Living in Little Italy, I've been to all the Thai places on Taylor. Thai Wok is definitely the most genuine Thai restaurant here! The family that runs the restaurant really puts effort into making the food fresh, delicious, and made-to-order. Your order goes in, and they make it right then so it comes out hot, like a home-cooked meal! You can request the level of spiciness and even some Thai dishes off-menu. We need more family-run businesses like this on Taylor Street! Nothing beats a meal cooked as if you were at a family's home.
(5)
Mark S.
If you have the time Thai Wok is worth the wait. The Good: The food at Thai Wok is super tasty - I could eat this food every day if cost was not a factor. The tofu is perfectly golden, the veggies are crisp, and the flavor is just right. It is not too salty, has a good spice level, and the presentation is excellent. They have many veggie options on the menu and make the classics better then anyone else in the area. The Bad: The service is so slow it is comical. On more then one visit everyone I was eating with had finished their food before my food was even brought out. I did not order anything fancy, modified, or off the menu - if was just a regular menu item. Normally when you go to a restaurant they at least try to bring the food at around the same time. Also, both times this happened there was only one other group in the restaurant...it is almost like they make one dish at a time. The Other Stuff: Thai Wok is a few steps underground and has pictures of Thai fighters and Thai food on the walls which is strange but if you ever need to learn martial arts before you eat this is the place. The staff is friendly and tries to be helpful and seems to be willing to bring out what every you need - extra rice, hot sauce, or hot peppers. Overall, the high quality of food at Thai Wok is so solid that I will keep coming back but other parts of the dinning experience are a bit lacking.
(4)
Y H.
The food is flavorful and really does taste better than many Thai joints on Taylor. However, I would say it's a little over priced for the amount you get in comparison to places on Taylor. Chicken pad Thai: good and it hits the spot if you're craving pad Thai Crazy drunken noodle: love this. I'm a pad Thai gal, but here I will majority of the time chose the drunken noodles over the pad Thai because it tastes better than the pad Thai Basil chicken: meh, not something I would get again. Great for dining in or carry out, but I do feel the portions should be a little bigger.
(3)
Tara S.
Bad Juju Thai Food... Yucky-Yuck! Also, note that this spot has two (2) Yelp profiles the other one has not-so-great reviews... I can see why (and, that should be illegal)... I ordered something for delivery here from my very easy-to-find, downtown location. They not only took 1.45 hours to get here from their downtown location (less than a mile from me), but in addition, the driver called me 10 times to as he was lost and could barely speak english. I kept giving him directions and instructions and he just kept calling back. 10-times later... I gave up. 3-weeks later I was in the mood for Thai again. The experience last time had me disheartened, not to mentioned left me hungry as I never got my deliver, but I thought I'd try one more time and give them a chance to redeem themselves. Upon calling I got the owner this time. I told him about my experience last time, and wanted to know if he employed the same driver as he did then, because if so I didn't want to go through the headache. He acted like I was a raving lunatic falsely accusing him, when all I was trying to do was get a little information. Instead of answering me in a way that was reasonably friendly, and sincere, all he could do was yell and say how it wasn't his fault. Then he simply hung up on me! Maybe he was having a bad hair day? I really don't know... If customer service is even remotely important to you, DO NOT waste your time at this spot. My experience was a massive waste of time, and left a yucky taste in my mouth I won't forget easily.
(1)
Damian P.
For dessert at night it's a wonderful place. Shaved ice and coconut with pineapple. And sticky rice. I remember the owners from another location MANY years ago and the daughter in law recognized me and let them know I stopped by. I had a really nice evening walk and of course had to stop by for some Thai Ice concoction, sort of like an icee but very different. Does that make sense? I hightly recommend the shaved ice for sure, and ours came out extremely well presented. Of course I also had to have the sticky rice with Mango, which of course hands down is my favorite comfort food. What I did like is that they opened up a pation in the small front of the restaurant, not a big fancy place, but nice enough to accomodate you and your friends so that you can either people watch (but they are garden level) or just hang out. I totally enjoyed the evening and will be coming back again.
(4)
DeeDee L.
