5/5 value of food, decent portion and very, very fresh. I had both a thai dish and sushi and was very impressed by the quality and freshness of the fish and vegetables. Wait staff was very polite. Group of 6 dined in for about $85 including apetizers, entrees and drinks.
(5)
Anicia P.
Not bad but I expected better. The food was just okay. The cucumber salad tasted a little weird. I had shrimp tempura and spider maki. Not terrible but I've had better. Iced tea is awful.
(3)
Verena P.
I miss living close to Thai Oscar as if go there about once a month. My favorite dish was the classic pad Thai, which was always well prepared. They have a few sushi options as well, and the fish is always fresh and tasty. I like their Japanese section of the menu as well where I always ordered the huge ramen bowls with tempura vegetables and shrimp.
(4)
Manny G.
New to the area, I'm trying all (6 or 7) of the Thai restaurants on Western. I really wanted to like this place, and the people seemed nice, but the food beyond missed the mark for me. All three dishes we ordered were bland. Pad Thai - The whole thing stuck together in one big clump. There was little to no sauce, so it was like eating dry noodles. Also, I don't think they thoroughly washed their Chinese broccoli before serving, as I got a mouthful of grit when I took a bite of one. It was like chewing a pinch of sand. Pad See Ew - No sweetness or thickness to their sauce. And I think they reused their wok a few too many times. Tasted extremely burned. Green Curry - No flavor and too spicy. I can take heat. I love heat. But green curry is traditionally supposed to be sweeter and milder. This was flavorless with just spice.
(2)
Kat L.
This place really sank in comparison with how I used to view them. Thai Oscar used to be a gem of a hole-in-the-wall, just outside Lincoln Square. I just don't think they can keep up with the other competition in the area. A Thai/sushi spot, this used to be a great dinner option for a couple or group who can't agree on what Asian cuisine to opt for. I was the first diner of dinner service on a Tuesday. One person manning the restaurant. The waitress seemed very confined when I ordered Tekka maki (a tuna roll) with a side of spicy mayo, rather than a spicy tuna roll. I don't necessarily like scallion overkill in a spicy tuna roll. And I love the simplicity. Small roll, seaweed, tuna, bam. instant yum, right? But i was given a massive roll with overkill on the rice. The tuna was warm, and I questioned the temperature safety. It didn't taste fresh. I was given wooden chopsticks. Ones that they reuse, and it had a powdery residue, probably from drying. I question sterility. If a place wants reusable, I feel steel or plastic is safer. My tuna roll and shrimp tempura came out within 10 minutes from ordering. 15 minutes after, they were still working on my spicy scallop. I had to ask them to box it to-go. By this time, it was only me and one other diner in the restaurant. They boxed my spicy scallop upside down. It was 4 large honking sushi pieces, also with overkill on the rice. Definitely didn't validate being a $9 roll. Sadly, i don't think i'll be returning back for more.
(2)
Ashley C.
This place is conveniently located across the street from my therapist. I go once a week - it's that good! The staff is always so polite and very accommodating. Great lunch special and happy portions. I usually leave with a snack portion of my pad thai to go.
(5)
Patrick T.
When we called to place a delivery order, the woman on the phone said 'Very busy, call back in 5 minutes. Bye bye', then hung up on us. Haven't they ever heard of manners (or a hold button)? So much for us ever ordering from here again.
(1)
Julianne T.
I've been familiar with Thai Oscar since I was a kid. My friend's grandma used to work here so I've always had my share of some dishes. I always order delivery. I haven't been inside since I was kid so I don't know if they remodeled inside or how the service is now. I've been ordering sushi from here a lot. The prices are not bad at all! The spider roll and shrimp tempura roll are my favorites! And the crab Rangoon, it is love. The wrapper is light and crispy, and the filling is a little sweet. Delivery is pretty quick. My food always arrives hot, even my sushi rolls are pretty warm lol. Their delivery guy is really nice. There was a time when my drink spilled a lite bit and he offered to get me a new one, free of charge. I told him not to worry about it and he wanted to make sure I was okay. Delivery or dine-in, you should definitely check this place out!
(4)
Melissa A.
This is a decent Thai restaurant. The first time I visited I had the house salad and cashew chicken. The salad was heavy on the ginger but the cashew chicken was flavorful and I enjoyed it. On my second visit (this time we used a Groupon), I tried the cucumber salad and pad thai with chicken. The cucumber salad had a very sweet sauce/dressing. The pad thai was done well. It's not the best I've ever had but I can't really complain. It came with a good portion of chicken and it also had some tofu mixed in. My husband had the tom yum soup and cashew beef the first time we went and liked both enough to order them again on our second visit. The restaurant was pretty empty both times we visited and we had good service each time as well. The atmosphere isn't anything special but the prices are really great and I'm sure we'll be back for more!
(4)
Khanh N.
What a waste of money ! Ordered chicken satay, papaya salad, Tom kha, tiger beef, and chicken wrap for my husband's bday. The portion were ridiculously small, the food were big disappointment. Chicken wrap: no taste, just very bland. Papaya salad: not fresh, very small portion. Chicken satay: chicken was just alright, nothing special, but the peanut sauce was too thick. Tiger beef: what a joke! Tasteless, and chewy..Tom kha: far below par, who the heck puts cabbage in tom kha soup? I ordered extra spicy, but the soup turns out sweeet like dessert. I asked for the Mgr to address this, and the girl said MGR is not in today. Seriously? I thought Mgr is required to be present at all time ?
(1)
Adriana G.
We went there on a Friday night . We order Crab Rangoon , Shrimp Tempura, California Mali & Phai Thai . Everything was delicious. Good Service !!! First time there and.we loved it
(4)
Yanyao N.
There are 4 Thai restaurants within a block of my house. Opart is one of them. Thai Oscar is another. I have yet to visit Spoon or Rosded. Thai Oscar fits in nicely when you don't want to deal with the craziness of weeknights at Opart, or when you want a little bit of sushi alongside deep fried Thai appetizer deliciousness. The service is so ridiculously friendly, though, some nights it can be a bit slow. The sushi is decent - I usually stick to the salmon nigiri and maki with scallops. The spicy Thai beef noodle soup is good for those cold nights where you don't want to make the trek to Argyle - not the same thing at all, I know, but spicy and brothy when that's what you need. The tom yum fried rice is also great, and not something I've seen at other places. It is BYOB, sandwiched in between 2 liquor stores (isn't my neighborhood awesome?).
(4)
Matt H.
The sushi is good but the crab rangoon is amazing! Best I've ever had. You know that prefect, light, crispy consistency of fresh tortilla chips at a good Mexican restaurant? It's like that with the crab rangoon.
(4)
Bianca G.
We have not been here in quite a long time.... Years5-6.. Ordered 2 sushi tools and the vegetable dish. The sushi was warm the chicken vegetable was cold! The ginger smelled like a sour dish rag! $40 down the drain. A night in the bathroom just waiting to happen!! Not for the faint of heart!!!
(1)
Jackie M.
Which one Thai Oscar or Opart - who's got over +400 reviews on yelp! Let me preface this that I was meeting some out of town friends on college budgets - read, code for cheap. If I can save a buck fifty, I'll take a chance and boy was I glad we decided on coming to Thai Oscar instead. The pad thai and peanut sauce noodles are amazing. I tend to prefer Thai food on the sweeter side. Crab rangoon is full of cream cheese. Veggie eggroll - ehhh, I will pass on those next time, a varied list of interesting items on the menu and the price is right! It's even better now that I can order online for take out. One small caveat, the AC is pretty weak inside, which they had the door propped open. Along with dark wood carved polynesian-esque walls, I prefer to think this is to make it feel like we really are IN Thailand and in many ways it did!
(4)
Heather K.
I've been going to this place since I moved to LS over four years ago. I always have great meals here and I love the owners! What's great? What isn't! Pad Thai, pad seu, fried rice, curry dishes, red snapper, garlic chicken, and all sushi options. Help support this smaller Thai restaurant that is close to one that always gets more kuddos and I didn't think they should.
(5)
August B.
Located on a strip I refer to as "Thai Town." In my former life, I knew the owner, still do but the relationship has changed...anyway the service is great. The food was really good and worth a visit or delivery. Delivery seems to be how they draw their business...
(4)
Chris G.
We were on our way to a nearby cooking class about spices and decided to pop into Thai Oscar with a bottle of red since it sits underneath the CTA brown line Western stop. Chicago has a plethora of great Thai food restaurants and I've been to a lot of them, but Thai Oscar truly stands out. The dining room is warm and friendly, the service is graceful and the food outstanding. We ordered the duck curry with pineapple, tomato, coconut milk, chili paste and the Kao Soy which has yellow noodles, onion, coconut milk and curry paste and is topped with fresh onion, green onion, cilantro, crispy noodles and touch of lime. Thai Oscar was well worth a trek across the city.
(4)
Bill M.
I probably screwed up my own dining experience at Thai Oscar on a recent weeknight. I ordered a noodle dish that is usually served spicy, but I asked them to tone it down. What I received was a noodle dish with chicken and veggies, but basically stripped of any flavor. My friend enjoyed her eggplant dish a bit more. I was really envious of the great beer choices that other diners brought in, so at least Thai Oscar draws customers with good BYOB taste. More taste than my noodle dish.
(3)
Sabrina R.
I came for the first time while looking for a BYOB restaurant. It was Ok, and I would try give them another go if I'm in the neighborhood. The crab rangoon were really great. Just the right shell to filling ratio, and the filling was very flavorful. The papaya salad was a bit salty, but still good. There's a fine line when between being sweet and too sweet. Unfortunately the cashew chicken that I ordered was just a bit too sweet for my taste, and I wouldn't order it again. The atmosphere was nice, not too crowded, and for me BYOB is always a plus. The service and the wait staff were great.
(3)
David K.
I stopped in here with a friend recently for a quick lunch. It was pretty empty so we got a table really quickly. There was a lot to choose from on their lunch special menu, which is nice. Some places don't have as many choices which was nice, which is how I was able to get Pad Se Ew with BBQ Pork! The food also came with crab rangoon, yum! I eat... a lot of Thai food, and by my standards, Thai Oscar was good but not great. The Pad Se Ew was tasty, but not as flavorful as I wanted, and there wasn't enough broccoli! The crab rangoon were tasty, but they came with the sweet dipping sauce already on them. I'm a huge fan of the sauce, but I like to control my own destiny when it comes to dipping, so that's how I feel about that! The service was great--I actually saw the waitress run out into the street to give other customers their umbrella that they had left behind, which was sweet to see happen. It was a tasty lunch, good price, but not over-the-top amazing. Definitely good though and worth checking out.
(3)
CJ S.
Even better the second time around!
(4)
Deborah C.
We used to go to Thai oscar practically once a week. Decided to give it a try tonight since we hadn't been back in a long while, but wasn't very happy with our meal. Waitress was attentive and pleasant but the food was a big disappointment. We ordered a variety of maki: the veggie tempura maki was swimming in spicy mayo (way too gloppy); the shrimp tempura maki was drenched in too much eel sauce and it didn't really look like shrimp in it. The futo maki was filled with giant hunks of crab stick and not as "veggie" as I'd expected. We also ordered the spicy scallop maki and it was just gross. I've had this in many restaurants but this did not resemble anything I've ordered before. It looked terrible and tasted terrible. I sent it back, but they didn't take it off the bill. We also ordered some other items: chicken gyoza, norimaki, Thai Oscar chicken fried rice. These were passable but not great. We went back because we had a Groupon. We didn't realize it was not good for Sundays but they kindly let us use it (we were the only people there when we came in). Sadly though, based on our orders tonight, we won't be going back.
(2)
Melanie S.
Thai Oscar is yet another restaurant on the stretch of Western Avenue that already has several other Thai places. What sets this apart is that is also serves sushi. While I didn't try the sushi, after having such a good experience with the Thai portion of the menu, I would definitely come back to try the sushi as well. I placed a carryout order and the food was ready, as promised, in 15 minutes. The place itself is very warm and inviting and the staff was very friendly. I ordered my mainstay appetizers of egg rolls and chicken satay, both of which were better than average, and the accompanying peanut sauce was fantastic. For entrees, we shared the pepper steak and pork fried rice. The pepper steak had high-quality beef (if you're an experienced Thai food eater, you know that sometimes the meat can be sketchy) and there was a bounty of tri-colored peppers, mushrooms, pea pods, water chestnuts, and tomatoes in a light and tasty sauce. I was also pleasantly surprised that the fried rice had barbecued pork in it instead of regular pork. It made the dish quite savory. I adore Thai food and enthusiastically recommend Thai Oscar!
(4)
Rae S.
if i eat thai food, this is the place i go. Great food, great price, crab rag goon sauce is to die for. I would highly recommend the pad thai. It does come with tofu in it even if you order a meat, but i really like the extra flavor it gets. Try it, you wont regret it!
(5)
Kim E.
i ordered thai oscar via grubhub for delivery. i ordered four rolls and shrimp tempura. when i opened the box, there wasn't any shrimp tempura. i thought, okay, no big deal, accidents happen. i called thai oscar to explain the situation and to see if they could deliver the missing tempura or just refund it. the wicked lady on the phone INSISTED i had the tempura, even though i definitely did not. she argued with me for a few minutes as if i was an idiot and didn't know what tempura was. i order an embarrassing amount of sushi cuisine, i know what tempura is, lady. i contacted grubhub and even their customer service couldn't get through to this lady. she refused to listen to them! thankfully grubhub gave me a $10 coupon (which was super nice of them!) but i definitely won't be using it for thai oscar. HORRIBLE customer service. ps: the unagi is soggy and bland.
(1)
John H.
Food tasted old. Miso soup smelled like old fish so I didn't even want to taste it, the smell just put me off. The beef teriyaki was barely edible, the meat was tough as shoe leather and the sauce clearly had come out of a jar. Not planning to go back.
(2)
Susan P.
fresh sushi, good size rolls.
(4)
Kevin C.
Thai food you have done it again. Thank you. Waking up in the early afternoon on Saturday with my stomach grumbling from last nights whiskey drinks calls for you only, Thai cuisine. I ordered online via foodler.com which was a breeze, 15% off for first time orders, and the delivery was on time. My standard issue order is Pad Thai and Crab Rangoon but when ordering for two you need something a bit more. Not being too adventurous we also ordered Cashew Chicken with veggies (cashew nuts, peapods, pineapple, straw mushroom, bell pepper topped with dried hot pepper) which was excellent. The Crab Rangoon was above average compared most places but the Pad Thai was on par. One thing I thought was unique was picking the spiciness level of each dish (Mild, Medium, Spicy or 911). Maybe all Thai places do it but this place made me aware of it. The medium cleared out the sinuses and made me sweat a little bit - I don't want to know what the 911 would do. I have eaten at a handful of Thai places in the City and felt this place was above par, hence 4 stars.
(4)
Rosanna M.
Just did carry-out. Absolutely loved the Pad Thai! I think they make the best Pad Thai I EVER HAD!! I will definitly go back for more thai dishes! hmmmm...yum!
(5)
Jocelyn G.
I came here during the early afternoon hours. I got there just before 3 pm, which is when their lunch specials end. There was another couple in there when I got there, and they left. I think almost the whole time we were there, no one else came in to eat. Just one guy came for a pick up. I ordered the Yellow Curry with Beef and the Spicy Salmon Maki. The Yellow Curry with Beef was absolutely delicious. Maybe because I don't really have anything else to compare it to. I always thought curry had an overwhelming taste and smell. But it was just delish. It had beef, onions, potatoes, in this yellow curry sauce. It had me on the first taste! It came with a little bowl of white rice. I'm not much of a rice eater, but when there is some sauce that I can mix with it, then I'll eat it. The food wasn't too watery and wasn't too thick. It was just right. The Spicy Salmon Maki was all right. Again, I don't really have anything to compare it to. I wouldn't know good sushi if it hit me in the eyeball. But to me, sushi is sushi. LOL. The miso soup was good. It came with the Beef Curry. The cubes of tofu were softer and smaller than how I have had it at other places. Overall, I think the food was delicious. I would definitely go there again. Especially for the curry dishes! So I got all that for around $11. Which isn't so bad!
(3)
Pam D.
I was torn between 3 and 4 stars. I opted for 4 because I order from here quite a bit, so I guess I am a fan. I almost always order the sushi combination. the sushi is decent and sometimes sitting watching tv with a plate of sushi is perfection. I have some construction workers at the house doing a little remodeling, so I didn't want to go out and it was just perfect to have some sushi and watch Hawaii 5-O. I also got an order of Kao Soy for Christopher for supper. He loves that stuff. The lunch specials are a pretty good deal, and run from 11:00 till 3:00. Everything in the delivery comes well packed, nicely presented and portions are not skimpy. So, in the end, I got my sushi fix and all is right with the world. Book 'um Danno!!!!
(4)
Elizabeth C.
I chose Thai Oscar over the other Thai restaurants on this stretch of Western because they also serve Japanese/sushi on the menu- and I don't plan on trying any of the other Thai places either bc I'm sure that Thai Oscar has to be the best! My favorites are the tom yum soup, pad thai, any of the maki... & the ginger chicken!!
(5)
Holly M.
