One of the beat Thai restaurants in the city, and THE best Masuman curry. BYOB, cheap, and nice interior. Place gets crazy busy on the weekends, but there's a reason for that.
(5)
Heather H.
This is my absolute favorite Thai restaurant ever... period. In a two-block radius, I can list at least 6 other Thai places which I've visited, but Opart kills all the competition! For the longest time I stuck with the Peanut Sauce Lover, I would just crave it each time I went. I finally learned to go beyond, and explore the menu, and have not been disappointed. Highly recommended dishes include Khao Soy, Pad Kratiam Prik Thai, and their curries are all great. Watch out for the spice level. Here, hot means hot!!!
(5)
Jillian S.
This is an excellent Thai restaurant. I met a friend here for dinner on a Saturday night. They sat us in the front portion of the restaurant, which was not as "nice" as the back part, which had exposed brick and seemed like a more intimate dining area. That aside, the prices here are very reasonable and the food tastes really flavorful and fresh. Rice doesn't come with the dishes, however, and in my opinion they don't give you enough with the side order. At least not enough to bring home with your leftovers of you dish. We had fair service, though I think it could have been a bit quicker in taking our order and our payment. I would definitely make a return visit here, especially I lived in the neighborhood or was around for something else. Not sure it is worth a "special trip" to Lincoln Square, however, just to eat here.
(3)
L. Joey M.
I was compelled to write a review because of a not-great experience I had at a different restaurant. Having one review under my belt, I thought that I would write a review of my favorite restaurant as I did not want to appear to be a crankasaurus rex. It did not take a second's pause for me to write a review on Opart Thai. I often go to this BYOB with my girlfriend and a bottle of wine. I like to over-order here so I can have leftovers and still not feel the pressure when the bill arrives. My perfect meal at Opart: Start with the Tiger Cry beef appetizer, which is chunks of charbroiled, marinated steak with a little sauce on the side. For the soup, we always order the tom ka kai, a milky, coconut soup with chicken, thai red chili and lemongrass. This one holds all these distinct flavors in one bite that, when combined, creates a rich warmth. My favorite noodle dish here is the pad see eiw, broad rice noodles with chinese broccoli. And if I am feeling it, I order the panang curry with tofu. I love love love this place. The wait staff seems sweet, and I always feel like I got away with something when the bill arrives.
(5)
Darlene R.
Before they jacked up the prices to cover the cost of the expansion, i would've given this place a 4 star. however, the last time i went there i was a little disappointed in the portion size, especially after the prices went up! however, they do have my favorite basil chicken. they use ground chicken and can really make it spicy! someone once said they have the best crab rangoon.... i don't think that is true. only stand out item i've had here is the basil chicken.
(3)
Christina R.
The food is DELICIOUS! The Prices are OUTSTANDING. The service STINKS. We decided to try this place on the recommendation of Bry H., above, who loves it, and I have to say from the dishes we had, it was truly a tasty experience. For three entrees, three thai iced teas, and an appetizer, our bill came out to $32 -- so I can't really understand how this place comes up as $$-- in my mind, this is a great deal for the quality. And for that, I will put up with the crappy service, and just chase down the waiter when I need something. I Pad Woon Sen was a little different than I have had it before, but nonetheless, it was good. My dinner companions both went right for the Pad Thai with Chicken, and they both approved; their opinion is you can tell how a place rates by how it pulls off its Pad Thai. The Crab Rangoon was mighty tasty -- not the best I have ever had, but defiinitely not shabby, and it comes with eight pieces, perfect to split between parties of 2 or 4. The decor is classy, you can bring your own delicious and well priced alcohol, and it is a taste sensation. Now if only I could move it into where Penny's is now on Damen, life would be good -- and I wouldn't have to make every Thai craving into a pilgrimage to Lincoln Square.
(4)
Javier B.
Must bump it up to 5-stars! This has become my go-to Thai place in the neighborhood. I mostly do take out and the food is always excellent. The Tiger Cry and the Miang Sa Wan (dried pork) appetizers are incredible. The Tom Yum and Tom Kha sups are awesome. All of the curries we've tried have been delicious. I highly recommend the Panang, Green and Red curries. The Khao Soy noodles are one of my favorites. I like spicy food, but "medium" is plenty spicy at this place (can't even imagine what "very spicy" would be like). Prices are very reasonable and they have never screwed up our order. Highly recommended!
(5)
Tony C.
Thai for dinner tonight. Opart is a favorite spot of ours. Love the Tiger Cry. Enjoy the pad Thai and sweet & sour chicken. Can't go wrong with BYOB. Be careful, extra spicy means extra spicy. So if you are not very tolerant to spicy, back off.
(5)
Kristina L.
i gag thinking about their pad thai dish. It was like eating a spoonful of mayo that just happened to have noodles & chicken in it. Thank goodness there's 100 other thai joints to get my fix in the lincoln square hood
(2)
Thongsy S.
I have been here numerous times and it has not disappointed me yet. Prices are good, food is deilcious, and they have BYOB! On weekends, there might be a wait.
(4)
Tim G.
I've been eating at Opart for seven years now and I think it is the best Thai food in the city. Their Pad Ki Mao is the standard I judge all others by. The noodles are thick and have perfect texture while the beef manages to be both thin and juicy. I have been impressed with everything I have eaten from Opart, and I've eaten a lot of their dishes. Every employee I've ever dealt with here has been friendly and helpful. Plus they are BYOB, which is great. Their food holds up well as take-out too.
(5)
K C.
i live in the neighborhood and the good thing about this lincoln square neighborhood is, we have the best thai restaurants. YAY!!! i love it! opart is one of my favorite, i love their catfish with curry sauce and their pad thai, it's very very good.
(4)
Binay K.
Recently had a great experience at Opart Thai (on Western) with a group of 20+ for lunch. We were seated comfortably in the back area, and the walls gave us a semi-private setting. Very impressed with how well the small wait staff handled such a large group with excellent service. Onto the cuisine: Shu Mai (shrimp dumplings) - Appetizer Plate included a sampling of spring rolls, crab rangoon, and my new favorite Shu Mai which I particulary enjoyed. All the appetizers were fried without tasting greasy. Green Curry Chicken (Gaeng Keow Waan) - Standard fare, but medium spicy was perfectly hot without being too hot. Dessert - Save room for dessert, totally worth it! Both the Fried Banana and Thai Custard were excellent. Fried Banana is a spring roll filled with banana creamed with coconut which makes for a nice contrast to the crunchy spring roll shell. Thai Custard is almost a dense cake, and served piping hot (eater beware!). Overall, adding the pleasant ambience of the restaurant to the great food and service comes up with a full four-star rating.
(4)
Anne B.
This was a great BYOB Thai restaurant. The menu featured classic Thai dishes and some new dishes I've never tried. Our service was good and our food was served to us fairly quickly. I recommend the Tiger Cry and Crab Rangoon appetizer. The curry was good as was the Pad Paak Roum Mit, and Pad See-Iew. I will definitely become a regular customer.
(4)
Keith W.
This is EASILY the best Thai food in Lincoln Square and quite possibly the entire city. It also has genuine Thai 'lady boy' servers. This place is the real deal.
(5)
Bry H.
YUMMM.... OK I absolutely love this Thai Place. I dream about the food from here. Here is how much I love it... I have trouble ever finishing a meal, lets just say I'm not part of the clean plate club, and most likely never will be. But at Opart, I pretty much lick the plate clean to get all the goodness I can get. No Joke. Seriously, the people I'm eating with get a little embarrassed. The only downside to eating here, is that I eat everything so I never have any leftovers. :(
(5)
Laura L.
I love, love, love their food. Started with the crab ragoon....best I've ever had. The tiger cry is always juicy and tender and the accompanying sauce is so tasty and delicious. I always have the pad thai, I need to expand, I know but it's really good. Always the place to go for consistently awesome thai food at a great price!!!
(5)
Hal C.
A very cool place in a very cool area. I had never actually heard of this place before I went last night, but oh man was it some good food. I forget the exact name of the dish I got(thank you,byob), but all I know is that chicken with some spicy curry and rice and some greenery is good good stuff from here. When the waiter asked me what level of spicy I wanted, I said 'very', and it met my qualifications. It wasn't the painful spicy, or the hurt your stomach spicy(last night anyways), but it was spicy enough to really add something good to the food and make it taste extra good. I'd come back here again in a heart beat. In the top tier of Thai food places that I have been to in Chicago for sure.
(5)
Sean W.
Worst service ever. I had to play the waiter to give back my dish and ended up leaving in pure disgust with no food. It was cold not fresh and the server was completely mean when I told here I wanted it remade. Shes like I can microwave it for you and after she brought it back and I was done wanting to puke I went to the server with the dish and demanded it off my tab and told her all I am paying is the drink. Do not go here unless you like cold food and bad service.
(1)
Brandi Z.
I've just recently discovered my favorite Thai dish of all time: Basil Chicken Fried Rice. Since then, it's the only thing I order! It's a simple and common dish apparently and so not a lot of Thai restaurants have it on their menu, but they will prepare it should you ask them to. Such is the case with Opart. I called in for a carry out and they made it customized. And my goodness was it good! Plus I love the size of the carry out dish! You get your money's worth! Placing and picking up the order was a breeze and the whole transaction went over very nicely!
(4)
Nicole V.
I have been to Opart Thai multiple times...predominantly dates or for dinner with a friend. Of all the thai places in this area (and there are A LOT) I feel this is one is the best. First and foremost the food is freshly prepared and always tastes delicious. Careful if you order spicy...because they do not hold back! Outside of the food, the service is great and the decor is extremely welcoming. The dark wood interior sets a comfortable mood and the division of the dining area gives a very intimate feel, even though the space is quite large. Just for kicks, a couple of my favorites are the peanut spring roll appetizer and the Woon Sen Pad Thai. Oh, almost forgot the best part....it is BYOB!
(5)
Adam R.
I wish you hadn't changed the cucumber salad.
(4)
Jennie S.
AHH! How could I forget to write about one of my FAVORITE Thai Restaurants! What I particularly like about this area is that there are about 4 - 5 other Thai places all within 100 feet of each other. This one is Amazing! I absolutely love the Pad Thai, Chicken Satay, and the beef Pad See-Iew. Once I got really adventurous and ordered their Fried Catfish, I wouldn't necessarily order that again. Try this place out! Great food! I love that they have carry-out and delivery.
(5)
Laura N.
MMmmmm spicy. Delivery! Takeout! Inexpensive! What's not to like about this place? They have more than one location. If you are trying to find your go-to place for delivery or takeout Thai food, try this place.
(4)
Aesha W.
I had my first experience with Thai food last night. It wasn't too bad, but I don't think it's my favorite cuisine. We ordered Pad Thai with Chicken, Ginger Chicken, Rice, Spring Rolls, Chicken Satay and some fried banana thing to have between all of us. The satay and banana were great, but I didn't reall like anything else. I don't know if it's just because I ordered the wrong thing, or because I don't like Thai. I agree with another reviewer that it was kind of odd to charge for rice, but it was only a buck, so no big deal. I probably will try Thai again, but I may visit another restaurant to do a taste comparison.
(3)
kelly z.
With huge portions and perfectly seasoned entrees, Opart Thai is my favorite Thai restaurant, so far, in Chicago. The catfish curry, red curry eggplant, Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls and the Basil dish are all excellent. It's about $26 for two to share one appetizer and two entrees. If you the type to judge a restaurant by it's service, don't plan on coming here during the day shift. The service is terrible, rushed and extremely in-genuine. I have never had a problem with the service during busy dinners.
(4)
Michelle Z.
Loved it! I came here with a group of 15 for my birthday dinner. Affordable and BYOB. Love it! The food was great and I loved that they will actually make it as spicy as I crave. Service was pleasant and unobtrusive. Nothing fancy but its not a dive either. My favorite Thai in the city.
(5)
Rachel L.
This is a pretty good Thai place, though not necessarily the best around. It's nice that they have a big eating area that's compartmentalized, so you never feel like you're in a bit restaurant. The waiter we had was kind of inattentive, but that could just be a fluke.
(4)
Heather Y.
Barf. We just got Opart delivered and each of the three dishes we ordered were disappointing. I got the peanut lover's, which was oily and required me to order noodles/rice separately. Boyfriend got the bami pad paak, which was the equivalent of ramen noodles in soy sauce. BFF got the bami pad lard nar, which was a tub full of gelatinous gravy with a few pieces of tofu swimming in it -- accompanied by...nothing. No noodles, no rice. Nothing. Just gravy. I've eaten in here before and I remembered it being much better than this.
(1)
Dominic R.
I ate here for the very first time........I had no idea what to expect. I have always been afraid as I am a very picky eater...as I have never had Thai food! All i know is that i wanted my food cooked and not raw, however that's sushi or whatever......as you can tell I don't know my foods! Ha! Anyway, i got some basic stuff, rice with chicken and some spicey sauce or something........not too bad!! Very good actually! Hey, at least I got my feet wet and tried it, now I can go back and try different things! The service was very good, very friendly too! Prices are good!
(4)
Alicia S.
BYOB and a delicious selection of inexpensive Thai food? LOVE IT.
(4)
kris k.
Bought our bottles of wine and went walking in search of a BYOB. Ended up at Opart. Had to call to see if it was actually BYOB since there was no indications from the outside, but figured it was worth a shot for a Thai place. Ordered fried wonton stuffed with fresh ground chicken and crab rangoon. Ground chicken wonton was what it was, but crab rangoon was about as good as I've had anywhere else. For entrees we ordered pad thai, peanut sauce lover and panang curry. We like it hot & spicy and they got it just right. The server presented us with a bottle opener right away and the appetizers came out quickly. I'm glad we waited a few minutes before ordering the entrees or they would have come out while we were still enjoying the apps. Summary: solid Thai food. We'll definitely go back again.
(5)
V V.
I've been coming here for 8 yrs and Opart is as good as it gets in the Chicago land area. This restaurant reminds me how Thai food should taste like and how awful so many other places are. You can't go wrong ordering any of their salads, soups, curries, or noodles. The one and only dish I've ever ordered that didn't make me say "Wow" was the fried whole snapper. It was over cooked and pretty puny. Also, I'd keep away from their Shrimp dumpling appetizer. They're tiny and probably pre-frozen from a bag. I doubt they make them there. Other than that, their food is well above and beyond all other Thai places in Chicago. (except for Sticky Rice, they rock too.) They do an interesting "fusion" take on the fried banana dessert here. Not exactly the most authentic of dishes, but it's definitely notable and worth saving room for. They wrap a banana in cream cheese and coconut, then roll it in an egg roll wrapper, then deep fry that baby. It's served covered in honey and sesame seeds. It is hefty and definitely share-able, unless you want to be a glutton and get a stomach ache. Your call.
(4)
Millie R.
I have been a big fan of this restaurants for about 15 years. They have the best appetizers. The tiger cry is by far my all time favorite. I have not had anything like it at any other thai reataurant. Also the crab ragoons and fresh spring rolls are great! The basil chicken and shrimp fried rice is "delicous" .Go for the food and not the service. In the years I have been going there the service has not improved. So be patient. It's worth the wait! I give it fours stars only because of the service.
(4)
Jenni Q.
TIGER CRIES. Yummy - I dont know how the name relates to the dish (juicy little pieces of steak served as an appetizer) but it was unbelievably delicious. I also got the Spring Rolls which were one of the best that Ive had at any Thai restaurant - the peanut sauce was thick and flavorful and went very well with the rolls. However, my main entree was kind of a let down after the amazing appetizers. I got a seafood with egg noodle dish which was pretty mediocre - I've had better elsewhere. But my other dinner guests all enjoyed their meals, especially the red panang curry with duck meat. The thai iced tea was also pretty good. Fairly cheap prices at a pretty decent location. Service could be a little more attentive but then again we did go on a busy Saturday night.
(4)
Michelangelo S.
I dined here for the first and only time a few weeks ago. Two appetizers, the Crab Rangoon and a tasty something-or-other with peanut sauce, had us all salivating for more. However, we had 4 diners and 2 of them were disappointed with their meals. Apparently our friends, who live in Lincoln Square, had enjoyed many a meal here, but something was off the night we visited. This seems consistent with the reviews of many recurring patrons- when it's good, it's really good, but when it's not, it's just okay. There are multiple Thai establishments in the area, so I'm not sure if I'd return to Opart and take a gamble, or try somewhere new and take a gamble. It's a bit of a Catch-22.
(3)
Nikki W.
I work around the corner from this restaurant and they were even nice enough to let us keep a menu at our business to order carry out. I recently had lunch with one of my classmate/girlfriends and we both enjoyed the service. I will certainly make an effort to eat-in more often. Since it is in the south loop it is great for lunchtime since it is not super crowded in that area.
(4)
Stephanie M.
i came here with a sinus infection and a lost voice and ordered the tom yum with fish. too much information? possibly. the moat of soup that protects the fire beneath nearly broke all of congestion in my head. i cannot call it a miracle soup because my voice did not return to me. my friend got papaya salad and crab ragoons. the salad was meh. but the ragoons were special, overstuffed with cream cheese and crab. unlike any i've ever seen. nearly the size of a chicken thigh. i want to say something like 8-10 of them also. too much for us to handle. beyonce and her children were like "can you handle this?" and didn't even let me answer before they interjected, "i don't think you can handle this."
(5)
chris e.
Absolutely terrific Thai! The 2 Thai restaurants i loved went the way of many neighborhood restaurants and either closed (Once upon a Thai on Southport) or changed owners (The Spice on Milwaukee) and to be honest, i wasnt expecting to find a Thai restaurant i liked just as much .... believe me, many were sampled -some good, some not so.. Opart Thai was a pleasant surprise. Service is good, prices are moderate, portions are large and the food actually has flavor- no bland curries, no limp noodles. Desserts are to die for and the menu has the most variety Ive seen in ANY Thai establishment ive visited. For a pleasant treat, try the Jasmine tea .. fragrant and very fresh =)
(5)
Megan W.
I don't understand why this restaurant has so many great reviews. The quality of their meat and seafood is terrible. I had the panang curry with chicken, tom yum soup with shrimp and spring rolls. The spring rolls tasted doughy and bland. I went with a large group and tried some of the beef dishes, which tasted off as well. I think Thai Valley on Kedzie or Spoon Thai are much better options for Thai in Lincoln Square.
(1)
David R.
The food here is amazing!! Well i've only had two things on the menu, the a19 and the e61 but i've already ordered take-out from this place three times and it was delicious every time and very consistent.. They give very generous portions and the food has really good flavor.. I highly recommend the a19 as an appetizer and the e61.. soooooo good
(5)
Tita P.
This place was a solid 3 1/2 stars. I don't remember much about the decor or the service. I just thought that the food was GREAT. I love Thai and I really enjoyed this place. I promise to pay more attention to more than the food next time...No I really do promise :-)
(3)
Heather L.
Girlfriends wanted to come back to this oh so convenient for us all location and I didn't fight it. This has the hipster vibe which so often disappoints me. Yes, the decor is very cool and the people watching is fun but the service stinks and is not at all friendly and the food is just, well, it's thai food. Last time I tried something a little different and hated it. This time I stuck with pad thai which I knew I would like - because I always like pad thai. And sure enough it was a good plate of pad thai. No better than any other thai place, but good nonetheless. I wish they had given me a lime wedge as I like a little acid. So I will upgrade it to an a-ok but nothing more. I guess you can get sucked into the atmosphere of the place, bring in your own beer and wine and feel more like you are having "a night out" vs just a take-out Thai type place. Just don't come here thinking you are getting the best Thai food in the city of Chicago which I did the first time, believing the hype. It's good, it's not great.
(3)
Eddie L.
Tasty Thai cuisine in a location near the bars of Lincoln Square. It's a nice place to dine in and if you're lazy like me, they'll deliver to your house on time. The staff is very helpful and you get full control over the level of spice. With three rooms of dining, any size party is nicely accommodated and the bathrooms are clean. The appetizers are tasty; I recommend as the Satays and the Moo Ping. As for main courses, I usually go with the Eggplant in Oyster sauce. Their Pad Thais and Panang Curries are full of flavor and the soups are served in unique Thai bowls that may or may not double as trophies. It all leads to a nice dinner where you'll feel full but not busted. Good times? Yes!
(4)
stephen r.
This is a great place to go for seafood dishes! Indeed! In fact - you don't even have to order a dish with seafood. Just order anything and they'll douse it with fish or oyster sauce. Yum. Noodles - fish. Rice!...fish. Beef? -fish! Why must everything reek of 4 day old mackerel?
(2)
Mallerie And Sajjad V.
Second time going and we had to try the Tiger Cry. It was as good as everyone says. You can taste it being right off the grill. Crab Rangoon is of course a favorite of mine, and really done well here. The soups are amazing with the lemon grass and great presentation in the bowl they serve in. We order appetizers and soup and that is filling enough for me before we even get to our main meal. I haven't found a main dish that I liked yet, I tried a pineapple curry dish that I did not care for and a Pan King that was a bit too spicy for me even though it was mild. All in all a great place that we will be going back too, especially for the soup!
(4)
Sacha F.
I thought the food here was outstanding and really well priced for the quality and portion size. We ordered the crab Rangoon: fantastic. The frying wasn't overdone and the crab meat and cream cheese mixture was fresh and creamy. We also ordered the tiger fly based on previous reviews and HOT DAMN THAT SHIT WAS GOOD. Delicious beef cooked to perfection with house made sauce. Shared a huge pot of fresh lavender tea for under $2 and I got yellow curry as my main dish--super flavorful with a mild kick. I will be going back. One of my new favorites in Chicago.
(5)
Amanda D.
Pretty decent Thai. Fresh seafood. The rangoons are to die for and they stay true to the spicy flavor of Thai food. It didn't knock my socks off but it's a good place of you're itching for some Thai food. Decent portion size as well.
(4)
Jamie B.
Fantastic Thai food! Very fresh tasting with large portions. We had take out, red curry and pad thai with shrimp- both extra spicy. Both dishes were wonderful but the noodle dish definitely was the star. The crab rangoons are 8 per order and the shrimp shumai had 8 pieces per order. Yummy!! Glad we found this place, super tasty!
(5)
Lisa F.
Good was really good, but the service could have been a little better. Keep in mind, if you ask for extra spicy, they'll accommodate the request and your food will be spicy. Yum!
(4)
Lucy P.
Three stars isn't bad. Its exactly what it is: "Ok." We lived in the area for almost 3 years and never managed to try this place. Our old neighbor told us it was awesome. The first time she came she actually ordered the same dish she had for dinner as a to-go because it was so good she wanted more for tomorrow. When this former neighbor stopped by to visit us we decided to stop in and try this place so she could re-live her heaven. Here is what we ordered: Chicken Satay: I'm a vegetarian so I didn't try this. But the sweet cucumber salad it comes with and the peanut sauce it also comes with were fabulous. Spicy Fried Tofu: All three of us some how missed that it comes with chicken on top (we still swear it wasn't on the menu, but who knows....) When it came out with chicken, we asked if we could have it re-done. In hind-sight it didn't matter. It tasted strange. Sort of like dirty feet. Not one of us liked it. (Ant the neighbor I mentioned is not a picky eater!) This pretty much went un-touched. Pad Thai: This was my order. It was Ok. Nothing out of this world. I secretly kept wanting more "sauce" or flavor or something. If there was soy sauce on the table I probably would have dumped some on. Despite thinking it was only OK, I certainly hoovered down the leftovers for breakfast the next day. Vegetable Fried Rice: This was very bland. I certainly wanted more flavor on this. It was OK. Nothing bad, just not real exciting. Pad Prik King: this was my husbands selection. When I tasted it I wasn't crazy about it, but I also had nothing against it. But he said he thought it was really good and he cleaned his plate. Gaeng Panang: this was the neighbors dish that she ordered two of last time she ate here. I gave her sauce a taste and it was very good. So overall, it was just OK. They only charged us for the one fried tofu that we actually ate. Our waitress was very friendly and answered all of our questions graciously. We could tell they were severely understaffed so things were slow, but everyone was nice. I'm not holding this against them at all.
(3)
Ramya N.
I've eaten here a few times now and I can now conclude that this is THE BEST Thai restaurant in town. I don't even try looking for other Thai places anymore. Everything I've had here has always been so amazing. My current favorites are the tom kha Kai soup, ground chicken with basil and the red curry. I love spicy food and the medium spice level is great for me. If you are looking for an authentic Thai experience, this is the place to go!
(5)
J. T.
New to neighborhood & ordered delivery based on great Yelp reviews and recommendation from a neighbor. Major disappointment. After placing our order by phone and giving credit card the staff person said quickly: "ok, it will be 1 hour" and immediately hung up. We live a few blocks away- 1 hour??? Then, after our food finally arrived, we opened it to discover that no rice was included with the spicy curry dinner. How cheap is that??? To top it off, the food was nothing special. Sadly, this will not be our go-to spot for Thai in the neighborhood.
(2)
Heather D.
I didn't know it could get any better - BUT IT CAN! This time around we ordered the Tom Yum Pla and Panang Curry with white rice - both medium spice - and man were they delish! I seriously haven't had a better dish at a Thai place yet! If you're into spicy food, then I strongly suggest ordering, at minimum, the hot level of spice. The medium is pretty mild. Final Verdict: YUM!
(5)
Yvonne B.
We really loved our time at Opart Thai. They have the expertise, the experience, and the means to deliver a well-rounded meal. The food is in the top five for Thai in the Chicagoland area; however, because of the ambiance, service, and price, I'd say that they're the best! They have the space and decor to accommodate many diners at once. It feels ethnic - perhaps a hodgepodge of authentic artwork and statues mixed with kitsch and a little well-loved functionality. For example, the tables and chairs are functional but are neither out-dated nor trendy. The restaurant is divided into at least three intimate rooms, each seating about 15 guests. Opart Thai has a staff that are good at their jobs. They know the menu, Thai food, and they can deliver a pleasant meal. What I mean is that you can expect to be greeted promptly upon entering the restaurant, have questions thoroughly answered, get solid recommendations, and have a well-timed delivery of food that is quickly cleared when finished. This isn't fine dining, but it's solid. The food is delicious. We got several dishes where two were clear stand-outs: the Tiger Cry and a recommendation by the server: Basil Noodles with Shrimp. We're likely to go that route again since we had such luck with the server suggesting an authentic Thai dish of which the chef was particularly talented in creating. The final glory of Opart Thai is that it is BYOB. We went with our wine guy Allen who is particularly adept at bringing wonderful libations. Since Opart Thai is well equipped to handle guests, we felt comfortable lingering over our meal, drinks, and conversation. Anyway - you know what they say about BYOB? It makes the bill much more affordable!
(5)
Adam U.
One of the best Thai places in the city. BYOB to boot! Anytime I am in the area I'll stop in and order the Tiger Cry. This is seriously one of the best appetizers I've ever had.
(5)
Lila S.
Awesome tiger cry, awesome spicy chicken larb, awesome coconut curry soup, awesome cucumber salad. Service is so good and fast. Portion sizes are perfect. Waiters and waitresses are super friendly and knowledgeable. Prices are reasonable and the food is just so darn good and well flavored that I can never get enough of this place. Hands down the best Thai food in Chicago- not to mention the BEST Thai food I have ever had! LOVE this place! Come here- you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Yu-chi H.
It's a good place to have Thai food. I am not a Thai expert, but I have had a lot of Thai food in my life. Some Thai food restaurants cook their foods to oily and salty. Here, the food is well cooked. Also the one thing that will make me come visiting again is the price.
(4)
Jen D.
This review is for the pad thai... I picked up carry-out after reading the amazing yelp reviews and was impressed by the packed restaurant - not so many thai places can jam them in like this. So you can imagine my surprise when I got home and found it to be relatively flavorless. It wasn't terrible, just ok. I know pad thai is about as unexciting as a thai dish as you can get, but I can't help it - I love it. The crab rangoon and cucumber salad were great. I'll try again since it's convenient to my commute home and try a different dish. If you live in the neighborhood, I'd suggest giving it a whirl - just don't go for pad thai. Not sure this place would be worth a long drive from another neighborhood.
(3)
Cheryl S.
This was probably the best food we had while visiting Chicago last week. We ordered lots of different foods, starting with appetizers. The potstickers were amazing, and the vegetarian spring rolls were good too. The men had the shrimp toast too and enjoyed that. We ordered several different entrees and shared a bit. My daughter tried a noodle dish with chicken and lots of veggies, which was pretty tasty. I ordered the pad prik king, with chicken. I ordered it medium and it was just spicy enough, and was excellent. It will definitely be on our list of must eats next time we visit!
(5)
Moe T.
The best Thai food I've had in the city hands down. I recommend either the Tom Yum Kai or the Tom Ka Kai soups to start with, followed by the tiger cry and the peanut sauce lovers beef. You can throw a curry in there if you're really hungry. You can get their soups as spicy as you want.. and that means SPICY I am a peanut sauce lover so that dish is perfect for me And the Tiger cry is essentially some of the tastiest cubes of marinated meat with sweet dipping sauce you can have. Fantastic food
(5)
Tony M.
Came here with a group of four...I have become a thai food snob ever since I came back from Thailand. So I can be harsh with many places but this place was on point. We shared the tum yum kai, I usually judge a Thai place by their tum yum and they did an excellent job. It is BYOB so bring your wine for the dine. I ordered the masuman curry chicken and it was perfect. Will come again. Service was on par and no wait.
(5)
Crystal H.
Me and my husband were here last night.. We were fasting the whole day so we were excited to eat our first meal of the day at Opart.. Bad idea.. While we were waiting for our orders we had an uninvited guest it looks like a baby cockroach crawling in the wall.. We were so disgusted.. I wanted to tell the waiter but he seems really busy either.. So my husband had to kill it.. Disgusting!! If they have cockroach in the dining area.. I can't imagine what they have in the kitchen.. We totally lost our appetite and hardly ate our food.. We just paid and left.. Never ever coming back in this place
(1)
Steve M.
I used to be a regular here but I've had two bad experiences in a row, so I won't be back. About a month ago I called in an order, it included a dish which came with your choice of meat. I requested extra broccoli as a substitute for meat. I was told I would be charged extra for the broccoli. This seemed unfair as broccoli is generally a cheaper product than the meat options on offer. Last night I called to place an order, I was immediately put on hold, which is fine. I was on hold for seven minutes with no follow up. I hung up and called again, before I had the opportunity to tell them I had been waiting seven minutes to place an order, I was put on hold again. We decided to give Rosded (across the road from Opart) a try, It felt like they were happy to have our business and the food was good, so they'll definitely get another chance. The food at Opart has always been pretty good, but I don't think they place any value on your custom, so that leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
(2)
Kimverli H.
My buddy took me here for the first time and I fell in love with their Tiger Cry. My buddy says they have the best tiger cry, and I can second that. I even dreamt about Opart's tiger cry. The place seemed to get busy, but when we went there for dinner, we had a great time. Great environment, great food, and the customer service was good. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone, and even take my other friends here.
(5)
Tiffany G.
Fantastic Thai place that, so far, hasn't disappointed one bit. Stand-outs include the Tiger Cry, Tom Yum Koong, Penang, Pad Prik King and Pad Sei Ieu. Also some of the best wonton soup I have had in ages -- you can tell the dumplings are truly homemade and, even though this is not a traditional Thai soup, they do a great job and definitely add a Thai flair with their addition of ground chicken. I've heard the Kao Soi is a must order here, and I would like to try that the next time. Another BIG PLUS in my book is, they know spicy! Nothing is more disappointing to me when you specify "very spicy" for a dish you are ordering, and they wimp out. Too many Thai (and other ethnic restaurants that specialize in spicy cuisine) tend to tone down their spice levels for an American palate. So, when I specify "very spicy" or let's say a "10" on a scale of 1-10, it tends to fall way short of what I really want. Not the case at Opart. When I ask for it a 10 -- it probably comes out a 15! So, if you like spicy the way I do, be sure to specify (particularly with the Penang/curries and Tom Yum -- it is out of this world good) and if you are not a spice-lover, fear not, there has always been an abundence of great choices on the menu for those in our party who prefer dishes on the mild side. Note on my star ratings: only reason I am not giving Opart five stars, is that five stars, for me, are really reserved for best in class and the absolute *best* Thai restaurant in America, that I've experienced so far, is Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas. This is not a slight on Opart, which as of now is definitely my favorite in the Chicagoland area.
(4)
Frank B.
The Tiger Cry is hands down the best appetizer in Chicago!
(4)
Eunice B.
Visit this Thai restaurant if you're ever in the area. You'll be served with authentic and quality Thai food. You won't regret!
(5)
Dana C.
My go-to Thai place. I'm so lucky that my favorite Thai restaurant in the city happens to be within walking distance of my house - plus they deliver for when I feel extra lazy. GET THE TIGER CRY. It will give you the meat orgasm you didn't know you were missing. I also love the egg drop soup and the basil fish. The only downside is if you eat in house (which I rarely do) it can be tough to get seated, especially with more than 2 people. Just get delivery and stay in your sweatpants like the awesome sloth you are.
(4)
Ten S.
This is the best Thai restaurant on the North side of Chicago. We love the food here. Always fresh and perfectly balanced. I think the Tom Yum soup is by far the best I've ever had and when we go eat at other Thai restaurants in the city, I use this soup as a comparison -- none achieve the delicate balance of the soup at Opart.
(5)
Tyler W.
Seriously the worst service I've experienced. The transgender waitress talked to me as if I was an idiot with a blank stare. The second waitress didn't seem like she was "there" We were not greeted. No hi, how are you or thank you when we left either. Literally EVERYONE HAD THE MOST DISGUSTING attitude and I could not understand why for the life of me. Not to mention we were given our check before they even knew I was done eating and this was about 30mins before closing. (That's okay, I'm ready to get tf up outta here anyway) The food was really good which I hate to admit because of the horrible service but I don't think I would dine in again just bc of that.
(1)
Jina K.
I've been here twice now and I can't say that it's my favorite. the first time I came, it was around 4pm and i was the only one, along with my friend. I ordered a chicken pad thai and to my surprise it was very wet, sticky, and heavy. the flavor was there but it seemed microwaved from dinner service from the previous night. the second time, I had come with two more friends during dinner time. this time I ordered a chicken pad see ew and it was quite lovely. the noodles were cooked perfectly and the sauce was light. the only thing is that the broccoli was undercooked and extremely overwhelming. the prices are a bit higher than my usual sticky rice fare, so I would really only go when my friends want to. the waiters are a bit rude but that may have been because I am young, however that should not be an excuse, as I should be treated as equally as everyone else.
(3)
Shan D.
Well deserving of the hype. This is real Thai food. Every dish is so fresh and full of flavor. Wish I lived closer so that I could come back more often. There isn't a place like this downtown. I can't single out one dish because they were all so great. I love how it's BYOB too. This place and TAC Quick are my two favorite Thai restaurants in the city. Nothing else compares....
(5)
Brittney H.
I'm sorry I've neglected you Opart! This place has some of the best potstickers on the North Side - I say this because nothing compares to China Town but still a good competitor. They also deliver which is a bonus. I'm giving it 4 stars because occasionally I've had my ordered messed up and the service was not very accomodating because of it. Additionally, the delivery service is sometimes way longer than expected (which is generally more than an hour). Otherwise, the food here is amazing! A few of my favorites are the crab rangoon, potstickers (of course), Tom Yum Kai soup, Woon Sen Pad Thai, Kuay Tiew Kee Mao, and Green Curry. Avoid the green bean dish, was completely bland and not worth the calories.
(4)
Emily H.
Opart, what happened? Maybe it was our mistake going on a Friday night. Every dish was prepared poorly or completely missing vital ingredients. The Tom Kha soup? Inedibly overdosed with lemongrass, we couldn't eat it. The Lard Nar, every bite unbearably greasy and chewy, left that behind. The Pad Thai, teeth-achingly sweet with little other flavor. How does a Thai restaurant screw up Pad Thai? The service was impeccable and the interior was lovely. But the food really disappointed us and we fled without our leftovers.
(2)
John R.
This is one of my favorite Thai spots in the city. It continues to do everything just right. We had a spring roll appetizer, pad thai and combination seafood fried rice. Leftovers togo and full bellies all the way around!
(5)
Joseph O.
My wife and I love this place, so much so that we eat here almost once a week. The food is consistently good, the ambiance comfortable, and the staff remarkably efficient. If meat is your thing, try the Tiger Cry or Opart Beef for starters. This stuff melts in your mouth! For an entree, my wife likes to get the Woon Sen Pad Thai, the noodles of which consist of bean curd rather than rice. I'm a big fan of the Pork Larb with a side of rice. Regardless of what we end up ordering, we share our food family style, which is the way to go when eating Thai. It's totally possible for a couple to split an appetizer and order two entrees for under $25 excluding tip. Oh, and it's BYOB. Taken altogether, this place is an excellent value. That's why we keep keep coming back for more!
(5)
Emily L.
In terms of food at Opart Thai, my review is only for the Pad Thai and Crab Rangoon which I feel to be the best in Chicago. I have been to Opart Thai several times and continue to order the same thing. The Crab Rangoon are large and very crispy and for an appetizer it's a large portion for just one person. Also, that Pad Thai has the best taste out of any pad thai I have tried in Chicago . . . by far. Not to mention the atmosphere is charming, it's easily accessible via Brown Line and it's BYOB. If there is better Pad Thai in the city aside from Opart Thai I have yet to find it.
(5)
Cris J.
As I'm sure you've noticed by now from the reviews prior to this one (or post even) one of the staples of Opart Thai House is their zealous use of spice. So if you are looking for bland then this restaurant is not for you my friend. The service here is very quick, friendly, to the point and correct. Should you be a meat eater definetly jump on the curry chicken band wagon and for the veggies out there... when you taste the way they cook their tofu you are will most likely have an orgasm in your mouth. I have never had a negative experience here.
(5)
Samantha B.
Recently, I started a journey to find the best Pad Thai in the city. I have been all over the place looking for decent Thai food that isnt too americanized. In comes, Opart Thai House Restaurant. We were randomly in the south loop and decided to check out this joint. We parked on the street (metered parking) only to find out that they have parking in back...hmm good news because I plan on returning to this place. We both ordered Pad Thai, I ordered vegetable and my bf ordered chicken. I found out that the veggie pad thai was lacking in vegetables so I asked for more. They charged me $3 for a few extra veggies! WTF? I mean its only $3 but no one told me and I only got a few extras pieces. Overall, the Pad Thai is very good (not the best ever, I am still on my hunt). I also felt extremly rushed and the restaurant wasnt even busy. We had time to kill before our movie and basically got kicked out. I will return, hopefully to better service.
(4)
Jackie W.
This was a great dining experience. It was recommended by my boyfriend's sister and what a great suggestion it was! BYO'd our own white wine which they chilled for us while we waited for our table (20 mins on a friday night at 7 not bad) ...with no corckage charge! They do take rezzos but only for larger groups. The food is great. We had the sampler appetizer dish to start...yummy fried shrip and marvelous crab Rangoon. mmmmm. Then we had a hot and sour shrimp soup...This was some of the best soup I ever had and it's served with it's own heating element so it is deliciously warm until the last drop. For dinner the Pad thai which was very delicious...I'm a huge fan of pad thai and this was a standout among the dish. Then...even though we were stuffed we had the banana spring roll desert, gooey and creamy with a flaky spring roll wrapper...it was delightful. We got some coffee and tea with our deserts...The coffee was a rich and delicious dark roast and jasmine tea was really flavorful. Grand bill total was only $32.00 ... yes for all of that food! Only warning: I was in a food coma for the rest of the night. I was planning on going to a party but passed out...when I asked my boyfriend why he didn't wake me up he said he couldn't because I had a huge content smile on my face in my comatose state.
(5)
Alex B.
This is a wonderful restaurant which we come back to again and again and again. The staff is lovely and always pleasant. The food is outstanding - amongst the best Thai food I've found in Chicago. My standards are high having travelled extensively throughout Thailand and eaten the real stuff. Most American Thai food is watered down versions of the real stuff. Not at Opart. I asked for one dish to be served "Thai Hot" in response to the waiter's obligatory question - "How spicy do you want it?" I got the usual eye roll indicating "you silly westerner, you can't handle it that way." When I pushed him, he finally relented and boy, was I happy (though no one else in my party was). The dish was served painfully spicy - in the way that I've only found in Thailand. It was wonderful. The room is nice, the staff attentive, and the food is absolutely fantastic. It's BYOB and the staff quickly bring a bottle opener and cork screw as soon as you sit down. All of these elements add up to a fun evening with wonderful food and a modest tab. We bring our friends here now and always have a great time and leave having made a couple new converts to Opart.
(5)
Juan D.
I'm usually hesitant about places my girlfriend loves and rants about because sometimes we don't have the same taste. But Opart is simply delicious, we came on a Tuesday afternoon and the place only had a few people here, so we war able to sit with no one around us, we decided to order the crab rangoon witch she is always raving about and the were good really good. For our main meal I ordered Pad Preow Wan (Sweet and Sour) and she ordered Pad See-Iew and the only complain is that I wish the portions were more bigger and if the vegetables were cut smaller. I definitely recommend coming to eat here you will not be disappointed.
(4)
Melanie V.
Even though I grew up in this area, I've never tried Opart until a couple weeks ago! I've heard that Opart gets pretty crowded and...it's true! My friend and I went there on a Wednesday night and snagged the last open table! We were lucky that we didn't have to wait. Opart has awesome food at a cheap price! The pad thai is only $6.50 for a fairly large portion. The reason that I love Opart's pad thai because it leans a little bit towards the sweeter side (yum!). I also got the pad thai at a spicy level of 'Hot'. However, I think I should've stuck to 'Medium' because I needed a Thai Iced Coffee shortly after my first mouthful of pad thai. Also, their som tom (papaya salad) is also one of the best that I've tasted - sweet & a good level of spiciness for me. ;)
(5)
Kristen K.
DELISH! This place was so delicious!! The price was not bad and the menu was like 5 pages!! I ordered some curry that the waiter recommended and it was wonderful! I got the mild and there was some serious heat to it but I ate the whole thing anyway. A little annoying you have to pay for a side of rice with curry, but whatever. So good went with a group and it is great that its BYOB too! Will definitely return!
(5)
Anand A.
Best Thai in the city. Okay... sure, there may be better but when you factor the very low prices into the mix, nothing beats this. My 4 stars is based on the taste of the food. There are many things wrong with this place, but the food is awesome! While I like Arun's, I think you can have a meal that approaches Arun's taste (though service and ambience at Opart isn't great) at a fraction of the cost. 1 person's cost at Arun's easily feeds 4 here. My only two gripes about this place are that the spice level is inconsistent. Hot on Tuesday may not the same as hot on another day. The other gripe is that the kitchen doesn't know how to flow the food out to you. Your entree will come out minutes after the appetizers. Still, this place is fantastic.
(4)
P S.
Man I had the high hopes for Opart, but according to my litmus test (Panang with tofu), they kinda fail. Almost an hour for my delivery to arrive (ok fair enough, they quoted an hour), $15.37 for three egg rolls and one order of Panang with rice. Kinda steep. Everything's just ok. Asked how spicy I liked, I said "medium" which I put on a 4-5 scale of hot out of 10. Turns out, it's more 6-7. No veg, just basil and hunks of tofu (good tofu, granted). Very spicy, not terribly flavorful. I don't know, man. I'm glad they deliver all the way to me but I'm sure I can find better Thai closer. I'll try them again to see what else they have going for them, but usually if I don't like your Panang, I don't like you.
(2)
Lori M.
Opart you drive me nuts. You're so inconsistent like a bad girlfriend who steals your car one weekend and then returns it with presents in the trunk. I always come back to you even though I never know what I'm going to get ! Your GREEN CURRY haunts me in my sleep. I'm giving you back ONE STAR for now..but don't screw up again. Make sure my delivery order shows up correct this time or I'll...I'll, I don't know what I'll do besides drown myself in my my own lousy attempt at making my own thai curry.
(4)
Amanda Z.
OK, after practically licking my boyfriend's bowl of his "pretty spicy" order of Khao Soy, I am more vigorously giving this place a four-star review. We were hungry after a day of lazing around (seriously, who doesn't get hungry doing that?) so we ventured out into the melty day for some grub. I went with the pad thai with tofu...it was OK, and much better after we hunted down the waiter and I was able to red chili sauce it up. But my boyfriend's dish: Khao Soy...like frickin' spicy heaven in a bowl. Admittedly, his taste buds can handle the spicy stuff better than mine, so him saying "pretty spicy" didn't really raise my eyebrows. But then I had a little sip of his broth and despite my slight choking, it was fantastic! It's a good spicy, a slow burn, if you will, that warms your soul. Coconut curry rocks, and with the kick Opart gives it, you'll be rockin' all night long. Do it.
(4)
Lulu R.
Penang! Penang! Penang! This is it guys...close up shop. This Thai joint is taking the cake on deliciousness. At first I was feeling greedy upon arrival as well as ravenous. I wanted to share one plate by myself. then I realized that I would like to try different ones and we decided to go family style. We had the penang curry, mixed spicy seafood, and shrimp Tom yum soup. The chicken Penang was by far the most flavorful and creamiest I have ever tasted and the spice wasn't too unbearable. The tom yum soup was spicy and citrus-cy with perfectly succulent shrimps and a medley of veggies. the mixed spicy seafood salad was so fresh and flavorful it made me want to get up and kiss the chef who made it. Thankfully I contained myself and resumed eating. The decor of the place was subtle and best of all , for a nominal corking fee, its BYOB with not one but TWO liquors stores on either side of the restaurant. So picking up some beers or some wine is almost impossible to NOT pick up. The place is very cozy and has a serene feel to it. I am definitely going to find an excuse to come back...because I am a Opart Thai addict and addicts make up excuses...lol.
(5)
Michael B.
Guys. This place is so. good. I can honestly say that this is the only restaurant that I've introduced more than 5 people too and they all loved it. The dishes are fantastic, it has more dine-in room and decor than most thai places, and the service is great in my experience. As far as the food goes, I like my Thai spicy, but not enough to drown out flavor, and Opart has an entire section of the menu dedicated to delicious spicy rice dishes. "Medium spicy" is usually enough for me at Opart. If you wanna challenge the heat, try the Pad Kra Praow or Pad Prik King, and ask for Spicy or Extra Spicy. (You'll likely need a napkin to dab your forehead if you go with Extra Spicy.) Oh, and most times I've been here I've gotten my food within 5-10 minutes of ordering. How's that for service? Good on ya, Opart. More Chicago restaurants should be like you.
(5)
Polwach W.
I am a Thai student and surprisingly it's very difficult to find an authentic Thai restaurant in Chicago. Environment and the service at Opart Thai is good. Short walk from Western Brown Line. Overall, I do have a good impression. Tiger cry is delicious although the dipping sauce is not very spicy for Thais. Pad Thai with prawns reminds me of food back in Thailand. Ask to add some more fish sauce with chili, lime, and ground peanut then you get a traditional dish of Pad Thai. I surely will come back again.
(4)
Aaron B.
There are many Thai restaurants on Western. Opart is the best of them. A nice place based on cuisine alone, I also really like the interior of this place with its heavy use of wood and well placed lighting. My favorite dish here is the Pad Thai though I have yet to try my other favorite, vegetable fried rice. It is BYOB, right next door to a liquor store, has great take out service and is right near the Brown Line. Like I said, there are many options for Thai right here on Western. So if you want to save yourself the trouble and pain just go here. Cause I say so. Ya heard me!
(4)
Blaise A.
Opart appeared on Check Please and everyone raved about it. So, my wife and I tried it out. We have enjoyed many Thai restaurants in Chicago and elsewhere. Thai Opart did not measure up. The service was efficient but rather indifferent. The Panang curry was thin, tasteless and soupy. The Khoa Soy was OK, but I've had better. The men's restroom was very messy. The only plus I saw was that the menu was extensive. Never the less, I wouldn't go back; there are so many much better Thai places.
(2)
Tina T.
Yummy thai food! There's not much to say that hasn't been said, but Opart is definitely the whole package - great Thai food, extensive menu, and a beautifully decorated restaurant, along with extremely nice servers! Everything that we sampled on the menu delicious, and even though I am not much of a meat eater, I must admit that the Opart thai beef appetizer was phenomenal - such great spices! And it was incredibly cheap! Tons of food, take home for my son, and still under $30 bucks - just the ticket in these economic times!
(5)
Jen A.
Came here with six friends for dinner to start out a birthday get-together. The menu is huge. Two of my friends had never had Thai before, and they had a ton of options to try. The beef satay, egg rolls, crab rangoon, curry with sweet potatoes, and pad thai were all outstanding. The dining rooms are beautifully painted and decorated with Thai artwork for a really nice ambiance. The total bill for seven of us was less than $80. Great Thai food, really cheap. What else could anyone ask for? You could ask for BYOB with no corking fee. They have that here too-- we polished off a few bottles of wine and beer. Now you have no excuse not to try this place.
(4)
Catherine W.
Delicious Thai Food with authentic options. I went for the first time upon a friend's recommendation.
(4)
Leigh S.
Love this place! Wonderful service, cute inside and in a great neighborhood. I usually get a variation of the pad Thai and the crab rangoons area given. Their delivery service us also very quick and efficient. An easy 5 stars!!
(5)
Araceli G.
"two thumbs down" I ordered Chicken Pad thai and it was awful, on top of the fact that they forgot to include two of the main ingredients, like cilantro and cabbage.. Tasteless..
(1)
Monica K.
I LOVE OPART THAI. Every time I go to another thai restaurant, I always have to compare that restaurant's food with Opart's - and 99% of the time Opart Thai's food always wins. It's a BYOB with no corkage fee located right by the Western brown line station. They have a wide selection of appetizers - the tofu satay is a personal favorite, it comes with fried tofu, peanut sauce, and a small cucumber salad. It's a refreshing way to start the meal and it's not too heavy even though the tofu is technically fried (NEVER greasy). All of their appetizers are reasonably priced and are actually pretty big in terms of portion size (the crab rangoons are almost too much for 2 people to enjoy). Their noodles are always moist and tender and are perfectly flavored. The pad see eiw is my go-to dish here and even though it's a soy-sauce based noodle dish, it is almost never salty. They are very accommodating with "customization" of their dishes - the pad see eiw comes with Chinese broccoli (which I personally find way too bitter to be edible) so they are always willing to substitute with regular "american" broccoli. We've also asked for potatoes instead of tomato/pineapple in their red curry (delicious combo - try it out). They also ask how spicy you'd like certain dishes, which not all Thai restaurants do. The wait staff here is very good, service has never been an issue at this restaurant even though it's usually pretty busy. I come here at least once a week - I can't get enough of this place!
(5)
Val B.
The Tom Yum Kai (chicken) soup was delicious and exactly what I needed to make me feel better when I had the flu. It had plenty of chicken, fresh straw mushrooms, and a good amount of lime. I ordered it medium spicy and they got it spot on. I got carryout, so I can't comment on the inside yet, but I will definitely be back to try it out! Minus one star because the guy on the phone who took my order was an impatient dick.
(4)
Kim K.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Chicago. I eat here about once a week and have been going here for about 3 years now. It's slowly been getting more crowded, which means the word is spreading. The prices are ridiculously cheap and the food is always fresh and seasoned unbelievably well. I think if you were to stumble upon this place like I did, you'd find it to be a gem. But if you go based on hype, you probably won't dig it as much. It's pretty casual... the same servers work night after night and tend to leave you alone, which I like. The food comes out fast. The crab rangoon is amazing. I've never had a bad dish. BYOB is awesome. The only complaint I can possibly think of is that the spicy-level is ever-changing. Every time I order a dish with medium spicy goodness and it comes out either mild, hot or just right. It's never accurate. But the suspense of what it's going to be is a constant fun factor. I'd recommend: Gaeng Panang Gaeng Masaman Gaeng Daeng Peanut Sauce Lover Chicken Paid Thai Pad See Ewe Yum Neau Pad Preow Wan Rama Delight Crab Rangoon Egg Rolls Thai Iced Tea Hot Tea
(5)
Chris V.
Love Thai, but my experience was not so good. Rice was way undercooked and actually crunchy, texture of the duck was chewy to the point of being inedible (I know duck is "gamey" compared to chicken- I've eaten it before- this dish crossed the line). Waitress was unfriendly. And for about $20 a person for appetizer & entree only? There are far too many good Thai places around for me to go back to Opart. Sorry. The only things that earned this place a second star were the decent papaya salad and the nice ambience.
(2)
Anthony M.
One of the best Thai restaurants I've ever had. Orange chicken and Pad thai were great. Best potstickers and the homemade sauce rocked! I will return!
(4)
Cat L.
For the past few years, Friday night in our house has typically consisted of whatever's on the DVR and Opart. And I'm more than OK with that. I heart Opart. A sampling of our faves- tod mun (awesome fish cakes), mee krob, and spicy fried tofu for apps; larb and tom yum (for our soup and salad combo); pad see iew (you gotta ask them to make the noodles crispy!), peanut sauce lover, pad kra praow, and the spicy catfish. Their fried rice is the best I've had - not greasy at all (and soaks up the delicious sauce from the spicy fried tofu perfectly!). They're always busy, but the quality doesn't suffer because of it. We've tried other spots in the neighborhood, but they just don't match up to Opart in our book. Opart, please be expecting our call yet again on Friday...
(5)
Hillary M.
Always good eats & good service at Opart, and always pleasantly surprised when the check comes!
(4)
Sarah L.
After an awful experience with another Thai restaurant in our hood we ventured to Lincoln Square. We had to attend a Christmas party nearby and wanted something to eat beforehand. I saw Opart once we got off the L and we went in. This place was jumping on a Friday night! This is a BYOB establishment and there is a liquor store next door if you forget your swill. Started off with the pot stickers. Those babies were HUGE and filled with pork and ginger, so good! My guy had curry fried rice with chicken. It was good but I'm not a big fan of curry. I had the chicken pad see eiw. It did have bok choy which I love. I am still in love with Aroy Thai's pad see eiw but Opart's is still tasty. The service was decent considering how busy they were. The interior is very nice. Love the exposed brick and the decor. I can't wait to go back and bring a six pack or a few bottles of vino. This place is a great Thai restaurant and the staff is sweet too!
(4)
Lauren D.
Opart Thai is the definitely the best Thai I've had in Chicago. I live in Lincoln Park so it's a bit far for somebody without a car, but I will happily schlep up to lincoln square for a meal here. I always order the same thing - Pad Thai. I know it's boring & a staple, but I love it and am sticking too it. As an App, I always get the Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls to start and they are phenomenal as well. If you are scared of tofu, don't shy away - it is marinated in some sort of magical peanuty/cinnamony secret sauce. My date always get the Rama Broccoli, which has also gotten great reviews (hint: anything with their peanut sauce will be delicious!)
(5)
Caitlin G.
Yes, please! I discovered this place in late November, and I believe I've returned practically once a week since then. Before discovering Opart, I had spotty experiences at Thai places. One week, the food was great; the next, it was dismal. Opart has been fantastic every time I've gone. I'm a huge fan of the Pad Thai, which is the best I've had in the city. The curries are really good too--I'm partial to the panang curry and the potato/coconut curry. Oh, and yes: the potstickers are killer good. The only less-than-earth-shattering experience I've ever had here was when I ordered the Peanut Lovers dish. It was good, but at Opart, every other dish I've had has been great, so it paled in comparison. And do remember it's BYOB!! I am pretty sure there's no corkage fee, too, which is an extra bonus.
(5)
Marlyn L.
Pros: -BYOB, no corkage fee -Banana spring roll dessert was good -Chicken satay appetizer was good -Waitress was sweet Cons: -Host was a bit of a diva -Not much meat in the entrees -Not the most flavorful dish I've ever had (Sauteed veggies with chicken) -Having to stand close to diners' tables while waiting to be seated was a bit awkward What I liked - which may not be good news to some people - is that they really know how to spice things up. I ordered my entree MEDIUM thinking that I would just add chili paste to my liking. However, they packed on the heat. My mouth was burning. I liked that aspect, but other than that, the food didn't have much other flavor. The prices weren't over the top but not as good of a deal as Sticky Rice. I'm glad I tried a different place other than Sticky Rice, only because it confirmed just how much I like Sticky. I would recommend this place for the appetizers or dessert. I probably would not venture over there again. It was just mediocre.
(2)
Valerie R.
I know everyone raves about Opart- maybe the meat dishes are great (I'm a vegetarian) but everything I've had there was either not so great or average. I've eaten in there a few times as well as gotten delivery from them, so I doubt my experiences have been limited to "off days". If I'm in Lincoln Square and getting Thai I'd much rather go to Rosded, less than a block away.
(2)
Fabian P.
The food here is always fresh and tasty. We had the sampler platter and some Tom Ka soup which was tasty. I had the eggplant with oyster sauce which was ok. I forgot what my friends had but both their dishes were super yum! It's BYOB which is great for folks who like to drink.
(4)
Emaan K.
Maybe I'm not an avid fan of thai food, but I didn't really enjoy the food that much... Out of the appetizers,the crab rangoons were pretty good. Portions are not that big, so I have NO idea what people are talking about when they say that. As soon as my friend's pad thai came, my other friend asked him if he got the lunch portion =/ Service was pretty good, our waiter was very patient (he had to come back 3 times because I just could not decide what I wanted in life).
(2)
Scott S.
With this many reviews, pretty much everything has been said. I just wanted to chime in that while they have been hit or miss, most experiences I've had there have been great, with a very authentic flavor on the many, varied dishes that they have at a nice low price. I am pained that due to sodium restrictions, I can no longer go here. Someday, someday....
(4)
Robert G.
Went here on Tuesday the 12th (I think) after seeing it leaving Rosded. Like Rosded, you get take the Brown line to Western if you're an El'er, though the parking lot across the stress is only $1/hr for us drivers. Place is decently big, probably sits near 100 if really busy, and split into three sections, with the first bound to be the coldest during the winter since it's the one with the door. Draft dodgers should sit in the middle or south section. Nice enough otherwise inside--all dark wood sorta cool. The menu is as extensive as Rosded--though every item more expensive. I tried the Crab Rangoon ($4.50, $4.99 deliv)) which were good, but the sauce was underimpressive--nearly tasteless and so thin so as to not stick to the wonton at all. Wife had the Fried Tofu ($3.99) which were also okay (I sampled one), though again the accompanying sauce was marginal. I was really underimpressed by the Kuay Tiew Kee Mao (drunken noodles, $6.50, $6.99 deliv), which had very little spiciness (even though I ordered medium [in Thai] and wife ensured I got it right), was minimal in terms of taste and bulk. It was small, the beef so-so, and very little of the accompanying veggies--to top it off, it was warm at best, not close to hot. Wife got Pad Ped Pla Dook ($8.59) which is stirfried catfish which she said was only OK (not a fish guy, I dare not try), but it looked pretty--was also warmer than mine, though not spicy either. Think this is a BYOB place, though I coulda sworn a saw a minimal bar?!?!?! Also have delivery, though keen observers will note the delivery menu--or the take out if they hand you the paper copy--has prices $0.50 or more than you'd pay eating in--don't know what that's about really, but our bill would have been about $2.50 more on the four things we ordered, not to mention a $2.50 fee on top (I'm okay with that). My guess is bill will run 15-20% more than Rosded for no added value, though still not real expensive compared to some other joints. Probably do 3.5 stars if available, but that's about it. Probably won't go back with Rosded across the street and far superior.
(3)
Rachelle G.
The first thing I think of when I think of Opart, is, oh my, spicy. For those who don't like spicy beware. I knew beforehand from friends that it was a bit spicier so I ordered my panang beef mild and even then that it had a slight kick which I enjoyed but definitely not for those who dislike spicy food. The dish was great, I just wish it had a bit more basil. I also found it a bit odd that rice doesn't automatically accompany the dish, but regardless, YUMMY! My friend seemed to enjoy his pad see ewe as well, although I thought the portion size of his dish was a bit skimpy compared to other restaurants. Service was friendly. I'm definitely coming back.
(4)
Joyce T.
After hearing such raving and wonderful reviews about this place, I decided to finally go try it out last night. I had such high hopes when I walked into the place but left feeling a bit let down. First off, although the staff was cordial, I got the feeling I was literally being "rushed" out of the place. This could be attributed to the fact that I arrived about half an hour before closing; however, if they took me in as a customer and were going to take my money, they should treat me like any other customer. I ordered the recommended Tiger Cry beef for appetitizer and was disappointed. Although the menu said the beef was char-grilled, what I got was mostly burned, inedible pieces of beef that were bitter to the taste, spare a few pieces towards the middle of the pile. Next, came the potstickers. Two out of the five pieces were so hard that I couldn't even bite into it. I had to use my chopsticks to literally pry it open just so I can get to the pork inside and toss the dumpling skin aside. The only thing I was totally impressed was was their yum woon sen (noodle and chicken salad). It's one of the best I've had and is probably their saving grace. The only complaint I have about this dish is the fact that they used mainly ground chicken instead of actual chicken strips, which most other Thai restaurants use in their yum woon sen. Their Kee Mao noodles was just alright. I've had better but there really wasn't anything too special about it. The plate was a bit small and was filled more with veggies than chicken or noodles. Also the fact that I got ALL 4 dishes at once practically made me feel as if they wanted me to leave asap, because by the time I got to my main dish (the Kee Mao noodles), it was starting to get cold already (it was the 2nd dish to arrive out of all the plates). Overall, I was unimpressed by the restaurant. I don't know if I'll be dining there anytime again soon. Hopefully I'll just chart this down to being there as their last customer. I wonder if there delivery service is any better...
(2)
Melissa D.
Opart Thai is my absolute favorite Thai place in the city-so much that it's programmed into my phone! I have never actually been in the restaurant, I always have it delivered and I have never been disappointed. Their delivery is always prompt and the food is always hot upon arrival. Upon my first order, I found something that I loved so much that I haven't tried a lot of their menu. Ttheir Peanut Sauce Lover (with any kind of meat), vegetable fried rice and crab rangoon are all delicious. Portions are big and leftovers are always guaranteed. YUM!
(5)
Karen P.
I really like this thai place. I have friends who live in the area who are also thai freaks and they introduced me to it. I have had their Kuay Tiew Kee Mao (Spicy noodles) and its pretty good, but its their curry that really shines here. I have had the green curry - Gaeng Keow Waan- and it is AMAZING. Best curry I have had in the city, hands down. My friend normally gets the Panang and that is also exceptional. If you like thai curry you have to try this place. I have only ever gotten delievery, so I can't comment on the actual restaurant.
(4)
Kimberly S.
Best Thai in Chicago as far as I am concerned and I have been around the Thai food circuit. They have a huge menu, but can do each dish well. The spicy peanut lover is my fav- a hot peanut sauce with onions, peppers, cashews and the meat of your choice (I get the tofo). I could eat it everyday.
(5)
Jennifer H.
Good prices, but the food is totally boring. I LOVE Thai food and have to say that Opart is a far cry from Aroy Thai on Damen Ave. I know Opart has many faithful followers, so I wonder if I happened to go on a night when the cooks were having a bad day. Whatever the reason, Opart is definitely not some place I would write home about.
(2)
Morgan C.
Like so many places, it's gone downhill after a mangement/ownership change. Used to be 5-star all the way. Really the best. Perfect pad thai. Last I was there, after the change, the portions were smaller (although still reasonable down from cartoonishly large) and the quality just wasn't up to par. Still good, but just knowing what it used to be makes it a little more disappointing. I guess I'd head back and give it another shot. Maybe it was just a fluke, but from all the other recent reviews, it doesn't sound like it.
(4)
Katie R.
This is my favorite Thai place in the city so far. The soups are amazing- especially the tom kha (i think) with shrimp. It's the best blend of sour and spicy. Everything I've had there has been great, and you can't beat BYOB.
(5)
Chaga H.
the food is decent, but the service is awful. this place is 3 blocks from my house so I've given it plenty of opportunity, but my simple orders are rarely correct. additionally, I get a lot of attitude when I try to correct the errors and am never offered any apology. it's very irritating.
(2)
Cristin M.
I think that Opart is one of the best Thai restaurants I have ever been to. They have a huge menu, and everything that I have eaten there has been excellent. The service is always friendly, and it never seems to take long to get your food. Be careful of your spicy level, they make stuff really hot if you ask for it! Their prices are good too. Recently, a group of 7 ate for under $70, and that included appetizers. It's BYOB, so don't be afraid to bring in some refreshing beers to help cut the spice, or some good wine.
(5)
Erin M.
YUM. This is some of the best Thai food I've ever had. The curry dishes are awesome, and their pad thai isn't too bad either. Service was friendly and fast.
(5)
Natalie S.
I used to come here all the time when I was vegan and I HATED it. My vegetables were never all that fresh and crispy and the tofu was pretty mushy. After reading reviews on Yelp I decided to give Opart another chance, especially since I eat dairy again. It was better, I have to say. My rama was pretty good, the rice was perfect and the tofu was cooked well. It's still not as good as Cozy, so I can't give too many stars. But it's good and it's really close to my house, so I'll be back.
(3)
Tristin M.
Yummy! Can't think of anything that'll keep me up all night if I don't get it then and there... And I found it interesting that we were one of two parties in the restaurant but still had to wait a long time for someone to come take our order.
(3)
Dennis H.
My favorite "north side" Thai restaurant in Chicago. Consistently good food and service, and truly a bargain. Truly a Lincoln Square institution, too. I'm not surprised to see that an earlier reviewer spotted Governor Rod Blagojevich and family dining at Opart. They live just down the street and around the corner in the Ravenswood Manor neighborhood (at least, when they're not in Springfield, anyway).
(5)
Kimberly W.
I think Opart Thai has the BEST Pad Thai ever!!!!!!! I took two of my coworkers there (in Wilmette) and they loved it too! They also have amazing additional dishes such as the Pad See Eiw and the Curry dishes. I love their Egg Drop Soup too! I think Opart Thai is my favorite all around Thai restaurant in Chicago! They even have 3 locations in Chicago (2 city and 1 suburban). There is this one on Western and another one in China Town (1900 S. State St.) and one on Skokie Rd. in Wilmette. Check them out!
(5)
Ryan J.
A bit expensive, but not too bad. Easily the best Thai food I've ever had in Chicago. Plus it's BYOB. The hands-down winner for me.
(5)
Simone G.
Update: I've decided to add another star for the dine in experience. The portions were slightly larger, and the food was definitely more tasty for some reason. In any case they earned themselves just a bit more praise. I got take out here last night and while i thought the food was alright, I definitely wouldn't rave about it. For $25 dollars i got smallish sized portions of 2 dishes I ordered along with an appetizer. These were ordered off of their "hot and spicey menu" and to me they might as well have been placed in the regular sections, because when you ask me "how hot" I would like something and I tell you "as hot as you can make it" I expect my mouth to be on fire... which definitely wasn't the case... the thai chili i put on it was hotter than what they served up. There are definitely better tasting places around the city. I will give it to them that they do run a very clean looking establishment. I have to admit I very much prefer the chinese restaurant next door called "Tom Lee." The last time I was there with my dad, for $25 bucks we got beef chow fun, szechuan chicken, fried rice, and won ton soup. So to Opart I say "good day."
(4)
Marisa A.
My dad's Thai and has a pretty extensive background in cooking. He insists on eating at Thai restaurants everytime he spots a new one, and then will laugh/insult/refuse to eat whatever they put in front of him. He's also very picky about the food being authentic, so if something is sweet that's not supposed to be he hates it. With that being said... we repeatedly find ourselves back at Opart. Some things are better than others. I LOVE the basil chicken (or pork, or beef). Make sure to ask for the meat to be ground, rather than sliced. It is very authentic, not sweet at all, and just downright delicious. I ask for it hot, and if it's not as hot as I want it then I just ask for a side of chilies in fish sauce/lime juice. I'm not a fan of their satay. Actually, I've barely strayed from my basil at all because it's so damn perfect. I haven't been to all of the countless Thai restaurants in Chicago, but this one's at the top.
(5)
Ashish G.
This is by far my favorite Thai restaurant in Chicago. Not only is the food amazing, but it's cheap and you can bring your own wine, spirits, etc. Everyhing on the menu is good. This is one restaurant that I can say that I've never had a bad experience at (knock on wood). Some of my favorites include the Tiger Cry, Spring Rolls, Peanut Sauce Lovers w/ chicken, and Pad Thai.
(5)
Kat W.
One excellent Thai restaurant. Friendly servers, BYOB, good selection of food, and reasonably priced. A nice, quiet interior.
(5)
Jason P.
It was cinco de mayo and we were out looking for a nice place to eat and we came across this place. Nothing says cinco de mayo more than Thai food. Really the Mexican restaurant close by had a ridiculous wait so we made our way here. The service was super slow making me question the decision. We sat for at least 20 minutes before anyone came to take our order. I was absolutely starving so I ordered some fried tofu to kick things off and it came with a nice peanut sauce. Then I asked if they could make this broccoli dish meatless and substitute tofu and they were fine with this. I really should have read the menu a little closer because it came with the same sauce as my app and basically the only difference between the two is that my entree came with broccoli. Despite this error on my part, the food was decent overall. I would give it another try and come more prepared for the BYOB as well as reading the entire description on the menu as to not double up again.
(3)
Bella D.
Great place for Thai and close to the EL! Nice staff!
(4)
Meredith M.
Best thai in chicago. consistent and fresh. Yes its a tad more than some others in the area but you get what you pay for and its BYOB which makes up for any higher prices. massaman curry, fresh spring rolls are addictive.
(5)
Lezah G.
I had one of the best Thai meals I have had in years. Everything was tasty, fresh, and well prepared. I've been eating Thai food for 20 plus years and have been to Thailand several times. I've noticed that as the years pass, the Thai food in Chicago is declining in quality. I think the chefs are adjusting their seasoning to western tastes. The food in the restaurant had the same taste sensations I remember when I first discovered and loved Thai food! The fact that it is so crowded in an area with many Thai restaurants is testament to its quality. I saw in some reviews that people complained about the service. I've never had especially good service in Thai restaurants even in Thailand so i expect things to be served out of order, to wait for condiments, etc. There was a little of that at Opart but nothing horrible. My only reason for not giving it 5 stars is that the waiting area melds into the eating area. We sat at the edge of the restaurant and we felt like people waiting for tables were hanging over our shoulders. There needs to be a little more difference. That being said, I'm looking forward to eating there again!
(4)
yvette n.
I love this place. Have been going here for years. They have the best Tom Yum Soup i've had, but i haven't been to Thailand. The service is usually good, but i've had a few problems, but the food definitely make up for it.
(5)
Ewa T.
Alright, so this restaurant may not truly deserve a full 4 stars, but they are quick and they are good! I had their Pad Thai which was truly one of the best that I've tasted. The noodles were buttery and they didn't overdo it with the nuts. It took literally 2 minutes to make...faster than some of the "fast food" joints these days. I would say my only drawback was their stinginess with their plastic forks and knives! I jumped on the train and wanted to start eating, but alas..no tools with which to shovel the food into my mouth. I debated using my hands, but I hadn't reached that point of hunger yet. Maybe next time!
(4)
Dave T.
Opart is my favorite Thai restaurant in the neighborhood. The food is always very good and it is a BYOB restaurant which makes it a great bargain. If you forget to bring along some alcohol you can go two doors down to the liquor store for your spiritual needs. I usually opt for the spring rolls and the pad siew and they are always very good. Opart is about average in terms of cost, but you can expect very good food and service. That makes it a bargain in my book.
(4)
b c.
ate there about a month ago. tried & loved the "peanut sauce lover". sauteed cashew nuts, white & green onion w/peanut sauce & choice of chicken, pork, beef or shrimp. took a while to get food ( about 25 min) waiter not rude but less then friendly, although he cracked us up when he mispronounced "PEANUT sauce". prob. will be back.
(3)
k t.
This place has decent food. For some reason I think the food was better before they expanded it. There are so many Thai food choices in Lincoln Square, this is one of the better ones if you don't mind the unfriendly staff.
(3)
Karen L.
This is the best thai place I have found so far. I have tried the papaya salad, pad see ew and mussaman curry. Compared to other places, Opart's dishes are definately more flavorful! (I am trying to go to several Thai places in the city to compare, but there are so many to try!!!)
(5)
Kateland B.
I'd say this place is my new fav thai food resto in Chi-town. I stopped in one day on the way home from a long hard day of work and was delighted with the freshness of the ingredients and flavor. I had the pad thai as I always do and this one stood out from all the other pad thai dishes I've had so far in Chicago. There is something different and I can't quite put my finger on it but it's fabulous! So light and yummy and full flavors. I felt good eating it and not bad at all. No mystery here, just good quality thai food. Woohoo, so glad it's right around the corner. :)
(5)
mary o.
really great food. very busy on a sunday night, I had my favorite, spicy green curry with tofu while my dining companions had noodle dishes which they both devoured. We also had crab rangoon and fresh spring rolls,, both of which rocked my world...I think there was only one waitress working the entire room but she did a great job. BYOB. Come hungry.
(4)
Matthew M.
Opart Thai is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in the city. Even before I lived in Lincoln Square, this was a destination; now that I do, it's a major perk to being in the area! The menu is extensive and they tend to be flexible with level of spice and type of meat, as well as accommodating finnicky requests sometimes. The pad thai is the best I've had; you can request less oil if you want to keep it slightly healthier. And they may just make the best peanut sauce in the world. It's nothing monumental in terms of offerings, some standard fare, but it's prepared well and tastes fantastic. If you dine in, service is generally prompt and the turnaround on orders is quick. No alcohol served but BYOB with a liquor store next door and no corkage fee! Delivery usually takes about an hour (longer than it would take to walk there and back for me -- but that is a testament to my laziness more than their speed) but orders are always perfect.
(5)
Laila K.
this place is great. great food, good price, great decor, good takeout dishes too (yes that matters for dishes with lots of sauces). i don't have a single negative thing to say.
(5)
a w.
This is probably the best Thai place in the Chicago area. They're food is so tasty and filled with spices. And if you're not a fan of spicy food, you can always instruct the waiters to have your food made a bit less spicy. Best of all this place is super affordable. And the portions are huge too. Everytime I have gone here, I have had to have my food packed to take home. Count on getting a great, filling meal for a very reasonable price at this delicious restraunt. If you're a thai food fan, you're not going to want to miss out on this one!
(5)
Kristin A.