My favorite place for Green curry! Based on the chef, it is their home made recipe. The taste is full of spices, i have to order everytime i've been there. Pad Thai here is also the most authentic i had in Chicago! In summer, mango smoothie is also a good add on for a fresh and sweet taste of mango.
(5)
Aaron Jae M.
Stopped in for the first time to try one of their sandwiches to go. I was the only person in the restaurant. They offered me a glass of water while I waited which was nice. When I got home and opened up my carry out bag I was surprised to find a wrap/burrito. I was expecting a bahn mi style sandwich or just something between two slices of bread. The wrap itself was not bad but it was just thai food wrapped up and had too much sauce on it so it was dripping everywhere. If I came back I would definitely try something else on the menu and not another sandwich.
(3)
Linda L.
My friend and I decided to give it a try. My friend ordered Spicy Tom Yum Noodles Soup and I ordered spicy papaya salad. I tried to order chicken satay and they didn't have any. The noodles soup was okay, the papaya salad was good, and their spicy is really spicy. Unlike Thai Bowl which was nothing. Service: very bad! It took almost an hour for my papaya salad to be ready, Come on it's just a salad. My friend got her soup before me. How is that possible? She came to refill my water once and that was it. Didn't even bother to come check on us. We finished and the waiter was nowhere to be found. I had to yell to ask for the check. We waited about 30 minutes before I yelled. I noticed that other customers were pissed too.
(3)
Will T.
First time here and I ordered Kun Mun Kai and it was delicious. The portion was relatively small for a value of $8.50 with no tax included but for an average meal it was the right size. The sauce for the dish was salty but you decide how much to add. Would definitely recommend and would come back to try other thai dishes.
(4)
Julia K.
This place was the worst service I ever had in a restaurant for a while now. The food was good, but the service was just awful. We walked in and there weren't even a lot of people there. The woman that served us was not even that friendly. And that's fine because not all servers are friendly, especially in a asian restaurant. But it was not gucci. I ordered la tom yum noodle soup and my friend ordered a salad and my food came out in about a decent amount of time. But my friend's food didn't come out for 30-40 min. It was ridiculous. She ordered salad, not lobster with 5 sides. After we finished our food, we waited for a long time and the woman didn't come to give us our receipt. Like we could've left without paying and they wouldn't even notice. It was that bad. My friend had to waver her hands and call her to get her attention. I would pre order and pick up but I would not dine in again.
(2)
Edward S.
Had beef pad kee Mao and crab Rangoon. Both were good and plentiful. Crab Rangoons were pretty basic but their sauce for it was unique. Usually you get a sweet and sour sauce, but they gave a chili sauce with just a little sweetness to it. Pad Kee Mao was a little spicy. It had a good amount of veggies and it's a great dish to try whenever you're bored of getting generic Thai dishes like pad see iew, fried rice or pad thai. I recommend trying this place out.
(5)
Ellen L.
The food that was delivered last night was tasted by me and my daughter and then thrown directly in the garbage because the quality of what they sent us was garbage! I asked that they cancel the Taro bubble tea because they called and said there were no bubbles. They charged me and sent it anyway. It was GROSS! Neither one of us could drink it. The Shrimp pot stickers must have been reheated from 3 weeks ago, they were like cardboard. The Pad Thai was one big clump of stuck together noodles that we couldn't even separate. The taste was awful. It tasted like they poured some red sticky sugar syrup on it. Even though the vegetarian egg rolls were really greasy, they were at least somewhat edible.
(1)
Shilpa M.
Loved d food here, the owner who also cooked and her lovely daughter looked after our taste palate very well.My husband ordered vegetarian deep fried spring rolls without egg n I must say it was cooked perfect, crispy and fresh and was served with a tangy sweet sauce which complemented the spring rolls ! Since i was hungry I went for entree directly, I ordered for thai basil chicken and asked our hostess to make it very spicy ( Being an indian I love d food served spicy n hot ) it was exactly the way i wanted, it was yummy I had the most sumptuous thai food i had ever had and my husband went for red curry with veggies !! I could make out from his face that he enjoyed it equally , we also got a hot tea pot to go after our filling lunch n we graciously thanked our hostess and her mom to serve us one of the the best thai food we ever had we came out happy and excited to visit thai wok soon again !! Our hostess was very warm and we loved the sweet ambience of the place !