So...just ordered from here...and the delivery guy just stormed off after screaming at me through the phone. I'm not sure if he dialed the wrong number or if the connection just wasn't working, but...wow...this is probably the worst behavior I've ever experienced after ordering from Grub Hub. I saw an email that said the delivery guy was attempting to call my phone. This email came at 7:30 and when I saw it, it was 7:32. So, feeling bad, I called the number given to me and the delivery guy picked up, already irate and yelling-"I've been outside forever!! I have kids to feed, you're not the only one waiting on this food! You're making everyone wait!! I've been calling and calling!!!" As I tried to respond, he promptly hung up on me. Actually feeling afraid to exit my building, I saw a rage-filled man glaring at me from my front gate. As soon as he laid eyes on me, he lifted his hands in the air, obviously signalling that he clearly thought I was an idiot for making him wait for two minutes. I almost thought about turning around and going back inside, his face red as he paced furiously outside my apartment, muttering and shaking his head. Approaching him, he shoved a receipt at me, still shaking his head and groaning angrily, demanding that I sign. A few, "I don't believe this" comments clearly coming out of his mouth. When I took the food, he turned without a thank you and muttered a few more angry words, growling and shaking his head. I'm still shaking from the experience. Definitely will not be ordering from here again and will definitely not be choosing the option to put tip on my card from now on.
(1)
Hollie D.
Before Christmas, my boyfriend and I went to the Lincoln Square Kindlmarket (which was really lame) with his mother, sister, and cousin. After having some gross steamed hot dogs at the event, we wanted something satisfying. I suggested Opart, which I love, but the boy's sister suggested Thai Oscar, which is just a couple doors down. I was hesitant at first because the place was empty, but I shouldn't have worried. It filled up quickly. I also worry about places that are Thai or Chinese or Korean that also offer sushi on the menu; it's generally an afterthought, and not very good. I was pleasantly surprised by the sushi here too. We split the caterpillar roll, which was very good. For my entree, I had Prik Prow Noodles with BBQ Pork. It was excellent. It was not too spicy, and unlike the same dish I've had from other places, this was not overly greasy. There was also a decent portion of vegetables and meat compared with the noodles, rather than an overabundance of the latter. Would like to go back...maybe next time I'm on the North side with no supper plans.
(4)
Torry H.
I am not kidding when I say we order dinner from here multiple times per week. Love the yakisoba noodles and they have nice, fresh tasting sushi.
(5)
Amie C.
I have been obsessed with Thai food over the last two months. I had a living social take out deal and grabbed food on my way home from work (had takeout). Super yummy crab Rangoon! Chicken pad woonsen has become my new favorite Bc of the small tasty noodles. It was decent, not the best I've had. I'd definitely check them out again if in the area or if I happened upon another deal.
(3)
Chris F.
Worst spring roll I have ever had. Ate two pieces, dropped $5 on the table and walked out
(1)
Jami K.
I was having a birthday and wanted to have a quick dinner before heading out to Karaoke. Since I had been in Thai Oscar on a previous Saturday where there was a birthday party, I figured that they could accomodate my group. Since the invitation was pretty casual, I had no idea how many people be showing up. I under-estimated and said 8....when 16 people showed up over the course of an hour, I felt a little guilty, but Thai Oscar was gracious, accomodating and very quick with the food. They even brought out a custard dessert with a candle. It was very sweet. Surprisingly, the most delicious thing that I tried was the Yakisoba noodles. I will definitely have to get them again. Thanks Thai Oscar for turning my counting snafu into an very enjoyable dinner!
(4)
Alex R.
This quaint little restaurant can be found just under the "L" in Lincoln Square. The dining area is pretty small, but the place is nicely decorated. The waitresses are always friendly here and provide adequate service. The food is definitely delicious. I'm very picky about steak, and their pepper steak delivers. It comes with deliciously tender (not chewy) steak, and other delicious veggies such as mushrooms. I've also had their duck soup which was surprisingly delicious, and I look forward to coming back to try more of their dishes. The price is cheap and the portions are decently sized. A bonus is that they offer sushi as well, if you're in the mood for that. I'd definitely stop in to try this place out.
(4)
Candice P.
I love this place for those lazy take out nights, it's fast, inexpensive, and good. The pad see ew is delicious and I just can't get enough. They have fast delivery and I have never been disappointed. They are also in grub hub so you can order on line!
(4)
Julee M.
Thai Oscar is one of my favorite places to order delivery from. I like that they have a great selection of Thai food but they also have sushi and other Japanese food which is hard to find for delivery - and it's damn good! Overall the menu has very unique offerings that you aren't going to find at other delivery places. First off their sushi is better than you expect from some place that delivers. It's not the best I've ever had but it's certainly good. They have a good selection and the fish tastes fresh. Their teriyaki sauce is out of this world and I highly recommend trying it. My favorite dish however is the Indonesian Noodles with shrimp. Oh and they deliver bubble tea! YAY! I've ate in the restaurant a couple times and it's nothing fancy but it's cute and the service is good, but for me the real attraction is the food of course. That outweighs any lack of ambiance. Go try it now!
(4)
Beebe G.
My husband and I met a friend here for dinner Saturday night. We also had a gift certificate to use. It's an adorable little place. We started with appetizers - shrimp pot stickers and leek dumplings which were very good. My husband and I had Japanese and ordered steak terriyaki don entree but it was not as appetizing as we anticipated. My friend had a vegetarian dish which she liked. The the wait staff was very friendly, courteous and attentive. And we liked that it was BYOB. Not sure if I would come back; if I do I would like to try their sushi. I was eyeing the various orders around me and they all looked appealing.
(2)
Katrina M.
Ok. I have a go-to place for Thai, but one night I decided to order food here for delivery, just to try a different place. Uhh, I totally regretted it. I only ordered two things: crab rangoons and the sweet basil fried rice. First of all, the crab rangoons are way overpriced for such small, fragile things. The wonton wrapper they use for 'em are paper thin too. The rice was okay. It could've had more flavor and a lil less mush. Sorry. I should've just ordered food from Thai Valley or Manee Thai :|
(3)
Carol H.
I love this place. The food is reasonably-priced, well-made and the decor is attractive and comfortable. It's located 1/2 block from the Western Avenue Brown line El and just a block and a half from the Davis Theater, so fits in well with a night out at the movies. I eat here frequently and have never had a bad meal. The ginger chicken, chicken oscar and the tom ka kai soup with chicken are my favorites as well as their beef salad. There is also a sushi menu, if that is your preference. Take-out is also available. There is just one little annoyance about this restaurant, and that is that one must make an effort to firmly close the door behind them when they come in and leave the restaurant. Hardly anyone does that, so the door will remain slightly ajar allowing drafts to come in.
(5)
E P.
I used to come here as a regular, but recently stopped going. I'm only assuming that their business is going down hill because the quality of food drastically declined. Fish is NEVER supposed to reek of a pungent odor! It was definitely not fresh and I did not finish my meal. My friend had Lard Na & the wide noodles were stale. If you are looking for Thai I'd recommend Spoon, Royal Thai, or Opart.
(1)
Casey M.
Thai Oscar is great, quick, friendly and delicious. I order from them all the time and each time the food is good. I generally go for the Thai dishes and I am never disappointed. My favorite dish is the Pad-See-Ew. Tender wide noodles, your choice of protein and broccoli all stir-fried is a dark soy sauce and you can choose the amount of heat when ordering too. The soda pop is always cold and the appetizers are always fresh and come steaming hot. Thai Oscar is on Foodler and they offer a free can of soda pop if you spend $10. Get on Foodler and order from Thai Oscar now!
(4)
Carolynne M.
Quite possibly the most disgusting tofu ever in my mouth. Ordered the Pad Kee Mao which is a flat rice noodle with cabbage, carrot, hot pepper, sweet basil, bean sprout, broccoli & bell pepper. Added tofu. Renee C ordered Pad See Eiw with tofu. We also ordered fried tofu, spring rolls and leek dumplings. The same fried tofu that was in our appetizer was also thrown into both of our entrees. Fried tofu? In a noodle dish? mmm, no. I might have even forgiven this weird aspect had the tofu not been tough and dry. Awful. Then we noticed the spring rolls were not wrapped in that glassine-wrapper that they normally come in. They were instead made out of the stuff that I think things like egg rolls and crab rangoon are made of before they get fried. It was very thick and doughy and took away from the light interior flavours of the roll. This would have been a one star review, but I have to give a second star for the pleasantness of the girl taking my order, and how the order was ready and waiting when I came in to pick it up. Maybe the Japanese food here is the better option? I dont know but with Spoon almost next door, I know I wont be coming back here for the Thai portion!
(2)
E Z.
We order lunch from them very often. Delivery is relatively prompt. Had the Veggie fried rice today was very good. Prices are reasonable. Sushi is very fresh and good.
(4)
Liz O.
This is a GREAT neighborhood joint. I've never had a bad experience in the 4 years that I've been a costumer. Its affordable, good food, BYOB, great location, quiet dining room and delivers. I highly recommend for a nice chill night out with friends or for a night on the couch!
(4)
jen m.
With the larger and more well known Opart Thai just doors away from here, it's easy to miss this quaint spot. The decor is reminiscent of a Thai log cabin, if there are such things in Thailand. I'm wary when it comes to restaurants trying to serve 2 different cuisines, they tend to excel in one and completely suck at the other. But I can honestly say, they are on point with both the Thai menu and the Japanese menu. No complaints about the Pattaya and Kroong Thep makis, standard makis. But the basil chicken has got to be one of the best I've had. It was a perfect mixture of sweetness and spiciness. Also tried the pad khee mao and pad ped with red snapper (they are the only Thai restaurant that I have encountered that gives you a choice between a whole red snapper and pieces of red snapper), both yummy in the tummy. No mean looks, no reminders from the staff when we stayed past closing. I'm sure they did breathe a sigh of relief when we did finally leave. The food hit the spot so good that I decided to come back the next day for dinner again!
(4)
Stephanie S.
We order from Thai Oscar using seamless.com . Our experience was great! The food arrived fairly quickly (35 minutes) and was hot and delicious. The menu was diverse and included both sushi and Thai food, which was nice for us. We will definitely eat again.
(4)
George A.
We've been here a few times and always had great food.
(4)
Trevor S.
Decent. Problem is all the competition in the area. Otherwise, good stir fry options and service was adequate.
(3)
Natalie A.
I know this place has mixed reviews. We went because we love thai, had some friends in town, and husband scored a $3 gift certificate worth $25 on restaurant.com . We don't live nearby, so parking on a weekday at 7:30pm was a little rough- we walked a couple blocks from a residential street lugging both kiddos, diaper bag, etc., and it's not exactly a warm night, but that could be anywhere in the city- When we got there the place had a couple other tables filled, but seated the 4 adults and 2 toddlers quickly- they had ample high chairs (Spoon down the street has 1 for customers to fight over) and seemed more kid friendly than most store-front thai places we frequent (later confirmed throughout the night.) Honestly, I haven't gotten out much lately, but I thought the food was great! We ordered the crab rangoon based on suggestions here on yelp, and all 6 of us enjoyed it- even the 2 year old and 9 month old. They had really reasonably priced "side" items for the kids- steamed rice, plain noodles, steamed veggies- the waitress brought out the kids' food with the appetizers to we could start feeding them right away (read: THOUGHTFUL!) We also got a bowl of Tom Kha soup to share (enough for the four of us adults to have a sampling of) and 2 of us were pregnant so we got an order of the shrimp tempura maki so we could all try the sushi and we all raved about it and fought over the last piece. My husband gets the Rama Chicken everywhere he goes- he said it was right on par with Royal Thai (our current favorite spot.) The Thai Iced Tea he ordered was the best he's had. I ordered salmon teriyaki- it came with a miso soup I didn't really care for, a small side salad with that yummy orange-colored ginger dressing, and some rice. The fish was GREAT- I loved the black sesame seeds sprinkled on top and it was cooked to perfection- just the right amount of sauce too. I get kinda bored with Thai, and loved that I could order a Japanese dish. Our friends enjoyed their noodle dishes. We got out of there for under $80, and with the gift certificate, under $60. We'll be back! Side note- if you have a toddler, ask to sit near the fish tank- you may actually get to eat your food!
(4)
Lauren D.
A group of us from Gracie Barra Chicago and Tutaj BJJ stopped into this restaurant after an event. It was early for dinner (4-ish), and the place was fairly empty. The service was quick, and all the food was EXCELLENT. We ordered Thai (Pad Kee Mao was phenomenal) and Japanese/Sushi dishes, and they were all some of the best we have had. We will definitely be heading back!
(5)
Brandon W.
Eh, I've had better. The reason for the 3 stars is because they are slow, and the food was cold when delivered. Cold to the point where the Pad Thai became a damn solid brick of noodles. Not much sauce either. The spring rolls were ok - and served with a honey based sauce. Not the best eats I have ever had - but good. I wonder if dine in would be better as it seemed like the food probably sat around for a good 20 minutes before it was picked up to be delivered.
(3)
Karen B.
the best in the city! the food is amazing, no complaints, the atmosphere is wonderful, you can go in jeans or get dolled up, and byob is a plus. its cheap!!! my husband and i did 4 appetizers and 2 meals for 40!!
(5)
Lucy P.
As usual, I discovered Thai Oscar via restaurant.com . It wasn't very crowded, I think it was only us an one other table, around 8pm on a weekend. Since they didn't have soy paper (I'm not a huge fan of Nori) I ordered my stand by Pad, See Ew. It was pretty below average. Not in a spit it out type of below average, but in a just didn't encourage you to keep eating. I've gotten Pad See Ew at a lot of different restaurants and this one was just not that great. My husband had ordered some sushi roll that slips my mind at the moment, which he didn't finish. I decided to take a stab at it, and to my pleasant surprise, I didn't think the Nori tasted like fish food (like it smells, I don't actually eat fish food). I took down a bunch of pieces of that! My husbands dish was average he thought. Although on my own accord we probably wouldn't go back, we've been told by friends that there are some things on the menu to die for. So I'm going to give this a 3 star rating, it wasn't awful, I could eat it, it just didn't stand out. Hopefully when we go back to try the awesome items, I'll be able to give some more stars. Our waitress was very nice, no complaints about the restaurant itself.
(3)
Mark G.
After getting home at 6:45, taking the doggie for a long walk, then getting a chance to relax for 30 minutes, we realized we were hungry. A few long stares into the freezer and fridge quickly let us realize we were not about to start making food at 8:30pm. "What a bout grilled cheese sandwiches and soup?", I suggested to a less than uproarious response. "Want to just order something?" she suggests. With quickness I reply "Sure. What do you feel like eating?" "Hmm I dunno." We had seen those grubhub.com ads on the Brown Line, so I suggested she check it out. After sorting by neighborhood and cuisine, we clicked through a few menus until coming to settle on Thai Oscar. Ordering was seamless; we figured Crab Rangoon, California Maki, and the Garlic Chicken would be more than enough for the two of us, and it was! Crab Rangoons were a bit smaller than expected but were tasty! The chicken was satisfactory; it wasn't mind blowing but it was far from questionable...so, satisfactory. It came with plenty of peppers and onions, perhaps a few too many onions but that's not really the biggest problem in the world. The sauce in the chicken dish was tasty and mixed well with the rice. The maki was good as well; nothing to write home about but it was satisfactory. The best part of the experience was the delivery. We ordered at about 9:00pm and had our food by 9:32pm, after initially being told it would take an hour. Score. The place is only a few blocks down Western from us, but still, score. I would try another few dishes from this place another time, definitely.
(3)
Vic C.
Good food. Crab Rangoon was light and tasty. Tom Yum soup was delicious and the Pad Prik was good. Good portions, friendly service and laid back atmosphere.
(4)
Paul B.
So... In a city with almost as many Thai joints as there are Irish bars - Thai Oscar needs to elevate their game. The interior is cool - picture if metal gods Man-o-War had a corporate headquarters. The wood is all dark and rustic - but there is a certain vitality to the place. The chairs are sturdy - I cite that because I am kind of fat and I appreciate chairs that don't wince under my weight. That is where the good stuff ends. After a discussion about the menu - I ordered Pad Thai. This should be pretty standard for a Thai restaurant. She brought me Woonsen Pad Thai which isn't a lot different (the noodles are different). I was very clear that I wanted Pad Thai, but that wasn't in the cards. Also the portion was tiny. I don't expect everyone to have plus-sized servings. I rarely expect adult sized servings these days. This serving was one noodle past tapas. It was minuscule. I had an egg roll (not a good idea - tasteless and greasy) before my dinner and was not satisfied when I left. There are too many really good Thai joints to eat at to make this a place I will ever return to... This Oscar will make YOU a grouch!
(2)
Bret S.
This is, quite simply, the most delicious Thai food that I've ever had, and their Japanese cuisine is excellent as well. I wish it was closer to our house so I could go as often as possible.
(5)
Juanita M.
I really enjoy the food at Thai Oscar. There is never a long wait, and the service you receive is wonderful. This is one of my favorite to get together spots with my friends. It is never too crowded. I love their Veggie Tempura Maki and their Chicken Terri Don! Their prices are also super great.
(4)
Sarah L.