Great Thai food for a low cost. Restaurant is BYOB. Service was nice and quick. For most of the entree's, you will need to order rice separately. For some reason is doesn't automatically come with the food. Plenty of parking and directly under the Western stop on the brown line.
(5)
Jessica C.
Based on the reviews we opted to eat at Opart yesterday. Now, I'm no Thai food connoisseur, so let's just get that out in the open from the start. Every time I eat Thai I order the Pad See Eiw, so this time I wanted to branch out (hubby wasn't so bold.) We ordered the fried chicken won tons as an app and they were delicious! I'd go back for those. The meal-y part of the meal was a bit bland, though, I must say. Hubby ordered the Pad See Eiw, and compared to other places it was under par, skimpy on the broccoli and sauce not quite as sweet as I like. I ordered a simple baby corn/chicken dish with rice (which WAS cooked to perfection... plus.) I guess I expected the sauce for mine to have a bit more flavor, but then again like I said, I'm no Thai expert.... Our server was perfect, and the price is right so we'll probably go back someday. If I do return I'll try something different.
(3)
Alfonso M.
Lord have mercy!!! This was AMAZING!!! The food is ridiculously good. I had dinner there on a Monday night and it was fairly busy. We were seated right away and actually served our appetizer within 10-15 minutes of being there and the rest of the meal a few minutes after the appetizer. Everything was hot (as in warm & fresh). We ( I was with a friend) had the Sampler plate for our appetizer [Crab Rangoon, Shrimp Spring Rolls, Egg Rolls and Fried Shumari (fried Shrimp)]. It came with a side of sweet & sour style dipping sauce. The soup was then served and normally I not a big soup person, thank goodness I listened to my friend as she ordered the seafood soup (Poh Tok). It's a sweet & spicy soup with shrimp, crab meat and fish. It was very good and I had to stop in order to make sure that I had room for the entree which was the Peanut Sauce lover served with Chicken over Jasmine rice. Magical is the only way to describe what I ate at this place last night and if I could, I'de give them a few more stars. Highly recommended. Price is inexpensive and it's a BYO place. Service was friendly, courteous and fast.
(5)
Keely B.
I have absolutely no idea how this place gets good reviews. I ordered take out which my huband picked up. The person who took my order over the the phone could not have been snarkier. When my husband arrived to pick up our order, he said he was barely acknowledged. The food was kind of nasty. I ordered a standard--by which I meant to compare quality with other Thai restaurants I've visited. My spicy pad sie eiw with chicken had absolutely no flavor other than burning. I took my leftovers for lunch the next day thinking the flavors may have improved once they'd had a chance to meld, and the dish reeked and tasted of fish. I threw it away. My husband's dish was entirely bland, but edible. The egg rolls were slightly above average, which is the only reason this is not a one-star review.
(2)
Marie C.
I came here last week with a girlfriend of mine. I was having a terrible day, this visit did not make it better. I originally had planned to go to Roseded but they were over capacity so we came here. We came in, they sat us. We waited... AND waited... AAAAAND WAITED. I literally thought I was being punk'd because I was there for about 20 minutes before the server rushed over to us ready to take our order. How about some water please? Can I please have some water first? So he leaves aggravated w me and comes back in a flash w my water. I noticed they didn't have Mongolian beef on the menu, which I know is a Chinese dish... but they do at Roseded, so I inquired about it and he acted like he didn't know what it was. So I explained what it was, (beef, green onions, broccoli, etc) and asked if he could recommend me something similar. THIS guy told me he was NOT Chinese and stormed away. o_O Okay what just happened? Did I offend him? i just wanted some food!!! I was starving and this place was losing my respect by the minute. How did I offend him by asking him to recommend something to me by describing the ingredients that were in a dish that I wanted o_O I was all over confused. The chicken satay was good. I wish I could say more about the place. The art was awesome. I sat under a picture of a beautiful woman who looked like a powerful Queen of some sort. I'm sure had I gone on a night when I wasn't so frustrated, I would've been able to shrug this off and laugh at this guy, but Opart just didn't do it for me. It was a terrible experience and I wont be coming back. :(
(1)
Honest-Abe R.
We drive all the way from the western burbs for their food! The food is amazing! I would recommend the ground chicken with basil mixed with white rice and extra onions. (Can't remember the name of the dish) Great Thai Ice teas as well.
(5)
terry l.
Called last night for delivery. 9 times. 8 times it was a busy signal. The 9th time was an answer and a curt, "Opart, please hold". Hung up after being placed on perma hold. Tried again tonight. Put on hold again. Waited. And waited. And waited. Called back..."Opart, please hold". I tried explaining my experiences. I was told very curtly that there was nothing that could be done and that I would need to be, you guessed it, put on hold. I give up. Thanks Opart, you saved me fifty bucks. Try elsewhere.
I don't understand the hype about this place!!! The food is either bland or the heat (spice) is scorching. There is never a happy medium, and the chicken is always dry and chewy. The portions are good, but I have never finished or enjoyed a meal here.
(2)
Valery P.
Great food and location (next to the brown line station and street parking is plenty around there). But the thing that turned me away was their very poor service. Most of the waitress there didn't seem to show some appreciation to the customer (simple gestures was badly lacked in this place). When I got there (and this happen quite often), I always have to literally search around the building to find the waiter to seat me and my friends. All in all, a great place to have dinner during the weekend (especially during festivals like Oktoberfest and Applefest), but just be ready for a very unfriendly service by their waiter/waitress.
(2)
Catherine S.
Okay, this place is somewhat more expensive than Spoon Thai, but it is now my favorite Thai in the city outside of Sticky Rice. We ordered everything Thai spicy, and it came perfectly spiced with chiles. We had: -Pla Koong: charbroiled shrimp salad. This was perfectly salty, fishy, sweet, and sour--I literally was spooning the sauce up off the plate. The shrimp were literally charbroiled, which really added some incredible smoky flavor. -Som Tum (Papaya Salad). We had it without the dried shrimp since I'm a wimp about those sometimes taste-wise. It was delish--whole pieces of chile, and again, a perfectly lime-y sauce on top of it all. -Hot & Spicy Catfish Sliced catfish stir-fried with Thai eggplant, green beans, basil leaves and fresh ground chili. Yum! I look forward to returning and having more of the spicy catfish dishes in particular. The server was sweet--it wasn't super busy, but she was great about constantly refilling our water since we were sweating our way through the (wonderfully) spicy food. So, while our bill was more than some other spots in the neighborhood, the quality really was so much better, and the flavors authentic--lots of liberal use of more expensive ingredients like fresh basil, lemongrass, shrimp. We'll definitely be back!
(5)
Judith L.
I -love- their food. But I just had the weirdest experience with the guy on the phone trying to order. I could hardly understand him and he was super rude to me when I asked him to repeat himself. Doesn't make me feel very good about ordering from there again.. although I probably will. Get your customer service together! The waiters are always really nice when I come in. Learn some phone etiquette dude.
(3)
Pack C.
Well, first of all i'm a thai. My standard for thai food is high. I went there for my friend's BD. i love the fact that it's a BYOB place, and located right next to a liquor store. A lot of people who work there are Thai which made me hope that food will be really authentic. However, i was fairly disappointed when i sneak peek dishes of other tables. Food were really americanized.. curry dishes look really white 'coz they were soaked with coconut milk !! We ordered quite a few dishes. My favorite one is Mhu Ping (pork on skewers). It was really good, and authentic. We ordered Panang, and green curry which i couldn't recognize its thai form. Pad Thai was disappointing. it was all in pale white, rice noodle with bean sprouts and chicken. The taste was not awful but it was more like Chinese stir fry. Overall for the whole meal, the taste was not bad; just that it was not Thai. By the way, it was really cheap though.. we order 6-7 dishes, lots of thai ice tea, and desserts.. it costed us about $18 per person, including 20% tips i think.. it was a deal!!
(2)
James K.
It's hard to judge a place with one visit but I must give them props for their crunchy crab rangoons. I must admit that I was a bit disappointed with their pad thai, but I that is just a personal preference. The tiger cry was good but not as amazing as the hype. Overall great service and good food.
(3)
Stacey A.
I used to say something like, "Yeah, I like Thai food, but I've never really thought to myself, 'OH MAN. THIS IS THE BEST THAI FOOD. IT IS BETTER THAN ALL OTHER THAI FOOD I HAVE TRIED!'" But then again, I also thought that dying my hair red was a really good idea. I used to be pretty stupid, is what I'm saying. When I go to, or order from Opart Thai, I actually DO say something like "OH MAN. THIS IS THE BEST THAI FOOD. IT IS BETTER THAN ALL OTHER THAI FOOD I HAVE TRIED!" And then I weep quietly with joy and stuff big fistfuls of rice into my mouth while taping it on youtube. Weirdly, my youtube channel has something like 5 million subscribers and I'd like to thank Opart Thai for that.
(5)
June D.
I have been here several times with friends and it all went well. Love their papaya salad the most! However, there were one experience that killed all my positive energy for this place. It was about half a year ago when it happened but I didn't join Yelp then. It was on my mother-in-law's birthday and our family came here to celebrate. Everything was great until I found 2 cockroaches next to me. One was on the wall and the other one was on the table. Everybody felt so disgusted and we called the server out to show him the evidence (my husband killed them with the napkin). But there were no apology coming from him or any other staff later and the server also looked at our family as trouble makers since we said it out loud. Because of this experience, I haven't come back here and I don't think i will ever again. I also told my friends not to come because cockroaches in the front house is seriously not acceptable!!!! So everybody when you come here and you sit next to the wall, watch for those disgusting creatures.
(2)
Marsha F.
This place is as good as it gets for Thai food. At least for me! I have been going to this place for yeeears. I started going once upon a time when it was a shack. Now its blossomed to this beautifully remodeled restaurant. The food is always good, no matter how crowded you always get good service. The place is super clean and BYOB with a liquor store next door. The food options is what does it for me. I love have so many options to choose from. Lot of Thai restaurants have the same 10 choices. You can get whatever you want and substitute however you like. It is a must try!
(5)
Petras D.
Opart Thai offers the best thai food in the city (at both sites) in my opinion. The few times I've dined in the service has been prompt and accommodating. When I have ordered take-out I'm always a little amazed at how quickly the (typically) two main dishes, and two or three side orders are prepared and ready. Best of all, their prices are notably low for the portion and quality of food you get. I would recommend Opart Thai to anyone who either already enjoys Thai food or would like to experience it for the first time. I like to try something new from their menu every time I order and I've not been disappointed yet.
(5)
Johnny R.
I thought I had rated these guys before... I've gotten take-out from Opart about 50 times. The delivery is prompt, and the food is always correct. I am a fan for sure. I will say that yesterday's beef pad thai was solid, but a little bland. Having made my own over the years and browsed a lot of recipes, I'd say that this dish is getting a little too Westernized...
(4)
Richie D.
You want the best of the best??? Well Opart Thai IS IT! In a nut-shell: -The service (Anitra [the all-in-one bundle of a soft voice, nice body, lovely personality] is A-MA-ZING!) -The music (a perfect fusion of Electronic, Dance and Lounge mixes) -The food (outstanding and top of the line compared to the other double digit quantity of Thai places I have eaten at during my lifetime). -The BYOB--I refer to this as Bring Your Own Bag, as in TEA Bag. I love my own tea, preferably Jasmine, and it will be accompanied "on the house" by piping hot water and a nice cup to sip out of. -The decor is simply relaxing and cultural (especially with the surrounding music previously mentioned). Ahh, I long for my next visit Opart...
(5)
Mavel M.
All I have to say is that I found my New Thai Restaurant!!! I used to go to Penny's and Thai on Clark, but Opart won my heart. So far I dine there once and order carryout but that food is great. It is inexpensive, easy travel access if you are taking the train and staff is great as well. I would so recommend this place for a large party or for just 2. I am definitely going back for more Thai!!!
(5)
Lauren D.
This restaurant was featured on "Check Please!" so I thought why not give it a try. I went here for lunch on Wednesday at 12:30 and the place was pretty empty. The service was pretty good, but then again, there were only two other people in the entire restaurant, so it is not like it was crazy busy. The Server made some recommendations. We had their fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce on it topped off with tofu. It was actually a pretty good appetizer. My friend is a Vegetarian so it was nice to know that they have a lot of fairly good dishes for vegetarians. I ordered the Bami Pad Lard Nar with chicken and asked if they could add pineapples. They said "Yes, no problem." It was a good size plate of food. In fact, I couldn't even finish my food. The ambiance is nice, and the art work on the wall is interesting. I thought the food was just OK. The food is freshly prepared, but I will not make a special trip to Opart Thai to have their food. It tasted like Thai food that I've had at other Thai food restaurants throughout the city. I really wanted to give them four stars, but didn't because there is really nothing unique about their food.....nothing sets it apart from other Thai restaurants that I've eaten at in the city.
(3)
Matt G.
Like other reviewers, I would say that they know how to kick in the spice at this place. Unlike Royal Thai, the portions are large and filling. I think it is strange to have Thai and sushi in the same restaurant, but who am I to judge? Delivery is a bit slow, but free California Maki roll for over $25 spent. Bonus.
(4)
Char Y.
Came without dear Thai friends for food. However, she graciously marked the food we should order. We order Moo Ping - really tender pork on a stick tiger cry - ok, slightly tough tom yum pla - great soup with fish. gaeng pet ped - REALLY yummy curry sauce pad ped pla dook - ok, loved the eggplant & beans better fried banana - OMG the best! banana coconut inside crispy spring roll thai custard - good I am truly enjoying Thai cuisine beyond pad thai, and I am in awe of the flavor combination I tried. Lovely, just amazing.
(4)
Derrick T.
In the Big Ole Windy City, there is surprisingly a LOT of Thai food places... but authentic Thai? That's the hard one to come by. In terms of pure spice, Opart accomplished this on the only visit that I've had thus far. Decor was nice! Darkwood, greeted with smiles and led to a table immediately... not ridiculously busy for a Thursday night at 6:30 PM, but the quietness was enjoyable as we settled in for our meal. Felt very upscale restaurant. Fiancee and I started with a Crab Rangoon - Crisp, melty, perfectly golden, but suffering from the same malaise that other crab rangoons suffer from: lack of crab. 8 servings for $5 was definitely a good deal though. We had two dishes - Lard Nar (seafood version) and Red Curry with Catfish (I forget the Thai name) Via my fiancee, the Lard Nar deserved four stars. I tasted the nicely cooked shrimp that was done to an excellent tenderness, and the plentiful squid which was tender as well. Tender squid is a tough thing to accomplish (at least in my kitchen) and I'm always impressed by such a feat. When ordering my Red Curry Catfish dish, the waitress asked me if I wanted mild, medium or hot. Curious as to how hot it could be, I asked her, and she let me know that it would be Thai hot. Now in all my time in Chicago, one friend has brought me to an authetic Thai place and I've never had such hot food in my life. I miss it. So I ordered Thai Hot. This curry was phenomenal. Milky texture, soft catfish, and SPICY curry. While it wasn't as hot as my past experience with my friend, this was closer than any other Thai place I've been to and I really enjoyed it. Grand dining total after tax and tip? $28. Not bad, especially with leftovers from my fiancee to make another meal for her. Verdict: If you're looking for very close to authentic Thai spice in an upscale feeling restaurant without ridiculous prices, Opart is well worth a trip. I'll be back for my curry.. mark my words.
(4)
Awilda G.
This is the best Thai in the City of Chicago. It was my first visit and I waited about 40 minutes but it was so worth the wait. The Spring Rolls in Peanut Sauce was great, Rangoon was perfect and the Tiger Cry was amazing I can eat that alone and not just as an appetizer!!!!!! For this visit I opted for a soup dish and with mixed seafood and it was so delicious. Ended the night with Coconut custard and it was so delicious. The people are great, the service was wonderful and the ambiance is super friendly. Great for a date night or for a family night. Great experience and looking forward to going back!
(5)
Daniel R.
Opart is our go to thai restaurant for take out. The food is always good and prepared quickly. The only downside is that the staff answering the phone to take orders are often rude.
(4)
Jiyoun B.
I was craving spicy something and I yelped, of course. Reading fellow yelper's two cents made me crave this place. Per recommendation, I had the following: Tiger cry- it did taste like Korean bbq Pad Kraw Praow aka Basil Chicken in "hot" spiciness-- this hit the spot My hubby ordered: Spicy Tofu-- Deep fried tofu topped with ground chicken had really good sauce Panang Curry w/ Chicken in "hot" spiciness-- the thick sauce had bits of hot pepper powder floating in it. It was a bit too spicy for me but it had really good flavor. I'll probably come by again next time I'm in the 'hood and craving spicy Thai food.
(4)
A W.
I believe I am on a quest to find the best Pad See Ewe in Chicago. Well, to find what I think is the best really. With that said, I did not find it here. I ordered Pad See Ewe to go and dug into it when I got home. I liked that the to-go container kept it relatively hot during continued shopping in the area and the trip home. However, I didn't like the lack of Chinese broccoli in the dish, and concerning the broccoli, the lack of broccoli leaves. It was basically all stalks, which I thought was a very cheap move. It also took away so much from the overall flavor. To add injury to insult, the broccoli wasn't cooked long enough either, leaving it rather crunchy. The sauce was good, but lots of the noodles were charred. I got pork for the meat, and that was on the dry side despite the sauce. My conclusion was; it wasn't good, but it wasn't bad either. I imagine the dish to have an angel on one shoulder and a demon on the other, both trying to sway it each other's way causing the dish to call 'neutral.' So, I give this place three stars because if in dire need of Pad See Ewe, the proximity to my living quarters would cause me to go ahead and get it from here with appropriate expectations. And also, because I'd like to try some of their other offerings. Although, the quest continues.
(3)
Georgio M.
This is a pretty good north side Chicago restaurant that is quick on delivery and great on service. Once a week, I order Thai food, and this restaurant is pretty good about delivering it fast. The drivers are always courteous and friendly. As for the food, it's yummy and tasty. I'm not one that enjoys spicy Thai food, so they are pretty good about custom-making my order the way I like. Favorite dish is the Rama Chicken, smothered in peanut sauce. I think they close around 9 or 10, so don't come by last min, or they will all ready be getting ready to close. Great Food.
(3)
Dave S.
One of the great things about living in Chicago as opposed to Clearwater, FL (our previous haunt), is the wide array of delivery available. After getting home from work I wanted Thai style peanut sauce, but didn't want to go out. HA! No problem, enter Opart Thai House. Food was better than average for a dine in Thai place and way above average for anything I've ever had delivered. As others have said, took about an hour to be delivered. Not cheap either. Food + deliver + tip was something like $45. Although, we do have a tendency to over-order when we try a new place. I ordered the chicken satay. Great. A healthy portion, well spiced and lots of hibachi grilled flavor. Also, peanut sauce lovers chicken. Enough for two meals, nice peanut sauce, cashews a plus, very spicy. My wife got the Tom Kha soup. Not her favorite, too fishy. Fish balls (hahahahaha)and crab rangoon - both of which she really liked. The food was good, not amazing. That and the fact that it was pricey keep me from giving it a 5-star review. Will def. eat here again. Best delivery I've ever had.
(4)
Jeff B.
As far as the Lawrence strip of Thai restaurants go, I'm a firm devotee of Aroy Thai - but it was closed on Monday, so I decided to wander down the street to Lincoln Square. I typically start new Thai experiences with their Panang Curry - my theory being that, much like Pad Thai, if you can't get the Panang right, I'm not going to bother eating anything else there. Their Panang was fair, though between my dining companion (who ordered the Red Curry) and I, we noticed that their spice level is pretty much relegated to "Very" and "Not". Ultimately, the best part about the evening was the wine, which I brought, and the conversation. Sadly, Opart was responsible for neither. All in all, not the worst experience I've ever had in Chicago Thai, but by no means the best. Definitely noticed, shall we say, insect life wandering around the picture frame on the wall. Not very appetizing. Really might want to look into that... Next time I'm craving Thai food on a Monday, I'll wait the extra evening, and head back to Aroy.
(2)
Pam D.
I was coming home from work on a Saturday afternoon and needed something to take home, so ran across the street to Opart. Won't be making that mistake again. It wasn't very busy, but they had only one waiter and it was a little much for him. It seemed like he did things in a timely manner, nothing sat waiting to be served. I got a Thai Iced Coffee and it was 80% ice, 15% Folgers instant coffee and 5% half and half. At least when the ice melted my thirst was quenched.... I got the Pad See Ewe with tofu which was okay except oddly sweet. Not that it shouldn't be, but it tasted weird.... There was a good amount of tofu which is a plus.
(2)
Rita W.
Had a great experience here! There was a great selection of noodles, rice and entrees! I feel like as most Thai places around here, it is either not full on Thai entree (the pan asian places that have sweet and sour chicken and pad thai...um ok..) or they just have your standard dishes. At Opart Thai I couldn't decide on what I wanted because there was so much to choose from. Instead of getting a standard noodle dish I decided to branch out and get a new dish. My roommate and I shared the peanut sauce lovers dish (or something like that) and this sauteed shrimp dish. Both dishes were pretty delicious, especially the peanut sauce one! The sauces were so tasty I wanted more rice to soak up the sauce! Opart Thai is also BYOB! The service is pretty good and the prices are VERY reasonable!
(4)
Natalie O.
Awesome for groups, awesome for dates, just awesome in general. Conveniently located right off the Western stop on the Brown Line, Opart offers quality Thai food at reasonable prices. Favorites: Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls, Peanut Sauce Lover, Massaman Curry, Woon Sen Pad Thai, Pad See-Iew, Sticky Rice, Thai Iced Tea. In the summer, they usually offer Mango Sticky Rice for dessert which is AMAZING. If you're looking for a dessert place, go to Opart. Get the mango sticky rice. And you will never be the same. I wish this wasn't a seasonal item, but I'll go back year-round anyway.
(5)
Ryo Y.
We went to the Western location right under the brown line stop. The restaurant is pretty big and the staff are friendly. To be honest, I was a bit disappointing with the taste and the quality of the food. We ordered the Chicken Curry Satay, Tom Yum Koong, Basil Chicken, Pork Curry Rice, Red Curry and Pad Thai. The Tom Yum Koong wasn't spicy at all, it tasted like i just ordered some lime soup with cilantro. Not much flavor or kick..... Pad Thai tasted like the one from Big Bowl. Way too sweet. We asked for medium hot and all i could taste was the sweet sauce. There were so much sauce on my plate that I could hardly taste the veggies. the noodles were clumped together so it didn't seem like the cook prepared my meal with quality. Very disappointing.... Chicken Curry tasted the best. It had just the right amount of curry powder and charred flavor from the grill. With the cold cucumbers and raw onions it burst with thai flavor; what thai food should taste like. Basil Duck and Pork Curry Rice was just ok. Too much hype for this restaurant. I would recommend this place for first time thai virgins or large groups... it's friendly atmosphere, cheap dining and you get to bring your own booze! Dinner for five was less than 60 dollars. Although its cheap, I prob wouldn't head back. Too many great restaurants in Chicago to choose from.
(3)
J M.
After visiting central and southern Thailand in May, my husband and I have made it a goal to try as many Thai restaurants in Chicago as possible :) So far Opart is hands down my favorite Thai restaurant in the city AND they have mango with sticky rice! Bonus!
(5)
Vic C.
Wait was excessive but well worth it on a Friday night. There's a great bar a few blocks down on t he opposite side of the street where you can kill some time... And BYOB!
(5)
Ashley K.
I would eat Thai food every day if I could. Went here a few months back with my favorite dining companion, my dad. He and I pretty much always want to order the same things, so going out to dinner with him ensures that I get to sample at least two different things I have my eye on. Plus he always treats :) On this particular occasion, we were both having a hard time deciding on an appetizer, so we decided to order 4 appetizers (reserve judgment please) and split an entree. We had the tiger cry, crab rangoon, mee krob, and pot stickers. All were very solid selections, with the tiger cry probably being my favorite. The crab rangoon were good, but did not beat the crab rangoon at Indie Cafe (currently the best crab rangoon I've ever had). The mee krob was not really at all what we were expecting - I don't know why because it pretty much came out exactly like the menu description. The deep fried skinny rice noodles were covered in some kind of sticky sweet "sauce" that was mostly absorbed into the noodles, as there was no visible sauce on the plate. It wasn't bad, in fact in a weird way, I think I really liked it. The pot stickers were some of the best I've had in recent memory. We split the peanut lover's chicken for our entree, which while incredibly tasty, did not have quite as much sauce on it as I would have liked. I'm a big sauce person. So much so that I often order food based on the sauce, with the protein either secondary or a total after thought. I would have preferred some extra sauce to sop up with my rice. But overall, a really good dish. If this weren't so far away from my current west loop abode, I'd frequent here a lot more often. I wish there was an Opart in my 'hood...le sigh.
(5)
amanda A.
i love thai food. thai food in chicago has done me wrong so many times that i had almost given up on thai food here. where i grew up thai food was fresh, light, sweet, sour, spicy. all the things thai food should be. perhaps i have just had a very very bad string of luck these last 11 years with thai food in chicago but what i usually receive is thick and heavy. so so sad. opart thai is what thai food should be. reasonably sized portions or light, delicious, fresh, spicy, sweet, sout, thai food love and it is byob with a liquor store next door. if it were even vaguely close to my home or i could order delivery i would be tossing out 5 stars. though i guess that is a flaw on my part not theirs.
(4)
Sara B.
My FAVORITE Thai place! Mee Krob is awesome! Pad Thai awesome. Crab Fried Rice awesome. Everything here is very good. Staff is nice and there are three rooms of tables that make seating not an issue at this popular place. I travel out of my way to go here when I can. It is good stuff. You should definitely try it if you are up this way...
(5)
Matthew K.
With an abundance of Thai restaurants in the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood area, Opart reigns king with great food and a great atmosphere. Lots of very flavorful dishes: excellent chicken satay, delicious curries, and interestingly they have a marvelous chicken fried rice that is bursting with flavor but not salty or greasy in the slightest! A couple of the noodle dishes aren't that great, but 9 times out of 10 I'm very impressed with the food. Service is plenty adequate and its a clean, quiet, comfortable restaurant. Opart Thai House is BYOB, but a small liquor store is conveniently located just two doors down.
(5)
Sam D.
Opart is one of 10 Thai places in a 1 mile radius of Lawrence and Western, but it is the only one you need to know about. Affordable, delicious, and fast food is served, covering an array of classic Thai dishes. It's ambience is surprisingly cozy and welcoming, considering the street view coming into the restaurant. This is a great place for a quick meal, a weekday lunch, or all-around great value Thai food.
(4)
Rick F.
Atmosphere: Fine Service: Excellent Price: Fair Food: OK I love the people here very helpful, friendly and the service was excellent! I was a little disappointed in the food! Combo Fried Rice; the meat was funky, Green Curry with Chicken was good but the eggplant was raw, The Pad See Ewe delicious. Too many Thai Restaurants in Chicago so we won't be back for a while.
(3)
Corey R.
Apparently I offended the guy working the register today. It was my fault. I had the audacity to want to order food here. He flipped me attitude when I asked to place an order to go. He seemed offended when I asked if there were any lunch specials. God forbid you include any napkins or chopsticks with my order. Then, after eating my way too spicy food, I had to curl up in a ball to deal with the stomach cramps. Opart, there are way too many other Thai restaurants right by you for you to be such jags. Spoon, Thai Room, Sticky Rice, Thai Oscar, etc. will now get my business.
(1)
Melinda V.
Liars! This is not an authentic Thai restaurant! It is NOT good either!!! Where did these review come from?!!! We went to eat in. The deafening roar of the place was too much to handle. I couldn't hear my boyfriend sitting directly across from me at a 2 person table. I kept saying, "What? I'm sorry? I can't hear you!" I have been to quieter bars. The food was Americanized. Conservative menu, nothing extraordinary. We ordered 2 appetizers, one was good and the other was barely edible. We talked about leaving. I was so cold from the over active air conditioner (with a dress to my elbows and knees on an 85 degree day in June) I had goosebumps from head to toe. Every time the door would open my napkin would blow off of my lap. We decided to stay because we were starving. Bad, bad decision. Should have gone with our gut and left for Sticky Rice. My sauteed fish dish came out fried. I asked for a menu, maybe I made a mistake. No... Our waiter (as usual) was nowhere to be found, so my boyfriend got up to get him. I was told that ALL of the fish is fried. Seriously? Even when it says sauteed... Um...? I stuck to the basics and ordered basil chicken. It came out when my boyfriend was done with his dinner. They didn't replace my rice, so that was cold. Nice. Thanks. Between the terrible atmosphere, the awful (lack of) service and the mediocre Americanized food, you couldn't pay me to go back.
(2)
Melissa R.
This is among about six Thai restaurants within a two block radius, so it doesn't necessarily stand out (especially due to the lack of friendly signage). However, when someone told me they pride themselves on BYOB Thai joints and that this is their favorite...it definitely peeked my interest. We went on a Saturday night and had zero problems getting a table. I was surprised by the decor and ambiance of the place. I was expecting somewhat of a dive, but it was really cute and kind of hip (as in I wanted to ask them what paint color was on the walls because I wanted to use it for my apartment). The food was delicious, which is really what's going to keep me coming back. We started with the spring rolls with the peanut dipping sauce (i.e. thinner/sweeter peanut butter) that was devoured in two minutes. We split two entrees: panang curry beef (it was great and not too spicy) and the chicken pad thai (yummy and not too greasy or sweet). I think the entire bill (including the beer we purchased at the corner shop) was $30...not bad for a Saturday night date.
(4)
Cha Cha K.
Delicious Thai food, Take out is great. The parking around there is tricky, but it's worth it for the tasty food!
(4)
Team B.
We visited Opart Thai House last Sunday. The food took a while to arrive, but we appreciated that the cook believed us when we asked for a spicy preparation. The Kuay Tiew Kee Mao (with tofu) was pretty good, but there was too much nearly-raw cabbage for our taste. The Peanut Sauce Lover (also with tofu) was outstanding! The Thai Iced Coffee was average.
(4)
Jennifer W.
Definitely one of the better Thai restaurants. I've only had their takeout and have had great experiences. Food is fresh and not overly sweet. Tiger cry appetizer is a must try - spicy, savory, and slightly sweet. I would have given them an extra star if the prices were lower.
(4)
Risa P.
For some reason, I have been going here a lot in the last few months. I heard that their Pad Thai is the best in the city and so I gave it a try. I tried their peanut sauce spring rolls (I basically would put peanut sauce on anything) and it was good. I got the Pad Thai and it was quite delicious. It is definitely better than other ones that I have tried in the city and thankfully missing that weird orange color that other ones seem to have. (phew!) I dont know if it is the best Pad Thai ever but it was definitely pretty good. They are BYO and are usually easy to get a seat (I think that they have reservations for larger groups, but not for a group of two or four) I am not sure about their heat scale-sometimes it seems spicy and other times, it is not spicy at all I have tried other noodles dishes (I cant remember which, but maybe #53?) and they were all pretty good. The service is FAST. We had a cranky waitress over the weekend but I am sure that there were a lot of drunkies coming from May fest and that probably got really annoying, really fast, so I won't hold it against her, she was just trying to do her job. I'll most likely be back soon!
(4)
Heidi T.
I used to love this place, I feel over the years the quality has gone down. There are so many other great Thai places in the area that I do not feel the need to go back here. Do not order the pepper steak, it could potentially be one of the worst pepper steak dishes in the city! The pot stickers are all breading, barely any meat and the combination fried rice is quite flavorless. The only semi good dish I have ordered is the pad se ewe and I have still had better. Again, way too many better options in the area to stop here. Sorry Opart, you have fallen way down on my list of favorite Thai places.
(2)
Lawrence C.
Great place!
(4)
Jeanne L.
I love apartheid. This is my favorite thai in the city. The prices are great, the portions are perfect, the ambiance is really nice, and the servers are quick and friendly. Excellent Pad Thai, really good Panang Curry. The Tiger Cry appetizer is amazing. I've never had anything bad here, and I've been at least 12 times. Great place for an easy meal or a nice date.
(5)
Edward R.
The staff was friendly and helped me make my choice between Masman and their Peanut Lovers dish. The nice waiter recommended since I was an out-of-towner that I should not leave Chicago without trying their signature Peanut Lovers dish with Beef. I openned my dinner with Peanut Lovers Springrolls and Pot Stickers. I only wish their sampler appetizer platter had more flexibility. Yelp reviews raved about the Crab Ragoon but 8 of them just seemed too many. Prices are excellent for all of their appetizers.
(4)
Nick B.
I just left my weekly yoga class so my zen was already flowing. I was with my brother and he wanted to do Indian food, but I wanted Thai food. I won the debate because Opart Thai House was BYOB and his choice, Marigold, was not. We arrived late last night about 9PM and the restaurant closes at 10PM on Tuesdays. We were seated immediately and equipped with our wine opener, wine glasses, and water in seconds. The waiters were fast! I took a second to take in the atmosphere. Traditional decor, low lighting, and chill music made for a pleasant dining experience. We started with the Fresh Spring Rolls, no egg. Instead of the egg they put in pieces of tofu. Cool! The best part about the service was that our server picked up that we were a table of vegetarians and continuously asked "no egg? vegetarian style?" after every order. I thought that was just awesome. For dinner I had Curry Fried Rice and Kuay Tiew Kee Mao which was flat noodles, sprouts, Chinese broccoli, peppers, and cabbage. AWESOME. The curry fried rice was delicious and the noodle bowl was spectacular. The portions were just right, too. Most Thai/Asian restaurants assault you with dishes that bloat you beyond belief, Opart had a great balance. The hype holds up. Great food, nice atmosphere, BYOB, very reasonable...makes for an awesome night out!
(4)
Mel R.
Everything I've had here is pretty good. The service is good. The place good for dining there- clean and nice decor. BYOB - yay!
(3)
Javier O.
Opart Thai is a great place in the Lincoln Square area. They are BYOB (and I cannot remember off the top of my head if there is a cork-fee, so you might check into that) and all the different dishes I've had here have been great. A few other Thai places I've been in Chicago have been either too greasy or too dry (almost feeling like things were microwaved). So far with Opart, I haven't run into that issue and the flavors have been tremendous! If you are looking for Thai in Lincoln Square, definitely give Opart a shot.
(4)
Kyle E.
Another one of my favorite spots in Lincoln Square. Some the best Thai food in Chicago. Sexy atmosphere too.
(5)
John A.
This is my #1 go-to Thai place in Chicago. Try it- you'll like it.
(5)
Lena A.
Food: average Thai, in a good way. Service: below average. I had Peanut Sauce Lover, spicy with tofu. He had curry fried rice, tofu. I liked my food, but server was very neglectful. Took a long time to take our order, fine. Didn't remove the appetizer dishes before the main course, really? Never once inquired if the food was okay, and we needed corkage. And we sat for 10 minutes after eating before he inquired if we were finished.
(2)
Jennifer B.
After 2 separate and really good Opart Thai experiences, here it is: 1st (dine-in): My fiance and I picked up some IPA and headed over to Opart Thai on a friend's recommendation. It was busy but no wait for a table at 7pm on a Thursday night. We sat down and were instantly given ice water and a bottle opener by the uber-friendly host. The food was really solid: the steamed shu mai were lovely, the Tiger Cry was delicious, the Panang Curry light and flavorful, the Kuay Tiew Kee Mao was fresh and just really good. Decor is a tasteful mesh of traditional and modern. Overall, a great experience. The food is not going to change your life but it was certainly above average for reasonably priced, casual, Thai food-- and sometimes, that's exactly what you need. 2nd (delivery): Called tonight at 9:15pm (their delivery hours end at 9:30) and the guy on the phone took my order promptly and said it would be here in an hour or so. It arrived, piping hot, 20 minutes later. Awesome. Really nice delivery guy, too. Bottom line: Opart Thai is kick-ass.
(4)
Alison H.
I don't think it gets more authentic than this! Clean restaurant with quick, friendly service. Food comes out steaming hot and fresh. The Tiger's Cry is awesome as are the soups and peanut satay! I crave their food just thinking about it!!! Don't fear its location under a train track...you can hardly hear a thing!
(5)
Christine F.
How very disappointing. Based on the reviews I was expecting delicious, amazing food. I came away from the meal saying 'eh'. The service was ok. I ordered tofu panang curry (had to pay extra for rice, boo) and tom kha soup. I got a fuck ton of soup. It came in this giant trough. It even came with it's own ladle! However, there was more quantity than quality in this dish. The broth was watered down and wasn't nearly as flavorful as other thai places (think Tac Quick and Phos). It was ok. The panang curry was sad. It was a buttload of panang sauce with NO vegetables and a few pieces of lonely tofu. It was truly disappointing. The flavor was ok, but come on! Give me some vegetables in my curry. Oh, Opart. I will not be back.
(3)
Erich R.
I have to say, Opart is a dual threat...performing equally well with their carryout and dine-in food. I've probably gotten takeout from them 20-times and never had any issue with quality, order accuracy, or speediness... For an eat-in experience, Opart has a sneaky large amount of seating, and they manage to maintain an intimate and comfortable atmosphere despite it's location on Western Ave. The staff has always been helpful explaining dishes and accomodating levels of spiciness (always important with Thai!). The food has never been a life changing experience (see: 4stars), but everything is quite good. Better yet I haven't run into any duds on the menu. My favorites are the Pad Thai, Panang Curry, and Beef Lard Nar. Oops, almost forgot the two best parts: 1: BYOB 2: It's great value for dine-in, as the portions seem to be slightly larger Overall, a solid 4-star thai restaurant in an otherwise saturated Thai area. Go for: -Date night -BYOB/Good Value Skip it if: -You're a authentic Thai snob :)
(4)
Anthony Z.
I about gave up on this place after some terrible deliveries this past spring, and I see that other yelpers reporting in this time period agree. Just ordered from Spoon instead. Ordered last night, and the food has never been better. Gosh, if they got the consistency down this place would be really great, but you never quite know what you are going to get. Started with fish cakes and Tiger cry. Both were excellent. For the entrees, had the rice dish with ground chicken and basil, and a delicious green curry with eggplant and tofu. Both of these were OUTSTANDING in a way that the food has not been in the past. Kudos to the new chef! Will give them 5 stars if the quality of the food delivered is no longer a game of roulette. If you have been staying away because of the inconsistency, now may be the time to give them another try.
(4)
Jamie P.
This is by far my favorite Thai restaurant in the city. The crab rangoon is hands down the best I've ever had. The food is consistantly great, both delivery and dine-in. I've tried a variety of dishes, but am rather addicted to the curry. Service is great, I've never had to wait for a table and to top it off, the place is BYOB (and there's a liquor store right next door!)
(5)
Lover Of Food And Culture Z.
I love this place! They are very fast to serve and it's a BYOB what more can you ask for? Had the fish cakes and chicken satay for appetizer, they were very good. I had the Pork green curry sauce and asked for hot and it was just right. My husband had the duck red curry, which was a little sweet for my taste and was not spicy probebly because there was pineapples in it. Both dishes were very flavorful though. My daughter had the soup, can't remember the name but it had lemon grass flavor and it was very good also. All in all I like this place and would def go back. The service is great! Next time I'd like to be more adventurous and tell them to make it super spicy.
(5)
Mike L.
I am a big fan of Thai food. My wife and I have been to at least 20 different Thai restaurants throughout the city. She is more of the adventurer and I usually stick with the basic Thai dishes. We find that Opart Thai is reasonably priced, the meals we have tried over and over are consistent and the food is always delicious. We order out from Opart probably once a week and have been ordering from them for the last 4 years. It is always good for us! Don't forget it is a BYOB and with no corkage fee! I agree with service is not the best but the food makes it up and our bill is always under $30 with two apps. Service is rated at 3.7 for dining in.
(5)
hanna y.
After hearing that they have good Thai food from a friend, we decided to check it out. I was not impressed with the food at all. To start off, we got the shrimp papaya salad, which normally I absolutely love, but not in this case. First off, they didn't even use fresh shrimp, it was some nasty dried burnt shrimp that was absolutely disgusting! Also, they put too much sauce on their papaya, it was like they were trying to cover up something, like the fact that their salad sucked. I also got the pad thai, which I feel is like a staple dish at all thai restaurants and you just can't go wrong with it. Yuck... my pad thai was too sticky like they overcooked the noodles and was just awful. Would I come back? probably not.
(1)
Gina F.
I used to be a fan, but it just seems to be consistantly going down hill. My husband and are Thai fanatics. When we started dating, we probably went about once a week to various restaurants. At one point, we did Thai about 8-9 times in 2 weeks (yeah, that was a little crazy & we had to take a little break after that). We still go once or twice a month, but I think we'll be skipping Opart from now on. First off, the service is pretty bad. We managed to get the same server pretty frequently, and he has to be the most disinterested, lethargic person ever. We had a different server when we went last week, but it was very nearly the same story. We only went because we forgot Thai Oscar was closed that day. Second, the food. It's inconsistant. Once I had this amazing dish delivered--so spicy it was hard to eat, and so delicious it was impossible not to. I ordered it in the restaurant and asked that they make it medium (I forgot to mention the spice level the previous time). I got a dish that in know way resembled the first dish, covered in that gelatinous, brown sauce ubiquitous in Chinese fast food. Another time, when our food was served, mine was COLD. Not warm, or not piping hot--cold. parts on one side were warm on top (clearly the effect of a heat lamp) but underneath that and the whole other side was cold. It had to have been sitting in the window 10+ minutes. It was also totally bland instead of cooked with the hot peppers. When I let the server know that it was cold & not spicy, he took it back & the cook tossed it in the pan with sriracha. Cuz that's the same. Boo. Thai Oscar all the way.
(2)
Scott W.
I like this Opart although I prefer the one in the South Loop. I believe they're both run by the same people but there's something about the South Loop store's food/version I prefer. Great Pad Thai at both but no free soda refills. Great for take-out. YOU NEED ONLINE ORDERING!!!!! PHONE ALWAYS BUSY.
(4)
Heidi N.
I really really wanted to rate Opart Thai much higher, but I just can't. I wanted to like the place, but I just don't. Maybe I'll give it another shot, but probably not for some time. To be concise, here are the positives and the negatives of my visit. Plus: + BYO + Cozy and comfortable interior + Delicious pot stickers + Tasty Thai iced tea Minus: - Had to order from takeout menus and couldn't hear the waitress's explanation why we couldn't have regular menus. - Waitress sat us, and disappeared. Our tummies were rumbling and we hadn't even gotten a chance to order yet. - Waitress continued to be inattentive the rest of the visit. - Tried something new and it tasted terrible. I had maybe five bites and I couldn't stomach it anymore. I don't recall the dish, but it was served with a "gravy" that tasted off. I went home hungry. - My date had a similar issue with his barbecue pork dish. He ate it, but was disappointed with the sauce. He said it lacked flavor. Most likely, we just ordered poorly and ended up with duds. I'd like to give it another try and order one of my usual go-to Thai dishes (love me some Pad Woon Sen), but this experience just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Pun 100% intended.
(2)
Kyle P.
Great food at a great price and a BYOB with a minimart 20 feet to the north.......Loved it and would come back anytime.....Butch and lipstick crowd along with the old man young man crowd.....Check it out
(5)
Colt E.
Opart Thai is a good restaurant. But that's as much as a I can say. Food tasted good, but was nothing special. Prices were fine, but usually at Thai places you get a lot of food. Here that wasn't the case. It was just enough food, but not enough that I'd get to take some home too. Friendly waitstaff and we had no issues, but I woudn't go out of my way to come here again.
(3)
Michelle F.
Opart is hands down my favorite Thai restaurant in the city. The restaurant itself is easy to get to, and really cute inside. It's byob and there is a liquor store about 5 feet away. I often judge Thai places by two very basic staples: crab rangoon and chicken pad thai. Both are outstanding. Fresh and super hot, I have gone to other places closer to my apartment just to be disappointed. Their noodles are to die for, they have big chunks of chicken and.....oh jeez now I want some. Crap. Their iced coffee is delish too, even in the winter. Now if you will excuse me, I need to start calling friends to see who wants to go eat.
(5)
Rebecca Huicha K.
the decor is definitely much nicer than the typical thai restaurant even tho their sign outside is pretty tacky. As first glance, all the prices are pretty cheap and comparable to other thai restaurants. We got the fried shrimp rolls as an app. if you've never tried them before, they're pretty good except here at opart. There wasn't much shrimp and it looked messy. I've had these at other places and it's always been good since they use big, full shrimp. That was a waste of $6. Now on to the entrees...the bf and I got the beef pad see iew and red curry chicken. I was hoping this place would fulfill my long time goal of finding awesome pad see iew but sadly it did not. The pad see iew was a bit too sweet and the portion was surprisingly a lot smaller than i expected. As for the red curry, OMG...I LOVED IT! has got to be my favorite red curry place thus far. Weird thing is tho when we ordered it the waiter asked if we wanted rice with the curry... here's our convo.. H: beef pad see iew and red curry with chicken please W: do you want rice with the curry? H: ummm...doesn't it come with rice (shoots a look to her bf..both are confused) W: no it doesn't, you have to order it H: umm..ok. we'll take a bowl of rice then (waiter leaves) H's bf: WTF do they expect us to eat the curry with if there's no rice? do they expect us to drink it?!?!? anywho rice is $1 more. not a big deal i guess but it feels weird having to pay for rice when you order curry... hmmm... I definitely want to try different dishes at this place in the future. Red curry lovers, please try this place out!
(4)
Lynn C.
I love the crab rangoon, chicken satay, thai iced coffee, cucumber salad, pad thai, pad see euw... Service is not warm and friendly, but I don't really mind.
(5)
Jay S.
My wife and I went for the first time just a few days ago. Of all the Thai places in Lincoln Square I would have to rate this as the best. The food was very good and the cost was very reasonable. We had the Tiger Cry beef and Steamed Dumplings for starters. Both dishes were fresh and the Crying Tiger had an excellent sauce. For the main course I had the Peanut Sauce Lover dish with chicken and my wife had the Lard Nar Talay. The Peanut Sauce dish was quite good, I asked for spicy and it was spicy without being overbearing. My wife thought the Lard Nar was okay. It is BYOB so we brought a bottle of white wine. Total cost including tip (and bottle of wine) was $45.
(4)
Cynthia O.
This is bar none my favorite place for Thai food. I tried it for the first time when I moved to the area 5 years ago and love love love it! I've just now moved in with my fiance out in the suburbs but I got him addicted to the place so we try to get up there once a month still! The decor is okay, but the food quick and reasonably priced. It's always busy there....even on a Monday night! The Pad Thai and the chicken fried rice are yummmmy. I definitely recommend it!
(5)
Nas T.
Tasty, fresh, cheap, quick. Always my go-to place for Thai in the Lincoln Square area. In fact, it's better than the more popular/overrated Spoon just down the street, and it's almost as good as Duck Walk on Belmont, which is my favorite Thai place on the North side, so YMMV. The only problem with Opart is that there's this one waiter (stocky guy, kind of looks like a Thai Charlie Brown) who's always completely unfriendly and even surly; he once grabbed a menu out of my friend's hand before the friend was even done ordering! Dude, fix whatever's wrong in your life and THEN come back to work as a waiter!
(5)
Amy D.
I've gotten lots of carry out there and actually celebrated my b-day there so I'm surprised I didn't write about it sooner. Normally I love their peanut lovers dish, but this time it was just ok. I would have given it three stars if I had just stuck to my meal, but I tried other peoples in the party. WOAH nelly on the salt! Geez. They must have forgotten they salted already and did without realizing. I figure this is a once in a blue moon mistake. I have to give it two stars for my experience, but since I have had good experiences there before, I would check it out again.
(2)
Bryan S.
I want to start by saying that I have always been relatively unimpressed by Thai food but Opart Thai is delicious. The crab rangoons and the shrimp tempura are the best I have ever had. I've tried them at other restaurants and nobody even comes close to being as good. The service is good, the seating area is cozy, the food is pretty cheap and it's BYOB. Their delivery is lightning fast too. Overall, when it comes to Thai food, Opart really is as good as it gets.
(5)
Robert S.
I had heard great things about Opart from many people, so I decided to give it a try when I happened to be at the Western Brown Line stop. I ordered Crab Rangoons for an appetizer, and they were amazing! Creamy and crabby, but not too much of either... peanut buttery in texture... perfect in my opinion. The Tom Kha Kai soup that I ordered looked bland- like milk with green onions in it- but that was FAR from the truth. The soup was flavorful and spicy, and came in a heated bowl so it wouldn't get cold. The Pad Thai also looked bland- and it was. I know that Pad Thai isn't "true" Thai food, but I usually like it so I order it. This Pad Thai was by no means bad, it just could have maybe been spicier or had more sauce and been fine. Service was great-timely, friendly, and accommodating (the waiter didn't look at me weird when I said I was allergic to cilantro!) I think they could win a contest for Lincoln Square's smallest bathroom.
(4)
Andrea S.
I've definitely had better. Waiting in line here, was myself and a friend and two other parties of 2. There were two open tables that needed cleaned. The other party and mine had been waiting for about 15 minutes when the third party walked in. They saw the empty table and sat down. The hostess didn't do anything about it. He went over and waited on them. I didn't like the decor in there, very dark, and it seemed like they wanted to take themselves too seriously and all the waiters certainly did. When we were seated, I took our bottle of wine out of my bag and set it on the table, at the same time the hostess was placing our plates on the table. More like SLAMMING our plates on the table. He did it so hard that the bottle of wine shook and started to fall off the table. He caught it! Not without shooting me a very dirty look. Like I did something wrong. I just shrugged my shoulders and said , "wow you're fast, good catch." To which he said nothing. Ok. So I'm looking at the menu and notice that they charge extra for rice. The usual Thai restaurant I frequent does not. I didn't like that. We ordered the chicken satay. It was tasty, with the peanut sauce, and the cucumber salad was good too. It looked horrible though. The chef must not of ever heard of presentation. I had the tom yum soup with chicken ... 3 pieces of chicken in the whole soup. It tasted different than the tom yum soup I'm usually used to. The lime seemed too strong. We ordered the fried banana spring rolls for dessert. They were yummy! I really liked the honey on them. Before we went to the restaurant we called ahead and asked if there was a corkage fee. They told us there wasn't. When I got the bill there was a $2.50 bar charge. ( The owner contacted me and said that they do not charge a corkage fee, that the amount labeled "Bar Charge" was for the dessert. ) I've had SUCH better Thai food than this. I looked at all the great reviews and thought I would try a new place. I should have stuck to my old one!! Better food, Better service, Better decor, Better food, Better food, Better food ... STICKY RICE, why did I cheat on you?!?!
(2)
Moe f.
So I'll give it 4 stars for food but one for service/delivery. Take out from here only!! I've had really crappy service especially from one flamboyant waiter on a few occasions. And I've waited 90 minutes on at least 2 occasions for delivery. The peanut sauce spring rolls and tiger cry beef rock. The peanut lovers dish is great and super spicy. All curries are great as is Pad Kee Mao. Beware when ordering because spicy means spicy.
(4)
erin m.
Adorable Thai place in Lincoln Square neighborhood. Really great food at good prices. I I love the Tiger Cry beef, the pad Thai, and the yellow curry is delicious. I love the wood carvings on the walls. I love that it is BYOB. Again, there are a million and two Thai places in the city, but this one has good food, good prices, and a nice (not dirty or cheap looking) atmosphere. A must-eat for Chicago cheap eats!
(5)
Amanda P.
Not bad, but in comparison to Rosded, which is right across the street, it just doesn't measure up. A little more expensive than the average noodle joint, they make up for it by the use of good vegetables, like rapini instead of the more pedestrian broccoli. Noodles get a little burnt around the edges, but in a good way. I guess I can't really say anything bad about this place, but it's missing a certain something. I still haven't figured out what.
(4)
James M.
Not the best Panang Curry I've ever had, but it was pretty good. Ordered take-out and it was a quick and painless process. Would eat there again.
(3)
Shoron L.
It was ok. I went with another friend. Prices were very reasonable. The decor was also very nice. We ordered the papaya salad, pad prik king and one other dish. The papaya salad was supposedly made with fresh papaya but the only thing papaya in it was the sauce which they made really spicy and I have a high tolerance for spicy. the pad prik king was good in my opinion but there was nothing Thai about it. We also ordered this other seafood dish and it was very bland. Shrimp with vegetables is what I would call it. I would consider it more like a chop suey than Thai food. Perhaps, we just ordered the wrong dishes but I would consider it mediocre and more like a 2 star but I gave them an extra star because the curries next to us smelled decent.
(3)
Jeremy P.
Very satisfactory, nothing special.... The food was all kinda bland. When I think of Thai, I want flavor!! But the price was excellent.
(3)
Timothy M.
Opart pretty much represents everything I love about Lincoln Square. It's fairly-priced, not uber-trendy, not over-crowded, not judgmental, etc. Even if it is filled with old hipsters/Wicker Park ex-pats in their 30s talking about the good ol' days of the Artful Dodger and telling stories of prostitutes on North Avenue. But that's part of the fun. Lincoln Square is both mature and cool at the same time, and Opart fits the neighborhood like an old shoe. The atmosphere is laid back, easy, and service is good. The Pad Thai (my litmus test for a Thai place) was really good. They put a lot of sprouts in it so it gives it a lot of crunch that nicely offsets the buttery peanut sauce. Delicious. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Angela Z.
I'm a VERY picky fan of Chicken Pad Thai and this place is now neck and neck with Duck Walk on Fullerton for my favorite pad thai in the city!! :) Love it! It's just the flavor I'm looking for when it comes to Chicken Pad Thai. It has the thinner noodles, but it is still full of a subtle yet delicious flavor that I love and not brown or orangey looking like the kind of pad thai I loathe. Chicken itself was good quality too. We also had the Crab Rangoons, yum, and the cold Peanut Spring Rolls which were also pretty good. Service was friendly and attentive. Atmosphere is very busy and crowded so probably best for a dinner with friends or just a casual date where you don't want quiet. The place is broken up into 3 different rooms to eat in but just know that it is tiny-ish, and the decor is cute too! Just a nice warm place.
(4)
E. C.
Their noodle dishes are pleasingly free of that red grease you find at some other thai places, and their curries are the best I've found in Chicago so far. The green curry with eggplant is super good, and the red curry with catfish is shoot yourself in the head, all other Thai curries ruined forever good. An overstatement? Maybe. But why, oh why, do they have to nickel and dime you on the rice? Eight big ones is already on the high side for a simple bowl of red curry, and then they charge you an extra dollar for, let's be honest, about 4 cents worth of white rice. Scummy tactic. Costs them a star. I'd rather they just price them at $9.
(4)
Jason C.
Fantastic Thai, the best in Lincoln Square. If you only ever get this delivered, add another star-- I feel compelled to drop one for the weird in-house service I've experienced there before. However bad the service, though, the food is always excellent.
(4)
Carla G.
I try so hard to resist their perfectly spiced goodness, but I tend to acquiesce at least once a week to either their curry fried rice or Rama, always with tofu. Perfectly cooked tofu, I should add. I stop by on my way back from work, and within 15 minutes tops, I am on my way out. There are quite a few Thai choices within blocks of the Brown line Western stop, but this is BY FAR the bet one, especially for the price!
(5)
The Consumer U.
Brilliant Thai food! I used to live literally around the corner, over on Leland and loved walking over there for dinners every once in a while. Had a great Beef w/Basil dish that was amazingly spicy (Pad Kra-Proh??) several times, just excellent. Restaurant is BYOB which is pretty cool and has a nice old school thai atmosphere that even includes a picture of the king of Thailand.
(5)
m m.
always get the pad see ewe chicken when i go here. it's byob. not the friendliest of staff, but the food makes it ok.
(4)
Maggie B.
People of Lincoln Square, you have almost too many Thai choices. Within spitting distance of the Western elevated you have Spoon, Oscar, Opart, and the little place on Leland competing for your pad thai order. Opart Thai is fantastic for dine-in or delivery, because they will make things as Gringo or as "bring it on hot as hell" as you wish. I recommend the Tiger Cry and my husband thinks their Tom Yum soup is medicinal as it cures any ailments. The curries are the hottest around if you like that kind of thing.
(5)
Dona K.
My family and I have been going her for years. On occasion we try other Thai places but always end up running back to Opart, craving their green curry and Tom Yum soup. Charming ambiance and good staff.
(5)
Jillian D.
opart is my favorite for thai delivery. you can expect a 45 minute wait or longer for the food, but it's worth every minute. i've only dined in three times. the dining room is nice enough, and it's BYOB, a nice plus. some stand out dishes are the eggplant in oyster sauce (ask for it extra spicy - pow!!), sliced roasted duck with broccoli, kee mao noodles and pad thai. and for once, spicy means spicy - yeah!!
(5)
elizabeth s.
I only wish I had tried this place when I lived a block away...or maybe it is a good thing since I can't seem to stay away. The crab rangoon is the best in the city. I am not a seafood person at all and I could eat 2 servings of this! The spring rolls and egg rolls are worth ordering as well. My favorite dish is the Peanut lovers but I have also tried the curries and none have ever disappointed! The fact that it is BYOB (no corkage) is just the cherry on the icing on the top of the cake! Be prepared for a wait on the weekend though!
(5)
Kristen W.
Great Thai food! This place was recommended to me as the 'best' Thai in the city. I got takeout and it arrived VERY quickly and VERY hot. The quality of the food was great- super tasty and very unique in flavor. I will definitely order takeout again. Though I can't say I am tempted to eat in the restaurant- I've walked by and it seems to lack ambience.
(4)
Vinny K.
Sometimes I think that the reason my wife really wanted to move to Lincoln Square was to be within walking distance to Opart. She loves the curry that much. I mix it up a bit, but haven't been disappointed with any of my choices. And we both agree on the spring rolls to start - if anyone has figured out the secret ingredient that gives them that slightly unique flavor please let me know. The dishes are all reasonably priced and just the right size for me - I get plenty to eat, but usually don't go home with leftovers. It's also a pretty big place, so I've never had a wait and they seem to accommodate groups pretty well. There are a lot of choices on this stretch of Western, but Opart usually gets our vote.
(5)
Elizabeth H.
This is hands down my favorite thai restaurant in the city! I have been coming to Opart for as long as I can remember, and have never been disappointed by the food. The staff is friendly and fast, and the food simply speaks for itself. Thai is one of my favorite types of cusines, so I have tried pretty much every restuarant in the city, and rarely anything can compete with Opart. The only downside: because of the recent up-and-coming aspect of Lincoln Square, it has a tendency to build up a bit of wait on weekends, which was never a problem before. Thankfully, they recently expanded an entire store front and seem to handle to flow of people traffic rather well. If you know and love thai food, or just want a good first experience with it, try out Opart! Don't forget: BYOB
(5)
Mike Y.
A long time customer. The opart beef is the best. I also recommend the tom yum soup. Both are the best in the city. The service is always friendly and the food fresh and done right. They get the spice right. enjoy as I always do.
(5)
Jennifer M.
Best thai ever!! Service can be dodgy, delivery pretty much takes an hour no matter what, and sometimes the heat level is unpredictable (I always order very hot and sometimes, it's just not hot enough), otherwise this food is amazing. BYOB is also a plus :)
(5)
Lily D.
Pros: 1. BYOB, 2. easy on the wallet, 3. tasty food Cons: 1.iffy service, 2. curry doesn't come with rice (you have to order a side of rice which is not a huge deal, but I found it odd), 3. compared to other thai restaurants, Opart had smaller portions Overall, pretty good place. I'd stop by if I was in the neighborhood, but I wouldn't make a trip of it.
(3)
Dolly V.
So so so good! Their chicken Tom-Yum soup pleases me like a bottle of whiskey pleases an alcoholic or a chocolate cake to a fat kid, or...etc. Whatever...it's perfect soup for winter. Their curries are consistently good...just make sure you have enough rice for it though...last time I got gypped with just a side of sticky rice. I need my rice dangit! It's okay though, I still love you, Opart. Always and forever.
(4)
Dan W.
Take out was meh.. Granted, there are very few sit-down joints that can also pull off great take out. Fried things tend to get steamed in styro, what was once piping hot is now kinda hot, etc.. So you can cut them some slack. As soon as we get a babysitter locked down and my son is a little older, we're back there to check out what the sit-down experience is like. So TBD, but for the $$$, take-out wasn't worth a repeat.
(2)
Alexis H.
This place has been around FOREVER, and I really mean it. My earliest memory of this restaurant is eating here as a very young child with my parents. I am now 24 and my parents have been divorced for 15 years, so that definitely dates this memory. Anywho, on to the review. The food is your standard Thai fare: appetizers, noodle and rice dishes, and dishes based around meat, meat, and more meat. The food is prepared very quickly and it is fresh and tasty... yum. A couple of negatives (even if it is a 5-star review): Their meat dishes don't have a lot of vegetables in them. "Why is this a complaint?" you ask. Because sometimes I want a combination of veggies and not just two chunks of broccoli and beef. I know, call me crazy. Second, their waiters can have attitudes. Why the attitude my friend? I'm only trying to eat some of your delicious food. Prices are great, parking is very easy, and the ambiance is pretty decent if you go into one of the back rooms. The front room has a lot of foot traffic. Okay, so maybe it really isn't deserving of a 5-star review (those are hard to come by) but my fond childhood memories are forcing me to be biased in a positive way. Definitely check it out if you're in the neighborhood.
(5)
Juliet L.
This place is truly a hidden gem. I think it is the best Thai restaurant in the city. I have introduced my husband to it and he totally agrees. It's cheap, very delicious, and BYOB. Try the appetizer sampler.
(4)
Jenna S.
Opart Thai has by far the best Masuman Curry I have ever tasted! My boyfriend also thoroughly enjoys their Pad Krow Prow and their squid salad is wonderful!! The service has always been descent and friendly and the atmosphere is very comfortable and beautiful! We are able to have 2 meals and an appetizer for under $25. I highly recommend Opart!!!
(5)
Melinda D.
This is the best Thai food hands down. It is the only Thai place where I feel safe eating the beef, which is mouth watering. All dishes I have had here are beyond exceptional. The ginger chicken is comfort food, the masaman curry is gorgeous, I could go on forever. This place is the best. I know live in CA, and even with all the Asian restaurants here, I still crave this place.
(5)
Aidan F.
Having had noodles for lunch, I went fairly simple when i had dinner here. I had some fried rice, an my brother had the pad woonsen. We both agreed the dish was too eggy. The flavor was too rich and hard I could not finish, despite the average size portion. I should try more menu items in the future, but in this city, you could eat thai food each day from a new restaurant, so who knows....
(3)
Janice W.
I've lived in the neighborhood near Opart for over 10 years and have been eating there regularly longer than that. It's consistently good. I most often get: Yum Neau (beef salad) it's so tasty. The lime dressing is to die for - get a side of rice to soak it all up. I've tried beef salad at countless other thai places over the years and theirs is by far the best. The quality of the beef is fantastic. Tom Yum Chicken soup. Again, had it many times over elsewhere but it's never better than here. Citrus-y with lots of flavor - and no tomatoes! I don't know if tomatoes are typical in Tom yum but it kills it for me when they do. Nam Sod - another salad. This time, ground chicken. Lime dressing. Get a side of rice. I could go on. It's the best service is good though I must say, as much as I go in there and order take out they could acknowledge me. There's never any 'oh, hey, how are you?' or when I call in the order they never punch my number into the computer and ask 'the usual?' but hey, I guess they are too busy making awesome food.
(5)
Andrea K.
Went here for lunch for two co-workers birthdays. The place was pretty desolate so I'm unsure why it took 20 minutes to just be greeted by the server, and another 20 minutes to get any kind of beverage service (including water). We were all served at separate times (while sitting at the same table mind you). I won't be going back here.
(1)
Charles G.
Excellent Thai food at a reasonable price. Competent staff, in a pretty blah atmosphere. Never a bad meal, and their massaman curry is one of the best I've had anywhere.
(5)
Eric J.
Very good food. Very large and pleasant decor which tends not to be too common. 1/2 a block from my apartment makes it a popular take out spot and I must say, it is really good Thai.
(4)
Mike P.
It's like this: If I want Thai food, then I go to Opart Thai House. A friend of mine recommended this place since he goes there quite often for carry out which is what we wound up doing. I never actually ate inside the restaurant although it looks nice enough. The spotlight is the food. I've tried various dishes, but for me the Pad Thai is the best.
(4)
David C.
Out on Thai row I wanted to try something other than Spoon, and my response to Opart is "eh." Firstly, we started with Tom Ka Kai soup, which was decent, but tasted a little too buttery, lacking a bite. I tried my girlfriend's pad thai, and I thought it tasted a bit too sweet. The deep fried tofu was quite good, and the only thing that was markedly better than Spoon's. I had Panang curry and it was pretty good, but I love thai menu at Spoon where I'm getting something original and really flavorful. Opart was not bad, but it lacked the authenticity of Spoon. The decor at Opart was better: darker wood, better lighting, music, etc. I don't do cheap thai for ambiance; I come for the food, and Spoon's is better. If it was down the street from me I'd go back, but because it's down the street from Spoon I won't.
(3)
Jacob R.
So, what's not to like? 1. I don't know
(5)
Capt'n Z.
As a white man with glasses and no visible scars on my face, when I ask for a dish that is hot in the majority of Chicago Thai restaurants, I am usually eyeballed by the server, given the once-over, and dismissed as someone who doesn't really know what they want. I can almost hear the waitstaff's thought process; "What he really wants is something NOT spicy rather than the the spicy thing he ordered, even though he said he wants it spicy. I am a server and I know best". It's is so upsetting when I ask for something to be real hot, Thai-hot, can't-hear-anymore-because-my-ears-are-plugged-up-Âwith-fire-hot, stick-my-head-in-a-bucket-of-ice-and-watch-it-Âboil-hot, and I end up getting New-Brunswick-on-a-spring-morning-hot. That usually means that I have to scowl at the server, ask for chili sauce, and make them watch me make my own food hot. NOT TRUE AT OPART. Goodness, finally a Thai restaurant that isn't afraid of their customers "accidentally" ordering hot and spicy food. It all tastes great too. Fast and friendly service, wine chillers (I think... It's hard to remember when your head is on fire), real good food, and great prices. I love it every time I go. The only reason this place doesn't get five stars from me is because it is not a dive bar. Add some year round christmas lights, a dingy uneven bar, and a bunch of neighborhood drunks slumped over broken and off balance bar stools and Opart will get that last star from me. Then again, that just might ruin their awesome Thai Restaurant. I guess you should just assume that this is a five star review.
(4)
John S.
While waiting for my bike to be repaired we ventured off to Opart on a recommendation. The appetizers are absolutely delicious. Best Thai I have had in the Midwest. Before ordering I wish that I knew it was a BYOB. Will go back many times...
(5)
Liz O.
I had a b-day party of 15 people last night and the food was phenomenal (hot and spicy)! The waiter was great in accommodating everyone including 3 kids and making some food suggestions. The tiger cry was exceptional (like always) along with the chicken larb, tom ka kai and the pad thai noodles- outstanding flavors! Opart is the only thai restaurant we go to including the one on state street, but by far this one has better flavors and you can't beat the prices! And it's BYOB!!!!!! great savings when you're hosting a party.
(5)
Kristin M.
This is the best Thai food ever! I moved from the south loop to the burbs and miss it soooo much. Try the peanut sauce lovers and tiger cry. Everything I have ever tried here is amazing and the service is great too. The delivery guy is so sweet, and always smiling.
(5)
sharmane b.
opart is consistently delicious. cheap, fast, & yummy. my fave is the sweet potato curry. i get it with brown rice, tofu & chicken & i'll tell you what....that is some good chicago winter comfort food right there buddy. & who doesn't like a byo? i mean....... p.s.- they have the best tom ka kai-sp in town. oh my goodness...it's the most perfect balance of spicy & sour & coconut milk....i could live off of it if i had to have only one thing for the rest of my life.
(5)
Veronica H.
Reasonably priced, absolutely delicious, fast, casual, BYOB and great for weekday takeout. What more can one ask for??? Make sure to try the fried chicken spring roll, sounds odd, but soooooo good.
(5)
Anna M.
Good thai food. I usually get my fav dish which is woon sen, anything with the glass noodles. If they don't make it the way I like it, I don't go back but this place rocks! Jasmine tea hits the spot too. They have nice art on the walls and it's a relaxed place.
(4)
maya s.
I visited Opart today. Our server, "Anne" was a total b*tch. She was in a foul mood when she came to our table. I didn't even get to order my drink before she ran away. I asked what soup could be made vegetarian since I don't eat meat. She said everything on the menu could be made veggie friendly. Well, not so much. I ordered vegetable soup. One would think that should be safe. Well, it wasn't. It reeked of fish so I didn't eat it. She came over and asked if I wanted it boxed up (which she never came to check and see how our food was). I told the soup smelled like fish and I specifically stated I'm a vegetarian. She confirmed with the kitchen there was fish in it and then SHE BLAMED THE MISTAKE ON ME. She yelled at me for now saying I'm vegan. I'm not vegan. I don't eat dead animals. Fish is an animal. The C*nt then acted like she was doing me a favor for taking it off the bill. She apparently is the manager there. How such an ignorant and rude person could run the place is beyond me. I will not be going there again. The owners should fire her. And hopefully my call later today will help with that. Suck it, Anne.
(1)
liz W.
I don't even want to give it one star! Gross food- horrible service. I order thai here one night and the potstickers tasted like they had been sitting out all day (and felt like it too, cold and soggy) and the basil chicken smelled WRONG! When i called to complain they said all the could do was give me store credit- like I'd ever eat there again. DO NOT GO HERE- walk across the street to snow spice and try there wonderful basil chicken
(1)
Kate R.
Yum, Yum, Yum. Opart has been one of my favorite restaurants since I moved to the neighborhood in 2000. They have since remodeled...no more crazy floor and orange paint...the food is pretty consistent only sometimes you get it too spicy! Now I always ask for mild, because you just don't know who is in the kitchen throwing in the hotness.
(4)
Alicia V.
It has become common knowledge among my friends that if you ask me where I want to eat, my first choice will always be Opart Thai. The food is cheap, the atmosphere is much nicer than other Thai joints in town, it's BYOB & the food is DELICIOUS! I don't know what else I can really say...
(5)
A H.
This is my favorite Thai restaurant in Chicago. We lived in East Village and I would go out of my way to go eat here instead of the other Thai restaurants near by Wicker Park or Buck town. I always ordered either the Pad Prik King (Ginger chicken) or the Pad Kra Prow (Basil chicken). I usually orders the entrees with a choice of chicken because I don't think Thai dishes, especially the stir-fried w/ vegetables, are good with red meat, unless you're ordering the Lard Na noodle. This is one of the few restaurants that prepares the Basil chicken or Pad Kra Prow using ground chicken instead of sliced chicken - so that deserved an extra star from me. The restaurant gets very crowded during the weekend and the services tend to get slow at times. Price is cheap and food is good. I come here often and always.
(4)
Sheila Y.
Underwhelming at Best! I decided while I was visiting family in Chicago to do something "different" and so I thought a trip for some yummy curries would be in order. To start I have nothing to complain about in regards to service or decor. Yes, the waitstaff is standoffish and semi-cold, but living in Seattle has forever changed my views on what to expect in this category. I didn't mind if they looked put off as long as they got me my food in a timely fashion. So on to the eats. We started with the Fried Tofu Satay and the Spring Rolls. The fried tofu came out in "sticks" and tasted chewy, not crispy. The accompanying peanut sauce tasted like the stuff I can buy from the grocery store. The spring rolls were straight up foul. They came drenched in this gelatenous sweet and sour sauce. It was unedible. Next we did the Papaya Salad and Tom Yum with chicken. The Papaya Salad was decent, as was the Tom Yum. The soup was a bit watered down and not nearly as flavorfull as others I've had in the past. After seeing that every table ordered the Crab Rangoon we decided to follow suit, even though this is not a Thai dish. It was good for what it was...wonton wrapper fried with cream cheese and some kind of Krab. The entrees were totally hit and miss. I shared the full fried Red Snapper in a red curry with my mom. It was the highlight of the night. Yes, a whole fried fish is kind of novelty, but the fried bits covered in curry was quite nice. I ordered the Green Curry with Chicken and Fried Tofu and just kind of looked at another watered down version of what I love so much. My sister got the Chicken Satay...it looked like chicken on a stick and my step dad got some shrimp dish which also looked meh. All in all....big disappointment...the only reason I'm even going three star is for the fried fish and the decent Papaya Salad...otherwise don't waste your time.
(3)
Michelle J.
Me and my friends have been visiting this place over a year. First the atmosphere is very nice. Second they serve the best thai food in Chicago. The price is very reasonable and the service is good too. I'll definitely come back and recommend to everybody.
(5)
KC W.
I love Opart; in fact, I forgot just how much I love Opart. You simply cannot beat their spiciness and their fresh ingredients. Specifically, their vegetables and shrimp are above and beyond most thai places.
(5)
Ashley M.
I wish I could give this place ZERO stars! The first time my boyfriend and I went here we sat at our table for a good ten minutes before even being greeted or receiving water and because of this we decided to leave. After our first experience dining in we decided the next time we would just order food for take out. I kept hearing raves about this place from a bunch of people I worked with, so today we decided to take my boyfriends family here when they came in to town. Again, worst service I have probably ever experienced. There were only about three or four other people in the restaurant and it still took a long time for us to get our drinks and water put on the table. Whatever, its just drinks we were still excited to try the food that we heard so many good things about. I guess we let our hopes get too high because this food was horrible. I got the egg noodles with chicken and it smelled and tasted like cat food. Not that I eat cat food...I mean I try it every now and then. Who cares? But honestly, everything but the appetizers were bad. Save yourself the time and money, the poor service and food is not worth it. Go down a few doors to one of the other Thai places where you can get good service and good food.
(1)
Carol H.
The place always seems to be over-crowded, so the service is slow. I've also gotten this one really rude waiter there a couple of times and have stopped eating there.
(2)
Maegen R.
Yummy and reasonably priced. I've not dined in, but have gotten take out on several occasions.
(3)
Mike B.
I've ordered takeout and eaten here for both lunch and dinner. Opart Thai is a nice joint, don't get me wrong, but somewhat overrated. You can get better Thai food for a better price at a few other places, for sure. Still, if you've never eaten here before, it's worth a visit. I mean, it's good, but not superb.