(5)
Sam S.
So I've only tried their Pad Thai and the coconut soup, but the Pad Thai is legitimately the best I've ever had. Thai's my favorite and I'm kind of a foodie so I highly recommend it! The coconut soup with the mushrooms and such was nice but tasted nothing like the coconut soup I've had at other Thai restaurants and therefore I was kind of disappointed with that aspect. But nevertheless, I'll most definitely be coming back to try more! Oh oh oh, and they deliver to UIC so I'm stoked.
(4)
Daniel L.
I already wrote a tip but the service was just so bad I had to write a review. This was the second time we've been here. First time, the food was mediocre at best. Decided to check it out on a Saturday night too. Walked in at 7 pm and there was only one occupied table. Oh oh. Not a good sign. The waitress brought our lukewarm water to us right away. She then disappeared into the kitchen for who knows what. She would reappear once in a while to do things but she never came back. After 10 minutes of waiting, I walked into the kitchen to inform the staff we were walking across the street to Thai Bowl. No shits were given. No surprise there.
(1)
Amy T.
Came in here with my date since I had two hours before my shift starts. The place can definitely improve on the service. There were about three occupied tables when I went on. It took a good half an hour before my order was taken. With the negatives out of the way, the food was definitely good and the waitress was very polite. Can't guarantee I will settle for a dine in again. Maybe a carry out will be best. Everything is cooked upon order ( it sounded like they chopped it freshly too). I'm kind of spoiled by other Thai restaurants with complementary goods when I dine in other Thai restaurants so I'm not very find of this place. Of course if this was the right place to give them tips I would say their service could be improved by having customers pay first and then allow them to get food. (Make it more like a lunchroom dining experience.) It will definitely encourage more diners who don't have two hours to spare for lunch. Also, I enjoyed their fishtank and authentic decorations, what puzzled me were the flashing colorful lights in one half of the dining area. The man who lived nearby recommended the ginger chicken and that he orders from this place at least two times each week. Good luck trying this place out!
(2)
Nel M.
The Food Is Always Fresh & Delicious!!!! Better To Call In The Order As Any Dish To Go Takes A While!!
(4)
Tasha F.
Ok, not a great ambiance, it's more like a cafeteria. I was the only dine-in customer. The food took forever. There were not so many people coming in for orders that it should have taken so long. The waiter did apologize. I had a cucumber salad that was pretty much like any other Thai spot. I had calamari and other vegetables. Now I knew I should not order calamari from a Thai spot, but I was craving. I was not craving rubber, which is what I got. I ate the calamari at the restaurant so it came out that way. I had a Spicy Basil Entree with chicken hat was delicious, but for the price, it was a portion size for a baby. I literally got it to share with my daughter, who thought I was joking. I told her I had no idea the portion size would be so small. It wasn't enough for just her. The extra tiny box of plain rice was a larger portion than the main dish. So although this dish tasted fresh and fabulous it was not worth the price. I'm not marking them down for the calamari because I should have known better.
(3)
Jeevan J.
Food is good. Went there with wifey, ordered No.50 (Thai pasta kindof food with tuna. ) They didn't have it there, and requested to order something else. We ordered 51- which turned out to be pretty good. Loved the experience. The service was superb, and everybody was very friendly. Will go back again for sure.
(4)
S.E. A.
Delicious green curry, pad see iew, and pad woon sen. Highly recommend this place.
(4)
Mark T.
i had the spicy papaya salad and it was really good. this is my favorite Thai dish and this was as good as i've had it. i went in about 3pm on a week day, me and one or two other tables in the place. American pop music playing, some students studying. service was fast and friendly (should be when it's empty.) the food was the highlight, fresh and tasty and spicy and very authentically Thai. 5 stars because there's nothing else i'd ask for.
(5)
Alex K.
Decided to check out a new Thai restaurant that opened on Taylor Street. Was not disappointed. The menu had all kids of tempting Thai choices, we tried a few appetizers and a few main courses to share. Everything was fresh, authentic and delicious. Generous portions. The strawberry smoothie sealed the deal. Great new addition to the neighborhood - we will be back.
(5)
Chloe C.
