but Dao isn't worth the trip.
(2)
Stephanie K.

Update 12/23: My work friends and I went to Dao for lunch one day. It was a blustery, winter day, and I thought soup would really hit the spot. Since there was only one size of soup on the menu, I asked the waitress if there was a smaller size - she said no, so one of my friends said he'd share the dish with me. So, when we ordered, we asked for two bowls, and she refused, saying that if we wanted soup for two, we'd have to get the bigger size. At that, I decided that I wouldn't get the soup at all, so I just defaulted to Pad Thai. For the rest of the meal, I got attitude from this waitress. Including the response to my question of whether there were any specials (which is VERY common in Asian restaurants, especially at lunchtime): "Everything is special." Personally, I don't find that response witty at all - I think it's rude of both the waitress and the restaurant to not offer any deals at the lunch hour. So, my 3-star review dropped to a 1-star review. And like many others on Yelp, if I could give it zero, I would. Never going back, there are many other businesses I'd rather give my hard-earned money to. __________________________ On a beautiful day during the Chicago summer, Dao is a great place to grab a table on their patio and eat outside. They have a full Thai menu--and everything looked good. The food came quickly and we were out in less than an hour and for less than $20 for two people. Next time I dine at Dao, I'm going to check out the cool seating Chris O. describes in his review.
(1)
Lisa B.

This is definitely the prettiest Thai restaurant I've ever been to. The walls are covered with Asian artifacts, but the effect is lovely, not so busy it would give you a headache. Some of the seating is in a long banquette with holes cut through for your feet -- this requires a little climbing and can be tricky if you're wearing a skirt. The food is quite good too, and reasonably priced for the prime location. I have only gone for lunch, and have had no problems with service or refills.
(4)
JB M.

Very middle of the road. Not bad, necessarily, but really couldn't be more unexciting. I wish there was another Thai option within walking distance to work.
(2)
Eric V.

Dao Thai? More like, "Don't Try". Sorry if that's harsh, but when your fiancee is half Thai you figure out what good Thai food really tastes like. The Pad See Eiw was bland and dull, the noodles were mushy, and the chicken was dry. One star for the food (only cause I have to) and one star because they deliver.
(2)
Jesse C.

Pad woon sen and yum woon sen both good. Pad thai strangely bad, spring rolls worse. Service so-so.
(2)
Amanda Z.

I'm Thai - this is good, authentic Thai food. Tons of options, everything I've tried is great and fresh ingredients. I've never eaten in the restaurant, but get delivery often and they are SUPER quick! This is a regular take-out option for me and I would suggest it to anyone who likes AUTHENTIC Thai food.
(4)
Michael D.

It's OK - one of the better options in the area for some fairly cheap grub, and the curries are good (as other yelpers have noted). The atmosphere is OK - very straightforward type of place. Do sit in the middle section if you're able. The service is good, although we've had some problems getting drinks in a reasonable amount of time.
(3)
Larry B.

4 stars because of atmosphere and price. Sure, the food is 3 stars, but it is very cheap and much better than typical take out. I love sitting in the middle risen floor on the Thai cushions while I eat. I go back to this place a lot, no complaints.
(4)
Jennifer K.

This is a low-key Thai Restaurant, cheap and delicious. No, it's not the best Thai restaurant, but for what you're paying, it's def worth it. Since it's so close to the AMC and Dominick's, it's a great place to rewind and enjoy a simple meal. Their curry and noodles dishes are excellent, especially when accompanied by their Thai iced tea. You won't pay more than $10 for an entree and a beverage.
(3)
Antonio A.

Hit and miss. Always order what you already tried for it's very risky. I always eat here whenever I'm in Chicago, but the few times I tried to give the other items a chance I always end up disappointed. The fried rice is good, noodles are all not ok!!!! The best was the phad thai and it's just average - have not tried the curry. I always get fried chicken at dominicks and eat their fried rice.
(3)
Nancy C.

Ordered several appetizers and all were mediocre except for the dumplings. At least those were good. I ordered pad thai and it was disgustingly sweet. I couldn't even eat most of it. It felt like a dessert rather than an entree. Also ordered green tea martini which was also saturated with sugar. Overall was disappointing. Skip it!
(2)
Chloe R.

This place is bloat haven! Me and 2 coworkers stopped in here for lunch. Little did we know we were going to be bloated from all the sodium 30 minutes later. I guess we didn't have to finish our plates but seriously I have NEVER felt like that after Thai food. I order the spicy basil chicken which was tasty but lacked serious veggies except for the warm mushy tomatoes... ewww! It took me the rest of the day, a gallon of water and some serious boot camp action to get me somewhat feeling comfortable again.
(2)
Sarah A.

Went on a Friday night. Not crowded at all. Ordered the following: Pad Thai - aweful. smells like sweat Shrimp Tom Yum Soup - decent Crab Rangoon - WAY too creamy and not enough crab Roasted duck - terrible AND it was an odd color of red not the typical brown skin. Beef Curry Panang Nue - aweful. more peanut butter than a whole can of skippy. Go to Lincoln Park's "Aroy Thai". Everything is delicious there!
(1)
Renee B.

I'm surprised there aren't better reviews for this place! Dao Thai is hands down my favorite Thai in the city. Everything I've had from Pad Thai to Curries (and they know how to do a spicy curry right) has been delicious.
(5)
L E.

The most veggie-laden, healthy & light food within several blocks in the 'hood! Servers speak English well, & always get the order perfectly when placing takeout orders over the phone. Entrees lack protein, but I'll dismiss the chicken little for the variety & crispness of their veggies they overload into those reusable (yes!) takeout containers. No discounts or coupons, but the consistency & quality of service, food, & timely preparation will trump a marginal savings via Valpak!
(5)
Sincer J.

Food is decent, service is absolutely HORRIBLE. Don't even think about bringing a group of people (six or more), because it is just WAY too much work for them. Don't bother with this place, they don't deserve your money with the way they treat you. You should go to 900/950 N. Michigan Ave for Thai food- food is much better and service is great!
(1)
susan f.

3.5 to 4 stars - bad service, awesome food Went to Dao Thai on a Monday night around 9 PM. The place was packed and the service was awful. BUT, the food was some of the best Thai I've had outside Thailand. We ordered the shumai, the potstickers and the pad thai. Nothing terribly adventurous. We were tired after a long conference and needed comfort food. The wrap on the potstickers was paper thin and tasted fresh and home-made. The pork filling was flavorful and delicious. Ditro for the shumai. The pad thai was simple and also tasted like a home-cooked meal. If I lived in Chicago, I'd certainly go back and try more dishes.
(3)
Miss B.

First time here. Ordered online for pick up, showed up transaction went seamlessly. The place was vibrant with activity and smelt delish. The seating is adorable it made me wish I hadn't ordered to go. Took my food back to the office, I ordered the Kai Kra Tiem Chicken, and spring rolls. First time I've had this and I must say very delicious. Spring rolls are standard, the sauces they come with are outstanding. Overall, a magnificent find with Dao. I'm looking forward to going back soon!
(4)
Michael M.