I wanted Thai last night so my guy and I ventured over to Lincoln Square. We stopped in Opart and there was a line out the door with at least a 20 minute wait. When we heard that, we turned around and walked a few feet down to Thai Oscar. We walked in and there was NO one in this little restaurant. We were seated by the windows and had prompt and friendly service! I had chicken pad see eiw and it was pretty good! Hubs had cashew chicken and he liked his as well. They put a lot of hot peppers on his plate. The portions here are not huge, just right. They are doing portion control so you don't binge eat on yummy Thai food. This place is also BYOB. Check out Thai Oscar if you find yourself waiting for a table to Opart. You will not be disappointed!
(4)
liz d.
So I spent $40 for dinner for 2, carry out. It reminded me of my own stir fry, which I have never been good at. No flavor! The chicken satay was so chemically marinated that it was falling apart. The peanut sauce was, well really strange! The beef was really tough in the crying tiger, and the other beef entry was also non descript just grey. I check yelp reviews for resturants that I want to try, I never have written one. I can only say save your $!
(1)
Scott B.
This is really some rancid crap! The Thai is mediocre at best, and the sushi is just down right disgusting! For some reason, only when starving, and simultaneously craving sushi and Thai, I call Thai Oscar. Someone please punch me in my face for acting in such an irresponsible manner! The eating experience almost reminds me of back in the day when I would eat fast food and feel lethargic and nauseous 30 minutes after consumption. YUCK! *In all fairness, they are very polite, the food is inexpensive, and the delivery has always been prompt----BUT, if you want good Thai, Opart & Royal Thai are 2 options that are far more superior than this joint. I must end this review because my belly hurts now----think I'm going to puke...
(2)
Shakeia T.
BYOB. Sushi. Close to home. Great service. The end. :) Ok seriously, I love that I can walk to this place and bring my favorite bottle of wine and eat some sushi. It's not crowded and the table's are pretty roomy, too. The staff was very friendly and accomodating, which is always, always good.
(3)
Jessica A.
ok my boyfriend and I always go here the servers are very nice, clean inside parking can suck sometimes have had lots of things on the menu the garlic chicken is really good, sushi is very good, tempra is good pretty good try it out
(4)
Amanda Z.
Last night I was in a foul mood...one that could only be cheered with some Thai-food loving. I love that they always quote delivery time at 45 minutes to an hour, but they are always to my door in about 30 minutes. Word to the wise: spring rolls are not great here. I had some last night and they tasted old...blech. Crab rangoon is yum. Get that instead. Pad Thai with tofu is my cure to foul moods. And it worked quite well last night. A little chili sauce added a bit of spice and made me feel all warm and fuzzy, just the way comfort food is supposed to make you feel.
(4)
Chris A.
I am a thai food fan, and am always searching for a Thai restaurant that is ... 1) laid back, yet has a classy ambience 2) affordable yet not cheap 3) has a diverse menu Thai Oscar doses a good job in my three areas! I particularly liked their Cashew Fried Rice... a simple yet good dish. Also, it wasn't a ridiculous heaping portion. For you Sushi lovers, they have a nice diverse Sushi menu. Give this place a try. I personally will be a repeat visitor!
(4)
m m.
when i don't feel like eating thai here, i order the sushi. YUM!
(4)
Isaac H.
This place pretty much has delivered sushi monopolized for the area. Their sushi is pretty consistent throughout, as I've been ordering from them for well over a year. But there are a few things that change here and there, possibly due to shift changes in staff. Overall, their sushi is decent, especially for the price. Their entrees are pretty spot on, providing a great variety of food. One gripe, as I'm guessing it's their way of being cost effective, is the smaller serving of the Teriyaki Chicken since a few months ago. My girlfriend loves the shit out of it, but recently found herself disappointed with the meager serving of both chicken and rice. Dine in, out, or delivery. They get four stars for consistency, fair prices, and friendly staff.
(4)
Esther A.
It sounds like damning it with faint praise, I know, but on a night when I'm craving sushi, but I'm too lazy to get on public transportation and go to one of my more favorite places, Thai Oscar has filled the bill with totally adequate take-out sushi. This sushi isn't going to change your life or give you a foodgasm or anything, but it won't make you sick either. The individual pieces are often actually a little too substantial for my taste--maybe I'd be grateful if the quality was better, but as it is, an oversized slab of just OK salmon or tuna is kind of repellant. I've had better luck with the rolls--I like their salmon skin maki and the spicy tuna maki has real bite. Prices are reasonable and the order is usually ready for pick-up in about 20 minutes.
(3)
Jess P.
Thai food? My fave Sushi and thai? A pairing made in heaven. BYOB? Sweet! Restaurant.com gift certificate so I can take my boyfriend and my mom out for her bday for less than $30? Sign me up! Sounds good, right? Wrong. So very wrong. We ordered some appetizers which were all very good. Crab rangoon, chicken satay, and a california roll. Trusty favorites. Then came dinner. I ordered what I get at every thai restaurant: ginger chicken. For some reason one of the pieces of chicken looked funny to me so I cut it open and it wasn't cooked all the way through. Sidenote: I have an unexplainable fear of undercooked chicken. So they recooked it and brought it back. It seemed like the same dish as before except smaller. Needless to say, I did't eat any of it and handed it off to my boyfriend that doubles as a garbage disposal. I stuck to white rice. All of the food also had the scent of pinesol. Additionally, it's been 4 days and I haven't eaten anything I haven't prepared myself or any meat or eggs. Do yourself a favor and walk a few doors north and spend a little mire money at Opart Thai. And always be weary of carpeted restaurants.
(1)
M J.
Thai Oscar really disappointed me :( I was so excited to be able to order 2 of my fav worlds: Thai and Sushi.. Ordered Lard nar which was very tasteless and served with ....regular broccoli? doesn't it normally come with chinese broccoli, wider leaves? Then I had the shrimp tempura, nice generous portion but totally tasteless!!! The dip was in a 2oz cup and wasn't enough for the 5 tempura, i wish i had extra. The sushi was good, but not great to me.. maybe cuz i was so disappointed with the thai part... :(
(2)
Melissa B.
I am so glad we found this place. Once again, thanks Yelp! I love cheap sushi, and my husband likes curry. Add two drinks, miso soups and the bill is less than $25! Wow. Also, the service is fine and I like the ambiance. What else can I say? The sushi's pretty good, and my husband LOVED his curry. Chances are we will make this a regular lunch option for us.
(4)
Desiree K.
Wow, maybe it is the luck I have had in this place or the fact that I have gone here forever, well, forever meaning since they opened about 5-6 years ago, but I have never had a bad experience at Thai Oscar. Seriously. I have tried it all from the Thai menu to the Japanese menu, I like to order Crab Ragoon then get a spicy maki roll and finish it off with Lard Nar...or I get sea weed salad and salon teriyaki, I mean there's so many great combos that you can make with their Thai/Japanese menu that its hard to not find something from here to love. I only give it four stars because of two things 1. Portions- over the years their portions have become significantly smaller 2. Prices- despite their portions getting a lot smaller, their prices go up by ALOT. This bugs me because I have 4 versions of their menu at home and everytime I get there to pay for my take out its a totally different price then what I expected, I have even brought in my menus to show them, and they say, we're sorry, we have a new menu prices changed, then proceed to hand me a new menu with white out and new pen changed prices...interesting. So to "save the drama" because I really like their food and BYOB policy, I just eat in, this way I know up front what I will be paying and have no surprises. If you're in the area do check it out, I really hope you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Parker L.
We ordered delivery from Thai Oscar the other night. It wasnt too bad, but I woldnt run back. We had the pad se ew, beef terriyaki, and chicken yakisoba. I found noodle dishes to be a bit overly salty and heavy on the grease, but the overall flavor was good. Beef Terriyaki, was just not there for me... the beef was oversweet and fatty, But overall it was ok, and maybe I need to try some different dishes.
(3)
Chelsea R.
Thai Oscar, I love you! As I've stated before, I'm not a sushi fan. But my boy is, and he ADORES the sushi from here. I love them because they make the best damn chicken teriyaki I've ever had. YUM! Besides the great service, quick delivery, and delicious food, I have to also rave about the way they package their delivery. The chicken teriyaki is wrapped in foil, and marinates in a tasty teriyaki sauce- and the rice is wrapped separate! MAJOR PROPS. Food always arrives hot, rice is never dried out, it's fantastic. I highly recommend them for delivery. I've never actually eaten inside the restaurant, but I'm sure it's just as good. The only reason they get four stars and not five, is because they've recently cut back on the portions of chicken a bit. For the price, I'd like a little bit more meat- but thank god there's no extraneous veggies that I have to pick through to get to that delicious chicken.
(4)
Catie P.
Best pad thai I've had in the city, BYOB with no corkage fee, and attentive staff! Right off the Western stop so very convenient location. Come to Thai Oscar instead of the hyped Opart Thai!
(5)
Michelle S.
There are a bunch of Thai places all nearby this place & I have now been to all of them. This one was best! The service was way better than Spoon Thai. Food was good too :) Will be back
(4)
Johanna C.
I've been going to Thai Oscar during their lunch hour for years. It is THE best time to go. The prices are great for that time of day ($6 - $8 before tax) and the lunch special includes an appetizer and your meal. The Thai Iced Coffee is priced right too ($1.50). I like ordering the Chicken Pad Thai, Sweet Basil Chicken, Thai Oscar Fried Rice and Cashew Chicken. My buddy loves the Pad See Ew. The appetizers are good (Crab Rangoon, Fried Tofu, Fried Fish "Nuggets"). I've only had sushi here once and it wasn't bad. They have a large selection of sushi and also a sushi lunch special which I have not tried. Perhaps it picks up in the evening...I like having sushi at places that are busy that way I know it is fresh! Lunch is usually not so busy so I pass. This place is very casual. It is a small place and comfy. Wooden ceilings and a variety of music plays on the stereo (once heard 93.9, another time heard some crazy Asian versions of the Mexican Hat Dance song). The service can be a hit or miss. The waitstaff is predominantly Asian so yes, sometime there is a bit of a language barrier. For the most part, I am usually in and out within 45 minutes when dining there which is ideal for me. I gotta say I like this place better than Spoon Thai. Opart is good too but is more expensive than going to Thai Oscar. By the way, they have "BYOC" (Bring Your Own Computer) for free Wi-Fi during mid-afternoon. Never seen anyone there with a computer but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do to get people in the house.
(4)
ER J.
I've bounced around all the Lincoln Square Thai restaurants for years. Why do I not have any reviews? Well, it's usually just OK, which doesn't inspire me to write a review. Note: this review is based on Thai appetizers and sushi, so I can't speak for any hot entrees. My friend and I sat in the window. It was a pleasant rainy night, and the restaurant was about half full. What I really love is NO TELEVISION, NO BLARING LITE FM, NO FULL SPECTRUM FLUORESCENT LIGHTING-THANK YOU! (Sorry, but so many Thai restaurants have horrible ambiance) I guess it's been a long time since coming back here, but the warm, mellow atmosphere really made me feel at home. That and the comfy chairs. OK, enough rambling. We had three appetizers and I think 5 or 6 sushi rolls. Everything was incredibly fresh and flavorful. The servers were so cute and sweet, always refilling our water and clearing plates, as we ordered things in several rounds. I always have an uncontrollable response to great sushi- an audible moan/mmm sound. My friend hadn't seen me do this before, so she was cracking up. It could have been the combination of great conversation and the restaurant not being too busy, but when we left, we both really felt wonderful because we had enjoyed our meal so much. Maybe it seemed better because I've had nothing but mediocre meals lately. Service and food left me very happy, and I plan on not waiting so long to return.
(5)
Lisa D.
I went there with some friends last night. It's BYOB, so my friends brought some wine. We had edamame and sushi. It was delicious and the people working there were so nice! Very friendly and polite. They were also very accomadating. We closed the place down but they didn't seem to mind. I would definately reccomend this place.
(4)
Laura S.
I went here for dinner with two friends, because they were cold and didn't want to keep walking. I had hoped to continue down the road to some other spots, but it looked nice enough from the outside so we stopped. However, the minute I walked in, I was overwhelmed by a strong odor. I couldn't tell if it was a bad fish smell or deep fryer oil that needed to be changed, but I immediately wanted to leave and try somewhere else. Unfortunately, my friends didn't notice and decided we should stay. Weighing my options between ordering Thai and sushi, I decided the veggie sushi rolls would be the safest way to go. We also ordered tempura as a starter. My friends liked their meals well enough (Chicken Terriyaki bowl and Pad See Ew), so maybe my standards are too high; but I thought everything I had was sub-par. The tempura arrived quickly, but the color was majorly off. The breading had an orange tint rather than the pale tan I have become accustomed to getting. It was way to thick and heavy as well. It was more like a breading than a light fry. Additionally, it came with the smallest bowl of dipping sauce I have ever seen. I should have asked for more, but the three of us tried to share a saucer that couldn't have been more than half an ounce. Then for dinner, I ordered the veggie maki dinner. On the menu it said 18 pieces of sushi. No other description, but I like veggies well enough. When our dinners were brought out, I received the veggie maki roll. I explained to the waitress that I wanted the dinner not the roll. It seemed like there may have been a language gap, but I generally try to trust that if they are waiting tables they can get the job done. So I was surprised when she returned to the table with 2 additional veggie maki rolls. I decided not to complain because the menu had not been specific about what the veggie maki dinner was. Maybe it really is 18 pieces of the same roll. But most other restaurants give you a sampling of three or four rolls when you order a maki dinner. And to be honest, does anyone really want 18 pieces of the same roll for dinner? Then I tasted it. Second worst sushi I have ever had. (The first had rice that was barely cooked and was completely inedible.) The rice was gummy and clearly overdone. And there were dabs of about 6 different veggies inside the roll, causing a conflicting flavor profile. In the end, I choked down enough sushi to get me through the night, but I certainly won't be back.
(2)
Sarah K.
Very disappointing lunch. Ordered Tom Kha Kai soup and Shrimp Shu Mai. The shrimp appetizer was cold in the middle and the soup looked like they sliced mushrooms and tofu and placed it in a hot bowl of thick coconut milk. I haveordered this soup numerous times before and have even made it at home. I think my five year old could have done a better job than they did at Thai Oscar. My next visit to a Thai place Western ave will not be here.
(1)
meran m.
My friend and I walked the block on Western Ave that sported three Thai restaurants. We decided on this one because it was less crowded initially and had a warmer ambiance. I think we might have chosen the wrong one. Our fresh spring roll was anything but fresh. It might be the most "blah" spring roll I have ever had, and it was getting a little stiff, like it had been sitting around a while. The soup was good enough, but, as I suspected, had not only the coconut milk that was listed on the menu, but cow's milk, as well, which made it a no-no for me. They did switch it out. The cashew chicken was okay. People were nice, and as attentive as they could be given the crowd that arrived soon after we did. All in all, we decided we would go somewhere else next time. Too bad, Thai Oscar. You were a cute place.
(2)
Ishmael R.
I've been here 2 years ago and thought it was a great experience. However, last night was very special. I wanted to take my date out on a late valentines day dinner. Due to our schedules we weren't sure if we could get into Thai Oscar or Opart Thai since both close at 10:00 p.m. Fortunately, we arrived at the brown line station at 9:35 p.m. First, we attempted to go into Opart Thai to see if we get a seat. At first the waiter was going to seat us. Then, as he tried to grab two menus, someone convinced him that he should notify us that it is take-out only. Upon hearing this we quickly waved goodbye and headed to Thai Oscar. There we were friendly greeted and even offered to sit down and order for HERE! (9:38 p.m.) The waiter was kind, patient and kept us informed with a friendly reminder that they were closing soon. Yet after she told us that they were closing soon we did not feel like we were being rushed. We enjoyed our Chicken Satay, Tom Yum (Seafood), and Pad Thai (beef) for the price of $24! Not only was it a great night for us another couple ordered several plates of sushi! When I left I made sure the man who worked for Opart Thai and suggested to only offer take-out see me hold up Thai Oscar's menu. Victory to Thai Oscar!
(5)
Anne S.
Thai Oscar is where I take the kids when I have $40 left and can't bear the thought of cooking dinner. Also when I am with my brother, who will not touch sushi and is afraid of any asian cuisine that strays too far from sweet and sour chicken. We are always happy with our food; they don't skimp on the proteins, they aren't stingy with the shrimp, and they put plenty of crushed peanut on the Pad Thai. We have tried Thai Oscar maki, Dragon Maki, and Rainbow maki, and they were all fresh and tasty. I wish they served pots of green tea, cuz I can really chug it down, but no worries about that. What they serve is good, too. Once again, to the haters/princesses, CHILL OUT. : ) This is just a little neighborhood place, IT'S CLEAN, it has good prices. The wait staff is always sweet and the kitchen is quick. Carry out and delivery are great, too.
(4)
Tara M.