(3)
Chris S.
Impressively tasty Thai food at very reasonable prices. I found nothing extraordinary on their menu but all of the dishes were well prepared and served in a timely manner. The atmosphere of the place is pleasant too. This joint takes #2, just below Siam Noodle & Rice, on my list for best cheap Thai eats in Chicago.
(4)
Lauren D.
This is my new favorite. Its inexpensive ($8-12 per person) and BYOB. Right accross the street from the Western brownline stop, so convenient location. I order the Peanut Lovers with Chicken with mild spices. it was awesome. Large servings and was enough for an entire meal the next day. Service was average nothing to brag about. Decor was nice.
(5)
Pauline M.
We were looking for a new thai restaurant to order from and decided to give this a shot. We ordered a few things. They took about an hour and it was pricey for thai food. There are places on par for less time and less money. I had shrimp tempura, shumai, panang curry, sticky rice and thai custard. Shrimp tempura with broccoli, sweet potatoes and green beans was delicious with the sauce. Especially sweet potatoes- what a treat! The shumai is REALLY shrimpy. I mean, duh, they are shrimp dumplings but I couldn't believe how overwhelming the taste was! I ordered the panang curry with tofu, and it was super tasty. I get a craving for curry every two months, and this might be the big winner. I disappointed myself by ordering the sticky rice. And when they say sticky, they mean STICKY. It was near impossible to eat! I liked the thai custard but my roommate flipped for it and said it was really really good! So ordering is convenient and they are friendly. It is pricier and did take more time, so you may want to try a place that is closer/cheaper.
(3)
Matt S.
Great place for takeout. I've only eaten AT the restaurant once, and it was several years ago, so I don't remember much. But we get takeout from Opart at least twice a month, and it never disappoints. Very tasty and reasonably priced.
(4)
Emma M.
I have never had a bad experience here. Bring a bottle of wine or a pack of beer (there's a liquor store 2 storefronts down) and chow down on some of my favorites which include massman curry, lard nar, pad thai, spicy cashew chicken dish and the spring rolls. It's right off the Western ave Brown Line stop so it's very accessible. There are so many Thai restaurants in Chicago, but this one of the best.
(5)
John B.
There are literally 4 Thai restaurants within a block of each other in Lincoln Square. I asked myself - how different can they be? Well, Opart is the best one in the area, possible best in town. Everything just tasted incredible. Chicago is such a big place that a restaurant needs something extra to stand out. It's hard to explain, but you know when a place has taken the time to make their food truly delicious, and Opart has done it. It's also the nicest looking and most busy of all the area Thai places. When I went in to pick up my take-out, there were like 6 bags on the counter ready to be picked up as well. This is the best and people know it. Highly recommended.
(5)
Joel K.
Well I'm writing this review since I have recently returned from Thailand and I must say this is the best place for Thai in Chicago. I've been going here for over 14 years and I've never had a bad dish or experience there. It's the closest thing I've had to food from the homeland. I highly recommend this to anybody who wants great Thai food.
(5)
Ada H.
Tiger's Cry...Crying TIger...whaever you call it, it's the best here! As I have previously said, no Thai restaurants will ever get 5 stars from me unless it's in Thailand or my momma made it. That's because I'm Thai and I would want all of my favorite Thai dishes at one place cooked perfectly, and no place could ever provide that realistically. But in Chicago, Opart is as close to 5 stars as it gets in my biased little Thai foodie heart. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could. I've been to both locations numerous times and feel bad that I am just now reviewing. Sorry Opart! Everything is authentic here. I have never ever been disappointed by the food. I bring all of friends here, especially those who have not had Thai food and everyone loves it! I even had one of my birthday dinner parties here. That's how much I love this place. My favorite dish here is Tiger's Cry (aka Crying Tiger). It's seared steak served sliced up with a special Thai sauce. No other Thai places in Chicago make it this good. Most don't even serve it because they don't have a grill and don't want to disgrace themselves (thanks guys). Those other places that do offer it but pan-sear the beef, shame on you! Tiger's cry should only be served char-grilled. It is called Tiger's cry because traditionally in Thailand, when it is cooked over a hot fire, the fat from the beef drips onto the coals and causes the fire to flare and reminiscent of a crying tiger! I always order this if I ever see it on any Thai menu and have always been disappointed. Except at Opart. Now I'm not saying it's a primo chunk of Chicago steakhouse beef, it's more like a skirt steak. But trust me, still super tasty! I also love their ground pork tom yum noodle soup. It's not on the menu. If you like the tom tum taste, and noodle soup dishes, this is a must try. Don't expect it to be like traditional tom yum soup. Try it and you'll see what I mean. It will be spicy. It just doesn't taste right when you order it mild. I'm a mild girl and I tolerate the heat just for these noodles. I also like all of their appetizers. The thai iced tea and iced coffee are also very yummy. I haven't had anything I didn't like!
(4)
Jimmy C.
Pretty good Thai food. I like the location, despite the fact that they are a few feet from the (western) brown line you don't really hear the trains. The food is excellent make sure you can handle the spicy food because Thai spicy is really spicy. They have great soup options and the waiter has usually been very accommodating. My favorite thai dish is pad see ew, but I don't like it as much here. I prefer to have my chicken slices and rice noodles larger, some people may like it though cause it's easy to scarf down.
(4)
Beth M.
This is one of those times where I enjoyed only half my food, but I'm very excited to come back and redo the part I didn't like. This place is a nice, cozy, popular place. My friend and I got seated immediately at 7 p.m. on a Wednesday, but about 30 minutes later people were waiting for a table. We went to Provenance before for a bottle of wine, because why go to the creepy, overpriced liquor store? We started with the peanut sauce spring rolls, which I absolutely loved. I am not a tofu fan but loved this...obviously the delicious peanut sauce helped. And you'll think by the price it will be a small app, but it isn't. We didn't even finish it. Now for the meehh...I'm a curry fan. Every time I go to a Thai place I get curry, and I mostly get the panang curry. Someone else said it was great here, but I was really disappointed. First, the portion size is small. How small do you say? Small enough that they serve it in a rectangular dish instead of bowl. Second, you have to pay $1 for rice. For curry. I mean, I only eat Thai about once a week so maybe I'm not an expert, but I thought rice always came with curry. Third, it was just okay. I've certainly had better panang curry- my favorite is from Rainbow Thai, which is just down the street. Either way, I enjoyed my time there. Our waiter was very nice and we didn't wait long for food. I'll just plan on trying a different entree next time. As far as the best Thai in the area? Again, this is just on the curry, but I'd say Rainbow Thai for carryout, Namo for dine-in, and maybe Aroy Thai and Opart Thai for another dish.
(4)
David P.
Just ate here again the other night. I really want to give this place four stars, but just can't, it's not that good. I do like the tiger cry, the pad Thai is not very good, the sole fish with hot chills was okay, the fried rice is boring. I just don't get it? Why do so many people think this place is good? Average at best...
(3)
Sneha P.
Good thai food! I had #61 (Pad Kra Praow Lard Khao,) spicy beef with basil on rice. It was spicy and delicious. And it was even more delicious as leftovers. Service was good. The place was quiet on a Sunday evening, so we had a corner to ourselves. Ambiance was usual thai place ambiance, nothing special. Definitely stop by for no-frills good thai food!
(5)
Blair B.
Being a huge fan of Thai food, and very much looking forward to a nice meal out before a fun concert at the Aragon Ballroom, my date and I ventured to Opart Thai due to its great reviews and close proximity to the concert venue. The decor was cheesy and dated, but we could've easily looked past that if the food was delish. Sadly, we were disappointed. We ordered: *Thai Iced Tea *Spring Rolls *Soup (loved the soup with chicken, mushrooms, lemongrass, and lime) *Sweet and Sour Vegetables w/ Tofu (wanted red curry sauce, but no accommodation) *Pad Thai with Shrimp Our appetizer and entrees were left half-eaten, despite showing up ravenous. Our soup - (chicken, mushrooms, lemongrass, and lime) was unique and good. Otherwise, we left bummed, feeling like we were mislead by the raving reviews. We've had better Thai many other places. Sorry, Opart. Won't be going back...
(1)
Katarina X.
Ever have one of those extra demanding weeks? How about after a holiday visit with family? I caught a cold. Then, in manly tradition, Handsome Boyfriend declared I was "not sick" proceeded to drink from every glass, eat from every plate and take bites from all the same cutlery- then he was suddenly far more "not sick" than I ever was. This would be funny if I weren't swamped in deadlines, his business rocking in full seasonal demand and um, multiple family obligations colliding at the same time. We have no time for sniffles. When you are achy, cranky, tired it is time for curry. A good curry will warm you up, flush out the sniffles, provide nutrients and make you happy! I mean look at these pictures- doesn't that look perfectly rich, indulgent, spicy, creamy and delicious? It IS! Tata the server was very sweet, helpful and gracious. We enjoyed the shrimp and vegetable red curry the most- his choice- I hope you get to try it on a cold night to let it restore and soothe you thoroughly. It is the most delicious magic.
(4)
Laura T.
Rather disappointed. We ordered delivery. The crab rangoon was overcooked and chewy. The pad thai was like eating plain rice noodles, the sauce was completely non-existent. The rama chicken sauce was watered down, and didn't come with rice. Won't be ordering from here again.
(2)
Alicia A.
So far this is the best thai I've found in Chicago close to my neighborhood. Their curries leave something to be desired... sauce is very thin, more like soup, and they make their massuman with chicken instead of the slow-simmered beef it should be made with. Plus no sticky rice AND they charge you for regular jasmine rice I mean what's up with that? I don't get what everyone is raving about in regards to the crab rangoon- nothing special about them in comparison with any other thai place. Come on people, it's a wonton wrapper with cream cheese and miniscule bits of canned crab. I ordered them thinking maybe THESE crab rangoons would be something special- like perhaps they would have crab you could actually identify and taste...but alas. Anyway, I've had great success with their noodle dishes and the tiger cry beef and opart beef is to die for, that plus very prompt delivery makes Opart stand out somewhat in a city full of mediocre and often downright awful thai food.
(3)
Joanne B.
This has to be the best Thai place in the city. My fiance and I come here when we're in the mood for "fancy Thai." This basically means dining in at a restaurant that has more of a real ambience than a college dorm room. The prices are cheap and the food is excellent. Portions are slightly on the small side for the neighborhood, but the quality is unparalleled. Service is quick but friendly. I wish there were some 2-tops away from the door, however. This is the Thai place that I compare every other Thai place to.
(5)
Dr T.
Pad thai is consistently bland. The basil chicken is good, but I'd rather order from Anna's Asian Bistro.
(2)
Erin M.
So, I grew up in Seattle, where Thai and Vietnamese food are about as common as fried chicken joints in Chicago--every major intersection and strip mall. Moving to the Midwest has been a painful transition with a dearth of even passable Thai to be found in Indiana; when the hubby and I made it to Chicago, I finally had my Thai cravings mostly satisfied by Opart. Now, it's not as good as the Thai food in Thailand (which is amazing), but it is decidedly the best I've found in Chicago and indeed in the Midwest. The fact that it's also very reasonably priced is a big help, too, in a city where $15 for a greasy Chinese takeout dish is not considered abnormal. Here's the thing with Opart: you have to know how to modify the items you like to your preferences. For example: --some have complained that the curries lack veggies. I have tried every one on the menu, and I agree if you get them as printed on the menu they seem short of veggies. The reason? In Thailand they usually do not add many veggies to curry. BUT: you must know that for $2 extra you can add "extra veggies" to any of them. They will also let you specify which kinds of veggies you want. I usually get Thai eggplant and green beans added to red curry (which comes with just meats and bamboo normally). The effect of this $2 addition is that you get a container of curry that is literally twice as big as the normal order, with tons of veggies. You can also add extra meat as desired for a similar charge. Adding veggies means paying $10.99 for a 32oz red curry full of meat and delicious Thai veggies, which I consider a great deal. Once I discovered this, my issues with their menu were permanently solved, as red curry is sort of an addiction for me and the lack of veggies was my only complaint with their curries. --Pad Thai: my main issue with their Pad Thai is that ordering takeout, there is no option for spice. They make it *bland* for the Midwestern palate as a default. UGH! You have to specify that you want it with spice in the comments or by being very clear with the waitress, or it will be boring. Just let them know you want it hotter. I do wish they provided it with the traditional bean sprouts (they substitute shredded cabbage), but I understand why they don't (sprouts have a terrible reputation for food poisoning). With Opart, the best menu items in our eyes are: Yum Neur beef salad, Tom Yum Gai/Tom Kha Gai, Yum Woon Sen, Tiger Cry (same beef as the Yum Neur salad, no veggies), Panang or Red Curry with extra veggies. Opart is real Thai food, so expect that, and order accordingly. Portions are sufficient but not enormous. Pseudo-Chinese dishes are not as good as the more authentic Thai dishes. Also, they seem more accurate at takeout/delivery than in the restaurant. It's usually super busy on Friday and Saturday nights and that may be part of why the in-house service seems to make mistakes more often than the people getting the takeout/delivery together. There's usually one guy in charge of all the takeout in the restaurant, and that seems to keep those orders well organized, as it is always quick and only once have I had anything missing in my order (and it was only one box of rice, out of maybe 30 orders in the last two years). Still, the food keeps us coming back or ordering delivery again).
(4)
Alisa M.
My 100th review on yelp!!! Came here on a Monday night and the place was pretty crowded. We made reservations and our table was ready to go when we all arrived. Inside the place, the atmosphere is trendy and modern. I believe that the decor is even flown in from Thailand! It's a cute little spot for a date night. The food on the menu is also comparable to other Thai restaurants in the area. Our waitress, Anitra, was awesome. Having to wait on tables in the whole Restaurant seems like it would be a handful, but she did it flawlessly. Also, like I've mentioned before in reviews, it's my biggest pet peeve to not have my water glass filled when it's empty. We had a small pitcher of water to share at the table and once that was empty, it was refilled. I actually don't mind having a pitcher at the table, only because I would prefer to refill my own water than sit at the table with an empty glass and thirsty. Things I would recommend from the menu: 1. Satay- Chicken is marinated perfectly with grilled to perfection. (Not dry and tough, but very moist) 2. Crab Rangoon- This is probably one of my most favorite dishes. A lot of other places that I've been to tend to skimp out on the cream cheese... but not at Opart. There is just the right amount of cream cheese and the won ton wrapper is fried to give the right amount of crispiness. 3. Moo Ping- This dish is not offered at a lot of Thai places. If you want to try something different, definitely order this.. and don't forget to order a side of sticky rice. 4. If you're into beef dishes, try the Tiger Cry and ask for it spicy. The beef is tender and juicy with lots of spices. 5. Poh Tak (Seafood)- Similar to the Tom Yum, but it has a lot of seafood in it. It is served in a traditional Thai pot (the ones you would get if you ordered this dish in Thailand) 6. If you like squid, try the tum pla muk- Squid salad. You can also ask them to make it to your liking. For example, if you want it to be more salty and spicy, just say so! 7. I love seafood, so I would for the entree, if you're craving noodles, try the Lard Nar Seafood. Just the the Lard Nar offered at other places, but this one is a seafood combo! I could go on and on about things to order at this place, but my review would never end. To summarize, you can't go wrong with anything that you order on the menu. Awesome food at an affordable price with a great atmosphere and service. A hidden gem that's been around for at least 25 years.
(5)
Matt J.
Food was fantastic! Only reason I didn't give 5* was the service was dreadfully slow but it was very busy also.
(4)
Amie M.
Fantastic Thai food all the way. We ordered coconut curry chicken, pad see ew, and this delicious spicy shrimp dish our waitress ordered special for us that is her favorite. Glad we tried this place, will definitely be back asap.
(5)
Araceli R.
just try this morning red curry,coffee and fried banana my fav was the dessert love it fill wonton w/ bnana coconut milk,shedeed coconut golden brown and drizeling w/honey and sesame seeds.....
(4)
Lauren F.
Not bad, but not great, is kind of how I feel about Opart Thai. I was surprised because of all the positive yelp reviews but I just wasn't feeling it. We started with a few appetizers-the Crab Rangoon were ok, lots of cream cheese and a big crispy wonton. We also ordered the sampler platter and I would actually recommend against this one-more Crab Rangoon, unappealing Fried Shrimp and Fried Shumai, and a few less than stellar egg rolls. For my entree I ordered Pad See-Iew with tofu and extra vegetables. The flavors and the noodles were very good and the tofu was well cooked but the "extra vegetables" were somewhat laughable. I had mentioned maybe some extra carrots, peppers, or whatever else they had. They basically threw in a bag of frozen california vegetables-mushy carrots and cauliflower. Cauliflower in my pad See Iew? I don't think so. This kind of killed it for me and I just wasn't all that impressed. On a positive note, they are BYOB with no corking fee so you can save a little money there! There are so many Thai spots in the city, I probably won't be returning to Opart.
(3)
Hope H.
I went to try their food, since a Thai native friend who owns a Thai restaurant in the suburbs recommended it to me. We ordered a beef appetizer called Tiger Cry. The flavor was good, but the meat itself was a little on the dry side. Squid salad was acidic and has hardly any flavor. Also, the squid was torched so the flavor of the squid tasted a little like gasoline. Pad Thai was pretty decent, but nothing outstanding about it, compared to the dish in other Thai restaurants. Thai Basil chicken we tried was a little salty with too much soy sauce flavor. I know this restaurant has a long tradition and has been known for a great Thai food. However, I was a little disappointed and I might go back there to try other dishes, but I won't go back there at any time soon, since there are other better Thai restaurants in the hood.
(3)
Wendy E.
So so good. Loved everything except the pad see yuck...It smelled weird the second it hit the table. We loved everything else including the Tiger Cry and the Pad Thai. Fun to go to the liquor store next door to bring your own drinks in. We had a bit of a wait for a table, but it was worth it-we will be back!
(4)
Jane H.
Food was wonderful Close to our house. BYOB! Had Peanut Lovers with Chicken and Sweet and Sour Soup. Yummy!
(5)
Naseem J.
Can I rave about this place enough? I frequently tell my friends that this is the best Thai in the city. I miss living in Ravenswood--I used to walk over here weekly and get food! The food is excellent. Beyond excellent. I'm drooling thinking about it now. This place is always quiet, too. The service is very hands-off, but they are polite and do check in with you frequently--they just let you have a quiet meal. Highly recommend for a dinner party, date, or even just take-out.
(5)
Andrew S.
The Massaman curry was delicious. The waiter(ess) was slow with the water refills but other than that, no complaints. "I feel like I live in the present when I eat at this place. When I go out to eat I want to feel like a futuristic spaceman tasting the delicacies of some far off planet. The food here is quite good, in that boring "normal" sort of way." - Carl Sagan
(4)
D J.
A first trip into a new restaurant is almost like a first date in some respects Here's a post mortem of my first time with/at Opart Thai... The promise was great - the reviews, the reputation of a Thai mainstay in the city seemed rock solid The opportunity was perfect - after the beers, crowds and the rainy riot at Mayfest, piping hot Thai food at a place right across from the brown line seemed like the perfect ticket The actual experience fell flat - my friend and I were shown a table by the door and felt the draft of the wind with every activity in and out of the restaurant. Water droplets graced my shoulder every now and then from the cooling system in the ceiling above. And worst of all we waited - for a server to take our order, for the food to arrive and then for someone to recognize that we were ready to get the heck out of there! A good first date is just the opening act but a bad one is a curtain call. There was some substance to Opart - my Pad Ped Tuah (spicy sauteed green beans and Tofu smothered with Thai chilli) was good, infact I came home with some! But there won't be a second time for me. I am finding other Thai fish in the Chicago sea! Opart - you have had fans before, and am sure you will have your loyal customer base after, but for me, it just wasn't what I was looking for..
(2)
Amy L.
Prices are relatively cheap compared to places I've been to in the Bay, but quality wise this place can't compare. Chicken satay. Bland. Peanut sauce was bland too. BBQ beef appetizer - best dish we had. Flavorful and grilled to medium-rare, delicious. Tom yum soup w/ shrimp. Not enough shrimp - probably 9-10 pieces for a family-sized soup. It was pretty sweet, would have preferred more spices. Pad Thai. Tasted pretty standard. Curry w/ chicken, potatoes, and peanuts. We asked for mild, but all I tasted was coconut milk. Mostly miss. Thus, I am continuing my quest to find decent Thai in Chitown.
(2)
Caitlin G.
This is my go to place for excellent Thai food. The peanut sauce lover, medium spicy is out of this world! I am so often disappointed by the Thai places in Chicago, but I am always pleased with my orders from Oparts. I wish they had faster delivery, but we have gotten better about ordering before we are hungry since we know it will be awhile. It is worth the wait, though!
(4)
Anne M.
Really enjoyed the interior - on a cold, wet October night, we were warm and cozy inside Opart, and things got even better after we ordered some hot jasmine tea. mmmm.... (how many times did I refill that tiny tea cup!?) The food was good. But I wasn't blown away.... My party of four split the appetizer sampler plate (crab rangoon, shrimp tempura, spring roll?, something that looked like a tater tot but tasted like a crab cake). LOVED the crab rangoon - it's topped my list as my favorite in the city. Could have eaten a whole order myself. I went to my safety zone for my entree - the chx pad se eew. I wish I'd opted for a curry instead, which was my initial inkling. The PSE was good, but a little more saucy/slippery than I like, and there wasn't as much broccoli as I was expecting. I liked it okay, but it left me a little disappointed. Prices are fair, and if I find myself in the area again, I'd give it another shot but would definitely try something else... And order more crab rangoon. Just for myself.
(3)
Ali Z.
Very good Thai food here. Most dishes are above average with a few standouts. Penang curry with shrimp was amazing. Perfectly creamy with just the rice amount of spice. The appetizer sampler which came with crab rangoon, egg and spring rolls, and fried shumai was good too with the crab rangoon being the best of the bunch. As for the negatives, the fried rice was okay. Both the curry and regular versions needed more flavor. Be warned, the Tom Yom soup served in the traditional pot is enough to feed a family. I found theirs a little too sour and not as good as the ones I've had at other Thai restaurants. Iced coffee was good, but consisted mostly of ice cubes and little coffee. Good ambiance, friendly service. For some reason, the food never tastes as good when carrying out so I recommend dining in.
(4)
Michael H.
This place is great! The "Tiger Cry" is probably the most flavorful dish I've had this year at any restaurant! Must Try~~GTFJD
(4)
Jennifer N.
I stopped here to get some takeout while hanging out with my cousin and his family just a few blocks away. I had been traveling the entire day and didn't want to eat all of their food because I was just that hungry and needed my own big, warm meal. Turns out I picked a really good place for some takeout! I was surprised at the spring rolls - not a style I was used to. Definitely different. But they were good! I really liked the pad si yew. I found it to be authentic and a decent-sized serving. It wasn't too sweet and had enough meat and vegetables, too. I had expected to wait a while for my takeout, but I hardly waited at all. They cranked out my dish in what seemed like only a few minutes. I was back at my cousin's house in no time. Oh, and the service was great; the young man who took my order answered my questions quite easily and was very friendly. Furthermore, the prices were fair. I will definitely be back as it's very conveniently located and I really enjoyed the food.
(4)
Roxanne R.
Opart Thai is one of the scrummiest Thai restaurants in Chicago. Why? Because they have what I think is the best Pad Thai noodle. I really like how the noodles are thinner than traditional Pad Thai noodles. Also, they're not clumpy and the dish just has such awesome flavor. I've had the crab rangoon, beef lard nar, pad thai (obviously) and my favorite dish thai curry catfish. It's so delicious and flavorful but it's not too creamy. I usually do take out at Opart but I've eaten there a few times. It didn't take too long for a table and the service was good. The decor is very nice and trendy. Prices are reasonable Thai style. Thai curry catfish, pad thai, and beef lard nar would be under $25 w/o tax. Good enough for 4 people with leftovers.
(4)
Sunil A.
This place never disappoints. Decor is nice, service is very friendly and the food is excellent. Price point is below what I would pay for the quality, and quality is above most other casual Thai places. This has now become my go to place for casual Thai food. Recommend wholeheartedly.
(4)
Nicolas H.
Pretty good food at decent prices. I started with the crab rangoon which was definitely one of the best I've ever had (and came with a bunch so we could all share). Also tried the pork pot stickers which were pretty good. For my entree I got the panang curry with shrimp. Even though I ordered it medium it was still very spicy (not sure there is a spice option lower than medium but that might be nice for those that can't take the spice). The curry had nice flavor, but the spiciness definitely overpowered the dish so much so that my lips and mouth were burning. As for the service, its less than desirable. Our waitress was friendly enough, when she would appear, which I believe was three times throughout the entire meal. I'd probably prefer take out next time so as to avoid the slow and painful service...
(3)
Baily W.
I like pad Thai so I figured I couldn't go wrong trying this place since I hear such good things about it from my friends. My friend and I were seated right away, awesome. We put our order in and the food was on the table just a few minutes later. My only reason for not giving 5 starts was the portion of shrimp added to my food. It is a $2 charge but there was only really 4-5 shrimp in the dish. The food was great despite the lack of shrimp so I can't really complain. Overall, a great place to grab a cheap bite to eat in the square.
Only have ordered take out from here. Entrees hit the spot, don't care too much for the appetizers. That is all.
(4)
Petey S.
This place is amazing. I've been coming here for years. I recommend all of the soups, and I've tried an array of their noodle dishes and have never been disappointed. I order the Pad Thai most frequently. Their delivery service always arrives quickly and the food is always pipping hot when I open it up! It loses one star based on the service for a sit-down restaurant. However, it is BYOB so that kind of makes up for it.
(4)
Julia J.
My second visit to Opart was much better than the first. This time, I had the Panang curry and my dining partner had the curry fried rice. My panang curry was really delicious. The fried rice was fine in flavor and the portion was huge. I would order it again but not as a main dish. We also did the crab rangoon again. Sooo. Good. Still minus one star for the very slow (though very friendly) service and the inconsistent temperature. It was way too warm in there!
(4)
Megan K.
After moving to the Lincoln Square area almost a year ago, many people highly recommended venturing to Opart to get our Thai fix. Luckily my boyfriend and I had a random Monday off together, so we decided to venture over to Opart for a late lunch. I was happy to see that they are open every day of the week for lunch and dinner, unlike many Asian restaurants in the city that are closed on Mondays and/or Tuesdays. We arrived around 2:30pm to a mostly deserted restaurant and we were promptly seated by the hostess and given menus to look over. We were mighty hungry so we decided to put in two of the appetizers while we reviewed their extensive menu of Thai offerings. One minor complaint about this restaurant is the general lack of description of their menu items. We had trouble discerning what some of the entrees actually were as they only had one or two different ingredients from the items above or below them. Regardless, here's what we feasted on for our mid-day meal: 1) Crab Rangoon: When this order of *eight* rangoons was placed in front of us, I questioned the decision that we made for two appetizers. Even though I had that shred of doubt, it was quickly forgotten as we inhaled the cream cheese fried goodness. The mixture was mostly cream cheese based, but it was well flavored with green onions and small bits of crab. The sauce was exactly what you would expect, sweet and tangy and perfectly complimentary to the rangoons. 2) Tiger's Cry (Tender beef charbroiled to perfection, served with homemade sauce): Amazing--a must for Opart. The beef was perfectly cooked and flavored with a nice char taste that permeated the meat. All the pieces were tender and easily could be cut with a fork. The homemade sauce is also worth noting--it was sweet and spicy with what appeared to be pickled red onions and green onions. I can't rave enough about this dish, and I'm already craving more. 3) Gaeng Pet Ped (Red curry, roasted duck, pineapple and tomatoes sauteed in coconut milk): I really enjoyed this curry and the portion size wasn't ridiculous, which was nice in contrast to the very generous appetizers. The duck was tender, plentiful, and not chewy which set it above other Thai establishments that I've frequented. My only criticism about the duck was that they left the skin on and gave you rather large chunks of duck which made for a messy meal when trying to cut it into bite sized pieces with my spoon or fork. The skin was pretty soggy so it wasn't crispy which is the only way I like to eat duck/chicken skin. That aside, I was impressed that they used real tomatoes and pineapple versus canned. The curry itself was also very flavorful and was actually hot on the spicy scale (evidenced both in taste and with the abundance of red pepper flakes). Delicious. 4) Pad Ped Paak (Sauteed mixed vegetables and hot peppers with pork): My boyfriend got this dish so I can't comment too extensively on it. He seemed to enjoy it and also remarked that they cooked it to a hot temperature, as requested. The mixed vegetables ended up being broccoli, onions, pea pods, and a few other random bits. The pork was a bit overdone and the dish overall appeared to be quite oily. He remarked that the appetizers outshone his entree, and he'd be interested in trying something different next time. The service was prompt and quick and the restaurant was clean. I can't wait to come back and try some of the other offerings on their menu. It's a gem for the Lincoln Square neighborhood and would satisfy any Thai craving.
(4)
Misty S.
Ugh *shakes fist* I haven't been here in years and thought I would return to Yelp about it. I was so disappointed with the Penang curry. The chicken and curry were good, but that's pretty much all there was. I've never had a Thai curry so plain, where are all the vegetables? Green beans, mushrooms, bamboo shoots...where were you? I don't count the little pieces of green pepper because I'm not a big fan of those. The BBQ pork Bamee (egg noodle with soup) was a bit sour, like someone had squeezed too much lime in. Besides that, it would have been great. I must say, the Thai custard dessert saved the day. It was so coconutty and delicious, I could have eaten 10 more squares of those!! The Thai ice coffee was also good. With hundreds of Thai restaurants in the city (at least 2 nearby), I won't be coming back anytime soon...well, maybe for dessert. PARKING: Street meter, $0.25/15 min.
(3)
Kara B.
We've been here a few times now - mostly eating the noodle dishes or curries. The Panang curry was especially amazing! Everything has been full of flavor and delicious - although the spiciness is a bit hard to nail down and often seems to have slightly too much (need water!) or too little spice. We looked for a Thai restaurant in the city for two years before finding one to live up to our expectations! So happy we finally found one with reasonable prices. And of course, yay for BYOB!
(5)
Shelly M.
I recently ate here for the first time and was very satisfied with this restaurant. I went on a Friday night and there was no wait! Byob was a plus! The food was delicious! We ordered the combination appetizer, tofu pad see ew, tofu pad thai, and chicken panang curry! Everything was great! Will def. be going back!
(5)
Valerie L.
Our BYOB kick continues....My husband and I went on a Saturday night to Opart Thai after seeing it on a rerun of Check Please. It is really easy to get to right off the Brown Line stop at Western in Lincoln Square. The place was really busy, but didn't seem to have any kind of order to the lobby area. We were confused as to who we check in with and we weren't the only ones that had that problem that night...so yeah for us not being the dumb couple! LOL Once we figured that out, we got seated in a resonable amount of time for a busy Saturday night. The service was prompt and friendly. They popped our wine right away and brought us glasses super fast. The food was absolutely delicious. Probably one of the best Thai places that I've ever been! The eggrolls were crispy and hot as well as the spring rolls.. The beef and broccoli was amazing...that sauce was full of flavor but not spicy in any way. My husband ordered pad thai and absolutely cleared his plate. My husband loved the spring rolls so much that we had to have another order. Their menu is enormous and we can't wait to try some more! Got to love the BYOB...it was very reasonable for the good amount of excellently prepared food. See you next time Opart Thai, we'll be back for sure!
(4)
David Z.
I used to go to Spoon Thai down the street for all my Thai needs. However, Spoon seems to be slacking these days (you can check out my re-review for them if you want), so we have recently started branching out to other local Thai places. Since Opart is just a few doors down, it seemed pretty logical to give them a try. The atmosphere of Opart is definitely superior to Spoon, in my opinion. Opart is much larger and thus can hold a lot more people. However, even when it's full, you can still actually hold a conversation in Opart - it isn't overly loud. The seating at Opart is also more comfortable. The service is great at Opart as well. On the times that we've been there, the servers have always been on the top of their game. I haven't had a single instance of being without water (which is useful for their spicy dishes), and they have been quick to take our orders, remove our plates, and bring us the bill. The food also comes out at the same time for the entire group. Although that seems like a strange thing to be complimenting them on, Spoon has been having some big problems with that, which is actually one of the main reasons we started branching out in the first place. So how about the food itself? I'm not going to go and say that it is really much better at Opart. To me, it seemed pretty much equal. But as you can see from my profile pic, I'm a white guy. I'll be the first to admit that my usual "go-to" Thai dishes include fried rice, Pad Thai, and the vegetable dishes. So don't take my review seriously if you are the kind of person who orders REAL Thai food, like all that stuff on the menu that I can't pronounce. So all in all, if the food is just as good (and the same price), and the atmosphere and service are better at Opart, I see no reason to stop going there. I'll probably still get occasional take out orders from Spoon, but Opart, welcome to my short list of Thai places.
(4)
Adri T.
My husband chose this thai restaurant based on a friend's recommendation.. We usually have our usual go to thai we like on Damen and Leland..so I figured if he wanted to venture out of that one it was because he'd found one that topped that one... well I was not impressed the least bit. We asked the waitress what was a popular dish and she suggested the tiger's cry. Now granted, it was good BUT for $8.59 the dish had very little meat. Rather, it looked like they had just taken a strip and cut it into tiny pieces to give the illusion of looking like more. The tiny portion with a not so tiny price really disappointed me. Next, I had the pad thai and my husband had the khao soy. The pad thai was OK..it was a bit to greasy for my taste...same with the khao soy. It just tasted like it had been left in the pan soaking in the oil far too long.... I didn't even realize that this place had been on check please...so at least I didn't go with high expectations and good thing I didn't because the dishes they supposedley specialize in, just weren't good...the taste to them was just off and gooey..if that is even an adjective..but that is what the sauce looked like in the khao soy no doubt about it..we're sticking with our regular thai place that never disappoints and you can taste the good quality of the food.
(2)
Sara V.
I have mixed feelings towards Opart Thai. We went there for dinner, before a movie at The Davis on a Friday night. On the one hand, the Green Curry was quite spicy, which is always appreciated. On the other hand, my stomach (which is made of iron and survives third world street food) was NOT a fan. I spent the entirety of "The Avengers" in a state of much discomfort and that is highly unusual. Also I generally prefer a little more variety in the vegetables used in my curry as opposed to just eggplant and green beans. Also not a fan of having to pay extra for rice. It always just seems a little stingy on the part of a restaurant. Date's Pad See Euw was tasty. Service was fast, which is always appreciated. I loved the interior although it does seem as if they might be fitting a few too many tables in (although given how busy they were, I understand). I'll give them another try at some point, but I think that, for the first time, I may NOT get Green Curry at a Thai restaurant. Which, let's face it Opart, says a lot.
(3)
Scott O.
Went here after a movie at the Davis on Friday night. Good, solid Thai food. The spring rolls and the satay were exceptional. The Pad dishes, not so much. Fairly standard.
(3)
Joyce C.
Went here with a group a couple weeks ago. I agree with Liz M: Spoon Thai is much better; I don't know how Opart stays in business w/Spoon Thai down the street, and the legion of other better Thai restaurants in the city. I had massumun curry; the chicken was decidedly old (not spoiled, just old-tasting), and the sauce was too salty with not enough other flavors in it. Three of the people I was with asked for their dishes to be hot/spicy, and they all came out with no heat at all. These people had already asked for hot chili sauce with their appetizers, so that should have been a clue to the server. One of these dishes was the tom yum, which just tasted kind of sweet . To sum up, everyone sitting near me at the table was very disappointed. And I know some other Thai restaurants do this, but I'll just mention that rice is not included with an entree.
(1)
Beth H.
Do not get carry out from here unless you are going straight home, or happen to carry a large bowl around with you to mix ingredients in. I ordered pad lard nar, which is a single noodle dish right? Wrong. Apparently it is actually a cardboard box STUFFED with broccoli and completely plain unflavored noodles, and a separate, overflowing container of gravy and tofu. Good luck! (Especially since you won't be given a fork or chopsticks.) That being said, once I was finally able to assemble and eat the dish, it was pretty delicious.
(3)
Theresa M.
I am going through my Yelp today updating restaurants I feel that are worth it. Opart Thai is one of them FOR SURE. There food is amazing, and affordable. Date night, movie night, any night it is awesome. Some recommendations: Crab Rangoon if that is your thing, all of the currys, the ramen soup, and the stir fried veggies with any protein. They also make delish meats that are grilled. Moo Ping = YUMMY. If you're into peanut sauce definitely get something with it, I hear it is amazing.
(5)
Erik H.
Went to Opart on a date as I had heard the food was quite good. The food did not disappoint. We ordered the spicy tofu and crab rangoons, I had the Bami Lard Nar, she ordered the Kuay Tiew Kee Mao. The tofu was very good, although it we ordered it spicy, and it turned out they brought us medium. The Lard Nar was good, flavorful and a large portion. the Kuay Tiew Kee Mao was great. She ordered it spicy and it came out spicy. The high point of the meal for me was the crab rangoons, definitely what Opart is known for. However, the service was very poor. Once seated, it took 15 minutes for anyone to take even our drink orders, by that time we had already figured out our drinks, appetizers and main dishes. I finally had to get up and ask for a pitcher of water because they never refilled our water. The food was very good, but the poor service was too much for me.
(2)
Ayame L. O.
I go here for two things and two things only. The moo-ping and tiger cry. It's awesome but they lose a star from me because the service just seem a little unfriendly and unattentive most of the time I come here. Food is amazing though so whatever.
(4)
Carmen M.
I love this place! My boyfriend and I have been loyal customers for the past three years and it never, ever disappoints! First off, the service is always wonderful! The host and all of the servers are always very nice and give great recommendations. Even the guys who deliver are great... and the food always gets to our apartment really fast. Because of one of those recommendations, I found my beloved Neu Num Tok beef salad. It is by far my favorite thing on the menu. It's charbroiled beef sliced really thinly over lettuce and onions with lime juice. SO GOOD. They ask how spicy you want it and I always go with "medium." I did "hot" once and even though it was tasty, I struggled through it. Other delicious options: for starters, I always get the crab meat rangoons. I dream about those things. I don't know what kind of sauce they give you to dip it in... but it's awesome! All of the curries are excellent... the Gaeng Panang being my favorite. We also get these little cucumber salads that only cost sixty cents and are a perfect little side dish. As expected, the pad thai is also great. Everything I've had there is good... and I try to pick out something different each time. Dessert and beverage wise? The Thai iced tea. Get it. It's delicious. It also really helps if you get something a little spicier than you expected. Also, the banana in warm coconut milk. I would eat/ drink that stuff by the gallons. All in all, don't believe any of the bad reviews about this place. Yes, "there are so many Thai places to choose from... blah blah blah..." but there is a reason why Opart has been around so long. It's because it's amazing.
(5)
Chris B.
Best Crab Rangoon I've ever had. But the beef in my dish tasted reheated. So...I'll give it another go. For the Rangoon.
(3)
Natalie S.
Some hits, some misses... but all in all, we'll be back. It was Friday, I was ready for some BYOB. Opart is just a few blocks from us and we've been meaning to give it a whirl. Done. Our waitress seriously lacked some personality. She was like a robot. "What would you like?". "How is everything?". "Can I get you anything else?". These were all recited to us like it was part of a script she had learned on her first day. Satisfactory service, but nothing to write home about. We had the appetizer sampler plate. Egg rolls and crab rangoon, delicious! Fried shu mai and shrimp rolls, meh. We had the i100 (fried catfish with string beans and eggplant) which was FANTASTIC. I had to stop my dude from licking the plate. I would definitely order that again, no doubt. We also had the d45 wtih beef (Chinese broccoli and gravy) and it was way gross. I have had Lad Nar at many, many Thai places and this was by far the WORST I have ever had. It was slimy like we were eating worms and the noodles were overcooked and falling apart. We didn't finish the order and, for my dude and I, that's a BIG DEAL. Everything is very affordable. A big appetizer plate plus 2 entrees was only $28. We'll be back but we won't be ordering the Lad Nar. For sure.
(3)
Paulina Y.
This is the best Thai food ever everything here is wonderful.
Great food, good service, & it's BYOB. Wonderful value for the money. I've always had a good experience here & would highly recommend it.
(4)
Jenny C.
I ordered the tofu dish. It had a little bit of sauce under it. It wasn't bad. I personally feel the food is quite bland though. My partner ordered chicken breast on green beans, and he felt that his was quite bland as well. We ordered the shrimp and vegetable tempura and everything was super crispy and nicely fried, sauce was a good compliment as well. The thai coffee I also enjoyed.
(2)
Lara T.
I cannot wait to return so that I can try more things from the menu. W.O.W. Now I understand what all of the fuss was about. The food was fresh, plentiful and so well-priced. This place is easily jammed any night of the week, so be sure to make a reservation. It's entirely convenient to get to from the Brown Line's Western stop and parking was a non-issue.
(4)
Omar K.
Overall a nice place, good ambience, but I would prefer going to Spoon thai which is just down the road.
(4)
Melanie S.
Opart sorta fell off my radar after a few mediocre meals there in the past, but I gave it another try last night to meet up with a couple of friends who love this place. Sometimes said friends and I agree ( M Henry) and sometimes I just have to question their tastebuds (Orange Garden). Opart has been in this same spot for years. It actually reminds me of the old days when I didn't have a life and I would get takeout from here and go next door and rent a movie from BP Video on a Saturday night. Thankfully times have changed. Opart has expanded their space quite a bit and the decor is downright upscale compared to its former self. I was pleasantly surprised at the surroundings. The menu is still as expansive as it was, with plenty of options for the neophyte Thai eater, or someone with a more advanced palate. We started with Tiger Cry, which is a marinated beef appetizer. The last time I had it, the meat was gross so I never ordered it again. It turns out that Opart change their meat supplier so my friends ordered it and I was curious if it had improved. It blew me away. It was so tender and flavorful; I couldn't believe this was the same dish from years ago. To that we also ordered a cucumber salad and crab rangoon, both of which were good, and on par with any better-than-average Thai restaurant. For entrees we chose pad prik (I firmly believe my friend ordered this just so she could say "prik" loudly) with beef, curry fried rice with pork, and pad si ew with chicken. Of the three, the pad prik was the best. We ordered it medium spicy and I was downing water like no other. Good stuff. The others were fine; I've had better, but I've certainly had worse. Service was good; this has also improved from what I experienced in the past. It's always nice to see a place that has made changes for the better. I'm glad my friends got me to give Opart another try. I will definitely be going back.
(4)
Naomi J.
One of the best Thai places in the city and really affordable. Great date spot; I love the food and love the atmosphere.
(5)
Tara M.
Atmosphere, very cool. Customer service, average. Pad thai (hot), decent and plentiful. Curry fried rice (hot), good and plentiful. Tofu was less than the best, but we still managed to enjoy every last bite. That said, it was a great Friday night out for the value and we'll put it on our list of places to return...and we'll BYOB as the sign suggest - no corkage fee!
After being recommended on Check Please and being somewhat close to our neighborhood, I deemed it necessary to try this place out. We live in Roscoe Village and although the restaurants that we frequent there has been a huge reason we've stayed, its always a great idea to see if the grass is greener on the other side. The BYOB is a great staple to this place (and almost necessary since I don't know of many Thai restaurants that aren't BYOB). The location is right off of the Brown Line Western stop which is amazing. The only way it could be better is if it was in the CTA Western Brown Line Station (which Dunkin Donuts was so that equally blew my mind). We entered into the restaurant and the service was friendly and they did not hesitate to get you seated. The decor was excellent and with the deep espresso wood paneling up the lower half of the wall, everything came together really well and it felt like you were in a classier restaurant. For starters we had the peanut sauce spring rolls which sounded and tasted interesting although my wife was a little surprised by the texture of the peanut sauce. It was more of a thick sauce as opposed to a sauce that had been drizzled on top of the spring rolls. I had the chicken spring rolls with tangy sweet and sour sauce which was really good. My main course was the Peanut Sauce Lover with Chicken which had the sauce texture and consistancy that was to be expected on the spring rolls. The sauce had a prominent peanut flavor and the consistency was thin enough that you could laddle it onto the steamed rice to add another dimension to this dish. Other than the chicken, cashews and peanut sauce, there wasn't much else to it except for the onions. I don't mind onions, but with this dish I felt like there was too many. They had both white and green onions mixed in and if I were to do my order over, I'd probably see if they could swap out the onions for some peppers. The dish was spicy, but not toooo spicy so they nailed that. Final Verdict: This place has a huge following, but I didn't think it was terribly different from other Thai places. The convenience next to the El is huge though so I'd be back in the future.
(3)
Jeff S.
These days I feel like Thai food is like your typical Chinese take-out; greasy, fattening, and largely uninspiring food that you regret eating once you're done. Don't get me wrong, I like Thai food, but I think that most places miss the mark. After eating at Opart Thai, I can gladly say that there are still some places that serve up good Thai food without making me regret it. I've visited both locations, and I'm a big fan of the curries. I REALLY enjoyed the Basil Chicken, and various noodle dishes (particularly the Kuay Tiew Kee Mao) are delicious. Easy to get into, quick and friendly service, and above all else, really good food. Opart is my new go to Thai place in the city!
(4)
Paula L.
We decided to go here because the 2011 Reader poll named this restaurant the best Thai food in Chicago. My favorite (Sticky Rice) came in second. I will rate what we ordered: Egg rolls-Average. Opart beef-Well seasoned, taste a little gamey to me. Panang curry w/ shrimp-Good. Combo fried ride-Less than average. Need more flavor It wasn't bad, but we won't be back.
(3)
John B.
This place has great food but they have been consistently botching my delivery orders. They need to start using grub hub already since there seems to be an issue with the orders on the phone.
(1)
Katy O.
Have I not written a review for this place yet? Seriously? Wow. Opart is my family's favorite Thai restaurant. My aunt is friendly with the owners and has been coming here for at least 20 years. I have been coming for about 10 and can't think of a better BYOB Thai place in the city. It can get busy on a weekend so make a reservation. There is no area to wait (you end up standing over people's tables smelling their delicious food- maddening) so plan ahead. They deliver to a pretty wide radius in the city but take-out is always an option too. The food is extrememly reasonably priced for what you get. Family favorites include: Thai iced-coffee Tiger Cry appetizer- you MUST order this if you like meat Crab Rangoon (best ever) Som Tum papaya salad- so refreshing Khao Soy Kuay Tiew Kee Mao ANY curry dish Goong Nam Prik Paow- shrimp I have tried a lot of other dishes and they are all great, these are just the one I most love.
(5)
Jennifer W.
Uninspired and extremely average. The yellow curry didn't have any flavor. The pad Seelew (their spelling) was greasy and only had two pieces of broccoli in the whole dish. The spring rolls were a little soggy. The fried tofu appetizer was very good and was definitely the highlight of the meal. I would not go back here and cannot recommend it. Ben's Noodles and Rice in Edgewater has much better Thai food.
(2)
Luis M.
the best Thai restaurant of Chicago!
(5)
Samra M.
Food was mediocre, don't know what the hype is about, greasy Thai food and not the best, I would rather have Thai bowl or yees... Disappointed
(2)
Jennie T.
4 stars for the food. -1 star for the cockroach that scared the living daylights out of me. The end result? 3 stars. I've heard so much about this place from my friends. I had high expectations for their food. Luckily, that expectation was met. My friend and I ordered the Moo Ping for appetizer. This is grilled marinated pork on skewers served with sticky rice and something that tasted like the Vietnamese nuoc mam / fish sauce. Yum! The Poh Tak soup -- Thai sweet and sour seafood soup with shrimp, crab sticks, squid and lemon grass-- tasted very similar to the Tom Yum soup. I was actually hoping it'd be closer to the Vietnamese Canh Chua soup but nope. It was still good though. We ordered the Gaeng Pet Ped, your classic red curry with duck, pineapple and tomatoes in coconut milk. It was delicious. I think I would have liked this restaurant a lot more if the cockroach hadn't appeared on the wall next to me. Sorry, not coming back anytime soon. I'm not fond of cockroaches (or any creepy crawlers for that matter).
(3)
Nicollette W.
I've been wanting to try this place for a while since its right in my neighborhood and when my date suggested it, it was on like donkey kong. For starters we had Egg Rolls and the Tiger's Cry. The Egg Rolls were standard but the Tiger's Cry was delicious! My date had the cashew chicken which was yummy and I had the Chicken Pad Thai (my standard white people - ordering Thai food dish). It was decent, but nothing overly amazing. Besides the Tiger's Cry, the best part of the whole evening was the BYOB, which meant we stayed at the placed and chatted it up until they closed! And they didn't hurry us along at all.
(4)
Dana A.
There are some outstanding Thai restaurants on Western/ Lincoln Square, How really can you pick? From first glance it may seem as if every thai restaurant is the same, had to check it out for my self. First on the list of Thai on Lincoln.... Opart Thai had some great reviews so I decided to try it! Whenever I go to Thai places I always end up getting Pad Thai. Tonight was different! What made it so different?, CURRY! *AMAZING CURRY!! Gaeng Panang/ Brown Rice w/ tofu * BYOB ( Superb)! *App Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls- So delicious! *Go for medium on all dishes, I love spicy but medium was spicy enough for me, whenever something is tooooo SPICY you can't really enjoy it if you can't taste it:)! * Yummy jasmin tea, my favorite part the small cups make you feel as if your at a cute tea party! WIll be back, though I think I will check out some more of Chicago Thai first!
(4)
Eileen Z.
If you can forget how excruciatingly SLOW the servers are here and just focus on the food, OH MY GOD - IT'S LOVE. The food comes piping hot and I highly suggest the bami moo daeng (boiled egg noodles with BBQ pork, green onions and ground peanuts, lime, served dry instead of as a soup). And if you're a fan of spicy, ask for it spicy. Their Tom Ka Kai is also one of the best I've had. As far as appetizers are concerned the satay and crab rangoon are safe bets. Parking isn't too difficult if you drive, there are parking meters. However, it's only a few blocks away from the Western Brown line if you want to save yourself the trouble.
(4)
Meagan C.
I haven't even gotten my food yet but this place already saved me because it's the only place I've tried that's open on Christmas!
(4)
Em K.
I have been going to Opart for about 16 years. This is the best Thai in the city. I usually get the Spicy Basil Chicken, Tiger Cry and Veg Egg Rolls. All of those dishes are terrific. The Basil Chicken dish can be very very spicy if you like it, but if you don't like overly spicy, just let them know. The Tiger Cry is just marinated beef with this tangy sauce to dip the meat in, so frickn good. The service is great, most of the servers have been there for a very long time. It's also BYOB which is awesome. If you like Thai and/or spicy food, get here asap.
(5)
Michael S.
I didn't even realize I lacked a Thai list in yelp. I always thought I made one. Oh well... What's worse is that I have been lax in making these reviews as I go often enough to some places that I don't think about writing one. So here's Opart so I can add it to my Thai list. First of all, I know the owner's daughter so I do have to say I may be a bit biased in my review. I used to live around the area though for 20+ years and used to like Opart growing up though. The decor is nice and all. I also like the service here. It's the food though that counts for me since I've been having Thai food more often. The food is quite simply good. It's not the best, but definitely better than just okay. Also, I've never had a problem ordering my food spicy enough here (it could be because I go with my gf who takes care of ordering.) I'm a fan of the food. I think for most this place should be a 4 star. It's solid for it's food and service. It's a five star for me though. Definately a place to go and try.
(5)
Minh D.
Excellent Thai food here. Authentic food but made a bit sweeter for the western customers. Pad Thai is good, but tends to be wet. I prefer more dry, which requires longer cooking time to evaporate the excess moisture in the noodles. Minced pork with basil - they make very good and authentic here. A favorite Gang Keo Wan - great dish, tasty and authentic. one of my favorites. Masamun, panang, etc. - pretty good dishes, but sweeter and less authentic. Fried banana - this desert dish is great. Portions are a bit small. Portionwise, pricing it a bit more expensive than your average Thai restaurant. For consistent quality, nice clean ambiance and great service. I am rating this restaurant a 4.
(4)
Christina X.
Best Crab Rangoon, Pad Eww and Pad Wosen ever! Pad Thai can use a bit more flavor. Though the Pad Thai at the South Loop location is a lot better, but the Crab Ragoon and Pad Eww at the South Loop is a bit lagging.
(4)
Juanita G.
That had to be the worst delivery meal I've ever had! Maybe we choose the wrong dishes. We ordered pot stickers, wonton soup, Tom Ka Kai soup and Kuay Tiew Neau Sub. My dining companion had the Tom Ka Kai soup and pot stickers that he said tasted great but brought a whole new meaning to the term "ethnic cleansing" when it went right through him and had him racing to the bathroom. I had the Wonton soup that's filled with chicken but it tasted oddly fishy. It was revolting! The only good thing is that it beat the expected delivery time. I had such high hopes based on the great reviews.
(2)
Jeff P.
Had dinner here last night with my wife and daughter, and boy oh boy, what can I say but only the food is awesome. So far the best Thai food I had ever had. This place was highly recommended to us by a Thai friend and she was right. The food is authentic as it goes and ambience is also great! The only thing that is that they should hire more waiters. Especially being packed on a Monday night. Service wasn't that bad and amazingly the two waiters were able to keep up with the customers. Will be back for more.
(5)
Rachel H.
Attempting to battle S.N.S. (Sunday Night Syndrome), the boyfriend and I were on the hunt for some Thai food. Luckily for us, this area is like a minesweeper game full of Thai. Unluckily for us, he is indecisive, and I am a fish-out-of-water Southsider. Finally the siren song of Opart Thai called our names. I'm glad I listened. This place is a little fancier looking than some of the holes in the wall, but amazingly this isn't reflected in the price. Two entrees, a split appetizer, and two Thai iced coffees cost a mere $23. We went with the peanut sauce spring roll, which hit the spot as I am a peanut-aholic, but I thought it was a little weird that they don't have veggie eggrolls. We wanted something a little fried to then drench in peanut sauce. Chicken fried rice was good and big enough that I have a full lunch for today and boyfriend's pad thai looked good as well. Service was lightening fast, yet I didn't feel rushed. That girl knows her stuff. Maybe she had on those sneakers with little wheels in them.
(4)
Mariah E.
Their food is amazing, I would give majority of everything I ate 5 stars. It's my first time in Chicago and when I stopped by to eat here it was the best dishes I ate from yet. I even went to Chinatown, also ate a deep dish and hot dog... Nothing was more greater than this thai place. I'm from Seattle, and their pad thai was great (even if I like thicker noodles they used thinner noodles than what I'm used to, it was still amazingly good). They know how to make food spicy for sure, in Seattle I have to ask for 5 stars but their mild/medium spicy levels are just perfection for me. Their crab rangoon is so mouth watering delicious, they make their crab cream cheese fried wontons so good, it melts in your mouth! Their pad see-iew is good but not worth ordering twice, I'm more into a sweeter version, the batch I ate there wasn't that sweet. Their Panang curry was good too, my boyfriend loved it but I thought it was ok. Their fried rice was kind of dried, felt kind of overcooked maybe but still edible, I'd probably get a different fried rice there. Their white rice was kind of squishy... Their service, well... I think they should have a waiting area where people can sit down while waiting at least lol! Their interior and exterior is nice and cozy. When I entered, I had to wait about 15-20 minutes until I was able to sit down on a table. The waitress had a mean demeanor but all of a sudden she was nice when giving us food lol... I thought that was strange, I'm not sure if that's just how she looks or it's just part of her personality but it wasn't very welcoming at first, I still tipped her decently. The host/guy waiter who sat us down was friendly from the beginning. Anyways it's really busy in there (when I went) around 6:30-8:30pm? I was craving their food the next day and ordered delivery (really cheap only $3 charge) well not including tipping the driver lol... It's that good! I reordered crab rangoon (2), pad thai, panang and white rice (I'm so glad this batch of rice was not squishy). It was so delicious! If I ever come back to visit Chicago, I would definitely come eat here!
(4)
Keith A.
To say that the expectations for here were high is a bit of an understatement. Lots of raves from friends and it being included in the michelin bib gourmand list, I was due for a showdown with Opart. I ordered up some shrimp dumplings,pad lard na with chicken, and Pad Kra Praow Lard Khao with beef. The shrimp dumplings were extremely good and the soy sauce that was with them added even more. The pad lard na was tremendous. The noodles alone were worth it as they just seemed to melt in your mouth and there was a great savory sauce that went with it. The beef and rice was very very very spicy. In fact it was so spicy that it even caught me off guard a bit but was very good once I adjusted to it. I ordered it for pickup and it was done in about 20 minutes. There is a good amount of food in each dish, but you aren't feeling too stuffed afterward. I can't wait to come back here repeatedly to try as much as possible on the menu
(5)
Sarah R.
I've only been here once, but have always heard rave reviews from friends about how good the food is here. Well, they were certainly right! I had the white pepper garlic chicken over jasmine rice and I was in heaven. The thing that made them lose a star was the fact that when they are busy you are certainly going to wait for your food. They only split checks two ways (not good for a party of 3 or more), and they skimp out on the thai iced tea. It's too small for the price. All in all, I will be back though. I believe they have Vegan friendly options too.
(4)
Beth R.
We just went on Tuesday because Chubby Weiners next door was closed. I keed, I keed. I do enjoy this place because I can get my standard Thai (read: not Thai, not authentic) food, which is mixed vegetables and tofu with rice. The price is slightly high (+$1 for plain white rice for an otherwise all-veg dish? wha?) but the portions are big and there aren't things like tomatoes in the veggies. I had a chicken egg roll last time that was nothing special really, but my companions liked their orders (pad thai and a noodly soup) and we were in and out in an hour. The location is a plus though, since there's street and lot parking (easy spot at 6:45 on a Tuesday) plus the Brown line overhead.
(3)
Tera D.
Opart is a nice Thai option. I always recommend it to people for dates because it's a nicer, more romantic interior than most Thai places. As for the food, the highlight is definitely the sauces. They go beyond the Thai standards and have lots of creative sauce you can't find anywhere else. Unfortunately I thought some of the other components weren't done very well. Badly cooked tofu and overcooked noodles really took the quality down on some of the dishes. But maybe we just got them on a bad night.
(3)
Irene B.
I love Thai food! I crave it like a fat kid craves for ice cream! But on this particular visit at Opart Thai, my heart just couldn't commit. My boyfriend and I ordered the Tiger Cry appetizer and he loved it. I thought it was too salty, so we asked the waitress for white rice to neutralize the taste. The white rice never came, and by the time the waitress came around again, my boyfriend had already inhaled the rest of the food. We also had the wonton soup, which we both thought was too salty, but who orders wonton soup at a Thai restaurant anyway? Finally, we decided to share an order of basil chicken. I love that they use ground chicken by the way. However we asked for medium spicy and I believe we got extra extra spicy instead. My tongue was numb by the end of dinner. Overall, I thought the place was okay. I'd definitely give it another chance. It's cheap, quick and did I mention byob?
(3)
Brandon C.
Pretty nice Restaurant. Food is very good, we I the fried rice. For appetizers, spring rolls, smaller than expected but very good came with 12 half sized rolls. Fried rice had good amount of chicken and veggies and very fresh and spicy (ask waiter for hot sauce, very good). The only problems with this restaurant is the door that slams and not shut quietly. Also there is graffiti scratched onto the windows of the restaurant and bathrooms. Very quiet when we arrived on a Saturday noon. No music and not exciting.
(4)
John R.
Went here last Sunday. I had a curry - it was really good. The crab rangoon was incredible. BYOB Solid.
(4)
E B.
Honestly, it is nothing spectacular. It is like any other Thai restaurant in the city and I can say, I have had better. There was way too much sweet and sour sauce on my spring rolls and the salad was very soggy too. The male waiter was soooo nice and polite, but the girl was a little rude. She kept taking away my dishes, didn't even smile, and just had a terrible frown. I guess people like this place because its a BYOB.
(2)
Lindsay J.
Just tried this place for the first time with delivery. We read a ton of reviews beforehand so ordered the dishes recommended. However, we took our chances with one Curry dish that hadn't been recommended and, as expected, it was the only one not that great. We ordered: 1) Lard Nar Talay- Great flavor and big chuncks of seafood. The noodles were a little greasy though, so I'll probably request a thinner, lighter noodle next time 2) Moo Ping- Amazing! Pork skewers with a tasty, spicy light sauce. Good size, about 6-7 skewers 3) Gaeng Pa- $96 of the Thai Curries- Just ok, not much of a flavor. Overall, the food was a step up from most Thai take-out. The portions aren't huge though, so don't skimp on ordering.
(4)
Samantha L.
I ate here last week and the food was pretty good. But there are a lot of pretty good Thai places in this city. They fry their dumplings, wasn't a fan. I liked that it's BYOB. The service sucked balls. We were sitting at least 15 minutes before someone came over. Yep they were busy. Do I give a shit, nope. He asked what we wanted, left again and didn't see him until about 10 minutes after we were done eating. Someone else dropped our food off. But service stuff doesn't always keep me away from a place, if a server wants the bare minimum tip that is their deal. The food was decent so I am pretty sure that if I am in the neighborhood and I wanted Thai, I would go here again. And there is a liquor store on the corner with a good wine selection so that is a plus.
(3)
Rod D.
So I went in today with my girlfriend along with my cousin and his family and had a much better experience this time around. Good things to try that you don't see too often at other Thai places: Appetizers: Tiger cry beef - beef tenderloin with a sauce that is like a combo between soy sauce and lime. It's SO good...a must try! Noodles: If you are a pad thai type person, try the Woon sen pad thai. It has thinner noodles than the normal pad thai. SO good! Entree: If you like garlic, get the garlic chicken. It tastes way better than the Chinese version of it. Dessert: It's seasonal but the mango with sticky rice sounds SO yummy!
(4)
Phil X.
Came back here on a date for what else but Tiger Cry, Crab Rangoon, and Chicken Pad Thai....aka TRIPLE THREAT. Yo yo yo listen up...this Thai food is LEGIT. They changed the game with the Tiger Cry appetizer. It's probably called Tiger Cry because tigers weep over how effin' good this beef appetizer is. The Crab Rangoon dough is the best crispy yet chewy dough I've ever had on crab rangoon...and they don't skimp on the filling either. Dip it in the sauce and enjoy. Lastly the Chicken Pad Thai is perfect. PERFECT. If you look up perfect in the dictionary you will see a picture of Opart's pad thai...with soft noodles freshly sauced off the wok, this Thai staple packs FLAVOR. Service was quick. Kitchen was even quicker. AND ITS BYOB, no corkage fee! I picked up a bottle of Riesling at the liquor store NEXT DOOR. Well decorated, traditional decor with a modern feel. Right off the Brown Line "L" stop @ Western Avenue! GET SOME!
(5)
Ken S.
Tasty, affordable, BYOB.
(4)
Lisa D.
Best thai I've ever had.... and the prices are amazing. We had the chicken satay, appetizer sampler, spicy duck curry and garlic pepper chicken. Everything was super fresh and the flavors were crazy good. The food was brought out really fast too (less than 10 minutes). We went about 6 PM on a Saturday and were seated right away, it seemed to get busier about 7pm.
I was excited to come here because of all the good reviews, but the food is just okay and not extraordinary in my opinion. My coworker also wasn't too impressed with her dish either. There are many different choices on the menu to choose from so it took me awhile to decide what to eat. And although I typically love spicy food, I had my food made "medium spicy" and my mouth was burning by the end of the meal.
(3)
Kim B.
Great place for Thai or Chinese food. Quick service and it is BYOB. You know they get a lot of business but at the same time you can walk in and get seated right away. They will help to customize a meal if you are able to explain exactly why you'd like.
(4)
Gregg B.
Even though I live literally only hundreds of feet away from Opart, I had never been there. When I decided to take a friend who loves Thai out for dinner, I checked out the reviews and Opart seemed to be head and shoulders above the many other Thai restaurants in the area. There's a reason for that...it's that good. We started out with the Tiger Cry appetizer (yes, shocking). I'm not a huge red meat fan...but it was absolutely delicious. The meat was cooked perfectly, and the flavors were complex but balanced really well. For our entrees, we each got one of the spicy entrees with shrimp; mine with cashews, and my friend got one with roasted peppers. Amazing. The flavors and spices were just popping! Ours were ordered 'medium' on the spice level, and even though eyes were watering a little and noses were running, the spice wasn't so overbearing that we lost the flavor. Delicious. Want to know how good it was? Guess what we had for dinner the next night. Given how close it is, and how great the prices are, it's a safe bet that I will be going back a lot. I'm excited to work my way through the menu...it looked like there were some awesome offerings. Definitely go. And to those who rated this place 1* or 2*....I can't even comprehend that.
(5)
Cassidy P.
Really horrible service. Were out of many things listed on menu. And this was my birthday dinner. One star!!
(1)
Julia W.
So, I am currently on a mission to eat my way through the entire menu... I have yet to find a dish I did not enjoy, but my absolute favorite is the Khao Soy which I am confident I could happily eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday for the rest of my life. I consider myself a bit of a food snob and take serious issue with ingredient substitutions in ethnic cuisine. This does not happen at Opart's! I have personally spoken with the owners who informed me that they ship many of their essential ingredients directly from Thailand... and I'm happy to report the proof is in the proverbial pudding. The flavors are outstanding and true to what I have tasted on multiple trips to Thailand. It would also be a crime not to mention the consistency of the food. I have ordered the same dish 15 different times and it's always perfect . Seriously... always. I don't know what kind of magic happens in that kitchen, but I am confident that it is, indeed, MAGIC. P.S. To all of you Tiger Cry lovers out there... try the Yum Neau salad (or as my husband likes to call it "YUM, NOW!"), which is essentially all of the delectable juicy marinated gloriousness of Tiger Cry in salad form.
(5)
Frankie J.
Thai expertise level: I eat everything and prefer the specials. Basics for me are som tum, tom yum, mee krob, nam sod, tod mun, pad siew, lard nar and all the curries. Never been to Thailand, tho I did try Thai-hot and nearly passed out from two bite (so did my wife!). Overall - excellent balance of spice & savory Got the shrimp spring rolls, green curry beef, som tum, and another ground chicken and rice dish with basil. Shrimp spring rolls - skimped on the shrimp, should have charged more and put a whole shrimp instead of half Green curry beef - made me want to clean the plates off; veggies were tender (green eggplant is tough to do), beef a little rubbery, but sauce was KILLER, nice savory balance and made you want to go for more, great consistency, but not fatty and never broke. Som tum - medium hot was hot enough, nice balance in the sauce, and great papaya mix. Ground chicken w/basil and rice - also well balanced,
(4)
Anastasia B.
Easily the BEST Thai food on chicago. Everything is always so delicious here. The food is more than affordable! Some if the staff could stand to be more attentive and polite.... But the food makes up for it.
(5)
Christine S.
I like Opart Thai, but I think I was expecting the best Thai food I've had in my entire life. It was good, but not mind blowing. A solid 3.5 stars but i'm feeling generous today so it's get's 4. Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls: You better love peanut sauce becuase there's a lot on them. I do love peanut sauce, so I'm fine with this. Egg Rolls: Standard, but good. Beef Pad See-lew: A little sweet for my taste. Gaeng Panang Curry: This is where I was expecting big things. Sadly it wasn't the best I've had. It was good, but I was just expecting more. Great Yelp reviews. On Check Please. Did it live up to the hype? Sadly it didn't. Opart Thai is pretty good and I'll come back to give it another shot.
(4)
Vicky A.
My go to Thai restaurant. I live about 20-25 minutes away from there, but I will try to go whenever I can. Lincoln Square is one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. Usually when I go, there's never a long wait, but finding parking in that area sucks sometimes. I always get the same food when I go there: pad see ew, crab rangoons, and a Thai iced tea. My favorite. It's so good. I will probably try something new next time I go. The place is clean and I like the decor. The people working there are always nice and have never had a problem there. Every time my friends and I think to try another Thai restaurant, but we always end up at Opart Thai.
(5)
Stephanie L.
I'm so excited and I just cant hide it...and I know, I know, I know...I want you, I want you...but after going here...I didnt want it. Oh OPART! What a disappointment! I got the tiger eye with friends to start. It was tender and juicy with a great dipping sauce. Some pieces were a little fatty, but overall it was good. Kuay Tiew Kee Mao with tofu...MEH. I ordered it very hot. It wasnt hot at all. It lacked flavor. It honestly just tasted like a greasy mess of cabbage and noodles. It was extremely disappointing...it was like all the folk at Big City Tap at 4AM. So excited, but didnt deliver. They end up going home disappointed...I know the feeling after Opart. I also had a bite of Pad Kratiam Prik Thai. It was a little better, but definitely not worth a trip up here. Oh I think I can part with OPART. Bleh...maybe I ordered wrong, but nothing really impressed me. Honestly, I would take Butterfly Thai over this ANY DAY!
(2)
Colin R.
Best. I scheduled to meet up here with two of my friends, one of which explained that she used to come here ~20 years ago as a kid with her family. I mean if this place has been around this long, they must be doing something right. We sat at a table, put in our orders for some spring rolls and a meat appetizer (I believe tiger cry). Now here is when i was blown away. We were given our appetizer within 1 minute. Probably the fastest turnaround on an appetizer in my life. And holy crap, the peanut sauce on the spring rolls was delicious. Here's where it got interesting, the Tiger Cry was placed on my table. This is when I knew that I would be coming back here again. I'm going to write the word delicious 10 times in an effort to capture my satisfaction with this dish. DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS Ok yes, back to the food. We shared three entrees, I dont even remember what they were because I was in a blissful state while consuming them. You HAVE to try this Thai place. Probably my favorite in the city.
(5)
Dan D.
This place rocks. Every time my wife and i want to get Thai we come to this place. A short walk, we stop at the liquor store next door to grab a bottle of wine as this place is BYOB. I've tried multiple curries, a couple pad Thai dishes and the peanut spring rolls. All are very satisfying. I can't claim it's the best Thai food ever, but it's pretty damn good. The ambiance is cozy and warm, and usually always fairly full during dinner time. Great for a date night eating Thai over a bottle of wine. Haven't been disappointed yet.
(5)
Simone T.
Still a loyal devotee in 2014!! Fast delivery, the freshest ingredients & spices ever. Great for small groups to dine in (when I go with friends, it's usually a party of four). BYOB. Remains, at least I think, the best Thai Food in Chicago.
(5)
Sara S.
There are not many Thai Restuarant that satisified me because they can't make my dishes spicy enough. Till this day, Opart is my favorite thai restuarant, it's tasty and spicy. I always order the basil beef and green curry. Not to mention this place is also BYOB!
(5)
Marco C.
my run of mediocre Thai food in Chicago continues with Opart Thai House. I've had dinner here at least a half dozen times, and aside from the first time (which was excellent), it has been pretty pedestrian since. pros: The peanut sauce spring rolls are pretty good, and the dipping sauce is very good. The service is quick and friendly. They have take out and delivery. Cons: The pot stickers are like you're eating a pork-filled cake. And the pork is sometimes undercooked. The peanut sauce lover entree is not for lovers of the peanut sauce, because they ration that stuff like it's gold. Satay is mediocre at best. Overall, this is one of the better Thai places around, but the bar is set very low here in Chicago. The food at Opart has been excellent, but they are inconsistent... And mediocre has pretty much been the rule rather than the exception.
(3)
Tony M.
Great food authentic as it comes egg drop soup is prob best ever chicken pad thai is pretty damn good also great customer service prices are not bad
(4)
Ben T.
Went for the first time last night. I'd give 3.5 if I could, but bottom line is I'd be back and try more another time. I checked on here to take advice from other posts, and everyone said Tiger Cry. So I went for it.... Awesome!!! Superbly marinated beef, and a great hot dipping sauce. Great flavor with or without the sauce, and little bite sized pieces. I got it with white rice and it was a nice and not overwhelmingly heavy dinner. My friend got a peanut chicken dinner and white rice and he got a ton of food for the overall price. My only issue was a bit of a sour odor as soon as we entered the front room. I didn't notice it in the inner room where we were sitting. After we started, I didn't even notice anymore. Fast service and lots of people too, easy street parking..... I'll try it again.
(4)
Mark R.
Our total go-to Thai restaurant. Their sauces are very rich and consistent. They will provide any heat you want and won't surprise you with being too hot or too mild. They also have a wide variety of curries and appetizers. If you eat in, it's BYO, but bring it with you because the local liquor store is very pricey.
(5)
E M.
I enjoy this place very much... It's a typical ethnic food place and and low-key. It tends to get very busy, so I suggest to get a reservation when possible. They menu is extensive and both vegetarian and carnivore friendly. This is a BYOB place... This being said, it's a very affordable and tasty food :)
(4)
Rosie Z.
Disappointment city. I was so excited to try this place after seeing it on Check Please. I went there for lunch with a couple of friends when I was in the area. I'm not a big spicy person so I went with shrimp and broccoli, my friends got garlic tofu and a noodle dish. It was all pretty bland. Nothing very exciting. My broccoli and shrimp were barely warm. I guess I was all geared up for the best Thai place in Chicago. I heard the other location is much better. Maybe it was just an off day? We got the desert of mango and sticky rice which was quite delicious. I was pleasantly surprised by this. I may return to give it another chance
(2)
Elizabeth L.
Moo Ping? Yes, please. My shrimp curry was a little too spicy, but the awesome thai ice coffee and the tasty Pad Kee Mow my date had, more than compensated. The service was sweet and warm. Fast too. (Came during Sunday at lunch). If I lived in the city, this would be my go-to Thai place. :)
(4)
Liz M.
I can't believe that this place has such high overall reviews. Spoon Thai down the street is way higher quality food, and much more sensibly seasoned. Everything I have had here (I've been 3 times) has been overcooked and far too sweet. The iced tea is the best thing on the menu. The service was not impressive, and the waiter interrupted us several times on my last visit. We had a large group and the waitstaff seemed annoyed more than anything else. I'm done here from now on.
(2)
Paulina M.
Ordered pick-up from Opart and loved it. Everything was still hot when we got home. We got the sampler appetizer, the Penang curry, shrimp pad Thai, and curry fried rice. A little too much food for two people. Everything was very good but I LOVE the Penang curry!
(5)
Yanyao N.