I went to Dao Thai last weekend based on a friend's recommendation. We were all at the Windy City Wine Festival, and we were all getting quite hungry. Dao is nicely decorated, and the patio (where we sat) is perfect when the weather is nice. The appetizers were very good, especially the crab rangoon which was freshly cooked and served at just the right temperature. I had the Pad Woon Sen which was excellent. The noodles were cooked to the perfect consistency, and they definitely did not skimp on the meat. My fiancee had the red curry chicken, and as soon as she took her first bite, I could see that she was not ready for how spicy it was. I tried it and I will attest to the heat factor. We are used to spice but this was on a whole new level. All in all, it was a good experience and if we are downtown and in the mood for Thai, we will be heading to Dao.
(4)
Cathy G.

Wow. This was the worst Thai food I have actually ever had ...and I have loved Thai food for years. I remember Star of Siam as being passable...and this place is run by the same folks. I had a Vietnamese Spring roll - the rice wrap was thick and gummy, the sprouts were canned..no joke, the pork was positively scary and the sauce they gave me was made from gravy-in-a-jar with some sort of additive...the cucumber salad was at least not toxic- hard to mess up Thai cucumber salad. Rice was gloppy like overcooked Uncle Bens even though I had ordered Jasmine rice. Oh and did I mention this awful array of food cost me almost 9 dollars at lunch? Dreadful.
(1)
E H.

Pad Thai is ok. Cashew chic was pretty good. What's up with no free rice with your lunch?
(3)
Da J.

Dao is definitely the closest Thai restaurant, and makes very decent curries. It accommodated our very large (14+?) group for lunch without a reservation, and without becoming too disgruntled.
(4)
Andrew T.

Only equivalent is Thai Sookdee in Evanston. This place is great for a quick pad-see-ew fix downtown. My buddy likes it "extra dark, extra crispy" to make sure it's well done. Perfect blend of sweetness, without overpowering the brown sauce. Sometimes I order other stuff and I always wish I'd gotten the pad-see-ew. Once I was boozin' here and forgot my ID, he was going to hook me up anyway before I found it in the end. Patio could be nice on a nice day. All the other restaurants in the area cost much more..
(4)
David S.

I love Dao. The food is fresh and flavorful. They are flexible with food customization (therefore veganizable) and have those crazy leg hole tables. Heh. The service is spotty though. Twice i've ordered a beer and they completely forgot it!
(4)
Helena D.

This is the best Thai restaurant in town for Pad Kra Prao with Beef -- it's like Beef Pepper Steak, but spicy and with basil leaves. Incredibly delicious and not the least bit sweet (I tend to gravitate towards salty foods.) I've dined in the restaurant with friends and love the unique seating arrangements. Their soups are so good and incredible in size - you could have a bowl of the Shrimp Wonton Soup and not eat anything else - with the drop of sesame oil, it is a beautiful melody of flavors that will whisk you to Southeast Asia...We are well-traveled and definite foodies and we stand behind these two dishes in particular. Their potstickers are solid and tasty, as are the Vietnamese Spring Rolls which are fresh, served cold, and fantastic with a bit of the spicy soy sauce. Don't overlook dessert - they also serve green tea and coconut ice cream. It's so good, we get food delivered (lightning quick) or dine there several times a month.
(5)
Ziggy I.

(If only Yelp allowed half-star ratings... I'd like to give this place 4.5 stars, and 5 seems excessive, so 4 stars will have to do. Rating breakdown: 4 on food, 5 on service) I was surprised to see that Dao Thai only received 3 stars on Yelp, as it's easily the best Thai restaurant in River North/Streeterville these days--and this isn't just because the competition is weak/scarce. It's also quite reasonably priced, and I think two dollar signs is a bit of an exaggeration of the actual price range--almost everything is under $9. While its sister restaurant, Star of Siam (Illinois between State and Wabash), unfortunately has been in something of a decline in recent years, Dao has more than picked up the slack. I've been to Dao four or five times and have never been let down. The restaurant is usually busy, but the space is ample (not to mention attractive) and the staff seem especially adept at managing crowds and keeping wait times to a minimum; I've never had to wait, even at peak dinner hour on a weekend. The SERVICE is prompt, courteous, and flexible. A friend and I once lingered for several hours before close, working on a project, and our waitress was kind enough to offer us an outlet to plug in our laptop--talk about consideration that goes above and beyond! The FOOD is consistently very good, and my sampling of a range of curries, rice dishes, noodle dishes, soups, and appetizers allows me to say with great confidence that there are no weaknesses on Dao's menu. I've also had drinks from their BAR, and Dao doesn't mess around when it comes to booze. Always doubly refreshing when a restaurant's default is to make drinks good n' stiff without having to be asked. Some highlights: the pad see eiw and pad woon sen are always done to perfection, never gooey and always loaded with vegetables and tofu (or the meat of your choice, if that's your bag; there's an extra charge for shrimp, but show me a Thai place where that isn't the case and I'll eat my hat); the curries (particular standouts are the Penang and green curries) are tangy, balanced, and are always spiced to order; the Vietnamese spring rolls are some of the best I've had in the city; and the Mai Thai is strong enough to stand up for itself. Great food and great value in the heart of downtown. Highly recommended.
(4)
Jacob M.

I stumbled into this place while I was walking back to my hotel while at a conference in March '10. I was craving some vegetarian cuisine as I was tired of just eating salads and pizza, the typical during conferences for me. It was lunch time mid-week and because I was a by myself I was seated immediately. The decor was nice, and staff friendly. I ordered the spring roll, and the Lard Nar with tofu. The veggie spring roll was different and not much to my tastes. However, when I got the Lard Nar I was in heaven. It was hands down the best Lard Nar I have ever had. I was very upset after only being able to conquer half of it, as I didn't have a fridge at the hotel to store the left overs. On my next trip to Chicago, I will definitely be coming back. My only concern was the price, as it was a bit more than I am used to paying for the same food, but the quality of the dish made it all worth it.
(4)
Anonymous F.

When did Dao get so bad? I used to love going here when I first moved to the area. I took a brief hiatus from the place, and when I started going back all the food was bad. The food tasted really cheap and...my pad see ew smelled funny. It was weird. One of my friends' rice tasted like rubber, it had probably been sitting in the rice cooker for a few hours. How do you screw up rice?? It's cheap, and the decor is nice, but the food sucks.
(2)
Chris O.

I tried their Tom Yum (spicy Shrimp soup) and thought it was very, very good -- almost as good as the real thing I've had in Bangkok. The portion size was huge and the price was reasonable. (The same bowl of soup in my hometown of Houston costs approximately twice as much and everything up in Chicago is usually more expensive.) The atmosphere is very nice. Tons of thai artifacts litter the walls. In the middle of the restaurant there is a unique sitting arrangement where the tables are positioned in square cutout holes in carpet covered wooden platorm that rises about a foot to a foot and a half off the ground. When you walk in, you think diners are sitting Indian style, but they are in fact sitting on the platform with their feet dangling under the tables in the coutouts. For an appetizer I had their spicy beef skewers. To me they were a little on the tough and crusty side. I'm thinking they are supposed to be that way, but I wouldn't order them again. They are almost like beef jerkey on a stick. I believe they have a sister restaruant on Clark St. It was equally as good.
(4)
Deirdre L.