I ate at Thai Oscar for the first time this evening (it is definitely not in my hood) and really enjoyed it! I was surprised because the friend who recommended it has very different taste than I, but we both had a good experience. I must say, I didn't expect much from a restaurant that combines two cuisines, but they did a pretty good job. We started off with crab rangoon, which was one of the best I've had (and I almost always order it when I get Thai or Chinese food). Of course, it's difficult to mess up deep fried cream cheese, but these were especially light thanks to the pastry dough. Very light and airy as far as rangoon goes. Then we shared a chicken pad thai, a philly roll (I know, more cream cheese--the friend I went with is from Wisconsin...), a spicy tuna roll and a Phuket roll. I didn't like the pad thai at first because they use thinner noodles that were a bit soggy, but it grew on me. Certainly not the best I've had, but it was good enough. The philly roll typically is not my favorite, but these had a lot more salmon than cream cheese in them, which is atypical. I did not have any, but my friend said they were very good. The spicy tuna was typical--impossible to mess this one up. The Phuket roll, however, was maybe one of the best/most interesting rolls I've ever had. It was shrimp tempura, pineapple, spicy mayo and baked coconut. Sounded a little weird but it was delicious! And probably the most unhealthy sushi ever. :) I enjoyed the Thai twist on sushi and will definitely go back for it. We did not BYOB--I'm not sure if they charge a corkage fee.
(4)
Emily C.
The man in my life told me this place has the best sushi I'd ever taste. He was partially right. The only sushi I'd had better was at Ruby Foo's in NYC, and that cost A LOT more. So for your money, this place rules. The specialty sushi rolls here, some of them, are big enough to choke a T-Rex and they are GOOD - the texture, the taste, the variety, they have it all. It's kind of interesting given that the place has a good ammount of Thai food but also has the Japanese staple of sushi, but honestly, I think it fuses together quite nicely My favorite is one if their Thai dishes, the prik prow dish (try it with the BBQ pork). I think their pad thai is a little disappointing - not enough peanuts- but otherwise, everything there is quite tasty and the sushi was mindblowingly awesome.
(4)
faith b.
My boyfriend and I order food and have it delivered from here all the time. We have never eaten inside, so this review is limited to just how the food is. The prices are good for the big portions of food that they give you... big tasty portions. No matter what I am ordering... thai or sushi.. I am never disappointed. The delivery always comes in a reasonable amount of time, but I hate that I live one block over their delivery range so they charge us extra.
(4)
Carolyn R.
Excellent, dependable, varied menu, good service, plus BYOB, gets my vote for a neighborhood favorite. The sushi is always great, the noodle dishes are pretty much what you want or would expect, favorites and interesting extras from both Thai and Japanese cuisine is a great concept to begin with, and everything about the place is just a cut-above in terms of quality. There is plenty of variety on the menu to please vegetarians, kids, sushi fans, and people afraid of food, it comes way spicy or not spicy, as requested. The maki menu changes regularly and always has something wacky and fun. The seafood options are nicely varied. The presentation of the dishes and the quality of service, and the atmosphere of the place are outstanding, great quality-value for the dollar. The lunch specials are a good bargain, as is the combo-dinner with a meat or fish item plus tempura and sides. I have been ordering delivery from here for more than 7 years, and the food has *never* been extremely late or gone missing (unlike, say, Leona's who looses my order at least 1 in 10 times) which itself is a strong testament of a well-run establishment. Both their dine in and carry out never fail to please. For having been sitting in a carton on the way over the tempura is surprisingly good. Tofu sticks are great for kids. Is it worth driving a long way, or bringing out of town friends for a special occasion? Is it a rival for fancy places like Tank? Kinda! It's not trendy-fancy, but beautiful-fancy enough to be charming and memorable. If this place were in the suburbs, people would be happily paying 25-50% more for the exact same dishes and atmosphere, and 1/4 the number of items on the menu. Isn't Lincoln Square great?!? Did they keep me consistently well fed when I was exhausted with a new baby at home without *ever* botching a delivery? YES. Are they an *always* reliable spot for a night out with friends and one's own booze? Again, YES. Is the place clean and SO pretty, the staff friendly and unfailingly competent, and the food extra yummy? Certainly! To get even slightly better food OR even slightly nicer atmosphere, expect to pay a LOT more money, and to wait around too, most nights. For consistently excellent delivery or the best bet for a good time out dining in this price range, it's a *great* spot.
(5)
Patrick S.
Great food, great service, great price. We felt bad that we came in at 9:25pm when they close at 10, but they were so nice and had us eating within 10 minutes. The watiress was awesome; very friendly and attentive. Will definately be back!
(5)
Ryan G.
Ergh... I REALLY want to like this place for being a local sushi restaurant but I cannot recommend it for one reason: THE WAIT. Even when there is barely anyone in the restaurant, the most simple of dishes take 30 minutes. And don't go with more than 4 people, they screw up orders. They are always polite, courteous and apologetic but you can only be disappointed so many times. The food is decent but a bit pricey for the portions. With Rosded even closer to me for Thai and Tank and Tokyo Lunch Box ready to fulfill my sushi needs, one need not to go to this fusion restaurant because it is NOT the best of both worlds.
(2)
G. P.
We used to order from Thai Oscar ALL the time, at least once a week. I don't know what's happened in the past couple months, the food is just OK where as before it was excellent, the every time we've had it delivered it's been the wrong order. Very disappointed and will be looking for a new thai place.
(2)
Natalie S.
We just moved into a pretty sweet little condo in Albany Park and read some downright terrible reviews of our closest Thai restaurant. Normally we'd still give it a shot, but I'd been craving Rama tofu since Thanksgiving so we grabbed a menu the previous owners left in the junk drawer and got delivery from Thai Oscar. I was all geared up to write a bad review after being told that the free appetizer with two entrees deal didn't apply to my order because one dish we ordered was apparently a noodle dish and not an entree- it cost exactly the same as the other entrees- but whatever. Then they had to calll back to get our credit card number again, which never instills much faith that the food order is correct when they can't write down some numbers correctly. Finally, the delivery took a stupidly long time. Bad review here I come... But then the food was hot and really satisfying. The peanut sauce was thick and spicy and my husband couldn't put his finger on why his noodles were so good - but they were really, really good. I've read hot and cold reviews of this place, and I think I know why now. But in a pinch, if I can't find something better it'll do.
(3)
David M.
Good place to stop in for lunch. I was here a while ago and don't remember exactly what I got, but I remember not being disappointed and that the price wasn't too bad either. The really great thing about Thai Oscar, though, is the BYOB policy! Yeah, we brought wine coolers, left too good of a tip (now I understand why they do that...) but were generally pleased. It's my friend's favorite place in Chicago which doesn't really make sense, but it's pretty good stuff.
(4)
John B.
Dont order the satay, they basically come in tiny nugget size and then charge you 6 bucks for 1 dollar worth of chicken...go to Opart next door
(1)
Ryan M.
GET THE THAI FOOD! My roommate and I both decided to share maki rolls there, and I can only describe it as rice and fish put through a garbage disposal and then covered with a glob of mayo.
(2)
Vince F.
There are four Thai restaurants within spitting distance of each other in Lincoln Square. After having tried them all, Thai Oscar gets my vote for best Thai in the area. The food is flavorful and plentiful, and the price is right. The selection is expansive (though I have yet to try their sushi). The service is friendly and courteous. If you are in the area, skip the others and go for Thai Oscar.
(4)
Joe U.
Get the Godzilla Roll! It is huge, and awesome, and digestively devastating. BYOB and the liquor store is close. Works for me.
(4)
Anna J.
this is one of my favorite places to eat in chicago. a good friend got my boyfriend and i hooked on this place. i am in love with the sushi there. esp the thai oscar roll. omg, it is so good. also, the spicy beef noodle soup is so awesome. i crave it on a regular basis but it is very spicy so i have to get it tamed down a bit. we also always get there egg rolls to start which we think it some of the best in the city. I haven't had any of the thai dishes but go there for the sushi and bring a bottle of wine and enjoy!
(5)
jenny m.
I gave this place 4 stars because of a few key things. It's consistent, it's reasonably priced, and it's convenient. I've only ever ordered sushi from here.I've gotten take out a dozen times and eatin in a few times. On the take out vibe...if you are looking for decent sushi for a good price, I feel this is a good option. The edemame is really good....always perfectly salted and yummy. And the sushi..never disappoints. If you are looking for something of decent quality in the area this is the place. Its not mind blowing, but its consistently good. Overall the staff is friendly and I do think they try to make a good effort with what they serve up so they have my vote.
(4)
Trefor D.
This is a great Thai place. Food is always consistently good. It's well priced and quite quick. The decor is what you'd expect. Even when busy, the noise level is perfectly acceptable. I love the Massaman curry - when going to a new place, I always try that and Thai Oscar's is always my favorite. I will say, I have no idea about the sushi. A friend has had it there before and would always enjoy it.
(5)
Amy O.
Tried the Pad Thai and the Yakisoba and thought both were good. The Pad Thai was huge and I couldn't finish it all in one serving. The crab rangoon was good however the wonton wrapper was very fragile so you have to eat it all in one bite if that's possible. The sushi was the bad point here. I tried the unagi roll although it looked very pretty it didn't taste good. The fish smelt kind of funny and after I ate the roll I had 3 small bones from the unagi come out of my mouth. But after all it is a Thai food restaurant so good for the Thai and avoid the sushi.
(4)
Lezah G.
I just had some of the tastiest Thai food that I've had in a long time. Portions were not big but everything was fresh and the mix of seasoning was perfect. I like the fact that you can choose from three different levels of spiciness. The quality of Thai food keeps diminishing in this city. I think because as there are more restaurants, the food gets "dumbed" down to American tastes and becomes less spicy and sickeningly sweet. This was not the case here. Their peanut sauce was perfect and I didn't get the sense that it was doctored up peanut butter like I have at other restaurants. I just hope it won't disappoint next time I come back because so many Thai restaurants do. The rating is only for the Thai food. They have Japanese food as well as a few Korean dishes. I'm always reluctant to order sushi in this kind of place or even eat sushi with Thai food. It doesn't "go together", So I have moved a few doors south from Opart Thai to Thai Oscar and if they disappoint, I'll go further south to Spoon Thai!
(4)
Reg W.
My fiance and I have been coming to this place since 2003. It's a cute little unpretentious restaurant. We've been to other thai places but the food here really stands out. As mentioned below, Thai Oscar offers both Thai and Japanese food. Their prices are great too. We love the Thai Fried Rice, Thai Oscar Fried Rice, pad se eew, beef noodle soup, shrimp tempura, catepillar maki, ebi avo maki, california maki, spicy scallop maki (fresh), phuket, and pad thai. One of our friends also love the curry dishes. Their menu is expansive enough for everyone to find something to love.
(4)
Eric J.
Just ordered thai and sushi for delivery yesterday. Food was suprisingly good. Ordered Pattay rolls, Godzilla rolls, Philly rolls, and received a free order of california rolls. All were very good. Closer and way cheaper than Tank, it's my new sushi delivery place.
(3)
S L.
Thai and Japanese food in one restaurant - not exactly the 2 Asian food combo that are associated together, but hey, it can work, or can it? I've been here a few times over the course of about 5 years. From what I remembered, it was good. I liked going here when you can't decide what genre of Asian food to eat, and end up ordering from both to satisfy your cravings. For whatever reason, it's been well over a year since my last visit. My friend and I couldn't decide if we wanted Thai or Japanese food so we stopped by here for lunch yesterday. Yikes, what happened to the food here? We ordered 2 lunch specials - the beef pad thai and a sushi combo that consist of 5 pieces of california maki and 5 pieces of chef's choice sushi. The pad thai was way too sweet. Sure, there's supposed to be a hint of sweetness to it, but not that much! I think the chef added a second spoon of sugar instead of salt or something. The sushi wasn't much better. The rice was relatively hard and not much imitation crab meat to the california maki. I didn't even touch the sushi - it didn't look that good. We each had a thai iced coffee and it was average, nothing to write home about. The total came to $22, a bit high for lunch for Lincoln Square in my opinion. Sorry, but if you can't get your basic menu items right, I just can't justify coming back. Bottom line: In theory, this combination of Japanese/Thai restaurant would be a good compromise when you can't decide what genre of Asian food to eat. Thai Oscar missed the marks on both and I don't recommend this place. Instead, head over to the many other Thai restaurant on Western Avenue. You will be glad that you did.
(1)
Bella V.
Went here yesterday for carry out after ordering their delivery several times. The first thing I noticed was that they are all Thai, not one Japanese person here that I could tell. This explains a little about the rest of this review. The eggrolls (3/$2.95) were bland, the Veggie Tempura(5.95) was okay, but I made my own sauce for it when I got home. It also had a lot of Yam and carrot (my least fav veg), and the Egg Drop soup $2.95 was good, but salty. I also had the UnaQ roll $4.75 (eel and cucumber) and had them add cream cheese, which they charged me an Xtra 75 cent for. I finished up with some Super White tuna $1.95/ea and some Salmon $1.95/ea nigiris. They were excellent, and I was surprised that the Tuna was so cheap. The Sushi chef was obviously inexperienced, and the nigiri looked so uneven and generally sloppy, but the cut was great, and the fish was fresh, so for the price I couldn't complain. My total bill was 30.90 plus a $2 tip for the "sushi man". I noticed today that they charged my card $7 extra, and I'm waiting for a call back from them. I would order nigiri from here again, but not anything else. I did like the interior though. It was very clean and relaxing. UPDATE~ I'm so sick of ordering from this place. It seems like EVERY time I order, they tack on a few extra dollars. Like I wouldn't notice!! Also, they screwed up my order yesterday, and when I called them back, they accused me of lying to try and get free food!! I've spent hundreds of dollars here just THIS year so far, and have never complained about their SEVERAL mistakes. I'm sick of it. I'm never ordering from them again. I'd rather pay more from Tank than to constantly get ripped off by these guys.
(1)
Erin S.
My fiance and I have heard good things about Thai Oscar from a few different people who live in the Lincoln Square area. So, we were excited to try it because we are both big fans of chicken pad thai (especially from Lincoln Park's Noodles in the Pot). We order the chicken pad thai, combo fried rice, and crab ragoon. The chicken pad thai was, at best, ok. The crab ragoon was fine, but nothing to write home about. The combo fried rice dish was the best thing we ordered, but it was not good enough to make a return trip for. Overall, a disappointment. Thus, our search for thai food that equals that of Noodles in the Pot continues...
(2)
Meredith C.
Thai Oscar is probably the best Thai restaurant on that strip of Western between Lawrence and Irving Park (there are at least five other ones I can think of off the top of my head there). Their sushi is also quite delicious. Do yourself a favor. Stop over at the Liquor store at Western and Lawrence, get some beer or wine (Thai Oscar is BYOB which is again wonderful) and order some crab rangoon, the Santa Fe Maki and an order of Kao Soy with chicken. The crab rangoons are small, but filling so you never feel like you've had too much of a good thing. The combination of cool, crisp lettuce and the spicyness of wasabi and chipotle is delicious in the maki and...best for last...the kao soy. It's pretty orgasmic. I've had Kao Soy at Opart (which is pretty much right next to Thai Oscar) and it was pretty good, but it was more like a yellow curry soup. But at Thai Oscar, they serve it with soft rice noodles and crispy noodles, they fill it with a generous amount of chicken and also put extrememly fresh red onions and cilantro in it...and it still is under $10. This is one of my favorite places in Lincoln Square...maybe even in the whole city!
(5)
Amanda P.
The noodles are mediocre, and while the sushi rolls are creative (often containing many ingredients in one roll), the sushi chef invariably screws up the order.
(3)
Daisy Jane M.
This place has THE best Pad Thai and Red Curry in the city. I eat here at least once a week. All the appetizers are great--although, don't get the leek dumplings "to go" because they get mushy. The sushi is pretty good too--and cheap. But I don't get too adventurous with it, only ordering simple maki rather than complex ones.
(5)
Kateland B.
Goodness!!! This is by far my favorite Thai in all of Chicago! :) I am so glad it is close to my house - will be eating here all the time. Get the Pad Thai and the Thai Oscar Veggie Egg Rolls...OMG these were so good. I've never eaten in but did have them deliver. They arrived earlier than expected and the food was hot. Thank god, I hate delivery that is cold. The guy was nice, not creepy which is always a blessing. Please, try this place!
(5)
Sejal S.
The only reason I am not giving this place a 5 star rating is because the decor is -to be honest- completely whack. While that's cool with me, hipster/trixie/foo-foo folks might feel lead astray. For the rest of us, this food is great! I love the Thai and Japanese combo! It hits on all of my fave Asian cuisine buttons! I've ordered take-away and dined-in but never delivery. My experience with the former two has always been stellar. Lots and lots of veg options. I always order the basics to test a new restaurant and this place doesn't disappoint! The basics are done very well. The Thai Oscar fried rice is simple, plentiful and delish. The Soba noodles are subtle and perfect. Veg sushi? I know its dumb but I am a huge fan. The sweet potato tempura roll is a revelation. You'll never settle for a cuke or mixed veg roll again. Its always hard to find a great veg-noodle bowl. If that's your bag, unpack it now. The Tom Yum soup is perfection on a cold day. Perfectly seasoned broth, tons of veggies and noodles that are not mushy. Only downside - not great the next day. With dishes at about $7.50 with enough for tomorrow, you really can't go wrong. Hungry? Get to it!
(4)
Karen L.
There are so many Thai restaurants out there, and so few that are worth going back. Oscar Thai would be one of those mediocre ones. I got the Pad Siu Ew and a turtle sushi roll. The noodles were ok, but a little on the greasy side. The turtle roll, which consisted of eel, shrimp, rice and cream cheese, wasn't the best combination. I could go back there and try some other items, but I probably don't need to bother when I can find better Thai.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Paid Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Steve K.