Since moving to Lincoln Square, I've eaten an obscene amount of Thai food (4 Thai restaurants within a block of home will do that to you). I've sampled different take-out and delivery options, but keep returning back to Opart. They're friendly, fast, and efficient on the phone. Sometimes you'll get a busy tone and need to try them a few times. Sometimes pick-up times can be 20-30 minutes, which is totally fine - everyone loves Opart and then they made an appearance on this little show called Check! Please. Their 3 dining rooms are continually packed. Living a block away, I've never dined in, but order pick-up at least once a week. The tom yum pla and poh tak are great seafood soups. The wonton soup is also fantastic - a good thing to keep in mind if you aren't feeling too great, and want some milder, soothing chicken broth. Noodle dishes are always a safe choice - pad thai, pad see ewe, kua tew kee mao. My favorite dish lately is their pad woon sen, a savory stir-fried glass noodle dish (cleverly hidden under their "entrees" section). I never skip the deep fried siu mai, and J is a big fan of their plump, steamed, potstickers. Basically, you can't go wrong anything of this menu - I've never tried something I didn't like, and intend to work my way through the menu. Those for dining in, reservations would be very helpful, and the place is BYOB. Leland Liquor's is conveniently located next door.
(5)
Steve H.
Finally tried this place out after the decent yelp reviews and the exposure of Check Please. Though I question whether I will bother to return. Upon entering I was surprised to see how trashy their front entrance was. I literally had to step over garbage on the floor of their front corridor to get in. Not the most pleasant feeling when you enter a new restaurant for the first time and begs to ask how sanitary their kitchen is. Eh well maybe someone will sweep it up later I suppose. Eh maybe not, as the floor of the restaurant also looked extremely dust ridden as those mite colonies likely have had homes there for weeks. My date and I got sat in the middle room right on top of another couple, when there were plenty of other open tables around us. Why any hostess does this is beyond me. Shrimp Toast - definitely something different, yet I don't know why 'Shrimp' is in this dish's name when there is no shrimp at all on top of the crostinis that came outta the kitchen. The toasted bread was rather greasy as well. Kee Mao Noodles - Decently spiced and taste, but not phenomenally unique from any other Thai restaurant. Portion size was small and meager. Eggplant Curry - Incredibly BLAND! Just save your money and suck on chopsticks instead as there's really no difference in experience for your tastebuds. Overall, just a huge letdown and disappointment. Oh and the trash we walked over to enter was still there upon exiting also... sheesh!
(2)
Cristina F.
Facts: This is my friend Michelle's go to Thai place. It's BYOB and there's a liquor store a few doors down. Free parking is easy to find. Service is your typical Thai joint (warm, attentive). I've never had bad service at a Thai restaurant.. this is a fact. Their crab rangoon is the best I've ever had and is basically what is compelling me to write this review. When I went back with my siblings, we ended up doubling our order cause let's be real... it'll be $6 well spent. It's actually a rather blurry memory because I can't recall their exact taste/texture.. only that it was perfect and when am I going to eat them again? I ordered their Panang Curry; and while it was above average.. it can't compare to Andy's Kitchen (in Lakeview). I've also had their pad thai (decent) and their pad see ewe (delicious). Hmm I guess I need to come back and try their soups.
(4)
A G.
OMG. Try the Pad Ped Tuah. It's absolutely the most heavenly Thai dish that I have ever tasted and living in Chicago one tries many, many Thai restaurants. The service was excellent. The staff was friendly. Couldn't ask for more!
(5)
Aditi G.
Obsessed with the food at this place. FINALLY a Thai place that actually LISTENS when I say I want my food hot! My friends and I got the veggie spring rolls, egg rolls, thai fried rice, chicken and broccoli, and the green curry tofu (HOT). Everything was delicious and my dish, the green curry tofu, was amazing! I like my food so spicy that its borderline painful and this dish delivered. Not to mention they gave me so much of the curry that I had enough leftovers for two more meals thereafter. Not complaining about that.
(5)
Theresa L.
Normally I don't feel compelled to write good reviews as much as I do bad ones. But Opart has been my to-go place for Thai food for a while. It has never disappointed me. I haven't been to the restaurant for about a year due to my predilection to trying new restaurants and my being out of the country for a bit. About a year ago I would have easily gotten a table for six, now the place is pretty much busy every night. This struck up the fear in me - did they change their cooking to suit a different clientele and also jack up the prices? To my delight, they did neither. Noodle dishes are under or around $10. My favorite trans-gender waiter still works there as well - sans make up though! I went with two gal pals on a Friday night and got a seat quickly because of our small party. We ordered Thai iced coffees and tea as well as tiger cry for an appetizer ( a must have). I had mildly spicy chicken pad thai whereas my friends ordered a curry fish dish and pad kee mao. Although my friend remarked that the fish as devoid of the curry flavor, she really enjoyed it. My pad thai had just the right amount of kick to it - the kind that slowly creeps in only after a few bites. (I also heard that the tiger cry in their down town location pales in comparison to this one). Definitely a must try for thai food lovers. (The fact that it's location is directly across from the western stop on the brown line is also a plus.)
(4)
Elyse B.
Opart Thai was once my favorite restaurant. I'd been going with my family for years and back then it was hands down the best thai food in Chicago. Upon returning from a short stint in Thailand, I got my regular Thai fix here and was always in love. Something has changed and not for the better. My past few trips there have been terrible. Over the years, I have eaten almost everything on the menu and even a few things off menu. Lately, everything has been bad. From dry meat, watery sauces and curries, bland seasoning, too much salt, dried out and hard sticky rice, sickly sweet pad thai, and even changing the once godly spring roll peanut sauce, it's all been horrible. I am so sad to see this happen to my favorite restaurant.
(1)
Jennifer R.
Amazing thai food and great service!
(5)
Gwen D.
Because it's included on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list, I expected Opart Thai to be the best Thai restaurant in the city. Maybe the best I'd ever tried. Well... I, a self-proclaimed green curry fanatic, would recommend Opart Thai's Gaeng Keow Waan with no reservations. My friend Michael, who enjoys the more basic Thai dishes, would call the barbecued pork sub-par. (I'd agree.) We'd both say the Shrimp Tempura, though standard, totally hits the spot. I'd definitely to go back to Opart Thai, but I'll probably stick to the curries, which seem to be one of the restaurant's strong points. I'm still looking for a Thai restaurant where I can feel confident ordering anything, absolutely anything, off the menu!
(4)
Jenny D.
I'm only giving this place 4 stars because the food is great. Don't go there for the service. Its the best thai food in the area that Ive found so far - and Ive been to all the surrounding ones.
(4)
Ron P.
Just back to Chicagoland after 20 years and had to stop by one of our old favorites. Still great! We had some OK Thai out in Elgin a few days ago but it didn't compare to Opart. We started off with Tiger Cry and Chicken Satay for appetizers. Both were excellent. The Chicken Satay in particular was surprisingly good - nice smoky flavor we don't often get in the dish at other restaurants. The Tiger Cry? Well, we knew from past experience it was going to be great and it didn't disappoint. For the main course, my wife had Gang Pa curry. She loved it. Too spicy for me, though (and that's saying something). I had Basil Pork and it was super good. They make it like they do in Thailand (no onion or bell pepper, ground meat). Spice level was just right for me. We thought about dessert but were too full. Maybe next time...
(5)
Amelia Z.
I was just there earlier. While we were eating our meal. One of the waiter try to clean up before they closed. The smell of clorox was so strong. We told them to stop. Then they started to talk in their own language about us. When we asked for the bill, my friend asked if they already charge for grautity, the waitress told me "NO" But when I checked the bill, they did charge $13.23 of grautity. I dont think I will come here again.
(1)
Veronica D.
You have to have the Tiger cry for appetizer! The beef was cooked perfectly and the sauce has just the right amount of spiciness. The Yellow curry with potatoes and Chicken was also very delicious. I highly recommend this place. Street parking was easy and was not crowded at all on a Sunday evening at 7pm.
(5)
Dee S.
I don't know what kind of crack some people are smoking..Cause Opart is Fire! I tried this place a few times before finally finding the right item, so that might be the problem. You know how every good spot has "that dish?" Well, the thing to get here is "Tiger Cry." I've had better pad kee mow from other places, but nothing comes close to the steak that they serve up in this dish. The sort of spicy, tangy sauce compliments the dish perfectly. Get 2 orders and make sure to add a side of rice. Order some of the eggrolls too.
(5)
Kellie N.
I had to order some food for a lunch I was having for an office and they requested Opart Thai House. Since I had to feed several people who didn't have any recommendations as to their favorite dishes I went in blind. The menu has tons of fantastic options and although I know what I like, I was a little overwhelmed on where to even begin making sure I ordered things that everyone would be happy with. One of the servers, Anitra, offered to put together several of their more popular dishes plus her own recommendations to create a well rounded variety saving me the confusion. She did such a wonderful job, everyone loved it! I'm so grateful for her help, good taste and saving me a ton of time. The food was amazing. I will definitely be returning.
(5)
Brenda H.
I don't think I've eaten at any other Thai restaurant since I came here in 2009. Seeing it as the Review of the Day today reminded me how much I love this place. I still love the Tiger Cry but now I'm also used to ordering the Fried Wontons (the sauce is so delicious!) and the Chicken Fried Rice. True love, I'm serious.
(5)
Jennifer C.
As most of you can imagine I've been to a LOT of restaurants in my life, and this one takes the cake. However, it's not for anything good, it's for the worst service EVER! Our waitress was downright rude and totally unattentive. After we were seated at our table for 10 minutes my friend asked for wine glasses and the server rudely replied, "You just sat down." However, at least she did finally bring them. When she brought our plates and silverware to the table she just through them in front of one person and wAlked away instead of delivering them to everyone. When we waited a long time before ordering one of the members of our nine person party finally seemed our server out she did eventually come over, but got mad at some of the people when we didn't order fast enough for her liking. These are just a few examples, the service really was abysmal. To eat I tried a bunch of the apps the best was the crab Rangoon. For an entree I had the chicken and basil, which I ordered medium-spicy, but it was extremely bland. Overall, the prices were reasonable and the food wasn't terrible. However, based on the service I will absolutely not be back.
(2)
Roger L.
Went there as a treat with 3 of my K9 Nose Work students and had the best time. The staff was very attentive and courteous while not getting in our way. Ordered several appetizers, 4 meals and all shared. Some of the best Thai food I have ever experienced. This was my 5th visit and I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Peter D.
Definitely the best Thai food I've ever had. Authentic as can be. These people know their stuff and they are packed as can be on any given night. BYOB is also great since there's a liquor store next door and you can take the Brown Line home if you're too drunk.
(5)
Sunz C.
Oparts has been one of our family's favorite Thai restaurant for over a decade. Tonight, however, was an utter disappointment, to say the least. My husband and I brought our two young children out to dinner. Our kids were hungry, so they were already onto their second Chicken Satay skewer when I noticed that the middle portion of the chicken was still RAW. We quickly called the waiter and he confirmed that it was indeed raw and apologized. He asked if we wanted them to make us another plate of Chicken Satay, but we declined. He removed it from our bill, but I'm still shocked that they would serve a dish that's so carelessly made. I just hope we don't get food poisoning tonight. We ordered our usual Tiger Cry, Beef Pad See Ew, Tofu Pad Thai, and Curry fried rice. The beef from pad see ew was very dry and hard to chew, so we had to pick them all out. Pad Thai noodles were over cooked and soggy. The only good dish we had tonight was the Tiger Cry. By the way, my husband told me (after we finished eating), that he saw a cockroach scurrying under our table and quickly stepped on it. I'm sad to say, but we won't be coming back.
(1)
Todd W.
I can't believe I just spent 21 dollars for this. I have never in my life ordered Thai food and received such a small amount. First I said , give them the benefit! Good things can come in small packages". I screwed up with that philosophy. The previous reviews are what made me call in the first place. I feel like the reviewers must be in a daze over the "fantastic" pricing, or they must be bringing liquor to have with the meal. I just don't see it! I ordered a fried chicken spring roll and a Pad See Ewe. I feel like they cooked one chicken and divided between the last 10 Yelpers. How can a restaurant use the same ingredients as another restaurant and produce zero flavoring? I wish I can post a pic of this crap. Waste of money and the hour wait it took to get it.
(1)
Regina M.
My favorite Thai place in the city!
(5)
Chanutra T.
My Favorite Thai restaurant! For to go i love to get chicken satay, mooping with sticky rice. Pad see ew is delish! And cant get enough of Tiger Cry! The best in the town! My kids love to come here too!
(5)
Erika C.
Everything we tried was absolutely delicious along with excellent service. The restaurant is a very cute hip place. We tried the tiger cry, spicy chicken pad thai among others but those two were my favorite. Quick service, fresh tasting food. I'm definitely a fan of this place. Yum!
(4)
Tania D.
I decided to try because of the good reviews. Pad Thai with chicken-not good. Also, ordered the Thai Iced Tea & got the Iced Coffee instead. I was going to tell them they made a mistake but the cashier was snappy so I didn't even bother. Not returning here.
(1)
Kai H.
Opart, you taught me what Thai food was. You are my very first Thai restaurant. Since those early days of college eats, I have traveled to Thailand several times, and have eaten the Pad Thai of street carts in Bangkok, feasted on the spicy dishes of Chiang Mai, and the delectable seafood of Phuket and Opart you still compare. You still shine!
(5)
E H.
This is the best thai restaurant in Chicago. I hate to be 'that guy,' but I lived in Thailand and this food is not only the most authentic but also the hands down most flavorful and careful thai food out there. My pad Thai was not swimming in sauce. It tasted lightly grilled, with hints of fish sauce and garlic, with the scallions and peanuts punctuating the underlying deliciousness. My girlfriend got the khao soy and it was rich as hell. The place is byob, so bring your best booze. The prices are reasonable as hell.
(5)
Kit A.
I LOVE THAI FOOD, especially when it comes from Opart Thai! I literally haven't had a dish yet that has disappointed me! I'm a big fan of their curry. My favorite is the Gaeng Keow Waan (green curry, Thai eggplant and green beans in coconut milk with choice of meat). It's especially good over their brown rice! If you have to get anything GET THE CURRY! You will go home happy. All of their food to made to order spiciness level - meaning you can get it as mild or hot as you want! Just let them know. If it comes out too hot they are willing to remake the entree for you (just make sure you tip them well). I recently was featured on Check, Please! because I wanted to review this restaurant and both the other guests loved this place as much as I did! Although the service cannot always be 100% (you have to risk that when you're at a place as busy as this), the food definitely makes up for it. **THINGS TO TRY BEFORE YOU DIE** Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls Tom Yum Pla (Fish) soup Gaeng Keow Waan Fried Banana
(5)
Jaina A.
Highlight of this place: BYOB. The Tiger cry beef reminded me of korean bbq beef. When a tiger cries does is weep korean bbq sauce? I guess so. I ordered the thing before brocolli lover, same idea but with peanut sauce instead: meat + sauce over a bed of steamed (american not chinese) broccolli. It was ok but I really needed my fill of veggies so this did the trick. If I was staying longer in Chicago I'd definitely come back here and try one of their other 100+ dishes. The portions were perfect and surprisingly didn't feel full even after all that beer and rice.
(4)
Zaven K.
Ate here once several years ago and swore I would never return. Aside from the mediocre food, there were (GAG!) baby cockroaches crawling in and out of a small gap in the wood paneling on the wall next to my table. Run away, and dont look back. One star is too generous. If you are in the mood for Thai in Lincoln Square go across the way to Roseded, food is better and (presumably) roach free!
(1)
Beth G.
It was hard sharing my attention with Spoon Thai, which is just down the street, but I always tried to be fair and gave both places my Pad Thai business. Opart definitely does the "spicy" right. I like their chicken satay better than Spoon Thai's, I think it's more peanut buttery.
(3)
Leo L.
Love the handwritten message on the men's room wall: "those who write gangster signs are "DORKS"
(5)
Jonathan S.
Finally! We've found a Thai place in Chicago that is really good. We were starting to think that the best Thai food in Illinois was in Champaign. This time we tried the mainstays (Lard Nar, Pad Thai, Panang Curry), but the more we order it, I believe we'll get more adventurous. Only problem (and a big one) is that they have a limited delivery area. I can't believe that neither the South Loop nor the Lincoln Square location will deliver to Old Town. Very strange. But when the food is this good, you gotta do what you gotta do.
(5)
Nick B.
Cheap, delicious and BYOB. I'm a big fan of the Pad King with rice.... and do yourself a favor, order the Tiger Cry.
(5)
Becky S.
I ordered for pickup and it was incredibly easy and convenient. Yummy too! I recommend the tofu satay!
(4)
Wendi R.
Such great Thai food for delivery! These guys do a fantastic job as far as I'm concerned. My orders are always timely and accurate. And the food is really flavorful. I'm pretty picky about my pad thai and these guys seem to have the perfect blend. Also, the Tiger Cry.....delicious! And I don't usually order meat in anything. :)
(4)
Casia J.
Yum, though a slightly less enthusiastic "yum." Used to live near here and I miss going their as often as I used to. But it's not as good as it used to be, now I know it's not just me after seeing others' reviews. The outstanding thing here is the sauces. They're authentic, flavorful, and great. I wish they'd step it up to how it was in say, early 2000's.
(4)
Amanda P.
This is hands down, my favorite thai place I've ever tried. If you like crab rangoon, you HAVE to try it here. For $4.99, you get either 8 or 10 large pieces. I'm pretty sure it was 10, but there was no time to count as we inhaled them. And as far as noodle dishes are concerned, everything here is excellent. 5 stars all the way for Opart Thai!
(5)
richard i.
I eat Thai food here, there, and everywhere. I was introduced to this place at my old job we used to come here for lunch pretty often. I still think it is one of the best Thai places I have been to in Chicago thus far ( I have only lived here two years, I have probably been to 20 Thai restaurants) I have not had a bad dish there yet and I have probably eaten there over twenty times. The restaurant itself is BYOB which I think is an excellent plus. The Red Snapper is very good among some of there other dishes. I also like that they made there Pad Thai with glass noodles. Also they have great appetizers.
(5)
brad p.
Best. Thai food. Ever. This place is so good, I could eat here every day. The service is always a little spotty, but the food is so good, so cheap and there's so much of it, that it almost doesn't matter. I went here once with someone who lived in Thailand and said this is the closest to authentic Thai food you can get in the US. Never had a bad dish here.
(4)
Ashley D.
This place was great. I had my birthday party here and the waiter was so nice and accomodating. I like the atmosphere, very pretty! It's sad but I rate asian food by how good the crab rangoon is. This place had the best crab rangoon I've ever had. I ate a little from everybody and I liked everything I tried. The best part...it's BYOB and there is a liquor store right on the corner, plus no corkage fee. We went through 3 bottles of wine and a 6 pack. The totals came to $15 a person, but that included a ridiculous amount of appetizers and food. My friends were happy campers.
(5)
Christina L.
ive been coming to this place for a long time now. it is the best thai spot in lincoln square. dont be fooled by those other places. get the gaeng gari. with chicken. i crave this. its a yellow curry with sweet potatoes and i order it with a side of rice. good. i got that out of the way. for starters try the crab rangoon, its creamy and crabby and crispy. the sweet and sour sauce is good. i havent heard many people mention the tiger cry but its delicious. the dipping sauce is a mix of tartness and sweetness, its very fresh. the extra wait is worth it. i also almost always get the pad kra praow with ground beef. it has thai basil and slivers of jalapeno pepper. (if you order this, get it so its not "lard khao" which i guess means "over rice". order it instead with a side of rice. you get more that way. ) theres a liquor store next door which is awesome. if you go with a group make sure you form an alliance with someone so you can get both the gaeng gari and the pad kra praow. the decor is pretty cool they have interesting wood carvings and a huge stone carving of Ganesh (a hindu diety of success says wiki.) they dont have chopsticks on the table, which i thought was weird but apparently traditionally thai food is eaten with a fork and a spoon. i didnt know this. so, yeah go. have awesome food and a great time. and a thai iced coffee for dessert.
(5)
Karmin A.
I ordered carryout today. I got the pagang curry chicken and tom kha soup. The chicken was really hard with no taste at all, and the tom kha soup was just really bad. it was very milky, salty and had a bad after taste. The service was really good, but I won't be going back. :(
(2)
Kat L.
The epitome of what made me fall for Thai food. Reasonable prices, great portions, great food. CHeck out my pictures. TIger Cry- i think overhyped from yelp reviews. It's just marinated steak pieces to me. But good. Crab Rangoon- extra creamy, pretty delicious (i'm somehow usually disappointed whenever someone recommends crab rangoon) But these guys deliver. Of course, bigger would be better =) Fried Shumai- perfection!! the wonton wrapper wasn't too thick so it was a great light, crispy outside with heavenly filling. Love. Love. Love. I ordered beef pad thai. Gosh we were kinda full by the time our main course arrived (of course, plates come relatively quick here. Plus for that). More on the saucy side, which i like. No so peanuty. Not orange. Just delicious saucy goodness. I definitely didn't finish. It was great fresh, but here's the downfall. It didn't hold up too well to being refridgerated and reheated. Texture became almost slimy =(. not as appetizing. But still. No major disappointments here!
(4)
Shradha A.
The place was quite packed, only one person was handling all the tables, needless to say, service was slow. Food came out surprisingly fast - hmm. Their green curry and papaya salad were quite good. Their pad see ewe wasn't - 3 of us left our dishes less than half-eaten, and shared the green curry the 4th person ordered.
(3)
Brandon B.
Some of the best Thai food I've had in Chicago. Very reasonable price point, BYOB, and really decent ambiance. Can't go wrong here.
(5)
Beth B.
Love love love the chicken pad thai! and it's BYOB!
(5)
Jennifer M.
Hands down my favorite Thai restaurant in all of Chicago! Great price points for great food & large enough portions that you'll always have enough to take home and enjoy later. I told all my friends about this place and another all equally as addicted as I am!
I'd been to Opart Thai a few years ago, and it was pretty good. Same this visit: definitely A-OK. Strong points include a homey setting, quick service, OK food and good vibe. We liked the Tiger Cry appetizer -- nicely grilled beef in a savory sauce (not spicy-hot). We ordered a papaya salad (Som Tum) and pork Pad Prik King medium-spicy; they were toward the hot end of the medium spectrum to my taste, to the point that the heat masked some of the flavor complexity (per my companion, we will order mild next time). Green beans in both the salad and the PPK were quite crisp (OK for me, but not my companion). I enjoyed a Thai iced coffee for dessert. Portions were ample for us, and the food looked good. There is no real waiting area, and Opart does not take reservations for small parties, so waiting for a table is awkward, especially since the take-out customers are also taking up space. There are three rooms at Opart; each seems cozy but not crowded too badly. Service was brisk, efficient and reserved. It's interesting that there are four Thai restaurants within a block of each other hereabouts. Of these, Opart is a clear winner for ambiance and quality of food. Royal Thai, a few blocks away on Montrose, has been our long-time area favorite, but at last visit it seemed like it may have changed either chef or owner, and the food really suffered. Opart ain't perfect, but I'm sure I'll be back when I'm in the neighborhood again with a Thai yen.
(3)
Deepika B.
My favorite to-go place, would want to dine here someday. I would say 4 stars for the food (psst...do try the sampler plate and the panang curry) For curry fried rice, go to royal thai, a few blocks away on Lincoln. Overall rating 3 because of the service. The people who take the order are not the most polite people out there. Good food though.
(3)
R B.
5 stars, as good as it gets. Legit thai. to get anything better, you need to walk the streets of your favorite thai city, or go to your favorite restaurant in your favorite thai city. What more can you want from an Urban U.S. city based Thai Food restaurant? I've reviewed other Thai Restaurants when I lived in other neighborhoods, and I even went so far as to call them authentic (I've visited Thailand few times.) I was so wrong.... The other places I've reviewed don't hold a candle to Opart.. This is the legit flavor. I am so lucky to live in a delivery area for Opart. I can't say enough good things if you want the real deal. Try the Miang Sa Wan appetizer. I get it spicy. It's perfect. If you don't like spicy food, perhaps you should order it medium flavor, but if you want the real deal... If you love Thailand and eat spicy food when you are there (not the the bland tourist food) you must try this. It's a flavor explosion of chilis, ginger, salty dried pork, lime, sweetness, sourness, crispy lettuce... It's everything you want in a legit thai salad type of dish. A flavor explosion. I eat many things on this menu, but this is a must, every time. Miang Sa Wan. The real deal. There really is no other Thai food for me at this point. It's the best I've tried in Chicago, so far.
(5)
Arash R.
great thai curries. Must try
(5)
Elina S.
This place is awesome!!! Came here this past weekend and realized that I've been here before many years ago with the whole family. The place is quite large for a thai place I would think, lots of tables and we got here at like 6pm on a Saturday and it was pretty busy which is always a good thing. The food was absolutely delicious, you have to get the crab ragoons, they are super yummy and fresh, my grandpa even wanted a separate order to go for the next day because he liked them that much! And if gramps approves, I approve :) Next we got the tiger cry beef appetizer, very very tasty, the seasoning was perfect and the flavor was the perfect combo of sweet and spicy, definitely a must have. Then came our entree and of course, I always get my chicken pad thai, which was delicious, it wasn't overly big in terms of size, but I left very full. I guess I'm just used to eating half and taking the rest home, but nope, I had to finish my entire entree :) and if the pad thai is good at a thai place, then I will definitely be back. Another bonus is that it's a cozy place with BYOB so we broke out those yummy ciders. The only negative I would say was that our server seemed out of it, she didn't mess up our order and everything came out pretty fast, it's just I had to ask for more water, I had to ask for our check, stuff she should be paying attention to, but oh well, won't stop us from liking this place :)
(4)
Payal P.
This is our go to Thai place from the first time we had it delivered. Why go elsewhere when they literally have amazing food? Their flavors are multilayered and complex with the right amount of heat which so other Thai places strive to master. (And I have tried a good number of places). I recommend the pad Thai ( the way it should be made), tiger cry (really tender meat), and the green curry (so fragrant). So so glad this place exists!
(5)
Larry H.
if only yelp allowed 3.5 stars, i'd probably give it that. In what may become a slow Thai crawl down Western Ave, we arrived here for some dinner. I'm no Thai expert, but I do know Home of Gourmet in Champaign, particularly circa 1999-2003 has the best pad thai in the universe. You could order a large for about 6-7 bucks and have food for 2-3 meals. With that in mind and also conscious of my life changes, I got a tofu pad thai, hot. It was pretty good, and the hot was indeed hot. My only complaint was that the noodles were a bit stuck together/gloopy. Like can't break it apart (opart?) with a fork gloopy. I also tried some green curry dish and it was pretty good (particularly the broth), but I think they charged a buck extra for rice. MAN HOW YOU GONNA SERVE A CURRY DISH AND CHARGE EXTRA FOR RICE? Does anyone order curry and NOT eat it with rice? I don't get it. Is this a Chicago Thai restaurant thing? I haven't been to many others so maybe it's just some scam they all agreed upon. We finished our meal with some mango sticky rice and it was pretty good, if you are into mangoes, condensed milk, and sticky rice. Rice complaints aside, the final bill was reasonable and the service was good enough. We went on a weekday evening and it appeared to be a nice BYOB/low key date spot. If you are in the neighborhood and want some Thai food I guess this is a good place to go. Maybe after the survey of all area Thai restaurants is complete I will report back with a hierarchy. Until then, this was fine and I wish they had free rice with curry dishes.
(3)
Tina S.
I know I haven't tried every Thai place ever, but I still think this is the best I've had. This is another place I went to more often when I was younger and now that I'm back living in this great and windy city, I thought - YES! I can go back to Opart! And it lived up to my own expectations. I had the peanut spring rolls. They are plentiful and tasty. A nice, long square plate of 12 sushi like rolls with tofu, egg and something leafy (can't remember exactly, sorry!) inside and strips of tofu and peanut sauce on top. They also added jalapenos on the side. I never tried spring rolls with jalapenos, but the spice was welcomed and pleasant. I should have probably just eaten that for my dinner, but I couldn't stop there. I ordered a yummy tofu dish with wide egg noodles. The noodles are probably my favorite. Rice is overrated! I suck at remembering names so I apologize again I can't remember what it was called - but believe me, it was good! I only ate about half so I asked for the rest to go. Also good as leftovers. Some things just aren't meant to be taken home, but my dish was yummy the second time around. SCORE! I also had the Thai Iced Tea. Always a favorite of mine and it was just as I expected - delicious! As for the location, it's awesome. Right in the heart of Lincoln Square. If you're driving, I suggest parking in the neighborhoods on either side of Western. It's free! If you're CTAing, Brown Line Western or the Western bus. Nice! The inside is cozy. It has two rooms, lots of tables, slightly close quarters so if you're on a date, make sure your neighbors aren't listening in :)
(5)
Chicago A.
I used to enjoy Opart as a decent Thai place, BUT not anymore. STAY AWAY FROM THE SHRIMP. I ordered a Shrimp Pad Woon Sen (pretty basic stuff). Had it last night, and today, I have been dry heaving, had a terrible stomach, nauseated. AWFUL. I should have stopped when it tasted a little off. Turns out it was a LOT off.
(1)
David R.
Damnit, foiled again! I am still searching for that go-to Thai restaurant within pickup distance of my home. I've tried nearly a dozen but they're all so mediocre. Opart was one of my last few hopes but their bland performance has narrowed the field even further. I tried several dishes but none were standouts. The pad thai in particular was the lamest version of this dish that I have had in years. The spring rolls barely register, the tom yum koong soup is satisfying but standard, and the yum plamuk squid salad has no flavor other than heat. Probably the best dish was the one that my wife always orders--in Opart parlance, pad paak roum mit, a.k.a. stir-fried vegetables with tofu. So, the plainest dish was the tastiest, which says everything that you need to know about Opart.
(2)
Mattie L.
I've only been here once, and went by other's reviews. I can attest that the tiger cry is the bomb.com , miang-sa wong was AMAZING (lots of different flavors and textures, very very impressed), and the egg drop soup was unexpected and different, without being too different. Had that great egg drop taste, with ground chicken in it, which really kicked it up a notch. YUM. Will be back.
(4)
Natalie B.
I love this place. Opart Thai's peanut lovers chicken is my favorite. I always order delivery from here to my home and business. And I love eating at the location. It is BYOB...Works for me!
(5)
Christina F.
In my opinion, this is one of the best Thai restaurants in the city. I've only been here for takeout, but each time has been consistent and that's the most important part. The first time I came here, I came for the cheap crab rangoon and Khao Soy (I loved this dish back home called Chiang Mai noodles which is another name for Khao Soy). It wasn't as good as what I was used to, which is why I haven't ordered it since. I usually get a crab rangoon craving every few months and it's always a good choice here being that it's pretty consistent each time. I've tried the drunken noodles which are alright. By the time I got home, they were pretty soggy and gross, which is probably my fault because I did get take out. I bet they taste much better in the restaurant. The Pad Thai is alright, but I'm not a big Pad Thai person so I can't judge. My most recent order included the crab rangoon (like I said: consistency), an order of "tiger cry," chicken satay, and chicken basil. The tiger cry is marinated beef with a special sauce. The menu said the beef was tender, but mine was more like beef jerky, but delicious nonetheless. I loved the spice marinade and the sauce was surprisingly really spicy. I highly recommend this dish as it will be on my order every time now. The chicken satay were pretty big pieces of chicken skewered and rubbed with curry powered. Opart's have a special taste which makes them stand out again the run of the mill Thai shack. However, this is where the happiness ended. I had a huge problem with my chicken basil. I'm a huge fan of this dish at any other Thai place because it is spicy, yet sweet and generally loaded with vegetables and basil. Opart's version was basically ground up chicken in a basil sauce. I looked online later and on the menu and it's called Pad Kra Praow. When I called up to order, I just asked if they made chicken basil because I didn't see it on the menu so I guess if I read the menu and description I would have known. My go to Thai dish used to be Panang curry until I had a bad encounter with it ending up all over my apartment (I think Satay on Diversey tried poisoning me). Opart Thai always had really good Panang and it was always loaded with veggies and was even spicy enough for my taste. For quick and yummy Thai this is my go to in Chicago. The staff is always super friendly and the food is done pretty quickly. The first time I came here, I actually got lost and Opart called me asking if I was going to pick up my food. When I told them what happened, they actually offered to stay a little after closing to save it for when I got there. I thought this was an extremely generous act and something that really exemplified how great their service really is.
(4)
william t.
Very good food. I never had a lousy dish. This is a regular favorite for my wife and I. Note: I actually tossed around the idea of having them cater our wedding reception. Yes- you read right: our wedding reception!
(5)
John I.
I've eaten here probably a couple dozen times over the years, and I don't remember a bad meal. BYOB a plus, and the Leland liquor store next door has plenty of libations (and their bar is a perfect place to wait for a table), If you want it spicy, ask; a lot of "farangs" (foreigners in Thailand) eat here.
(4)
Jaci Y.
O Part Thai was nicely decorated and the service was okay. I would recommend this place if you want good Thai food and their prices are fair. I don't have a particular dish that I love there, but I guess the " tiger cry" beef with some vinegar dipping sauce is tasty and worth trying out.
(3)
EL S.
Really good quality moderately priced Thai food. Great tom yum soup, crab Rangoon , and chicken satay. The staff however is not that attentive and it does take a lot of work to flag one down. The dozens of times I have been and do recommend this place to all my colleagues. The food offsets the very eccentric and inpolite service from the gentlemen waiters. I recommend they change their attitude. Besides that, food quality is great!
(4)
Cameron H.
I was napping (at home) when my neighbor stopped by to say hello. So, after an house of chatting, we realized that neither of us had plans for dinner. It was a toss up between Indian and Thai. The Thai's had it.. My neighbors recommended Opart. This place is in a great location at Lincoln/Western. For me, very easy to get to. After arriving, I see that my neighbors were correct in that this place is always busy. In total, there were five of us and we were seated quickly on a Friday evening (8p). We ordered a few appetizers and our own main course. Everyone loved their dishes. I ordered my dish hot and I still needed the chili sauce to spice it up. Service was fast and good (even though it was very busy). Would definitely go back.!!
(4)
C C.
This review is based on customer service only. I frequently order from the Opart Thai on State St. However, in a hurry to order some of their delicious food, I accidently called the Lincoln Square location. Some guy answers the phone, I tell him I want to place an order for carryout, and he proceeds to take my order. He then asks, "would you like rice with that?" I say "well, doesn't it come with it?" He then proceeds to tell me that rice is a $1.50 and it has always been like that for the last 36 years. Now, seriously people, do you think I care to pay $1.50 more for rice? No! What I did not care for was the smart a** response and his attitude. Needless to say, I quickly realized I called the wrong Opart Thai and said I would call back. It's times like this I am glad to live in the South Loop (which is a huge compliment since there is squat on this side, other than Opart Thai)!
(2)
Bert R.
Food is great. Take out can be slow and order-taker a little rude.
(4)
Kate L.
I've ordered here for pick up or delivery over 10 times. Each time, they are consistently jerks and speak in a extremely condescending and impatient manner. I wouldn't mind if it was just a matter-of-fact tone and I do not expect syrupy chipper, but I do expect moderate courtesy. Any question or suggestion is met with amazing impatience. EVERY TIME! They are not better when you see them in person when you pick up the food. Some of the food is really good, but some others are mediocre or worse. Their Curry Shrimp Fried Rice is amazing and their Pad Thai is perfect. All other items I've tried including assorted curries and stir-fries, are 6/10.
(2)
Y V.
Our meal was fine, but everything we ordered was too sweet. Maybe it's because I haven't had Thai food in a while, or maybe it's just the dishes we ordered. But I may have to try some of their non-sweet dishes next time in order to have a well rounded review. For appetizers, we ordered the beef satay and the crab rangoon. The beef satay was delicious. It was marinated, grilled, and very tender. It was so good, it didn't really need the peanut sauce (too mild and sweet). The crab rangoon was ok, but the filling was too sweet for me. I like crab rangoon that's just crab and cream cheese - no sugar. I avoided the sweet & sour sauce, as well. For our entrees, I had the Gaeng PIa Dook, which was a red curry with catfish and basil. And instead of the usual steamed rice, I ordered sticky rice with my curry. The curry was ok, with slivers of fresh ginger and Thai basil in every bite. But again, the dish was a little too sweet for me. The catfish wasn't melt-in-your-mouth soft, either. It was tough. But I did enjoy pinching off mounds of sticky rice into my hand and dipping it into the curry. The sticky rice was chewy and had the unmistakable flavor of bamboo from the steamer. He ordered the beef Panang curry. I tried a bit of his and it tasted exactly like my curry. I just imagined this huge vat of red curry in the back, bubbling away. The beef wasn't as tender as the beef in the satay. As far as drinks go, I had the Thai iced tea (good) and he had the Thai iced coffee (eh, it was weak). When we got the check, we saw two small pieces of candy and said "Nooo more sweets". Overall, our dinner was fine, but next time we'll have to try something different on the menu.
(2)
Tony E.
This is a great Thai restaurant. It does get busy on the weekends, but thankfully they have an extra room to sit you. It's funny how there are about a dozen other Thai places on Western fairly close to this one and they are pretty empty. That should tell you something. The food is great and my girlfriend just came back from spending 2 months in Thailand and this was a good authenticity test for her. It passed with flying colors! She loved it as well. Looking forward to going back soon!
(5)
Joe H.
WOW, what a great place for Thai!! Off the Western brown line stop and only a two block walk from home, I'm very lucky. Not sure the food is the most "authentic" Thai cuisine possible, but I will tell you I have never eaten a bad thing from Opart. The Crab Rangoon are THE BEST I have ever had! I usually go for a curry and man is it spicy, mmmmmm, even the "medium". The Pad Thai is also quite good as well as the spring roll apps. Chef definitely recommends for a happy tummy!
(5)
Rachel G.
Best Thai food I've ever had. Hands down. I don't live in Chicago any more, and it's one of two restaurants I make sure to visit whenever I go back. Shrimp shumai and chicken satay are my favorite appetizers, and the Pad Thai is an absolute must have -- I've never had better. Curry fried rice and the beef salad are also favorites. Prices are also reasonable, service is good (although sometimes a bit slow), and food is just fantastic! Try it!
(5)
Jayme N.
I've had a lot of god-awful thai since moving to Chicago, but Opart was a ray of sunshine in my spice-less, muddy flavored world. The pad thai is awesome, though you may have to say "no, really, HOT." a few times to convince them you're not afraid. The curries are also delicious, as are the rice dishes. But what I really love are the soups. They're served traditional style and are great to share with a group. The BYOB is also awesome. I live only a few blocks from Opart, and its definately rough to not just go "Mmmm, Thai sounds good..." at least twice a week.
(4)
Sarah M.
Dear Opart Thai House, Thank you for being close to my apartment. Thank you for being inexpensive. Thank you for your fried bananas.... which are so disgustingly rich they make me ill from all the sweetness but I still order them every time. Thank you for your pad thai, even though it is such a typical choice, it is still soooo tasty. Thank you for the jalapeno slices on my spring rolls. I love jalapeno.
(4)
Dennis L.
I have fallen in love with the Pad Thai at Opart. Simply wonderful! Also love the crab rangoons and steamed potstickers. So good!
(5)
Casey M.
Best Thai restaurant in Lincoln Square. Whether you are dining in or ordering delivery, Opart Thai House is simply amazing. The appetizers are big and delicious and the noodle dishes are amazing too. Delivery is fast, hot and spectacular and the dining in is just as amazing. I'd suggest the Pad Se Ew. It is a perfect mix between hot, sweet and wonderful savoriness and with the perfect 'al dente' rice noodles in this flavorful dish. Opart Thai House is highly recommended for a great night in or a spectacular night out!
(5)
teresa c.
I cannot understand why this restaurant was on CHECK PLEASE, I could think of way better Thai restaurants. The waitress was rude and the food was not good. Everything I ordered was swimming in lime juice!!
(1)
Charlie B.
I have to agree with most everything said here. Great food. Fresh and tasty. Some of the best I have had in the city! And great prices. Yes, the entrees are smaller than other spots, but the prices are great, and most places aren't this tasty!
(5)
Sheila X.
This is one of the first Thai places I had ever been to, and it is still one of my favorites. It has the hands-down BEST Crab Rangoon in Chicago. In the beginning I ordered Crab Rangoon at EVERY Thai restaurant I went to. Opart has yet to be beat. Other than that, the food is good, the portions are pretty big, and the service is always fast and friendly. Never a disappointment!
(5)
Julia D.
If you get anything at Opart, get the crab Rangoons. I loves me some Rangoons, but these are the ones I will be craving from now on. Oh man soooo good. Hokay, so. We had the Pad Thai with chicken and Gaeng Panang also with chicken. The Pad Thai was a little sweeter than I'm used to and I'm not sure that I liked that about it. Don't get me wrong, it was still pretty darn good. The Gaeng was realllllly good. We got it at a medium spice level and we both felt that it was very mediumly spicy (just pretend those are real words). The place was hopping for a Sunday night! The service was ok - my friend's water glass was empty a couple times and that kinda bugs me. We thought it would be a fab place for a group dinner. All in all, a delightful Thai experience.
(4)
Suzie G.
This is the best Thai restaurant in all of Chicago. I have been here multiple times and it does not disappoint. A liquor store is near, so the BYO option is perfect. You can choose the level of spicy for any dish you order. It is only down one star, because the wait staff is not very attentive and when it gets busy, you have to flag someone down. Otherwise I would highly recommend this place to anyone who asked
(4)
Tyler A.
Re: Opart's Pad Thai I still like opart a lot, but I'll agree with the people who say their pad thai leaves something to be desired. The noodles are a little too starchy/sticky, there's not enough flavor or crunch. For the best Pad Thai I've had, get Thai Bowl's on Taylor St. if your by UIC (go flames!) or Sticky Rice if you're up north (but don't go there just for the Pad Thai!).
(4)
Chicago D.
Yummy! I went with friends to this place not knowing what to expect. Actually, one of my friends lives in this hood and recommended it. When we arrived, I wasn't expecting much more than I usually get from a thai restaurant. WHOA! i was wrong. I'm a fan of Rama Chicken, but I like it HOT. Typically, this dish doesn't seem to be served very spicy unless you add your own hot sauce. I told the server to make it "thai hot." Upon taking my first bite, I couldn't be more pleasantly surprised. This dish was on fire! And I loved it. I'm not sure I'll eat at any other thai place ever again!
(4)
Paul L.
The food came out so fast that I thought it was an order for another table accidentally given to us. Damn good too!
(4)
Pal S.
The Best Thai Food in Chicago! Their fresh spring rolls, Thai curries and fried rice are the best. Food is always consistent. Highly recommended. Both the State Street and Western Ave locations have similar quality of food.
(5)
Meredith B.
Since my meal here, i've been dreaming about their crab rangoons. I almost wish I were kidding. The food was very good (quite close to great) but the service was a little rough. I was very thirsty for a good portion of the meal, but it has been brought to my attention that I'm a fast water drinker(for what that's worth). Also, the couple sitting next to us was fighting with their sticky rice, though humorous, I'd venture to say the rice was a tad too sticky. Yes - I'll go back. Yes, I'd order the crab rangoons again, and probably the panang curry again, and I wouldn't mind having their pad thai again.
(4)
Jenna P.
I'm torn about Opart Thai House. I've lived nearby for almost a year, and the other day I decided to try it for the first time. We called for delivery and were very surprised to learn that they would not deliver to our house! We live only 1.3 miles from the restaurant, and apparently we are two houses away from the edge of their delivery zone. (As a comparison, we also live two houses out of delivery zone of Sticky Rice, which is more than 2 miles away, and they still deliver to us!!) Additionally, the server speaking to me on the phone was very rude when I tried to confirm the order. But okay, fine, we'll go pick up the food. We left the house right away, and the food was ready as soon as we arrived. Very quick! We went straight home, got plates out, and immediately noticed that the food was all cold. Considering we live so close to the restaurant (and we were driving, not walking), that seems really fast for the food to be cold. Everything had to be re-heated. That being said, I really liked what we had. The pad thai was pretty good, although not my favorite. But it was a big helping with plenty of chicken. The pad kratiam prik thai (beef in a white pepper garlic sauce) was absolutely delicious! And the fried wonton appetizer was also very good. Maybe this is a better restaurant for eating in?
(2)
Jay H.
We live close by and eat here a lot. This is our favorite Thai restaurant in the city because of the variety of the menu and the consistency of the preparation. Branch out from more typical dishes to try, for example, the Opart Beef appetizer, the Moo Ping pork skewers, or one of the many salads. And the catfish dishes are varied and excellent.
(5)
Katherine K.
I'm no pro at critiquing Thai food - but this place makes me want to try every place in town, now! I forget how reasonably priced, quick, fresh, and healthy Thai is... We ordered 2 apps (chicken satay and egg rolls) and two entrees, one soda and the bill was 26? Get your spicy food "medium" and see what you think... You will be back, and can up-grade if needed, then! I have never like the flat rice noodles anywhere (hello mush!) but they can pan fry them up here - love that! Will be back. Again, and again, and...
(4)
Temi C.
I used to think Opart was one of the better Thai places in the city. But now it's just hit or miss. Our delivery order came sans utensils, chili sauce, and the pad thai had no bean sprouts. I have to admit the pad thai, crab rangoon, and curry were still very good. I went again last night with some friends and the food was just ok. Nothing stood out and the pad kee mao was just plain bad. I absolutely hate how they charge for rice. Stick to the staples here and you should be ok, but there are just so many other Thai options that are consistently good.
(3)
Emily B.
The food at this restaurant tasted very good. It was presented in a timely fashion as well. I was very happy that the soup was served with the other appetizers and was hot! It is hard to find places where the soup comes out hot! We ordered three dished for three people to share and we still had plenty of leftovers. I would suggest the basil and jalapeno dish. Very spicy and great with chicken! I also like this place because it is byob.
(4)
Michael H.
It was okay. I don't understand the hype. There are better thai places in the city.
(2)
Simone C.
Everything here is great. Plus it's BYOB, you can't go wrong! You can't order anything and be dissatisfied. Unless you don't like thai food, in which I don't know why you deserve to live.
(5)
D R.
This is our favorite Thai restaurant in the world. We go about once a week and typically BYOB a Chardonnay which matches to most of the menu. Usually there is no wait without reservations. The service is attentive, but they kind of stay out of your business. The food is consistently great and our bill is always so low! Food and value are the two main reasons we keep coming back, but the atmosphere is pretty cool too. The place is divided into three rooms. The first room is more pedestrian with the entranceway and traffic, the second room is more romantic and the third room seems to fit larger parties and families. Though I wouldn't say this place is ideal for children, take them down the street to Thai Oscar. It's odd that those two Thai places are so close together, yet still both bring in the business. Food-wize if you're a noob try the Pad Thai or Peanut Lover's, if you're a Thai food junkie try the green curry (hot) and your head will explode. The satay appetizer is very good, we prefer beef. Tiger Cry is excellent, you could easily make a meal out of all appetizers, but after you go a couple dozen times order outside your comfort zone because they do everything so well.
(5)
Dennis J.
BEST THAI in the city!!!! I live 2 blocks away, which i don't know if it's a good thing or bad.... Pretty much anything you order on the menu is great, I especially love anything they cook with Duck in it. Great curry menu as well. I also highly recommend the Thai Iced Tea (reminds me of sweet Assyrian Chai). The joint is really clean and has nice decor like Thai carvings on the walls. def try this place out if you never have, its directly under the Western Brown line.
(5)
Heather V.
Can't add much more than what's already been written about this place, just wanted to give it a good rating. Went on New Years Eve and recieved great service, and the food was just as good.
(4)
Chan K.
Opart is spacious with dark wood walls and nice Thai art. I went on a weekend night, and the place was packed. The menu was expansive; there were several dishes that I wanted to try. I ordered the fish with red curry; the curry was nothing special and the fish was just fried catfish. The prices are very reasonable, but I just don't understand why this place is so popular.
(3)
Kristin S.
Went here the Sunday night after Thanksgiving weekend. It was hard to find a place that was open, but we'd wanted to try Opart for awhile, so this was our chance. The interior is very nice compared to 99% of most Thai restaurants. The portraits on the wall when you first come in are a bit weird, though. Service was fast and very good. We started with the potstickers which were good. The menu said pan fried, so I was thinking that they'd be steamed, but just crispy on the bottom. They were definitely deep fried. They were huge, though and you could tell they were made in house. We split the Tom Yum Kai (tom yum with chicken) next and loved it. It was a little more citrusy than I'm used to, but the spice was great. They also serve all their soups in tureens with burners underneath so your soup stays really hot. It was a nice, fun touch. We also split the green curry (delicious!) and the pad see ewe with chicken (good, but nothing compares to Butterfly down on Grand Ave.). I noticed the portions are smaller than most Thai places, but we still had leftovers to bring home. We also had the jasmine tea which was good, but they don't have strainers in their pots, so you end up with lots of tea leaves in your cup which can get annoying. I really liked all the food and will definitely be back.
(4)
Karl P.
OK so i have been told many times to try the food here so i took a friend to have dinner there its super good and the staff is as friendly and helpful the food is out of this world the best thai place in the city and the prices are great! i recommend it for a nice place for a date or just to have a great meal and you cant beat the byob
(4)
Robin H.
Really good thai! My sweets got a yummy curry noodle dish that was heavenly. Really nice service and the prices weren't bad.
(4)
Richard B.
This place is yummy. I've been here a few times with friends and I've never been disappointed. And their pad see ewe passes my pad siew test. Mmm. Opart is actually divided into 3 rooms (which are all connected) so it's a little confusing at first. I'm not sure how their whole seating system works but often I'll see empty tables but we end up having to wait anyway. Service can be slow as well and the staff isn't particularly friendly but they get the job done. I love one of their appetizers but I can't remember the name. It's beef on a skewer... tiger something? It comes with a dipping sauce and that sauce is awesome.
(4)
Abe D.
I've been going to this place for years and the Thai food has remained constant, constantly good. A menu that has over a hundred delicious selections ranging from healthy to ... and you will never get bored ordering something new or revisiting. You want it mild, a little bit spicy or hard core, they will accommodate. So maybe it is not perfect, they try. They remodeled recently, a nice improvement and added a little more room, 50%. A lot of people come in for pickup and they also have a limited delivery range. BYOB with a conveniently located bar and liquor store in the same store front building. Across the street, city parking lot and Red Line Western Stop that can accommodate bicycle parking.
(4)
Eric H.
Going to Thailand destroyed my ability to enjoy Thai food in the midwest. This includes Thai Lagoon which use to be my favorite. Until I discovered Opart. O.K. they can't replicate the hot red chili squid pan fried on the ground off the alley of a crowded Bangkok street on a 100 degree day. But their red chili squid is a hot damn good substitute! And being in the midwest slowly drains the adventurousness out of my soul so even if Opart did have those amazing fried in oil, lime, and chili powdered grass hoppers and scorpions-add black pepper that I had in Chiang Mai, I might not even try them! And while their Tom Yum Goong is not as good as the stuff I brought( and ate )along side Thai soldiers on the Thai/Myanmar jungle boarder, served in half coconut shells with a wooden spoons( you had to give them back when done) by an ancient women who ladled it from a kettle on her donkey pulled cart. But again they have a great substitute, and do try the ground spicy chili chicken. Yes, this is the closest you're gonna get to the real deal! And for you lame midwesterners, yes they have cashew chicken and pad thai for your bland, budlite, timid unimaginative taste buds. But here's a better suggestion, why go at all? Go to the Thai place next door because If I hear you order that at Opart then I'm gonna make fun of you and those that I dine with are of the same mind so they will too! p.s. Its BYOB but the coolest bar/ liquor store is right next door
(5)
Amy R.
I definitely get what people are saying about the service here - it's not always an A+, certainly, but on a pass/fail scale, most nights I'd give a passing grade. Very good food, fairly fast seating even on a busy weekend night AND, when it's just packed, I love that we can leave a phone number and walk to the never-crowded bar next door to sit and relax and have a drink while we wait, and they call about 10 minutes before we'll be seated so we can pay our tab/finish our drinks and head back to the restaurant. It's a favorite BYOB spot (bonus: no corkage fee!) among our friends.
(4)
Jane M.
YUMMY!!!! Best Thai food I've had in Chicago, plus cheapest most delicious eats in town. 2 apps, 2 meals, 1 soda, 30 bucks! Love the spring rolls, crab rangoon's, curry. Everything is fresh and delicious. Service is prompt and courteous. It is BYOB and NO cork fee. Menus were changed so I expected prices to go up, they didn't, in fact some went DOWN! The fried banana dessert is delicious but I had reached a delightful sufficiency and didn't order it this time, nor my usual Thai Coffee to go. Convenient parking across the street or take the brown line to western, it's under the tracks. Most favorite place for a fresh meal without the rip-off prices.
(4)
Daniel H.
Definitely have had better. The food was rather mediocre. My noodle dish was really rather one dimensional: the beef was rather scant and the vegetables were raw (not al dente, RAW). The flavor was also pretty bad. I can't put my finger on it - it just seems like it was lacking something. The pot stickers were deep fried and kind of doughy. And our curry dish was rather small and consisted of only chicken and potatoes - nothing else. There are so many better Thai places than this...
(2)
Neesha O.
To update my previous bad review, I was impressed that the owner contacted me and apologized for my experience. Good PR work. For that, I'm willing to add a star. However, as anyone who has worked in the restaurant business knows (and I happen to be one of those people), if your customers have a bad experience, they won't be back and they will tell other people to not visit the establishment. All restaurants/cooks have their bad nights when things are not going quite as well as expected, but there is little excuse for food that is not fresh and dishes that are not clean. Gray bean sprouts are unacceptable. I've had my share of Pad Thai and can say that it's not a difficult dish to prepare. My noodles were clumpy either because they were sitting for a long time, were overcooked or (and I really hope this wasn't the case) microwaved. As mentioned previously, the prices and service were decent. Although I think it's great customer service to offer a free or discounted meal to a disgruntled patron, I am not really interested in trying the place out again for the previously mentioned reasons. Quality control doesn't seem to be at the top of this list here and that's where my reluctance comes in.
(2)
Suzanne P.
This is a wonderful Thai restaurant! I order from it at least once a week. I usually switch up the entrees, but the crag rangoon is awesome, and I always get that. Their curry and pad thai are really wonderful, but I have yet to get a dish that I didn't like. And the entrees are huge; definitely big enough to split between two people. I've dined in once, and the service was fine. I use it more as a take out kind of place, and it's perfect after a long day at work when you really don't want to cook! Absolutely try this place out if you love Thai food!
(5)
Matt L.
Nothing here was bad, but only one dish stood out for me: the lettuce wraps appetizer. Other than that, the food was not nearly up to the level of the place I normally go, which is Pot Pan in Wicker Park. I normally go with panang curry at any Thai restaurant, but Opart's was disappointing. Fortunately we split several dishes amongst six people, so I got to try some other things too. The spring rolls were weak, the green curry was probably the second best thing we ordered, and the basil chicken was not that good. Again, everything was edible and cheap, so they get points for that, but I wouldn't consider this one of the better Thai places in the city.
(3)
Maria G.
OK- so I've only been here twice, but I can honestly say I love this place! Definitely order the Tiger Cry and the Peanut lovers Dish.
(4)
Jenn G.
I get one of their soups ALOT - if I could rate the components, I would. The chicken would get zero stars. My guess is that they cook the chicken, then throw it into the steaming hot broth where it sits all day - so when you get your soup, the chicken is so tough it's nearly inedible. It would be so nice if they cooked the chicken to order and then added it to the broth. The large pieces of lemongrass are annoying, but the broth is magical and makes up for it. Just be prepared to strain out the lemongrass and the chicken (maybe you can give it to your pet).
(4)
Shanna B.
We ordered take out from Opart tonight based on my happy memory of a previous dine-in experience. My husband and I split an order of the Masaman curry with chicken, a cucumber salad, and an order of crab rangoon. The crab rangoon are great and the sauce that comes with them is really perfect - sweet but fresh and spicy, too. The cucumber salad comes with jalapenos and is a little spicy if you happen to eat the seeds, but otherwise it's very yummy too. The Masaman curry was the perfect size for the two of us and was delicious! We ordered two servings of sticky rice to accompany it, but I wasn't really a fan - probably should have gotten plain jasmine rice instead. The portions aren't enormous, but they are totally an appropriate amount of food and the prices are good.
(4)
A R.
Sat down for dinner here once. For some reason, I felt like it wasn't as good as the Opart Thai in the South Loop. Though, it was still very good. BYOB and has a liquor store right next door. Try not to get robbed on the L on the way home like I did though.
(3)
Lakshmi R.
When you want it spicy go to Opart. Lovely interiors and BYOB! What more do u need in a thai place? Oh yes - the food.... it was soooo good and they have many options to pick and choose from. Very flexible with the addition n subtraction of veggies to any of the entree. Jus opp to the western Brown line and there is a liquor store within a block! Try the Pad Prik for me!
(4)
erin k.
I left my leftovers at home and have been thinking about them continually. I will most likely eat them out of the styrofoam, in front of the open refrigerator door, with my coat and boots still on.
(5)
Kristine B.
I've never had Thai food before - I grew up in a relatively small town, with little access to ethnic food (aside from Mexican and Chinese). So my co worker suggested we go here for lunch and I was willing and ready. I can't remember the specific dish I ordered, but it was great! It was the smaller portion (they apparently have a bigger portion) and I ended up eating maybe a quarter of it, and it was great for leftovers. The service was quick and nice, very simple. Their potstickers were fried and made out of a little thicker pastry, but they were good. I was impressed - would probably order from here some nights to switch up from ordering chinese. Would love to go back and try the Pad Thai (I've made it at home a few times, and would love to see how unauthentic my version is! :))
(4)
Brett G.
I have a friend who swears by Opart, but I don't know, for me I would rather eat at Spoon Thai. The portions are pretty small at Opart, and while the food is good, with so many Thai places in the area, I feel that Opart doesn't really do anything to stand out with respect to its creativity, quality, or tastiness. Nothing is bad, it's just not as memorable for me as Spoon Thai. Spring rolls - one of the measures I compare Thai restaurants to each other, were nothing to write home about. The plum sauce was a little pungent. Again, not bad, just not terrific. There is a nice little liquor store right next door however, a plus as Opart is BYOB.
(3)
Mandy P.
One word: Frustrating! If I were to rate this place just on the food, I would happily give it 5 stars. Yes, it was pretty darn good. The fried tofu's sauce had a nice kick to it, the som tum salad was very good, very flavorful, and spicy, and the panang curry with tofu was sooo good. The curry was creamy, rich, peanuty, sweet, and savory. Yum. The decor was pleasant. There was artwork on the walls and woodwork all around -- the woodwork was not just your average panelling, but had lots of impressive carving in it. The ambiance was nice. All good stuff, right? So what went wrong? The service. I can't really say that the staff was outright rude or anything, but they certainly didn't seem to care all that much. My lovely panang curry came with a big, nasty, black hair in it (clearly not belonging to my husband or myself) and they barely even acknowledged it. If I were running a place, I'd freaking comp something on the bill, not to mention even really saying sorry to the customer and seeing what I could do to make it up to them. Yuck. They never came back to our table to see how we were doing, and as soon as it came close to 10 PM (their closing time that night), the cleaning fluid odors were overpowering the place and the lighting that had created the ambiance was switched fully to ON. Oh, and they didn't ask if we wanted dessert, which I kind of did, and did the same thing to a table near us, where I heard them hand the waitress back the check (she was trying to get them out of there -- this was at 9:15-ish) and ask for dessert. I opted to ignore dessert and get out before becoming overwhelmed by the cleaner smell. So that's it: I was so bummed by the service that I have to give this place a 3 star review. It made me not want to go back there, which really sucks because it was uncommonly good food. Grrr.
(3)
Kristel C.
Hands down one of the best Thai restaurants I've ever eaten at. It's in our neighborhood, so we're tempted to go there a lot. Our favorites include the Shu Mai and Tiger Cry appetizers, the Poh Tak soup (great when you have a bit of a cold or on a blustery fall day), and any of the curries. I had Gaeng Masaman last night and it was divine! There's usually a short wait on weekends, but it's worth it. The service has always been friendly, quick and precise. Also, it's BYOB, so you can have dinner for two, with appetizers for under $40. Prices are more than reasonable. They also do takeout and delivery within a certain radius. We called at 9:02 one weeknight, not realizing that delivery ended at 9:00. They were kind enough to go out for one more trip!
(5)
Cherie E.
Since moving to Lincoln Square, I've turned into a Thai fanatic. Of all the Thai restaurants that line Western, I think Opart Thai House is the best. Most often I carry out because it's quick and fresh. Dining in is also enjoyable - although the dining area is relatively big, the atmosphere is intimate because there are a few separate rooms. The food is outstanding and the menu is large. The service is friendly and accommodating - and it's BYOB. What's not to love?
(5)
Deborah E.
My idea of heaven - listening to the Cure on my iPod, while buying unlimited pairs of shoes at Nordstrom and eating the Shrimp Toast from Opart......this is how I hope to spend my days in another life. I LOVE Thai food - it is nirvana for my taste buds - and I love Opart. We have been going to Opart for years and though they have gotten rather expensive ($35-$40 for delivery for 2 entrees and 2 appetizers is pricey!), I continue to need my Opart fix a few times per month. Noteworthy menu items in addition to the shrimp toast: Fresh spring rolls All the fried rices Chicken basil - magnificient! and of course the ubiquitous pad thai - nice and moist! Ahhhh...... Musaman curry - scrumptious! My partner is saying "the soup! Don't forget the SOUPS!" Okay, okay! I never order the soups though I have tasted them and they ARE great. It is just that to me, soup is a nice food concept but a waste of time - when I am hungry, give me STARCH and MEAT and VEGGIES - not broth with all of the above floating around in it. :) My partner loves all of Opart's soups from the Tom Yum Kai (Thai hot and sour w/ chicken) to the tofu soup to Tom Ka Kai (hot and sour coconut milk soup with lemon grass and lime juice). Also they make great Thai iced tea and coffee!
(5)
Scott B.
IMO, Opart narrowly edges out Royal Thai. Yes, it's a tad more expensive, but your portions are much larger, and it's simply better. Opart is the best thai----enough said.
(5)
Kristen M.
The food is reliably good and the prices are great. I've gone here dozens of times and never had bad service. I've gone enough that the server even knew I would order tofu last time instead of asking "What kind meat?" I like the decor and ambiance. The reason I'm not giving it a 5 is because when I've had items a little further back in the menu, they haven't been as reliably good as the standards. Stick with pad thai, pad see-iw, or green curry.
(4)
Jaime M.
I'll just say that I used to travel to Thailand every 6 weeks for work and did so for a period of 6 years, so I've tried authentic Thai cuisine in Thailand, and extensively. Opart is the most authentic Thai restaurant that I've been to in the U.S. THe flavors are there, and so is the quality. The spicy basil pork I've had here only compares to my first ever rendition of this dish at the Dusit Thani in Bangkok back in the 80s. Service can be a little slow sometimes, but who cares? Enjoy a glass of BYOB wine while you wait and get ready for an awesome authentic Thai meal.
(5)
Dawn L.
This is my favorite spot for cheap Thai in Chicago--the curries in particular are excellent. And lunch or dinner can be had for around $8. (The Opart Thai in the South Loop has similarly good food with a more upscale atmosphere and an alcohol license.) The decor is comfortable and unpretentious. Dark wood divides the rooms and covers the floors, and thought was obviously put into the design. The closest comparison I have in terms of feel is Hai Yen in Lincoln Park. I've always had good service here, though it's nothing remarkable. This was the first of the Thai places along Western that I tried, and it's so good that I keep coming back even though I've been meaning to explore some of the other options. Which says something.
(5)
Matt G.
Just went, AGAIN, to my favorite Thai in the city. I know there are glittzier, more expensive places to go, but this place has plenty to offer. They are very consistent with their entrees, and the portions, though small, are filling. That, and the BYOB factor is a plus! You may want to check yourself before you say "very hot" when they ask you how spicy you want a dish. I tried to be bold once with the spicy basil fish, and ended up sweating uncontrollably! Hot, or medium are perfectly hot enough! Also, if you don't get the fried banana dessert, you've blown it. It's a cold, mushy banana surrounded by a warm fried filo dough, all smothered in honey. Drool city. It cools the mouth off nicely when you finally stop sweating from the food! Go, and enjoy yelpers!
(5)
Angelique B.
Delicious but very crowded - plan ahead or go early! Great byob option with high quality food.
(4)
Katty D.
The food here is EXCELLENT. Service was superb and the overall experience was perfect. We came here for a birthday celebration for 2 of my friends (Amy D. & Cindy D.) It's BYOB and they were very accommodating and provided glasses, wine glasses, ice. We ordered the opart beef, crab rangoon, beef salad for apps, which were all delicious. For dinner, we had a range of curry, stews, pad thai, pad see ewe, and more. But when they ask if you want spicy - THEY MEAN SPICY. So even those of you out there who think you can handle, you might want to consider not going all the way and try the medium level of spiciness. My favorite dish is the catfish with thai eggplant, INCREDIBLE. Definiteliy one of my favorite places to grab thai.
(5)
Stephanie T.
This is, by far, my favorite Thai food restaurant :) My former lit. teacher introduced me to this place back when I was in high school and ever since then, I've been bringing my friends and my sisters to this place. Usually when we get here, we always order the Tom Yum soup and appetizers such as their spring rolls or chicken satay. My favorite dish, however, is the Garlic Chicken, and to tell you the truth, I'm not really a big fan of garlic. I also love their Lemon Grass Chicken and Shrimp Pad Thai. My sister Jacqueline, loves their Curry Fried Rice. The ambiance is beautiful. The interior design is interesting and the only thing that sucks is you gotta park across the street.
(5)
K. N.
I thought the takeout here was pretty good. The green curry was my favorite. However I felt like both our dishes hardly had any chicken. just my preference, but I prefer the things I've had off the Thai menu at Tac Quick.
(4)
Jason T.
This place is so good that I can no longer enjoy Pad Thai from anywhere else. I'm not joking.
(5)
Shirese L.
I have had better Thai food in numerous places. The appetizers, tigers cry and the fried shu mai, were absolutely outstanding. The main courses of Chicken pad Thai and the kuay tiew kee mao really lacked flavor. I am disappointed because this was niece's introduction to Thai food and I should have taken her to my tried and true hole-in-the-wall.
(3)
Jayne C.
I've tried other places for Thai in the City, but find this is the best. No kidding, we order from them every week...specifically every Monday. I've taken friends there and they have loved it, too. Their food is excellent and the service is fast and everyone is always polite and accommodating. They have the best curry chicken ever. Their Moo-Ping appetizer is to die for and the dipping sauce is out of this world. We've even gotten the dipping sauce in quart containers for take home. It's great on anything. Located across from the Brown Line on Western/Lincoln and a great place. The only place I go for Thai.
(5)
Ms. R.
Recently had their crab rangoons - best I've ever had!!! Still love their food, but I have to bring them to down to 4 stars for a couple reasons. Seems like their portion sizes are getting smaller. And to me, their service has always been ehh - pretty aloof most of the time, and other times abrupt and unfriendly.
(4)
Terri V.
I am a huge fan!!! Unfortunately I usually order the same thing. Peanut sauce spring rolls, tofu pad thai, fried banana. I often try others food, and also very good. I just LOVE the Pad Thai so much. Many other places, it is just eh, here it is great! The price is right, its BYOB, and the portions are good. I often have something leftover. It gets really busy, so go early, or be willing to wait for a table away from the door (be courteous if there are folks sitting by the door) The wait is often not very long.
(5)
Laura I.
I'm upping my star rating and review after I actually ate inside the restaurant here. The inside is extremely cute with several wall hangings and a skylight in the middle section. Apparently, it helps to know what to order at this place. My friend recommended the spring rolls with tofu and just as the waiter took our order back, the spring rolls arrived on our table. I was shocked by the quickness of it all but it happened again when I took another friend here and we ordered them. This crew is quick! Additionally, I do recommend the garlic beef dish (not sure of it's Thai name but I believe it's number 65, if memory serves right), as it is outstanding. Overall, much better experience now that I know what's good to try and have been inside the actual restaurant.
(4)
iddells E.
Opart Thai has, by far, the best beef salad I have ever eaten. It was perfect. The spiciness and the beef to vegetable ratio were perfect. I loved it!! I found myself taking sips of the leftover sauce. I've tasted my friend's chicken panang curry and that was delicious as well. I will definitely come back here again for their beef salad and also try something else! Service was great as well!
(5)
Scott H.
By far my favorite BYOB in the city! Generous portions of value-priced and absolutely delicious Thai keep my wife and I coming back and bringing friends along. Being in the shadow of the Western Brown Line el stop, this is a great launching point when heading to Belmont (Vic) or downtown for a show later in the evening. The Aragon and Riviera are a short bus ride away (Lawrence) as well if you're heading in that direction. Try the Peanut Lovers dish...it's what my wife craves!
(4)
Tessa G.
This place is really has the best thai food the city has to offer. I stop in sometimes just for the fried banana and coconut springroll topped with honey. Yes it is good as it sounds and worth double if not triple the $2.50 they charge. Come for the fried banana and stay for the rest of the amazing menu.
(5)
Brian P.
Very solid neighborhood Thai joint. Extensive menu without too many choices, most dishes as good as you'd hope them to be. Portions are substantial, prices are very reasonable, and BYOB keeps things that much cheaper and more flexible. There's a liquor stock right next door which is quite convenient. This is our local Thai place, we'll stick with it.
(4)
QB Chicago B.
I have to start with I've never physically dined at the restaurant however, this is our fav delivery place. The food is not only delicious, it arrives hot, things that are suppose to be crunchy arrive that way, they are super prompt and the price is right! Love, love, love good delivery! They got it!
(4)
Betty L.
Great location, near the Western Brown line stop, fabulous pricing, beautiful decor, attentive and polite service. Excellent variety of food, but the tofu with white pepper sauce is so good, I might never try anything else! I love this place and it's on my "frequent flyer" list. A great location for BYOB because there's a liquor store right next door. In an area of the city with "two Thai's to a block," this is my go-to.
(5)
Helen A.
I'm shocked at the good reviews for this place. Went on Yelp recommendations. Not great at all, standard Thai, nothing special what so ever. The interior is cute-er than most Thai places, but the food is below average.
(2)
Michael M.
Easily the best, most authentic Pad Thai I've ever had!! the tiger cry is something everyone in chicago should try at least once. Blending citrus with spicy and making it just a little sweet is pure genius. To recap my evening at Opart: excellent food, extremely friendly staff, and a price that just could not be beat!
(5)
Eric B.
Im just going say " 2 thumbs up". I will return!!!
(4)
Leeta A.
I've been going here since I was very little and the food has always been great. Best Pad Thai of them all for me. They are very consistent with the quality of food as well as service though out the years. The ambiance is also beautiful, relaxing and quiet even when it's full of people. They will always be a staple in my childhood, neighborhood, and life.
(5)
Jason H.
I'm not going to say much in my review as you can see a lot of others have great things to say about Opart but I wanted to leave one note on a particular dish. The Gaeng Musaman Curry is absolutely amazing. It's become one of the only things I'll ever order and sometimes I'll get it twice a week. You cannot go wrong with this dish. I highly recommend you try it if you haven't already.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Theo P.
One of the beat Thai restaurants in the city, and THE best Masuman curry. BYOB, cheap, and nice interior. Place gets crazy busy on the weekends, but there's a reason for that.
(5)Heather H.
This is my absolute favorite Thai restaurant ever... period. In a two-block radius, I can list at least 6 other Thai places which I've visited, but Opart kills all the competition! For the longest time I stuck with the Peanut Sauce Lover, I would just crave it each time I went. I finally learned to go beyond, and explore the menu, and have not been disappointed. Highly recommended dishes include Khao Soy, Pad Kratiam Prik Thai, and their curries are all great. Watch out for the spice level. Here, hot means hot!!!
(5)Jillian S.
This is an excellent Thai restaurant. I met a friend here for dinner on a Saturday night. They sat us in the front portion of the restaurant, which was not as "nice" as the back part, which had exposed brick and seemed like a more intimate dining area. That aside, the prices here are very reasonable and the food tastes really flavorful and fresh. Rice doesn't come with the dishes, however, and in my opinion they don't give you enough with the side order. At least not enough to bring home with your leftovers of you dish. We had fair service, though I think it could have been a bit quicker in taking our order and our payment. I would definitely make a return visit here, especially I lived in the neighborhood or was around for something else. Not sure it is worth a "special trip" to Lincoln Square, however, just to eat here.
(3)L. Joey M.
I was compelled to write a review because of a not-great experience I had at a different restaurant. Having one review under my belt, I thought that I would write a review of my favorite restaurant as I did not want to appear to be a crankasaurus rex. It did not take a second's pause for me to write a review on Opart Thai. I often go to this BYOB with my girlfriend and a bottle of wine. I like to over-order here so I can have leftovers and still not feel the pressure when the bill arrives. My perfect meal at Opart: Start with the Tiger Cry beef appetizer, which is chunks of charbroiled, marinated steak with a little sauce on the side. For the soup, we always order the tom ka kai, a milky, coconut soup with chicken, thai red chili and lemongrass. This one holds all these distinct flavors in one bite that, when combined, creates a rich warmth. My favorite noodle dish here is the pad see eiw, broad rice noodles with chinese broccoli. And if I am feeling it, I order the panang curry with tofu. I love love love this place. The wait staff seems sweet, and I always feel like I got away with something when the bill arrives.
(5)Darlene R.
Before they jacked up the prices to cover the cost of the expansion, i would've given this place a 4 star. however, the last time i went there i was a little disappointed in the portion size, especially after the prices went up! however, they do have my favorite basil chicken. they use ground chicken and can really make it spicy! someone once said they have the best crab rangoon.... i don't think that is true. only stand out item i've had here is the basil chicken.
(3)Christina R.
The food is DELICIOUS! The Prices are OUTSTANDING. The service STINKS. We decided to try this place on the recommendation of Bry H., above, who loves it, and I have to say from the dishes we had, it was truly a tasty experience. For three entrees, three thai iced teas, and an appetizer, our bill came out to $32 -- so I can't really understand how this place comes up as $$-- in my mind, this is a great deal for the quality. And for that, I will put up with the crappy service, and just chase down the waiter when I need something. I Pad Woon Sen was a little different than I have had it before, but nonetheless, it was good. My dinner companions both went right for the Pad Thai with Chicken, and they both approved; their opinion is you can tell how a place rates by how it pulls off its Pad Thai. The Crab Rangoon was mighty tasty -- not the best I have ever had, but defiinitely not shabby, and it comes with eight pieces, perfect to split between parties of 2 or 4. The decor is classy, you can bring your own delicious and well priced alcohol, and it is a taste sensation. Now if only I could move it into where Penny's is now on Damen, life would be good -- and I wouldn't have to make every Thai craving into a pilgrimage to Lincoln Square.