Why can't I give ZERO stars? Yick. Yes it was inexpensive compared to other places in the area, but it was disgusting. Chicken Satay had weird seasoning and was still pink in the middle.. The marinade/seasoning on the chicken kinda smelled like an Indian curry rather than the traditional Thai Satay seasonings. Not good. The Vietnamese spring rolls had the icky, scary processed Chinese pink BBQ pork in them instead of crab and the plum sauce was outright bad. My friend's egg roll wasn't much different from the ones in your local grocers freezer. Not good at all. I'm definitely not the world's pickiest eater and I couldn't take more than a bite of anything. Won't order from here again. Never. Ever. Ever. If I hadn't eaten in days, I probably still not would not eat here. +++ Update 8/7+++ 2 Months later and my stomach still turns a little when I think about the food we got from here. I just cannot tell you how icky it was. Gross. Seriously.
(1)
Jeanine S.

this place does in a pinch, a pinch being stuck at work. their pad thai is how i like it, but the red curry with tofu is lacking a bit. so is the tom yum soup. a friend of mine won't eat here anymore becuase he broke out in hives after eating the rama chicken- and isn't allergic to peanuts! the patio is nice-when its actually open. but being said that i stop in here for my lunch break from work once in a while, just because i wear hospital scrubs and/or come for a table for one does not mean i need to be placed at the worst table to hear all the clamor of the kitchen.
(2)
Elizabeth P.

Love this place - it's near work so I've been here several times. My boyfriend lives out of town and wants to eat here every time he visits....that should tell you something. I've had several of these dishes and they were all good. They tend to be very busy at lunch so if you go, try to get there early or decide to go late to miss the rush.
(4)
Barry M.

Have to agree with the consensus below -- average (at best) Thai food in a decent environment. The one big plus is that it is by far the cheapest dinner I've had in the city (outside an obligatory hot dog or fast food indulgence every now and again). Like a movie that got not-so-great reviews, go in with low expectations and you won't be disappointed.
(2)
A.S. V.

I first started going here when there was a movie theater a couple doors down. I go here for convenience, and often wish I was at my beloved Thai Classic instead, which is about 20% cheaper and BYOB. Dao is fine, except I can't get over how they can screw up Pad Thai. It's way too sweet, and last time I couldn't even finish it, which was a first.
(3)
Johanna C.

The service sucks - expect to ask for water or other items several times before you have to get up and get it yourself. The food isn't that great either - bland or just not so good. The food is priced between $5 - $10 for an entree. You can get better Thai for that price. The deck area is a nice place to sit but get ready for your waiter to forget about you if you're sitting up there.
(1)
Clare D.

I have never been to the actual restaurant so this is for their delivery. It is great and cheap thai food. They have this chicken over broccoli with this peanut sauce which is to die for. That is the reason I am giving them four stars. Their pad thai is great for the price. Egg rolls are not that special.
(4)
Kara M.

going to NW we get a lot of dao for lunch. it's good food though, I really like the pad thai, different than any other pad thai i've ever had but it's really good. their prices are a little steep so I rarely go here. only the free stuff for me! i like it though!
(4)
Dario B.

Tables are pretty fancy and food is good. Price is cheap, the deal is done.
(3)
Suz C.

I was really surprised to see all the negative reviews. I think this is a great Thai restaurant, never crowded, quick service, and delicious food. I've never had a bad meal or deficient service here. I think the prices are reasonable, the location is unbeatable, and the fact that it is not overrun with tourists is even better. I agree with John F. that Dao does the pad thai, pad see eiw, curry and rama chicken the best. I think the spring rolls are great, too. A good, quick pick before you head to River East 21 to catch a flick.
(4)
Eric L.

Food is decent hear, although most of the dishes are very simple. My fav is the beef pepper steak and phad see eu Price are also very reasonable. Only issue is the decor is unattractive and the place feels a bit dirty.
(3)
Terry N.

This place can be great on one day and bad the next. If you can beat the lunch rush you'll get served rather quickly. On some days when it's rather busy I'll be sitting waiting for my check for quite a while before going to get it myself from the front. About the food, the noodles and curries are usually pretty good, although I didn't particularly care for their Tom Yum soup.
(3)
J F.

Average service, decent food, but if you live close to the area, it's a great place to grab some thai food because they make the food fast for eat-in or take-out. You can always count on the pad thai, pad see eiw, yellow curry, and rama chicken. Price is usually around 7 bucks.
(3)
Gerry T.

This place is our favorite Thai restaurant, parking may be tricky and if you can take it to go, that's a good option as well. Our favorites are pad Thai chicken, beef pad see ewe, tom yum soup with chicken and Green curry with chicken. The servings are generous and they are very quick with having your tasty order ready for you. I also enjoy sprinkling their hot sauce on all of my food, it's a nice blend of hot and tanginess for some of the sweeter dishes. Before heading back to I-94, we stop by Garrett's popcorn (Right around the block) for a medium blend (cheese and caramel). My fingers are nice and orangey when we get home, perfect timing for Thai food from Dao's. :)
(5)
Michelle C.

I was famished after 6 hours of traveling.... I needed a beer and some food ASAP at 9PM on a Wednesday night when I came across this restaurant. It had a very casual ambiance- it's nothing fancy, but comfortable. I was greeted and sat right away at a small but clean, simple table. A server came to drop off the menu. She didn't greet me or try to explain the menu. She left before I could place my drink order. She returned when I was on the phone- demanded that I order... I got a beer and pad thai with shrimp. The beer was dropped by a second server, and my food was delivered by a third server. After 10 minutes, no one came by to see how the food was. The only person that came by was yet a fourth server who wanted to see if he can take my tray of condiments (pepper flakes, soy sauce, mustard, etc). Pad thai was okay- there were 5 pieces of shrimp. It wasn't very fresh- you can taste the fishiness when you bite in. But for $7.95 (+$2 for shrimp), I guess I can't complain too much! If you want to get in and out and don't care about having a dining "experience", this is a good, cost-effective place to fill up. But if you're looking for good, attentive service or are on a date on a Friday night, I'd suggest that you find another place.
(3)
Mike R.

This place really is your standard Thai place. While the interior can be kind of cool, part of it seems to be getting outdated pretty fast. The first time I had this place was a few years ago and I remember it being better. I had it recently again and things seemed to not be very great. While it is certainly not bad, there are certainly better Thai places out there than this. Average Thai food.
(3)
Lola K P.

This is a good place if you're in the area and really want some Thai food - it's decent, it's done up in generic Thai decor, and it's got good prices especially for this area, covering that very neglected budget segment here in Tourist Central between fussy expensive restaurants and cheap fast food.
(3)
Lizzy L.

My favorite part: tables built into the floor so that you swing your feet in and sit inside a box-like area. Not so favorite part: the curry made with peanut butter. It was so thick and peanut butter-y that I had to take it home because it was so heavy! We ordered brown rice to go with the curry and I don't think they charged extra for brown vs. white rice which was a plus. My friend ordered the won ton noodle soup and loved it though. The food did arrive pretty fast and I liked the decor and atmosphere despite the not so great curry.
(3)
Heather L.