5/5 value of food, decent portion and very, very fresh. I had both a thai dish and sushi and was very impressed by the quality and freshness of the fish and vegetables. Wait staff was very polite. Group of 6 dined in for about $85 including apetizers, entrees and drinks.
(5)Anicia P.
Not bad but I expected better. The food was just okay. The cucumber salad tasted a little weird. I had shrimp tempura and spider maki. Not terrible but I've had better. Iced tea is awful.
(3)Verena P.
I miss living close to Thai Oscar as if go there about once a month. My favorite dish was the classic pad Thai, which was always well prepared. They have a few sushi options as well, and the fish is always fresh and tasty. I like their Japanese section of the menu as well where I always ordered the huge ramen bowls with tempura vegetables and shrimp.
(4)Manny G.
New to the area, I'm trying all (6 or 7) of the Thai restaurants on Western. I really wanted to like this place, and the people seemed nice, but the food beyond missed the mark for me. All three dishes we ordered were bland. Pad Thai - The whole thing stuck together in one big clump. There was little to no sauce, so it was like eating dry noodles. Also, I don't think they thoroughly washed their Chinese broccoli before serving, as I got a mouthful of grit when I took a bite of one. It was like chewing a pinch of sand. Pad See Ew - No sweetness or thickness to their sauce. And I think they reused their wok a few too many times. Tasted extremely burned. Green Curry - No flavor and too spicy. I can take heat. I love heat. But green curry is traditionally supposed to be sweeter and milder. This was flavorless with just spice.
(2)Kat L.
This place really sank in comparison with how I used to view them. Thai Oscar used to be a gem of a hole-in-the-wall, just outside Lincoln Square. I just don't think they can keep up with the other competition in the area. A Thai/sushi spot, this used to be a great dinner option for a couple or group who can't agree on what Asian cuisine to opt for. I was the first diner of dinner service on a Tuesday. One person manning the restaurant. The waitress seemed very confined when I ordered Tekka maki (a tuna roll) with a side of spicy mayo, rather than a spicy tuna roll. I don't necessarily like scallion overkill in a spicy tuna roll. And I love the simplicity. Small roll, seaweed, tuna, bam. instant yum, right? But i was given a massive roll with overkill on the rice. The tuna was warm, and I questioned the temperature safety. It didn't taste fresh. I was given wooden chopsticks. Ones that they reuse, and it had a powdery residue, probably from drying. I question sterility. If a place wants reusable, I feel steel or plastic is safer. My tuna roll and shrimp tempura came out within 10 minutes from ordering. 15 minutes after, they were still working on my spicy scallop. I had to ask them to box it to-go. By this time, it was only me and one other diner in the restaurant. They boxed my spicy scallop upside down. It was 4 large honking sushi pieces, also with overkill on the rice. Definitely didn't validate being a $9 roll. Sadly, i don't think i'll be returning back for more.
(2)Ashley C.
This place is conveniently located across the street from my therapist. I go once a week - it's that good! The staff is always so polite and very accommodating. Great lunch special and happy portions. I usually leave with a snack portion of my pad thai to go.
(5)Patrick T.
When we called to place a delivery order, the woman on the phone said 'Very busy, call back in 5 minutes. Bye bye', then hung up on us. Haven't they ever heard of manners (or a hold button)? So much for us ever ordering from here again.
(1)Julianne T.
I've been familiar with Thai Oscar since I was a kid. My friend's grandma used to work here so I've always had my share of some dishes. I always order delivery. I haven't been inside since I was kid so I don't know if they remodeled inside or how the service is now. I've been ordering sushi from here a lot. The prices are not bad at all! The spider roll and shrimp tempura roll are my favorites! And the crab Rangoon, it is love. The wrapper is light and crispy, and the filling is a little sweet. Delivery is pretty quick. My food always arrives hot, even my sushi rolls are pretty warm lol. Their delivery guy is really nice. There was a time when my drink spilled a lite bit and he offered to get me a new one, free of charge. I told him not to worry about it and he wanted to make sure I was okay. Delivery or dine-in, you should definitely check this place out!
(4)Melissa A.
This is a decent Thai restaurant. The first time I visited I had the house salad and cashew chicken. The salad was heavy on the ginger but the cashew chicken was flavorful and I enjoyed it. On my second visit (this time we used a Groupon), I tried the cucumber salad and pad thai with chicken. The cucumber salad had a very sweet sauce/dressing. The pad thai was done well. It's not the best I've ever had but I can't really complain. It came with a good portion of chicken and it also had some tofu mixed in. My husband had the tom yum soup and cashew beef the first time we went and liked both enough to order them again on our second visit. The restaurant was pretty empty both times we visited and we had good service each time as well. The atmosphere isn't anything special but the prices are really great and I'm sure we'll be back for more!
(4)Khanh N.
What a waste of money ! Ordered chicken satay, papaya salad, Tom kha, tiger beef, and chicken wrap for my husband's bday. The portion were ridiculously small, the food were big disappointment. Chicken wrap: no taste, just very bland. Papaya salad: not fresh, very small portion. Chicken satay: chicken was just alright, nothing special, but the peanut sauce was too thick. Tiger beef: what a joke! Tasteless, and chewy..Tom kha: far below par, who the heck puts cabbage in tom kha soup? I ordered extra spicy, but the soup turns out sweeet like dessert. I asked for the Mgr to address this, and the girl said MGR is not in today. Seriously? I thought Mgr is required to be present at all time ?
(1)Adriana G.
We went there on a Friday night . We order Crab Rangoon , Shrimp Tempura, California Mali & Phai Thai . Everything was delicious. Good Service !!! First time there and.we loved it
(4)Yanyao N.
There are 4 Thai restaurants within a block of my house. Opart is one of them. Thai Oscar is another. I have yet to visit Spoon or Rosded. Thai Oscar fits in nicely when you don't want to deal with the craziness of weeknights at Opart, or when you want a little bit of sushi alongside deep fried Thai appetizer deliciousness. The service is so ridiculously friendly, though, some nights it can be a bit slow. The sushi is decent - I usually stick to the salmon nigiri and maki with scallops. The spicy Thai beef noodle soup is good for those cold nights where you don't want to make the trek to Argyle - not the same thing at all, I know, but spicy and brothy when that's what you need. The tom yum fried rice is also great, and not something I've seen at other places. It is BYOB, sandwiched in between 2 liquor stores (isn't my neighborhood awesome?).
(4)Matt H.
The sushi is good but the crab rangoon is amazing! Best I've ever had. You know that prefect, light, crispy consistency of fresh tortilla chips at a good Mexican restaurant? It's like that with the crab rangoon.
(4)Bianca G.
We have not been here in quite a long time.... Years5-6.. Ordered 2 sushi tools and the vegetable dish. The sushi was warm the chicken vegetable was cold! The ginger smelled like a sour dish rag! $40 down the drain. A night in the bathroom just waiting to happen!! Not for the faint of heart!!!
(1)Jackie M.
Which one Thai Oscar or Opart - who's got over +400 reviews on yelp! Let me preface this that I was meeting some out of town friends on college budgets - read, code for cheap. If I can save a buck fifty, I'll take a chance and boy was I glad we decided on coming to Thai Oscar instead. The pad thai and peanut sauce noodles are amazing. I tend to prefer Thai food on the sweeter side. Crab rangoon is full of cream cheese. Veggie eggroll - ehhh, I will pass on those next time, a varied list of interesting items on the menu and the price is right! It's even better now that I can order online for take out. One small caveat, the AC is pretty weak inside, which they had the door propped open. Along with dark wood carved polynesian-esque walls, I prefer to think this is to make it feel like we really are IN Thailand and in many ways it did!
(4)Heather K.
I've been going to this place since I moved to LS over four years ago. I always have great meals here and I love the owners! What's great? What isn't! Pad Thai, pad seu, fried rice, curry dishes, red snapper, garlic chicken, and all sushi options. Help support this smaller Thai restaurant that is close to one that always gets more kuddos and I didn't think they should.
(5)August B.
Located on a strip I refer to as "Thai Town." In my former life, I knew the owner, still do but the relationship has changed...anyway the service is great. The food was really good and worth a visit or delivery. Delivery seems to be how they draw their business...
(4)Chris G.
We were on our way to a nearby cooking class about spices and decided to pop into Thai Oscar with a bottle of red since it sits underneath the CTA brown line Western stop. Chicago has a plethora of great Thai food restaurants and I've been to a lot of them, but Thai Oscar truly stands out. The dining room is warm and friendly, the service is graceful and the food outstanding. We ordered the duck curry with pineapple, tomato, coconut milk, chili paste and the Kao Soy which has yellow noodles, onion, coconut milk and curry paste and is topped with fresh onion, green onion, cilantro, crispy noodles and touch of lime. Thai Oscar was well worth a trek across the city.
(4)Bill M.
I probably screwed up my own dining experience at Thai Oscar on a recent weeknight. I ordered a noodle dish that is usually served spicy, but I asked them to tone it down. What I received was a noodle dish with chicken and veggies, but basically stripped of any flavor. My friend enjoyed her eggplant dish a bit more. I was really envious of the great beer choices that other diners brought in, so at least Thai Oscar draws customers with good BYOB taste. More taste than my noodle dish.
(3)Sabrina R.
I came for the first time while looking for a BYOB restaurant. It was Ok, and I would try give them another go if I'm in the neighborhood. The crab rangoon were really great. Just the right shell to filling ratio, and the filling was very flavorful. The papaya salad was a bit salty, but still good. There's a fine line when between being sweet and too sweet. Unfortunately the cashew chicken that I ordered was just a bit too sweet for my taste, and I wouldn't order it again. The atmosphere was nice, not too crowded, and for me BYOB is always a plus. The service and the wait staff were great.
(3)David K.
I stopped in here with a friend recently for a quick lunch. It was pretty empty so we got a table really quickly. There was a lot to choose from on their lunch special menu, which is nice. Some places don't have as many choices which was nice, which is how I was able to get Pad Se Ew with BBQ Pork! The food also came with crab rangoon, yum! I eat... a lot of Thai food, and by my standards, Thai Oscar was good but not great. The Pad Se Ew was tasty, but not as flavorful as I wanted, and there wasn't enough broccoli! The crab rangoon were tasty, but they came with the sweet dipping sauce already on them. I'm a huge fan of the sauce, but I like to control my own destiny when it comes to dipping, so that's how I feel about that! The service was great--I actually saw the waitress run out into the street to give other customers their umbrella that they had left behind, which was sweet to see happen. It was a tasty lunch, good price, but not over-the-top amazing. Definitely good though and worth checking out.
(3)CJ S.
Even better the second time around!
(4)Deborah C.
We used to go to Thai oscar practically once a week. Decided to give it a try tonight since we hadn't been back in a long while, but wasn't very happy with our meal. Waitress was attentive and pleasant but the food was a big disappointment. We ordered a variety of maki: the veggie tempura maki was swimming in spicy mayo (way too gloppy); the shrimp tempura maki was drenched in too much eel sauce and it didn't really look like shrimp in it. The futo maki was filled with giant hunks of crab stick and not as "veggie" as I'd expected. We also ordered the spicy scallop maki and it was just gross. I've had this in many restaurants but this did not resemble anything I've ordered before. It looked terrible and tasted terrible. I sent it back, but they didn't take it off the bill. We also ordered some other items: chicken gyoza, norimaki, Thai Oscar chicken fried rice. These were passable but not great. We went back because we had a Groupon. We didn't realize it was not good for Sundays but they kindly let us use it (we were the only people there when we came in). Sadly though, based on our orders tonight, we won't be going back.
(2)Melanie S.
Thai Oscar is yet another restaurant on the stretch of Western Avenue that already has several other Thai places. What sets this apart is that is also serves sushi. While I didn't try the sushi, after having such a good experience with the Thai portion of the menu, I would definitely come back to try the sushi as well. I placed a carryout order and the food was ready, as promised, in 15 minutes. The place itself is very warm and inviting and the staff was very friendly. I ordered my mainstay appetizers of egg rolls and chicken satay, both of which were better than average, and the accompanying peanut sauce was fantastic. For entrees, we shared the pepper steak and pork fried rice. The pepper steak had high-quality beef (if you're an experienced Thai food eater, you know that sometimes the meat can be sketchy) and there was a bounty of tri-colored peppers, mushrooms, pea pods, water chestnuts, and tomatoes in a light and tasty sauce. I was also pleasantly surprised that the fried rice had barbecued pork in it instead of regular pork. It made the dish quite savory. I adore Thai food and enthusiastically recommend Thai Oscar!
(4)Rae S.
if i eat thai food, this is the place i go. Great food, great price, crab rag goon sauce is to die for. I would highly recommend the pad thai. It does come with tofu in it even if you order a meat, but i really like the extra flavor it gets. Try it, you wont regret it!
(5)Kim E.
i ordered thai oscar via grubhub for delivery. i ordered four rolls and shrimp tempura. when i opened the box, there wasn't any shrimp tempura. i thought, okay, no big deal, accidents happen. i called thai oscar to explain the situation and to see if they could deliver the missing tempura or just refund it. the wicked lady on the phone INSISTED i had the tempura, even though i definitely did not. she argued with me for a few minutes as if i was an idiot and didn't know what tempura was. i order an embarrassing amount of sushi cuisine, i know what tempura is, lady. i contacted grubhub and even their customer service couldn't get through to this lady. she refused to listen to them! thankfully grubhub gave me a $10 coupon (which was super nice of them!) but i definitely won't be using it for thai oscar. HORRIBLE customer service. ps: the unagi is soggy and bland.
(1)John H.
Food tasted old. Miso soup smelled like old fish so I didn't even want to taste it, the smell just put me off. The beef teriyaki was barely edible, the meat was tough as shoe leather and the sauce clearly had come out of a jar. Not planning to go back.
(2)Susan P.
fresh sushi, good size rolls.
(4)Kevin C.
Thai food you have done it again. Thank you. Waking up in the early afternoon on Saturday with my stomach grumbling from last nights whiskey drinks calls for you only, Thai cuisine. I ordered online via foodler.com which was a breeze, 15% off for first time orders, and the delivery was on time. My standard issue order is Pad Thai and Crab Rangoon but when ordering for two you need something a bit more. Not being too adventurous we also ordered Cashew Chicken with veggies (cashew nuts, peapods, pineapple, straw mushroom, bell pepper topped with dried hot pepper) which was excellent. The Crab Rangoon was above average compared most places but the Pad Thai was on par. One thing I thought was unique was picking the spiciness level of each dish (Mild, Medium, Spicy or 911). Maybe all Thai places do it but this place made me aware of it. The medium cleared out the sinuses and made me sweat a little bit - I don't want to know what the 911 would do. I have eaten at a handful of Thai places in the City and felt this place was above par, hence 4 stars.
(4)Rosanna M.
Just did carry-out. Absolutely loved the Pad Thai! I think they make the best Pad Thai I EVER HAD!! I will definitly go back for more thai dishes! hmmmm...yum!
(5)Jocelyn G.
I came here during the early afternoon hours. I got there just before 3 pm, which is when their lunch specials end. There was another couple in there when I got there, and they left. I think almost the whole time we were there, no one else came in to eat. Just one guy came for a pick up. I ordered the Yellow Curry with Beef and the Spicy Salmon Maki. The Yellow Curry with Beef was absolutely delicious. Maybe because I don't really have anything else to compare it to. I always thought curry had an overwhelming taste and smell. But it was just delish. It had beef, onions, potatoes, in this yellow curry sauce. It had me on the first taste! It came with a little bowl of white rice. I'm not much of a rice eater, but when there is some sauce that I can mix with it, then I'll eat it. The food wasn't too watery and wasn't too thick. It was just right. The Spicy Salmon Maki was all right. Again, I don't really have anything to compare it to. I wouldn't know good sushi if it hit me in the eyeball. But to me, sushi is sushi. LOL. The miso soup was good. It came with the Beef Curry. The cubes of tofu were softer and smaller than how I have had it at other places. Overall, I think the food was delicious. I would definitely go there again. Especially for the curry dishes! So I got all that for around $11. Which isn't so bad!
(3)Pam D.
I was torn between 3 and 4 stars. I opted for 4 because I order from here quite a bit, so I guess I am a fan. I almost always order the sushi combination. the sushi is decent and sometimes sitting watching tv with a plate of sushi is perfection. I have some construction workers at the house doing a little remodeling, so I didn't want to go out and it was just perfect to have some sushi and watch Hawaii 5-O. I also got an order of Kao Soy for Christopher for supper. He loves that stuff. The lunch specials are a pretty good deal, and run from 11:00 till 3:00. Everything in the delivery comes well packed, nicely presented and portions are not skimpy. So, in the end, I got my sushi fix and all is right with the world. Book 'um Danno!!!!
(4)Elizabeth C.
I chose Thai Oscar over the other Thai restaurants on this stretch of Western because they also serve Japanese/sushi on the menu- and I don't plan on trying any of the other Thai places either bc I'm sure that Thai Oscar has to be the best! My favorites are the tom yum soup, pad thai, any of the maki... & the ginger chicken!!
(5)Holly M.