I will no longer be returning to this restaurant. My first visit was very pleasant and welcoming. My second visit not at all, I was practically run out. Upon entering this older woman who I assume was the owner. Told me they were closed when their menu stated they close at 9pm on Sunday. I would think with how vacant this restaurant is, they wouldn't deter any customers away. I don't want to reach for the most convenient explanation as to why I was turned away. Starts with a d ends in ation, but it's very plausible. If a good old plate of Jim Crow is what your in the mood, for mosey on down to this crap shack.
(1)
Jay L.
Updated 05/01/13 - went back and the second experience wasn't as great. The larb tasted old and not the clean taste I'm used to with larb. The wait was also longer than expected but they gave us free friend banana, which was nice. It's good but not great. I love Thai food and this place definitely beats Thai Bowl across the street. I'll definitely be back though.
(3)
Karen N.
Taylor Street is full of Thai restaurants, but I like this one the best. Have already been twice for takeout. The food is more authentic than others, spicy enough when I ask for medium. I have only gotten the usuals, tom yum seafood soup, pad kee mao, green curry, papaya salad. Will move on to their seafood dishes and home made dessert for sure next time. The family who owns this place is very nice, mom in the kitchen and daughter up front. Please support!
(4)
Barbara K.
[Disclaimer: We're extremely lucky- and spoiled - because we live in Oakland, where we can get any kind of excellent ethnic food for very reasonable prices. This review is while we're playing tourist in Chicago.] First the ambiance: Rainy night, looking forward to a nice warm place to dry out and have good food. But inside, it was cold, nice pictures on walls, but definitely a stark cafeteria style place for local U of Illinois students. Plus extra sticky tables. Yuck. Second the service: very good. No complaints. They aim to please. Third the food: We started out with the egg rolls. They were nice and crisp, but a little greasy; the sauce was blah and they were served on a beige melamine plate that belonged in a 1960s school cafeteria. Then we had Green Curry with vegetables and steamed rice. Rice was fine, good sticky texture and the curry sauce was okay, but the vegetables were nearly raw. I'm all for not overcooking veggies, but I want them more than just barely warmed up. Another dish was Cashew Chicken. All the main ingredients were fine, especially the cashews, but the sauce was uninspiring. Last dish was Pad See Ew, which sounded really tasty from the description on the menu, but it was vile. All I could taste was the thick sauce of sugar and soy sauce that drenched the whole thing. Bleah. I couldn't taste anything else at all. The noodles would have been good -- I usually really like the wide slippery noodles -- but I couldn't enjoy anything because of the awful sauce. So the summary: Good service, rice is fine. Aside from the curry sauce, which was acceptable, the vegetables were undercooked and the other sauces were awful.
(2)
Gabby S.
Had pad Thai. Was ok very saucy and some pieces of it tasted like dirt. Service was a little slow too.
(3)
Tony C.
Second lunch here made me upgrade to 5 stars. Tried a couple more curries and the Tom Kah Soup. The red curry w/ chicken, mild heat, is my favorite so far. Got anther taro bubble tea... so good.
(5)
Mark T.
If you like Thai food, then Thai Wok is the best on Taylor Street. Their food is very authentic and delicous, service is attentive and friendly, and the restaurant is clean and simple. In the summer, they have an outdoor patio. I highly recommend trying Thai Wok's curry dishes and salads.
I want to stress that this is one of the most LEGIT Thai food in Chicago! This is my second time here. This time I tried stirred fried deep fried cat fish with chili (). I think I might not be the best translation of that dish. They take a very crispy deep fried cat fish, and then stir fry them with fingerroot, basil, chili and ginger (I might be wrong; but basically a LOT of spice and herb). In the end, you'll get something crunchy and complex at a same time. Second dish I tried is galangal soup with chicken (). It's a coconut-based soup with galangal, lemon grass, and kaffir lime leaves. It's very creamy, but yet refreshing. In my opinion, this might be one of the best example of how Thais incorporate spices into our food.
(5)
Kathy S.