It is not easy to find a sit down restaurant two blocks from Michigan Avenue with dinner entree prices below $10. In fact, if you know of a place, I'd love to hear it. So when I'm downtown looking for cheap eats at a restaurant that will bring my food to me, here I come. I'm not saying this is the best Thai you will ever eat but it's good and they have a fun atmosphere with this cheesy cut out seating that makes you feel like you are sitting on the floor but you aren't and that's a good thing. My favorite is the pad see ewe beef and the Tom yum chicken soup. Singapore with squid is also decent as is the pad Thai. The spring rolls are good but ask for the sweet and sour sauce on the side or they will drown it. And to wash it all down, the Long Island ice tea packs a punch. This would get two to three stars elsewhere but by virtue of price at that location, they get four.
(4)
Anais T.

Food is amazing...I had the pad Thai chicken.....big portion... My son n I ate ...n we had leftovers.....price was good 2
(5)
J B.

Went to this place as recommended by a friend. Suprisingly, it is a few blocks away from michigan avenue, (aka magnificent mile). upon entering, We were delighted by the homey thai ambiance in the restaurant. A waiter quickly ushered us to the tables in the center (as we requested). We ordered the massaman curry, pad thai, as well as crab rangoons for apetizers and thai iced tea as a beverage. Now here's what I think: 1.) Crab Rangoons - Minus one star because of this. Their crab rangoons aren't what I expected; It was oily and what I could taste was a plain cheese stuffing, contrary to other thai restaurants where additional ingredients (such as crab meat) are added into the dish. Dipping sauce was so-so, it seems that the cheese stuffing and the dipping sauce didn't please my taste buds that much! 2.) Pad Thai - JUST PERFECT! From the texture of the noodles to the serving portion, as well as the toppings and meat (i chose chicken) made this dish superb! Not having too much spices (and just the right amount) made the dish a joy to eat using chopsticks. 3.) Massaman curry - I couldn't say much about the curry because it's what my friend ordered. Bit according to her, it's the second time she ordered that dish and it was to die for. :) I wish I did try it in the first place! 4.) Thai Iced Tea - just one of my many, favorite beverages i would order in an asian restaurant. With Just the right amount of milk and tea, ( and sweetness) it complements my pad thai meal for lunch. Our food came within 10 minutes (or even less) of ordering. Staff is courteous and prompt. I suggest taking tables in the center of the restaurant, gives you a thai-like experience while enjoying your dish. =)
(4)
Jonathan N.

Dear Thai Place, You have effectively ruined my life, as now my girlfriend wants thai food non-stop. So from the bottom of my heart let me thank you for adding peanut butter to her curry. Now she eats curry and associated asian foods nonstop.
(5)
Ana C.

Worst excuse for thai I have ever had. First of all I had to wait 30 minutes for a take out order. Got home and it was wrong- I should have checked. The spring rolls fell apart and we're tasteless. They did not include the sauce. The lab gai was overcooked and again tastless. The pad thai was the palest I have ever seen - the whole dish was a pale yellow. Not sure the tofu was cooked and again tasteless. Please do not ever go there!
(1)
Jennie C.

OK when in a pinch. This is one of few Thai places near my work. I like the pad woon sen and pad khee mao. Flavors tend to be sweeter than Argyle Thai places. Good portion for the price in this neighborhood. Service is always attentive and efficient.
(3)
Patrick G.

This is the world's okayest Thai food. Generous portions. Polite staff. Nice decor. They play a top 40 radio station, which is bizarre. Food is decent.
(2)
Libby P.

Went to this place craving drunken noodles(mixture of thin rice noodles, veggies, and full of flavor and spice). Walked in to an empty restaurant aside from one couple on the patio and several employees. Decor was strange, abundant, and confusing. Menu pricing seemed reasonable but the beverages weren't priced... Ordered the tom yum soup and Pad Woon Sen. Soup was enough for 3-4 which our server pointed out, but I still ordered and he was thrown off that I ordered more. My friend and I both got the Pad Woon Sen and requested it to be made spicy. My soup had amazing flavor but was a bit different than some tom yum soup I've had and the noodles were flavorless and had one shrimp strategically placed on top. Had to add a ton of chili sauce, soy, and fish sauce just to be at all worthy of eating. The chicken was pretty dry and flavorless. Our servers(not sure which one was our actual server but had 3 people at our table throughout the meal) were not attentive and when our bill arrived we requested it be split respectively between 3. My friends discovered why they don't list pricing on their mediocre cocktails... $10-12 and they were watered down and not mixed properly. Probably won't be back... Good luck!
(2)
Catherine S.

This was a wonderful remedy for my sinuses! The Tom Kha KHA Soup, Massaman Curry, and the Pad Thai were all very good. The portions were plentiful filling us up and leaving leftovers to go. The staff was attentive and friendly. Their decor was nice with both eastern and western seating.
(4)
Ermelinda C.

I have been back here twice already and have really enjoyed my food both times. The crab rangoon appetizer and the vegetable rolls are an easy and delicious sway to prepare your stomach for that delicious Thai food! You cannot go wrong here whether you order fried rice, curry or noodle dishes. The Pad Thai and the vegetable fried rice are two of my favorite dishes here.
(3)
Lynette H.

The food is fine. Good.. But Nothing special about it. It's close by so my husband and I have eaten at the restaurant a few times. Our go to is Yellow Chicken Curry (the veggies don't seem fresh) and Pad Se Eiw. Never order here for delivery. It will take almost two hours for it to arrive and their delivery person cannot figure out how to use a call box. If you want to get food from here I suggest picking it up on your way home.
(2)
Tarek E.

Hands down the best crab rangoons I had. Friendly and timely service, with a wide selection. Price was very reasonable. So why not 5*? For the lack of a duck meat option on the noodles, and for using way too much eggs. Regardless, I'm making this place my go to Thai food spot when I'm watching movies at AMC downtown.
(4)
connie l.

Food never disappoints. The service is much better than it used to be. Good sized portions.
(4)
Sal M.

Great and friendly service,picked up dinner from here and tried their Pineapple Rice with Chicken & Beef and some Pad See Ew with shrimp (huge shrimp). Fast service and great food.
(4)
Jill L.

I was disappointed with my pad thai. This place gave me a pad thai that was only slightly a little better than what you can get from Noodles & Co (and that's not saying much). I didn't see any nuts, just a few slivers of chives, and not a lot of bean sprouts. It was mostly noodles. I expected a whole lot more since 1) it's supposedly a Thai restaurant, 2) we're in Chicago, such a foodie area! (I've had better pad thai from a little town in Michigan)
(2)
Tahsin I.

Went here last night to order take out with cousin, so purely judging on the food here. Take out staff were quick and polite, basically the normal fare. I ordered the chicken pad see eiw which my cousin highly recommended. Overall it was a mediocre experience. The pad see eiw wasn't bad by any standards but definitely nothing to write home about. Definitely was some soggy spinach as other reviewers have stated. The best thing is probably the portion size. I'm generally a big eater and I could only eat about half of my portion. So really I'd recommend this to anyone who wants some decent or mediocre Thai food with large portions. I'd be willing to come here again and maybe try something other than the pad see eiw.
(3)
Catherine W.