(4)Javier B.
Must bump it up to 5-stars! This has become my go-to Thai place in the neighborhood. I mostly do take out and the food is always excellent. The Tiger Cry and the Miang Sa Wan (dried pork) appetizers are incredible. The Tom Yum and Tom Kha sups are awesome. All of the curries we've tried have been delicious. I highly recommend the Panang, Green and Red curries. The Khao Soy noodles are one of my favorites. I like spicy food, but "medium" is plenty spicy at this place (can't even imagine what "very spicy" would be like). Prices are very reasonable and they have never screwed up our order. Highly recommended!
(5)Tony C.
Thai for dinner tonight. Opart is a favorite spot of ours. Love the Tiger Cry. Enjoy the pad Thai and sweet & sour chicken. Can't go wrong with BYOB. Be careful, extra spicy means extra spicy. So if you are not very tolerant to spicy, back off.
(5)Kristina L.
i gag thinking about their pad thai dish. It was like eating a spoonful of mayo that just happened to have noodles & chicken in it. Thank goodness there's 100 other thai joints to get my fix in the lincoln square hood
(2)Thongsy S.
I have been here numerous times and it has not disappointed me yet. Prices are good, food is deilcious, and they have BYOB! On weekends, there might be a wait.
(4)Tim G.
I've been eating at Opart for seven years now and I think it is the best Thai food in the city. Their Pad Ki Mao is the standard I judge all others by. The noodles are thick and have perfect texture while the beef manages to be both thin and juicy. I have been impressed with everything I have eaten from Opart, and I've eaten a lot of their dishes. Every employee I've ever dealt with here has been friendly and helpful. Plus they are BYOB, which is great. Their food holds up well as take-out too.
(5)K C.
i live in the neighborhood and the good thing about this lincoln square neighborhood is, we have the best thai restaurants. YAY!!! i love it! opart is one of my favorite, i love their catfish with curry sauce and their pad thai, it's very very good.
(4)Binay K.
Recently had a great experience at Opart Thai (on Western) with a group of 20+ for lunch. We were seated comfortably in the back area, and the walls gave us a semi-private setting. Very impressed with how well the small wait staff handled such a large group with excellent service. Onto the cuisine: Shu Mai (shrimp dumplings) - Appetizer Plate included a sampling of spring rolls, crab rangoon, and my new favorite Shu Mai which I particulary enjoyed. All the appetizers were fried without tasting greasy. Green Curry Chicken (Gaeng Keow Waan) - Standard fare, but medium spicy was perfectly hot without being too hot. Dessert - Save room for dessert, totally worth it! Both the Fried Banana and Thai Custard were excellent. Fried Banana is a spring roll filled with banana creamed with coconut which makes for a nice contrast to the crunchy spring roll shell. Thai Custard is almost a dense cake, and served piping hot (eater beware!). Overall, adding the pleasant ambience of the restaurant to the great food and service comes up with a full four-star rating.
(4)Anne B.
This was a great BYOB Thai restaurant. The menu featured classic Thai dishes and some new dishes I've never tried. Our service was good and our food was served to us fairly quickly. I recommend the Tiger Cry and Crab Rangoon appetizer. The curry was good as was the Pad Paak Roum Mit, and Pad See-Iew. I will definitely become a regular customer.
(4)Keith W.
This is EASILY the best Thai food in Lincoln Square and quite possibly the entire city. It also has genuine Thai 'lady boy' servers. This place is the real deal.
(5)Bry H.
YUMMM.... OK I absolutely love this Thai Place. I dream about the food from here. Here is how much I love it... I have trouble ever finishing a meal, lets just say I'm not part of the clean plate club, and most likely never will be. But at Opart, I pretty much lick the plate clean to get all the goodness I can get. No Joke. Seriously, the people I'm eating with get a little embarrassed. The only downside to eating here, is that I eat everything so I never have any leftovers. :(
(5)Laura L.
I love, love, love their food. Started with the crab ragoon....best I've ever had. The tiger cry is always juicy and tender and the accompanying sauce is so tasty and delicious. I always have the pad thai, I need to expand, I know but it's really good. Always the place to go for consistently awesome thai food at a great price!!!
(5)Hal C.
A very cool place in a very cool area. I had never actually heard of this place before I went last night, but oh man was it some good food. I forget the exact name of the dish I got(thank you,byob), but all I know is that chicken with some spicy curry and rice and some greenery is good good stuff from here. When the waiter asked me what level of spicy I wanted, I said 'very', and it met my qualifications. It wasn't the painful spicy, or the hurt your stomach spicy(last night anyways), but it was spicy enough to really add something good to the food and make it taste extra good. I'd come back here again in a heart beat. In the top tier of Thai food places that I have been to in Chicago for sure.
(5)Sean W.
Worst service ever. I had to play the waiter to give back my dish and ended up leaving in pure disgust with no food. It was cold not fresh and the server was completely mean when I told here I wanted it remade. Shes like I can microwave it for you and after she brought it back and I was done wanting to puke I went to the server with the dish and demanded it off my tab and told her all I am paying is the drink. Do not go here unless you like cold food and bad service.
(1)Brandi Z.
I've just recently discovered my favorite Thai dish of all time: Basil Chicken Fried Rice. Since then, it's the only thing I order! It's a simple and common dish apparently and so not a lot of Thai restaurants have it on their menu, but they will prepare it should you ask them to. Such is the case with Opart. I called in for a carry out and they made it customized. And my goodness was it good! Plus I love the size of the carry out dish! You get your money's worth! Placing and picking up the order was a breeze and the whole transaction went over very nicely!
(4)Nicole V.
I have been to Opart Thai multiple times...predominantly dates or for dinner with a friend. Of all the thai places in this area (and there are A LOT) I feel this is one is the best. First and foremost the food is freshly prepared and always tastes delicious. Careful if you order spicy...because they do not hold back! Outside of the food, the service is great and the decor is extremely welcoming. The dark wood interior sets a comfortable mood and the division of the dining area gives a very intimate feel, even though the space is quite large. Just for kicks, a couple of my favorites are the peanut spring roll appetizer and the Woon Sen Pad Thai. Oh, almost forgot the best part....it is BYOB!
(5)Adam R.
I wish you hadn't changed the cucumber salad.
(4)Jennie S.
AHH! How could I forget to write about one of my FAVORITE Thai Restaurants! What I particularly like about this area is that there are about 4 - 5 other Thai places all within 100 feet of each other. This one is Amazing! I absolutely love the Pad Thai, Chicken Satay, and the beef Pad See-Iew. Once I got really adventurous and ordered their Fried Catfish, I wouldn't necessarily order that again. Try this place out! Great food! I love that they have carry-out and delivery.
(5)Laura N.
MMmmmm spicy. Delivery! Takeout! Inexpensive! What's not to like about this place? They have more than one location. If you are trying to find your go-to place for delivery or takeout Thai food, try this place.
(4)Aesha W.
I had my first experience with Thai food last night. It wasn't too bad, but I don't think it's my favorite cuisine. We ordered Pad Thai with Chicken, Ginger Chicken, Rice, Spring Rolls, Chicken Satay and some fried banana thing to have between all of us. The satay and banana were great, but I didn't reall like anything else. I don't know if it's just because I ordered the wrong thing, or because I don't like Thai. I agree with another reviewer that it was kind of odd to charge for rice, but it was only a buck, so no big deal. I probably will try Thai again, but I may visit another restaurant to do a taste comparison.
(3)kelly z.
With huge portions and perfectly seasoned entrees, Opart Thai is my favorite Thai restaurant, so far, in Chicago. The catfish curry, red curry eggplant, Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls and the Basil dish are all excellent. It's about $26 for two to share one appetizer and two entrees. If you the type to judge a restaurant by it's service, don't plan on coming here during the day shift. The service is terrible, rushed and extremely in-genuine. I have never had a problem with the service during busy dinners.
(4)Michelle Z.
Loved it! I came here with a group of 15 for my birthday dinner. Affordable and BYOB. Love it! The food was great and I loved that they will actually make it as spicy as I crave. Service was pleasant and unobtrusive. Nothing fancy but its not a dive either. My favorite Thai in the city.
(5)Rachel L.
This is a pretty good Thai place, though not necessarily the best around. It's nice that they have a big eating area that's compartmentalized, so you never feel like you're in a bit restaurant. The waiter we had was kind of inattentive, but that could just be a fluke.
(4)Heather Y.
Barf. We just got Opart delivered and each of the three dishes we ordered were disappointing. I got the peanut lover's, which was oily and required me to order noodles/rice separately. Boyfriend got the bami pad paak, which was the equivalent of ramen noodles in soy sauce. BFF got the bami pad lard nar, which was a tub full of gelatinous gravy with a few pieces of tofu swimming in it -- accompanied by...nothing. No noodles, no rice. Nothing. Just gravy. I've eaten in here before and I remembered it being much better than this.
(1)Dominic R.
I ate here for the very first time........I had no idea what to expect. I have always been afraid as I am a very picky eater...as I have never had Thai food! All i know is that i wanted my food cooked and not raw, however that's sushi or whatever......as you can tell I don't know my foods! Ha! Anyway, i got some basic stuff, rice with chicken and some spicey sauce or something........not too bad!! Very good actually! Hey, at least I got my feet wet and tried it, now I can go back and try different things! The service was very good, very friendly too! Prices are good!
(4)Alicia S.
BYOB and a delicious selection of inexpensive Thai food? LOVE IT.
(4)kris k.
Bought our bottles of wine and went walking in search of a BYOB. Ended up at Opart. Had to call to see if it was actually BYOB since there was no indications from the outside, but figured it was worth a shot for a Thai place. Ordered fried wonton stuffed with fresh ground chicken and crab rangoon. Ground chicken wonton was what it was, but crab rangoon was about as good as I've had anywhere else. For entrees we ordered pad thai, peanut sauce lover and panang curry. We like it hot & spicy and they got it just right. The server presented us with a bottle opener right away and the appetizers came out quickly. I'm glad we waited a few minutes before ordering the entrees or they would have come out while we were still enjoying the apps. Summary: solid Thai food. We'll definitely go back again.
(5)V V.
I've been coming here for 8 yrs and Opart is as good as it gets in the Chicago land area. This restaurant reminds me how Thai food should taste like and how awful so many other places are. You can't go wrong ordering any of their salads, soups, curries, or noodles. The one and only dish I've ever ordered that didn't make me say "Wow" was the fried whole snapper. It was over cooked and pretty puny. Also, I'd keep away from their Shrimp dumpling appetizer. They're tiny and probably pre-frozen from a bag. I doubt they make them there. Other than that, their food is well above and beyond all other Thai places in Chicago. (except for Sticky Rice, they rock too.) They do an interesting "fusion" take on the fried banana dessert here. Not exactly the most authentic of dishes, but it's definitely notable and worth saving room for. They wrap a banana in cream cheese and coconut, then roll it in an egg roll wrapper, then deep fry that baby. It's served covered in honey and sesame seeds. It is hefty and definitely share-able, unless you want to be a glutton and get a stomach ache. Your call.
(4)Millie R.
I have been a big fan of this restaurants for about 15 years. They have the best appetizers. The tiger cry is by far my all time favorite. I have not had anything like it at any other thai reataurant. Also the crab ragoons and fresh spring rolls are great! The basil chicken and shrimp fried rice is "delicous" .Go for the food and not the service. In the years I have been going there the service has not improved. So be patient. It's worth the wait! I give it fours stars only because of the service.
(4)Jenni Q.
TIGER CRIES. Yummy - I dont know how the name relates to the dish (juicy little pieces of steak served as an appetizer) but it was unbelievably delicious. I also got the Spring Rolls which were one of the best that Ive had at any Thai restaurant - the peanut sauce was thick and flavorful and went very well with the rolls. However, my main entree was kind of a let down after the amazing appetizers. I got a seafood with egg noodle dish which was pretty mediocre - I've had better elsewhere. But my other dinner guests all enjoyed their meals, especially the red panang curry with duck meat. The thai iced tea was also pretty good. Fairly cheap prices at a pretty decent location. Service could be a little more attentive but then again we did go on a busy Saturday night.
(4)Michelangelo S.
I dined here for the first and only time a few weeks ago. Two appetizers, the Crab Rangoon and a tasty something-or-other with peanut sauce, had us all salivating for more. However, we had 4 diners and 2 of them were disappointed with their meals. Apparently our friends, who live in Lincoln Square, had enjoyed many a meal here, but something was off the night we visited. This seems consistent with the reviews of many recurring patrons- when it's good, it's really good, but when it's not, it's just okay. There are multiple Thai establishments in the area, so I'm not sure if I'd return to Opart and take a gamble, or try somewhere new and take a gamble. It's a bit of a Catch-22.
(3)Nikki W.
I work around the corner from this restaurant and they were even nice enough to let us keep a menu at our business to order carry out. I recently had lunch with one of my classmate/girlfriends and we both enjoyed the service. I will certainly make an effort to eat-in more often. Since it is in the south loop it is great for lunchtime since it is not super crowded in that area.
(4)Stephanie M.
i came here with a sinus infection and a lost voice and ordered the tom yum with fish. too much information? possibly. the moat of soup that protects the fire beneath nearly broke all of congestion in my head. i cannot call it a miracle soup because my voice did not return to me. my friend got papaya salad and crab ragoons. the salad was meh. but the ragoons were special, overstuffed with cream cheese and crab. unlike any i've ever seen. nearly the size of a chicken thigh. i want to say something like 8-10 of them also. too much for us to handle. beyonce and her children were like "can you handle this?" and didn't even let me answer before they interjected, "i don't think you can handle this."
(5)chris e.
Absolutely terrific Thai! The 2 Thai restaurants i loved went the way of many neighborhood restaurants and either closed (Once upon a Thai on Southport) or changed owners (The Spice on Milwaukee) and to be honest, i wasnt expecting to find a Thai restaurant i liked just as much .... believe me, many were sampled -some good, some not so.. Opart Thai was a pleasant surprise. Service is good, prices are moderate, portions are large and the food actually has flavor- no bland curries, no limp noodles. Desserts are to die for and the menu has the most variety Ive seen in ANY Thai establishment ive visited. For a pleasant treat, try the Jasmine tea .. fragrant and very fresh =)
(5)Megan W.
I don't understand why this restaurant has so many great reviews. The quality of their meat and seafood is terrible. I had the panang curry with chicken, tom yum soup with shrimp and spring rolls. The spring rolls tasted doughy and bland. I went with a large group and tried some of the beef dishes, which tasted off as well. I think Thai Valley on Kedzie or Spoon Thai are much better options for Thai in Lincoln Square.
(1)David R.
The food here is amazing!! Well i've only had two things on the menu, the a19 and the e61 but i've already ordered take-out from this place three times and it was delicious every time and very consistent.. They give very generous portions and the food has really good flavor.. I highly recommend the a19 as an appetizer and the e61.. soooooo good
(5)Tita P.
This place was a solid 3 1/2 stars. I don't remember much about the decor or the service. I just thought that the food was GREAT. I love Thai and I really enjoyed this place. I promise to pay more attention to more than the food next time...No I really do promise :-)
(3)Heather L.
Girlfriends wanted to come back to this oh so convenient for us all location and I didn't fight it. This has the hipster vibe which so often disappoints me. Yes, the decor is very cool and the people watching is fun but the service stinks and is not at all friendly and the food is just, well, it's thai food. Last time I tried something a little different and hated it. This time I stuck with pad thai which I knew I would like - because I always like pad thai. And sure enough it was a good plate of pad thai. No better than any other thai place, but good nonetheless. I wish they had given me a lime wedge as I like a little acid. So I will upgrade it to an a-ok but nothing more. I guess you can get sucked into the atmosphere of the place, bring in your own beer and wine and feel more like you are having "a night out" vs just a take-out Thai type place. Just don't come here thinking you are getting the best Thai food in the city of Chicago which I did the first time, believing the hype. It's good, it's not great.
(3)Eddie L.
Tasty Thai cuisine in a location near the bars of Lincoln Square. It's a nice place to dine in and if you're lazy like me, they'll deliver to your house on time. The staff is very helpful and you get full control over the level of spice. With three rooms of dining, any size party is nicely accommodated and the bathrooms are clean. The appetizers are tasty; I recommend as the Satays and the Moo Ping. As for main courses, I usually go with the Eggplant in Oyster sauce. Their Pad Thais and Panang Curries are full of flavor and the soups are served in unique Thai bowls that may or may not double as trophies. It all leads to a nice dinner where you'll feel full but not busted. Good times? Yes!
(4)stephen r.
This is a great place to go for seafood dishes! Indeed! In fact - you don't even have to order a dish with seafood. Just order anything and they'll douse it with fish or oyster sauce. Yum. Noodles - fish. Rice!...fish. Beef? -fish! Why must everything reek of 4 day old mackerel?
(2)Mallerie And Sajjad V.
Second time going and we had to try the Tiger Cry. It was as good as everyone says. You can taste it being right off the grill. Crab Rangoon is of course a favorite of mine, and really done well here. The soups are amazing with the lemon grass and great presentation in the bowl they serve in. We order appetizers and soup and that is filling enough for me before we even get to our main meal. I haven't found a main dish that I liked yet, I tried a pineapple curry dish that I did not care for and a Pan King that was a bit too spicy for me even though it was mild. All in all a great place that we will be going back too, especially for the soup!
(4)Sacha F.
I thought the food here was outstanding and really well priced for the quality and portion size. We ordered the crab Rangoon: fantastic. The frying wasn't overdone and the crab meat and cream cheese mixture was fresh and creamy. We also ordered the tiger fly based on previous reviews and HOT DAMN THAT SHIT WAS GOOD. Delicious beef cooked to perfection with house made sauce. Shared a huge pot of fresh lavender tea for under $2 and I got yellow curry as my main dish--super flavorful with a mild kick. I will be going back. One of my new favorites in Chicago.
(5)Amanda D.
Pretty decent Thai. Fresh seafood. The rangoons are to die for and they stay true to the spicy flavor of Thai food. It didn't knock my socks off but it's a good place of you're itching for some Thai food. Decent portion size as well.
(4)Jamie B.
Fantastic Thai food! Very fresh tasting with large portions. We had take out, red curry and pad thai with shrimp- both extra spicy. Both dishes were wonderful but the noodle dish definitely was the star. The crab rangoons are 8 per order and the shrimp shumai had 8 pieces per order. Yummy!! Glad we found this place, super tasty!
(5)Lisa F.
Good was really good, but the service could have been a little better. Keep in mind, if you ask for extra spicy, they'll accommodate the request and your food will be spicy. Yum!
(4)Lucy P.
Three stars isn't bad. Its exactly what it is: "Ok." We lived in the area for almost 3 years and never managed to try this place. Our old neighbor told us it was awesome. The first time she came she actually ordered the same dish she had for dinner as a to-go because it was so good she wanted more for tomorrow. When this former neighbor stopped by to visit us we decided to stop in and try this place so she could re-live her heaven. Here is what we ordered: Chicken Satay: I'm a vegetarian so I didn't try this. But the sweet cucumber salad it comes with and the peanut sauce it also comes with were fabulous. Spicy Fried Tofu: All three of us some how missed that it comes with chicken on top (we still swear it wasn't on the menu, but who knows....) When it came out with chicken, we asked if we could have it re-done. In hind-sight it didn't matter. It tasted strange. Sort of like dirty feet. Not one of us liked it. (Ant the neighbor I mentioned is not a picky eater!) This pretty much went un-touched. Pad Thai: This was my order. It was Ok. Nothing out of this world. I secretly kept wanting more "sauce" or flavor or something. If there was soy sauce on the table I probably would have dumped some on. Despite thinking it was only OK, I certainly hoovered down the leftovers for breakfast the next day. Vegetable Fried Rice: This was very bland. I certainly wanted more flavor on this. It was OK. Nothing bad, just not real exciting. Pad Prik King: this was my husbands selection. When I tasted it I wasn't crazy about it, but I also had nothing against it. But he said he thought it was really good and he cleaned his plate. Gaeng Panang: this was the neighbors dish that she ordered two of last time she ate here. I gave her sauce a taste and it was very good. So overall, it was just OK. They only charged us for the one fried tofu that we actually ate. Our waitress was very friendly and answered all of our questions graciously. We could tell they were severely understaffed so things were slow, but everyone was nice. I'm not holding this against them at all.
(3)Ramya N.
I've eaten here a few times now and I can now conclude that this is THE BEST Thai restaurant in town. I don't even try looking for other Thai places anymore. Everything I've had here has always been so amazing. My current favorites are the tom kha Kai soup, ground chicken with basil and the red curry. I love spicy food and the medium spice level is great for me. If you are looking for an authentic Thai experience, this is the place to go!
(5)J. T.
New to neighborhood & ordered delivery based on great Yelp reviews and recommendation from a neighbor. Major disappointment. After placing our order by phone and giving credit card the staff person said quickly: "ok, it will be 1 hour" and immediately hung up. We live a few blocks away- 1 hour??? Then, after our food finally arrived, we opened it to discover that no rice was included with the spicy curry dinner. How cheap is that??? To top it off, the food was nothing special. Sadly, this will not be our go-to spot for Thai in the neighborhood.
(2)Heather D.
I didn't know it could get any better - BUT IT CAN! This time around we ordered the Tom Yum Pla and Panang Curry with white rice - both medium spice - and man were they delish! I seriously haven't had a better dish at a Thai place yet! If you're into spicy food, then I strongly suggest ordering, at minimum, the hot level of spice. The medium is pretty mild. Final Verdict: YUM!
(5)Yvonne B.
We really loved our time at Opart Thai. They have the expertise, the experience, and the means to deliver a well-rounded meal. The food is in the top five for Thai in the Chicagoland area; however, because of the ambiance, service, and price, I'd say that they're the best! They have the space and decor to accommodate many diners at once. It feels ethnic - perhaps a hodgepodge of authentic artwork and statues mixed with kitsch and a little well-loved functionality. For example, the tables and chairs are functional but are neither out-dated nor trendy. The restaurant is divided into at least three intimate rooms, each seating about 15 guests. Opart Thai has a staff that are good at their jobs. They know the menu, Thai food, and they can deliver a pleasant meal. What I mean is that you can expect to be greeted promptly upon entering the restaurant, have questions thoroughly answered, get solid recommendations, and have a well-timed delivery of food that is quickly cleared when finished. This isn't fine dining, but it's solid. The food is delicious. We got several dishes where two were clear stand-outs: the Tiger Cry and a recommendation by the server: Basil Noodles with Shrimp. We're likely to go that route again since we had such luck with the server suggesting an authentic Thai dish of which the chef was particularly talented in creating. The final glory of Opart Thai is that it is BYOB. We went with our wine guy Allen who is particularly adept at bringing wonderful libations. Since Opart Thai is well equipped to handle guests, we felt comfortable lingering over our meal, drinks, and conversation. Anyway - you know what they say about BYOB? It makes the bill much more affordable!
(5)Adam U.
One of the best Thai places in the city. BYOB to boot! Anytime I am in the area I'll stop in and order the Tiger Cry. This is seriously one of the best appetizers I've ever had.
(5)Lila S.
Awesome tiger cry, awesome spicy chicken larb, awesome coconut curry soup, awesome cucumber salad. Service is so good and fast. Portion sizes are perfect. Waiters and waitresses are super friendly and knowledgeable. Prices are reasonable and the food is just so darn good and well flavored that I can never get enough of this place. Hands down the best Thai food in Chicago- not to mention the BEST Thai food I have ever had! LOVE this place! Come here- you won't be disappointed!
(5)Yu-chi H.
It's a good place to have Thai food. I am not a Thai expert, but I have had a lot of Thai food in my life. Some Thai food restaurants cook their foods to oily and salty. Here, the food is well cooked. Also the one thing that will make me come visiting again is the price.
(4)Jen D.
This review is for the pad thai... I picked up carry-out after reading the amazing yelp reviews and was impressed by the packed restaurant - not so many thai places can jam them in like this. So you can imagine my surprise when I got home and found it to be relatively flavorless. It wasn't terrible, just ok. I know pad thai is about as unexciting as a thai dish as you can get, but I can't help it - I love it. The crab rangoon and cucumber salad were great. I'll try again since it's convenient to my commute home and try a different dish. If you live in the neighborhood, I'd suggest giving it a whirl - just don't go for pad thai. Not sure this place would be worth a long drive from another neighborhood.
(3)Cheryl S.
This was probably the best food we had while visiting Chicago last week. We ordered lots of different foods, starting with appetizers. The potstickers were amazing, and the vegetarian spring rolls were good too. The men had the shrimp toast too and enjoyed that. We ordered several different entrees and shared a bit. My daughter tried a noodle dish with chicken and lots of veggies, which was pretty tasty. I ordered the pad prik king, with chicken. I ordered it medium and it was just spicy enough, and was excellent. It will definitely be on our list of must eats next time we visit!
(5)Moe T.
The best Thai food I've had in the city hands down. I recommend either the Tom Yum Kai or the Tom Ka Kai soups to start with, followed by the tiger cry and the peanut sauce lovers beef. You can throw a curry in there if you're really hungry. You can get their soups as spicy as you want.. and that means SPICY I am a peanut sauce lover so that dish is perfect for me And the Tiger cry is essentially some of the tastiest cubes of marinated meat with sweet dipping sauce you can have. Fantastic food
(5)Tony M.
Came here with a group of four...I have become a thai food snob ever since I came back from Thailand. So I can be harsh with many places but this place was on point. We shared the tum yum kai, I usually judge a Thai place by their tum yum and they did an excellent job. It is BYOB so bring your wine for the dine. I ordered the masuman curry chicken and it was perfect. Will come again. Service was on par and no wait.
(5)Crystal H.
Me and my husband were here last night.. We were fasting the whole day so we were excited to eat our first meal of the day at Opart.. Bad idea.. While we were waiting for our orders we had an uninvited guest it looks like a baby cockroach crawling in the wall.. We were so disgusted.. I wanted to tell the waiter but he seems really busy either.. So my husband had to kill it.. Disgusting!! If they have cockroach in the dining area.. I can't imagine what they have in the kitchen.. We totally lost our appetite and hardly ate our food.. We just paid and left.. Never ever coming back in this place
(1)Steve M.
I used to be a regular here but I've had two bad experiences in a row, so I won't be back. About a month ago I called in an order, it included a dish which came with your choice of meat. I requested extra broccoli as a substitute for meat. I was told I would be charged extra for the broccoli. This seemed unfair as broccoli is generally a cheaper product than the meat options on offer. Last night I called to place an order, I was immediately put on hold, which is fine. I was on hold for seven minutes with no follow up. I hung up and called again, before I had the opportunity to tell them I had been waiting seven minutes to place an order, I was put on hold again. We decided to give Rosded (across the road from Opart) a try, It felt like they were happy to have our business and the food was good, so they'll definitely get another chance. The food at Opart has always been pretty good, but I don't think they place any value on your custom, so that leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
(2)Kimverli H.
My buddy took me here for the first time and I fell in love with their Tiger Cry. My buddy says they have the best tiger cry, and I can second that. I even dreamt about Opart's tiger cry. The place seemed to get busy, but when we went there for dinner, we had a great time. Great environment, great food, and the customer service was good. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone, and even take my other friends here.
(5)Tiffany G.
Fantastic Thai place that, so far, hasn't disappointed one bit. Stand-outs include the Tiger Cry, Tom Yum Koong, Penang, Pad Prik King and Pad Sei Ieu. Also some of the best wonton soup I have had in ages -- you can tell the dumplings are truly homemade and, even though this is not a traditional Thai soup, they do a great job and definitely add a Thai flair with their addition of ground chicken. I've heard the Kao Soi is a must order here, and I would like to try that the next time. Another BIG PLUS in my book is, they know spicy! Nothing is more disappointing to me when you specify "very spicy" for a dish you are ordering, and they wimp out. Too many Thai (and other ethnic restaurants that specialize in spicy cuisine) tend to tone down their spice levels for an American palate. So, when I specify "very spicy" or let's say a "10" on a scale of 1-10, it tends to fall way short of what I really want. Not the case at Opart. When I ask for it a 10 -- it probably comes out a 15! So, if you like spicy the way I do, be sure to specify (particularly with the Penang/curries and Tom Yum -- it is out of this world good) and if you are not a spice-lover, fear not, there has always been an abundence of great choices on the menu for those in our party who prefer dishes on the mild side. Note on my star ratings: only reason I am not giving Opart five stars, is that five stars, for me, are really reserved for best in class and the absolute *best* Thai restaurant in America, that I've experienced so far, is Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas. This is not a slight on Opart, which as of now is definitely my favorite in the Chicagoland area.
(4)Frank B.
The Tiger Cry is hands down the best appetizer in Chicago!
(4)Eunice B.
Visit this Thai restaurant if you're ever in the area. You'll be served with authentic and quality Thai food. You won't regret!
(5)Dana C.
My go-to Thai place. I'm so lucky that my favorite Thai restaurant in the city happens to be within walking distance of my house - plus they deliver for when I feel extra lazy. GET THE TIGER CRY. It will give you the meat orgasm you didn't know you were missing. I also love the egg drop soup and the basil fish. The only downside is if you eat in house (which I rarely do) it can be tough to get seated, especially with more than 2 people. Just get delivery and stay in your sweatpants like the awesome sloth you are.
(4)Ten S.
This is the best Thai restaurant on the North side of Chicago. We love the food here. Always fresh and perfectly balanced. I think the Tom Yum soup is by far the best I've ever had and when we go eat at other Thai restaurants in the city, I use this soup as a comparison -- none achieve the delicate balance of the soup at Opart.
(5)Tyler W.
Seriously the worst service I've experienced. The transgender waitress talked to me as if I was an idiot with a blank stare. The second waitress didn't seem like she was "there" We were not greeted. No hi, how are you or thank you when we left either. Literally EVERYONE HAD THE MOST DISGUSTING attitude and I could not understand why for the life of me. Not to mention we were given our check before they even knew I was done eating and this was about 30mins before closing. (That's okay, I'm ready to get tf up outta here anyway) The food was really good which I hate to admit because of the horrible service but I don't think I would dine in again just bc of that.
(1)Jina K.
I've been here twice now and I can't say that it's my favorite. the first time I came, it was around 4pm and i was the only one, along with my friend. I ordered a chicken pad thai and to my surprise it was very wet, sticky, and heavy. the flavor was there but it seemed microwaved from dinner service from the previous night. the second time, I had come with two more friends during dinner time. this time I ordered a chicken pad see ew and it was quite lovely. the noodles were cooked perfectly and the sauce was light. the only thing is that the broccoli was undercooked and extremely overwhelming. the prices are a bit higher than my usual sticky rice fare, so I would really only go when my friends want to. the waiters are a bit rude but that may have been because I am young, however that should not be an excuse, as I should be treated as equally as everyone else.
(3)Shan D.
Well deserving of the hype. This is real Thai food. Every dish is so fresh and full of flavor. Wish I lived closer so that I could come back more often. There isn't a place like this downtown. I can't single out one dish because they were all so great. I love how it's BYOB too. This place and TAC Quick are my two favorite Thai restaurants in the city. Nothing else compares....
(5)Brittney H.
I'm sorry I've neglected you Opart! This place has some of the best potstickers on the North Side - I say this because nothing compares to China Town but still a good competitor. They also deliver which is a bonus. I'm giving it 4 stars because occasionally I've had my ordered messed up and the service was not very accomodating because of it. Additionally, the delivery service is sometimes way longer than expected (which is generally more than an hour). Otherwise, the food here is amazing! A few of my favorites are the crab rangoon, potstickers (of course), Tom Yum Kai soup, Woon Sen Pad Thai, Kuay Tiew Kee Mao, and Green Curry. Avoid the green bean dish, was completely bland and not worth the calories.
(4)Emily H.
Opart, what happened? Maybe it was our mistake going on a Friday night. Every dish was prepared poorly or completely missing vital ingredients. The Tom Kha soup? Inedibly overdosed with lemongrass, we couldn't eat it. The Lard Nar, every bite unbearably greasy and chewy, left that behind. The Pad Thai, teeth-achingly sweet with little other flavor. How does a Thai restaurant screw up Pad Thai? The service was impeccable and the interior was lovely. But the food really disappointed us and we fled without our leftovers.
(2)John R.
This is one of my favorite Thai spots in the city. It continues to do everything just right. We had a spring roll appetizer, pad thai and combination seafood fried rice. Leftovers togo and full bellies all the way around!
(5)Joseph O.
My wife and I love this place, so much so that we eat here almost once a week. The food is consistently good, the ambiance comfortable, and the staff remarkably efficient. If meat is your thing, try the Tiger Cry or Opart Beef for starters. This stuff melts in your mouth! For an entree, my wife likes to get the Woon Sen Pad Thai, the noodles of which consist of bean curd rather than rice. I'm a big fan of the Pork Larb with a side of rice. Regardless of what we end up ordering, we share our food family style, which is the way to go when eating Thai. It's totally possible for a couple to split an appetizer and order two entrees for under $25 excluding tip. Oh, and it's BYOB. Taken altogether, this place is an excellent value. That's why we keep keep coming back for more!
(5)Emily L.
In terms of food at Opart Thai, my review is only for the Pad Thai and Crab Rangoon which I feel to be the best in Chicago. I have been to Opart Thai several times and continue to order the same thing. The Crab Rangoon are large and very crispy and for an appetizer it's a large portion for just one person. Also, that Pad Thai has the best taste out of any pad thai I have tried in Chicago . . . by far. Not to mention the atmosphere is charming, it's easily accessible via Brown Line and it's BYOB. If there is better Pad Thai in the city aside from Opart Thai I have yet to find it.
(5)Cris J.
As I'm sure you've noticed by now from the reviews prior to this one (or post even) one of the staples of Opart Thai House is their zealous use of spice. So if you are looking for bland then this restaurant is not for you my friend. The service here is very quick, friendly, to the point and correct. Should you be a meat eater definetly jump on the curry chicken band wagon and for the veggies out there... when you taste the way they cook their tofu you are will most likely have an orgasm in your mouth. I have never had a negative experience here.
(5)Samantha B.
Recently, I started a journey to find the best Pad Thai in the city. I have been all over the place looking for decent Thai food that isnt too americanized. In comes, Opart Thai House Restaurant. We were randomly in the south loop and decided to check out this joint. We parked on the street (metered parking) only to find out that they have parking in back...hmm good news because I plan on returning to this place. We both ordered Pad Thai, I ordered vegetable and my bf ordered chicken. I found out that the veggie pad thai was lacking in vegetables so I asked for more. They charged me $3 for a few extra veggies! WTF? I mean its only $3 but no one told me and I only got a few extras pieces. Overall, the Pad Thai is very good (not the best ever, I am still on my hunt). I also felt extremly rushed and the restaurant wasnt even busy. We had time to kill before our movie and basically got kicked out. I will return, hopefully to better service.
(4)Jackie W.
This was a great dining experience. It was recommended by my boyfriend's sister and what a great suggestion it was! BYO'd our own white wine which they chilled for us while we waited for our table (20 mins on a friday night at 7 not bad) ...with no corckage charge! They do take rezzos but only for larger groups. The food is great. We had the sampler appetizer dish to start...yummy fried shrip and marvelous crab Rangoon. mmmmm. Then we had a hot and sour shrimp soup...This was some of the best soup I ever had and it's served with it's own heating element so it is deliciously warm until the last drop. For dinner the Pad thai which was very delicious...I'm a huge fan of pad thai and this was a standout among the dish. Then...even though we were stuffed we had the banana spring roll desert, gooey and creamy with a flaky spring roll wrapper...it was delightful. We got some coffee and tea with our deserts...The coffee was a rich and delicious dark roast and jasmine tea was really flavorful. Grand bill total was only $32.00 ... yes for all of that food! Only warning: I was in a food coma for the rest of the night. I was planning on going to a party but passed out...when I asked my boyfriend why he didn't wake me up he said he couldn't because I had a huge content smile on my face in my comatose state.
(5)Alex B.
This is a wonderful restaurant which we come back to again and again and again. The staff is lovely and always pleasant. The food is outstanding - amongst the best Thai food I've found in Chicago. My standards are high having travelled extensively throughout Thailand and eaten the real stuff. Most American Thai food is watered down versions of the real stuff. Not at Opart. I asked for one dish to be served "Thai Hot" in response to the waiter's obligatory question - "How spicy do you want it?" I got the usual eye roll indicating "you silly westerner, you can't handle it that way." When I pushed him, he finally relented and boy, was I happy (though no one else in my party was). The dish was served painfully spicy - in the way that I've only found in Thailand. It was wonderful. The room is nice, the staff attentive, and the food is absolutely fantastic. It's BYOB and the staff quickly bring a bottle opener and cork screw as soon as you sit down. All of these elements add up to a fun evening with wonderful food and a modest tab. We bring our friends here now and always have a great time and leave having made a couple new converts to Opart.
(5)Juan D.
I'm usually hesitant about places my girlfriend loves and rants about because sometimes we don't have the same taste. But Opart is simply delicious, we came on a Tuesday afternoon and the place only had a few people here, so we war able to sit with no one around us, we decided to order the crab rangoon witch she is always raving about and the were good really good. For our main meal I ordered Pad Preow Wan (Sweet and Sour) and she ordered Pad See-Iew and the only complain is that I wish the portions were more bigger and if the vegetables were cut smaller. I definitely recommend coming to eat here you will not be disappointed.
(4)Melanie V.
Even though I grew up in this area, I've never tried Opart until a couple weeks ago! I've heard that Opart gets pretty crowded and...it's true! My friend and I went there on a Wednesday night and snagged the last open table! We were lucky that we didn't have to wait. Opart has awesome food at a cheap price! The pad thai is only $6.50 for a fairly large portion. The reason that I love Opart's pad thai because it leans a little bit towards the sweeter side (yum!). I also got the pad thai at a spicy level of 'Hot'. However, I think I should've stuck to 'Medium' because I needed a Thai Iced Coffee shortly after my first mouthful of pad thai. Also, their som tom (papaya salad) is also one of the best that I've tasted - sweet & a good level of spiciness for me. ;)
(5)Kristen K.
DELISH! This place was so delicious!! The price was not bad and the menu was like 5 pages!! I ordered some curry that the waiter recommended and it was wonderful! I got the mild and there was some serious heat to it but I ate the whole thing anyway. A little annoying you have to pay for a side of rice with curry, but whatever. So good went with a group and it is great that its BYOB too! Will definitely return!
(5)Anand A.
Best Thai in the city. Okay... sure, there may be better but when you factor the very low prices into the mix, nothing beats this. My 4 stars is based on the taste of the food. There are many things wrong with this place, but the food is awesome! While I like Arun's, I think you can have a meal that approaches Arun's taste (though service and ambience at Opart isn't great) at a fraction of the cost. 1 person's cost at Arun's easily feeds 4 here. My only two gripes about this place are that the spice level is inconsistent. Hot on Tuesday may not the same as hot on another day. The other gripe is that the kitchen doesn't know how to flow the food out to you. Your entree will come out minutes after the appetizers. Still, this place is fantastic.
(4)P S.
Man I had the high hopes for Opart, but according to my litmus test (Panang with tofu), they kinda fail. Almost an hour for my delivery to arrive (ok fair enough, they quoted an hour), $15.37 for three egg rolls and one order of Panang with rice. Kinda steep. Everything's just ok. Asked how spicy I liked, I said "medium" which I put on a 4-5 scale of hot out of 10. Turns out, it's more 6-7. No veg, just basil and hunks of tofu (good tofu, granted). Very spicy, not terribly flavorful. I don't know, man. I'm glad they deliver all the way to me but I'm sure I can find better Thai closer. I'll try them again to see what else they have going for them, but usually if I don't like your Panang, I don't like you.
(2)Lori M.
Opart you drive me nuts. You're so inconsistent like a bad girlfriend who steals your car one weekend and then returns it with presents in the trunk. I always come back to you even though I never know what I'm going to get ! Your GREEN CURRY haunts me in my sleep. I'm giving you back ONE STAR for now..but don't screw up again. Make sure my delivery order shows up correct this time or I'll...I'll, I don't know what I'll do besides drown myself in my my own lousy attempt at making my own thai curry.
(4)Amanda Z.
OK, after practically licking my boyfriend's bowl of his "pretty spicy" order of Khao Soy, I am more vigorously giving this place a four-star review. We were hungry after a day of lazing around (seriously, who doesn't get hungry doing that?) so we ventured out into the melty day for some grub. I went with the pad thai with tofu...it was OK, and much better after we hunted down the waiter and I was able to red chili sauce it up. But my boyfriend's dish: Khao Soy...like frickin' spicy heaven in a bowl. Admittedly, his taste buds can handle the spicy stuff better than mine, so him saying "pretty spicy" didn't really raise my eyebrows. But then I had a little sip of his broth and despite my slight choking, it was fantastic! It's a good spicy, a slow burn, if you will, that warms your soul. Coconut curry rocks, and with the kick Opart gives it, you'll be rockin' all night long. Do it.
(4)Lulu R.
Penang! Penang! Penang! This is it guys...close up shop. This Thai joint is taking the cake on deliciousness. At first I was feeling greedy upon arrival as well as ravenous. I wanted to share one plate by myself. then I realized that I would like to try different ones and we decided to go family style. We had the penang curry, mixed spicy seafood, and shrimp Tom yum soup. The chicken Penang was by far the most flavorful and creamiest I have ever tasted and the spice wasn't too unbearable. The tom yum soup was spicy and citrus-cy with perfectly succulent shrimps and a medley of veggies. the mixed spicy seafood salad was so fresh and flavorful it made me want to get up and kiss the chef who made it. Thankfully I contained myself and resumed eating. The decor of the place was subtle and best of all , for a nominal corking fee, its BYOB with not one but TWO liquors stores on either side of the restaurant. So picking up some beers or some wine is almost impossible to NOT pick up. The place is very cozy and has a serene feel to it. I am definitely going to find an excuse to come back...because I am a Opart Thai addict and addicts make up excuses...lol.
(5)Michael B.
Guys. This place is so. good. I can honestly say that this is the only restaurant that I've introduced more than 5 people too and they all loved it. The dishes are fantastic, it has more dine-in room and decor than most thai places, and the service is great in my experience. As far as the food goes, I like my Thai spicy, but not enough to drown out flavor, and Opart has an entire section of the menu dedicated to delicious spicy rice dishes. "Medium spicy" is usually enough for me at Opart. If you wanna challenge the heat, try the Pad Kra Praow or Pad Prik King, and ask for Spicy or Extra Spicy. (You'll likely need a napkin to dab your forehead if you go with Extra Spicy.) Oh, and most times I've been here I've gotten my food within 5-10 minutes of ordering. How's that for service? Good on ya, Opart. More Chicago restaurants should be like you.
(5)Polwach W.
I am a Thai student and surprisingly it's very difficult to find an authentic Thai restaurant in Chicago. Environment and the service at Opart Thai is good. Short walk from Western Brown Line. Overall, I do have a good impression. Tiger cry is delicious although the dipping sauce is not very spicy for Thais. Pad Thai with prawns reminds me of food back in Thailand. Ask to add some more fish sauce with chili, lime, and ground peanut then you get a traditional dish of Pad Thai. I surely will come back again.
(4)Aaron B.
There are many Thai restaurants on Western. Opart is the best of them. A nice place based on cuisine alone, I also really like the interior of this place with its heavy use of wood and well placed lighting. My favorite dish here is the Pad Thai though I have yet to try my other favorite, vegetable fried rice. It is BYOB, right next door to a liquor store, has great take out service and is right near the Brown Line. Like I said, there are many options for Thai right here on Western. So if you want to save yourself the trouble and pain just go here. Cause I say so. Ya heard me!
(4)Blaise A.
Opart appeared on Check Please and everyone raved about it. So, my wife and I tried it out. We have enjoyed many Thai restaurants in Chicago and elsewhere. Thai Opart did not measure up. The service was efficient but rather indifferent. The Panang curry was thin, tasteless and soupy. The Khoa Soy was OK, but I've had better. The men's restroom was very messy. The only plus I saw was that the menu was extensive. Never the less, I wouldn't go back; there are so many much better Thai places.
(2)Tina T.
Yummy thai food! There's not much to say that hasn't been said, but Opart is definitely the whole package - great Thai food, extensive menu, and a beautifully decorated restaurant, along with extremely nice servers! Everything that we sampled on the menu delicious, and even though I am not much of a meat eater, I must admit that the Opart thai beef appetizer was phenomenal - such great spices! And it was incredibly cheap! Tons of food, take home for my son, and still under $30 bucks - just the ticket in these economic times!
(5)Jen A.
Came here with six friends for dinner to start out a birthday get-together. The menu is huge. Two of my friends had never had Thai before, and they had a ton of options to try. The beef satay, egg rolls, crab rangoon, curry with sweet potatoes, and pad thai were all outstanding. The dining rooms are beautifully painted and decorated with Thai artwork for a really nice ambiance. The total bill for seven of us was less than $80. Great Thai food, really cheap. What else could anyone ask for? You could ask for BYOB with no corking fee. They have that here too-- we polished off a few bottles of wine and beer. Now you have no excuse not to try this place.
(4)Catherine W.
Delicious Thai Food with authentic options. I went for the first time upon a friend's recommendation.
(4)Leigh S.
Love this place! Wonderful service, cute inside and in a great neighborhood. I usually get a variation of the pad Thai and the crab rangoons area given. Their delivery service us also very quick and efficient. An easy 5 stars!!
(5)Araceli G.
"two thumbs down" I ordered Chicken Pad thai and it was awful, on top of the fact that they forgot to include two of the main ingredients, like cilantro and cabbage.. Tasteless..
(1)Monica K.
I LOVE OPART THAI. Every time I go to another thai restaurant, I always have to compare that restaurant's food with Opart's - and 99% of the time Opart Thai's food always wins. It's a BYOB with no corkage fee located right by the Western brown line station. They have a wide selection of appetizers - the tofu satay is a personal favorite, it comes with fried tofu, peanut sauce, and a small cucumber salad. It's a refreshing way to start the meal and it's not too heavy even though the tofu is technically fried (NEVER greasy). All of their appetizers are reasonably priced and are actually pretty big in terms of portion size (the crab rangoons are almost too much for 2 people to enjoy). Their noodles are always moist and tender and are perfectly flavored. The pad see eiw is my go-to dish here and even though it's a soy-sauce based noodle dish, it is almost never salty. They are very accommodating with "customization" of their dishes - the pad see eiw comes with Chinese broccoli (which I personally find way too bitter to be edible) so they are always willing to substitute with regular "american" broccoli. We've also asked for potatoes instead of tomato/pineapple in their red curry (delicious combo - try it out). They also ask how spicy you'd like certain dishes, which not all Thai restaurants do. The wait staff here is very good, service has never been an issue at this restaurant even though it's usually pretty busy. I come here at least once a week - I can't get enough of this place!
(5)Val B.
The Tom Yum Kai (chicken) soup was delicious and exactly what I needed to make me feel better when I had the flu. It had plenty of chicken, fresh straw mushrooms, and a good amount of lime. I ordered it medium spicy and they got it spot on. I got carryout, so I can't comment on the inside yet, but I will definitely be back to try it out! Minus one star because the guy on the phone who took my order was an impatient dick.
(4)Kim K.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Chicago. I eat here about once a week and have been going here for about 3 years now. It's slowly been getting more crowded, which means the word is spreading. The prices are ridiculously cheap and the food is always fresh and seasoned unbelievably well. I think if you were to stumble upon this place like I did, you'd find it to be a gem. But if you go based on hype, you probably won't dig it as much. It's pretty casual... the same servers work night after night and tend to leave you alone, which I like. The food comes out fast. The crab rangoon is amazing. I've never had a bad dish. BYOB is awesome. The only complaint I can possibly think of is that the spicy-level is ever-changing. Every time I order a dish with medium spicy goodness and it comes out either mild, hot or just right. It's never accurate. But the suspense of what it's going to be is a constant fun factor. I'd recommend: Gaeng Panang Gaeng Masaman Gaeng Daeng Peanut Sauce Lover Chicken Paid Thai Pad See Ewe Yum Neau Pad Preow Wan Rama Delight Crab Rangoon Egg Rolls Thai Iced Tea Hot Tea
(5)Chris V.
Love Thai, but my experience was not so good. Rice was way undercooked and actually crunchy, texture of the duck was chewy to the point of being inedible (I know duck is "gamey" compared to chicken- I've eaten it before- this dish crossed the line). Waitress was unfriendly. And for about $20 a person for appetizer & entree only? There are far too many good Thai places around for me to go back to Opart. Sorry. The only things that earned this place a second star were the decent papaya salad and the nice ambience.
(2)Anthony M.
One of the best Thai restaurants I've ever had. Orange chicken and Pad thai were great. Best potstickers and the homemade sauce rocked! I will return!
(4)Cat L.
For the past few years, Friday night in our house has typically consisted of whatever's on the DVR and Opart. And I'm more than OK with that. I heart Opart. A sampling of our faves- tod mun (awesome fish cakes), mee krob, and spicy fried tofu for apps; larb and tom yum (for our soup and salad combo); pad see iew (you gotta ask them to make the noodles crispy!), peanut sauce lover, pad kra praow, and the spicy catfish. Their fried rice is the best I've had - not greasy at all (and soaks up the delicious sauce from the spicy fried tofu perfectly!). They're always busy, but the quality doesn't suffer because of it. We've tried other spots in the neighborhood, but they just don't match up to Opart in our book. Opart, please be expecting our call yet again on Friday...
(5)Hillary M.
Always good eats & good service at Opart, and always pleasantly surprised when the check comes!
(4)Sarah L.
After an awful experience with another Thai restaurant in our hood we ventured to Lincoln Square. We had to attend a Christmas party nearby and wanted something to eat beforehand. I saw Opart once we got off the L and we went in. This place was jumping on a Friday night! This is a BYOB establishment and there is a liquor store next door if you forget your swill. Started off with the pot stickers. Those babies were HUGE and filled with pork and ginger, so good! My guy had curry fried rice with chicken. It was good but I'm not a big fan of curry. I had the chicken pad see eiw. It did have bok choy which I love. I am still in love with Aroy Thai's pad see eiw but Opart's is still tasty. The service was decent considering how busy they were. The interior is very nice. Love the exposed brick and the decor. I can't wait to go back and bring a six pack or a few bottles of vino. This place is a great Thai restaurant and the staff is sweet too!
(4)Lauren D.
Opart Thai is the definitely the best Thai I've had in Chicago. I live in Lincoln Park so it's a bit far for somebody without a car, but I will happily schlep up to lincoln square for a meal here. I always order the same thing - Pad Thai. I know it's boring & a staple, but I love it and am sticking too it. As an App, I always get the Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls to start and they are phenomenal as well. If you are scared of tofu, don't shy away - it is marinated in some sort of magical peanuty/cinnamony secret sauce. My date always get the Rama Broccoli, which has also gotten great reviews (hint: anything with their peanut sauce will be delicious!)
(5)Caitlin G.
Yes, please! I discovered this place in late November, and I believe I've returned practically once a week since then. Before discovering Opart, I had spotty experiences at Thai places. One week, the food was great; the next, it was dismal. Opart has been fantastic every time I've gone. I'm a huge fan of the Pad Thai, which is the best I've had in the city. The curries are really good too--I'm partial to the panang curry and the potato/coconut curry. Oh, and yes: the potstickers are killer good. The only less-than-earth-shattering experience I've ever had here was when I ordered the Peanut Lovers dish. It was good, but at Opart, every other dish I've had has been great, so it paled in comparison. And do remember it's BYOB!! I am pretty sure there's no corkage fee, too, which is an extra bonus.
(5)Marlyn L.
Pros: -BYOB, no corkage fee -Banana spring roll dessert was good -Chicken satay appetizer was good -Waitress was sweet Cons: -Host was a bit of a diva -Not much meat in the entrees -Not the most flavorful dish I've ever had (Sauteed veggies with chicken) -Having to stand close to diners' tables while waiting to be seated was a bit awkward What I liked - which may not be good news to some people - is that they really know how to spice things up. I ordered my entree MEDIUM thinking that I would just add chili paste to my liking. However, they packed on the heat. My mouth was burning. I liked that aspect, but other than that, the food didn't have much other flavor. The prices weren't over the top but not as good of a deal as Sticky Rice. I'm glad I tried a different place other than Sticky Rice, only because it confirmed just how much I like Sticky. I would recommend this place for the appetizers or dessert. I probably would not venture over there again. It was just mediocre.
(2)Valerie R.
I know everyone raves about Opart- maybe the meat dishes are great (I'm a vegetarian) but everything I've had there was either not so great or average. I've eaten in there a few times as well as gotten delivery from them, so I doubt my experiences have been limited to "off days". If I'm in Lincoln Square and getting Thai I'd much rather go to Rosded, less than a block away.
(2)Fabian P.
The food here is always fresh and tasty. We had the sampler platter and some Tom Ka soup which was tasty. I had the eggplant with oyster sauce which was ok. I forgot what my friends had but both their dishes were super yum! It's BYOB which is great for folks who like to drink.
(4)Emaan K.
Maybe I'm not an avid fan of thai food, but I didn't really enjoy the food that much... Out of the appetizers,the crab rangoons were pretty good. Portions are not that big, so I have NO idea what people are talking about when they say that. As soon as my friend's pad thai came, my other friend asked him if he got the lunch portion =/ Service was pretty good, our waiter was very patient (he had to come back 3 times because I just could not decide what I wanted in life).
(2)Scott S.
With this many reviews, pretty much everything has been said. I just wanted to chime in that while they have been hit or miss, most experiences I've had there have been great, with a very authentic flavor on the many, varied dishes that they have at a nice low price. I am pained that due to sodium restrictions, I can no longer go here. Someday, someday....
(4)Robert G.
Went here on Tuesday the 12th (I think) after seeing it leaving Rosded. Like Rosded, you get take the Brown line to Western if you're an El'er, though the parking lot across the stress is only $1/hr for us drivers. Place is decently big, probably sits near 100 if really busy, and split into three sections, with the first bound to be the coldest during the winter since it's the one with the door. Draft dodgers should sit in the middle or south section. Nice enough otherwise inside--all dark wood sorta cool. The menu is as extensive as Rosded--though every item more expensive. I tried the Crab Rangoon ($4.50, $4.99 deliv)) which were good, but the sauce was underimpressive--nearly tasteless and so thin so as to not stick to the wonton at all. Wife had the Fried Tofu ($3.99) which were also okay (I sampled one), though again the accompanying sauce was marginal. I was really underimpressed by the Kuay Tiew Kee Mao (drunken noodles, $6.50, $6.99 deliv), which had very little spiciness (even though I ordered medium [in Thai] and wife ensured I got it right), was minimal in terms of taste and bulk. It was small, the beef so-so, and very little of the accompanying veggies--to top it off, it was warm at best, not close to hot. Wife got Pad Ped Pla Dook ($8.59) which is stirfried catfish which she said was only OK (not a fish guy, I dare not try), but it looked pretty--was also warmer than mine, though not spicy either. Think this is a BYOB place, though I coulda sworn a saw a minimal bar?!?!?! Also have delivery, though keen observers will note the delivery menu--or the take out if they hand you the paper copy--has prices $0.50 or more than you'd pay eating in--don't know what that's about really, but our bill would have been about $2.50 more on the four things we ordered, not to mention a $2.50 fee on top (I'm okay with that). My guess is bill will run 15-20% more than Rosded for no added value, though still not real expensive compared to some other joints. Probably do 3.5 stars if available, but that's about it. Probably won't go back with Rosded across the street and far superior.
(3)Rachelle G.
The first thing I think of when I think of Opart, is, oh my, spicy. For those who don't like spicy beware. I knew beforehand from friends that it was a bit spicier so I ordered my panang beef mild and even then that it had a slight kick which I enjoyed but definitely not for those who dislike spicy food. The dish was great, I just wish it had a bit more basil. I also found it a bit odd that rice doesn't automatically accompany the dish, but regardless, YUMMY! My friend seemed to enjoy his pad see ewe as well, although I thought the portion size of his dish was a bit skimpy compared to other restaurants. Service was friendly. I'm definitely coming back.
(4)Joyce T.
After hearing such raving and wonderful reviews about this place, I decided to finally go try it out last night. I had such high hopes when I walked into the place but left feeling a bit let down. First off, although the staff was cordial, I got the feeling I was literally being "rushed" out of the place. This could be attributed to the fact that I arrived about half an hour before closing; however, if they took me in as a customer and were going to take my money, they should treat me like any other customer. I ordered the recommended Tiger Cry beef for appetitizer and was disappointed. Although the menu said the beef was char-grilled, what I got was mostly burned, inedible pieces of beef that were bitter to the taste, spare a few pieces towards the middle of the pile. Next, came the potstickers. Two out of the five pieces were so hard that I couldn't even bite into it. I had to use my chopsticks to literally pry it open just so I can get to the pork inside and toss the dumpling skin aside. The only thing I was totally impressed was was their yum woon sen (noodle and chicken salad). It's one of the best I've had and is probably their saving grace. The only complaint I have about this dish is the fact that they used mainly ground chicken instead of actual chicken strips, which most other Thai restaurants use in their yum woon sen. Their Kee Mao noodles was just alright. I've had better but there really wasn't anything too special about it. The plate was a bit small and was filled more with veggies than chicken or noodles. Also the fact that I got ALL 4 dishes at once practically made me feel as if they wanted me to leave asap, because by the time I got to my main dish (the Kee Mao noodles), it was starting to get cold already (it was the 2nd dish to arrive out of all the plates). Overall, I was unimpressed by the restaurant. I don't know if I'll be dining there anytime again soon. Hopefully I'll just chart this down to being there as their last customer. I wonder if there delivery service is any better...
(2)Melissa D.
Opart Thai is my absolute favorite Thai place in the city-so much that it's programmed into my phone! I have never actually been in the restaurant, I always have it delivered and I have never been disappointed. Their delivery is always prompt and the food is always hot upon arrival. Upon my first order, I found something that I loved so much that I haven't tried a lot of their menu. Ttheir Peanut Sauce Lover (with any kind of meat), vegetable fried rice and crab rangoon are all delicious. Portions are big and leftovers are always guaranteed. YUM!
(5)Karen P.
I really like this thai place. I have friends who live in the area who are also thai freaks and they introduced me to it. I have had their Kuay Tiew Kee Mao (Spicy noodles) and its pretty good, but its their curry that really shines here. I have had the green curry - Gaeng Keow Waan- and it is AMAZING. Best curry I have had in the city, hands down. My friend normally gets the Panang and that is also exceptional. If you like thai curry you have to try this place. I have only ever gotten delievery, so I can't comment on the actual restaurant.
(4)Kimberly S.
Best Thai in Chicago as far as I am concerned and I have been around the Thai food circuit. They have a huge menu, but can do each dish well. The spicy peanut lover is my fav- a hot peanut sauce with onions, peppers, cashews and the meat of your choice (I get the tofo). I could eat it everyday.
(5)Jennifer H.
Good prices, but the food is totally boring. I LOVE Thai food and have to say that Opart is a far cry from Aroy Thai on Damen Ave. I know Opart has many faithful followers, so I wonder if I happened to go on a night when the cooks were having a bad day. Whatever the reason, Opart is definitely not some place I would write home about.
(2)Morgan C.
Like so many places, it's gone downhill after a mangement/ownership change. Used to be 5-star all the way. Really the best. Perfect pad thai. Last I was there, after the change, the portions were smaller (although still reasonable down from cartoonishly large) and the quality just wasn't up to par. Still good, but just knowing what it used to be makes it a little more disappointing. I guess I'd head back and give it another shot. Maybe it was just a fluke, but from all the other recent reviews, it doesn't sound like it.
(4)Katie R.
This is my favorite Thai place in the city so far. The soups are amazing- especially the tom kha (i think) with shrimp. It's the best blend of sour and spicy. Everything I've had there has been great, and you can't beat BYOB.
(5)Chaga H.
the food is decent, but the service is awful. this place is 3 blocks from my house so I've given it plenty of opportunity, but my simple orders are rarely correct. additionally, I get a lot of attitude when I try to correct the errors and am never offered any apology. it's very irritating.
(2)Cristin M.
I think that Opart is one of the best Thai restaurants I have ever been to. They have a huge menu, and everything that I have eaten there has been excellent. The service is always friendly, and it never seems to take long to get your food. Be careful of your spicy level, they make stuff really hot if you ask for it! Their prices are good too. Recently, a group of 7 ate for under $70, and that included appetizers. It's BYOB, so don't be afraid to bring in some refreshing beers to help cut the spice, or some good wine.
(5)Erin M.
YUM. This is some of the best Thai food I've ever had. The curry dishes are awesome, and their pad thai isn't too bad either. Service was friendly and fast.
(5)Natalie S.
I used to come here all the time when I was vegan and I HATED it. My vegetables were never all that fresh and crispy and the tofu was pretty mushy. After reading reviews on Yelp I decided to give Opart another chance, especially since I eat dairy again. It was better, I have to say. My rama was pretty good, the rice was perfect and the tofu was cooked well. It's still not as good as Cozy, so I can't give too many stars. But it's good and it's really close to my house, so I'll be back.
(3)Tristin M.
Yummy! Can't think of anything that'll keep me up all night if I don't get it then and there... And I found it interesting that we were one of two parties in the restaurant but still had to wait a long time for someone to come take our order.
(3)Dennis H.
My favorite "north side" Thai restaurant in Chicago. Consistently good food and service, and truly a bargain. Truly a Lincoln Square institution, too. I'm not surprised to see that an earlier reviewer spotted Governor Rod Blagojevich and family dining at Opart. They live just down the street and around the corner in the Ravenswood Manor neighborhood (at least, when they're not in Springfield, anyway).
(5)Kimberly W.
I think Opart Thai has the BEST Pad Thai ever!!!!!!! I took two of my coworkers there (in Wilmette) and they loved it too! They also have amazing additional dishes such as the Pad See Eiw and the Curry dishes. I love their Egg Drop Soup too! I think Opart Thai is my favorite all around Thai restaurant in Chicago! They even have 3 locations in Chicago (2 city and 1 suburban). There is this one on Western and another one in China Town (1900 S. State St.) and one on Skokie Rd. in Wilmette. Check them out!
(5)Ryan J.
A bit expensive, but not too bad. Easily the best Thai food I've ever had in Chicago. Plus it's BYOB. The hands-down winner for me.
(5)Simone G.
Update: I've decided to add another star for the dine in experience. The portions were slightly larger, and the food was definitely more tasty for some reason. In any case they earned themselves just a bit more praise. I got take out here last night and while i thought the food was alright, I definitely wouldn't rave about it. For $25 dollars i got smallish sized portions of 2 dishes I ordered along with an appetizer. These were ordered off of their "hot and spicey menu" and to me they might as well have been placed in the regular sections, because when you ask me "how hot" I would like something and I tell you "as hot as you can make it" I expect my mouth to be on fire... which definitely wasn't the case... the thai chili i put on it was hotter than what they served up. There are definitely better tasting places around the city. I will give it to them that they do run a very clean looking establishment. I have to admit I very much prefer the chinese restaurant next door called "Tom Lee." The last time I was there with my dad, for $25 bucks we got beef chow fun, szechuan chicken, fried rice, and won ton soup. So to Opart I say "good day."
(4)Marisa A.
My dad's Thai and has a pretty extensive background in cooking. He insists on eating at Thai restaurants everytime he spots a new one, and then will laugh/insult/refuse to eat whatever they put in front of him. He's also very picky about the food being authentic, so if something is sweet that's not supposed to be he hates it. With that being said... we repeatedly find ourselves back at Opart. Some things are better than others. I LOVE the basil chicken (or pork, or beef). Make sure to ask for the meat to be ground, rather than sliced. It is very authentic, not sweet at all, and just downright delicious. I ask for it hot, and if it's not as hot as I want it then I just ask for a side of chilies in fish sauce/lime juice. I'm not a fan of their satay. Actually, I've barely strayed from my basil at all because it's so damn perfect. I haven't been to all of the countless Thai restaurants in Chicago, but this one's at the top.
(5)Ashish G.
This is by far my favorite Thai restaurant in Chicago. Not only is the food amazing, but it's cheap and you can bring your own wine, spirits, etc. Everyhing on the menu is good. This is one restaurant that I can say that I've never had a bad experience at (knock on wood). Some of my favorites include the Tiger Cry, Spring Rolls, Peanut Sauce Lovers w/ chicken, and Pad Thai.
(5)Kat W.
One excellent Thai restaurant. Friendly servers, BYOB, good selection of food, and reasonably priced. A nice, quiet interior.
(5)Jason P.
It was cinco de mayo and we were out looking for a nice place to eat and we came across this place. Nothing says cinco de mayo more than Thai food. Really the Mexican restaurant close by had a ridiculous wait so we made our way here. The service was super slow making me question the decision. We sat for at least 20 minutes before anyone came to take our order. I was absolutely starving so I ordered some fried tofu to kick things off and it came with a nice peanut sauce. Then I asked if they could make this broccoli dish meatless and substitute tofu and they were fine with this. I really should have read the menu a little closer because it came with the same sauce as my app and basically the only difference between the two is that my entree came with broccoli. Despite this error on my part, the food was decent overall. I would give it another try and come more prepared for the BYOB as well as reading the entire description on the menu as to not double up again.
(3)Bella D.
Great place for Thai and close to the EL! Nice staff!
(4)Meredith M.
Best thai in chicago. consistent and fresh. Yes its a tad more than some others in the area but you get what you pay for and its BYOB which makes up for any higher prices. massaman curry, fresh spring rolls are addictive.
(5)Lezah G.
I had one of the best Thai meals I have had in years. Everything was tasty, fresh, and well prepared. I've been eating Thai food for 20 plus years and have been to Thailand several times. I've noticed that as the years pass, the Thai food in Chicago is declining in quality. I think the chefs are adjusting their seasoning to western tastes. The food in the restaurant had the same taste sensations I remember when I first discovered and loved Thai food! The fact that it is so crowded in an area with many Thai restaurants is testament to its quality. I saw in some reviews that people complained about the service. I've never had especially good service in Thai restaurants even in Thailand so i expect things to be served out of order, to wait for condiments, etc. There was a little of that at Opart but nothing horrible. My only reason for not giving it 5 stars is that the waiting area melds into the eating area. We sat at the edge of the restaurant and we felt like people waiting for tables were hanging over our shoulders. There needs to be a little more difference. That being said, I'm looking forward to eating there again!
(4)yvette n.
I love this place. Have been going here for years. They have the best Tom Yum Soup i've had, but i haven't been to Thailand. The service is usually good, but i've had a few problems, but the food definitely make up for it.
(5)Ewa T.
Alright, so this restaurant may not truly deserve a full 4 stars, but they are quick and they are good! I had their Pad Thai which was truly one of the best that I've tasted. The noodles were buttery and they didn't overdo it with the nuts. It took literally 2 minutes to make...faster than some of the "fast food" joints these days. I would say my only drawback was their stinginess with their plastic forks and knives! I jumped on the train and wanted to start eating, but alas..no tools with which to shovel the food into my mouth. I debated using my hands, but I hadn't reached that point of hunger yet. Maybe next time!
(4)Dave T.
Opart is my favorite Thai restaurant in the neighborhood. The food is always very good and it is a BYOB restaurant which makes it a great bargain. If you forget to bring along some alcohol you can go two doors down to the liquor store for your spiritual needs. I usually opt for the spring rolls and the pad siew and they are always very good. Opart is about average in terms of cost, but you can expect very good food and service. That makes it a bargain in my book.
(4)b c.
ate there about a month ago. tried & loved the "peanut sauce lover". sauteed cashew nuts, white & green onion w/peanut sauce & choice of chicken, pork, beef or shrimp. took a while to get food ( about 25 min) waiter not rude but less then friendly, although he cracked us up when he mispronounced "PEANUT sauce". prob. will be back.
(3)k t.
This place has decent food. For some reason I think the food was better before they expanded it. There are so many Thai food choices in Lincoln Square, this is one of the better ones if you don't mind the unfriendly staff.
(3)Karen L.
This is the best thai place I have found so far. I have tried the papaya salad, pad see ew and mussaman curry. Compared to other places, Opart's dishes are definately more flavorful! (I am trying to go to several Thai places in the city to compare, but there are so many to try!!!)
(5)Kateland B.
I'd say this place is my new fav thai food resto in Chi-town. I stopped in one day on the way home from a long hard day of work and was delighted with the freshness of the ingredients and flavor. I had the pad thai as I always do and this one stood out from all the other pad thai dishes I've had so far in Chicago. There is something different and I can't quite put my finger on it but it's fabulous! So light and yummy and full flavors. I felt good eating it and not bad at all. No mystery here, just good quality thai food. Woohoo, so glad it's right around the corner. :)
(5)mary o.
really great food. very busy on a sunday night, I had my favorite, spicy green curry with tofu while my dining companions had noodle dishes which they both devoured. We also had crab rangoon and fresh spring rolls,, both of which rocked my world...I think there was only one waitress working the entire room but she did a great job. BYOB. Come hungry.
(4)Matthew M.
Opart Thai is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in the city. Even before I lived in Lincoln Square, this was a destination; now that I do, it's a major perk to being in the area! The menu is extensive and they tend to be flexible with level of spice and type of meat, as well as accommodating finnicky requests sometimes. The pad thai is the best I've had; you can request less oil if you want to keep it slightly healthier. And they may just make the best peanut sauce in the world. It's nothing monumental in terms of offerings, some standard fare, but it's prepared well and tastes fantastic. If you dine in, service is generally prompt and the turnaround on orders is quick. No alcohol served but BYOB with a liquor store next door and no corkage fee! Delivery usually takes about an hour (longer than it would take to walk there and back for me -- but that is a testament to my laziness more than their speed) but orders are always perfect.
(5)Laila K.
this place is great. great food, good price, great decor, good takeout dishes too (yes that matters for dishes with lots of sauces). i don't have a single negative thing to say.
(5)a w.
This is probably the best Thai place in the Chicago area. They're food is so tasty and filled with spices. And if you're not a fan of spicy food, you can always instruct the waiters to have your food made a bit less spicy. Best of all this place is super affordable. And the portions are huge too. Everytime I have gone here, I have had to have my food packed to take home. Count on getting a great, filling meal for a very reasonable price at this delicious restraunt. If you're a thai food fan, you're not going to want to miss out on this one!
(5)Kristin A.
Great Thai food for a low cost. Restaurant is BYOB. Service was nice and quick. For most of the entree's, you will need to order rice separately. For some reason is doesn't automatically come with the food. Plenty of parking and directly under the Western stop on the brown line.
(5)Jessica C.
Based on the reviews we opted to eat at Opart yesterday. Now, I'm no Thai food connoisseur, so let's just get that out in the open from the start. Every time I eat Thai I order the Pad See Eiw, so this time I wanted to branch out (hubby wasn't so bold.) We ordered the fried chicken won tons as an app and they were delicious! I'd go back for those. The meal-y part of the meal was a bit bland, though, I must say. Hubby ordered the Pad See Eiw, and compared to other places it was under par, skimpy on the broccoli and sauce not quite as sweet as I like. I ordered a simple baby corn/chicken dish with rice (which WAS cooked to perfection... plus.) I guess I expected the sauce for mine to have a bit more flavor, but then again like I said, I'm no Thai expert.... Our server was perfect, and the price is right so we'll probably go back someday. If I do return I'll try something different.
(3)Alfonso M.
Lord have mercy!!! This was AMAZING!!! The food is ridiculously good. I had dinner there on a Monday night and it was fairly busy. We were seated right away and actually served our appetizer within 10-15 minutes of being there and the rest of the meal a few minutes after the appetizer. Everything was hot (as in warm & fresh). We ( I was with a friend) had the Sampler plate for our appetizer [Crab Rangoon, Shrimp Spring Rolls, Egg Rolls and Fried Shumari (fried Shrimp)]. It came with a side of sweet & sour style dipping sauce. The soup was then served and normally I not a big soup person, thank goodness I listened to my friend as she ordered the seafood soup (Poh Tok). It's a sweet & spicy soup with shrimp, crab meat and fish. It was very good and I had to stop in order to make sure that I had room for the entree which was the Peanut Sauce lover served with Chicken over Jasmine rice. Magical is the only way to describe what I ate at this place last night and if I could, I'de give them a few more stars. Highly recommended. Price is inexpensive and it's a BYO place. Service was friendly, courteous and fast.
(5)Keely B.
I have absolutely no idea how this place gets good reviews. I ordered take out which my huband picked up. The person who took my order over the the phone could not have been snarkier. When my husband arrived to pick up our order, he said he was barely acknowledged. The food was kind of nasty. I ordered a standard--by which I meant to compare quality with other Thai restaurants I've visited. My spicy pad sie eiw with chicken had absolutely no flavor other than burning. I took my leftovers for lunch the next day thinking the flavors may have improved once they'd had a chance to meld, and the dish reeked and tasted of fish. I threw it away. My husband's dish was entirely bland, but edible. The egg rolls were slightly above average, which is the only reason this is not a one-star review.
(2)Marie C.
I came here last week with a girlfriend of mine. I was having a terrible day, this visit did not make it better. I originally had planned to go to Roseded but they were over capacity so we came here. We came in, they sat us. We waited... AND waited... AAAAAND WAITED. I literally thought I was being punk'd because I was there for about 20 minutes before the server rushed over to us ready to take our order. How about some water please? Can I please have some water first? So he leaves aggravated w me and comes back in a flash w my water. I noticed they didn't have Mongolian beef on the menu, which I know is a Chinese dish... but they do at Roseded, so I inquired about it and he acted like he didn't know what it was. So I explained what it was, (beef, green onions, broccoli, etc) and asked if he could recommend me something similar. THIS guy told me he was NOT Chinese and stormed away. o_O Okay what just happened? Did I offend him? i just wanted some food!!! I was starving and this place was losing my respect by the minute. How did I offend him by asking him to recommend something to me by describing the ingredients that were in a dish that I wanted o_O I was all over confused. The chicken satay was good. I wish I could say more about the place. The art was awesome. I sat under a picture of a beautiful woman who looked like a powerful Queen of some sort. I'm sure had I gone on a night when I wasn't so frustrated, I would've been able to shrug this off and laugh at this guy, but Opart just didn't do it for me. It was a terrible experience and I wont be coming back. :(
(1)Honest-Abe R.