We decided to get some takeout for a lazy Saturday afternoon. We ordered the tom yum soup, papaya salad, pad thai and basil chicken. All were enjoyed and we'll definitely keep this place in mind when we want Thai food. One thing that I did notice was that their menu says that customers get free crab rangoons with a $15 min order (which we had) but alas, no crab rangoons were in our order. Not a biggie but if a place states that something will be included, it would be nice if it was indeed was.
(3)
Feb S.
Taste: 5/5 Location: 3/5 Cleanliness: 4.5/5 Ambience: 2.5/5 Value for Money: 4/5 (Price, given the Food Taste) Service: 4/5 This places seriously needs to get more attention from people. Along Taylor Street, this is the best thai food i've ever tried. The dishes are authentic and very rich in flavors. I ordered Papaya Salad (really good), the Thai Basil Fried Rice which was very strong in flavors, and the Beef Pad See-Eiw which was really delicious as well. I like it because it's quiet, and clean. And plus, they display the images of their dishes which really are helpful in choosing what to get. There was only 1 cook so it took a little bit long for our dishes to be served, but was not bad at all. All in all, I really think this is a great place for authentic thai food. Definitely will come back again.
(4)
Vithida S.
For me this is the most authentic Thai place on Taylor street. I loved the Thai pasta with the grounded fish. The duck noodle is also good and the best part is the mango smoothie. The service can be slow sometimes but worth the wait.
(5)
Chanannait P.
Wow, what a bold flavor. The food is very authentic. I am still thinking of Yum Neau I ate when I am writing. Will go back for more.If you love hot and spicy Thai food, this little spot is a must try.
(5)
Johnny T.
Got the 57. Haw Mok, which is a catfish fillet/crab meat in red curry and coconut milk over rice. The presentation of the meat wasn't what I was expecting as it looked like tofu than anything else; then again, I'm not that well-versed in Thai cuisine. The sweet basil flavor was a little much for me. I did like the sweet potatoes I had on the side.
(3)
Joseph O.
Best place on Taylor. Tom kah soup is amazing. The tofu here also rules.
(5)
Nathan F.
My wife and I had a really unfortunate experience here. I think it was a series of things that added up to us perceiving this as one of the worst places we've eaten in the city. The atmosphere here was virtually inexistent. There is no music, and when we went (7pm on a weeknight) there were only one or two other groups in the restaurant. We placed our order and our food came out in decent time. I ordered the pad thai with wide noodles and my wife ordered drunken chicken. The tofu was undercooked to the point that I only tasted the oil coating the tofu. The noodles and sauce were okay. Disappointed with my own meal, I stretched my chopsticks over to my wife's plate when she violently shook her head no. The first bite of chicken was cold and she was avoiding it for the duration of her meal. Realizing we had a mistake we were ready to get out ASAP. We asked for the check and the waitress refused to take my credit card because the machine was down, something that would have been great to know before ordering. Luckily there is an ATM around the corner...
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Zelda C.
Living in Little Italy, I've been to all the Thai places on Taylor. Thai Wok is definitely the most genuine Thai restaurant here! The family that runs the restaurant really puts effort into making the food fresh, delicious, and made-to-order. Your order goes in, and they make it right then so it comes out hot, like a home-cooked meal! You can request the level of spiciness and even some Thai dishes off-menu. We need more family-run businesses like this on Taylor Street! Nothing beats a meal cooked as if you were at a family's home.
(5)Mark S.
If you have the time Thai Wok is worth the wait. The Good: The food at Thai Wok is super tasty - I could eat this food every day if cost was not a factor. The tofu is perfectly golden, the veggies are crisp, and the flavor is just right. It is not too salty, has a good spice level, and the presentation is excellent. They have many veggie options on the menu and make the classics better then anyone else in the area. The Bad: The service is so slow it is comical. On more then one visit everyone I was eating with had finished their food before my food was even brought out. I did not order anything fancy, modified, or off the menu - if was just a regular menu item. Normally when you go to a restaurant they at least try to bring the food at around the same time. Also, both times this happened there was only one other group in the restaurant...it is almost like they make one dish at a time. The Other Stuff: Thai Wok is a few steps underground and has pictures of Thai fighters and Thai food on the walls which is strange but if you ever need to learn martial arts before you eat this is the place. The staff is friendly and tries to be helpful and seems to be willing to bring out what every you need - extra rice, hot sauce, or hot peppers. Overall, the high quality of food at Thai Wok is so solid that I will keep coming back but other parts of the dinning experience are a bit lacking.