Probably about 3.5 stars. Got takeout here. Easy online ordering makes it convenient. The Pad See Ew and the Pad Thai were great. Also tried 2 entrÃ©e dishes (eggplant) and a beef with peppers dish (just okay). Portions a bit on the small side.
(3)
Najah H.

Takeout kinda night. It really wasn't that bad. Got the crazy spicy noodles and some shrimp egg rolls. The chicken was a kinda dry but noodles were yum and had a nice kick to it.
(3)
Sahar M.

Simply terrible!!! Well let me correct, food can sometimes be delicious and that is why I gave it two stars. Service however is terrible!!! If u want to know RUDE, you better get this place a chance. We ordered egg rolls which came out frozen. When I called the waiter to tell her, she started arguing with me that I am the only one who said that. Daaaaa, others might got heated properly! My boyfriend ordered Mussaman curry. He finished his rice and asked for more. Instead, our waitress said there is an extra charge for it, do you still want it???? I live in the neighborhood and love Thai food but I will never ever go back!!!!!!
(2)
Chris T.

I've been here a few times now, not because it's the best Thai place, but because it's dirt cheap, great service, and you can always get seated. It' pretty standard Thai food. On my most recent outing I got the Pad Num Prik Pao (Chicken Supreme) and my friend got the Pad See Eiw. Both were good, but nothing to write home about. Fairly average I'd say. I don't think anyone would ever be disgusted or grossly disappointed with anything they get here.
(3)
Erin D.

The mini egg rolls were terrible because they had no taste. I ordered the Tom yum noodle soup, and when I got to the hotel, I didn't get the right soup. Instead, I received the chicken broth soup. The noodles were hard by the time I reached the hotel less than a ten minute walk away. They'd congealed so much even the scalding hot soup (burned my tongue) wasn't able to separate the noodles. I've done takeout for noodle soups plenty of times and haven't had a problem elsewhere. I threw away the noodle soup and two egg rolls. What a waste!
(2)
Chris K.

I have been here several times, and the staff has always been very fast and friendly (they always keep the glass full, give a big "thank you and have a nice day" on the way out), and the food is consistently good. Appetizers and entrees are very well priced and the decor is memorable.
(4)
Alissa S.

It isn't my favorite Thai place in the city.. or even the neighborhood. It is big inside and they have a section where you can sit Thai style.. so basically you sit on the floor and the your feet dangle under the table... if I'm not explaining that well I mean that its kinda cool. The food is decent but I think Thai Spoon which is a little more northwest is better (its close to water tower)
(3)
Shannon C.

I work in a building on the same block and its ultra-convenient. I pretty much always get the Pad See Eiw (with beef) because its just really good. Nice ample portions, great meat to noodle ratio, and always hot and fresh. Usually takes about 15 minutes (or less). The staff is friendly, quick, and accurate. Honestly, I find that most Thai restaurants are not as good as the ones that opened up in Chicago 15 years ago (when I first started eating Thai). People no longer stir fry the broad noodles before lumping them into the sauce and some of the punchier flavors tend to be missing. That being said, this place is solid. Don't expect anything you haven't had before, but you'll be pleased.
(4)
Chris R.

I forgot that I already wrote a review for this place, but it was so bad that I remembered it even now. Literally the worst Thai food I've ever had.
(1)
Laura S.

Cute place. The food was delicious. I asked for clear noodles and my friend for pad thai and was everything so tasty. If I was not living in Seattle, I will come back more times. The staff also is nice and polite.
(5)
Diane H.

Probably one of the most "not so good" Thai food I've eaten in a long time. Panang was flavorless and just heat. Nice enough atmosphere. Hoping my leftovers will taste better tomorrow!
(2)
Kate K.

Dao is a pretty basic quick Thai place, very clutch for delivery, when hungover, etc. I've tried a couple of their entrees and noodles and enjoyed all of them. All of the dishes I've had have lots of vegetables that seem very fresh. I've only had Dao delivered, but it's pretty fast, low delivery minimum and their entrees are all pretty cheap ($7-10). I've found that even their "spicy" menu items are not very spicy, but they always include styrofoam bowls of hot sauce so I can't complain.
(3)
Michelle P.

Great for take out since I live across the st. Their soup is my go-to comfort food!!
(4)
Mark S.

I come here fairly often because I live about two blocks away and the dishes are so cheap compared to other restaurants in the area. I usually get my meals to go which only takes around 5-10 minutes - it's pretty quick. I'd say the food is average; I've had better Thai food, and I've definitely had worse. I can't really complain because of how cheap the food is. My favorite dishes are the Cashew Chicken and the fried rice dishes. The portions are also large despite the low price - I usually save some for a snack later.
(3)
Laci B.

Cute place! I got the half carafe of Chardonnay and it was a great deal! The mussaman chicken curry was thick and creamy and it was a huge portion. You do need to order rice on the side, unlike many other Thai places. The panang was equally as tasty, but a bit spicier. The attire of the wait staff was cute... Our waitress had a cute kitten tie which I thought was a little personality addition. She also was very conversational. Clean bathrooms! I'd come back.
(4)
Dalveender S.

If there is - star, I would have given them. Waited 40 minutes for the food to arrive, other guests were served first, when prompted them they said other guests ordered appetizers but then what about my tom yam soup ordered way earlier? Other guests that walked in 30 minutes later got their tom yam soup first. The food served were below average. Hope to see major improvements.
(1)
Strtrvl C.

As people like to say, I wish I could give zero (or even negative) stars. I was tasked with ordering food from here to be delivered for a work meeting of seven people. I called the day before to place the order, ran through it at least a couple times to ensure accuracy, and paid in advance. I even called again the next day to confirm. When the food arrived several people's orders were partially or completely missing. Looking at the barely legible order ticket, I could see that a couple of the items were never even written down, despite going over the order multiple times. I had to call them to bring all of the missing items and they actually had the gall to charge me more money in spite of ruining half our meeting attendees' lunches and causing general chaos (I had to spend the entire meeting dealing with this issue and was not able to participate). None of the employees I spoke with were polite or helpful. The customer service was atrocious. It goes without saying that we will never order from this restaurant ever again.
(1)
Nick N.

Great food, friendly waitstaff, and reasonable prices. The crab rangoon is the best I've had and the Pad Thai is very enjoyable. Parking outside is tough, you may have to walk a few blocks or pay a parking lot for parking, so plan ahead.
(5)
Jessica D.

AMAZING Thai. It was a freezing cold Black Friday and we took refuge here, not knowing what to expect. I was so excited when I saw our fried tofu appetizer and my fresh squeezed lemonade make their way over to me. And nothing warms me up better than an asian noodle soup, I picked the shrimp wonton and bbq pork with soup. I couldn't help myself and I also got the lychees on ice--one of my all time favorite desserts. The decor is really lovely with a touch of ethnic and lots of hand-painted art on the pillars and walls. The restrooms are passable and everything works, well lit. The restaurant's many square sit-in tables are comfy if you don't have two toddlers from the next table over hitting you in the kidneys over and over again -- but gotta love little pink British toddlers, yea? MMM yum yum yum I will definitely be back if I'm in the neighborhood.
(5)
Cheryl K.