So...just ordered from here...and the delivery guy just stormed off after screaming at me through the phone. I'm not sure if he dialed the wrong number or if the connection just wasn't working, but...wow...this is probably the worst behavior I've ever experienced after ordering from Grub Hub. I saw an email that said the delivery guy was attempting to call my phone. This email came at 7:30 and when I saw it, it was 7:32. So, feeling bad, I called the number given to me and the delivery guy picked up, already irate and yelling-"I've been outside forever!! I have kids to feed, you're not the only one waiting on this food! You're making everyone wait!! I've been calling and calling!!!" As I tried to respond, he promptly hung up on me. Actually feeling afraid to exit my building, I saw a rage-filled man glaring at me from my front gate. As soon as he laid eyes on me, he lifted his hands in the air, obviously signalling that he clearly thought I was an idiot for making him wait for two minutes. I almost thought about turning around and going back inside, his face red as he paced furiously outside my apartment, muttering and shaking his head. Approaching him, he shoved a receipt at me, still shaking his head and groaning angrily, demanding that I sign. A few, "I don't believe this" comments clearly coming out of his mouth. When I took the food, he turned without a thank you and muttered a few more angry words, growling and shaking his head. I'm still shaking from the experience. Definitely will not be ordering from here again and will definitely not be choosing the option to put tip on my card from now on.
(1)Hollie D.
Before Christmas, my boyfriend and I went to the Lincoln Square Kindlmarket (which was really lame) with his mother, sister, and cousin. After having some gross steamed hot dogs at the event, we wanted something satisfying. I suggested Opart, which I love, but the boy's sister suggested Thai Oscar, which is just a couple doors down. I was hesitant at first because the place was empty, but I shouldn't have worried. It filled up quickly. I also worry about places that are Thai or Chinese or Korean that also offer sushi on the menu; it's generally an afterthought, and not very good. I was pleasantly surprised by the sushi here too. We split the caterpillar roll, which was very good. For my entree, I had Prik Prow Noodles with BBQ Pork. It was excellent. It was not too spicy, and unlike the same dish I've had from other places, this was not overly greasy. There was also a decent portion of vegetables and meat compared with the noodles, rather than an overabundance of the latter. Would like to go back...maybe next time I'm on the North side with no supper plans.
(4)Torry H.
I am not kidding when I say we order dinner from here multiple times per week. Love the yakisoba noodles and they have nice, fresh tasting sushi.
(5)Amie C.
I have been obsessed with Thai food over the last two months. I had a living social take out deal and grabbed food on my way home from work (had takeout). Super yummy crab Rangoon! Chicken pad woonsen has become my new favorite Bc of the small tasty noodles. It was decent, not the best I've had. I'd definitely check them out again if in the area or if I happened upon another deal.
(3)Chris F.
Worst spring roll I have ever had. Ate two pieces, dropped $5 on the table and walked out
(1)Jami K.
I was having a birthday and wanted to have a quick dinner before heading out to Karaoke. Since I had been in Thai Oscar on a previous Saturday where there was a birthday party, I figured that they could accomodate my group. Since the invitation was pretty casual, I had no idea how many people be showing up. I under-estimated and said 8....when 16 people showed up over the course of an hour, I felt a little guilty, but Thai Oscar was gracious, accomodating and very quick with the food. They even brought out a custard dessert with a candle. It was very sweet. Surprisingly, the most delicious thing that I tried was the Yakisoba noodles. I will definitely have to get them again. Thanks Thai Oscar for turning my counting snafu into an very enjoyable dinner!
(4)Alex R.
This quaint little restaurant can be found just under the "L" in Lincoln Square. The dining area is pretty small, but the place is nicely decorated. The waitresses are always friendly here and provide adequate service. The food is definitely delicious. I'm very picky about steak, and their pepper steak delivers. It comes with deliciously tender (not chewy) steak, and other delicious veggies such as mushrooms. I've also had their duck soup which was surprisingly delicious, and I look forward to coming back to try more of their dishes. The price is cheap and the portions are decently sized. A bonus is that they offer sushi as well, if you're in the mood for that. I'd definitely stop in to try this place out.
(4)Candice P.
I love this place for those lazy take out nights, it's fast, inexpensive, and good. The pad see ew is delicious and I just can't get enough. They have fast delivery and I have never been disappointed. They are also in grub hub so you can order on line!
(4)Julee M.
Thai Oscar is one of my favorite places to order delivery from. I like that they have a great selection of Thai food but they also have sushi and other Japanese food which is hard to find for delivery - and it's damn good! Overall the menu has very unique offerings that you aren't going to find at other delivery places. First off their sushi is better than you expect from some place that delivers. It's not the best I've ever had but it's certainly good. They have a good selection and the fish tastes fresh. Their teriyaki sauce is out of this world and I highly recommend trying it. My favorite dish however is the Indonesian Noodles with shrimp. Oh and they deliver bubble tea! YAY! I've ate in the restaurant a couple times and it's nothing fancy but it's cute and the service is good, but for me the real attraction is the food of course. That outweighs any lack of ambiance. Go try it now!
(4)Beebe G.
My husband and I met a friend here for dinner Saturday night. We also had a gift certificate to use. It's an adorable little place. We started with appetizers - shrimp pot stickers and leek dumplings which were very good. My husband and I had Japanese and ordered steak terriyaki don entree but it was not as appetizing as we anticipated. My friend had a vegetarian dish which she liked. The the wait staff was very friendly, courteous and attentive. And we liked that it was BYOB. Not sure if I would come back; if I do I would like to try their sushi. I was eyeing the various orders around me and they all looked appealing.
(2)Katrina M.
Ok. I have a go-to place for Thai, but one night I decided to order food here for delivery, just to try a different place. Uhh, I totally regretted it. I only ordered two things: crab rangoons and the sweet basil fried rice. First of all, the crab rangoons are way overpriced for such small, fragile things. The wonton wrapper they use for 'em are paper thin too. The rice was okay. It could've had more flavor and a lil less mush. Sorry. I should've just ordered food from Thai Valley or Manee Thai :|
(3)Carol H.
I love this place. The food is reasonably-priced, well-made and the decor is attractive and comfortable. It's located 1/2 block from the Western Avenue Brown line El and just a block and a half from the Davis Theater, so fits in well with a night out at the movies. I eat here frequently and have never had a bad meal. The ginger chicken, chicken oscar and the tom ka kai soup with chicken are my favorites as well as their beef salad. There is also a sushi menu, if that is your preference. Take-out is also available. There is just one little annoyance about this restaurant, and that is that one must make an effort to firmly close the door behind them when they come in and leave the restaurant. Hardly anyone does that, so the door will remain slightly ajar allowing drafts to come in.
(5)E P.
I used to come here as a regular, but recently stopped going. I'm only assuming that their business is going down hill because the quality of food drastically declined. Fish is NEVER supposed to reek of a pungent odor! It was definitely not fresh and I did not finish my meal. My friend had Lard Na & the wide noodles were stale. If you are looking for Thai I'd recommend Spoon, Royal Thai, or Opart.
(1)Casey M.
Thai Oscar is great, quick, friendly and delicious. I order from them all the time and each time the food is good. I generally go for the Thai dishes and I am never disappointed. My favorite dish is the Pad-See-Ew. Tender wide noodles, your choice of protein and broccoli all stir-fried is a dark soy sauce and you can choose the amount of heat when ordering too. The soda pop is always cold and the appetizers are always fresh and come steaming hot. Thai Oscar is on Foodler and they offer a free can of soda pop if you spend $10. Get on Foodler and order from Thai Oscar now!
(4)Carolynne M.
Quite possibly the most disgusting tofu ever in my mouth. Ordered the Pad Kee Mao which is a flat rice noodle with cabbage, carrot, hot pepper, sweet basil, bean sprout, broccoli & bell pepper. Added tofu. Renee C ordered Pad See Eiw with tofu. We also ordered fried tofu, spring rolls and leek dumplings. The same fried tofu that was in our appetizer was also thrown into both of our entrees. Fried tofu? In a noodle dish? mmm, no. I might have even forgiven this weird aspect had the tofu not been tough and dry. Awful. Then we noticed the spring rolls were not wrapped in that glassine-wrapper that they normally come in. They were instead made out of the stuff that I think things like egg rolls and crab rangoon are made of before they get fried. It was very thick and doughy and took away from the light interior flavours of the roll. This would have been a one star review, but I have to give a second star for the pleasantness of the girl taking my order, and how the order was ready and waiting when I came in to pick it up. Maybe the Japanese food here is the better option? I dont know but with Spoon almost next door, I know I wont be coming back here for the Thai portion!
(2)E Z.
We order lunch from them very often. Delivery is relatively prompt. Had the Veggie fried rice today was very good. Prices are reasonable. Sushi is very fresh and good.
(4)Liz O.
This is a GREAT neighborhood joint. I've never had a bad experience in the 4 years that I've been a costumer. Its affordable, good food, BYOB, great location, quiet dining room and delivers. I highly recommend for a nice chill night out with friends or for a night on the couch!
(4)jen m.
With the larger and more well known Opart Thai just doors away from here, it's easy to miss this quaint spot. The decor is reminiscent of a Thai log cabin, if there are such things in Thailand. I'm wary when it comes to restaurants trying to serve 2 different cuisines, they tend to excel in one and completely suck at the other. But I can honestly say, they are on point with both the Thai menu and the Japanese menu. No complaints about the Pattaya and Kroong Thep makis, standard makis. But the basil chicken has got to be one of the best I've had. It was a perfect mixture of sweetness and spiciness. Also tried the pad khee mao and pad ped with red snapper (they are the only Thai restaurant that I have encountered that gives you a choice between a whole red snapper and pieces of red snapper), both yummy in the tummy. No mean looks, no reminders from the staff when we stayed past closing. I'm sure they did breathe a sigh of relief when we did finally leave. The food hit the spot so good that I decided to come back the next day for dinner again!
(4)Stephanie S.
We order from Thai Oscar using seamless.com . Our experience was great! The food arrived fairly quickly (35 minutes) and was hot and delicious. The menu was diverse and included both sushi and Thai food, which was nice for us. We will definitely eat again.
(4)George A.
We've been here a few times and always had great food.
(4)Trevor S.
Decent. Problem is all the competition in the area. Otherwise, good stir fry options and service was adequate.
(3)Natalie A.
I know this place has mixed reviews. We went because we love thai, had some friends in town, and husband scored a $3 gift certificate worth $25 on restaurant.com . We don't live nearby, so parking on a weekday at 7:30pm was a little rough- we walked a couple blocks from a residential street lugging both kiddos, diaper bag, etc., and it's not exactly a warm night, but that could be anywhere in the city- When we got there the place had a couple other tables filled, but seated the 4 adults and 2 toddlers quickly- they had ample high chairs (Spoon down the street has 1 for customers to fight over) and seemed more kid friendly than most store-front thai places we frequent (later confirmed throughout the night.) Honestly, I haven't gotten out much lately, but I thought the food was great! We ordered the crab rangoon based on suggestions here on yelp, and all 6 of us enjoyed it- even the 2 year old and 9 month old. They had really reasonably priced "side" items for the kids- steamed rice, plain noodles, steamed veggies- the waitress brought out the kids' food with the appetizers to we could start feeding them right away (read: THOUGHTFUL!) We also got a bowl of Tom Kha soup to share (enough for the four of us adults to have a sampling of) and 2 of us were pregnant so we got an order of the shrimp tempura maki so we could all try the sushi and we all raved about it and fought over the last piece. My husband gets the Rama Chicken everywhere he goes- he said it was right on par with Royal Thai (our current favorite spot.) The Thai Iced Tea he ordered was the best he's had. I ordered salmon teriyaki- it came with a miso soup I didn't really care for, a small side salad with that yummy orange-colored ginger dressing, and some rice. The fish was GREAT- I loved the black sesame seeds sprinkled on top and it was cooked to perfection- just the right amount of sauce too. I get kinda bored with Thai, and loved that I could order a Japanese dish. Our friends enjoyed their noodle dishes. We got out of there for under $80, and with the gift certificate, under $60. We'll be back! Side note- if you have a toddler, ask to sit near the fish tank- you may actually get to eat your food!
(4)Lauren D.
A group of us from Gracie Barra Chicago and Tutaj BJJ stopped into this restaurant after an event. It was early for dinner (4-ish), and the place was fairly empty. The service was quick, and all the food was EXCELLENT. We ordered Thai (Pad Kee Mao was phenomenal) and Japanese/Sushi dishes, and they were all some of the best we have had. We will definitely be heading back!
(5)Brandon W.
Eh, I've had better. The reason for the 3 stars is because they are slow, and the food was cold when delivered. Cold to the point where the Pad Thai became a damn solid brick of noodles. Not much sauce either. The spring rolls were ok - and served with a honey based sauce. Not the best eats I have ever had - but good. I wonder if dine in would be better as it seemed like the food probably sat around for a good 20 minutes before it was picked up to be delivered.
(3)Karen B.
the best in the city! the food is amazing, no complaints, the atmosphere is wonderful, you can go in jeans or get dolled up, and byob is a plus. its cheap!!! my husband and i did 4 appetizers and 2 meals for 40!!
(5)Lucy P.
As usual, I discovered Thai Oscar via restaurant.com . It wasn't very crowded, I think it was only us an one other table, around 8pm on a weekend. Since they didn't have soy paper (I'm not a huge fan of Nori) I ordered my stand by Pad, See Ew. It was pretty below average. Not in a spit it out type of below average, but in a just didn't encourage you to keep eating. I've gotten Pad See Ew at a lot of different restaurants and this one was just not that great. My husband had ordered some sushi roll that slips my mind at the moment, which he didn't finish. I decided to take a stab at it, and to my pleasant surprise, I didn't think the Nori tasted like fish food (like it smells, I don't actually eat fish food). I took down a bunch of pieces of that! My husbands dish was average he thought. Although on my own accord we probably wouldn't go back, we've been told by friends that there are some things on the menu to die for. So I'm going to give this a 3 star rating, it wasn't awful, I could eat it, it just didn't stand out. Hopefully when we go back to try the awesome items, I'll be able to give some more stars. Our waitress was very nice, no complaints about the restaurant itself.
(3)Mark G.
After getting home at 6:45, taking the doggie for a long walk, then getting a chance to relax for 30 minutes, we realized we were hungry. A few long stares into the freezer and fridge quickly let us realize we were not about to start making food at 8:30pm. "What a bout grilled cheese sandwiches and soup?", I suggested to a less than uproarious response. "Want to just order something?" she suggests. With quickness I reply "Sure. What do you feel like eating?" "Hmm I dunno." We had seen those grubhub.com ads on the Brown Line, so I suggested she check it out. After sorting by neighborhood and cuisine, we clicked through a few menus until coming to settle on Thai Oscar. Ordering was seamless; we figured Crab Rangoon, California Maki, and the Garlic Chicken would be more than enough for the two of us, and it was! Crab Rangoons were a bit smaller than expected but were tasty! The chicken was satisfactory; it wasn't mind blowing but it was far from questionable...so, satisfactory. It came with plenty of peppers and onions, perhaps a few too many onions but that's not really the biggest problem in the world. The sauce in the chicken dish was tasty and mixed well with the rice. The maki was good as well; nothing to write home about but it was satisfactory. The best part of the experience was the delivery. We ordered at about 9:00pm and had our food by 9:32pm, after initially being told it would take an hour. Score. The place is only a few blocks down Western from us, but still, score. I would try another few dishes from this place another time, definitely.
(3)Vic C.
Good food. Crab Rangoon was light and tasty. Tom Yum soup was delicious and the Pad Prik was good. Good portions, friendly service and laid back atmosphere.
(4)Paul B.
So... In a city with almost as many Thai joints as there are Irish bars - Thai Oscar needs to elevate their game. The interior is cool - picture if metal gods Man-o-War had a corporate headquarters. The wood is all dark and rustic - but there is a certain vitality to the place. The chairs are sturdy - I cite that because I am kind of fat and I appreciate chairs that don't wince under my weight. That is where the good stuff ends. After a discussion about the menu - I ordered Pad Thai. This should be pretty standard for a Thai restaurant. She brought me Woonsen Pad Thai which isn't a lot different (the noodles are different). I was very clear that I wanted Pad Thai, but that wasn't in the cards. Also the portion was tiny. I don't expect everyone to have plus-sized servings. I rarely expect adult sized servings these days. This serving was one noodle past tapas. It was minuscule. I had an egg roll (not a good idea - tasteless and greasy) before my dinner and was not satisfied when I left. There are too many really good Thai joints to eat at to make this a place I will ever return to... This Oscar will make YOU a grouch!
(2)Bret S.
This is, quite simply, the most delicious Thai food that I've ever had, and their Japanese cuisine is excellent as well. I wish it was closer to our house so I could go as often as possible.
(5)Juanita M.
I really enjoy the food at Thai Oscar. There is never a long wait, and the service you receive is wonderful. This is one of my favorite to get together spots with my friends. It is never too crowded. I love their Veggie Tempura Maki and their Chicken Terri Don! Their prices are also super great.
(4)Sarah L.