We drive all the way from the western burbs for their food! The food is amazing! I would recommend the ground chicken with basil mixed with white rice and extra onions. (Can't remember the name of the dish) Great Thai Ice teas as well.
(5)terry l.
Called last night for delivery. 9 times. 8 times it was a busy signal. The 9th time was an answer and a curt, "Opart, please hold". Hung up after being placed on perma hold. Tried again tonight. Put on hold again. Waited. And waited. And waited. Called back..."Opart, please hold". I tried explaining my experiences. I was told very curtly that there was nothing that could be done and that I would need to be, you guessed it, put on hold. I give up. Thanks Opart, you saved me fifty bucks. Try elsewhere.
(1)Jacob J.
My two cents. Great for a date or say that last minute meal you need to help soak up all the drinking you've done after hitting up Mai fest or Oktoberfest in Lincoln Square. Thursday nights are opportune for bumping into a table full of attractive ladies, FYI. Check out Opart's photos and you should love their atmosphere and décor. There aren't many Asian restaurants (in or around the city) with as much décor from the motherland, so when you do come across it, it's memorable. The atmosphere feels warm and furniture is comfortable for the longer dinners with ample conversation. I want to love this place because of their expansive menu and numerous options of soups and appetizers. If there is an appetizer menu at a restaurant, I typically want to order many; I like having many small plates of things to try. So, the fact that they offer their appetizer plate with servings for four for $8.99 is sweet! However there are a few details to this place that are lacking. Service and their attitude are lacking. No helpfulness is seen and I've never yet had an amazing experience with a waiter or waitress. Asian menus tend to only list what's in an entrée, but neglects to depict to its reader the taste associated. When I try varieties of Ethnic food, I like to try different items and try to stay away from ordering the same old shit. Everyone orders pad Thai, basil chicken, panang curries, lard nar, etc. It's when you branch out you discover other entrees or appy's that are taste worthy. For this feat; help is needed and that is missing. Try asking for a recommendation and get either no result because they are uncertain of your tastes or if you're lucky they might recommend one of the typical dishes I've listed above. Ask about a curry or what's the difference between yellow, red, green, or brown sauce and, well, I'm still trying to process the answers I've received. If management is reading, a picture menu would be awesome. If you see a bunch of tables with a fancy looking metal bowl with soup within, don't order it! We followed other tables and got some kind of Thai hot and sour soup with chicken and it was terrible. Too much lemon grass and lime juice and to top it off it contained a crotch full of cilantro. I like cilantro, but that was horrid. Again if waiters spent less time trying to impress us with their sashaying down the runway and more time listening and paying attention. I think the overall could be hella better. Solid three and a half stars in my book.
(3)Cynthia F.
I don't understand the hype about this place!!! The food is either bland or the heat (spice) is scorching. There is never a happy medium, and the chicken is always dry and chewy. The portions are good, but I have never finished or enjoyed a meal here.
(2)Valery P.
Great food and location (next to the brown line station and street parking is plenty around there). But the thing that turned me away was their very poor service. Most of the waitress there didn't seem to show some appreciation to the customer (simple gestures was badly lacked in this place). When I got there (and this happen quite often), I always have to literally search around the building to find the waiter to seat me and my friends. All in all, a great place to have dinner during the weekend (especially during festivals like Oktoberfest and Applefest), but just be ready for a very unfriendly service by their waiter/waitress.
(2)Catherine S.
Okay, this place is somewhat more expensive than Spoon Thai, but it is now my favorite Thai in the city outside of Sticky Rice. We ordered everything Thai spicy, and it came perfectly spiced with chiles. We had: -Pla Koong: charbroiled shrimp salad. This was perfectly salty, fishy, sweet, and sour--I literally was spooning the sauce up off the plate. The shrimp were literally charbroiled, which really added some incredible smoky flavor. -Som Tum (Papaya Salad). We had it without the dried shrimp since I'm a wimp about those sometimes taste-wise. It was delish--whole pieces of chile, and again, a perfectly lime-y sauce on top of it all. -Hot & Spicy Catfish Sliced catfish stir-fried with Thai eggplant, green beans, basil leaves and fresh ground chili. Yum! I look forward to returning and having more of the spicy catfish dishes in particular. The server was sweet--it wasn't super busy, but she was great about constantly refilling our water since we were sweating our way through the (wonderfully) spicy food. So, while our bill was more than some other spots in the neighborhood, the quality really was so much better, and the flavors authentic--lots of liberal use of more expensive ingredients like fresh basil, lemongrass, shrimp. We'll definitely be back!
(5)Judith L.
I -love- their food. But I just had the weirdest experience with the guy on the phone trying to order. I could hardly understand him and he was super rude to me when I asked him to repeat himself. Doesn't make me feel very good about ordering from there again.. although I probably will. Get your customer service together! The waiters are always really nice when I come in. Learn some phone etiquette dude.
(3)Pack C.
Well, first of all i'm a thai. My standard for thai food is high. I went there for my friend's BD. i love the fact that it's a BYOB place, and located right next to a liquor store. A lot of people who work there are Thai which made me hope that food will be really authentic. However, i was fairly disappointed when i sneak peek dishes of other tables. Food were really americanized.. curry dishes look really white 'coz they were soaked with coconut milk !! We ordered quite a few dishes. My favorite one is Mhu Ping (pork on skewers). It was really good, and authentic. We ordered Panang, and green curry which i couldn't recognize its thai form. Pad Thai was disappointing. it was all in pale white, rice noodle with bean sprouts and chicken. The taste was not awful but it was more like Chinese stir fry. Overall for the whole meal, the taste was not bad; just that it was not Thai. By the way, it was really cheap though.. we order 6-7 dishes, lots of thai ice tea, and desserts.. it costed us about $18 per person, including 20% tips i think.. it was a deal!!
(2)James K.
It's hard to judge a place with one visit but I must give them props for their crunchy crab rangoons. I must admit that I was a bit disappointed with their pad thai, but I that is just a personal preference. The tiger cry was good but not as amazing as the hype. Overall great service and good food.
(3)Stacey A.
I used to say something like, "Yeah, I like Thai food, but I've never really thought to myself, 'OH MAN. THIS IS THE BEST THAI FOOD. IT IS BETTER THAN ALL OTHER THAI FOOD I HAVE TRIED!'" But then again, I also thought that dying my hair red was a really good idea. I used to be pretty stupid, is what I'm saying. When I go to, or order from Opart Thai, I actually DO say something like "OH MAN. THIS IS THE BEST THAI FOOD. IT IS BETTER THAN ALL OTHER THAI FOOD I HAVE TRIED!" And then I weep quietly with joy and stuff big fistfuls of rice into my mouth while taping it on youtube. Weirdly, my youtube channel has something like 5 million subscribers and I'd like to thank Opart Thai for that.
(5)June D.
I have been here several times with friends and it all went well. Love their papaya salad the most! However, there were one experience that killed all my positive energy for this place. It was about half a year ago when it happened but I didn't join Yelp then. It was on my mother-in-law's birthday and our family came here to celebrate. Everything was great until I found 2 cockroaches next to me. One was on the wall and the other one was on the table. Everybody felt so disgusted and we called the server out to show him the evidence (my husband killed them with the napkin). But there were no apology coming from him or any other staff later and the server also looked at our family as trouble makers since we said it out loud. Because of this experience, I haven't come back here and I don't think i will ever again. I also told my friends not to come because cockroaches in the front house is seriously not acceptable!!!! So everybody when you come here and you sit next to the wall, watch for those disgusting creatures.
(2)Marsha F.
This place is as good as it gets for Thai food. At least for me! I have been going to this place for yeeears. I started going once upon a time when it was a shack. Now its blossomed to this beautifully remodeled restaurant. The food is always good, no matter how crowded you always get good service. The place is super clean and BYOB with a liquor store next door. The food options is what does it for me. I love have so many options to choose from. Lot of Thai restaurants have the same 10 choices. You can get whatever you want and substitute however you like. It is a must try!
(5)Petras D.
Opart Thai offers the best thai food in the city (at both sites) in my opinion. The few times I've dined in the service has been prompt and accommodating. When I have ordered take-out I'm always a little amazed at how quickly the (typically) two main dishes, and two or three side orders are prepared and ready. Best of all, their prices are notably low for the portion and quality of food you get. I would recommend Opart Thai to anyone who either already enjoys Thai food or would like to experience it for the first time. I like to try something new from their menu every time I order and I've not been disappointed yet.
(5)Johnny R.
I thought I had rated these guys before... I've gotten take-out from Opart about 50 times. The delivery is prompt, and the food is always correct. I am a fan for sure. I will say that yesterday's beef pad thai was solid, but a little bland. Having made my own over the years and browsed a lot of recipes, I'd say that this dish is getting a little too Westernized...
(4)Richie D.
You want the best of the best??? Well Opart Thai IS IT! In a nut-shell: -The service (Anitra [the all-in-one bundle of a soft voice, nice body, lovely personality] is A-MA-ZING!) -The music (a perfect fusion of Electronic, Dance and Lounge mixes) -The food (outstanding and top of the line compared to the other double digit quantity of Thai places I have eaten at during my lifetime). -The BYOB--I refer to this as Bring Your Own Bag, as in TEA Bag. I love my own tea, preferably Jasmine, and it will be accompanied "on the house" by piping hot water and a nice cup to sip out of. -The decor is simply relaxing and cultural (especially with the surrounding music previously mentioned). Ahh, I long for my next visit Opart...
(5)Mavel M.
All I have to say is that I found my New Thai Restaurant!!! I used to go to Penny's and Thai on Clark, but Opart won my heart. So far I dine there once and order carryout but that food is great. It is inexpensive, easy travel access if you are taking the train and staff is great as well. I would so recommend this place for a large party or for just 2. I am definitely going back for more Thai!!!
(5)Lauren D.
This restaurant was featured on "Check Please!" so I thought why not give it a try. I went here for lunch on Wednesday at 12:30 and the place was pretty empty. The service was pretty good, but then again, there were only two other people in the entire restaurant, so it is not like it was crazy busy. The Server made some recommendations. We had their fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce on it topped off with tofu. It was actually a pretty good appetizer. My friend is a Vegetarian so it was nice to know that they have a lot of fairly good dishes for vegetarians. I ordered the Bami Pad Lard Nar with chicken and asked if they could add pineapples. They said "Yes, no problem." It was a good size plate of food. In fact, I couldn't even finish my food. The ambiance is nice, and the art work on the wall is interesting. I thought the food was just OK. The food is freshly prepared, but I will not make a special trip to Opart Thai to have their food. It tasted like Thai food that I've had at other Thai food restaurants throughout the city. I really wanted to give them four stars, but didn't because there is really nothing unique about their food.....nothing sets it apart from other Thai restaurants that I've eaten at in the city.
(3)Matt G.
Like other reviewers, I would say that they know how to kick in the spice at this place. Unlike Royal Thai, the portions are large and filling. I think it is strange to have Thai and sushi in the same restaurant, but who am I to judge? Delivery is a bit slow, but free California Maki roll for over $25 spent. Bonus.
(4)Char Y.
Came without dear Thai friends for food. However, she graciously marked the food we should order. We order Moo Ping - really tender pork on a stick tiger cry - ok, slightly tough tom yum pla - great soup with fish. gaeng pet ped - REALLY yummy curry sauce pad ped pla dook - ok, loved the eggplant & beans better fried banana - OMG the best! banana coconut inside crispy spring roll thai custard - good I am truly enjoying Thai cuisine beyond pad thai, and I am in awe of the flavor combination I tried. Lovely, just amazing.
(4)Derrick T.
In the Big Ole Windy City, there is surprisingly a LOT of Thai food places... but authentic Thai? That's the hard one to come by. In terms of pure spice, Opart accomplished this on the only visit that I've had thus far. Decor was nice! Darkwood, greeted with smiles and led to a table immediately... not ridiculously busy for a Thursday night at 6:30 PM, but the quietness was enjoyable as we settled in for our meal. Felt very upscale restaurant. Fiancee and I started with a Crab Rangoon - Crisp, melty, perfectly golden, but suffering from the same malaise that other crab rangoons suffer from: lack of crab. 8 servings for $5 was definitely a good deal though. We had two dishes - Lard Nar (seafood version) and Red Curry with Catfish (I forget the Thai name) Via my fiancee, the Lard Nar deserved four stars. I tasted the nicely cooked shrimp that was done to an excellent tenderness, and the plentiful squid which was tender as well. Tender squid is a tough thing to accomplish (at least in my kitchen) and I'm always impressed by such a feat. When ordering my Red Curry Catfish dish, the waitress asked me if I wanted mild, medium or hot. Curious as to how hot it could be, I asked her, and she let me know that it would be Thai hot. Now in all my time in Chicago, one friend has brought me to an authetic Thai place and I've never had such hot food in my life. I miss it. So I ordered Thai Hot. This curry was phenomenal. Milky texture, soft catfish, and SPICY curry. While it wasn't as hot as my past experience with my friend, this was closer than any other Thai place I've been to and I really enjoyed it. Grand dining total after tax and tip? $28. Not bad, especially with leftovers from my fiancee to make another meal for her. Verdict: If you're looking for very close to authentic Thai spice in an upscale feeling restaurant without ridiculous prices, Opart is well worth a trip. I'll be back for my curry.. mark my words.
(4)Awilda G.
This is the best Thai in the City of Chicago. It was my first visit and I waited about 40 minutes but it was so worth the wait. The Spring Rolls in Peanut Sauce was great, Rangoon was perfect and the Tiger Cry was amazing I can eat that alone and not just as an appetizer!!!!!! For this visit I opted for a soup dish and with mixed seafood and it was so delicious. Ended the night with Coconut custard and it was so delicious. The people are great, the service was wonderful and the ambiance is super friendly. Great for a date night or for a family night. Great experience and looking forward to going back!
(5)Daniel R.
Opart is our go to thai restaurant for take out. The food is always good and prepared quickly. The only downside is that the staff answering the phone to take orders are often rude.
(4)Jiyoun B.
I was craving spicy something and I yelped, of course. Reading fellow yelper's two cents made me crave this place. Per recommendation, I had the following: Tiger cry- it did taste like Korean bbq Pad Kraw Praow aka Basil Chicken in "hot" spiciness-- this hit the spot My hubby ordered: Spicy Tofu-- Deep fried tofu topped with ground chicken had really good sauce Panang Curry w/ Chicken in "hot" spiciness-- the thick sauce had bits of hot pepper powder floating in it. It was a bit too spicy for me but it had really good flavor. I'll probably come by again next time I'm in the 'hood and craving spicy Thai food.
(4)A W.
I believe I am on a quest to find the best Pad See Ewe in Chicago. Well, to find what I think is the best really. With that said, I did not find it here. I ordered Pad See Ewe to go and dug into it when I got home. I liked that the to-go container kept it relatively hot during continued shopping in the area and the trip home. However, I didn't like the lack of Chinese broccoli in the dish, and concerning the broccoli, the lack of broccoli leaves. It was basically all stalks, which I thought was a very cheap move. It also took away so much from the overall flavor. To add injury to insult, the broccoli wasn't cooked long enough either, leaving it rather crunchy. The sauce was good, but lots of the noodles were charred. I got pork for the meat, and that was on the dry side despite the sauce. My conclusion was; it wasn't good, but it wasn't bad either. I imagine the dish to have an angel on one shoulder and a demon on the other, both trying to sway it each other's way causing the dish to call 'neutral.' So, I give this place three stars because if in dire need of Pad See Ewe, the proximity to my living quarters would cause me to go ahead and get it from here with appropriate expectations. And also, because I'd like to try some of their other offerings. Although, the quest continues.
(3)Georgio M.
This is a pretty good north side Chicago restaurant that is quick on delivery and great on service. Once a week, I order Thai food, and this restaurant is pretty good about delivering it fast. The drivers are always courteous and friendly. As for the food, it's yummy and tasty. I'm not one that enjoys spicy Thai food, so they are pretty good about custom-making my order the way I like. Favorite dish is the Rama Chicken, smothered in peanut sauce. I think they close around 9 or 10, so don't come by last min, or they will all ready be getting ready to close. Great Food.
(3)Dave S.
One of the great things about living in Chicago as opposed to Clearwater, FL (our previous haunt), is the wide array of delivery available. After getting home from work I wanted Thai style peanut sauce, but didn't want to go out. HA! No problem, enter Opart Thai House. Food was better than average for a dine in Thai place and way above average for anything I've ever had delivered. As others have said, took about an hour to be delivered. Not cheap either. Food + deliver + tip was something like $45. Although, we do have a tendency to over-order when we try a new place. I ordered the chicken satay. Great. A healthy portion, well spiced and lots of hibachi grilled flavor. Also, peanut sauce lovers chicken. Enough for two meals, nice peanut sauce, cashews a plus, very spicy. My wife got the Tom Kha soup. Not her favorite, too fishy. Fish balls (hahahahaha)and crab rangoon - both of which she really liked. The food was good, not amazing. That and the fact that it was pricey keep me from giving it a 5-star review. Will def. eat here again. Best delivery I've ever had.
(4)Jeff B.
As far as the Lawrence strip of Thai restaurants go, I'm a firm devotee of Aroy Thai - but it was closed on Monday, so I decided to wander down the street to Lincoln Square. I typically start new Thai experiences with their Panang Curry - my theory being that, much like Pad Thai, if you can't get the Panang right, I'm not going to bother eating anything else there. Their Panang was fair, though between my dining companion (who ordered the Red Curry) and I, we noticed that their spice level is pretty much relegated to "Very" and "Not". Ultimately, the best part about the evening was the wine, which I brought, and the conversation. Sadly, Opart was responsible for neither. All in all, not the worst experience I've ever had in Chicago Thai, but by no means the best. Definitely noticed, shall we say, insect life wandering around the picture frame on the wall. Not very appetizing. Really might want to look into that... Next time I'm craving Thai food on a Monday, I'll wait the extra evening, and head back to Aroy.
(2)Pam D.
I was coming home from work on a Saturday afternoon and needed something to take home, so ran across the street to Opart. Won't be making that mistake again. It wasn't very busy, but they had only one waiter and it was a little much for him. It seemed like he did things in a timely manner, nothing sat waiting to be served. I got a Thai Iced Coffee and it was 80% ice, 15% Folgers instant coffee and 5% half and half. At least when the ice melted my thirst was quenched.... I got the Pad See Ewe with tofu which was okay except oddly sweet. Not that it shouldn't be, but it tasted weird.... There was a good amount of tofu which is a plus.
(2)Rita W.
Had a great experience here! There was a great selection of noodles, rice and entrees! I feel like as most Thai places around here, it is either not full on Thai entree (the pan asian places that have sweet and sour chicken and pad thai...um ok..) or they just have your standard dishes. At Opart Thai I couldn't decide on what I wanted because there was so much to choose from. Instead of getting a standard noodle dish I decided to branch out and get a new dish. My roommate and I shared the peanut sauce lovers dish (or something like that) and this sauteed shrimp dish. Both dishes were pretty delicious, especially the peanut sauce one! The sauces were so tasty I wanted more rice to soak up the sauce! Opart Thai is also BYOB! The service is pretty good and the prices are VERY reasonable!
(4)Natalie O.
Awesome for groups, awesome for dates, just awesome in general. Conveniently located right off the Western stop on the Brown Line, Opart offers quality Thai food at reasonable prices. Favorites: Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls, Peanut Sauce Lover, Massaman Curry, Woon Sen Pad Thai, Pad See-Iew, Sticky Rice, Thai Iced Tea. In the summer, they usually offer Mango Sticky Rice for dessert which is AMAZING. If you're looking for a dessert place, go to Opart. Get the mango sticky rice. And you will never be the same. I wish this wasn't a seasonal item, but I'll go back year-round anyway.
(5)Ryo Y.
We went to the Western location right under the brown line stop. The restaurant is pretty big and the staff are friendly. To be honest, I was a bit disappointing with the taste and the quality of the food. We ordered the Chicken Curry Satay, Tom Yum Koong, Basil Chicken, Pork Curry Rice, Red Curry and Pad Thai. The Tom Yum Koong wasn't spicy at all, it tasted like i just ordered some lime soup with cilantro. Not much flavor or kick..... Pad Thai tasted like the one from Big Bowl. Way too sweet. We asked for medium hot and all i could taste was the sweet sauce. There were so much sauce on my plate that I could hardly taste the veggies. the noodles were clumped together so it didn't seem like the cook prepared my meal with quality. Very disappointing.... Chicken Curry tasted the best. It had just the right amount of curry powder and charred flavor from the grill. With the cold cucumbers and raw onions it burst with thai flavor; what thai food should taste like. Basil Duck and Pork Curry Rice was just ok. Too much hype for this restaurant. I would recommend this place for first time thai virgins or large groups... it's friendly atmosphere, cheap dining and you get to bring your own booze! Dinner for five was less than 60 dollars. Although its cheap, I prob wouldn't head back. Too many great restaurants in Chicago to choose from.
(3)J M.
After visiting central and southern Thailand in May, my husband and I have made it a goal to try as many Thai restaurants in Chicago as possible :) So far Opart is hands down my favorite Thai restaurant in the city AND they have mango with sticky rice! Bonus!
(5)Vic C.
Wait was excessive but well worth it on a Friday night. There's a great bar a few blocks down on t he opposite side of the street where you can kill some time... And BYOB!
(5)Ashley K.
I would eat Thai food every day if I could. Went here a few months back with my favorite dining companion, my dad. He and I pretty much always want to order the same things, so going out to dinner with him ensures that I get to sample at least two different things I have my eye on. Plus he always treats :) On this particular occasion, we were both having a hard time deciding on an appetizer, so we decided to order 4 appetizers (reserve judgment please) and split an entree. We had the tiger cry, crab rangoon, mee krob, and pot stickers. All were very solid selections, with the tiger cry probably being my favorite. The crab rangoon were good, but did not beat the crab rangoon at Indie Cafe (currently the best crab rangoon I've ever had). The mee krob was not really at all what we were expecting - I don't know why because it pretty much came out exactly like the menu description. The deep fried skinny rice noodles were covered in some kind of sticky sweet "sauce" that was mostly absorbed into the noodles, as there was no visible sauce on the plate. It wasn't bad, in fact in a weird way, I think I really liked it. The pot stickers were some of the best I've had in recent memory. We split the peanut lover's chicken for our entree, which while incredibly tasty, did not have quite as much sauce on it as I would have liked. I'm a big sauce person. So much so that I often order food based on the sauce, with the protein either secondary or a total after thought. I would have preferred some extra sauce to sop up with my rice. But overall, a really good dish. If this weren't so far away from my current west loop abode, I'd frequent here a lot more often. I wish there was an Opart in my 'hood...le sigh.
(5)amanda A.
i love thai food. thai food in chicago has done me wrong so many times that i had almost given up on thai food here. where i grew up thai food was fresh, light, sweet, sour, spicy. all the things thai food should be. perhaps i have just had a very very bad string of luck these last 11 years with thai food in chicago but what i usually receive is thick and heavy. so so sad. opart thai is what thai food should be. reasonably sized portions or light, delicious, fresh, spicy, sweet, sout, thai food love and it is byob with a liquor store next door. if it were even vaguely close to my home or i could order delivery i would be tossing out 5 stars. though i guess that is a flaw on my part not theirs.
(4)Sara B.
My FAVORITE Thai place! Mee Krob is awesome! Pad Thai awesome. Crab Fried Rice awesome. Everything here is very good. Staff is nice and there are three rooms of tables that make seating not an issue at this popular place. I travel out of my way to go here when I can. It is good stuff. You should definitely try it if you are up this way...
(5)Matthew K.
With an abundance of Thai restaurants in the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood area, Opart reigns king with great food and a great atmosphere. Lots of very flavorful dishes: excellent chicken satay, delicious curries, and interestingly they have a marvelous chicken fried rice that is bursting with flavor but not salty or greasy in the slightest! A couple of the noodle dishes aren't that great, but 9 times out of 10 I'm very impressed with the food. Service is plenty adequate and its a clean, quiet, comfortable restaurant. Opart Thai House is BYOB, but a small liquor store is conveniently located just two doors down.
(5)Sam D.
Opart is one of 10 Thai places in a 1 mile radius of Lawrence and Western, but it is the only one you need to know about. Affordable, delicious, and fast food is served, covering an array of classic Thai dishes. It's ambience is surprisingly cozy and welcoming, considering the street view coming into the restaurant. This is a great place for a quick meal, a weekday lunch, or all-around great value Thai food.
(4)Rick F.
Atmosphere: Fine Service: Excellent Price: Fair Food: OK I love the people here very helpful, friendly and the service was excellent! I was a little disappointed in the food! Combo Fried Rice; the meat was funky, Green Curry with Chicken was good but the eggplant was raw, The Pad See Ewe delicious. Too many Thai Restaurants in Chicago so we won't be back for a while.
(3)Corey R.
Apparently I offended the guy working the register today. It was my fault. I had the audacity to want to order food here. He flipped me attitude when I asked to place an order to go. He seemed offended when I asked if there were any lunch specials. God forbid you include any napkins or chopsticks with my order. Then, after eating my way too spicy food, I had to curl up in a ball to deal with the stomach cramps. Opart, there are way too many other Thai restaurants right by you for you to be such jags. Spoon, Thai Room, Sticky Rice, Thai Oscar, etc. will now get my business.
(1)Melinda V.
Liars! This is not an authentic Thai restaurant! It is NOT good either!!! Where did these review come from?!!! We went to eat in. The deafening roar of the place was too much to handle. I couldn't hear my boyfriend sitting directly across from me at a 2 person table. I kept saying, "What? I'm sorry? I can't hear you!" I have been to quieter bars. The food was Americanized. Conservative menu, nothing extraordinary. We ordered 2 appetizers, one was good and the other was barely edible. We talked about leaving. I was so cold from the over active air conditioner (with a dress to my elbows and knees on an 85 degree day in June) I had goosebumps from head to toe. Every time the door would open my napkin would blow off of my lap. We decided to stay because we were starving. Bad, bad decision. Should have gone with our gut and left for Sticky Rice. My sauteed fish dish came out fried. I asked for a menu, maybe I made a mistake. No... Our waiter (as usual) was nowhere to be found, so my boyfriend got up to get him. I was told that ALL of the fish is fried. Seriously? Even when it says sauteed... Um...? I stuck to the basics and ordered basil chicken. It came out when my boyfriend was done with his dinner. They didn't replace my rice, so that was cold. Nice. Thanks. Between the terrible atmosphere, the awful (lack of) service and the mediocre Americanized food, you couldn't pay me to go back.
(2)Melissa R.
This is among about six Thai restaurants within a two block radius, so it doesn't necessarily stand out (especially due to the lack of friendly signage). However, when someone told me they pride themselves on BYOB Thai joints and that this is their favorite...it definitely peeked my interest. We went on a Saturday night and had zero problems getting a table. I was surprised by the decor and ambiance of the place. I was expecting somewhat of a dive, but it was really cute and kind of hip (as in I wanted to ask them what paint color was on the walls because I wanted to use it for my apartment). The food was delicious, which is really what's going to keep me coming back. We started with the spring rolls with the peanut dipping sauce (i.e. thinner/sweeter peanut butter) that was devoured in two minutes. We split two entrees: panang curry beef (it was great and not too spicy) and the chicken pad thai (yummy and not too greasy or sweet). I think the entire bill (including the beer we purchased at the corner shop) was $30...not bad for a Saturday night date.
(4)Cha Cha K.
Delicious Thai food, Take out is great. The parking around there is tricky, but it's worth it for the tasty food!
(4)Team B.
We visited Opart Thai House last Sunday. The food took a while to arrive, but we appreciated that the cook believed us when we asked for a spicy preparation. The Kuay Tiew Kee Mao (with tofu) was pretty good, but there was too much nearly-raw cabbage for our taste. The Peanut Sauce Lover (also with tofu) was outstanding! The Thai Iced Coffee was average.
(4)Jennifer W.
Definitely one of the better Thai restaurants. I've only had their takeout and have had great experiences. Food is fresh and not overly sweet. Tiger cry appetizer is a must try - spicy, savory, and slightly sweet. I would have given them an extra star if the prices were lower.
(4)Risa P.
For some reason, I have been going here a lot in the last few months. I heard that their Pad Thai is the best in the city and so I gave it a try. I tried their peanut sauce spring rolls (I basically would put peanut sauce on anything) and it was good. I got the Pad Thai and it was quite delicious. It is definitely better than other ones that I have tried in the city and thankfully missing that weird orange color that other ones seem to have. (phew!) I dont know if it is the best Pad Thai ever but it was definitely pretty good. They are BYO and are usually easy to get a seat (I think that they have reservations for larger groups, but not for a group of two or four) I am not sure about their heat scale-sometimes it seems spicy and other times, it is not spicy at all I have tried other noodles dishes (I cant remember which, but maybe #53?) and they were all pretty good. The service is FAST. We had a cranky waitress over the weekend but I am sure that there were a lot of drunkies coming from May fest and that probably got really annoying, really fast, so I won't hold it against her, she was just trying to do her job. I'll most likely be back soon!
(4)Heidi T.
I used to love this place, I feel over the years the quality has gone down. There are so many other great Thai places in the area that I do not feel the need to go back here. Do not order the pepper steak, it could potentially be one of the worst pepper steak dishes in the city! The pot stickers are all breading, barely any meat and the combination fried rice is quite flavorless. The only semi good dish I have ordered is the pad se ewe and I have still had better. Again, way too many better options in the area to stop here. Sorry Opart, you have fallen way down on my list of favorite Thai places.
(2)Lawrence C.
Great place!
(4)Jeanne L.
I love apartheid. This is my favorite thai in the city. The prices are great, the portions are perfect, the ambiance is really nice, and the servers are quick and friendly. Excellent Pad Thai, really good Panang Curry. The Tiger Cry appetizer is amazing. I've never had anything bad here, and I've been at least 12 times. Great place for an easy meal or a nice date.
(5)Edward R.
The staff was friendly and helped me make my choice between Masman and their Peanut Lovers dish. The nice waiter recommended since I was an out-of-towner that I should not leave Chicago without trying their signature Peanut Lovers dish with Beef. I openned my dinner with Peanut Lovers Springrolls and Pot Stickers. I only wish their sampler appetizer platter had more flexibility. Yelp reviews raved about the Crab Ragoon but 8 of them just seemed too many. Prices are excellent for all of their appetizers.
(4)Nick B.
I just left my weekly yoga class so my zen was already flowing. I was with my brother and he wanted to do Indian food, but I wanted Thai food. I won the debate because Opart Thai House was BYOB and his choice, Marigold, was not. We arrived late last night about 9PM and the restaurant closes at 10PM on Tuesdays. We were seated immediately and equipped with our wine opener, wine glasses, and water in seconds. The waiters were fast! I took a second to take in the atmosphere. Traditional decor, low lighting, and chill music made for a pleasant dining experience. We started with the Fresh Spring Rolls, no egg. Instead of the egg they put in pieces of tofu. Cool! The best part about the service was that our server picked up that we were a table of vegetarians and continuously asked "no egg? vegetarian style?" after every order. I thought that was just awesome. For dinner I had Curry Fried Rice and Kuay Tiew Kee Mao which was flat noodles, sprouts, Chinese broccoli, peppers, and cabbage. AWESOME. The curry fried rice was delicious and the noodle bowl was spectacular. The portions were just right, too. Most Thai/Asian restaurants assault you with dishes that bloat you beyond belief, Opart had a great balance. The hype holds up. Great food, nice atmosphere, BYOB, very reasonable...makes for an awesome night out!
(4)Mel R.
Everything I've had here is pretty good. The service is good. The place good for dining there- clean and nice decor. BYOB - yay!
(3)Javier O.
Opart Thai is a great place in the Lincoln Square area. They are BYOB (and I cannot remember off the top of my head if there is a cork-fee, so you might check into that) and all the different dishes I've had here have been great. A few other Thai places I've been in Chicago have been either too greasy or too dry (almost feeling like things were microwaved). So far with Opart, I haven't run into that issue and the flavors have been tremendous! If you are looking for Thai in Lincoln Square, definitely give Opart a shot.
(4)Kyle E.
Another one of my favorite spots in Lincoln Square. Some the best Thai food in Chicago. Sexy atmosphere too.
(5)John A.
This is my #1 go-to Thai place in Chicago. Try it- you'll like it.
(5)Lena A.
Food: average Thai, in a good way. Service: below average. I had Peanut Sauce Lover, spicy with tofu. He had curry fried rice, tofu. I liked my food, but server was very neglectful. Took a long time to take our order, fine. Didn't remove the appetizer dishes before the main course, really? Never once inquired if the food was okay, and we needed corkage. And we sat for 10 minutes after eating before he inquired if we were finished.
(2)Jennifer B.
After 2 separate and really good Opart Thai experiences, here it is: 1st (dine-in): My fiance and I picked up some IPA and headed over to Opart Thai on a friend's recommendation. It was busy but no wait for a table at 7pm on a Thursday night. We sat down and were instantly given ice water and a bottle opener by the uber-friendly host. The food was really solid: the steamed shu mai were lovely, the Tiger Cry was delicious, the Panang Curry light and flavorful, the Kuay Tiew Kee Mao was fresh and just really good. Decor is a tasteful mesh of traditional and modern. Overall, a great experience. The food is not going to change your life but it was certainly above average for reasonably priced, casual, Thai food-- and sometimes, that's exactly what you need. 2nd (delivery): Called tonight at 9:15pm (their delivery hours end at 9:30) and the guy on the phone took my order promptly and said it would be here in an hour or so. It arrived, piping hot, 20 minutes later. Awesome. Really nice delivery guy, too. Bottom line: Opart Thai is kick-ass.
(4)Alison H.
I don't think it gets more authentic than this! Clean restaurant with quick, friendly service. Food comes out steaming hot and fresh. The Tiger's Cry is awesome as are the soups and peanut satay! I crave their food just thinking about it!!! Don't fear its location under a train track...you can hardly hear a thing!
(5)Christine F.
How very disappointing. Based on the reviews I was expecting delicious, amazing food. I came away from the meal saying 'eh'. The service was ok. I ordered tofu panang curry (had to pay extra for rice, boo) and tom kha soup. I got a fuck ton of soup. It came in this giant trough. It even came with it's own ladle! However, there was more quantity than quality in this dish. The broth was watered down and wasn't nearly as flavorful as other thai places (think Tac Quick and Phos). It was ok. The panang curry was sad. It was a buttload of panang sauce with NO vegetables and a few pieces of lonely tofu. It was truly disappointing. The flavor was ok, but come on! Give me some vegetables in my curry. Oh, Opart. I will not be back.
(3)Erich R.
I have to say, Opart is a dual threat...performing equally well with their carryout and dine-in food. I've probably gotten takeout from them 20-times and never had any issue with quality, order accuracy, or speediness... For an eat-in experience, Opart has a sneaky large amount of seating, and they manage to maintain an intimate and comfortable atmosphere despite it's location on Western Ave. The staff has always been helpful explaining dishes and accomodating levels of spiciness (always important with Thai!). The food has never been a life changing experience (see: 4stars), but everything is quite good. Better yet I haven't run into any duds on the menu. My favorites are the Pad Thai, Panang Curry, and Beef Lard Nar. Oops, almost forgot the two best parts: 1: BYOB 2: It's great value for dine-in, as the portions seem to be slightly larger Overall, a solid 4-star thai restaurant in an otherwise saturated Thai area. Go for: -Date night -BYOB/Good Value Skip it if: -You're a authentic Thai snob :)
(4)Anthony Z.
I about gave up on this place after some terrible deliveries this past spring, and I see that other yelpers reporting in this time period agree. Just ordered from Spoon instead. Ordered last night, and the food has never been better. Gosh, if they got the consistency down this place would be really great, but you never quite know what you are going to get. Started with fish cakes and Tiger cry. Both were excellent. For the entrees, had the rice dish with ground chicken and basil, and a delicious green curry with eggplant and tofu. Both of these were OUTSTANDING in a way that the food has not been in the past. Kudos to the new chef! Will give them 5 stars if the quality of the food delivered is no longer a game of roulette. If you have been staying away because of the inconsistency, now may be the time to give them another try.
(4)Jamie P.
This is by far my favorite Thai restaurant in the city. The crab rangoon is hands down the best I've ever had. The food is consistantly great, both delivery and dine-in. I've tried a variety of dishes, but am rather addicted to the curry. Service is great, I've never had to wait for a table and to top it off, the place is BYOB (and there's a liquor store right next door!)
(5)Lover Of Food And Culture Z.
I love this place! They are very fast to serve and it's a BYOB what more can you ask for? Had the fish cakes and chicken satay for appetizer, they were very good. I had the Pork green curry sauce and asked for hot and it was just right. My husband had the duck red curry, which was a little sweet for my taste and was not spicy probebly because there was pineapples in it. Both dishes were very flavorful though. My daughter had the soup, can't remember the name but it had lemon grass flavor and it was very good also. All in all I like this place and would def go back. The service is great! Next time I'd like to be more adventurous and tell them to make it super spicy.
(5)Mike L.
I am a big fan of Thai food. My wife and I have been to at least 20 different Thai restaurants throughout the city. She is more of the adventurer and I usually stick with the basic Thai dishes. We find that Opart Thai is reasonably priced, the meals we have tried over and over are consistent and the food is always delicious. We order out from Opart probably once a week and have been ordering from them for the last 4 years. It is always good for us! Don't forget it is a BYOB and with no corkage fee! I agree with service is not the best but the food makes it up and our bill is always under $30 with two apps. Service is rated at 3.7 for dining in.
(5)hanna y.
After hearing that they have good Thai food from a friend, we decided to check it out. I was not impressed with the food at all. To start off, we got the shrimp papaya salad, which normally I absolutely love, but not in this case. First off, they didn't even use fresh shrimp, it was some nasty dried burnt shrimp that was absolutely disgusting! Also, they put too much sauce on their papaya, it was like they were trying to cover up something, like the fact that their salad sucked. I also got the pad thai, which I feel is like a staple dish at all thai restaurants and you just can't go wrong with it. Yuck... my pad thai was too sticky like they overcooked the noodles and was just awful. Would I come back? probably not.
(1)Gina F.
I used to be a fan, but it just seems to be consistantly going down hill. My husband and are Thai fanatics. When we started dating, we probably went about once a week to various restaurants. At one point, we did Thai about 8-9 times in 2 weeks (yeah, that was a little crazy & we had to take a little break after that). We still go once or twice a month, but I think we'll be skipping Opart from now on. First off, the service is pretty bad. We managed to get the same server pretty frequently, and he has to be the most disinterested, lethargic person ever. We had a different server when we went last week, but it was very nearly the same story. We only went because we forgot Thai Oscar was closed that day. Second, the food. It's inconsistant. Once I had this amazing dish delivered--so spicy it was hard to eat, and so delicious it was impossible not to. I ordered it in the restaurant and asked that they make it medium (I forgot to mention the spice level the previous time). I got a dish that in know way resembled the first dish, covered in that gelatinous, brown sauce ubiquitous in Chinese fast food. Another time, when our food was served, mine was COLD. Not warm, or not piping hot--cold. parts on one side were warm on top (clearly the effect of a heat lamp) but underneath that and the whole other side was cold. It had to have been sitting in the window 10+ minutes. It was also totally bland instead of cooked with the hot peppers. When I let the server know that it was cold & not spicy, he took it back & the cook tossed it in the pan with sriracha. Cuz that's the same. Boo. Thai Oscar all the way.
(2)Scott W.
I like this Opart although I prefer the one in the South Loop. I believe they're both run by the same people but there's something about the South Loop store's food/version I prefer. Great Pad Thai at both but no free soda refills. Great for take-out. YOU NEED ONLINE ORDERING!!!!! PHONE ALWAYS BUSY.
(4)Heidi N.
I really really wanted to rate Opart Thai much higher, but I just can't. I wanted to like the place, but I just don't. Maybe I'll give it another shot, but probably not for some time. To be concise, here are the positives and the negatives of my visit. Plus: + BYO + Cozy and comfortable interior + Delicious pot stickers + Tasty Thai iced tea Minus: - Had to order from takeout menus and couldn't hear the waitress's explanation why we couldn't have regular menus. - Waitress sat us, and disappeared. Our tummies were rumbling and we hadn't even gotten a chance to order yet. - Waitress continued to be inattentive the rest of the visit. - Tried something new and it tasted terrible. I had maybe five bites and I couldn't stomach it anymore. I don't recall the dish, but it was served with a "gravy" that tasted off. I went home hungry. - My date had a similar issue with his barbecue pork dish. He ate it, but was disappointed with the sauce. He said it lacked flavor. Most likely, we just ordered poorly and ended up with duds. I'd like to give it another try and order one of my usual go-to Thai dishes (love me some Pad Woon Sen), but this experience just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Pun 100% intended.
(2)Kyle P.
Great food at a great price and a BYOB with a minimart 20 feet to the north.......Loved it and would come back anytime.....Butch and lipstick crowd along with the old man young man crowd.....Check it out
(5)Colt E.
Opart Thai is a good restaurant. But that's as much as a I can say. Food tasted good, but was nothing special. Prices were fine, but usually at Thai places you get a lot of food. Here that wasn't the case. It was just enough food, but not enough that I'd get to take some home too. Friendly waitstaff and we had no issues, but I woudn't go out of my way to come here again.
(3)Michelle F.
Opart is hands down my favorite Thai restaurant in the city. The restaurant itself is easy to get to, and really cute inside. It's byob and there is a liquor store about 5 feet away. I often judge Thai places by two very basic staples: crab rangoon and chicken pad thai. Both are outstanding. Fresh and super hot, I have gone to other places closer to my apartment just to be disappointed. Their noodles are to die for, they have big chunks of chicken and.....oh jeez now I want some. Crap. Their iced coffee is delish too, even in the winter. Now if you will excuse me, I need to start calling friends to see who wants to go eat.
(5)Rebecca Huicha K.
the decor is definitely much nicer than the typical thai restaurant even tho their sign outside is pretty tacky. As first glance, all the prices are pretty cheap and comparable to other thai restaurants. We got the fried shrimp rolls as an app. if you've never tried them before, they're pretty good except here at opart. There wasn't much shrimp and it looked messy. I've had these at other places and it's always been good since they use big, full shrimp. That was a waste of $6. Now on to the entrees...the bf and I got the beef pad see iew and red curry chicken. I was hoping this place would fulfill my long time goal of finding awesome pad see iew but sadly it did not. The pad see iew was a bit too sweet and the portion was surprisingly a lot smaller than i expected. As for the red curry, OMG...I LOVED IT! has got to be my favorite red curry place thus far. Weird thing is tho when we ordered it the waiter asked if we wanted rice with the curry... here's our convo.. H: beef pad see iew and red curry with chicken please W: do you want rice with the curry? H: ummm...doesn't it come with rice (shoots a look to her bf..both are confused) W: no it doesn't, you have to order it H: umm..ok. we'll take a bowl of rice then (waiter leaves) H's bf: WTF do they expect us to eat the curry with if there's no rice? do they expect us to drink it?!?!? anywho rice is $1 more. not a big deal i guess but it feels weird having to pay for rice when you order curry... hmmm... I definitely want to try different dishes at this place in the future. Red curry lovers, please try this place out!
(4)Lynn C.
I love the crab rangoon, chicken satay, thai iced coffee, cucumber salad, pad thai, pad see euw... Service is not warm and friendly, but I don't really mind.
(5)Jay S.
My wife and I went for the first time just a few days ago. Of all the Thai places in Lincoln Square I would have to rate this as the best. The food was very good and the cost was very reasonable. We had the Tiger Cry beef and Steamed Dumplings for starters. Both dishes were fresh and the Crying Tiger had an excellent sauce. For the main course I had the Peanut Sauce Lover dish with chicken and my wife had the Lard Nar Talay. The Peanut Sauce dish was quite good, I asked for spicy and it was spicy without being overbearing. My wife thought the Lard Nar was okay. It is BYOB so we brought a bottle of white wine. Total cost including tip (and bottle of wine) was $45.
(4)Cynthia O.
This is bar none my favorite place for Thai food. I tried it for the first time when I moved to the area 5 years ago and love love love it! I've just now moved in with my fiance out in the suburbs but I got him addicted to the place so we try to get up there once a month still! The decor is okay, but the food quick and reasonably priced. It's always busy there....even on a Monday night! The Pad Thai and the chicken fried rice are yummmmy. I definitely recommend it!
(5)Nas T.
Tasty, fresh, cheap, quick. Always my go-to place for Thai in the Lincoln Square area. In fact, it's better than the more popular/overrated Spoon just down the street, and it's almost as good as Duck Walk on Belmont, which is my favorite Thai place on the North side, so YMMV. The only problem with Opart is that there's this one waiter (stocky guy, kind of looks like a Thai Charlie Brown) who's always completely unfriendly and even surly; he once grabbed a menu out of my friend's hand before the friend was even done ordering! Dude, fix whatever's wrong in your life and THEN come back to work as a waiter!
(5)Amy D.
I've gotten lots of carry out there and actually celebrated my b-day there so I'm surprised I didn't write about it sooner. Normally I love their peanut lovers dish, but this time it was just ok. I would have given it three stars if I had just stuck to my meal, but I tried other peoples in the party. WOAH nelly on the salt! Geez. They must have forgotten they salted already and did without realizing. I figure this is a once in a blue moon mistake. I have to give it two stars for my experience, but since I have had good experiences there before, I would check it out again.
(2)Bryan S.
I want to start by saying that I have always been relatively unimpressed by Thai food but Opart Thai is delicious. The crab rangoons and the shrimp tempura are the best I have ever had. I've tried them at other restaurants and nobody even comes close to being as good. The service is good, the seating area is cozy, the food is pretty cheap and it's BYOB. Their delivery is lightning fast too. Overall, when it comes to Thai food, Opart really is as good as it gets.
(5)Robert S.
I had heard great things about Opart from many people, so I decided to give it a try when I happened to be at the Western Brown Line stop. I ordered Crab Rangoons for an appetizer, and they were amazing! Creamy and crabby, but not too much of either... peanut buttery in texture... perfect in my opinion. The Tom Kha Kai soup that I ordered looked bland- like milk with green onions in it- but that was FAR from the truth. The soup was flavorful and spicy, and came in a heated bowl so it wouldn't get cold. The Pad Thai also looked bland- and it was. I know that Pad Thai isn't "true" Thai food, but I usually like it so I order it. This Pad Thai was by no means bad, it just could have maybe been spicier or had more sauce and been fine. Service was great-timely, friendly, and accommodating (the waiter didn't look at me weird when I said I was allergic to cilantro!) I think they could win a contest for Lincoln Square's smallest bathroom.
(4)Andrea S.
I've definitely had better. Waiting in line here, was myself and a friend and two other parties of 2. There were two open tables that needed cleaned. The other party and mine had been waiting for about 15 minutes when the third party walked in. They saw the empty table and sat down. The hostess didn't do anything about it. He went over and waited on them. I didn't like the decor in there, very dark, and it seemed like they wanted to take themselves too seriously and all the waiters certainly did. When we were seated, I took our bottle of wine out of my bag and set it on the table, at the same time the hostess was placing our plates on the table. More like SLAMMING our plates on the table. He did it so hard that the bottle of wine shook and started to fall off the table. He caught it! Not without shooting me a very dirty look. Like I did something wrong. I just shrugged my shoulders and said , "wow you're fast, good catch." To which he said nothing. Ok. So I'm looking at the menu and notice that they charge extra for rice. The usual Thai restaurant I frequent does not. I didn't like that. We ordered the chicken satay. It was tasty, with the peanut sauce, and the cucumber salad was good too. It looked horrible though. The chef must not of ever heard of presentation. I had the tom yum soup with chicken ... 3 pieces of chicken in the whole soup. It tasted different than the tom yum soup I'm usually used to. The lime seemed too strong. We ordered the fried banana spring rolls for dessert. They were yummy! I really liked the honey on them. Before we went to the restaurant we called ahead and asked if there was a corkage fee. They told us there wasn't. When I got the bill there was a $2.50 bar charge. ( The owner contacted me and said that they do not charge a corkage fee, that the amount labeled "Bar Charge" was for the dessert. ) I've had SUCH better Thai food than this. I looked at all the great reviews and thought I would try a new place. I should have stuck to my old one!! Better food, Better service, Better decor, Better food, Better food, Better food ... STICKY RICE, why did I cheat on you?!?!
(2)Moe f.
So I'll give it 4 stars for food but one for service/delivery. Take out from here only!! I've had really crappy service especially from one flamboyant waiter on a few occasions. And I've waited 90 minutes on at least 2 occasions for delivery. The peanut sauce spring rolls and tiger cry beef rock. The peanut lovers dish is great and super spicy. All curries are great as is Pad Kee Mao. Beware when ordering because spicy means spicy.
(4)erin m.
Adorable Thai place in Lincoln Square neighborhood. Really great food at good prices. I I love the Tiger Cry beef, the pad Thai, and the yellow curry is delicious. I love the wood carvings on the walls. I love that it is BYOB. Again, there are a million and two Thai places in the city, but this one has good food, good prices, and a nice (not dirty or cheap looking) atmosphere. A must-eat for Chicago cheap eats!
(5)Amanda P.
Not bad, but in comparison to Rosded, which is right across the street, it just doesn't measure up. A little more expensive than the average noodle joint, they make up for it by the use of good vegetables, like rapini instead of the more pedestrian broccoli. Noodles get a little burnt around the edges, but in a good way. I guess I can't really say anything bad about this place, but it's missing a certain something. I still haven't figured out what.
(4)James M.
Not the best Panang Curry I've ever had, but it was pretty good. Ordered take-out and it was a quick and painless process. Would eat there again.
(3)Shoron L.
It was ok. I went with another friend. Prices were very reasonable. The decor was also very nice. We ordered the papaya salad, pad prik king and one other dish. The papaya salad was supposedly made with fresh papaya but the only thing papaya in it was the sauce which they made really spicy and I have a high tolerance for spicy. the pad prik king was good in my opinion but there was nothing Thai about it. We also ordered this other seafood dish and it was very bland. Shrimp with vegetables is what I would call it. I would consider it more like a chop suey than Thai food. Perhaps, we just ordered the wrong dishes but I would consider it mediocre and more like a 2 star but I gave them an extra star because the curries next to us smelled decent.
(3)Jeremy P.
Very satisfactory, nothing special.... The food was all kinda bland. When I think of Thai, I want flavor!! But the price was excellent.
(3)Timothy M.
Opart pretty much represents everything I love about Lincoln Square. It's fairly-priced, not uber-trendy, not over-crowded, not judgmental, etc. Even if it is filled with old hipsters/Wicker Park ex-pats in their 30s talking about the good ol' days of the Artful Dodger and telling stories of prostitutes on North Avenue. But that's part of the fun. Lincoln Square is both mature and cool at the same time, and Opart fits the neighborhood like an old shoe. The atmosphere is laid back, easy, and service is good. The Pad Thai (my litmus test for a Thai place) was really good. They put a lot of sprouts in it so it gives it a lot of crunch that nicely offsets the buttery peanut sauce. Delicious. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Angela Z.
I'm a VERY picky fan of Chicken Pad Thai and this place is now neck and neck with Duck Walk on Fullerton for my favorite pad thai in the city!! :) Love it! It's just the flavor I'm looking for when it comes to Chicken Pad Thai. It has the thinner noodles, but it is still full of a subtle yet delicious flavor that I love and not brown or orangey looking like the kind of pad thai I loathe. Chicken itself was good quality too. We also had the Crab Rangoons, yum, and the cold Peanut Spring Rolls which were also pretty good. Service was friendly and attentive. Atmosphere is very busy and crowded so probably best for a dinner with friends or just a casual date where you don't want quiet. The place is broken up into 3 different rooms to eat in but just know that it is tiny-ish, and the decor is cute too! Just a nice warm place.
(4)E. C.
Their noodle dishes are pleasingly free of that red grease you find at some other thai places, and their curries are the best I've found in Chicago so far. The green curry with eggplant is super good, and the red curry with catfish is shoot yourself in the head, all other Thai curries ruined forever good. An overstatement? Maybe. But why, oh why, do they have to nickel and dime you on the rice? Eight big ones is already on the high side for a simple bowl of red curry, and then they charge you an extra dollar for, let's be honest, about 4 cents worth of white rice. Scummy tactic. Costs them a star. I'd rather they just price them at $9.
(4)Jason C.
Fantastic Thai, the best in Lincoln Square. If you only ever get this delivered, add another star-- I feel compelled to drop one for the weird in-house service I've experienced there before. However bad the service, though, the food is always excellent.
(4)Carla G.
I try so hard to resist their perfectly spiced goodness, but I tend to acquiesce at least once a week to either their curry fried rice or Rama, always with tofu. Perfectly cooked tofu, I should add. I stop by on my way back from work, and within 15 minutes tops, I am on my way out. There are quite a few Thai choices within blocks of the Brown line Western stop, but this is BY FAR the bet one, especially for the price!
(5)The Consumer U.
Brilliant Thai food! I used to live literally around the corner, over on Leland and loved walking over there for dinners every once in a while. Had a great Beef w/Basil dish that was amazingly spicy (Pad Kra-Proh??) several times, just excellent. Restaurant is BYOB which is pretty cool and has a nice old school thai atmosphere that even includes a picture of the king of Thailand.
(5)m m.
always get the pad see ewe chicken when i go here. it's byob. not the friendliest of staff, but the food makes it ok.
(4)Maggie B.
People of Lincoln Square, you have almost too many Thai choices. Within spitting distance of the Western elevated you have Spoon, Oscar, Opart, and the little place on Leland competing for your pad thai order. Opart Thai is fantastic for dine-in or delivery, because they will make things as Gringo or as "bring it on hot as hell" as you wish. I recommend the Tiger Cry and my husband thinks their Tom Yum soup is medicinal as it cures any ailments. The curries are the hottest around if you like that kind of thing.
(5)Dona K.
My family and I have been going her for years. On occasion we try other Thai places but always end up running back to Opart, craving their green curry and Tom Yum soup. Charming ambiance and good staff.
(5)Jillian D.
opart is my favorite for thai delivery. you can expect a 45 minute wait or longer for the food, but it's worth every minute. i've only dined in three times. the dining room is nice enough, and it's BYOB, a nice plus. some stand out dishes are the eggplant in oyster sauce (ask for it extra spicy - pow!!), sliced roasted duck with broccoli, kee mao noodles and pad thai. and for once, spicy means spicy - yeah!!
(5)elizabeth s.
I only wish I had tried this place when I lived a block away...or maybe it is a good thing since I can't seem to stay away. The crab rangoon is the best in the city. I am not a seafood person at all and I could eat 2 servings of this! The spring rolls and egg rolls are worth ordering as well. My favorite dish is the Peanut lovers but I have also tried the curries and none have ever disappointed! The fact that it is BYOB (no corkage) is just the cherry on the icing on the top of the cake! Be prepared for a wait on the weekend though!
(5)Kristen W.
Great Thai food! This place was recommended to me as the 'best' Thai in the city. I got takeout and it arrived VERY quickly and VERY hot. The quality of the food was great- super tasty and very unique in flavor. I will definitely order takeout again. Though I can't say I am tempted to eat in the restaurant- I've walked by and it seems to lack ambience.
(4)Vinny K.
Sometimes I think that the reason my wife really wanted to move to Lincoln Square was to be within walking distance to Opart. She loves the curry that much. I mix it up a bit, but haven't been disappointed with any of my choices. And we both agree on the spring rolls to start - if anyone has figured out the secret ingredient that gives them that slightly unique flavor please let me know. The dishes are all reasonably priced and just the right size for me - I get plenty to eat, but usually don't go home with leftovers. It's also a pretty big place, so I've never had a wait and they seem to accommodate groups pretty well. There are a lot of choices on this stretch of Western, but Opart usually gets our vote.
(5)Elizabeth H.
This is hands down my favorite thai restaurant in the city! I have been coming to Opart for as long as I can remember, and have never been disappointed by the food. The staff is friendly and fast, and the food simply speaks for itself. Thai is one of my favorite types of cusines, so I have tried pretty much every restuarant in the city, and rarely anything can compete with Opart. The only downside: because of the recent up-and-coming aspect of Lincoln Square, it has a tendency to build up a bit of wait on weekends, which was never a problem before. Thankfully, they recently expanded an entire store front and seem to handle to flow of people traffic rather well. If you know and love thai food, or just want a good first experience with it, try out Opart! Don't forget: BYOB
(5)Mike Y.
A long time customer. The opart beef is the best. I also recommend the tom yum soup. Both are the best in the city. The service is always friendly and the food fresh and done right. They get the spice right. enjoy as I always do.
(5)Jennifer M.
Best thai ever!! Service can be dodgy, delivery pretty much takes an hour no matter what, and sometimes the heat level is unpredictable (I always order very hot and sometimes, it's just not hot enough), otherwise this food is amazing. BYOB is also a plus :)
(5)Lily D.
Pros: 1. BYOB, 2. easy on the wallet, 3. tasty food Cons: 1.iffy service, 2. curry doesn't come with rice (you have to order a side of rice which is not a huge deal, but I found it odd), 3. compared to other thai restaurants, Opart had smaller portions Overall, pretty good place. I'd stop by if I was in the neighborhood, but I wouldn't make a trip of it.
(3)Dolly V.
So so so good! Their chicken Tom-Yum soup pleases me like a bottle of whiskey pleases an alcoholic or a chocolate cake to a fat kid, or...etc. Whatever...it's perfect soup for winter. Their curries are consistently good...just make sure you have enough rice for it though...last time I got gypped with just a side of sticky rice. I need my rice dangit! It's okay though, I still love you, Opart. Always and forever.
(4)Dan W.
Take out was meh.. Granted, there are very few sit-down joints that can also pull off great take out. Fried things tend to get steamed in styro, what was once piping hot is now kinda hot, etc.. So you can cut them some slack. As soon as we get a babysitter locked down and my son is a little older, we're back there to check out what the sit-down experience is like. So TBD, but for the $$$, take-out wasn't worth a repeat.
(2)Alexis H.
This place has been around FOREVER, and I really mean it. My earliest memory of this restaurant is eating here as a very young child with my parents. I am now 24 and my parents have been divorced for 15 years, so that definitely dates this memory. Anywho, on to the review. The food is your standard Thai fare: appetizers, noodle and rice dishes, and dishes based around meat, meat, and more meat. The food is prepared very quickly and it is fresh and tasty... yum. A couple of negatives (even if it is a 5-star review): Their meat dishes don't have a lot of vegetables in them. "Why is this a complaint?" you ask. Because sometimes I want a combination of veggies and not just two chunks of broccoli and beef. I know, call me crazy. Second, their waiters can have attitudes. Why the attitude my friend? I'm only trying to eat some of your delicious food. Prices are great, parking is very easy, and the ambiance is pretty decent if you go into one of the back rooms. The front room has a lot of foot traffic. Okay, so maybe it really isn't deserving of a 5-star review (those are hard to come by) but my fond childhood memories are forcing me to be biased in a positive way. Definitely check it out if you're in the neighborhood.
(5)Juliet L.
This place is truly a hidden gem. I think it is the best Thai restaurant in the city. I have introduced my husband to it and he totally agrees. It's cheap, very delicious, and BYOB. Try the appetizer sampler.
(4)Jenna S.
Opart Thai has by far the best Masuman Curry I have ever tasted! My boyfriend also thoroughly enjoys their Pad Krow Prow and their squid salad is wonderful!! The service has always been descent and friendly and the atmosphere is very comfortable and beautiful! We are able to have 2 meals and an appetizer for under $25. I highly recommend Opart!!!
(5)Melinda D.
This is the best Thai food hands down. It is the only Thai place where I feel safe eating the beef, which is mouth watering. All dishes I have had here are beyond exceptional. The ginger chicken is comfort food, the masaman curry is gorgeous, I could go on forever. This place is the best. I know live in CA, and even with all the Asian restaurants here, I still crave this place.
(5)Aidan F.
Having had noodles for lunch, I went fairly simple when i had dinner here. I had some fried rice, an my brother had the pad woonsen. We both agreed the dish was too eggy. The flavor was too rich and hard I could not finish, despite the average size portion. I should try more menu items in the future, but in this city, you could eat thai food each day from a new restaurant, so who knows....
(3)Janice W.
I've lived in the neighborhood near Opart for over 10 years and have been eating there regularly longer than that. It's consistently good. I most often get: Yum Neau (beef salad) it's so tasty. The lime dressing is to die for - get a side of rice to soak it all up. I've tried beef salad at countless other thai places over the years and theirs is by far the best. The quality of the beef is fantastic. Tom Yum Chicken soup. Again, had it many times over elsewhere but it's never better than here. Citrus-y with lots of flavor - and no tomatoes! I don't know if tomatoes are typical in Tom yum but it kills it for me when they do. Nam Sod - another salad. This time, ground chicken. Lime dressing. Get a side of rice. I could go on. It's the best service is good though I must say, as much as I go in there and order take out they could acknowledge me. There's never any 'oh, hey, how are you?' or when I call in the order they never punch my number into the computer and ask 'the usual?' but hey, I guess they are too busy making awesome food.
(5)Andrea K.
Went here for lunch for two co-workers birthdays. The place was pretty desolate so I'm unsure why it took 20 minutes to just be greeted by the server, and another 20 minutes to get any kind of beverage service (including water). We were all served at separate times (while sitting at the same table mind you). I won't be going back here.
(1)Charles G.
Excellent Thai food at a reasonable price. Competent staff, in a pretty blah atmosphere. Never a bad meal, and their massaman curry is one of the best I've had anywhere.
(5)Eric J.
Very good food. Very large and pleasant decor which tends not to be too common. 1/2 a block from my apartment makes it a popular take out spot and I must say, it is really good Thai.
(4)Mike P.
It's like this: If I want Thai food, then I go to Opart Thai House. A friend of mine recommended this place since he goes there quite often for carry out which is what we wound up doing. I never actually ate inside the restaurant although it looks nice enough. The spotlight is the food. I've tried various dishes, but for me the Pad Thai is the best.
(4)David C.
Out on Thai row I wanted to try something other than Spoon, and my response to Opart is "eh." Firstly, we started with Tom Ka Kai soup, which was decent, but tasted a little too buttery, lacking a bite. I tried my girlfriend's pad thai, and I thought it tasted a bit too sweet. The deep fried tofu was quite good, and the only thing that was markedly better than Spoon's. I had Panang curry and it was pretty good, but I love thai menu at Spoon where I'm getting something original and really flavorful. Opart was not bad, but it lacked the authenticity of Spoon. The decor at Opart was better: darker wood, better lighting, music, etc. I don't do cheap thai for ambiance; I come for the food, and Spoon's is better. If it was down the street from me I'd go back, but because it's down the street from Spoon I won't.
(3)Jacob R.
So, what's not to like? 1. I don't know
(5)Capt'n Z.
As a white man with glasses and no visible scars on my face, when I ask for a dish that is hot in the majority of Chicago Thai restaurants, I am usually eyeballed by the server, given the once-over, and dismissed as someone who doesn't really know what they want. I can almost hear the waitstaff's thought process; "What he really wants is something NOT spicy rather than the the spicy thing he ordered, even though he said he wants it spicy. I am a server and I know best". It's is so upsetting when I ask for something to be real hot, Thai-hot, can't-hear-anymore-because-my-ears-are-plugged-up-Âwith-fire-hot, stick-my-head-in-a-bucket-of-ice-and-watch-it-Âboil-hot, and I end up getting New-Brunswick-on-a-spring-morning-hot. That usually means that I have to scowl at the server, ask for chili sauce, and make them watch me make my own food hot. NOT TRUE AT OPART. Goodness, finally a Thai restaurant that isn't afraid of their customers "accidentally" ordering hot and spicy food. It all tastes great too. Fast and friendly service, wine chillers (I think... It's hard to remember when your head is on fire), real good food, and great prices. I love it every time I go. The only reason this place doesn't get five stars from me is because it is not a dive bar. Add some year round christmas lights, a dingy uneven bar, and a bunch of neighborhood drunks slumped over broken and off balance bar stools and Opart will get that last star from me. Then again, that just might ruin their awesome Thai Restaurant. I guess you should just assume that this is a five star review.
(4)John S.
While waiting for my bike to be repaired we ventured off to Opart on a recommendation. The appetizers are absolutely delicious. Best Thai I have had in the Midwest. Before ordering I wish that I knew it was a BYOB. Will go back many times...
(5)Liz O.
I had a b-day party of 15 people last night and the food was phenomenal (hot and spicy)! The waiter was great in accommodating everyone including 3 kids and making some food suggestions. The tiger cry was exceptional (like always) along with the chicken larb, tom ka kai and the pad thai noodles- outstanding flavors! Opart is the only thai restaurant we go to including the one on state street, but by far this one has better flavors and you can't beat the prices! And it's BYOB!!!!!! great savings when you're hosting a party.
(5)Kristin M.
This is the best Thai food ever! I moved from the south loop to the burbs and miss it soooo much. Try the peanut sauce lovers and tiger cry. Everything I have ever tried here is amazing and the service is great too. The delivery guy is so sweet, and always smiling.
(5)sharmane b.
opart is consistently delicious. cheap, fast, & yummy. my fave is the sweet potato curry. i get it with brown rice, tofu & chicken & i'll tell you what....that is some good chicago winter comfort food right there buddy. & who doesn't like a byo? i mean....... p.s.- they have the best tom ka kai-sp in town. oh my goodness...it's the most perfect balance of spicy & sour & coconut milk....i could live off of it if i had to have only one thing for the rest of my life.
(5)Veronica H.
Reasonably priced, absolutely delicious, fast, casual, BYOB and great for weekday takeout. What more can one ask for??? Make sure to try the fried chicken spring roll, sounds odd, but soooooo good.
(5)Anna M.
Good thai food. I usually get my fav dish which is woon sen, anything with the glass noodles. If they don't make it the way I like it, I don't go back but this place rocks! Jasmine tea hits the spot too. They have nice art on the walls and it's a relaxed place.
(4)maya s.
I visited Opart today. Our server, "Anne" was a total b*tch. She was in a foul mood when she came to our table. I didn't even get to order my drink before she ran away. I asked what soup could be made vegetarian since I don't eat meat. She said everything on the menu could be made veggie friendly. Well, not so much. I ordered vegetable soup. One would think that should be safe. Well, it wasn't. It reeked of fish so I didn't eat it. She came over and asked if I wanted it boxed up (which she never came to check and see how our food was). I told the soup smelled like fish and I specifically stated I'm a vegetarian. She confirmed with the kitchen there was fish in it and then SHE BLAMED THE MISTAKE ON ME. She yelled at me for now saying I'm vegan. I'm not vegan. I don't eat dead animals. Fish is an animal. The C*nt then acted like she was doing me a favor for taking it off the bill. She apparently is the manager there. How such an ignorant and rude person could run the place is beyond me. I will not be going there again. The owners should fire her. And hopefully my call later today will help with that. Suck it, Anne.
(1)liz W.
I don't even want to give it one star! Gross food- horrible service. I order thai here one night and the potstickers tasted like they had been sitting out all day (and felt like it too, cold and soggy) and the basil chicken smelled WRONG! When i called to complain they said all the could do was give me store credit- like I'd ever eat there again. DO NOT GO HERE- walk across the street to snow spice and try there wonderful basil chicken
(1)Kate R.
Yum, Yum, Yum. Opart has been one of my favorite restaurants since I moved to the neighborhood in 2000. They have since remodeled...no more crazy floor and orange paint...the food is pretty consistent only sometimes you get it too spicy! Now I always ask for mild, because you just don't know who is in the kitchen throwing in the hotness.
(4)Alicia V.
It has become common knowledge among my friends that if you ask me where I want to eat, my first choice will always be Opart Thai. The food is cheap, the atmosphere is much nicer than other Thai joints in town, it's BYOB & the food is DELICIOUS! I don't know what else I can really say...
(5)A H.
This is my favorite Thai restaurant in Chicago. We lived in East Village and I would go out of my way to go eat here instead of the other Thai restaurants near by Wicker Park or Buck town. I always ordered either the Pad Prik King (Ginger chicken) or the Pad Kra Prow (Basil chicken). I usually orders the entrees with a choice of chicken because I don't think Thai dishes, especially the stir-fried w/ vegetables, are good with red meat, unless you're ordering the Lard Na noodle. This is one of the few restaurants that prepares the Basil chicken or Pad Kra Prow using ground chicken instead of sliced chicken - so that deserved an extra star from me. The restaurant gets very crowded during the weekend and the services tend to get slow at times. Price is cheap and food is good. I come here often and always.
(4)Sheila Y.
Underwhelming at Best! I decided while I was visiting family in Chicago to do something "different" and so I thought a trip for some yummy curries would be in order. To start I have nothing to complain about in regards to service or decor. Yes, the waitstaff is standoffish and semi-cold, but living in Seattle has forever changed my views on what to expect in this category. I didn't mind if they looked put off as long as they got me my food in a timely fashion. So on to the eats. We started with the Fried Tofu Satay and the Spring Rolls. The fried tofu came out in "sticks" and tasted chewy, not crispy. The accompanying peanut sauce tasted like the stuff I can buy from the grocery store. The spring rolls were straight up foul. They came drenched in this gelatenous sweet and sour sauce. It was unedible. Next we did the Papaya Salad and Tom Yum with chicken. The Papaya Salad was decent, as was the Tom Yum. The soup was a bit watered down and not nearly as flavorfull as others I've had in the past. After seeing that every table ordered the Crab Rangoon we decided to follow suit, even though this is not a Thai dish. It was good for what it was...wonton wrapper fried with cream cheese and some kind of Krab. The entrees were totally hit and miss. I shared the full fried Red Snapper in a red curry with my mom. It was the highlight of the night. Yes, a whole fried fish is kind of novelty, but the fried bits covered in curry was quite nice. I ordered the Green Curry with Chicken and Fried Tofu and just kind of looked at another watered down version of what I love so much. My sister got the Chicken Satay...it looked like chicken on a stick and my step dad got some shrimp dish which also looked meh. All in all....big disappointment...the only reason I'm even going three star is for the fried fish and the decent Papaya Salad...otherwise don't waste your time.
(3)Michelle J.
Me and my friends have been visiting this place over a year. First the atmosphere is very nice. Second they serve the best thai food in Chicago. The price is very reasonable and the service is good too. I'll definitely come back and recommend to everybody.
(5)KC W.
I love Opart; in fact, I forgot just how much I love Opart. You simply cannot beat their spiciness and their fresh ingredients. Specifically, their vegetables and shrimp are above and beyond most thai places.
(5)Ashley M.
I wish I could give this place ZERO stars! The first time my boyfriend and I went here we sat at our table for a good ten minutes before even being greeted or receiving water and because of this we decided to leave. After our first experience dining in we decided the next time we would just order food for take out. I kept hearing raves about this place from a bunch of people I worked with, so today we decided to take my boyfriends family here when they came in to town. Again, worst service I have probably ever experienced. There were only about three or four other people in the restaurant and it still took a long time for us to get our drinks and water put on the table. Whatever, its just drinks we were still excited to try the food that we heard so many good things about. I guess we let our hopes get too high because this food was horrible. I got the egg noodles with chicken and it smelled and tasted like cat food. Not that I eat cat food...I mean I try it every now and then. Who cares? But honestly, everything but the appetizers were bad. Save yourself the time and money, the poor service and food is not worth it. Go down a few doors to one of the other Thai places where you can get good service and good food.
(1)Carol H.
The place always seems to be over-crowded, so the service is slow. I've also gotten this one really rude waiter there a couple of times and have stopped eating there.
(2)Maegen R.
Yummy and reasonably priced. I've not dined in, but have gotten take out on several occasions.
(3)Mike B.
I've ordered takeout and eaten here for both lunch and dinner. Opart Thai is a nice joint, don't get me wrong, but somewhat overrated. You can get better Thai food for a better price at a few other places, for sure. Still, if you've never eaten here before, it's worth a visit. I mean, it's good, but not superb.
(3)Chris S.
Impressively tasty Thai food at very reasonable prices. I found nothing extraordinary on their menu but all of the dishes were well prepared and served in a timely manner. The atmosphere of the place is pleasant too. This joint takes #2, just below Siam Noodle & Rice, on my list for best cheap Thai eats in Chicago.
(4)Lauren D.
This is my new favorite. Its inexpensive ($8-12 per person) and BYOB. Right accross the street from the Western brownline stop, so convenient location. I order the Peanut Lovers with Chicken with mild spices. it was awesome. Large servings and was enough for an entire meal the next day. Service was average nothing to brag about. Decor was nice.
(5)Pauline M.
We were looking for a new thai restaurant to order from and decided to give this a shot. We ordered a few things. They took about an hour and it was pricey for thai food. There are places on par for less time and less money. I had shrimp tempura, shumai, panang curry, sticky rice and thai custard. Shrimp tempura with broccoli, sweet potatoes and green beans was delicious with the sauce. Especially sweet potatoes- what a treat! The shumai is REALLY shrimpy. I mean, duh, they are shrimp dumplings but I couldn't believe how overwhelming the taste was! I ordered the panang curry with tofu, and it was super tasty. I get a craving for curry every two months, and this might be the big winner. I disappointed myself by ordering the sticky rice. And when they say sticky, they mean STICKY. It was near impossible to eat! I liked the thai custard but my roommate flipped for it and said it was really really good! So ordering is convenient and they are friendly. It is pricier and did take more time, so you may want to try a place that is closer/cheaper.
(3)Matt S.
Great place for takeout. I've only eaten AT the restaurant once, and it was several years ago, so I don't remember much. But we get takeout from Opart at least twice a month, and it never disappoints. Very tasty and reasonably priced.
(4)Emma M.