Best Thai I've ever had but I'm not exactly a foodie. Love the atmosphere, love the service and the Mussaman Curry really is the best food in the world, as the menu says.
(5)
Shelby J.

We got the Pad See Ew and the Pad Thai. Both were just fine with us. We got them to go. I'm used to a different sort of Pad Thai with more sauce for it. This one had just some chili sauce to pour over it. And a lemon on the side to squeeze onto it. I'm used to having either more sauce to put on it, or it already in the sauce. But that was no biggie, as it was still tasty. The Pad See Ew was salty and sweet tastiness, it had bok choy instead of broccoli, I liked that addition. Overall this place is just what the review states, "A-OK." Though, I still really really miss my west coast Thai food.
(3)
Peter N.

Actually ate here due to a last minute change. The place looks old and dingy. The people here did not speak english well and got my order wrong. The food was not that great, but edible. Hopefully I do not have to eat here again.
(3)
Andrew A.

Very midwestern 1990s Americanized Thai food. If you like someplace like Sticky Rice, or any of the better Thai places that all seem to be in Lincoln Square, you will be disappointed. I was.
(2)
Christina S.

My pad see eew obsession moves to Chicago! My parents and I stopped in here because it was one block from our hotel. The restaurant is adorable, brightly lit with a good mix of people. I ordered my pad see eew with chicken and waited excitedly for my food. My noodles were just a little bit too sweet, with not enough egg and not enough veggies. There was hardly a hint of garlic, but the noodles themselves were pretty awesome. Not amazing. But not horrible.
(3)
Evie H.

Convenient Thai restaurant in the heart of a touristy area. My pad see-ew was okay, nothing too special and pretty standard. The only thing I didn't like was that instead of American broccoli, they used Chinese broccoli which just didn't taste well with the noodles. The veggies were slightly bitter too. The other dishes looked pretty good so I'll have to try those if I come again, but for now, 3 stars is just about right. The ambiance is pretty nice inside. They have regular seating tables as well as more Asian style booths.
(3)
William H.

I agree with the other reviewer who put this at 3.5 stars. It's very OK Thai good. The "chicken massaman curry" fell very flat, but our other two dishes were pretty good. Plenty of room here for improvement.
(3)
Giang N.

The food is really tasty. love the squid salad :)
(4)
G Love S.

The service was just ok. They made us wait for a table in a non busy restaurant for a long time for no reason other than no one wanted to seat us. The Pad Thai is not good. They break the noodles before they cook them. That means it is extremely hard to eat and the noodle to sprout ratio is way off. It's also not flavorful. We also had the beef and broccoli which was for sure not flavored with anything, my four year old wanted to add spice to it. The basil chicken was pretty good. However, the water they give you when you sit down has a unique flavor that water usually does not have. I would suggest they buy a Brita ASAP. I never buy water in a restaurant and had to when we ate there.
(2)
Amy L.

I've been here several times during different times of the day and the food is great each time. Service is ok, but mostly good. The staff is friendly. Decent size portions and enjoyable inside and outside atmosphere.
(4)
Steve D.

Service was very good. Food was hot, and not horrible. But definitely not good. This isn't even good as "American Thai". And nowhere close to real Thai food.
(2)
Yelp F.

Food was decent. Service was pretty bad. The Green curry had too many green chillies. Seems like they were trying to save money by replacing them for bell pepper.portion size was good. Overall okay experience.
(3)
Francis R.

SOLID. I had one goal since moving to my new place in Chicago. Find the best beef pad see eiw. Well lucky I didn't have to go too far or check out too many places! Stir-fried large rice noodle with beef, egg, Chinese broccoli and caramelized garlic soy sauce sauce cooked to perfection. Comes out fast and the price is really reasonable. Will definitely be back here many many times to come in the future. Til next time, cheers!
(5)
Alisha J.

I have always been a huge fan of Thai food and I have to say, based on the reviews for this place I was disappointed. The dishes were mediocre. The service was okay. The restaurant itself seems a little confused about what it wants to be. It's hidden off the street, so not super easy to find. We ordered pad kee mao and Thai curry, and like I said mediocre. We also ordered lychee for dessert, which was served out of a can on top of giant ice cubes in a bowl. Not exactly what I would call "worth it". Will not be returning.
(2)
Sherri O.

Not a good experience "Fresh spring rolls" are raw flour egg rolls They were rude and not helpful to switch to something edible Gross duck sauce poured all over it
(1)
David H.

This was without a doubt the single worst Thai restaurant I've ever been to anywhere in the world. Went with my wife for lunch and I got spicy basil chicken (Thai spicy) and she got the tom yum soup. It took 30 minutes to arrive despite the place being nearly empty during the lunch hour. The only thing you could taste at all was sodium from soy sauce, they used absolutely no nam pla (fish sauce) that is distinctive in what I had ordered. Instead it was not spicy at all, had no taste apart from sodium, and the best part? They put TOMATOES in my dish. What planet is this?
(1)
Amara H.

before I delve in further, I would just like to say: STAY AWAY from this place! I was visiting my brother and SIL, who live in the area, during the middle of a work week. My SIL and I finally decided to try out the nearby restaurants and get to know the area. Unfortunately, we were craving thai food and therefore stumbled upon this place. We were optimistic for a good experience given the lunch rush [although, I doubt there was a rush here] was over and it was a weekday. While the interior decor transported us to Thailand, the food did not. We started off with an appetizer. Initially, we were going to order either a vegetarian item [vietnamese spring roll] or a shrimp item. I just decided to ask if there was any meat byproduct in the items [due to my dietary restriction]. The waitress did not know and did not feel it important to ask the cooking staff. I had to therefore ask her to check. Shockingly, these items was misleading as there was meat byproduct in it [in one or both items, I cannot recall]. Therefore, we opted for the Tod Mun Pla [walleye fish cakes]. What a horrendous option. The cakes tasted stale and old, not a good combination, particularly for seafood. They also appeared/taste re-fried [that is, fried once, then frozen, then defrosted, and fried again]. We would have left at this point but we had already ordered our entrees. I ordered a fish entree [the pla-duk pad fed; I clearly ordered this before trying the appetizer] and my SIL ordered the panang chicken. The food quality was poor beyond belief. The fish was again stale and chewy. The panang chicken was essentially chicken with a peanut butter paste. We had specifically asked if there were any vegetables mixed in with the dish. It just came with steamed broccoli [likely frozen broccoli that was defrosted]. When we asked for more sauce, we had to pay extra and got a marginal amount [for how much we paid]. After this experience, I've sadly had an aversion to thai food. This restaurant has a prime location in prime real estate. Unfortunately, I don't believe there is much business here and thus the resultant poor food quality.
(1)
Asenath N.