I wanted Thai last night so my guy and I ventured over to Lincoln Square. We stopped in Opart and there was a line out the door with at least a 20 minute wait. When we heard that, we turned around and walked a few feet down to Thai Oscar. We walked in and there was NO one in this little restaurant. We were seated by the windows and had prompt and friendly service! I had chicken pad see eiw and it was pretty good! Hubs had cashew chicken and he liked his as well. They put a lot of hot peppers on his plate. The portions here are not huge, just right. They are doing portion control so you don't binge eat on yummy Thai food. This place is also BYOB. Check out Thai Oscar if you find yourself waiting for a table to Opart. You will not be disappointed!
(4)liz d.
So I spent $40 for dinner for 2, carry out. It reminded me of my own stir fry, which I have never been good at. No flavor! The chicken satay was so chemically marinated that it was falling apart. The peanut sauce was, well really strange! The beef was really tough in the crying tiger, and the other beef entry was also non descript just grey. I check yelp reviews for resturants that I want to try, I never have written one. I can only say save your $!
(1)Scott B.
This is really some rancid crap! The Thai is mediocre at best, and the sushi is just down right disgusting! For some reason, only when starving, and simultaneously craving sushi and Thai, I call Thai Oscar. Someone please punch me in my face for acting in such an irresponsible manner! The eating experience almost reminds me of back in the day when I would eat fast food and feel lethargic and nauseous 30 minutes after consumption. YUCK! *In all fairness, they are very polite, the food is inexpensive, and the delivery has always been prompt----BUT, if you want good Thai, Opart & Royal Thai are 2 options that are far more superior than this joint. I must end this review because my belly hurts now----think I'm going to puke...
(2)Shakeia T.
BYOB. Sushi. Close to home. Great service. The end. :) Ok seriously, I love that I can walk to this place and bring my favorite bottle of wine and eat some sushi. It's not crowded and the table's are pretty roomy, too. The staff was very friendly and accomodating, which is always, always good.
(3)Jessica A.
ok my boyfriend and I always go here the servers are very nice, clean inside parking can suck sometimes have had lots of things on the menu the garlic chicken is really good, sushi is very good, tempra is good pretty good try it out
(4)Amanda Z.
Last night I was in a foul mood...one that could only be cheered with some Thai-food loving. I love that they always quote delivery time at 45 minutes to an hour, but they are always to my door in about 30 minutes. Word to the wise: spring rolls are not great here. I had some last night and they tasted old...blech. Crab rangoon is yum. Get that instead. Pad Thai with tofu is my cure to foul moods. And it worked quite well last night. A little chili sauce added a bit of spice and made me feel all warm and fuzzy, just the way comfort food is supposed to make you feel.
(4)Chris A.
I am a thai food fan, and am always searching for a Thai restaurant that is ... 1) laid back, yet has a classy ambience 2) affordable yet not cheap 3) has a diverse menu Thai Oscar doses a good job in my three areas! I particularly liked their Cashew Fried Rice... a simple yet good dish. Also, it wasn't a ridiculous heaping portion. For you Sushi lovers, they have a nice diverse Sushi menu. Give this place a try. I personally will be a repeat visitor!
(4)m m.
when i don't feel like eating thai here, i order the sushi. YUM!
(4)Isaac H.
This place pretty much has delivered sushi monopolized for the area. Their sushi is pretty consistent throughout, as I've been ordering from them for well over a year. But there are a few things that change here and there, possibly due to shift changes in staff. Overall, their sushi is decent, especially for the price. Their entrees are pretty spot on, providing a great variety of food. One gripe, as I'm guessing it's their way of being cost effective, is the smaller serving of the Teriyaki Chicken since a few months ago. My girlfriend loves the shit out of it, but recently found herself disappointed with the meager serving of both chicken and rice. Dine in, out, or delivery. They get four stars for consistency, fair prices, and friendly staff.
(4)Esther A.
It sounds like damning it with faint praise, I know, but on a night when I'm craving sushi, but I'm too lazy to get on public transportation and go to one of my more favorite places, Thai Oscar has filled the bill with totally adequate take-out sushi. This sushi isn't going to change your life or give you a foodgasm or anything, but it won't make you sick either. The individual pieces are often actually a little too substantial for my taste--maybe I'd be grateful if the quality was better, but as it is, an oversized slab of just OK salmon or tuna is kind of repellant. I've had better luck with the rolls--I like their salmon skin maki and the spicy tuna maki has real bite. Prices are reasonable and the order is usually ready for pick-up in about 20 minutes.
(3)Jess P.
Thai food? My fave Sushi and thai? A pairing made in heaven. BYOB? Sweet! Restaurant.com gift certificate so I can take my boyfriend and my mom out for her bday for less than $30? Sign me up! Sounds good, right? Wrong. So very wrong. We ordered some appetizers which were all very good. Crab rangoon, chicken satay, and a california roll. Trusty favorites. Then came dinner. I ordered what I get at every thai restaurant: ginger chicken. For some reason one of the pieces of chicken looked funny to me so I cut it open and it wasn't cooked all the way through. Sidenote: I have an unexplainable fear of undercooked chicken. So they recooked it and brought it back. It seemed like the same dish as before except smaller. Needless to say, I did't eat any of it and handed it off to my boyfriend that doubles as a garbage disposal. I stuck to white rice. All of the food also had the scent of pinesol. Additionally, it's been 4 days and I haven't eaten anything I haven't prepared myself or any meat or eggs. Do yourself a favor and walk a few doors north and spend a little mire money at Opart Thai. And always be weary of carpeted restaurants.
(1)M J.
Thai Oscar really disappointed me :( I was so excited to be able to order 2 of my fav worlds: Thai and Sushi.. Ordered Lard nar which was very tasteless and served with ....regular broccoli? doesn't it normally come with chinese broccoli, wider leaves? Then I had the shrimp tempura, nice generous portion but totally tasteless!!! The dip was in a 2oz cup and wasn't enough for the 5 tempura, i wish i had extra. The sushi was good, but not great to me.. maybe cuz i was so disappointed with the thai part... :(
(2)Melissa B.
I am so glad we found this place. Once again, thanks Yelp! I love cheap sushi, and my husband likes curry. Add two drinks, miso soups and the bill is less than $25! Wow. Also, the service is fine and I like the ambiance. What else can I say? The sushi's pretty good, and my husband LOVED his curry. Chances are we will make this a regular lunch option for us.
(4)Desiree K.
Wow, maybe it is the luck I have had in this place or the fact that I have gone here forever, well, forever meaning since they opened about 5-6 years ago, but I have never had a bad experience at Thai Oscar. Seriously. I have tried it all from the Thai menu to the Japanese menu, I like to order Crab Ragoon then get a spicy maki roll and finish it off with Lard Nar...or I get sea weed salad and salon teriyaki, I mean there's so many great combos that you can make with their Thai/Japanese menu that its hard to not find something from here to love. I only give it four stars because of two things 1. Portions- over the years their portions have become significantly smaller 2. Prices- despite their portions getting a lot smaller, their prices go up by ALOT. This bugs me because I have 4 versions of their menu at home and everytime I get there to pay for my take out its a totally different price then what I expected, I have even brought in my menus to show them, and they say, we're sorry, we have a new menu prices changed, then proceed to hand me a new menu with white out and new pen changed prices...interesting. So to "save the drama" because I really like their food and BYOB policy, I just eat in, this way I know up front what I will be paying and have no surprises. If you're in the area do check it out, I really hope you won't be disappointed.
(4)Parker L.
We ordered delivery from Thai Oscar the other night. It wasnt too bad, but I woldnt run back. We had the pad se ew, beef terriyaki, and chicken yakisoba. I found noodle dishes to be a bit overly salty and heavy on the grease, but the overall flavor was good. Beef Terriyaki, was just not there for me... the beef was oversweet and fatty, But overall it was ok, and maybe I need to try some different dishes.
(3)Chelsea R.
Thai Oscar, I love you! As I've stated before, I'm not a sushi fan. But my boy is, and he ADORES the sushi from here. I love them because they make the best damn chicken teriyaki I've ever had. YUM! Besides the great service, quick delivery, and delicious food, I have to also rave about the way they package their delivery. The chicken teriyaki is wrapped in foil, and marinates in a tasty teriyaki sauce- and the rice is wrapped separate! MAJOR PROPS. Food always arrives hot, rice is never dried out, it's fantastic. I highly recommend them for delivery. I've never actually eaten inside the restaurant, but I'm sure it's just as good. The only reason they get four stars and not five, is because they've recently cut back on the portions of chicken a bit. For the price, I'd like a little bit more meat- but thank god there's no extraneous veggies that I have to pick through to get to that delicious chicken.
(4)Catie P.
Best pad thai I've had in the city, BYOB with no corkage fee, and attentive staff! Right off the Western stop so very convenient location. Come to Thai Oscar instead of the hyped Opart Thai!
(5)Michelle S.
There are a bunch of Thai places all nearby this place & I have now been to all of them. This one was best! The service was way better than Spoon Thai. Food was good too :) Will be back
(4)Johanna C.
I've been going to Thai Oscar during their lunch hour for years. It is THE best time to go. The prices are great for that time of day ($6 - $8 before tax) and the lunch special includes an appetizer and your meal. The Thai Iced Coffee is priced right too ($1.50). I like ordering the Chicken Pad Thai, Sweet Basil Chicken, Thai Oscar Fried Rice and Cashew Chicken. My buddy loves the Pad See Ew. The appetizers are good (Crab Rangoon, Fried Tofu, Fried Fish "Nuggets"). I've only had sushi here once and it wasn't bad. They have a large selection of sushi and also a sushi lunch special which I have not tried. Perhaps it picks up in the evening...I like having sushi at places that are busy that way I know it is fresh! Lunch is usually not so busy so I pass. This place is very casual. It is a small place and comfy. Wooden ceilings and a variety of music plays on the stereo (once heard 93.9, another time heard some crazy Asian versions of the Mexican Hat Dance song). The service can be a hit or miss. The waitstaff is predominantly Asian so yes, sometime there is a bit of a language barrier. For the most part, I am usually in and out within 45 minutes when dining there which is ideal for me. I gotta say I like this place better than Spoon Thai. Opart is good too but is more expensive than going to Thai Oscar. By the way, they have "BYOC" (Bring Your Own Computer) for free Wi-Fi during mid-afternoon. Never seen anyone there with a computer but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do to get people in the house.
(4)ER J.
I've bounced around all the Lincoln Square Thai restaurants for years. Why do I not have any reviews? Well, it's usually just OK, which doesn't inspire me to write a review. Note: this review is based on Thai appetizers and sushi, so I can't speak for any hot entrees. My friend and I sat in the window. It was a pleasant rainy night, and the restaurant was about half full. What I really love is NO TELEVISION, NO BLARING LITE FM, NO FULL SPECTRUM FLUORESCENT LIGHTING-THANK YOU! (Sorry, but so many Thai restaurants have horrible ambiance) I guess it's been a long time since coming back here, but the warm, mellow atmosphere really made me feel at home. That and the comfy chairs. OK, enough rambling. We had three appetizers and I think 5 or 6 sushi rolls. Everything was incredibly fresh and flavorful. The servers were so cute and sweet, always refilling our water and clearing plates, as we ordered things in several rounds. I always have an uncontrollable response to great sushi- an audible moan/mmm sound. My friend hadn't seen me do this before, so she was cracking up. It could have been the combination of great conversation and the restaurant not being too busy, but when we left, we both really felt wonderful because we had enjoyed our meal so much. Maybe it seemed better because I've had nothing but mediocre meals lately. Service and food left me very happy, and I plan on not waiting so long to return.
(5)Lisa D.
I went there with some friends last night. It's BYOB, so my friends brought some wine. We had edamame and sushi. It was delicious and the people working there were so nice! Very friendly and polite. They were also very accomadating. We closed the place down but they didn't seem to mind. I would definately reccomend this place.
(4)Laura S.
I went here for dinner with two friends, because they were cold and didn't want to keep walking. I had hoped to continue down the road to some other spots, but it looked nice enough from the outside so we stopped. However, the minute I walked in, I was overwhelmed by a strong odor. I couldn't tell if it was a bad fish smell or deep fryer oil that needed to be changed, but I immediately wanted to leave and try somewhere else. Unfortunately, my friends didn't notice and decided we should stay. Weighing my options between ordering Thai and sushi, I decided the veggie sushi rolls would be the safest way to go. We also ordered tempura as a starter. My friends liked their meals well enough (Chicken Terriyaki bowl and Pad See Ew), so maybe my standards are too high; but I thought everything I had was sub-par. The tempura arrived quickly, but the color was majorly off. The breading had an orange tint rather than the pale tan I have become accustomed to getting. It was way to thick and heavy as well. It was more like a breading than a light fry. Additionally, it came with the smallest bowl of dipping sauce I have ever seen. I should have asked for more, but the three of us tried to share a saucer that couldn't have been more than half an ounce. Then for dinner, I ordered the veggie maki dinner. On the menu it said 18 pieces of sushi. No other description, but I like veggies well enough. When our dinners were brought out, I received the veggie maki roll. I explained to the waitress that I wanted the dinner not the roll. It seemed like there may have been a language gap, but I generally try to trust that if they are waiting tables they can get the job done. So I was surprised when she returned to the table with 2 additional veggie maki rolls. I decided not to complain because the menu had not been specific about what the veggie maki dinner was. Maybe it really is 18 pieces of the same roll. But most other restaurants give you a sampling of three or four rolls when you order a maki dinner. And to be honest, does anyone really want 18 pieces of the same roll for dinner? Then I tasted it. Second worst sushi I have ever had. (The first had rice that was barely cooked and was completely inedible.) The rice was gummy and clearly overdone. And there were dabs of about 6 different veggies inside the roll, causing a conflicting flavor profile. In the end, I choked down enough sushi to get me through the night, but I certainly won't be back.
(2)Sarah K.
Very disappointing lunch. Ordered Tom Kha Kai soup and Shrimp Shu Mai. The shrimp appetizer was cold in the middle and the soup looked like they sliced mushrooms and tofu and placed it in a hot bowl of thick coconut milk. I haveordered this soup numerous times before and have even made it at home. I think my five year old could have done a better job than they did at Thai Oscar. My next visit to a Thai place Western ave will not be here.
(1)meran m.
My friend and I walked the block on Western Ave that sported three Thai restaurants. We decided on this one because it was less crowded initially and had a warmer ambiance. I think we might have chosen the wrong one. Our fresh spring roll was anything but fresh. It might be the most "blah" spring roll I have ever had, and it was getting a little stiff, like it had been sitting around a while. The soup was good enough, but, as I suspected, had not only the coconut milk that was listed on the menu, but cow's milk, as well, which made it a no-no for me. They did switch it out. The cashew chicken was okay. People were nice, and as attentive as they could be given the crowd that arrived soon after we did. All in all, we decided we would go somewhere else next time. Too bad, Thai Oscar. You were a cute place.
(2)Ishmael R.
I've been here 2 years ago and thought it was a great experience. However, last night was very special. I wanted to take my date out on a late valentines day dinner. Due to our schedules we weren't sure if we could get into Thai Oscar or Opart Thai since both close at 10:00 p.m. Fortunately, we arrived at the brown line station at 9:35 p.m. First, we attempted to go into Opart Thai to see if we get a seat. At first the waiter was going to seat us. Then, as he tried to grab two menus, someone convinced him that he should notify us that it is take-out only. Upon hearing this we quickly waved goodbye and headed to Thai Oscar. There we were friendly greeted and even offered to sit down and order for HERE! (9:38 p.m.) The waiter was kind, patient and kept us informed with a friendly reminder that they were closing soon. Yet after she told us that they were closing soon we did not feel like we were being rushed. We enjoyed our Chicken Satay, Tom Yum (Seafood), and Pad Thai (beef) for the price of $24! Not only was it a great night for us another couple ordered several plates of sushi! When I left I made sure the man who worked for Opart Thai and suggested to only offer take-out see me hold up Thai Oscar's menu. Victory to Thai Oscar!
(5)Anne S.
Thai Oscar is where I take the kids when I have $40 left and can't bear the thought of cooking dinner. Also when I am with my brother, who will not touch sushi and is afraid of any asian cuisine that strays too far from sweet and sour chicken. We are always happy with our food; they don't skimp on the proteins, they aren't stingy with the shrimp, and they put plenty of crushed peanut on the Pad Thai. We have tried Thai Oscar maki, Dragon Maki, and Rainbow maki, and they were all fresh and tasty. I wish they served pots of green tea, cuz I can really chug it down, but no worries about that. What they serve is good, too. Once again, to the haters/princesses, CHILL OUT. : ) This is just a little neighborhood place, IT'S CLEAN, it has good prices. The wait staff is always sweet and the kitchen is quick. Carry out and delivery are great, too.
(4)Tara M.