I have never had a bad experience here. Bring a bottle of wine or a pack of beer (there's a liquor store 2 storefronts down) and chow down on some of my favorites which include massman curry, lard nar, pad thai, spicy cashew chicken dish and the spring rolls. It's right off the Western ave Brown Line stop so it's very accessible. There are so many Thai restaurants in Chicago, but this one of the best.
(5)John B.
There are literally 4 Thai restaurants within a block of each other in Lincoln Square. I asked myself - how different can they be? Well, Opart is the best one in the area, possible best in town. Everything just tasted incredible. Chicago is such a big place that a restaurant needs something extra to stand out. It's hard to explain, but you know when a place has taken the time to make their food truly delicious, and Opart has done it. It's also the nicest looking and most busy of all the area Thai places. When I went in to pick up my take-out, there were like 6 bags on the counter ready to be picked up as well. This is the best and people know it. Highly recommended.
(5)Joel K.
Well I'm writing this review since I have recently returned from Thailand and I must say this is the best place for Thai in Chicago. I've been going here for over 14 years and I've never had a bad dish or experience there. It's the closest thing I've had to food from the homeland. I highly recommend this to anybody who wants great Thai food.
(5)Ada H.
Tiger's Cry...Crying TIger...whaever you call it, it's the best here! As I have previously said, no Thai restaurants will ever get 5 stars from me unless it's in Thailand or my momma made it. That's because I'm Thai and I would want all of my favorite Thai dishes at one place cooked perfectly, and no place could ever provide that realistically. But in Chicago, Opart is as close to 5 stars as it gets in my biased little Thai foodie heart. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could. I've been to both locations numerous times and feel bad that I am just now reviewing. Sorry Opart! Everything is authentic here. I have never ever been disappointed by the food. I bring all of friends here, especially those who have not had Thai food and everyone loves it! I even had one of my birthday dinner parties here. That's how much I love this place. My favorite dish here is Tiger's Cry (aka Crying Tiger). It's seared steak served sliced up with a special Thai sauce. No other Thai places in Chicago make it this good. Most don't even serve it because they don't have a grill and don't want to disgrace themselves (thanks guys). Those other places that do offer it but pan-sear the beef, shame on you! Tiger's cry should only be served char-grilled. It is called Tiger's cry because traditionally in Thailand, when it is cooked over a hot fire, the fat from the beef drips onto the coals and causes the fire to flare and reminiscent of a crying tiger! I always order this if I ever see it on any Thai menu and have always been disappointed. Except at Opart. Now I'm not saying it's a primo chunk of Chicago steakhouse beef, it's more like a skirt steak. But trust me, still super tasty! I also love their ground pork tom yum noodle soup. It's not on the menu. If you like the tom tum taste, and noodle soup dishes, this is a must try. Don't expect it to be like traditional tom yum soup. Try it and you'll see what I mean. It will be spicy. It just doesn't taste right when you order it mild. I'm a mild girl and I tolerate the heat just for these noodles. I also like all of their appetizers. The thai iced tea and iced coffee are also very yummy. I haven't had anything I didn't like!
(4)Jimmy C.
Pretty good Thai food. I like the location, despite the fact that they are a few feet from the (western) brown line you don't really hear the trains. The food is excellent make sure you can handle the spicy food because Thai spicy is really spicy. They have great soup options and the waiter has usually been very accommodating. My favorite thai dish is pad see ew, but I don't like it as much here. I prefer to have my chicken slices and rice noodles larger, some people may like it though cause it's easy to scarf down.
(4)Beth M.
This is one of those times where I enjoyed only half my food, but I'm very excited to come back and redo the part I didn't like. This place is a nice, cozy, popular place. My friend and I got seated immediately at 7 p.m. on a Wednesday, but about 30 minutes later people were waiting for a table. We went to Provenance before for a bottle of wine, because why go to the creepy, overpriced liquor store? We started with the peanut sauce spring rolls, which I absolutely loved. I am not a tofu fan but loved this...obviously the delicious peanut sauce helped. And you'll think by the price it will be a small app, but it isn't. We didn't even finish it. Now for the meehh...I'm a curry fan. Every time I go to a Thai place I get curry, and I mostly get the panang curry. Someone else said it was great here, but I was really disappointed. First, the portion size is small. How small do you say? Small enough that they serve it in a rectangular dish instead of bowl. Second, you have to pay $1 for rice. For curry. I mean, I only eat Thai about once a week so maybe I'm not an expert, but I thought rice always came with curry. Third, it was just okay. I've certainly had better panang curry- my favorite is from Rainbow Thai, which is just down the street. Either way, I enjoyed my time there. Our waiter was very nice and we didn't wait long for food. I'll just plan on trying a different entree next time. As far as the best Thai in the area? Again, this is just on the curry, but I'd say Rainbow Thai for carryout, Namo for dine-in, and maybe Aroy Thai and Opart Thai for another dish.
(4)David P.
Just ate here again the other night. I really want to give this place four stars, but just can't, it's not that good. I do like the tiger cry, the pad Thai is not very good, the sole fish with hot chills was okay, the fried rice is boring. I just don't get it? Why do so many people think this place is good? Average at best...
(3)Sneha P.
Good thai food! I had #61 (Pad Kra Praow Lard Khao,) spicy beef with basil on rice. It was spicy and delicious. And it was even more delicious as leftovers. Service was good. The place was quiet on a Sunday evening, so we had a corner to ourselves. Ambiance was usual thai place ambiance, nothing special. Definitely stop by for no-frills good thai food!
(5)Blair B.
Being a huge fan of Thai food, and very much looking forward to a nice meal out before a fun concert at the Aragon Ballroom, my date and I ventured to Opart Thai due to its great reviews and close proximity to the concert venue. The decor was cheesy and dated, but we could've easily looked past that if the food was delish. Sadly, we were disappointed. We ordered: *Thai Iced Tea *Spring Rolls *Soup (loved the soup with chicken, mushrooms, lemongrass, and lime) *Sweet and Sour Vegetables w/ Tofu (wanted red curry sauce, but no accommodation) *Pad Thai with Shrimp Our appetizer and entrees were left half-eaten, despite showing up ravenous. Our soup - (chicken, mushrooms, lemongrass, and lime) was unique and good. Otherwise, we left bummed, feeling like we were mislead by the raving reviews. We've had better Thai many other places. Sorry, Opart. Won't be going back...
(1)Katarina X.
Ever have one of those extra demanding weeks? How about after a holiday visit with family? I caught a cold. Then, in manly tradition, Handsome Boyfriend declared I was "not sick" proceeded to drink from every glass, eat from every plate and take bites from all the same cutlery- then he was suddenly far more "not sick" than I ever was. This would be funny if I weren't swamped in deadlines, his business rocking in full seasonal demand and um, multiple family obligations colliding at the same time. We have no time for sniffles. When you are achy, cranky, tired it is time for curry. A good curry will warm you up, flush out the sniffles, provide nutrients and make you happy! I mean look at these pictures- doesn't that look perfectly rich, indulgent, spicy, creamy and delicious? It IS! Tata the server was very sweet, helpful and gracious. We enjoyed the shrimp and vegetable red curry the most- his choice- I hope you get to try it on a cold night to let it restore and soothe you thoroughly. It is the most delicious magic.
(4)Laura T.
Rather disappointed. We ordered delivery. The crab rangoon was overcooked and chewy. The pad thai was like eating plain rice noodles, the sauce was completely non-existent. The rama chicken sauce was watered down, and didn't come with rice. Won't be ordering from here again.
(2)Alicia A.
So far this is the best thai I've found in Chicago close to my neighborhood. Their curries leave something to be desired... sauce is very thin, more like soup, and they make their massuman with chicken instead of the slow-simmered beef it should be made with. Plus no sticky rice AND they charge you for regular jasmine rice I mean what's up with that? I don't get what everyone is raving about in regards to the crab rangoon- nothing special about them in comparison with any other thai place. Come on people, it's a wonton wrapper with cream cheese and miniscule bits of canned crab. I ordered them thinking maybe THESE crab rangoons would be something special- like perhaps they would have crab you could actually identify and taste...but alas. Anyway, I've had great success with their noodle dishes and the tiger cry beef and opart beef is to die for, that plus very prompt delivery makes Opart stand out somewhat in a city full of mediocre and often downright awful thai food.
(3)Joanne B.
This has to be the best Thai place in the city. My fiance and I come here when we're in the mood for "fancy Thai." This basically means dining in at a restaurant that has more of a real ambience than a college dorm room. The prices are cheap and the food is excellent. Portions are slightly on the small side for the neighborhood, but the quality is unparalleled. Service is quick but friendly. I wish there were some 2-tops away from the door, however. This is the Thai place that I compare every other Thai place to.
(5)Dr T.
Pad thai is consistently bland. The basil chicken is good, but I'd rather order from Anna's Asian Bistro.
(2)Erin M.
So, I grew up in Seattle, where Thai and Vietnamese food are about as common as fried chicken joints in Chicago--every major intersection and strip mall. Moving to the Midwest has been a painful transition with a dearth of even passable Thai to be found in Indiana; when the hubby and I made it to Chicago, I finally had my Thai cravings mostly satisfied by Opart. Now, it's not as good as the Thai food in Thailand (which is amazing), but it is decidedly the best I've found in Chicago and indeed in the Midwest. The fact that it's also very reasonably priced is a big help, too, in a city where $15 for a greasy Chinese takeout dish is not considered abnormal. Here's the thing with Opart: you have to know how to modify the items you like to your preferences. For example: --some have complained that the curries lack veggies. I have tried every one on the menu, and I agree if you get them as printed on the menu they seem short of veggies. The reason? In Thailand they usually do not add many veggies to curry. BUT: you must know that for $2 extra you can add "extra veggies" to any of them. They will also let you specify which kinds of veggies you want. I usually get Thai eggplant and green beans added to red curry (which comes with just meats and bamboo normally). The effect of this $2 addition is that you get a container of curry that is literally twice as big as the normal order, with tons of veggies. You can also add extra meat as desired for a similar charge. Adding veggies means paying $10.99 for a 32oz red curry full of meat and delicious Thai veggies, which I consider a great deal. Once I discovered this, my issues with their menu were permanently solved, as red curry is sort of an addiction for me and the lack of veggies was my only complaint with their curries. --Pad Thai: my main issue with their Pad Thai is that ordering takeout, there is no option for spice. They make it *bland* for the Midwestern palate as a default. UGH! You have to specify that you want it with spice in the comments or by being very clear with the waitress, or it will be boring. Just let them know you want it hotter. I do wish they provided it with the traditional bean sprouts (they substitute shredded cabbage), but I understand why they don't (sprouts have a terrible reputation for food poisoning). With Opart, the best menu items in our eyes are: Yum Neur beef salad, Tom Yum Gai/Tom Kha Gai, Yum Woon Sen, Tiger Cry (same beef as the Yum Neur salad, no veggies), Panang or Red Curry with extra veggies. Opart is real Thai food, so expect that, and order accordingly. Portions are sufficient but not enormous. Pseudo-Chinese dishes are not as good as the more authentic Thai dishes. Also, they seem more accurate at takeout/delivery than in the restaurant. It's usually super busy on Friday and Saturday nights and that may be part of why the in-house service seems to make mistakes more often than the people getting the takeout/delivery together. There's usually one guy in charge of all the takeout in the restaurant, and that seems to keep those orders well organized, as it is always quick and only once have I had anything missing in my order (and it was only one box of rice, out of maybe 30 orders in the last two years). Still, the food keeps us coming back or ordering delivery again).
(4)Alisa M.
My 100th review on yelp!!! Came here on a Monday night and the place was pretty crowded. We made reservations and our table was ready to go when we all arrived. Inside the place, the atmosphere is trendy and modern. I believe that the decor is even flown in from Thailand! It's a cute little spot for a date night. The food on the menu is also comparable to other Thai restaurants in the area. Our waitress, Anitra, was awesome. Having to wait on tables in the whole Restaurant seems like it would be a handful, but she did it flawlessly. Also, like I've mentioned before in reviews, it's my biggest pet peeve to not have my water glass filled when it's empty. We had a small pitcher of water to share at the table and once that was empty, it was refilled. I actually don't mind having a pitcher at the table, only because I would prefer to refill my own water than sit at the table with an empty glass and thirsty. Things I would recommend from the menu: 1. Satay- Chicken is marinated perfectly with grilled to perfection. (Not dry and tough, but very moist) 2. Crab Rangoon- This is probably one of my most favorite dishes. A lot of other places that I've been to tend to skimp out on the cream cheese... but not at Opart. There is just the right amount of cream cheese and the won ton wrapper is fried to give the right amount of crispiness. 3. Moo Ping- This dish is not offered at a lot of Thai places. If you want to try something different, definitely order this.. and don't forget to order a side of sticky rice. 4. If you're into beef dishes, try the Tiger Cry and ask for it spicy. The beef is tender and juicy with lots of spices. 5. Poh Tak (Seafood)- Similar to the Tom Yum, but it has a lot of seafood in it. It is served in a traditional Thai pot (the ones you would get if you ordered this dish in Thailand) 6. If you like squid, try the tum pla muk- Squid salad. You can also ask them to make it to your liking. For example, if you want it to be more salty and spicy, just say so! 7. I love seafood, so I would for the entree, if you're craving noodles, try the Lard Nar Seafood. Just the the Lard Nar offered at other places, but this one is a seafood combo! I could go on and on about things to order at this place, but my review would never end. To summarize, you can't go wrong with anything that you order on the menu. Awesome food at an affordable price with a great atmosphere and service. A hidden gem that's been around for at least 25 years.
(5)Matt J.
Food was fantastic! Only reason I didn't give 5* was the service was dreadfully slow but it was very busy also.
(4)Amie M.
Fantastic Thai food all the way. We ordered coconut curry chicken, pad see ew, and this delicious spicy shrimp dish our waitress ordered special for us that is her favorite. Glad we tried this place, will definitely be back asap.
(5)Araceli R.
just try this morning red curry,coffee and fried banana my fav was the dessert love it fill wonton w/ bnana coconut milk,shedeed coconut golden brown and drizeling w/honey and sesame seeds.....
(4)Lauren F.
Not bad, but not great, is kind of how I feel about Opart Thai. I was surprised because of all the positive yelp reviews but I just wasn't feeling it. We started with a few appetizers-the Crab Rangoon were ok, lots of cream cheese and a big crispy wonton. We also ordered the sampler platter and I would actually recommend against this one-more Crab Rangoon, unappealing Fried Shrimp and Fried Shumai, and a few less than stellar egg rolls. For my entree I ordered Pad See-Iew with tofu and extra vegetables. The flavors and the noodles were very good and the tofu was well cooked but the "extra vegetables" were somewhat laughable. I had mentioned maybe some extra carrots, peppers, or whatever else they had. They basically threw in a bag of frozen california vegetables-mushy carrots and cauliflower. Cauliflower in my pad See Iew? I don't think so. This kind of killed it for me and I just wasn't all that impressed. On a positive note, they are BYOB with no corking fee so you can save a little money there! There are so many Thai spots in the city, I probably won't be returning to Opart.
(3)Hope H.
I went to try their food, since a Thai native friend who owns a Thai restaurant in the suburbs recommended it to me. We ordered a beef appetizer called Tiger Cry. The flavor was good, but the meat itself was a little on the dry side. Squid salad was acidic and has hardly any flavor. Also, the squid was torched so the flavor of the squid tasted a little like gasoline. Pad Thai was pretty decent, but nothing outstanding about it, compared to the dish in other Thai restaurants. Thai Basil chicken we tried was a little salty with too much soy sauce flavor. I know this restaurant has a long tradition and has been known for a great Thai food. However, I was a little disappointed and I might go back there to try other dishes, but I won't go back there at any time soon, since there are other better Thai restaurants in the hood.
(3)Wendy E.
So so good. Loved everything except the pad see yuck...It smelled weird the second it hit the table. We loved everything else including the Tiger Cry and the Pad Thai. Fun to go to the liquor store next door to bring your own drinks in. We had a bit of a wait for a table, but it was worth it-we will be back!
(4)Jane H.
Food was wonderful Close to our house. BYOB! Had Peanut Lovers with Chicken and Sweet and Sour Soup. Yummy!
(5)Naseem J.
Can I rave about this place enough? I frequently tell my friends that this is the best Thai in the city. I miss living in Ravenswood--I used to walk over here weekly and get food! The food is excellent. Beyond excellent. I'm drooling thinking about it now. This place is always quiet, too. The service is very hands-off, but they are polite and do check in with you frequently--they just let you have a quiet meal. Highly recommend for a dinner party, date, or even just take-out.
(5)Andrew S.
The Massaman curry was delicious. The waiter(ess) was slow with the water refills but other than that, no complaints. "I feel like I live in the present when I eat at this place. When I go out to eat I want to feel like a futuristic spaceman tasting the delicacies of some far off planet. The food here is quite good, in that boring "normal" sort of way." - Carl Sagan
(4)D J.
A first trip into a new restaurant is almost like a first date in some respects Here's a post mortem of my first time with/at Opart Thai... The promise was great - the reviews, the reputation of a Thai mainstay in the city seemed rock solid The opportunity was perfect - after the beers, crowds and the rainy riot at Mayfest, piping hot Thai food at a place right across from the brown line seemed like the perfect ticket The actual experience fell flat - my friend and I were shown a table by the door and felt the draft of the wind with every activity in and out of the restaurant. Water droplets graced my shoulder every now and then from the cooling system in the ceiling above. And worst of all we waited - for a server to take our order, for the food to arrive and then for someone to recognize that we were ready to get the heck out of there! A good first date is just the opening act but a bad one is a curtain call. There was some substance to Opart - my Pad Ped Tuah (spicy sauteed green beans and Tofu smothered with Thai chilli) was good, infact I came home with some! But there won't be a second time for me. I am finding other Thai fish in the Chicago sea! Opart - you have had fans before, and am sure you will have your loyal customer base after, but for me, it just wasn't what I was looking for..
(2)Amy L.
Prices are relatively cheap compared to places I've been to in the Bay, but quality wise this place can't compare. Chicken satay. Bland. Peanut sauce was bland too. BBQ beef appetizer - best dish we had. Flavorful and grilled to medium-rare, delicious. Tom yum soup w/ shrimp. Not enough shrimp - probably 9-10 pieces for a family-sized soup. It was pretty sweet, would have preferred more spices. Pad Thai. Tasted pretty standard. Curry w/ chicken, potatoes, and peanuts. We asked for mild, but all I tasted was coconut milk. Mostly miss. Thus, I am continuing my quest to find decent Thai in Chitown.
(2)Caitlin G.
This is my go to place for excellent Thai food. The peanut sauce lover, medium spicy is out of this world! I am so often disappointed by the Thai places in Chicago, but I am always pleased with my orders from Oparts. I wish they had faster delivery, but we have gotten better about ordering before we are hungry since we know it will be awhile. It is worth the wait, though!
(4)Anne M.
Really enjoyed the interior - on a cold, wet October night, we were warm and cozy inside Opart, and things got even better after we ordered some hot jasmine tea. mmmm.... (how many times did I refill that tiny tea cup!?) The food was good. But I wasn't blown away.... My party of four split the appetizer sampler plate (crab rangoon, shrimp tempura, spring roll?, something that looked like a tater tot but tasted like a crab cake). LOVED the crab rangoon - it's topped my list as my favorite in the city. Could have eaten a whole order myself. I went to my safety zone for my entree - the chx pad se eew. I wish I'd opted for a curry instead, which was my initial inkling. The PSE was good, but a little more saucy/slippery than I like, and there wasn't as much broccoli as I was expecting. I liked it okay, but it left me a little disappointed. Prices are fair, and if I find myself in the area again, I'd give it another shot but would definitely try something else... And order more crab rangoon. Just for myself.
(3)Ali Z.
Very good Thai food here. Most dishes are above average with a few standouts. Penang curry with shrimp was amazing. Perfectly creamy with just the rice amount of spice. The appetizer sampler which came with crab rangoon, egg and spring rolls, and fried shumai was good too with the crab rangoon being the best of the bunch. As for the negatives, the fried rice was okay. Both the curry and regular versions needed more flavor. Be warned, the Tom Yom soup served in the traditional pot is enough to feed a family. I found theirs a little too sour and not as good as the ones I've had at other Thai restaurants. Iced coffee was good, but consisted mostly of ice cubes and little coffee. Good ambiance, friendly service. For some reason, the food never tastes as good when carrying out so I recommend dining in.
(4)Michael H.
This place is great! The "Tiger Cry" is probably the most flavorful dish I've had this year at any restaurant! Must Try~~GTFJD
(4)Jennifer N.
I stopped here to get some takeout while hanging out with my cousin and his family just a few blocks away. I had been traveling the entire day and didn't want to eat all of their food because I was just that hungry and needed my own big, warm meal. Turns out I picked a really good place for some takeout! I was surprised at the spring rolls - not a style I was used to. Definitely different. But they were good! I really liked the pad si yew. I found it to be authentic and a decent-sized serving. It wasn't too sweet and had enough meat and vegetables, too. I had expected to wait a while for my takeout, but I hardly waited at all. They cranked out my dish in what seemed like only a few minutes. I was back at my cousin's house in no time. Oh, and the service was great; the young man who took my order answered my questions quite easily and was very friendly. Furthermore, the prices were fair. I will definitely be back as it's very conveniently located and I really enjoyed the food.
(4)Roxanne R.
Opart Thai is one of the scrummiest Thai restaurants in Chicago. Why? Because they have what I think is the best Pad Thai noodle. I really like how the noodles are thinner than traditional Pad Thai noodles. Also, they're not clumpy and the dish just has such awesome flavor. I've had the crab rangoon, beef lard nar, pad thai (obviously) and my favorite dish thai curry catfish. It's so delicious and flavorful but it's not too creamy. I usually do take out at Opart but I've eaten there a few times. It didn't take too long for a table and the service was good. The decor is very nice and trendy. Prices are reasonable Thai style. Thai curry catfish, pad thai, and beef lard nar would be under $25 w/o tax. Good enough for 4 people with leftovers.
(4)Sunil A.
This place never disappoints. Decor is nice, service is very friendly and the food is excellent. Price point is below what I would pay for the quality, and quality is above most other casual Thai places. This has now become my go to place for casual Thai food. Recommend wholeheartedly.
(4)Nicolas H.
Pretty good food at decent prices. I started with the crab rangoon which was definitely one of the best I've ever had (and came with a bunch so we could all share). Also tried the pork pot stickers which were pretty good. For my entree I got the panang curry with shrimp. Even though I ordered it medium it was still very spicy (not sure there is a spice option lower than medium but that might be nice for those that can't take the spice). The curry had nice flavor, but the spiciness definitely overpowered the dish so much so that my lips and mouth were burning. As for the service, its less than desirable. Our waitress was friendly enough, when she would appear, which I believe was three times throughout the entire meal. I'd probably prefer take out next time so as to avoid the slow and painful service...
(3)Baily W.
I like pad Thai so I figured I couldn't go wrong trying this place since I hear such good things about it from my friends. My friend and I were seated right away, awesome. We put our order in and the food was on the table just a few minutes later. My only reason for not giving 5 starts was the portion of shrimp added to my food. It is a $2 charge but there was only really 4-5 shrimp in the dish. The food was great despite the lack of shrimp so I can't really complain. Overall, a great place to grab a cheap bite to eat in the square.
(4)Rizwan K.
This is the best Thai food I've eaten in Chicago, absolutely delicious. I had the tiger cry as an appetizer and it was amazing. I followed that up with pad kra praow with beef as an entrée. After numerous visits, this location remains as one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. The ambience is also incredible with a great deal of artwork all over and great service to match.
(5)Bernice D.
Only have ordered take out from here. Entrees hit the spot, don't care too much for the appetizers. That is all.
(4)Petey S.
This place is amazing. I've been coming here for years. I recommend all of the soups, and I've tried an array of their noodle dishes and have never been disappointed. I order the Pad Thai most frequently. Their delivery service always arrives quickly and the food is always pipping hot when I open it up! It loses one star based on the service for a sit-down restaurant. However, it is BYOB so that kind of makes up for it.
(4)Julia J.
My second visit to Opart was much better than the first. This time, I had the Panang curry and my dining partner had the curry fried rice. My panang curry was really delicious. The fried rice was fine in flavor and the portion was huge. I would order it again but not as a main dish. We also did the crab rangoon again. Sooo. Good. Still minus one star for the very slow (though very friendly) service and the inconsistent temperature. It was way too warm in there!
(4)Megan K.
After moving to the Lincoln Square area almost a year ago, many people highly recommended venturing to Opart to get our Thai fix. Luckily my boyfriend and I had a random Monday off together, so we decided to venture over to Opart for a late lunch. I was happy to see that they are open every day of the week for lunch and dinner, unlike many Asian restaurants in the city that are closed on Mondays and/or Tuesdays. We arrived around 2:30pm to a mostly deserted restaurant and we were promptly seated by the hostess and given menus to look over. We were mighty hungry so we decided to put in two of the appetizers while we reviewed their extensive menu of Thai offerings. One minor complaint about this restaurant is the general lack of description of their menu items. We had trouble discerning what some of the entrees actually were as they only had one or two different ingredients from the items above or below them. Regardless, here's what we feasted on for our mid-day meal: 1) Crab Rangoon: When this order of *eight* rangoons was placed in front of us, I questioned the decision that we made for two appetizers. Even though I had that shred of doubt, it was quickly forgotten as we inhaled the cream cheese fried goodness. The mixture was mostly cream cheese based, but it was well flavored with green onions and small bits of crab. The sauce was exactly what you would expect, sweet and tangy and perfectly complimentary to the rangoons. 2) Tiger's Cry (Tender beef charbroiled to perfection, served with homemade sauce): Amazing--a must for Opart. The beef was perfectly cooked and flavored with a nice char taste that permeated the meat. All the pieces were tender and easily could be cut with a fork. The homemade sauce is also worth noting--it was sweet and spicy with what appeared to be pickled red onions and green onions. I can't rave enough about this dish, and I'm already craving more. 3) Gaeng Pet Ped (Red curry, roasted duck, pineapple and tomatoes sauteed in coconut milk): I really enjoyed this curry and the portion size wasn't ridiculous, which was nice in contrast to the very generous appetizers. The duck was tender, plentiful, and not chewy which set it above other Thai establishments that I've frequented. My only criticism about the duck was that they left the skin on and gave you rather large chunks of duck which made for a messy meal when trying to cut it into bite sized pieces with my spoon or fork. The skin was pretty soggy so it wasn't crispy which is the only way I like to eat duck/chicken skin. That aside, I was impressed that they used real tomatoes and pineapple versus canned. The curry itself was also very flavorful and was actually hot on the spicy scale (evidenced both in taste and with the abundance of red pepper flakes). Delicious. 4) Pad Ped Paak (Sauteed mixed vegetables and hot peppers with pork): My boyfriend got this dish so I can't comment too extensively on it. He seemed to enjoy it and also remarked that they cooked it to a hot temperature, as requested. The mixed vegetables ended up being broccoli, onions, pea pods, and a few other random bits. The pork was a bit overdone and the dish overall appeared to be quite oily. He remarked that the appetizers outshone his entree, and he'd be interested in trying something different next time. The service was prompt and quick and the restaurant was clean. I can't wait to come back and try some of the other offerings on their menu. It's a gem for the Lincoln Square neighborhood and would satisfy any Thai craving.
(4)Misty S.
Ugh *shakes fist* I haven't been here in years and thought I would return to Yelp about it. I was so disappointed with the Penang curry. The chicken and curry were good, but that's pretty much all there was. I've never had a Thai curry so plain, where are all the vegetables? Green beans, mushrooms, bamboo shoots...where were you? I don't count the little pieces of green pepper because I'm not a big fan of those. The BBQ pork Bamee (egg noodle with soup) was a bit sour, like someone had squeezed too much lime in. Besides that, it would have been great. I must say, the Thai custard dessert saved the day. It was so coconutty and delicious, I could have eaten 10 more squares of those!! The Thai ice coffee was also good. With hundreds of Thai restaurants in the city (at least 2 nearby), I won't be coming back anytime soon...well, maybe for dessert. PARKING: Street meter, $0.25/15 min.
(3)Kara B.
We've been here a few times now - mostly eating the noodle dishes or curries. The Panang curry was especially amazing! Everything has been full of flavor and delicious - although the spiciness is a bit hard to nail down and often seems to have slightly too much (need water!) or too little spice. We looked for a Thai restaurant in the city for two years before finding one to live up to our expectations! So happy we finally found one with reasonable prices. And of course, yay for BYOB!
(5)Shelly M.
I recently ate here for the first time and was very satisfied with this restaurant. I went on a Friday night and there was no wait! Byob was a plus! The food was delicious! We ordered the combination appetizer, tofu pad see ew, tofu pad thai, and chicken panang curry! Everything was great! Will def. be going back!
(5)Valerie L.
Our BYOB kick continues....My husband and I went on a Saturday night to Opart Thai after seeing it on a rerun of Check Please. It is really easy to get to right off the Brown Line stop at Western in Lincoln Square. The place was really busy, but didn't seem to have any kind of order to the lobby area. We were confused as to who we check in with and we weren't the only ones that had that problem that night...so yeah for us not being the dumb couple! LOL Once we figured that out, we got seated in a resonable amount of time for a busy Saturday night. The service was prompt and friendly. They popped our wine right away and brought us glasses super fast. The food was absolutely delicious. Probably one of the best Thai places that I've ever been! The eggrolls were crispy and hot as well as the spring rolls.. The beef and broccoli was amazing...that sauce was full of flavor but not spicy in any way. My husband ordered pad thai and absolutely cleared his plate. My husband loved the spring rolls so much that we had to have another order. Their menu is enormous and we can't wait to try some more! Got to love the BYOB...it was very reasonable for the good amount of excellently prepared food. See you next time Opart Thai, we'll be back for sure!
(4)David Z.
I used to go to Spoon Thai down the street for all my Thai needs. However, Spoon seems to be slacking these days (you can check out my re-review for them if you want), so we have recently started branching out to other local Thai places. Since Opart is just a few doors down, it seemed pretty logical to give them a try. The atmosphere of Opart is definitely superior to Spoon, in my opinion. Opart is much larger and thus can hold a lot more people. However, even when it's full, you can still actually hold a conversation in Opart - it isn't overly loud. The seating at Opart is also more comfortable. The service is great at Opart as well. On the times that we've been there, the servers have always been on the top of their game. I haven't had a single instance of being without water (which is useful for their spicy dishes), and they have been quick to take our orders, remove our plates, and bring us the bill. The food also comes out at the same time for the entire group. Although that seems like a strange thing to be complimenting them on, Spoon has been having some big problems with that, which is actually one of the main reasons we started branching out in the first place. So how about the food itself? I'm not going to go and say that it is really much better at Opart. To me, it seemed pretty much equal. But as you can see from my profile pic, I'm a white guy. I'll be the first to admit that my usual "go-to" Thai dishes include fried rice, Pad Thai, and the vegetable dishes. So don't take my review seriously if you are the kind of person who orders REAL Thai food, like all that stuff on the menu that I can't pronounce. So all in all, if the food is just as good (and the same price), and the atmosphere and service are better at Opart, I see no reason to stop going there. I'll probably still get occasional take out orders from Spoon, but Opart, welcome to my short list of Thai places.
(4)Adri T.
My husband chose this thai restaurant based on a friend's recommendation.. We usually have our usual go to thai we like on Damen and Leland..so I figured if he wanted to venture out of that one it was because he'd found one that topped that one... well I was not impressed the least bit. We asked the waitress what was a popular dish and she suggested the tiger's cry. Now granted, it was good BUT for $8.59 the dish had very little meat. Rather, it looked like they had just taken a strip and cut it into tiny pieces to give the illusion of looking like more. The tiny portion with a not so tiny price really disappointed me. Next, I had the pad thai and my husband had the khao soy. The pad thai was OK..it was a bit to greasy for my taste...same with the khao soy. It just tasted like it had been left in the pan soaking in the oil far too long.... I didn't even realize that this place had been on check please...so at least I didn't go with high expectations and good thing I didn't because the dishes they supposedley specialize in, just weren't good...the taste to them was just off and gooey..if that is even an adjective..but that is what the sauce looked like in the khao soy no doubt about it..we're sticking with our regular thai place that never disappoints and you can taste the good quality of the food.
(2)Sara V.
I have mixed feelings towards Opart Thai. We went there for dinner, before a movie at The Davis on a Friday night. On the one hand, the Green Curry was quite spicy, which is always appreciated. On the other hand, my stomach (which is made of iron and survives third world street food) was NOT a fan. I spent the entirety of "The Avengers" in a state of much discomfort and that is highly unusual. Also I generally prefer a little more variety in the vegetables used in my curry as opposed to just eggplant and green beans. Also not a fan of having to pay extra for rice. It always just seems a little stingy on the part of a restaurant. Date's Pad See Euw was tasty. Service was fast, which is always appreciated. I loved the interior although it does seem as if they might be fitting a few too many tables in (although given how busy they were, I understand). I'll give them another try at some point, but I think that, for the first time, I may NOT get Green Curry at a Thai restaurant. Which, let's face it Opart, says a lot.
(3)Scott O.
Went here after a movie at the Davis on Friday night. Good, solid Thai food. The spring rolls and the satay were exceptional. The Pad dishes, not so much. Fairly standard.
(3)Joyce C.
Went here with a group a couple weeks ago. I agree with Liz M: Spoon Thai is much better; I don't know how Opart stays in business w/Spoon Thai down the street, and the legion of other better Thai restaurants in the city. I had massumun curry; the chicken was decidedly old (not spoiled, just old-tasting), and the sauce was too salty with not enough other flavors in it. Three of the people I was with asked for their dishes to be hot/spicy, and they all came out with no heat at all. These people had already asked for hot chili sauce with their appetizers, so that should have been a clue to the server. One of these dishes was the tom yum, which just tasted kind of sweet . To sum up, everyone sitting near me at the table was very disappointed. And I know some other Thai restaurants do this, but I'll just mention that rice is not included with an entree.
(1)Beth H.
Do not get carry out from here unless you are going straight home, or happen to carry a large bowl around with you to mix ingredients in. I ordered pad lard nar, which is a single noodle dish right? Wrong. Apparently it is actually a cardboard box STUFFED with broccoli and completely plain unflavored noodles, and a separate, overflowing container of gravy and tofu. Good luck! (Especially since you won't be given a fork or chopsticks.) That being said, once I was finally able to assemble and eat the dish, it was pretty delicious.
(3)Theresa M.
I am going through my Yelp today updating restaurants I feel that are worth it. Opart Thai is one of them FOR SURE. There food is amazing, and affordable. Date night, movie night, any night it is awesome. Some recommendations: Crab Rangoon if that is your thing, all of the currys, the ramen soup, and the stir fried veggies with any protein. They also make delish meats that are grilled. Moo Ping = YUMMY. If you're into peanut sauce definitely get something with it, I hear it is amazing.
(5)Erik H.
Went to Opart on a date as I had heard the food was quite good. The food did not disappoint. We ordered the spicy tofu and crab rangoons, I had the Bami Lard Nar, she ordered the Kuay Tiew Kee Mao. The tofu was very good, although it we ordered it spicy, and it turned out they brought us medium. The Lard Nar was good, flavorful and a large portion. the Kuay Tiew Kee Mao was great. She ordered it spicy and it came out spicy. The high point of the meal for me was the crab rangoons, definitely what Opart is known for. However, the service was very poor. Once seated, it took 15 minutes for anyone to take even our drink orders, by that time we had already figured out our drinks, appetizers and main dishes. I finally had to get up and ask for a pitcher of water because they never refilled our water. The food was very good, but the poor service was too much for me.
(2)Ayame L. O.
I go here for two things and two things only. The moo-ping and tiger cry. It's awesome but they lose a star from me because the service just seem a little unfriendly and unattentive most of the time I come here. Food is amazing though so whatever.
(4)Carmen M.
I love this place! My boyfriend and I have been loyal customers for the past three years and it never, ever disappoints! First off, the service is always wonderful! The host and all of the servers are always very nice and give great recommendations. Even the guys who deliver are great... and the food always gets to our apartment really fast. Because of one of those recommendations, I found my beloved Neu Num Tok beef salad. It is by far my favorite thing on the menu. It's charbroiled beef sliced really thinly over lettuce and onions with lime juice. SO GOOD. They ask how spicy you want it and I always go with "medium." I did "hot" once and even though it was tasty, I struggled through it. Other delicious options: for starters, I always get the crab meat rangoons. I dream about those things. I don't know what kind of sauce they give you to dip it in... but it's awesome! All of the curries are excellent... the Gaeng Panang being my favorite. We also get these little cucumber salads that only cost sixty cents and are a perfect little side dish. As expected, the pad thai is also great. Everything I've had there is good... and I try to pick out something different each time. Dessert and beverage wise? The Thai iced tea. Get it. It's delicious. It also really helps if you get something a little spicier than you expected. Also, the banana in warm coconut milk. I would eat/ drink that stuff by the gallons. All in all, don't believe any of the bad reviews about this place. Yes, "there are so many Thai places to choose from... blah blah blah..." but there is a reason why Opart has been around so long. It's because it's amazing.
(5)Chris B.
Best Crab Rangoon I've ever had. But the beef in my dish tasted reheated. So...I'll give it another go. For the Rangoon.
(3)Natalie S.
Some hits, some misses... but all in all, we'll be back. It was Friday, I was ready for some BYOB. Opart is just a few blocks from us and we've been meaning to give it a whirl. Done. Our waitress seriously lacked some personality. She was like a robot. "What would you like?". "How is everything?". "Can I get you anything else?". These were all recited to us like it was part of a script she had learned on her first day. Satisfactory service, but nothing to write home about. We had the appetizer sampler plate. Egg rolls and crab rangoon, delicious! Fried shu mai and shrimp rolls, meh. We had the i100 (fried catfish with string beans and eggplant) which was FANTASTIC. I had to stop my dude from licking the plate. I would definitely order that again, no doubt. We also had the d45 wtih beef (Chinese broccoli and gravy) and it was way gross. I have had Lad Nar at many, many Thai places and this was by far the WORST I have ever had. It was slimy like we were eating worms and the noodles were overcooked and falling apart. We didn't finish the order and, for my dude and I, that's a BIG DEAL. Everything is very affordable. A big appetizer plate plus 2 entrees was only $28. We'll be back but we won't be ordering the Lad Nar. For sure.
(3)Paulina Y.
This is the best Thai food ever everything here is wonderful.
(5)Emily D.
I tried Opart Thai recently after seeing it on Check, Please! The Tiger Cry is as good as everyone says - don't miss it. Good quality, great flavor. I wish you could order it as an entrée. I ordered the chicken pad thai figuring it was a good basic dish to test out the restaurant. I like pad thai, but I'm never blown away by it. This was by far the best I've ever had. It had a rich flavor without tasting overly sweet or salty. I'll have to go back with a larger group so I can try more dishes. All of the food at other tables looked fantastic. When the bill came, my friend and I were surprised at how cheap everything was. Service was good and the restaurant was clean and well-kept. I highly recommend it.
(5)Lisa D.
Great food, good service, & it's BYOB. Wonderful value for the money. I've always had a good experience here & would highly recommend it.
(4)Jenny C.
I ordered the tofu dish. It had a little bit of sauce under it. It wasn't bad. I personally feel the food is quite bland though. My partner ordered chicken breast on green beans, and he felt that his was quite bland as well. We ordered the shrimp and vegetable tempura and everything was super crispy and nicely fried, sauce was a good compliment as well. The thai coffee I also enjoyed.
(2)Lara T.
I cannot wait to return so that I can try more things from the menu. W.O.W. Now I understand what all of the fuss was about. The food was fresh, plentiful and so well-priced. This place is easily jammed any night of the week, so be sure to make a reservation. It's entirely convenient to get to from the Brown Line's Western stop and parking was a non-issue.
(4)Omar K.
Overall a nice place, good ambience, but I would prefer going to Spoon thai which is just down the road.
(4)Melanie S.
Opart sorta fell off my radar after a few mediocre meals there in the past, but I gave it another try last night to meet up with a couple of friends who love this place. Sometimes said friends and I agree ( M Henry) and sometimes I just have to question their tastebuds (Orange Garden). Opart has been in this same spot for years. It actually reminds me of the old days when I didn't have a life and I would get takeout from here and go next door and rent a movie from BP Video on a Saturday night. Thankfully times have changed. Opart has expanded their space quite a bit and the decor is downright upscale compared to its former self. I was pleasantly surprised at the surroundings. The menu is still as expansive as it was, with plenty of options for the neophyte Thai eater, or someone with a more advanced palate. We started with Tiger Cry, which is a marinated beef appetizer. The last time I had it, the meat was gross so I never ordered it again. It turns out that Opart change their meat supplier so my friends ordered it and I was curious if it had improved. It blew me away. It was so tender and flavorful; I couldn't believe this was the same dish from years ago. To that we also ordered a cucumber salad and crab rangoon, both of which were good, and on par with any better-than-average Thai restaurant. For entrees we chose pad prik (I firmly believe my friend ordered this just so she could say "prik" loudly) with beef, curry fried rice with pork, and pad si ew with chicken. Of the three, the pad prik was the best. We ordered it medium spicy and I was downing water like no other. Good stuff. The others were fine; I've had better, but I've certainly had worse. Service was good; this has also improved from what I experienced in the past. It's always nice to see a place that has made changes for the better. I'm glad my friends got me to give Opart another try. I will definitely be going back.
(4)Naomi J.
One of the best Thai places in the city and really affordable. Great date spot; I love the food and love the atmosphere.
(5)Tara M.
Atmosphere, very cool. Customer service, average. Pad thai (hot), decent and plentiful. Curry fried rice (hot), good and plentiful. Tofu was less than the best, but we still managed to enjoy every last bite. That said, it was a great Friday night out for the value and we'll put it on our list of places to return...and we'll BYOB as the sign suggest - no corkage fee!
(3)April P.
Quick dinner and needed some simple take out. My brother suggested this place and figured the food would be as great of quality as the sister location on State street. Ordered the Musaman curry, as I had craving for something creamy, homey but with some kick to it. And boy did it have some kick to it, as it was a lot spicier than I anticipated! Not too hot, but if you don't have a tolerance for heat, you won't enjoy this meal. So just as a warning..... Wash it all down with some Thai iced coffee, which they put it in a 16 ounce to-go container. It was pretty tasty, and was fairly cheap. It gives Starbucks a run for their money at $2 apiece! My only feat is that they charge you $1 for a take out rice. Now, I'm not cheap, but I am Asian...hello. I EAT RICE! I've never heard of a charge for rice for an entrée that requires rice to be eaten with it. Boo for that. One star deducted
(4)Cory A.
After being recommended on Check Please and being somewhat close to our neighborhood, I deemed it necessary to try this place out. We live in Roscoe Village and although the restaurants that we frequent there has been a huge reason we've stayed, its always a great idea to see if the grass is greener on the other side. The BYOB is a great staple to this place (and almost necessary since I don't know of many Thai restaurants that aren't BYOB). The location is right off of the Brown Line Western stop which is amazing. The only way it could be better is if it was in the CTA Western Brown Line Station (which Dunkin Donuts was so that equally blew my mind). We entered into the restaurant and the service was friendly and they did not hesitate to get you seated. The decor was excellent and with the deep espresso wood paneling up the lower half of the wall, everything came together really well and it felt like you were in a classier restaurant. For starters we had the peanut sauce spring rolls which sounded and tasted interesting although my wife was a little surprised by the texture of the peanut sauce. It was more of a thick sauce as opposed to a sauce that had been drizzled on top of the spring rolls. I had the chicken spring rolls with tangy sweet and sour sauce which was really good. My main course was the Peanut Sauce Lover with Chicken which had the sauce texture and consistancy that was to be expected on the spring rolls. The sauce had a prominent peanut flavor and the consistency was thin enough that you could laddle it onto the steamed rice to add another dimension to this dish. Other than the chicken, cashews and peanut sauce, there wasn't much else to it except for the onions. I don't mind onions, but with this dish I felt like there was too many. They had both white and green onions mixed in and if I were to do my order over, I'd probably see if they could swap out the onions for some peppers. The dish was spicy, but not toooo spicy so they nailed that. Final Verdict: This place has a huge following, but I didn't think it was terribly different from other Thai places. The convenience next to the El is huge though so I'd be back in the future.
(3)Jeff S.
These days I feel like Thai food is like your typical Chinese take-out; greasy, fattening, and largely uninspiring food that you regret eating once you're done. Don't get me wrong, I like Thai food, but I think that most places miss the mark. After eating at Opart Thai, I can gladly say that there are still some places that serve up good Thai food without making me regret it. I've visited both locations, and I'm a big fan of the curries. I REALLY enjoyed the Basil Chicken, and various noodle dishes (particularly the Kuay Tiew Kee Mao) are delicious. Easy to get into, quick and friendly service, and above all else, really good food. Opart is my new go to Thai place in the city!
(4)Paula L.
We decided to go here because the 2011 Reader poll named this restaurant the best Thai food in Chicago. My favorite (Sticky Rice) came in second. I will rate what we ordered: Egg rolls-Average. Opart beef-Well seasoned, taste a little gamey to me. Panang curry w/ shrimp-Good. Combo fried ride-Less than average. Need more flavor It wasn't bad, but we won't be back.
(3)John B.
This place has great food but they have been consistently botching my delivery orders. They need to start using grub hub already since there seems to be an issue with the orders on the phone.
(1)Katy O.
Have I not written a review for this place yet? Seriously? Wow. Opart is my family's favorite Thai restaurant. My aunt is friendly with the owners and has been coming here for at least 20 years. I have been coming for about 10 and can't think of a better BYOB Thai place in the city. It can get busy on a weekend so make a reservation. There is no area to wait (you end up standing over people's tables smelling their delicious food- maddening) so plan ahead. They deliver to a pretty wide radius in the city but take-out is always an option too. The food is extrememly reasonably priced for what you get. Family favorites include: Thai iced-coffee Tiger Cry appetizer- you MUST order this if you like meat Crab Rangoon (best ever) Som Tum papaya salad- so refreshing Khao Soy Kuay Tiew Kee Mao ANY curry dish Goong Nam Prik Paow- shrimp I have tried a lot of other dishes and they are all great, these are just the one I most love.
(5)Jennifer W.
Uninspired and extremely average. The yellow curry didn't have any flavor. The pad Seelew (their spelling) was greasy and only had two pieces of broccoli in the whole dish. The spring rolls were a little soggy. The fried tofu appetizer was very good and was definitely the highlight of the meal. I would not go back here and cannot recommend it. Ben's Noodles and Rice in Edgewater has much better Thai food.
(2)Luis M.
the best Thai restaurant of Chicago!
(5)Samra M.
Food was mediocre, don't know what the hype is about, greasy Thai food and not the best, I would rather have Thai bowl or yees... Disappointed
(2)Jennie T.
4 stars for the food. -1 star for the cockroach that scared the living daylights out of me. The end result? 3 stars. I've heard so much about this place from my friends. I had high expectations for their food. Luckily, that expectation was met. My friend and I ordered the Moo Ping for appetizer. This is grilled marinated pork on skewers served with sticky rice and something that tasted like the Vietnamese nuoc mam / fish sauce. Yum! The Poh Tak soup -- Thai sweet and sour seafood soup with shrimp, crab sticks, squid and lemon grass-- tasted very similar to the Tom Yum soup. I was actually hoping it'd be closer to the Vietnamese Canh Chua soup but nope. It was still good though. We ordered the Gaeng Pet Ped, your classic red curry with duck, pineapple and tomatoes in coconut milk. It was delicious. I think I would have liked this restaurant a lot more if the cockroach hadn't appeared on the wall next to me. Sorry, not coming back anytime soon. I'm not fond of cockroaches (or any creepy crawlers for that matter).
(3)Nicollette W.
I've been wanting to try this place for a while since its right in my neighborhood and when my date suggested it, it was on like donkey kong. For starters we had Egg Rolls and the Tiger's Cry. The Egg Rolls were standard but the Tiger's Cry was delicious! My date had the cashew chicken which was yummy and I had the Chicken Pad Thai (my standard white people - ordering Thai food dish). It was decent, but nothing overly amazing. Besides the Tiger's Cry, the best part of the whole evening was the BYOB, which meant we stayed at the placed and chatted it up until they closed! And they didn't hurry us along at all.
(4)Dana A.
There are some outstanding Thai restaurants on Western/ Lincoln Square, How really can you pick? From first glance it may seem as if every thai restaurant is the same, had to check it out for my self. First on the list of Thai on Lincoln.... Opart Thai had some great reviews so I decided to try it! Whenever I go to Thai places I always end up getting Pad Thai. Tonight was different! What made it so different?, CURRY! *AMAZING CURRY!! Gaeng Panang/ Brown Rice w/ tofu * BYOB ( Superb)! *App Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls- So delicious! *Go for medium on all dishes, I love spicy but medium was spicy enough for me, whenever something is tooooo SPICY you can't really enjoy it if you can't taste it:)! * Yummy jasmin tea, my favorite part the small cups make you feel as if your at a cute tea party! WIll be back, though I think I will check out some more of Chicago Thai first!
(4)Eileen Z.
If you can forget how excruciatingly SLOW the servers are here and just focus on the food, OH MY GOD - IT'S LOVE. The food comes piping hot and I highly suggest the bami moo daeng (boiled egg noodles with BBQ pork, green onions and ground peanuts, lime, served dry instead of as a soup). And if you're a fan of spicy, ask for it spicy. Their Tom Ka Kai is also one of the best I've had. As far as appetizers are concerned the satay and crab rangoon are safe bets. Parking isn't too difficult if you drive, there are parking meters. However, it's only a few blocks away from the Western Brown line if you want to save yourself the trouble.
(4)Meagan C.
I haven't even gotten my food yet but this place already saved me because it's the only place I've tried that's open on Christmas!
(4)Em K.
I have been going to Opart for about 16 years. This is the best Thai in the city. I usually get the Spicy Basil Chicken, Tiger Cry and Veg Egg Rolls. All of those dishes are terrific. The Basil Chicken dish can be very very spicy if you like it, but if you don't like overly spicy, just let them know. The Tiger Cry is just marinated beef with this tangy sauce to dip the meat in, so frickn good. The service is great, most of the servers have been there for a very long time. It's also BYOB which is awesome. If you like Thai and/or spicy food, get here asap.
(5)Michael S.
I didn't even realize I lacked a Thai list in yelp. I always thought I made one. Oh well... What's worse is that I have been lax in making these reviews as I go often enough to some places that I don't think about writing one. So here's Opart so I can add it to my Thai list. First of all, I know the owner's daughter so I do have to say I may be a bit biased in my review. I used to live around the area though for 20+ years and used to like Opart growing up though. The decor is nice and all. I also like the service here. It's the food though that counts for me since I've been having Thai food more often. The food is quite simply good. It's not the best, but definitely better than just okay. Also, I've never had a problem ordering my food spicy enough here (it could be because I go with my gf who takes care of ordering.) I'm a fan of the food. I think for most this place should be a 4 star. It's solid for it's food and service. It's a five star for me though. Definately a place to go and try.
(5)Minh D.
Excellent Thai food here. Authentic food but made a bit sweeter for the western customers. Pad Thai is good, but tends to be wet. I prefer more dry, which requires longer cooking time to evaporate the excess moisture in the noodles. Minced pork with basil - they make very good and authentic here. A favorite Gang Keo Wan - great dish, tasty and authentic. one of my favorites. Masamun, panang, etc. - pretty good dishes, but sweeter and less authentic. Fried banana - this desert dish is great. Portions are a bit small. Portionwise, pricing it a bit more expensive than your average Thai restaurant. For consistent quality, nice clean ambiance and great service. I am rating this restaurant a 4.
(4)Christina X.
Best Crab Rangoon, Pad Eww and Pad Wosen ever! Pad Thai can use a bit more flavor. Though the Pad Thai at the South Loop location is a lot better, but the Crab Ragoon and Pad Eww at the South Loop is a bit lagging.
(4)Juanita G.
That had to be the worst delivery meal I've ever had! Maybe we choose the wrong dishes. We ordered pot stickers, wonton soup, Tom Ka Kai soup and Kuay Tiew Neau Sub. My dining companion had the Tom Ka Kai soup and pot stickers that he said tasted great but brought a whole new meaning to the term "ethnic cleansing" when it went right through him and had him racing to the bathroom. I had the Wonton soup that's filled with chicken but it tasted oddly fishy. It was revolting! The only good thing is that it beat the expected delivery time. I had such high hopes based on the great reviews.
(2)Jeff P.
Had dinner here last night with my wife and daughter, and boy oh boy, what can I say but only the food is awesome. So far the best Thai food I had ever had. This place was highly recommended to us by a Thai friend and she was right. The food is authentic as it goes and ambience is also great! The only thing that is that they should hire more waiters. Especially being packed on a Monday night. Service wasn't that bad and amazingly the two waiters were able to keep up with the customers. Will be back for more.
(5)Rachel H.
Attempting to battle S.N.S. (Sunday Night Syndrome), the boyfriend and I were on the hunt for some Thai food. Luckily for us, this area is like a minesweeper game full of Thai. Unluckily for us, he is indecisive, and I am a fish-out-of-water Southsider. Finally the siren song of Opart Thai called our names. I'm glad I listened. This place is a little fancier looking than some of the holes in the wall, but amazingly this isn't reflected in the price. Two entrees, a split appetizer, and two Thai iced coffees cost a mere $23. We went with the peanut sauce spring roll, which hit the spot as I am a peanut-aholic, but I thought it was a little weird that they don't have veggie eggrolls. We wanted something a little fried to then drench in peanut sauce. Chicken fried rice was good and big enough that I have a full lunch for today and boyfriend's pad thai looked good as well. Service was lightening fast, yet I didn't feel rushed. That girl knows her stuff. Maybe she had on those sneakers with little wheels in them.
(4)Mariah E.
Their food is amazing, I would give majority of everything I ate 5 stars. It's my first time in Chicago and when I stopped by to eat here it was the best dishes I ate from yet. I even went to Chinatown, also ate a deep dish and hot dog... Nothing was more greater than this thai place. I'm from Seattle, and their pad thai was great (even if I like thicker noodles they used thinner noodles than what I'm used to, it was still amazingly good). They know how to make food spicy for sure, in Seattle I have to ask for 5 stars but their mild/medium spicy levels are just perfection for me. Their crab rangoon is so mouth watering delicious, they make their crab cream cheese fried wontons so good, it melts in your mouth! Their pad see-iew is good but not worth ordering twice, I'm more into a sweeter version, the batch I ate there wasn't that sweet. Their Panang curry was good too, my boyfriend loved it but I thought it was ok. Their fried rice was kind of dried, felt kind of overcooked maybe but still edible, I'd probably get a different fried rice there. Their white rice was kind of squishy... Their service, well... I think they should have a waiting area where people can sit down while waiting at least lol! Their interior and exterior is nice and cozy. When I entered, I had to wait about 15-20 minutes until I was able to sit down on a table. The waitress had a mean demeanor but all of a sudden she was nice when giving us food lol... I thought that was strange, I'm not sure if that's just how she looks or it's just part of her personality but it wasn't very welcoming at first, I still tipped her decently. The host/guy waiter who sat us down was friendly from the beginning. Anyways it's really busy in there (when I went) around 6:30-8:30pm? I was craving their food the next day and ordered delivery (really cheap only $3 charge) well not including tipping the driver lol... It's that good! I reordered crab rangoon (2), pad thai, panang and white rice (I'm so glad this batch of rice was not squishy). It was so delicious! If I ever come back to visit Chicago, I would definitely come eat here!
(4)Keith A.
To say that the expectations for here were high is a bit of an understatement. Lots of raves from friends and it being included in the michelin bib gourmand list, I was due for a showdown with Opart. I ordered up some shrimp dumplings,pad lard na with chicken, and Pad Kra Praow Lard Khao with beef. The shrimp dumplings were extremely good and the soy sauce that was with them added even more. The pad lard na was tremendous. The noodles alone were worth it as they just seemed to melt in your mouth and there was a great savory sauce that went with it. The beef and rice was very very very spicy. In fact it was so spicy that it even caught me off guard a bit but was very good once I adjusted to it. I ordered it for pickup and it was done in about 20 minutes. There is a good amount of food in each dish, but you aren't feeling too stuffed afterward. I can't wait to come back here repeatedly to try as much as possible on the menu
(5)Sarah R.
I've only been here once, but have always heard rave reviews from friends about how good the food is here. Well, they were certainly right! I had the white pepper garlic chicken over jasmine rice and I was in heaven. The thing that made them lose a star was the fact that when they are busy you are certainly going to wait for your food. They only split checks two ways (not good for a party of 3 or more), and they skimp out on the thai iced tea. It's too small for the price. All in all, I will be back though. I believe they have Vegan friendly options too.
(4)Beth R.
We just went on Tuesday because Chubby Weiners next door was closed. I keed, I keed. I do enjoy this place because I can get my standard Thai (read: not Thai, not authentic) food, which is mixed vegetables and tofu with rice. The price is slightly high (+$1 for plain white rice for an otherwise all-veg dish? wha?) but the portions are big and there aren't things like tomatoes in the veggies. I had a chicken egg roll last time that was nothing special really, but my companions liked their orders (pad thai and a noodly soup) and we were in and out in an hour. The location is a plus though, since there's street and lot parking (easy spot at 6:45 on a Tuesday) plus the Brown line overhead.
(3)Tera D.
Opart is a nice Thai option. I always recommend it to people for dates because it's a nicer, more romantic interior than most Thai places. As for the food, the highlight is definitely the sauces. They go beyond the Thai standards and have lots of creative sauce you can't find anywhere else. Unfortunately I thought some of the other components weren't done very well. Badly cooked tofu and overcooked noodles really took the quality down on some of the dishes. But maybe we just got them on a bad night.
(3)Irene B.
I love Thai food! I crave it like a fat kid craves for ice cream! But on this particular visit at Opart Thai, my heart just couldn't commit. My boyfriend and I ordered the Tiger Cry appetizer and he loved it. I thought it was too salty, so we asked the waitress for white rice to neutralize the taste. The white rice never came, and by the time the waitress came around again, my boyfriend had already inhaled the rest of the food. We also had the wonton soup, which we both thought was too salty, but who orders wonton soup at a Thai restaurant anyway? Finally, we decided to share an order of basil chicken. I love that they use ground chicken by the way. However we asked for medium spicy and I believe we got extra extra spicy instead. My tongue was numb by the end of dinner. Overall, I thought the place was okay. I'd definitely give it another chance. It's cheap, quick and did I mention byob?
(3)Brandon C.
Pretty nice Restaurant. Food is very good, we I the fried rice. For appetizers, spring rolls, smaller than expected but very good came with 12 half sized rolls. Fried rice had good amount of chicken and veggies and very fresh and spicy (ask waiter for hot sauce, very good). The only problems with this restaurant is the door that slams and not shut quietly. Also there is graffiti scratched onto the windows of the restaurant and bathrooms. Very quiet when we arrived on a Saturday noon. No music and not exciting.
(4)John R.
Went here last Sunday. I had a curry - it was really good. The crab rangoon was incredible. BYOB Solid.
(4)E B.
Honestly, it is nothing spectacular. It is like any other Thai restaurant in the city and I can say, I have had better. There was way too much sweet and sour sauce on my spring rolls and the salad was very soggy too. The male waiter was soooo nice and polite, but the girl was a little rude. She kept taking away my dishes, didn't even smile, and just had a terrible frown. I guess people like this place because its a BYOB.
(2)Lindsay J.
Just tried this place for the first time with delivery. We read a ton of reviews beforehand so ordered the dishes recommended. However, we took our chances with one Curry dish that hadn't been recommended and, as expected, it was the only one not that great. We ordered: 1) Lard Nar Talay- Great flavor and big chuncks of seafood. The noodles were a little greasy though, so I'll probably request a thinner, lighter noodle next time 2) Moo Ping- Amazing! Pork skewers with a tasty, spicy light sauce. Good size, about 6-7 skewers 3) Gaeng Pa- $96 of the Thai Curries- Just ok, not much of a flavor. Overall, the food was a step up from most Thai take-out. The portions aren't huge though, so don't skimp on ordering.
(4)Samantha L.
I ate here last week and the food was pretty good. But there are a lot of pretty good Thai places in this city. They fry their dumplings, wasn't a fan. I liked that it's BYOB. The service sucked balls. We were sitting at least 15 minutes before someone came over. Yep they were busy. Do I give a shit, nope. He asked what we wanted, left again and didn't see him until about 10 minutes after we were done eating. Someone else dropped our food off. But service stuff doesn't always keep me away from a place, if a server wants the bare minimum tip that is their deal. The food was decent so I am pretty sure that if I am in the neighborhood and I wanted Thai, I would go here again. And there is a liquor store on the corner with a good wine selection so that is a plus.
(3)Rod D.
So I went in today with my girlfriend along with my cousin and his family and had a much better experience this time around. Good things to try that you don't see too often at other Thai places: Appetizers: Tiger cry beef - beef tenderloin with a sauce that is like a combo between soy sauce and lime. It's SO good...a must try! Noodles: If you are a pad thai type person, try the Woon sen pad thai. It has thinner noodles than the normal pad thai. SO good! Entree: If you like garlic, get the garlic chicken. It tastes way better than the Chinese version of it. Dessert: It's seasonal but the mango with sticky rice sounds SO yummy!
(4)Phil X.
Came back here on a date for what else but Tiger Cry, Crab Rangoon, and Chicken Pad Thai....aka TRIPLE THREAT. Yo yo yo listen up...this Thai food is LEGIT. They changed the game with the Tiger Cry appetizer. It's probably called Tiger Cry because tigers weep over how effin' good this beef appetizer is. The Crab Rangoon dough is the best crispy yet chewy dough I've ever had on crab rangoon...and they don't skimp on the filling either. Dip it in the sauce and enjoy. Lastly the Chicken Pad Thai is perfect. PERFECT. If you look up perfect in the dictionary you will see a picture of Opart's pad thai...with soft noodles freshly sauced off the wok, this Thai staple packs FLAVOR. Service was quick. Kitchen was even quicker. AND ITS BYOB, no corkage fee! I picked up a bottle of Riesling at the liquor store NEXT DOOR. Well decorated, traditional decor with a modern feel. Right off the Brown Line "L" stop @ Western Avenue! GET SOME!
(5)Ken S.
Tasty, affordable, BYOB.
(4)Lisa D.
Best thai I've ever had.... and the prices are amazing. We had the chicken satay, appetizer sampler, spicy duck curry and garlic pepper chicken. Everything was super fresh and the flavors were crazy good. The food was brought out really fast too (less than 10 minutes). We went about 6 PM on a Saturday and were seated right away, it seemed to get busier about 7pm.
(5)Matthew W.
The best Thai I've had thus far in the city. Case in point is the fact that the place is packed most weekends and calling in for takeout is what I imagine calling a radio station for free concert tickets is like. I know it's cliché to say, but everything I've had on the menu has been good and/or excellent. Make sure you bring a Chardonnay, Champagne, or a shandy or fruit beer to accompany your meal; the place is BYOB. Starters I've enjoyed are the Satay, Tiger Cry, and Spicy Fried Tofu; the Larb Kai (Chicken Salad) and Neau Nom Tom (grilled beef salad) are standouts too. For main dishes, I mainly stick to the Hot and Spicy area of the menu and order the items extra spicy from there. The Peanut Sauce Lovers, Pad Ma Moung Him Ma Pan, Pad Prik, and Pad Ped Paak are my go-tos, usually ordered with tofu. Honorable mentions go to the Pad Thai, Gaeng Gari, and Gaeng Musaman.
(5)Connie L.
I was excited to come here because of all the good reviews, but the food is just okay and not extraordinary in my opinion. My coworker also wasn't too impressed with her dish either. There are many different choices on the menu to choose from so it took me awhile to decide what to eat. And although I typically love spicy food, I had my food made "medium spicy" and my mouth was burning by the end of the meal.
(3)Kim B.
Great place for Thai or Chinese food. Quick service and it is BYOB. You know they get a lot of business but at the same time you can walk in and get seated right away. They will help to customize a meal if you are able to explain exactly why you'd like.
(4)Gregg B.
Even though I live literally only hundreds of feet away from Opart, I had never been there. When I decided to take a friend who loves Thai out for dinner, I checked out the reviews and Opart seemed to be head and shoulders above the many other Thai restaurants in the area. There's a reason for that...it's that good. We started out with the Tiger Cry appetizer (yes, shocking). I'm not a huge red meat fan...but it was absolutely delicious. The meat was cooked perfectly, and the flavors were complex but balanced really well. For our entrees, we each got one of the spicy entrees with shrimp; mine with cashews, and my friend got one with roasted peppers. Amazing. The flavors and spices were just popping! Ours were ordered 'medium' on the spice level, and even though eyes were watering a little and noses were running, the spice wasn't so overbearing that we lost the flavor. Delicious. Want to know how good it was? Guess what we had for dinner the next night. Given how close it is, and how great the prices are, it's a safe bet that I will be going back a lot. I'm excited to work my way through the menu...it looked like there were some awesome offerings. Definitely go. And to those who rated this place 1* or 2*....I can't even comprehend that.
(5)Cassidy P.
Really horrible service. Were out of many things listed on menu. And this was my birthday dinner. One star!!
(1)Julia W.
So, I am currently on a mission to eat my way through the entire menu... I have yet to find a dish I did not enjoy, but my absolute favorite is the Khao Soy which I am confident I could happily eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday for the rest of my life. I consider myself a bit of a food snob and take serious issue with ingredient substitutions in ethnic cuisine. This does not happen at Opart's! I have personally spoken with the owners who informed me that they ship many of their essential ingredients directly from Thailand... and I'm happy to report the proof is in the proverbial pudding. The flavors are outstanding and true to what I have tasted on multiple trips to Thailand. It would also be a crime not to mention the consistency of the food. I have ordered the same dish 15 different times and it's always perfect . Seriously... always. I don't know what kind of magic happens in that kitchen, but I am confident that it is, indeed, MAGIC. P.S. To all of you Tiger Cry lovers out there... try the Yum Neau salad (or as my husband likes to call it "YUM, NOW!"), which is essentially all of the delectable juicy marinated gloriousness of Tiger Cry in salad form.
(5)Frankie J.
Thai expertise level: I eat everything and prefer the specials. Basics for me are som tum, tom yum, mee krob, nam sod, tod mun, pad siew, lard nar and all the curries. Never been to Thailand, tho I did try Thai-hot and nearly passed out from two bite (so did my wife!). Overall - excellent balance of spice & savory Got the shrimp spring rolls, green curry beef, som tum, and another ground chicken and rice dish with basil. Shrimp spring rolls - skimped on the shrimp, should have charged more and put a whole shrimp instead of half Green curry beef - made me want to clean the plates off; veggies were tender (green eggplant is tough to do), beef a little rubbery, but sauce was KILLER, nice savory balance and made you want to go for more, great consistency, but not fatty and never broke. Som tum - medium hot was hot enough, nice balance in the sauce, and great papaya mix. Ground chicken w/basil and rice - also well balanced,
(4)Anastasia B.
Easily the BEST Thai food on chicago. Everything is always so delicious here. The food is more than affordable! Some if the staff could stand to be more attentive and polite.... But the food makes up for it.
(5)Christine S.
I like Opart Thai, but I think I was expecting the best Thai food I've had in my entire life. It was good, but not mind blowing. A solid 3.5 stars but i'm feeling generous today so it's get's 4. Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls: You better love peanut sauce becuase there's a lot on them. I do love peanut sauce, so I'm fine with this. Egg Rolls: Standard, but good. Beef Pad See-lew: A little sweet for my taste. Gaeng Panang Curry: This is where I was expecting big things. Sadly it wasn't the best I've had. It was good, but I was just expecting more. Great Yelp reviews. On Check Please. Did it live up to the hype? Sadly it didn't. Opart Thai is pretty good and I'll come back to give it another shot.
(4)Vicky A.
My go to Thai restaurant. I live about 20-25 minutes away from there, but I will try to go whenever I can. Lincoln Square is one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. Usually when I go, there's never a long wait, but finding parking in that area sucks sometimes. I always get the same food when I go there: pad see ew, crab rangoons, and a Thai iced tea. My favorite. It's so good. I will probably try something new next time I go. The place is clean and I like the decor. The people working there are always nice and have never had a problem there. Every time my friends and I think to try another Thai restaurant, but we always end up at Opart Thai.
(5)Stephanie L.
I'm so excited and I just cant hide it...and I know, I know, I know...I want you, I want you...but after going here...I didnt want it. Oh OPART! What a disappointment! I got the tiger eye with friends to start. It was tender and juicy with a great dipping sauce. Some pieces were a little fatty, but overall it was good. Kuay Tiew Kee Mao with tofu...MEH. I ordered it very hot. It wasnt hot at all. It lacked flavor. It honestly just tasted like a greasy mess of cabbage and noodles. It was extremely disappointing...it was like all the folk at Big City Tap at 4AM. So excited, but didnt deliver. They end up going home disappointed...I know the feeling after Opart. I also had a bite of Pad Kratiam Prik Thai. It was a little better, but definitely not worth a trip up here. Oh I think I can part with OPART. Bleh...maybe I ordered wrong, but nothing really impressed me. Honestly, I would take Butterfly Thai over this ANY DAY!
(2)Colin R.
Best. I scheduled to meet up here with two of my friends, one of which explained that she used to come here ~20 years ago as a kid with her family. I mean if this place has been around this long, they must be doing something right. We sat at a table, put in our orders for some spring rolls and a meat appetizer (I believe tiger cry). Now here is when i was blown away. We were given our appetizer within 1 minute. Probably the fastest turnaround on an appetizer in my life. And holy crap, the peanut sauce on the spring rolls was delicious. Here's where it got interesting, the Tiger Cry was placed on my table. This is when I knew that I would be coming back here again. I'm going to write the word delicious 10 times in an effort to capture my satisfaction with this dish. DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS Ok yes, back to the food. We shared three entrees, I dont even remember what they were because I was in a blissful state while consuming them. You HAVE to try this Thai place. Probably my favorite in the city.
(5)Dan D.
This place rocks. Every time my wife and i want to get Thai we come to this place. A short walk, we stop at the liquor store next door to grab a bottle of wine as this place is BYOB. I've tried multiple curries, a couple pad Thai dishes and the peanut spring rolls. All are very satisfying. I can't claim it's the best Thai food ever, but it's pretty damn good. The ambiance is cozy and warm, and usually always fairly full during dinner time. Great for a date night eating Thai over a bottle of wine. Haven't been disappointed yet.
(5)Simone T.
Still a loyal devotee in 2014!! Fast delivery, the freshest ingredients & spices ever. Great for small groups to dine in (when I go with friends, it's usually a party of four). BYOB. Remains, at least I think, the best Thai Food in Chicago.
(5)Sara S.
There are not many Thai Restuarant that satisified me because they can't make my dishes spicy enough. Till this day, Opart is my favorite thai restuarant, it's tasty and spicy. I always order the basil beef and green curry. Not to mention this place is also BYOB!
(5)Marco C.
my run of mediocre Thai food in Chicago continues with Opart Thai House. I've had dinner here at least a half dozen times, and aside from the first time (which was excellent), it has been pretty pedestrian since. pros: The peanut sauce spring rolls are pretty good, and the dipping sauce is very good. The service is quick and friendly. They have take out and delivery. Cons: The pot stickers are like you're eating a pork-filled cake. And the pork is sometimes undercooked. The peanut sauce lover entree is not for lovers of the peanut sauce, because they ration that stuff like it's gold. Satay is mediocre at best. Overall, this is one of the better Thai places around, but the bar is set very low here in Chicago. The food at Opart has been excellent, but they are inconsistent... And mediocre has pretty much been the rule rather than the exception.
(3)Tony M.
Great food authentic as it comes egg drop soup is prob best ever chicken pad thai is pretty damn good also great customer service prices are not bad
(4)Ben T.
Went for the first time last night. I'd give 3.5 if I could, but bottom line is I'd be back and try more another time. I checked on here to take advice from other posts, and everyone said Tiger Cry. So I went for it.... Awesome!!! Superbly marinated beef, and a great hot dipping sauce. Great flavor with or without the sauce, and little bite sized pieces. I got it with white rice and it was a nice and not overwhelmingly heavy dinner. My friend got a peanut chicken dinner and white rice and he got a ton of food for the overall price. My only issue was a bit of a sour odor as soon as we entered the front room. I didn't notice it in the inner room where we were sitting. After we started, I didn't even notice anymore. Fast service and lots of people too, easy street parking..... I'll try it again.
(4)Mark R.
Our total go-to Thai restaurant. Their sauces are very rich and consistent. They will provide any heat you want and won't surprise you with being too hot or too mild. They also have a wide variety of curries and appetizers. If you eat in, it's BYO, but bring it with you because the local liquor store is very pricey.
(5)E M.
I enjoy this place very much... It's a typical ethnic food place and and low-key. It tends to get very busy, so I suggest to get a reservation when possible. They menu is extensive and both vegetarian and carnivore friendly. This is a BYOB place... This being said, it's a very affordable and tasty food :)
(4)Rosie Z.
Disappointment city. I was so excited to try this place after seeing it on Check Please. I went there for lunch with a couple of friends when I was in the area. I'm not a big spicy person so I went with shrimp and broccoli, my friends got garlic tofu and a noodle dish. It was all pretty bland. Nothing very exciting. My broccoli and shrimp were barely warm. I guess I was all geared up for the best Thai place in Chicago. I heard the other location is much better. Maybe it was just an off day? We got the desert of mango and sticky rice which was quite delicious. I was pleasantly surprised by this. I may return to give it another chance
(2)Elizabeth L.
Moo Ping? Yes, please. My shrimp curry was a little too spicy, but the awesome thai ice coffee and the tasty Pad Kee Mow my date had, more than compensated. The service was sweet and warm. Fast too. (Came during Sunday at lunch). If I lived in the city, this would be my go-to Thai place. :)
(4)Liz M.
I can't believe that this place has such high overall reviews. Spoon Thai down the street is way higher quality food, and much more sensibly seasoned. Everything I have had here (I've been 3 times) has been overcooked and far too sweet. The iced tea is the best thing on the menu. The service was not impressive, and the waiter interrupted us several times on my last visit. We had a large group and the waitstaff seemed annoyed more than anything else. I'm done here from now on.