One of my favorite Thai food places in Chicago. The place is decorated very nicely and they even have seatings where it looks like your seating on the floor and your legs are under the table. The food was very good and flavorful. I been here a couple of times and I plan to go back. I have tried different dishes on the menu and have not been disappointed yet. If you love Thai food give this place a try, they have many options for you to try!!
(4)
Padma A.

I enjoy going for a quick work lunch especially on their half off Sushi wednesdays. Food is pretty quick & tasty.Quiet enough to have a conversation.
(4)
Kelly C.

Ordered pad thai and steamed dumplings for take-out - food was decent. We ordered mild, but still filled with spicy peppers - either our palettes are sensitive or they don't really pay attention to how hot you want your food. Convenient to Prentice which was why we ordered.
(3)
Phil D.

Decent Thai restaurant, and probably one of the cheaper meals in streeterville. Went here with a bunch of friends and got to sample a variety of different dishes, including the classics(Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, Panang Curry, etc.). They also have some fusion dishes(I saw something that looked like Pho), which I would probably try to stay away from. The Pad Thai was adequate, though nothing I would really return for, and the Curry was strange in that there was a small ratio of liquid to everything else(in fact there was no curry item on the menu but this was just a curry style meat dish). That alone is a sign that it's a little suspect as an authentic Thai restaurant. Nonetheless, my drunken noodles came with mixed vegetables and proteins(chicken, beef, shrimp), and was actually fairly decent. And at $9.25, you could do far worse for dinner in streeterville. If someone is feeling Thai and doesn't want to go very far, I wouldn't complain.
(3)
Lily Z.

My coworkers decided they wanted Thai food for our upcoming staff meeting. For the group, I ordered Thai ice tea, 2 orders of crab rangoon, pot stickers and their entrees. Everything was good! The portion sizes were incredible. I felt like I hardly made a dent into my Pad See Ewe, but I think it's because I underestimated the amount of crab ragoon in each order. The papaya salad could have been a bit spicier. Overall, I think it's a solid place for takeout.
(4)
Emily J.

I moved to Chicago from Denver last spring and one of the things I was most concerned about finding here was a fantastic Thai place. I was such a frequent customer to my Denver haunt that I'm surprised if they are still in business with my absence. Dao Thai has filed the pad Thai shaped hold in my heart and I am so happy that I found this place. I get the crazy spicy noodles or the pad Thai and both have been delicious. Dao is on Grub Hub and delivery usually takes an hour but the location in Streeterville is really convenience to pick up from as well. They do a great gluten free pad Thai too! Happy eating.
(4)
Marc G.

First time visit to Chicago on business. Staying at the Fairmont (see review) and wanting to have more simple fair than the higher end hotel resturants and Steakhouses. DAO is a short walk from thr Faimont and the prices, ambience and food are spot on! Enjoyed my long island iced tea (strong) and #22 beef panukt (? ). Great meal for under $20 total Only very minor issue is they have a very wide opening from the dining area to a brightly florescent lit kitchen area full of racks, freezers and working counters. Great place for a bead cutain or partition. Any seat on the window side of the restaurant gets to stare at it.....but no biggie.
(4)
Vivian Q.

I would give a zero if there is one. Very unauthentic. The Tom yum soup is even worse then some of the frozen food I tried. Super slow as well. Forty minutes already and not one entree yet. Good location that is all I can say. Don't waste your time here
(1)
Adrian G.

Usually good, my last visit was terrible. I ordered the Tom Yum Noodle soup. I don't know what they served me but it was one of the worst things I've had at a restaurant. Read my other reviews and I try to be pretty even keel about things; rational and support reviews. This was unacceptably bad. It was NOT tom yum anything. It was overly salty chicken broth (it also tasted of old salt; salt that has been sitting in a cabinet too long and absorbing the funk of a cabinet). There was nothing sour about it and the chicken was simply bland. I'm pretty sure they just used speghetti rather than rice noodles. It was riddled with celery (which I've never run across in a tom yum noodle soup). I asked the server about it and she condescendingly suggested I didn't know what I was talking about. I love thai food and have had thai all over the world. I know the difference between "chicken noodle soup" (that's terrible) and tom yum with noodles. That said, I've been to Dao many times and this is the first of such a terrible experience. I'll go back to see what the story is and change my rating should it be better but this was a serious strike.
(2)
Haneen O.

We came here today (Christmas) after the nearby BBQ joint told us it would be 1 hour and 45 min wait. There was no wait which was nice, and the seating was unique and cute. I ordered the pad thai with shrimp and it was too sweet for my liking, plus they didn't ask for my preferred spice level so I asked for their hot chili sauce. The shrimp wasn't good and the tofu was just okay. However, the cream cheese wontons were delicious! Piping hot and crunchy. The service was okay, but it was busy so I don't really blame them.
(3)
Jill K.

We were visiting from out of state. It was a party of 4 of us. We originally requested to sit in a booth but while being escorted to our seats we our mind about our seating location. The hostess was very rude and demanded that we sit where we originally asked to be seated. Food was great. After our meal they didn't ask if we were all going to be on the same ticket but assumed we were and brought one ticket with all of us on one ticket. I told our waiter we wanted the ticket split because we were not going to be on the same ticket. He became very rude and upset and told me I should have told him in advance!
(2)
Natalka K.

Nice place for lunch or dinner off of Michigan Ave. The seating area has tables & chairs on the sides and a row of table with pillows in the middle to sit and eat which was different. Had the pad thai and steak with broccoli and noodles.
(4)
Kari H.

The staff is very friendly and understanding as they try their best to communicate with you about your order and your needs. Yay! The rama chicken tasted like it has a lot of peanut butter in it. and had too much sauce. The broccoli, however, was cooked nicely and had a nice crunch to it. The pad thai had lemon in it. Wah :(. The pad thai sauce was too sweet for me. I want lime because it tastes ... sharper? Lemon tastes sweeter and doesn't cut through the sweet and sourness of the pad thai as much as lime can. I like how they can bring a tray of different spices on for you. I wish they had labels, though, because I added a spoonful of BBQ spice to my pad thai, thinking it was red chili pepper spice. The seating at the carpeted area is fun and it's located close to nearby residential areas.
(3)
Lise S.

Dao Thai is my neighborhood go-to spot for Thai and they are terrific! I have to admit I mainly stop by and get food to go, and their staff are always friendly and quick to provide service. My favorites are: 1) Mussaman Curry - Beef or chicken in traditional homemade massaman thick curry - ask for rice. Sometimes they forget to ask/include it. 2) Pad Num Prik Pao - Stir-fried chicken breast marinated in spices and served with vegetables like baby corn, mushrooms, pea pods, etc. 3) Kai Pad Khing - Ginger Chicken - sauteed chicken breast with shredded fresh ginger, saw mushrooms, and hot peppers - yummy! Atmosphere is casual and friendly and would be a great place to bring family or groups.
(4)
Bob J.

The potstickers were outstanding and shrimp wanton and wonton/pork noodle bowls were excellent. Get the bowl with the broth soup.
(4)
Hang T.