I ate at Thai Oscar for the first time this evening (it is definitely not in my hood) and really enjoyed it! I was surprised because the friend who recommended it has very different taste than I, but we both had a good experience. I must say, I didn't expect much from a restaurant that combines two cuisines, but they did a pretty good job. We started off with crab rangoon, which was one of the best I've had (and I almost always order it when I get Thai or Chinese food). Of course, it's difficult to mess up deep fried cream cheese, but these were especially light thanks to the pastry dough. Very light and airy as far as rangoon goes. Then we shared a chicken pad thai, a philly roll (I know, more cream cheese--the friend I went with is from Wisconsin...), a spicy tuna roll and a Phuket roll. I didn't like the pad thai at first because they use thinner noodles that were a bit soggy, but it grew on me. Certainly not the best I've had, but it was good enough. The philly roll typically is not my favorite, but these had a lot more salmon than cream cheese in them, which is atypical. I did not have any, but my friend said they were very good. The spicy tuna was typical--impossible to mess this one up. The Phuket roll, however, was maybe one of the best/most interesting rolls I've ever had. It was shrimp tempura, pineapple, spicy mayo and baked coconut. Sounded a little weird but it was delicious! And probably the most unhealthy sushi ever. :) I enjoyed the Thai twist on sushi and will definitely go back for it. We did not BYOB--I'm not sure if they charge a corkage fee.
(4)Emily C.
The man in my life told me this place has the best sushi I'd ever taste. He was partially right. The only sushi I'd had better was at Ruby Foo's in NYC, and that cost A LOT more. So for your money, this place rules. The specialty sushi rolls here, some of them, are big enough to choke a T-Rex and they are GOOD - the texture, the taste, the variety, they have it all. It's kind of interesting given that the place has a good ammount of Thai food but also has the Japanese staple of sushi, but honestly, I think it fuses together quite nicely My favorite is one if their Thai dishes, the prik prow dish (try it with the BBQ pork). I think their pad thai is a little disappointing - not enough peanuts- but otherwise, everything there is quite tasty and the sushi was mindblowingly awesome.
(4)faith b.
My boyfriend and I order food and have it delivered from here all the time. We have never eaten inside, so this review is limited to just how the food is. The prices are good for the big portions of food that they give you... big tasty portions. No matter what I am ordering... thai or sushi.. I am never disappointed. The delivery always comes in a reasonable amount of time, but I hate that I live one block over their delivery range so they charge us extra.
(4)Carolyn R.
Excellent, dependable, varied menu, good service, plus BYOB, gets my vote for a neighborhood favorite. The sushi is always great, the noodle dishes are pretty much what you want or would expect, favorites and interesting extras from both Thai and Japanese cuisine is a great concept to begin with, and everything about the place is just a cut-above in terms of quality. There is plenty of variety on the menu to please vegetarians, kids, sushi fans, and people afraid of food, it comes way spicy or not spicy, as requested. The maki menu changes regularly and always has something wacky and fun. The seafood options are nicely varied. The presentation of the dishes and the quality of service, and the atmosphere of the place are outstanding, great quality-value for the dollar. The lunch specials are a good bargain, as is the combo-dinner with a meat or fish item plus tempura and sides. I have been ordering delivery from here for more than 7 years, and the food has *never* been extremely late or gone missing (unlike, say, Leona's who looses my order at least 1 in 10 times) which itself is a strong testament of a well-run establishment. Both their dine in and carry out never fail to please. For having been sitting in a carton on the way over the tempura is surprisingly good. Tofu sticks are great for kids. Is it worth driving a long way, or bringing out of town friends for a special occasion? Is it a rival for fancy places like Tank? Kinda! It's not trendy-fancy, but beautiful-fancy enough to be charming and memorable. If this place were in the suburbs, people would be happily paying 25-50% more for the exact same dishes and atmosphere, and 1/4 the number of items on the menu. Isn't Lincoln Square great?!? Did they keep me consistently well fed when I was exhausted with a new baby at home without *ever* botching a delivery? YES. Are they an *always* reliable spot for a night out with friends and one's own booze? Again, YES. Is the place clean and SO pretty, the staff friendly and unfailingly competent, and the food extra yummy? Certainly! To get even slightly better food OR even slightly nicer atmosphere, expect to pay a LOT more money, and to wait around too, most nights. For consistently excellent delivery or the best bet for a good time out dining in this price range, it's a *great* spot.
(5)Patrick S.
Great food, great service, great price. We felt bad that we came in at 9:25pm when they close at 10, but they were so nice and had us eating within 10 minutes. The watiress was awesome; very friendly and attentive. Will definately be back!
(5)Ryan G.
Ergh... I REALLY want to like this place for being a local sushi restaurant but I cannot recommend it for one reason: THE WAIT. Even when there is barely anyone in the restaurant, the most simple of dishes take 30 minutes. And don't go with more than 4 people, they screw up orders. They are always polite, courteous and apologetic but you can only be disappointed so many times. The food is decent but a bit pricey for the portions. With Rosded even closer to me for Thai and Tank and Tokyo Lunch Box ready to fulfill my sushi needs, one need not to go to this fusion restaurant because it is NOT the best of both worlds.
(2)G. P.
We used to order from Thai Oscar ALL the time, at least once a week. I don't know what's happened in the past couple months, the food is just OK where as before it was excellent, the every time we've had it delivered it's been the wrong order. Very disappointed and will be looking for a new thai place.
(2)Natalie S.
We just moved into a pretty sweet little condo in Albany Park and read some downright terrible reviews of our closest Thai restaurant. Normally we'd still give it a shot, but I'd been craving Rama tofu since Thanksgiving so we grabbed a menu the previous owners left in the junk drawer and got delivery from Thai Oscar. I was all geared up to write a bad review after being told that the free appetizer with two entrees deal didn't apply to my order because one dish we ordered was apparently a noodle dish and not an entree- it cost exactly the same as the other entrees- but whatever. Then they had to calll back to get our credit card number again, which never instills much faith that the food order is correct when they can't write down some numbers correctly. Finally, the delivery took a stupidly long time. Bad review here I come... But then the food was hot and really satisfying. The peanut sauce was thick and spicy and my husband couldn't put his finger on why his noodles were so good - but they were really, really good. I've read hot and cold reviews of this place, and I think I know why now. But in a pinch, if I can't find something better it'll do.
(3)David M.
Good place to stop in for lunch. I was here a while ago and don't remember exactly what I got, but I remember not being disappointed and that the price wasn't too bad either. The really great thing about Thai Oscar, though, is the BYOB policy! Yeah, we brought wine coolers, left too good of a tip (now I understand why they do that...) but were generally pleased. It's my friend's favorite place in Chicago which doesn't really make sense, but it's pretty good stuff.
(4)John B.
Dont order the satay, they basically come in tiny nugget size and then charge you 6 bucks for 1 dollar worth of chicken...go to Opart next door
(1)Ryan M.
GET THE THAI FOOD! My roommate and I both decided to share maki rolls there, and I can only describe it as rice and fish put through a garbage disposal and then covered with a glob of mayo.
(2)Vince F.
There are four Thai restaurants within spitting distance of each other in Lincoln Square. After having tried them all, Thai Oscar gets my vote for best Thai in the area. The food is flavorful and plentiful, and the price is right. The selection is expansive (though I have yet to try their sushi). The service is friendly and courteous. If you are in the area, skip the others and go for Thai Oscar.
(4)Joe U.
Get the Godzilla Roll! It is huge, and awesome, and digestively devastating. BYOB and the liquor store is close. Works for me.
(4)Anna J.
this is one of my favorite places to eat in chicago. a good friend got my boyfriend and i hooked on this place. i am in love with the sushi there. esp the thai oscar roll. omg, it is so good. also, the spicy beef noodle soup is so awesome. i crave it on a regular basis but it is very spicy so i have to get it tamed down a bit. we also always get there egg rolls to start which we think it some of the best in the city. I haven't had any of the thai dishes but go there for the sushi and bring a bottle of wine and enjoy!
(5)jenny m.
I gave this place 4 stars because of a few key things. It's consistent, it's reasonably priced, and it's convenient. I've only ever ordered sushi from here.I've gotten take out a dozen times and eatin in a few times. On the take out vibe...if you are looking for decent sushi for a good price, I feel this is a good option. The edemame is really good....always perfectly salted and yummy. And the sushi..never disappoints. If you are looking for something of decent quality in the area this is the place. Its not mind blowing, but its consistently good. Overall the staff is friendly and I do think they try to make a good effort with what they serve up so they have my vote.
(4)Trefor D.
This is a great Thai place. Food is always consistently good. It's well priced and quite quick. The decor is what you'd expect. Even when busy, the noise level is perfectly acceptable. I love the Massaman curry - when going to a new place, I always try that and Thai Oscar's is always my favorite. I will say, I have no idea about the sushi. A friend has had it there before and would always enjoy it.
(5)Amy O.
Tried the Pad Thai and the Yakisoba and thought both were good. The Pad Thai was huge and I couldn't finish it all in one serving. The crab rangoon was good however the wonton wrapper was very fragile so you have to eat it all in one bite if that's possible. The sushi was the bad point here. I tried the unagi roll although it looked very pretty it didn't taste good. The fish smelt kind of funny and after I ate the roll I had 3 small bones from the unagi come out of my mouth. But after all it is a Thai food restaurant so good for the Thai and avoid the sushi.
(4)Lezah G.
I just had some of the tastiest Thai food that I've had in a long time. Portions were not big but everything was fresh and the mix of seasoning was perfect. I like the fact that you can choose from three different levels of spiciness. The quality of Thai food keeps diminishing in this city. I think because as there are more restaurants, the food gets "dumbed" down to American tastes and becomes less spicy and sickeningly sweet. This was not the case here. Their peanut sauce was perfect and I didn't get the sense that it was doctored up peanut butter like I have at other restaurants. I just hope it won't disappoint next time I come back because so many Thai restaurants do. The rating is only for the Thai food. They have Japanese food as well as a few Korean dishes. I'm always reluctant to order sushi in this kind of place or even eat sushi with Thai food. It doesn't "go together", So I have moved a few doors south from Opart Thai to Thai Oscar and if they disappoint, I'll go further south to Spoon Thai!
(4)Reg W.
My fiance and I have been coming to this place since 2003. It's a cute little unpretentious restaurant. We've been to other thai places but the food here really stands out. As mentioned below, Thai Oscar offers both Thai and Japanese food. Their prices are great too. We love the Thai Fried Rice, Thai Oscar Fried Rice, pad se eew, beef noodle soup, shrimp tempura, catepillar maki, ebi avo maki, california maki, spicy scallop maki (fresh), phuket, and pad thai. One of our friends also love the curry dishes. Their menu is expansive enough for everyone to find something to love.
(4)Eric J.
Just ordered thai and sushi for delivery yesterday. Food was suprisingly good. Ordered Pattay rolls, Godzilla rolls, Philly rolls, and received a free order of california rolls. All were very good. Closer and way cheaper than Tank, it's my new sushi delivery place.
(3)S L.
Thai and Japanese food in one restaurant - not exactly the 2 Asian food combo that are associated together, but hey, it can work, or can it? I've been here a few times over the course of about 5 years. From what I remembered, it was good. I liked going here when you can't decide what genre of Asian food to eat, and end up ordering from both to satisfy your cravings. For whatever reason, it's been well over a year since my last visit. My friend and I couldn't decide if we wanted Thai or Japanese food so we stopped by here for lunch yesterday. Yikes, what happened to the food here? We ordered 2 lunch specials - the beef pad thai and a sushi combo that consist of 5 pieces of california maki and 5 pieces of chef's choice sushi. The pad thai was way too sweet. Sure, there's supposed to be a hint of sweetness to it, but not that much! I think the chef added a second spoon of sugar instead of salt or something. The sushi wasn't much better. The rice was relatively hard and not much imitation crab meat to the california maki. I didn't even touch the sushi - it didn't look that good. We each had a thai iced coffee and it was average, nothing to write home about. The total came to $22, a bit high for lunch for Lincoln Square in my opinion. Sorry, but if you can't get your basic menu items right, I just can't justify coming back. Bottom line: In theory, this combination of Japanese/Thai restaurant would be a good compromise when you can't decide what genre of Asian food to eat. Thai Oscar missed the marks on both and I don't recommend this place. Instead, head over to the many other Thai restaurant on Western Avenue. You will be glad that you did.
(1)Bella V.
Went here yesterday for carry out after ordering their delivery several times. The first thing I noticed was that they are all Thai, not one Japanese person here that I could tell. This explains a little about the rest of this review. The eggrolls (3/$2.95) were bland, the Veggie Tempura(5.95) was okay, but I made my own sauce for it when I got home. It also had a lot of Yam and carrot (my least fav veg), and the Egg Drop soup $2.95 was good, but salty. I also had the UnaQ roll $4.75 (eel and cucumber) and had them add cream cheese, which they charged me an Xtra 75 cent for. I finished up with some Super White tuna $1.95/ea and some Salmon $1.95/ea nigiris. They were excellent, and I was surprised that the Tuna was so cheap. The Sushi chef was obviously inexperienced, and the nigiri looked so uneven and generally sloppy, but the cut was great, and the fish was fresh, so for the price I couldn't complain. My total bill was 30.90 plus a $2 tip for the "sushi man". I noticed today that they charged my card $7 extra, and I'm waiting for a call back from them. I would order nigiri from here again, but not anything else. I did like the interior though. It was very clean and relaxing. UPDATE~ I'm so sick of ordering from this place. It seems like EVERY time I order, they tack on a few extra dollars. Like I wouldn't notice!! Also, they screwed up my order yesterday, and when I called them back, they accused me of lying to try and get free food!! I've spent hundreds of dollars here just THIS year so far, and have never complained about their SEVERAL mistakes. I'm sick of it. I'm never ordering from them again. I'd rather pay more from Tank than to constantly get ripped off by these guys.
(1)Erin S.
My fiance and I have heard good things about Thai Oscar from a few different people who live in the Lincoln Square area. So, we were excited to try it because we are both big fans of chicken pad thai (especially from Lincoln Park's Noodles in the Pot). We order the chicken pad thai, combo fried rice, and crab ragoon. The chicken pad thai was, at best, ok. The crab ragoon was fine, but nothing to write home about. The combo fried rice dish was the best thing we ordered, but it was not good enough to make a return trip for. Overall, a disappointment. Thus, our search for thai food that equals that of Noodles in the Pot continues...
(2)Meredith C.
Thai Oscar is probably the best Thai restaurant on that strip of Western between Lawrence and Irving Park (there are at least five other ones I can think of off the top of my head there). Their sushi is also quite delicious. Do yourself a favor. Stop over at the Liquor store at Western and Lawrence, get some beer or wine (Thai Oscar is BYOB which is again wonderful) and order some crab rangoon, the Santa Fe Maki and an order of Kao Soy with chicken. The crab rangoons are small, but filling so you never feel like you've had too much of a good thing. The combination of cool, crisp lettuce and the spicyness of wasabi and chipotle is delicious in the maki and...best for last...the kao soy. It's pretty orgasmic. I've had Kao Soy at Opart (which is pretty much right next to Thai Oscar) and it was pretty good, but it was more like a yellow curry soup. But at Thai Oscar, they serve it with soft rice noodles and crispy noodles, they fill it with a generous amount of chicken and also put extrememly fresh red onions and cilantro in it...and it still is under $10. This is one of my favorite places in Lincoln Square...maybe even in the whole city!
(5)Amanda P.
The noodles are mediocre, and while the sushi rolls are creative (often containing many ingredients in one roll), the sushi chef invariably screws up the order.
(3)Daisy Jane M.
This place has THE best Pad Thai and Red Curry in the city. I eat here at least once a week. All the appetizers are great--although, don't get the leek dumplings "to go" because they get mushy. The sushi is pretty good too--and cheap. But I don't get too adventurous with it, only ordering simple maki rather than complex ones.
(5)Kateland B.
Goodness!!! This is by far my favorite Thai in all of Chicago! :) I am so glad it is close to my house - will be eating here all the time. Get the Pad Thai and the Thai Oscar Veggie Egg Rolls...OMG these were so good. I've never eaten in but did have them deliver. They arrived earlier than expected and the food was hot. Thank god, I hate delivery that is cold. The guy was nice, not creepy which is always a blessing. Please, try this place!
(5)Sejal S.
The only reason I am not giving this place a 5 star rating is because the decor is -to be honest- completely whack. While that's cool with me, hipster/trixie/foo-foo folks might feel lead astray. For the rest of us, this food is great! I love the Thai and Japanese combo! It hits on all of my fave Asian cuisine buttons! I've ordered take-away and dined-in but never delivery. My experience with the former two has always been stellar. Lots and lots of veg options. I always order the basics to test a new restaurant and this place doesn't disappoint! The basics are done very well. The Thai Oscar fried rice is simple, plentiful and delish. The Soba noodles are subtle and perfect. Veg sushi? I know its dumb but I am a huge fan. The sweet potato tempura roll is a revelation. You'll never settle for a cuke or mixed veg roll again. Its always hard to find a great veg-noodle bowl. If that's your bag, unpack it now. The Tom Yum soup is perfection on a cold day. Perfectly seasoned broth, tons of veggies and noodles that are not mushy. Only downside - not great the next day. With dishes at about $7.50 with enough for tomorrow, you really can't go wrong. Hungry? Get to it!
(4)Karen L.
There are so many Thai restaurants out there, and so few that are worth going back. Oscar Thai would be one of those mediocre ones. I got the Pad Siu Ew and a turtle sushi roll. The noodles were ok, but a little on the greasy side. The turtle roll, which consisted of eel, shrimp, rice and cream cheese, wasn't the best combination. I could go back there and try some other items, but I probably don't need to bother when I can find better Thai.
(2)