(2)Paulina M.
Ordered pick-up from Opart and loved it. Everything was still hot when we got home. We got the sampler appetizer, the Penang curry, shrimp pad Thai, and curry fried rice. A little too much food for two people. Everything was very good but I LOVE the Penang curry!
(5)Yanyao N.
Since moving to Lincoln Square, I've eaten an obscene amount of Thai food (4 Thai restaurants within a block of home will do that to you). I've sampled different take-out and delivery options, but keep returning back to Opart. They're friendly, fast, and efficient on the phone. Sometimes you'll get a busy tone and need to try them a few times. Sometimes pick-up times can be 20-30 minutes, which is totally fine - everyone loves Opart and then they made an appearance on this little show called Check! Please. Their 3 dining rooms are continually packed. Living a block away, I've never dined in, but order pick-up at least once a week. The tom yum pla and poh tak are great seafood soups. The wonton soup is also fantastic - a good thing to keep in mind if you aren't feeling too great, and want some milder, soothing chicken broth. Noodle dishes are always a safe choice - pad thai, pad see ewe, kua tew kee mao. My favorite dish lately is their pad woon sen, a savory stir-fried glass noodle dish (cleverly hidden under their "entrees" section). I never skip the deep fried siu mai, and J is a big fan of their plump, steamed, potstickers. Basically, you can't go wrong anything of this menu - I've never tried something I didn't like, and intend to work my way through the menu. Those for dining in, reservations would be very helpful, and the place is BYOB. Leland Liquor's is conveniently located next door.
(5)Steve H.
Finally tried this place out after the decent yelp reviews and the exposure of Check Please. Though I question whether I will bother to return. Upon entering I was surprised to see how trashy their front entrance was. I literally had to step over garbage on the floor of their front corridor to get in. Not the most pleasant feeling when you enter a new restaurant for the first time and begs to ask how sanitary their kitchen is. Eh well maybe someone will sweep it up later I suppose. Eh maybe not, as the floor of the restaurant also looked extremely dust ridden as those mite colonies likely have had homes there for weeks. My date and I got sat in the middle room right on top of another couple, when there were plenty of other open tables around us. Why any hostess does this is beyond me. Shrimp Toast - definitely something different, yet I don't know why 'Shrimp' is in this dish's name when there is no shrimp at all on top of the crostinis that came outta the kitchen. The toasted bread was rather greasy as well. Kee Mao Noodles - Decently spiced and taste, but not phenomenally unique from any other Thai restaurant. Portion size was small and meager. Eggplant Curry - Incredibly BLAND! Just save your money and suck on chopsticks instead as there's really no difference in experience for your tastebuds. Overall, just a huge letdown and disappointment. Oh and the trash we walked over to enter was still there upon exiting also... sheesh!
(2)Cristina F.
Facts: This is my friend Michelle's go to Thai place. It's BYOB and there's a liquor store a few doors down. Free parking is easy to find. Service is your typical Thai joint (warm, attentive). I've never had bad service at a Thai restaurant.. this is a fact. Their crab rangoon is the best I've ever had and is basically what is compelling me to write this review. When I went back with my siblings, we ended up doubling our order cause let's be real... it'll be $6 well spent. It's actually a rather blurry memory because I can't recall their exact taste/texture.. only that it was perfect and when am I going to eat them again? I ordered their Panang Curry; and while it was above average.. it can't compare to Andy's Kitchen (in Lakeview). I've also had their pad thai (decent) and their pad see ewe (delicious). Hmm I guess I need to come back and try their soups.
(4)A G.
OMG. Try the Pad Ped Tuah. It's absolutely the most heavenly Thai dish that I have ever tasted and living in Chicago one tries many, many Thai restaurants. The service was excellent. The staff was friendly. Couldn't ask for more!
(5)Aditi G.
Obsessed with the food at this place. FINALLY a Thai place that actually LISTENS when I say I want my food hot! My friends and I got the veggie spring rolls, egg rolls, thai fried rice, chicken and broccoli, and the green curry tofu (HOT). Everything was delicious and my dish, the green curry tofu, was amazing! I like my food so spicy that its borderline painful and this dish delivered. Not to mention they gave me so much of the curry that I had enough leftovers for two more meals thereafter. Not complaining about that.
(5)Theresa L.
Normally I don't feel compelled to write good reviews as much as I do bad ones. But Opart has been my to-go place for Thai food for a while. It has never disappointed me. I haven't been to the restaurant for about a year due to my predilection to trying new restaurants and my being out of the country for a bit. About a year ago I would have easily gotten a table for six, now the place is pretty much busy every night. This struck up the fear in me - did they change their cooking to suit a different clientele and also jack up the prices? To my delight, they did neither. Noodle dishes are under or around $10. My favorite trans-gender waiter still works there as well - sans make up though! I went with two gal pals on a Friday night and got a seat quickly because of our small party. We ordered Thai iced coffees and tea as well as tiger cry for an appetizer ( a must have). I had mildly spicy chicken pad thai whereas my friends ordered a curry fish dish and pad kee mao. Although my friend remarked that the fish as devoid of the curry flavor, she really enjoyed it. My pad thai had just the right amount of kick to it - the kind that slowly creeps in only after a few bites. (I also heard that the tiger cry in their down town location pales in comparison to this one). Definitely a must try for thai food lovers. (The fact that it's location is directly across from the western stop on the brown line is also a plus.)
(4)Elyse B.
Opart Thai was once my favorite restaurant. I'd been going with my family for years and back then it was hands down the best thai food in Chicago. Upon returning from a short stint in Thailand, I got my regular Thai fix here and was always in love. Something has changed and not for the better. My past few trips there have been terrible. Over the years, I have eaten almost everything on the menu and even a few things off menu. Lately, everything has been bad. From dry meat, watery sauces and curries, bland seasoning, too much salt, dried out and hard sticky rice, sickly sweet pad thai, and even changing the once godly spring roll peanut sauce, it's all been horrible. I am so sad to see this happen to my favorite restaurant.
(1)Jennifer R.
Amazing thai food and great service!
(5)Gwen D.
Because it's included on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list, I expected Opart Thai to be the best Thai restaurant in the city. Maybe the best I'd ever tried. Well... I, a self-proclaimed green curry fanatic, would recommend Opart Thai's Gaeng Keow Waan with no reservations. My friend Michael, who enjoys the more basic Thai dishes, would call the barbecued pork sub-par. (I'd agree.) We'd both say the Shrimp Tempura, though standard, totally hits the spot. I'd definitely to go back to Opart Thai, but I'll probably stick to the curries, which seem to be one of the restaurant's strong points. I'm still looking for a Thai restaurant where I can feel confident ordering anything, absolutely anything, off the menu!
(4)Jenny D.
I'm only giving this place 4 stars because the food is great. Don't go there for the service. Its the best thai food in the area that Ive found so far - and Ive been to all the surrounding ones.
(4)Ron P.
Just back to Chicagoland after 20 years and had to stop by one of our old favorites. Still great! We had some OK Thai out in Elgin a few days ago but it didn't compare to Opart. We started off with Tiger Cry and Chicken Satay for appetizers. Both were excellent. The Chicken Satay in particular was surprisingly good - nice smoky flavor we don't often get in the dish at other restaurants. The Tiger Cry? Well, we knew from past experience it was going to be great and it didn't disappoint. For the main course, my wife had Gang Pa curry. She loved it. Too spicy for me, though (and that's saying something). I had Basil Pork and it was super good. They make it like they do in Thailand (no onion or bell pepper, ground meat). Spice level was just right for me. We thought about dessert but were too full. Maybe next time...
(5)Amelia Z.
I was just there earlier. While we were eating our meal. One of the waiter try to clean up before they closed. The smell of clorox was so strong. We told them to stop. Then they started to talk in their own language about us. When we asked for the bill, my friend asked if they already charge for grautity, the waitress told me "NO" But when I checked the bill, they did charge $13.23 of grautity. I dont think I will come here again.
(1)Veronica D.
You have to have the Tiger cry for appetizer! The beef was cooked perfectly and the sauce has just the right amount of spiciness. The Yellow curry with potatoes and Chicken was also very delicious. I highly recommend this place. Street parking was easy and was not crowded at all on a Sunday evening at 7pm.
(5)Dee S.
I don't know what kind of crack some people are smoking..Cause Opart is Fire! I tried this place a few times before finally finding the right item, so that might be the problem. You know how every good spot has "that dish?" Well, the thing to get here is "Tiger Cry." I've had better pad kee mow from other places, but nothing comes close to the steak that they serve up in this dish. The sort of spicy, tangy sauce compliments the dish perfectly. Get 2 orders and make sure to add a side of rice. Order some of the eggrolls too.
(5)Kellie N.
I had to order some food for a lunch I was having for an office and they requested Opart Thai House. Since I had to feed several people who didn't have any recommendations as to their favorite dishes I went in blind. The menu has tons of fantastic options and although I know what I like, I was a little overwhelmed on where to even begin making sure I ordered things that everyone would be happy with. One of the servers, Anitra, offered to put together several of their more popular dishes plus her own recommendations to create a well rounded variety saving me the confusion. She did such a wonderful job, everyone loved it! I'm so grateful for her help, good taste and saving me a ton of time. The food was amazing. I will definitely be returning.
(5)Brenda H.
I don't think I've eaten at any other Thai restaurant since I came here in 2009. Seeing it as the Review of the Day today reminded me how much I love this place. I still love the Tiger Cry but now I'm also used to ordering the Fried Wontons (the sauce is so delicious!) and the Chicken Fried Rice. True love, I'm serious.
(5)Jennifer C.
As most of you can imagine I've been to a LOT of restaurants in my life, and this one takes the cake. However, it's not for anything good, it's for the worst service EVER! Our waitress was downright rude and totally unattentive. After we were seated at our table for 10 minutes my friend asked for wine glasses and the server rudely replied, "You just sat down." However, at least she did finally bring them. When she brought our plates and silverware to the table she just through them in front of one person and wAlked away instead of delivering them to everyone. When we waited a long time before ordering one of the members of our nine person party finally seemed our server out she did eventually come over, but got mad at some of the people when we didn't order fast enough for her liking. These are just a few examples, the service really was abysmal. To eat I tried a bunch of the apps the best was the crab Rangoon. For an entree I had the chicken and basil, which I ordered medium-spicy, but it was extremely bland. Overall, the prices were reasonable and the food wasn't terrible. However, based on the service I will absolutely not be back.
(2)Roger L.
Went there as a treat with 3 of my K9 Nose Work students and had the best time. The staff was very attentive and courteous while not getting in our way. Ordered several appetizers, 4 meals and all shared. Some of the best Thai food I have ever experienced. This was my 5th visit and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Peter D.
Definitely the best Thai food I've ever had. Authentic as can be. These people know their stuff and they are packed as can be on any given night. BYOB is also great since there's a liquor store next door and you can take the Brown Line home if you're too drunk.
(5)Sunz C.
Oparts has been one of our family's favorite Thai restaurant for over a decade. Tonight, however, was an utter disappointment, to say the least. My husband and I brought our two young children out to dinner. Our kids were hungry, so they were already onto their second Chicken Satay skewer when I noticed that the middle portion of the chicken was still RAW. We quickly called the waiter and he confirmed that it was indeed raw and apologized. He asked if we wanted them to make us another plate of Chicken Satay, but we declined. He removed it from our bill, but I'm still shocked that they would serve a dish that's so carelessly made. I just hope we don't get food poisoning tonight. We ordered our usual Tiger Cry, Beef Pad See Ew, Tofu Pad Thai, and Curry fried rice. The beef from pad see ew was very dry and hard to chew, so we had to pick them all out. Pad Thai noodles were over cooked and soggy. The only good dish we had tonight was the Tiger Cry. By the way, my husband told me (after we finished eating), that he saw a cockroach scurrying under our table and quickly stepped on it. I'm sad to say, but we won't be coming back.
(1)Todd W.
I can't believe I just spent 21 dollars for this. I have never in my life ordered Thai food and received such a small amount. First I said , give them the benefit! Good things can come in small packages". I screwed up with that philosophy. The previous reviews are what made me call in the first place. I feel like the reviewers must be in a daze over the "fantastic" pricing, or they must be bringing liquor to have with the meal. I just don't see it! I ordered a fried chicken spring roll and a Pad See Ewe. I feel like they cooked one chicken and divided between the last 10 Yelpers. How can a restaurant use the same ingredients as another restaurant and produce zero flavoring? I wish I can post a pic of this crap. Waste of money and the hour wait it took to get it.
(1)Regina M.
My favorite Thai place in the city!
(5)Chanutra T.
My Favorite Thai restaurant! For to go i love to get chicken satay, mooping with sticky rice. Pad see ew is delish! And cant get enough of Tiger Cry! The best in the town! My kids love to come here too!
(5)Erika C.
Everything we tried was absolutely delicious along with excellent service. The restaurant is a very cute hip place. We tried the tiger cry, spicy chicken pad thai among others but those two were my favorite. Quick service, fresh tasting food. I'm definitely a fan of this place. Yum!
(4)Tania D.
I decided to try because of the good reviews. Pad Thai with chicken-not good. Also, ordered the Thai Iced Tea & got the Iced Coffee instead. I was going to tell them they made a mistake but the cashier was snappy so I didn't even bother. Not returning here.
(1)Kai H.
Opart, you taught me what Thai food was. You are my very first Thai restaurant. Since those early days of college eats, I have traveled to Thailand several times, and have eaten the Pad Thai of street carts in Bangkok, feasted on the spicy dishes of Chiang Mai, and the delectable seafood of Phuket and Opart you still compare. You still shine!
(5)E H.
This is the best thai restaurant in Chicago. I hate to be 'that guy,' but I lived in Thailand and this food is not only the most authentic but also the hands down most flavorful and careful thai food out there. My pad Thai was not swimming in sauce. It tasted lightly grilled, with hints of fish sauce and garlic, with the scallions and peanuts punctuating the underlying deliciousness. My girlfriend got the khao soy and it was rich as hell. The place is byob, so bring your best booze. The prices are reasonable as hell.
(5)Kit A.
I LOVE THAI FOOD, especially when it comes from Opart Thai! I literally haven't had a dish yet that has disappointed me! I'm a big fan of their curry. My favorite is the Gaeng Keow Waan (green curry, Thai eggplant and green beans in coconut milk with choice of meat). It's especially good over their brown rice! If you have to get anything GET THE CURRY! You will go home happy. All of their food to made to order spiciness level - meaning you can get it as mild or hot as you want! Just let them know. If it comes out too hot they are willing to remake the entree for you (just make sure you tip them well). I recently was featured on Check, Please! because I wanted to review this restaurant and both the other guests loved this place as much as I did! Although the service cannot always be 100% (you have to risk that when you're at a place as busy as this), the food definitely makes up for it. **THINGS TO TRY BEFORE YOU DIE** Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls Tom Yum Pla (Fish) soup Gaeng Keow Waan Fried Banana
(5)Jaina A.
Highlight of this place: BYOB. The Tiger cry beef reminded me of korean bbq beef. When a tiger cries does is weep korean bbq sauce? I guess so. I ordered the thing before brocolli lover, same idea but with peanut sauce instead: meat + sauce over a bed of steamed (american not chinese) broccolli. It was ok but I really needed my fill of veggies so this did the trick. If I was staying longer in Chicago I'd definitely come back here and try one of their other 100+ dishes. The portions were perfect and surprisingly didn't feel full even after all that beer and rice.
(4)Zaven K.
Ate here once several years ago and swore I would never return. Aside from the mediocre food, there were (GAG!) baby cockroaches crawling in and out of a small gap in the wood paneling on the wall next to my table. Run away, and dont look back. One star is too generous. If you are in the mood for Thai in Lincoln Square go across the way to Roseded, food is better and (presumably) roach free!
(1)Beth G.
It was hard sharing my attention with Spoon Thai, which is just down the street, but I always tried to be fair and gave both places my Pad Thai business. Opart definitely does the "spicy" right. I like their chicken satay better than Spoon Thai's, I think it's more peanut buttery.
(3)Leo L.
Love the handwritten message on the men's room wall: "those who write gangster signs are "DORKS"
(5)Jonathan S.
Finally! We've found a Thai place in Chicago that is really good. We were starting to think that the best Thai food in Illinois was in Champaign. This time we tried the mainstays (Lard Nar, Pad Thai, Panang Curry), but the more we order it, I believe we'll get more adventurous. Only problem (and a big one) is that they have a limited delivery area. I can't believe that neither the South Loop nor the Lincoln Square location will deliver to Old Town. Very strange. But when the food is this good, you gotta do what you gotta do.
(5)Nick B.
Cheap, delicious and BYOB. I'm a big fan of the Pad King with rice.... and do yourself a favor, order the Tiger Cry.
(5)Becky S.
I ordered for pickup and it was incredibly easy and convenient. Yummy too! I recommend the tofu satay!
(4)Wendi R.
Such great Thai food for delivery! These guys do a fantastic job as far as I'm concerned. My orders are always timely and accurate. And the food is really flavorful. I'm pretty picky about my pad thai and these guys seem to have the perfect blend. Also, the Tiger Cry.....delicious! And I don't usually order meat in anything. :)
(4)Casia J.
Yum, though a slightly less enthusiastic "yum." Used to live near here and I miss going their as often as I used to. But it's not as good as it used to be, now I know it's not just me after seeing others' reviews. The outstanding thing here is the sauces. They're authentic, flavorful, and great. I wish they'd step it up to how it was in say, early 2000's.
(4)Amanda P.
This is hands down, my favorite thai place I've ever tried. If you like crab rangoon, you HAVE to try it here. For $4.99, you get either 8 or 10 large pieces. I'm pretty sure it was 10, but there was no time to count as we inhaled them. And as far as noodle dishes are concerned, everything here is excellent. 5 stars all the way for Opart Thai!
(5)richard i.
I eat Thai food here, there, and everywhere. I was introduced to this place at my old job we used to come here for lunch pretty often. I still think it is one of the best Thai places I have been to in Chicago thus far ( I have only lived here two years, I have probably been to 20 Thai restaurants) I have not had a bad dish there yet and I have probably eaten there over twenty times. The restaurant itself is BYOB which I think is an excellent plus. The Red Snapper is very good among some of there other dishes. I also like that they made there Pad Thai with glass noodles. Also they have great appetizers.
(5)brad p.
Best. Thai food. Ever. This place is so good, I could eat here every day. The service is always a little spotty, but the food is so good, so cheap and there's so much of it, that it almost doesn't matter. I went here once with someone who lived in Thailand and said this is the closest to authentic Thai food you can get in the US. Never had a bad dish here.
(4)Ashley D.
This place was great. I had my birthday party here and the waiter was so nice and accomodating. I like the atmosphere, very pretty! It's sad but I rate asian food by how good the crab rangoon is. This place had the best crab rangoon I've ever had. I ate a little from everybody and I liked everything I tried. The best part...it's BYOB and there is a liquor store right on the corner, plus no corkage fee. We went through 3 bottles of wine and a 6 pack. The totals came to $15 a person, but that included a ridiculous amount of appetizers and food. My friends were happy campers.
(5)Christina L.
ive been coming to this place for a long time now. it is the best thai spot in lincoln square. dont be fooled by those other places. get the gaeng gari. with chicken. i crave this. its a yellow curry with sweet potatoes and i order it with a side of rice. good. i got that out of the way. for starters try the crab rangoon, its creamy and crabby and crispy. the sweet and sour sauce is good. i havent heard many people mention the tiger cry but its delicious. the dipping sauce is a mix of tartness and sweetness, its very fresh. the extra wait is worth it. i also almost always get the pad kra praow with ground beef. it has thai basil and slivers of jalapeno pepper. (if you order this, get it so its not "lard khao" which i guess means "over rice". order it instead with a side of rice. you get more that way. ) theres a liquor store next door which is awesome. if you go with a group make sure you form an alliance with someone so you can get both the gaeng gari and the pad kra praow. the decor is pretty cool they have interesting wood carvings and a huge stone carving of Ganesh (a hindu diety of success says wiki.) they dont have chopsticks on the table, which i thought was weird but apparently traditionally thai food is eaten with a fork and a spoon. i didnt know this. so, yeah go. have awesome food and a great time. and a thai iced coffee for dessert.
(5)Karmin A.
I ordered carryout today. I got the pagang curry chicken and tom kha soup. The chicken was really hard with no taste at all, and the tom kha soup was just really bad. it was very milky, salty and had a bad after taste. The service was really good, but I won't be going back. :(
(2)Kat L.
The epitome of what made me fall for Thai food. Reasonable prices, great portions, great food. CHeck out my pictures. TIger Cry- i think overhyped from yelp reviews. It's just marinated steak pieces to me. But good. Crab Rangoon- extra creamy, pretty delicious (i'm somehow usually disappointed whenever someone recommends crab rangoon) But these guys deliver. Of course, bigger would be better =) Fried Shumai- perfection!! the wonton wrapper wasn't too thick so it was a great light, crispy outside with heavenly filling. Love. Love. Love. I ordered beef pad thai. Gosh we were kinda full by the time our main course arrived (of course, plates come relatively quick here. Plus for that). More on the saucy side, which i like. No so peanuty. Not orange. Just delicious saucy goodness. I definitely didn't finish. It was great fresh, but here's the downfall. It didn't hold up too well to being refridgerated and reheated. Texture became almost slimy =(. not as appetizing. But still. No major disappointments here!
(4)Shradha A.
The place was quite packed, only one person was handling all the tables, needless to say, service was slow. Food came out surprisingly fast - hmm. Their green curry and papaya salad were quite good. Their pad see ewe wasn't - 3 of us left our dishes less than half-eaten, and shared the green curry the 4th person ordered.
(3)Brandon B.
Some of the best Thai food I've had in Chicago. Very reasonable price point, BYOB, and really decent ambiance. Can't go wrong here.
(5)Beth B.
Love love love the chicken pad thai! and it's BYOB!
(5)Jennifer M.
Hands down my favorite Thai restaurant in all of Chicago! Great price points for great food & large enough portions that you'll always have enough to take home and enjoy later. I told all my friends about this place and another all equally as addicted as I am!
(5)Jennifer P.
Friday nights are always busy in the restaurant industry. My visit to Opart was impressive when I was told that my wait would be 20 minutes and it turned out to be less than 5 minutes. Maybe my host really did not know how long the wait would be and just threw out a number. After that, I was left with mixed feelings. My friend and I started off with Tiger Cry, a delicious steak with a lemongrass sauce. Looks like everyone is talking about it. I can't say that it was terrible. It was definitely tasty. After eating out at so many restaurants in the last two years, I feel like there wasn't any flavor that I would say distinguishes Opart from other steaks done right. It was medium well to perfection, and it was very juicy. This is what I would expect out of steak. You could taste that grilled flavor, and for me, will forever encapsulate the essence of summertime in Chicago. My dinner companion ordered the Green Curry Panang made with shrimp. First of all, I hate it when restaurants leave the tail on the shrimp when they make their dishes. I love that my friend is very conservative; and therefore over-the-top with his manners. It just looked odd to watch him remove each shrimp from the saucy dish, and use a spoon and a fork to separate the tail from the rest of the body. I find that just as silly as some people might think of others watching them pick up the sauce covered shrimp by the tail and bite the shrimp with enough grip so that all of the meat comes out of the tail, going straight into your mouth like a satay shrimp stick. My friend probably got a lukewarm mouthful of shrimp. The barbarian who eats food with their fingers has a fresh and hot piece of meat. Opart Thai House better recognize. Secondly, my friend's panang was ordered from a location on the menu where the dishes aren't necessarily advertised as, "you can order this spicy," but eat at enough Thai places and you definitely understand that this dish will always have a kick. I deliberately ordered from the spicy menu, located near the back pages. I even eyeballed the waiter and repeated myself twice, "Make it spicy!" I was very disappointed that he didn't listen. My squid dish tasted like it was thrown together with pre-packaged spicy noodle sauce, and served with only sautéed onions and green and red bell peppers to dress it up. My squid did not look like fresh squid, and it looked like it came out of a frozen bag. There is a stereotype that all Asian restaurants have going: If you're Asian, they will make your food spicy. If you're Caucasian, your food will never come spicy. All Asians will tell you this. My friend is Chinese. I specifically told the waiter that I wanted my dish spicy. He delivered me jarred red pepper sauce that didn't even fall into the category of spicy. My friends Panang Curry? Spicy to perfection. I am that "white girl" that can handle a spicy dish; and you don't want to mess around when it comes to my order. If I say spicy, it better end up tingling my Eustachian tubes! How do I know my spicy squid wasn't spicy? I've been to enough Korean restaurants to know the difference. Had the cook made my dish the right way, this place would have received 4 stars. I took another star away because I just felt that there wasn't anything different about Opart which made it stand apart from other Thai restaurants. If I come back here, I better get my dish spicy. I contemplated sending the dish back; but my friend and I both agreed that the cook would have probably copped an attitude and made the dish too spicy for anyone to bear. I was also concerned that the dish wouldn't be remade completely. I was worried that they would have just dressed up what they had already brought to my table.
(3)Comensal A.
I'd been to Opart Thai a few years ago, and it was pretty good. Same this visit: definitely A-OK. Strong points include a homey setting, quick service, OK food and good vibe. We liked the Tiger Cry appetizer -- nicely grilled beef in a savory sauce (not spicy-hot). We ordered a papaya salad (Som Tum) and pork Pad Prik King medium-spicy; they were toward the hot end of the medium spectrum to my taste, to the point that the heat masked some of the flavor complexity (per my companion, we will order mild next time). Green beans in both the salad and the PPK were quite crisp (OK for me, but not my companion). I enjoyed a Thai iced coffee for dessert. Portions were ample for us, and the food looked good. There is no real waiting area, and Opart does not take reservations for small parties, so waiting for a table is awkward, especially since the take-out customers are also taking up space. There are three rooms at Opart; each seems cozy but not crowded too badly. Service was brisk, efficient and reserved. It's interesting that there are four Thai restaurants within a block of each other hereabouts. Of these, Opart is a clear winner for ambiance and quality of food. Royal Thai, a few blocks away on Montrose, has been our long-time area favorite, but at last visit it seemed like it may have changed either chef or owner, and the food really suffered. Opart ain't perfect, but I'm sure I'll be back when I'm in the neighborhood again with a Thai yen.
(3)Deepika B.
My favorite to-go place, would want to dine here someday. I would say 4 stars for the food (psst...do try the sampler plate and the panang curry) For curry fried rice, go to royal thai, a few blocks away on Lincoln. Overall rating 3 because of the service. The people who take the order are not the most polite people out there. Good food though.
(3)R B.
5 stars, as good as it gets. Legit thai. to get anything better, you need to walk the streets of your favorite thai city, or go to your favorite restaurant in your favorite thai city. What more can you want from an Urban U.S. city based Thai Food restaurant? I've reviewed other Thai Restaurants when I lived in other neighborhoods, and I even went so far as to call them authentic (I've visited Thailand few times.) I was so wrong.... The other places I've reviewed don't hold a candle to Opart.. This is the legit flavor. I am so lucky to live in a delivery area for Opart. I can't say enough good things if you want the real deal. Try the Miang Sa Wan appetizer. I get it spicy. It's perfect. If you don't like spicy food, perhaps you should order it medium flavor, but if you want the real deal... If you love Thailand and eat spicy food when you are there (not the the bland tourist food) you must try this. It's a flavor explosion of chilis, ginger, salty dried pork, lime, sweetness, sourness, crispy lettuce... It's everything you want in a legit thai salad type of dish. A flavor explosion. I eat many things on this menu, but this is a must, every time. Miang Sa Wan. The real deal. There really is no other Thai food for me at this point. It's the best I've tried in Chicago, so far.
(5)Arash R.
great thai curries. Must try
(5)Elina S.
This place is awesome!!! Came here this past weekend and realized that I've been here before many years ago with the whole family. The place is quite large for a thai place I would think, lots of tables and we got here at like 6pm on a Saturday and it was pretty busy which is always a good thing. The food was absolutely delicious, you have to get the crab ragoons, they are super yummy and fresh, my grandpa even wanted a separate order to go for the next day because he liked them that much! And if gramps approves, I approve :) Next we got the tiger cry beef appetizer, very very tasty, the seasoning was perfect and the flavor was the perfect combo of sweet and spicy, definitely a must have. Then came our entree and of course, I always get my chicken pad thai, which was delicious, it wasn't overly big in terms of size, but I left very full. I guess I'm just used to eating half and taking the rest home, but nope, I had to finish my entire entree :) and if the pad thai is good at a thai place, then I will definitely be back. Another bonus is that it's a cozy place with BYOB so we broke out those yummy ciders. The only negative I would say was that our server seemed out of it, she didn't mess up our order and everything came out pretty fast, it's just I had to ask for more water, I had to ask for our check, stuff she should be paying attention to, but oh well, won't stop us from liking this place :)
(4)Payal P.
This is our go to Thai place from the first time we had it delivered. Why go elsewhere when they literally have amazing food? Their flavors are multilayered and complex with the right amount of heat which so other Thai places strive to master. (And I have tried a good number of places). I recommend the pad Thai ( the way it should be made), tiger cry (really tender meat), and the green curry (so fragrant). So so glad this place exists!
(5)Larry H.
if only yelp allowed 3.5 stars, i'd probably give it that. In what may become a slow Thai crawl down Western Ave, we arrived here for some dinner. I'm no Thai expert, but I do know Home of Gourmet in Champaign, particularly circa 1999-2003 has the best pad thai in the universe. You could order a large for about 6-7 bucks and have food for 2-3 meals. With that in mind and also conscious of my life changes, I got a tofu pad thai, hot. It was pretty good, and the hot was indeed hot. My only complaint was that the noodles were a bit stuck together/gloopy. Like can't break it apart (opart?) with a fork gloopy. I also tried some green curry dish and it was pretty good (particularly the broth), but I think they charged a buck extra for rice. MAN HOW YOU GONNA SERVE A CURRY DISH AND CHARGE EXTRA FOR RICE? Does anyone order curry and NOT eat it with rice? I don't get it. Is this a Chicago Thai restaurant thing? I haven't been to many others so maybe it's just some scam they all agreed upon. We finished our meal with some mango sticky rice and it was pretty good, if you are into mangoes, condensed milk, and sticky rice. Rice complaints aside, the final bill was reasonable and the service was good enough. We went on a weekday evening and it appeared to be a nice BYOB/low key date spot. If you are in the neighborhood and want some Thai food I guess this is a good place to go. Maybe after the survey of all area Thai restaurants is complete I will report back with a hierarchy. Until then, this was fine and I wish they had free rice with curry dishes.
(3)Tina S.
I know I haven't tried every Thai place ever, but I still think this is the best I've had. This is another place I went to more often when I was younger and now that I'm back living in this great and windy city, I thought - YES! I can go back to Opart! And it lived up to my own expectations. I had the peanut spring rolls. They are plentiful and tasty. A nice, long square plate of 12 sushi like rolls with tofu, egg and something leafy (can't remember exactly, sorry!) inside and strips of tofu and peanut sauce on top. They also added jalapenos on the side. I never tried spring rolls with jalapenos, but the spice was welcomed and pleasant. I should have probably just eaten that for my dinner, but I couldn't stop there. I ordered a yummy tofu dish with wide egg noodles. The noodles are probably my favorite. Rice is overrated! I suck at remembering names so I apologize again I can't remember what it was called - but believe me, it was good! I only ate about half so I asked for the rest to go. Also good as leftovers. Some things just aren't meant to be taken home, but my dish was yummy the second time around. SCORE! I also had the Thai Iced Tea. Always a favorite of mine and it was just as I expected - delicious! As for the location, it's awesome. Right in the heart of Lincoln Square. If you're driving, I suggest parking in the neighborhoods on either side of Western. It's free! If you're CTAing, Brown Line Western or the Western bus. Nice! The inside is cozy. It has two rooms, lots of tables, slightly close quarters so if you're on a date, make sure your neighbors aren't listening in :)
(5)Chicago A.
I used to enjoy Opart as a decent Thai place, BUT not anymore. STAY AWAY FROM THE SHRIMP. I ordered a Shrimp Pad Woon Sen (pretty basic stuff). Had it last night, and today, I have been dry heaving, had a terrible stomach, nauseated. AWFUL. I should have stopped when it tasted a little off. Turns out it was a LOT off.
(1)David R.
Damnit, foiled again! I am still searching for that go-to Thai restaurant within pickup distance of my home. I've tried nearly a dozen but they're all so mediocre. Opart was one of my last few hopes but their bland performance has narrowed the field even further. I tried several dishes but none were standouts. The pad thai in particular was the lamest version of this dish that I have had in years. The spring rolls barely register, the tom yum koong soup is satisfying but standard, and the yum plamuk squid salad has no flavor other than heat. Probably the best dish was the one that my wife always orders--in Opart parlance, pad paak roum mit, a.k.a. stir-fried vegetables with tofu. So, the plainest dish was the tastiest, which says everything that you need to know about Opart.
(2)Mattie L.
I've only been here once, and went by other's reviews. I can attest that the tiger cry is the bomb.com , miang-sa wong was AMAZING (lots of different flavors and textures, very very impressed), and the egg drop soup was unexpected and different, without being too different. Had that great egg drop taste, with ground chicken in it, which really kicked it up a notch. YUM. Will be back.
(4)Natalie B.
I love this place. Opart Thai's peanut lovers chicken is my favorite. I always order delivery from here to my home and business. And I love eating at the location. It is BYOB...Works for me!
(5)Christina F.
In my opinion, this is one of the best Thai restaurants in the city. I've only been here for takeout, but each time has been consistent and that's the most important part. The first time I came here, I came for the cheap crab rangoon and Khao Soy (I loved this dish back home called Chiang Mai noodles which is another name for Khao Soy). It wasn't as good as what I was used to, which is why I haven't ordered it since. I usually get a crab rangoon craving every few months and it's always a good choice here being that it's pretty consistent each time. I've tried the drunken noodles which are alright. By the time I got home, they were pretty soggy and gross, which is probably my fault because I did get take out. I bet they taste much better in the restaurant. The Pad Thai is alright, but I'm not a big Pad Thai person so I can't judge. My most recent order included the crab rangoon (like I said: consistency), an order of "tiger cry," chicken satay, and chicken basil. The tiger cry is marinated beef with a special sauce. The menu said the beef was tender, but mine was more like beef jerky, but delicious nonetheless. I loved the spice marinade and the sauce was surprisingly really spicy. I highly recommend this dish as it will be on my order every time now. The chicken satay were pretty big pieces of chicken skewered and rubbed with curry powered. Opart's have a special taste which makes them stand out again the run of the mill Thai shack. However, this is where the happiness ended. I had a huge problem with my chicken basil. I'm a huge fan of this dish at any other Thai place because it is spicy, yet sweet and generally loaded with vegetables and basil. Opart's version was basically ground up chicken in a basil sauce. I looked online later and on the menu and it's called Pad Kra Praow. When I called up to order, I just asked if they made chicken basil because I didn't see it on the menu so I guess if I read the menu and description I would have known. My go to Thai dish used to be Panang curry until I had a bad encounter with it ending up all over my apartment (I think Satay on Diversey tried poisoning me). Opart Thai always had really good Panang and it was always loaded with veggies and was even spicy enough for my taste. For quick and yummy Thai this is my go to in Chicago. The staff is always super friendly and the food is done pretty quickly. The first time I came here, I actually got lost and Opart called me asking if I was going to pick up my food. When I told them what happened, they actually offered to stay a little after closing to save it for when I got there. I thought this was an extremely generous act and something that really exemplified how great their service really is.
(4)william t.
Very good food. I never had a lousy dish. This is a regular favorite for my wife and I. Note: I actually tossed around the idea of having them cater our wedding reception. Yes- you read right: our wedding reception!
(5)John I.
I've eaten here probably a couple dozen times over the years, and I don't remember a bad meal. BYOB a plus, and the Leland liquor store next door has plenty of libations (and their bar is a perfect place to wait for a table), If you want it spicy, ask; a lot of "farangs" (foreigners in Thailand) eat here.
(4)Jaci Y.
O Part Thai was nicely decorated and the service was okay. I would recommend this place if you want good Thai food and their prices are fair. I don't have a particular dish that I love there, but I guess the " tiger cry" beef with some vinegar dipping sauce is tasty and worth trying out.
(3)EL S.
Really good quality moderately priced Thai food. Great tom yum soup, crab Rangoon , and chicken satay. The staff however is not that attentive and it does take a lot of work to flag one down. The dozens of times I have been and do recommend this place to all my colleagues. The food offsets the very eccentric and inpolite service from the gentlemen waiters. I recommend they change their attitude. Besides that, food quality is great!
(4)Cameron H.
I was napping (at home) when my neighbor stopped by to say hello. So, after an house of chatting, we realized that neither of us had plans for dinner. It was a toss up between Indian and Thai. The Thai's had it.. My neighbors recommended Opart. This place is in a great location at Lincoln/Western. For me, very easy to get to. After arriving, I see that my neighbors were correct in that this place is always busy. In total, there were five of us and we were seated quickly on a Friday evening (8p). We ordered a few appetizers and our own main course. Everyone loved their dishes. I ordered my dish hot and I still needed the chili sauce to spice it up. Service was fast and good (even though it was very busy). Would definitely go back.!!
(4)C C.
This review is based on customer service only. I frequently order from the Opart Thai on State St. However, in a hurry to order some of their delicious food, I accidently called the Lincoln Square location. Some guy answers the phone, I tell him I want to place an order for carryout, and he proceeds to take my order. He then asks, "would you like rice with that?" I say "well, doesn't it come with it?" He then proceeds to tell me that rice is a $1.50 and it has always been like that for the last 36 years. Now, seriously people, do you think I care to pay $1.50 more for rice? No! What I did not care for was the smart a** response and his attitude. Needless to say, I quickly realized I called the wrong Opart Thai and said I would call back. It's times like this I am glad to live in the South Loop (which is a huge compliment since there is squat on this side, other than Opart Thai)!
(2)Bert R.
Food is great. Take out can be slow and order-taker a little rude.
(4)Kate L.
I've ordered here for pick up or delivery over 10 times. Each time, they are consistently jerks and speak in a extremely condescending and impatient manner. I wouldn't mind if it was just a matter-of-fact tone and I do not expect syrupy chipper, but I do expect moderate courtesy. Any question or suggestion is met with amazing impatience. EVERY TIME! They are not better when you see them in person when you pick up the food. Some of the food is really good, but some others are mediocre or worse. Their Curry Shrimp Fried Rice is amazing and their Pad Thai is perfect. All other items I've tried including assorted curries and stir-fries, are 6/10.
(2)Y V.
Our meal was fine, but everything we ordered was too sweet. Maybe it's because I haven't had Thai food in a while, or maybe it's just the dishes we ordered. But I may have to try some of their non-sweet dishes next time in order to have a well rounded review. For appetizers, we ordered the beef satay and the crab rangoon. The beef satay was delicious. It was marinated, grilled, and very tender. It was so good, it didn't really need the peanut sauce (too mild and sweet). The crab rangoon was ok, but the filling was too sweet for me. I like crab rangoon that's just crab and cream cheese - no sugar. I avoided the sweet & sour sauce, as well. For our entrees, I had the Gaeng PIa Dook, which was a red curry with catfish and basil. And instead of the usual steamed rice, I ordered sticky rice with my curry. The curry was ok, with slivers of fresh ginger and Thai basil in every bite. But again, the dish was a little too sweet for me. The catfish wasn't melt-in-your-mouth soft, either. It was tough. But I did enjoy pinching off mounds of sticky rice into my hand and dipping it into the curry. The sticky rice was chewy and had the unmistakable flavor of bamboo from the steamer. He ordered the beef Panang curry. I tried a bit of his and it tasted exactly like my curry. I just imagined this huge vat of red curry in the back, bubbling away. The beef wasn't as tender as the beef in the satay. As far as drinks go, I had the Thai iced tea (good) and he had the Thai iced coffee (eh, it was weak). When we got the check, we saw two small pieces of candy and said "Nooo more sweets". Overall, our dinner was fine, but next time we'll have to try something different on the menu.
(2)Tony E.
This is a great Thai restaurant. It does get busy on the weekends, but thankfully they have an extra room to sit you. It's funny how there are about a dozen other Thai places on Western fairly close to this one and they are pretty empty. That should tell you something. The food is great and my girlfriend just came back from spending 2 months in Thailand and this was a good authenticity test for her. It passed with flying colors! She loved it as well. Looking forward to going back soon!
(5)Joe H.
WOW, what a great place for Thai!! Off the Western brown line stop and only a two block walk from home, I'm very lucky. Not sure the food is the most "authentic" Thai cuisine possible, but I will tell you I have never eaten a bad thing from Opart. The Crab Rangoon are THE BEST I have ever had! I usually go for a curry and man is it spicy, mmmmmm, even the "medium". The Pad Thai is also quite good as well as the spring roll apps. Chef definitely recommends for a happy tummy!
(5)Rachel G.
Best Thai food I've ever had. Hands down. I don't live in Chicago any more, and it's one of two restaurants I make sure to visit whenever I go back. Shrimp shumai and chicken satay are my favorite appetizers, and the Pad Thai is an absolute must have -- I've never had better. Curry fried rice and the beef salad are also favorites. Prices are also reasonable, service is good (although sometimes a bit slow), and food is just fantastic! Try it!
(5)Jayme N.
I've had a lot of god-awful thai since moving to Chicago, but Opart was a ray of sunshine in my spice-less, muddy flavored world. The pad thai is awesome, though you may have to say "no, really, HOT." a few times to convince them you're not afraid. The curries are also delicious, as are the rice dishes. But what I really love are the soups. They're served traditional style and are great to share with a group. The BYOB is also awesome. I live only a few blocks from Opart, and its definately rough to not just go "Mmmm, Thai sounds good..." at least twice a week.
(4)Sarah M.
Dear Opart Thai House, Thank you for being close to my apartment. Thank you for being inexpensive. Thank you for your fried bananas.... which are so disgustingly rich they make me ill from all the sweetness but I still order them every time. Thank you for your pad thai, even though it is such a typical choice, it is still soooo tasty. Thank you for the jalapeno slices on my spring rolls. I love jalapeno.
(4)Dennis L.
I have fallen in love with the Pad Thai at Opart. Simply wonderful! Also love the crab rangoons and steamed potstickers. So good!
(5)Casey M.
Best Thai restaurant in Lincoln Square. Whether you are dining in or ordering delivery, Opart Thai House is simply amazing. The appetizers are big and delicious and the noodle dishes are amazing too. Delivery is fast, hot and spectacular and the dining in is just as amazing. I'd suggest the Pad Se Ew. It is a perfect mix between hot, sweet and wonderful savoriness and with the perfect 'al dente' rice noodles in this flavorful dish. Opart Thai House is highly recommended for a great night in or a spectacular night out!
(5)teresa c.
I cannot understand why this restaurant was on CHECK PLEASE, I could think of way better Thai restaurants. The waitress was rude and the food was not good. Everything I ordered was swimming in lime juice!!
(1)Charlie B.
I have to agree with most everything said here. Great food. Fresh and tasty. Some of the best I have had in the city! And great prices. Yes, the entrees are smaller than other spots, but the prices are great, and most places aren't this tasty!
(5)Sheila X.
This is one of the first Thai places I had ever been to, and it is still one of my favorites. It has the hands-down BEST Crab Rangoon in Chicago. In the beginning I ordered Crab Rangoon at EVERY Thai restaurant I went to. Opart has yet to be beat. Other than that, the food is good, the portions are pretty big, and the service is always fast and friendly. Never a disappointment!
(5)Julia D.
If you get anything at Opart, get the crab Rangoons. I loves me some Rangoons, but these are the ones I will be craving from now on. Oh man soooo good. Hokay, so. We had the Pad Thai with chicken and Gaeng Panang also with chicken. The Pad Thai was a little sweeter than I'm used to and I'm not sure that I liked that about it. Don't get me wrong, it was still pretty darn good. The Gaeng was realllllly good. We got it at a medium spice level and we both felt that it was very mediumly spicy (just pretend those are real words). The place was hopping for a Sunday night! The service was ok - my friend's water glass was empty a couple times and that kinda bugs me. We thought it would be a fab place for a group dinner. All in all, a delightful Thai experience.
(4)Suzie G.
This is the best Thai restaurant in all of Chicago. I have been here multiple times and it does not disappoint. A liquor store is near, so the BYO option is perfect. You can choose the level of spicy for any dish you order. It is only down one star, because the wait staff is not very attentive and when it gets busy, you have to flag someone down. Otherwise I would highly recommend this place to anyone who asked
(4)Tyler A.
Re: Opart's Pad Thai I still like opart a lot, but I'll agree with the people who say their pad thai leaves something to be desired. The noodles are a little too starchy/sticky, there's not enough flavor or crunch. For the best Pad Thai I've had, get Thai Bowl's on Taylor St. if your by UIC (go flames!) or Sticky Rice if you're up north (but don't go there just for the Pad Thai!).
(4)Chicago D.
Yummy! I went with friends to this place not knowing what to expect. Actually, one of my friends lives in this hood and recommended it. When we arrived, I wasn't expecting much more than I usually get from a thai restaurant. WHOA! i was wrong. I'm a fan of Rama Chicken, but I like it HOT. Typically, this dish doesn't seem to be served very spicy unless you add your own hot sauce. I told the server to make it "thai hot." Upon taking my first bite, I couldn't be more pleasantly surprised. This dish was on fire! And I loved it. I'm not sure I'll eat at any other thai place ever again!
(4)Paul L.
The food came out so fast that I thought it was an order for another table accidentally given to us. Damn good too!
(4)Pal S.
The Best Thai Food in Chicago! Their fresh spring rolls, Thai curries and fried rice are the best. Food is always consistent. Highly recommended. Both the State Street and Western Ave locations have similar quality of food.
(5)Meredith B.
Since my meal here, i've been dreaming about their crab rangoons. I almost wish I were kidding. The food was very good (quite close to great) but the service was a little rough. I was very thirsty for a good portion of the meal, but it has been brought to my attention that I'm a fast water drinker(for what that's worth). Also, the couple sitting next to us was fighting with their sticky rice, though humorous, I'd venture to say the rice was a tad too sticky. Yes - I'll go back. Yes, I'd order the crab rangoons again, and probably the panang curry again, and I wouldn't mind having their pad thai again.
(4)Jenna P.
I'm torn about Opart Thai House. I've lived nearby for almost a year, and the other day I decided to try it for the first time. We called for delivery and were very surprised to learn that they would not deliver to our house! We live only 1.3 miles from the restaurant, and apparently we are two houses away from the edge of their delivery zone. (As a comparison, we also live two houses out of delivery zone of Sticky Rice, which is more than 2 miles away, and they still deliver to us!!) Additionally, the server speaking to me on the phone was very rude when I tried to confirm the order. But okay, fine, we'll go pick up the food. We left the house right away, and the food was ready as soon as we arrived. Very quick! We went straight home, got plates out, and immediately noticed that the food was all cold. Considering we live so close to the restaurant (and we were driving, not walking), that seems really fast for the food to be cold. Everything had to be re-heated. That being said, I really liked what we had. The pad thai was pretty good, although not my favorite. But it was a big helping with plenty of chicken. The pad kratiam prik thai (beef in a white pepper garlic sauce) was absolutely delicious! And the fried wonton appetizer was also very good. Maybe this is a better restaurant for eating in?
(2)Jay H.
We live close by and eat here a lot. This is our favorite Thai restaurant in the city because of the variety of the menu and the consistency of the preparation. Branch out from more typical dishes to try, for example, the Opart Beef appetizer, the Moo Ping pork skewers, or one of the many salads. And the catfish dishes are varied and excellent.
(5)Katherine K.
I'm no pro at critiquing Thai food - but this place makes me want to try every place in town, now! I forget how reasonably priced, quick, fresh, and healthy Thai is... We ordered 2 apps (chicken satay and egg rolls) and two entrees, one soda and the bill was 26? Get your spicy food "medium" and see what you think... You will be back, and can up-grade if needed, then! I have never like the flat rice noodles anywhere (hello mush!) but they can pan fry them up here - love that! Will be back. Again, and again, and...
(4)Temi C.
I used to think Opart was one of the better Thai places in the city. But now it's just hit or miss. Our delivery order came sans utensils, chili sauce, and the pad thai had no bean sprouts. I have to admit the pad thai, crab rangoon, and curry were still very good. I went again last night with some friends and the food was just ok. Nothing stood out and the pad kee mao was just plain bad. I absolutely hate how they charge for rice. Stick to the staples here and you should be ok, but there are just so many other Thai options that are consistently good.
(3)Emily B.
The food at this restaurant tasted very good. It was presented in a timely fashion as well. I was very happy that the soup was served with the other appetizers and was hot! It is hard to find places where the soup comes out hot! We ordered three dished for three people to share and we still had plenty of leftovers. I would suggest the basil and jalapeno dish. Very spicy and great with chicken! I also like this place because it is byob.
(4)Michael H.
It was okay. I don't understand the hype. There are better thai places in the city.
(2)Simone C.
Everything here is great. Plus it's BYOB, you can't go wrong! You can't order anything and be dissatisfied. Unless you don't like thai food, in which I don't know why you deserve to live.
(5)D R.
This is our favorite Thai restaurant in the world. We go about once a week and typically BYOB a Chardonnay which matches to most of the menu. Usually there is no wait without reservations. The service is attentive, but they kind of stay out of your business. The food is consistently great and our bill is always so low! Food and value are the two main reasons we keep coming back, but the atmosphere is pretty cool too. The place is divided into three rooms. The first room is more pedestrian with the entranceway and traffic, the second room is more romantic and the third room seems to fit larger parties and families. Though I wouldn't say this place is ideal for children, take them down the street to Thai Oscar. It's odd that those two Thai places are so close together, yet still both bring in the business. Food-wize if you're a noob try the Pad Thai or Peanut Lover's, if you're a Thai food junkie try the green curry (hot) and your head will explode. The satay appetizer is very good, we prefer beef. Tiger Cry is excellent, you could easily make a meal out of all appetizers, but after you go a couple dozen times order outside your comfort zone because they do everything so well.
(5)Dennis J.
BEST THAI in the city!!!! I live 2 blocks away, which i don't know if it's a good thing or bad.... Pretty much anything you order on the menu is great, I especially love anything they cook with Duck in it. Great curry menu as well. I also highly recommend the Thai Iced Tea (reminds me of sweet Assyrian Chai). The joint is really clean and has nice decor like Thai carvings on the walls. def try this place out if you never have, its directly under the Western Brown line.
(5)Heather V.
Can't add much more than what's already been written about this place, just wanted to give it a good rating. Went on New Years Eve and recieved great service, and the food was just as good.
(4)Chan K.
Opart is spacious with dark wood walls and nice Thai art. I went on a weekend night, and the place was packed. The menu was expansive; there were several dishes that I wanted to try. I ordered the fish with red curry; the curry was nothing special and the fish was just fried catfish. The prices are very reasonable, but I just don't understand why this place is so popular.
(3)Kristin S.
Went here the Sunday night after Thanksgiving weekend. It was hard to find a place that was open, but we'd wanted to try Opart for awhile, so this was our chance. The interior is very nice compared to 99% of most Thai restaurants. The portraits on the wall when you first come in are a bit weird, though. Service was fast and very good. We started with the potstickers which were good. The menu said pan fried, so I was thinking that they'd be steamed, but just crispy on the bottom. They were definitely deep fried. They were huge, though and you could tell they were made in house. We split the Tom Yum Kai (tom yum with chicken) next and loved it. It was a little more citrusy than I'm used to, but the spice was great. They also serve all their soups in tureens with burners underneath so your soup stays really hot. It was a nice, fun touch. We also split the green curry (delicious!) and the pad see ewe with chicken (good, but nothing compares to Butterfly down on Grand Ave.). I noticed the portions are smaller than most Thai places, but we still had leftovers to bring home. We also had the jasmine tea which was good, but they don't have strainers in their pots, so you end up with lots of tea leaves in your cup which can get annoying. I really liked all the food and will definitely be back.
(4)Karl P.
OK so i have been told many times to try the food here so i took a friend to have dinner there its super good and the staff is as friendly and helpful the food is out of this world the best thai place in the city and the prices are great! i recommend it for a nice place for a date or just to have a great meal and you cant beat the byob
(4)Robin H.
Really good thai! My sweets got a yummy curry noodle dish that was heavenly. Really nice service and the prices weren't bad.
(4)Richard B.
This place is yummy. I've been here a few times with friends and I've never been disappointed. And their pad see ewe passes my pad siew test. Mmm. Opart is actually divided into 3 rooms (which are all connected) so it's a little confusing at first. I'm not sure how their whole seating system works but often I'll see empty tables but we end up having to wait anyway. Service can be slow as well and the staff isn't particularly friendly but they get the job done. I love one of their appetizers but I can't remember the name. It's beef on a skewer... tiger something? It comes with a dipping sauce and that sauce is awesome.
(4)Abe D.
I've been going to this place for years and the Thai food has remained constant, constantly good. A menu that has over a hundred delicious selections ranging from healthy to ... and you will never get bored ordering something new or revisiting. You want it mild, a little bit spicy or hard core, they will accommodate. So maybe it is not perfect, they try. They remodeled recently, a nice improvement and added a little more room, 50%. A lot of people come in for pickup and they also have a limited delivery range. BYOB with a conveniently located bar and liquor store in the same store front building. Across the street, city parking lot and Red Line Western Stop that can accommodate bicycle parking.
(4)Eric H.
Going to Thailand destroyed my ability to enjoy Thai food in the midwest. This includes Thai Lagoon which use to be my favorite. Until I discovered Opart. O.K. they can't replicate the hot red chili squid pan fried on the ground off the alley of a crowded Bangkok street on a 100 degree day. But their red chili squid is a hot damn good substitute! And being in the midwest slowly drains the adventurousness out of my soul so even if Opart did have those amazing fried in oil, lime, and chili powdered grass hoppers and scorpions-add black pepper that I had in Chiang Mai, I might not even try them! And while their Tom Yum Goong is not as good as the stuff I brought( and ate )along side Thai soldiers on the Thai/Myanmar jungle boarder, served in half coconut shells with a wooden spoons( you had to give them back when done) by an ancient women who ladled it from a kettle on her donkey pulled cart. But again they have a great substitute, and do try the ground spicy chili chicken. Yes, this is the closest you're gonna get to the real deal! And for you lame midwesterners, yes they have cashew chicken and pad thai for your bland, budlite, timid unimaginative taste buds. But here's a better suggestion, why go at all? Go to the Thai place next door because If I hear you order that at Opart then I'm gonna make fun of you and those that I dine with are of the same mind so they will too! p.s. Its BYOB but the coolest bar/ liquor store is right next door
(5)Amy R.
I definitely get what people are saying about the service here - it's not always an A+, certainly, but on a pass/fail scale, most nights I'd give a passing grade. Very good food, fairly fast seating even on a busy weekend night AND, when it's just packed, I love that we can leave a phone number and walk to the never-crowded bar next door to sit and relax and have a drink while we wait, and they call about 10 minutes before we'll be seated so we can pay our tab/finish our drinks and head back to the restaurant. It's a favorite BYOB spot (bonus: no corkage fee!) among our friends.
(4)Jane M.
YUMMY!!!! Best Thai food I've had in Chicago, plus cheapest most delicious eats in town. 2 apps, 2 meals, 1 soda, 30 bucks! Love the spring rolls, crab rangoon's, curry. Everything is fresh and delicious. Service is prompt and courteous. It is BYOB and NO cork fee. Menus were changed so I expected prices to go up, they didn't, in fact some went DOWN! The fried banana dessert is delicious but I had reached a delightful sufficiency and didn't order it this time, nor my usual Thai Coffee to go. Convenient parking across the street or take the brown line to western, it's under the tracks. Most favorite place for a fresh meal without the rip-off prices.
(4)Daniel H.
Definitely have had better. The food was rather mediocre. My noodle dish was really rather one dimensional: the beef was rather scant and the vegetables were raw (not al dente, RAW). The flavor was also pretty bad. I can't put my finger on it - it just seems like it was lacking something. The pot stickers were deep fried and kind of doughy. And our curry dish was rather small and consisted of only chicken and potatoes - nothing else. There are so many better Thai places than this...
(2)Neesha O.
To update my previous bad review, I was impressed that the owner contacted me and apologized for my experience. Good PR work. For that, I'm willing to add a star. However, as anyone who has worked in the restaurant business knows (and I happen to be one of those people), if your customers have a bad experience, they won't be back and they will tell other people to not visit the establishment. All restaurants/cooks have their bad nights when things are not going quite as well as expected, but there is little excuse for food that is not fresh and dishes that are not clean. Gray bean sprouts are unacceptable. I've had my share of Pad Thai and can say that it's not a difficult dish to prepare. My noodles were clumpy either because they were sitting for a long time, were overcooked or (and I really hope this wasn't the case) microwaved. As mentioned previously, the prices and service were decent. Although I think it's great customer service to offer a free or discounted meal to a disgruntled patron, I am not really interested in trying the place out again for the previously mentioned reasons. Quality control doesn't seem to be at the top of this list here and that's where my reluctance comes in.
(2)Suzanne P.
This is a wonderful Thai restaurant! I order from it at least once a week. I usually switch up the entrees, but the crag rangoon is awesome, and I always get that. Their curry and pad thai are really wonderful, but I have yet to get a dish that I didn't like. And the entrees are huge; definitely big enough to split between two people. I've dined in once, and the service was fine. I use it more as a take out kind of place, and it's perfect after a long day at work when you really don't want to cook! Absolutely try this place out if you love Thai food!
(5)Matt L.
Nothing here was bad, but only one dish stood out for me: the lettuce wraps appetizer. Other than that, the food was not nearly up to the level of the place I normally go, which is Pot Pan in Wicker Park. I normally go with panang curry at any Thai restaurant, but Opart's was disappointing. Fortunately we split several dishes amongst six people, so I got to try some other things too. The spring rolls were weak, the green curry was probably the second best thing we ordered, and the basil chicken was not that good. Again, everything was edible and cheap, so they get points for that, but I wouldn't consider this one of the better Thai places in the city.
(3)Maria G.
OK- so I've only been here twice, but I can honestly say I love this place! Definitely order the Tiger Cry and the Peanut lovers Dish.
(4)Jenn G.
I get one of their soups ALOT - if I could rate the components, I would. The chicken would get zero stars. My guess is that they cook the chicken, then throw it into the steaming hot broth where it sits all day - so when you get your soup, the chicken is so tough it's nearly inedible. It would be so nice if they cooked the chicken to order and then added it to the broth. The large pieces of lemongrass are annoying, but the broth is magical and makes up for it. Just be prepared to strain out the lemongrass and the chicken (maybe you can give it to your pet).
(4)Shanna B.
We ordered take out from Opart tonight based on my happy memory of a previous dine-in experience. My husband and I split an order of the Masaman curry with chicken, a cucumber salad, and an order of crab rangoon. The crab rangoon are great and the sauce that comes with them is really perfect - sweet but fresh and spicy, too. The cucumber salad comes with jalapenos and is a little spicy if you happen to eat the seeds, but otherwise it's very yummy too. The Masaman curry was the perfect size for the two of us and was delicious! We ordered two servings of sticky rice to accompany it, but I wasn't really a fan - probably should have gotten plain jasmine rice instead. The portions aren't enormous, but they are totally an appropriate amount of food and the prices are good.
(4)A R.
Sat down for dinner here once. For some reason, I felt like it wasn't as good as the Opart Thai in the South Loop. Though, it was still very good. BYOB and has a liquor store right next door. Try not to get robbed on the L on the way home like I did though.
(3)Lakshmi R.
When you want it spicy go to Opart. Lovely interiors and BYOB! What more do u need in a thai place? Oh yes - the food.... it was soooo good and they have many options to pick and choose from. Very flexible with the addition n subtraction of veggies to any of the entree. Jus opp to the western Brown line and there is a liquor store within a block! Try the Pad Prik for me!
(4)erin k.
I left my leftovers at home and have been thinking about them continually. I will most likely eat them out of the styrofoam, in front of the open refrigerator door, with my coat and boots still on.
(5)Kristine B.
I've never had Thai food before - I grew up in a relatively small town, with little access to ethnic food (aside from Mexican and Chinese). So my co worker suggested we go here for lunch and I was willing and ready. I can't remember the specific dish I ordered, but it was great! It was the smaller portion (they apparently have a bigger portion) and I ended up eating maybe a quarter of it, and it was great for leftovers. The service was quick and nice, very simple. Their potstickers were fried and made out of a little thicker pastry, but they were good. I was impressed - would probably order from here some nights to switch up from ordering chinese. Would love to go back and try the Pad Thai (I've made it at home a few times, and would love to see how unauthentic my version is! :))
(4)Brett G.
I have a friend who swears by Opart, but I don't know, for me I would rather eat at Spoon Thai. The portions are pretty small at Opart, and while the food is good, with so many Thai places in the area, I feel that Opart doesn't really do anything to stand out with respect to its creativity, quality, or tastiness. Nothing is bad, it's just not as memorable for me as Spoon Thai. Spring rolls - one of the measures I compare Thai restaurants to each other, were nothing to write home about. The plum sauce was a little pungent. Again, not bad, just not terrific. There is a nice little liquor store right next door however, a plus as Opart is BYOB.
(3)Mandy P.
One word: Frustrating! If I were to rate this place just on the food, I would happily give it 5 stars. Yes, it was pretty darn good. The fried tofu's sauce had a nice kick to it, the som tum salad was very good, very flavorful, and spicy, and the panang curry with tofu was sooo good. The curry was creamy, rich, peanuty, sweet, and savory. Yum. The decor was pleasant. There was artwork on the walls and woodwork all around -- the woodwork was not just your average panelling, but had lots of impressive carving in it. The ambiance was nice. All good stuff, right? So what went wrong? The service. I can't really say that the staff was outright rude or anything, but they certainly didn't seem to care all that much. My lovely panang curry came with a big, nasty, black hair in it (clearly not belonging to my husband or myself) and they barely even acknowledged it. If I were running a place, I'd freaking comp something on the bill, not to mention even really saying sorry to the customer and seeing what I could do to make it up to them. Yuck. They never came back to our table to see how we were doing, and as soon as it came close to 10 PM (their closing time that night), the cleaning fluid odors were overpowering the place and the lighting that had created the ambiance was switched fully to ON. Oh, and they didn't ask if we wanted dessert, which I kind of did, and did the same thing to a table near us, where I heard them hand the waitress back the check (she was trying to get them out of there -- this was at 9:15-ish) and ask for dessert. I opted to ignore dessert and get out before becoming overwhelmed by the cleaner smell. So that's it: I was so bummed by the service that I have to give this place a 3 star review. It made me not want to go back there, which really sucks because it was uncommonly good food. Grrr.
(3)Kristel C.
Hands down one of the best Thai restaurants I've ever eaten at. It's in our neighborhood, so we're tempted to go there a lot. Our favorites include the Shu Mai and Tiger Cry appetizers, the Poh Tak soup (great when you have a bit of a cold or on a blustery fall day), and any of the curries. I had Gaeng Masaman last night and it was divine! There's usually a short wait on weekends, but it's worth it. The service has always been friendly, quick and precise. Also, it's BYOB, so you can have dinner for two, with appetizers for under $40. Prices are more than reasonable. They also do takeout and delivery within a certain radius. We called at 9:02 one weeknight, not realizing that delivery ended at 9:00. They were kind enough to go out for one more trip!
(5)Cherie E.
Since moving to Lincoln Square, I've turned into a Thai fanatic. Of all the Thai restaurants that line Western, I think Opart Thai House is the best. Most often I carry out because it's quick and fresh. Dining in is also enjoyable - although the dining area is relatively big, the atmosphere is intimate because there are a few separate rooms. The food is outstanding and the menu is large. The service is friendly and accommodating - and it's BYOB. What's not to love?
(5)Deborah E.
My idea of heaven - listening to the Cure on my iPod, while buying unlimited pairs of shoes at Nordstrom and eating the Shrimp Toast from Opart......this is how I hope to spend my days in another life. I LOVE Thai food - it is nirvana for my taste buds - and I love Opart. We have been going to Opart for years and though they have gotten rather expensive ($35-$40 for delivery for 2 entrees and 2 appetizers is pricey!), I continue to need my Opart fix a few times per month. Noteworthy menu items in addition to the shrimp toast: Fresh spring rolls All the fried rices Chicken basil - magnificient! and of course the ubiquitous pad thai - nice and moist! Ahhhh...... Musaman curry - scrumptious! My partner is saying "the soup! Don't forget the SOUPS!" Okay, okay! I never order the soups though I have tasted them and they ARE great. It is just that to me, soup is a nice food concept but a waste of time - when I am hungry, give me STARCH and MEAT and VEGGIES - not broth with all of the above floating around in it. :) My partner loves all of Opart's soups from the Tom Yum Kai (Thai hot and sour w/ chicken) to the tofu soup to Tom Ka Kai (hot and sour coconut milk soup with lemon grass and lime juice). Also they make great Thai iced tea and coffee!
(5)Scott B.
IMO, Opart narrowly edges out Royal Thai. Yes, it's a tad more expensive, but your portions are much larger, and it's simply better. Opart is the best thai----enough said.
(5)Kristen M.
The food is reliably good and the prices are great. I've gone here dozens of times and never had bad service. I've gone enough that the server even knew I would order tofu last time instead of asking "What kind meat?" I like the decor and ambiance. The reason I'm not giving it a 5 is because when I've had items a little further back in the menu, they haven't been as reliably good as the standards. Stick with pad thai, pad see-iw, or green curry.
(4)Jaime M.
I'll just say that I used to travel to Thailand every 6 weeks for work and did so for a period of 6 years, so I've tried authentic Thai cuisine in Thailand, and extensively. Opart is the most authentic Thai restaurant that I've been to in the U.S. THe flavors are there, and so is the quality. The spicy basil pork I've had here only compares to my first ever rendition of this dish at the Dusit Thani in Bangkok back in the 80s. Service can be a little slow sometimes, but who cares? Enjoy a glass of BYOB wine while you wait and get ready for an awesome authentic Thai meal.
(5)Dawn L.
This is my favorite spot for cheap Thai in Chicago--the curries in particular are excellent. And lunch or dinner can be had for around $8. (The Opart Thai in the South Loop has similarly good food with a more upscale atmosphere and an alcohol license.) The decor is comfortable and unpretentious. Dark wood divides the rooms and covers the floors, and thought was obviously put into the design. The closest comparison I have in terms of feel is Hai Yen in Lincoln Park. I've always had good service here, though it's nothing remarkable. This was the first of the Thai places along Western that I tried, and it's so good that I keep coming back even though I've been meaning to explore some of the other options. Which says something.
(5)Matt G.
Just went, AGAIN, to my favorite Thai in the city. I know there are glittzier, more expensive places to go, but this place has plenty to offer. They are very consistent with their entrees, and the portions, though small, are filling. That, and the BYOB factor is a plus! You may want to check yourself before you say "very hot" when they ask you how spicy you want a dish. I tried to be bold once with the spicy basil fish, and ended up sweating uncontrollably! Hot, or medium are perfectly hot enough! Also, if you don't get the fried banana dessert, you've blown it. It's a cold, mushy banana surrounded by a warm fried filo dough, all smothered in honey. Drool city. It cools the mouth off nicely when you finally stop sweating from the food! Go, and enjoy yelpers!
(5)Angelique B.
Delicious but very crowded - plan ahead or go early! Great byob option with high quality food.
(4)Katty D.
The food here is EXCELLENT. Service was superb and the overall experience was perfect. We came here for a birthday celebration for 2 of my friends (Amy D. & Cindy D.) It's BYOB and they were very accommodating and provided glasses, wine glasses, ice. We ordered the opart beef, crab rangoon, beef salad for apps, which were all delicious. For dinner, we had a range of curry, stews, pad thai, pad see ewe, and more. But when they ask if you want spicy - THEY MEAN SPICY. So even those of you out there who think you can handle, you might want to consider not going all the way and try the medium level of spiciness. My favorite dish is the catfish with thai eggplant, INCREDIBLE. Definiteliy one of my favorite places to grab thai.
(5)Stephanie T.
This is, by far, my favorite Thai food restaurant :) My former lit. teacher introduced me to this place back when I was in high school and ever since then, I've been bringing my friends and my sisters to this place. Usually when we get here, we always order the Tom Yum soup and appetizers such as their spring rolls or chicken satay. My favorite dish, however, is the Garlic Chicken, and to tell you the truth, I'm not really a big fan of garlic. I also love their Lemon Grass Chicken and Shrimp Pad Thai. My sister Jacqueline, loves their Curry Fried Rice. The ambiance is beautiful. The interior design is interesting and the only thing that sucks is you gotta park across the street.
(5)K. N.
I thought the takeout here was pretty good. The green curry was my favorite. However I felt like both our dishes hardly had any chicken. just my preference, but I prefer the things I've had off the Thai menu at Tac Quick.
(4)Jason T.
This place is so good that I can no longer enjoy Pad Thai from anywhere else. I'm not joking.
(5)Shirese L.
I have had better Thai food in numerous places. The appetizers, tigers cry and the fried shu mai, were absolutely outstanding. The main courses of Chicken pad Thai and the kuay tiew kee mao really lacked flavor. I am disappointed because this was niece's introduction to Thai food and I should have taken her to my tried and true hole-in-the-wall.
(3)Jayne C.
I've tried other places for Thai in the City, but find this is the best. No kidding, we order from them every week...specifically every Monday. I've taken friends there and they have loved it, too. Their food is excellent and the service is fast and everyone is always polite and accommodating. They have the best curry chicken ever. Their Moo-Ping appetizer is to die for and the dipping sauce is out of this world. We've even gotten the dipping sauce in quart containers for take home. It's great on anything. Located across from the Brown Line on Western/Lincoln and a great place. The only place I go for Thai.
(5)Ms. R.
Recently had their crab rangoons - best I've ever had!!! Still love their food, but I have to bring them to down to 4 stars for a couple reasons. Seems like their portion sizes are getting smaller. And to me, their service has always been ehh - pretty aloof most of the time, and other times abrupt and unfriendly.
(4)Terri V.
I am a huge fan!!! Unfortunately I usually order the same thing. Peanut sauce spring rolls, tofu pad thai, fried banana. I often try others food, and also very good. I just LOVE the Pad Thai so much. Many other places, it is just eh, here it is great! The price is right, its BYOB, and the portions are good. I often have something leftover. It gets really busy, so go early, or be willing to wait for a table away from the door (be courteous if there are folks sitting by the door) The wait is often not very long.
(5)Laura I.
I'm upping my star rating and review after I actually ate inside the restaurant here. The inside is extremely cute with several wall hangings and a skylight in the middle section. Apparently, it helps to know what to order at this place. My friend recommended the spring rolls with tofu and just as the waiter took our order back, the spring rolls arrived on our table. I was shocked by the quickness of it all but it happened again when I took another friend here and we ordered them. This crew is quick! Additionally, I do recommend the garlic beef dish (not sure of it's Thai name but I believe it's number 65, if memory serves right), as it is outstanding. Overall, much better experience now that I know what's good to try and have been inside the actual restaurant.
(4)iddells E.
Opart Thai has, by far, the best beef salad I have ever eaten. It was perfect. The spiciness and the beef to vegetable ratio were perfect. I loved it!! I found myself taking sips of the leftover sauce. I've tasted my friend's chicken panang curry and that was delicious as well. I will definitely come back here again for their beef salad and also try something else! Service was great as well!
(5)Scott H.
By far my favorite BYOB in the city! Generous portions of value-priced and absolutely delicious Thai keep my wife and I coming back and bringing friends along. Being in the shadow of the Western Brown Line el stop, this is a great launching point when heading to Belmont (Vic) or downtown for a show later in the evening. The Aragon and Riviera are a short bus ride away (Lawrence) as well if you're heading in that direction. Try the Peanut Lovers dish...it's what my wife craves!
(4)Tessa G.
This place is really has the best thai food the city has to offer. I stop in sometimes just for the fried banana and coconut springroll topped with honey. Yes it is good as it sounds and worth double if not triple the $2.50 they charge. Come for the fried banana and stay for the rest of the amazing menu.
(5)Brian P.
Very solid neighborhood Thai joint. Extensive menu without too many choices, most dishes as good as you'd hope them to be. Portions are substantial, prices are very reasonable, and BYOB keeps things that much cheaper and more flexible. There's a liquor stock right next door which is quite convenient. This is our local Thai place, we'll stick with it.
(4)QB Chicago B.
I have to start with I've never physically dined at the restaurant however, this is our fav delivery place. The food is not only delicious, it arrives hot, things that are suppose to be crunchy arrive that way, they are super prompt and the price is right! Love, love, love good delivery! They got it!
(4)Betty L.
Great location, near the Western Brown line stop, fabulous pricing, beautiful decor, attentive and polite service. Excellent variety of food, but the tofu with white pepper sauce is so good, I might never try anything else! I love this place and it's on my "frequent flyer" list. A great location for BYOB because there's a liquor store right next door. In an area of the city with "two Thai's to a block," this is my go-to.
(5)Helen A.
I'm shocked at the good reviews for this place. Went on Yelp recommendations. Not great at all, standard Thai, nothing special what so ever. The interior is cute-er than most Thai places, but the food is below average.
(2)Michael M.
Easily the best, most authentic Pad Thai I've ever had!! the tiger cry is something everyone in chicago should try at least once. Blending citrus with spicy and making it just a little sweet is pure genius. To recap my evening at Opart: excellent food, extremely friendly staff, and a price that just could not be beat!
(5)Eric B.
Im just going say " 2 thumbs up". I will return!!!
(4)Leeta A.
I've been going here since I was very little and the food has always been great. Best Pad Thai of them all for me. They are very consistent with the quality of food as well as service though out the years. The ambiance is also beautiful, relaxing and quiet even when it's full of people. They will always be a staple in my childhood, neighborhood, and life.
(5)Jason H.
I'm not going to say much in my review as you can see a lot of others have great things to say about Opart but I wanted to leave one note on a particular dish. The Gaeng Musaman Curry is absolutely amazing. It's become one of the only things I'll ever order and sometimes I'll get it twice a week. You cannot go wrong with this dish. I highly recommend you try it if you haven't already.
(5)