What's up with all the bad reviews? I thought the food was pretty damn tasty. I will say that I did not sit and eat here though. My family and I ordered to go and ate at our hotel. We order potstickers, tom yum soup, beef pad see ewe, chicken fried rice, chicken satay, and papaya salad. I love everything and the portions were really good. We had leftovers. It all tasted authentic and I went in for seconds and thirds. They correctly packed up everything we ordered and provided everything that we would need: a variety of sauces, plates, utensils, etc. That helped out a lot when we had a young baby who needed constant attention. There could be no room for error. :P I think people should really try this place again. If the service is the problem, order the food to go and your problem is solved. Tip: You can place your order online with the Yelp app and it's very easy.
(5)
Shari B.

This is our local Thai restaurant which we usually order to-go. I'm definitely a fan of this restaurant because they do my favorite salad noodle dish well- Yum Woon Sen. Bean thread noodles, chicken, tomato, lettuce, tomato and a sour & sweet sauce. I always order it- it is that good. I've also had their green duck curry with rice as well as their chicken satay. All were good, no complaints.
(4)
Harsha R.

Food is below average. They refused to take back a dish which smelled and tasted very bad!!
(2)
Fan Y.

Very reasonably priced authentic Thai restuarant. I ordered a noodle dish which was very appetizing. Service was great. Tried the tom yum soup, which was still a awkwardly foreign taste to my chinese-american palate, but that was entirely my own fault. I would definitely eat here again if I am in town!
(4)
Jo C.

This restaurant is considerably cushy. I can exclaim that the interior is sumptuous! It reminds me of my last visit to Thailand. The staff is also friendly and kind as well. But the thing is when I tried their iced Thai tea is not quite authentic while claiming it as a deluxe one. Thai tea is one of my favourite beverages and unfortunately theirs is unable to meet my expectation. I ordered shrimp spring rolls as my starters and they were ridiculously yummy! And lastly, their pad Thai is sooooooo fine! I would definitely date it! I'm so glad to find this gem.
(4)
Tran M.

Really like the Thai interior. Authentic Thai restaurant, especially the Yellow curry ones. Besides Thai food, they also have some great vegie dishes for you if you just want to have some healthy slight snacks.
(3)
Joseph D.

Stayed at the Doubletree Hotel down the street and got takeout from this place. Ordered some dumplings and pad see ew with chicken and it was as a 3 star Yelp review would tell you "a-ok." Not going to light your world on fire but not going to disappoint either. Portion was generous and priced right and there was a fair amount of chicken so bonus there. Dumplings were also good served with a soy based sauce as well as a hot and sour sauce which was a nice touch. That gave what could be an otherwise plain dish a bit of a kick. If you want Thai and you're in the area, this place is fine but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to get here...
(3)
Norm J.

I have to be honest and say that Dao Thai is my go to place whenever I'm hungry, but I don't know what I want. In all the years I've been coming to Dao Thai I've never been disappointed. The food is always delicious, satisfying and filling. You can't go wrong when visiting Dao Thai. Items to try: - cream cheese crab rangoon - gyo tod (fried wantons) - spicy eggplant stir fried - pad thai - pad see eiw (with beef or chicken) - kow pad (fried rice with beef)
(4)
Bee J.

Food was hot and fresh but the service was awful!! They were rude from the time we entered the restaurant to the time we paid our check! Such a shame considering how good the meal was.
(2)
Frank O.

Got a coupon in the mailed so I gave Dao a chance. Quick delivery (20 min when you live 5 blocks away haha). The Pad Thai was pretty good and the Pad See Eiw was also solid. The Som Tum (papaya salad) had a ridiculously spicy kick to it, very surprising and too much to enjoy it. The Nam tok beef wasn't anything great, I'd skip it next time. Price with delivery and coupon was on par with places in the Loop, meaning 15% more expensive than I deem worthy.
(3)
Sue Anne C.

Really wanted this place to work :-( I called for pick up and asked if they could make the pad Thai spicy. They said yes. When I got the food I was disappointed to see that the noodles were not spicy at all; they just gave me a small container of "spicy sauce" on the side. And my search for spicy pad Thai continues....
(2)
Roxy H.

10 stars would have been my first choice! I love me some Thai! I'm always seeking out new places to get my Thai on, and I will go to specific Thai restaurants for specific purposes. Dao is my favorite Thai place to go to downtown. I love the location because it is right off Michigan Avenue and I highly recommend just about anything on the menu. I seriously come here for lunch and dinner, or order for carry out on a weekly basis. I even had dinner here on Christmas with some friends when I first moved to Chicago two years ago. I have had a chance to sample almost everything on the menu and my favorite is the: Gyoza, Shrimp Won ton Soup with extra chicken, and the Dao Noodle Delight with Tofu. Whether you're looking for stir fried noodles, curries, rice, or regional specialties, Dao has you covered. The staff is very sweet and the restaurant is decorated very nice with a fun Buddha influence. -Roxy
(5)
Sania K.

Their pad thai was horrible as well as their cashew chicken. It was loaded with tons of soya sauce so all you could really taste was sodium. Ambiance was okay.
(2)
Toby Q.

Take a tour in Chicago and find this restaurant on Yelp. Great restaurant here... Excellent price for dishes and sides. Totally will be here again.
(5)
Dave D.

Pleasant atmosphere. I had the almond beef, which was tasty and featured tender beef, plenty of green onions, and mushrooms (large portion too). I'd definitely come back.
(3)
Mint S.

We ordered food for delivery last night, they were pad kra-prao and yum woon sen. The order came pretty quick like 40 minutes. However, the food were extremely flavorless especially the yum woon sen. The glass noodles smell very awful. We went to this place for dining-in several times. The food tastes fine though. I don't know what's wrong with my order this time.
(1)
Sarena W.

Warm, satisfying food but not incredibly memorable.
(3)
Qixin H.

Horrible pad Thai and green curry. Pad see ehw noodle was tasty, but beef is too tough to bite
(2)
Tony N.

The only good thing this place has is decor. The decor seems to be nice and gives an authentic feeling. I don't know if others will even agree that the decor is good but the rest is very mediocre. The food I feel can be cooked at home without much effort. If I eat something and feel like it can be cooked at home then the restaurant has failed to produce top of the line food. But the food isn't bad so if you're lazy and don't want to cook then it's acceptable. The staff was okay as well. Overall, mediocre is all I can say, so keep trying as there is still room for improvement.
(2)
Tamara K.

We were in the mood for a late snack and saw this place open. We were given the impression that they were doing us a favor to serve us :-( Food was ok, service was terrible. Happy they were open on Christmas though.
(1)

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Address : 230 E Ohio St
Chicago, IL, 60611
Phone (312) 337-0000
Website https://www.daothai.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Dao Thai

230 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL, 60611

Dao Thai Menu

Appetizers

Soups

Salads

Entrees

Dao's Recommendations

Noodles

Noodles In Bowls

Desserts

Beverages

Imported Beers

Domestic Beers

House Wine

Healthy Meal suggestions for Dao Thai

Appetizers

Soups

Salads

Entrees

Dao's Recommendations

Noodles

Noodles In Bowls

Desserts

Beverages

Imported Beers

Domestic Beers

House Wine

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