(4)Y H.
The food is flavorful and really does taste better than many Thai joints on Taylor. However, I would say it's a little over priced for the amount you get in comparison to places on Taylor. Chicken pad Thai: good and it hits the spot if you're craving pad Thai Crazy drunken noodle: love this. I'm a pad Thai gal, but here I will majority of the time chose the drunken noodles over the pad Thai because it tastes better than the pad Thai Basil chicken: meh, not something I would get again. Great for dining in or carry out, but I do feel the portions should be a little bigger.
(3)Tara S.
Bad Juju Thai Food... Yucky-Yuck! Also, note that this spot has two (2) Yelp profiles the other one has not-so-great reviews... I can see why (and, that should be illegal)... I ordered something for delivery here from my very easy-to-find, downtown location. They not only took 1.45 hours to get here from their downtown location (less than a mile from me), but in addition, the driver called me 10 times to as he was lost and could barely speak english. I kept giving him directions and instructions and he just kept calling back. 10-times later... I gave up. 3-weeks later I was in the mood for Thai again. The experience last time had me disheartened, not to mentioned left me hungry as I never got my deliver, but I thought I'd try one more time and give them a chance to redeem themselves. Upon calling I got the owner this time. I told him about my experience last time, and wanted to know if he employed the same driver as he did then, because if so I didn't want to go through the headache. He acted like I was a raving lunatic falsely accusing him, when all I was trying to do was get a little information. Instead of answering me in a way that was reasonably friendly, and sincere, all he could do was yell and say how it wasn't his fault. Then he simply hung up on me! Maybe he was having a bad hair day? I really don't know... If customer service is even remotely important to you, DO NOT waste your time at this spot. My experience was a massive waste of time, and left a yucky taste in my mouth I won't forget easily.
(1)Damian P.
For dessert at night it's a wonderful place. Shaved ice and coconut with pineapple. And sticky rice. I remember the owners from another location MANY years ago and the daughter in law recognized me and let them know I stopped by. I had a really nice evening walk and of course had to stop by for some Thai Ice concoction, sort of like an icee but very different. Does that make sense? I hightly recommend the shaved ice for sure, and ours came out extremely well presented. Of course I also had to have the sticky rice with Mango, which of course hands down is my favorite comfort food. What I did like is that they opened up a pation in the small front of the restaurant, not a big fancy place, but nice enough to accomodate you and your friends so that you can either people watch (but they are garden level) or just hang out. I totally enjoyed the evening and will be coming back again.
(4)DeeDee L.
My favorite place for Green curry! Based on the chef, it is their home made recipe. The taste is full of spices, i have to order everytime i've been there. Pad Thai here is also the most authentic i had in Chicago! In summer, mango smoothie is also a good add on for a fresh and sweet taste of mango.
(5)Aaron Jae M.
Stopped in for the first time to try one of their sandwiches to go. I was the only person in the restaurant. They offered me a glass of water while I waited which was nice. When I got home and opened up my carry out bag I was surprised to find a wrap/burrito. I was expecting a bahn mi style sandwich or just something between two slices of bread. The wrap itself was not bad but it was just thai food wrapped up and had too much sauce on it so it was dripping everywhere. If I came back I would definitely try something else on the menu and not another sandwich.
(3)Linda L.
My friend and I decided to give it a try. My friend ordered Spicy Tom Yum Noodles Soup and I ordered spicy papaya salad. I tried to order chicken satay and they didn't have any. The noodles soup was okay, the papaya salad was good, and their spicy is really spicy. Unlike Thai Bowl which was nothing. Service: very bad! It took almost an hour for my papaya salad to be ready, Come on it's just a salad. My friend got her soup before me. How is that possible? She came to refill my water once and that was it. Didn't even bother to come check on us. We finished and the waiter was nowhere to be found. I had to yell to ask for the check. We waited about 30 minutes before I yelled. I noticed that other customers were pissed too.
(3)Will T.
First time here and I ordered Kun Mun Kai and it was delicious. The portion was relatively small for a value of $8.50 with no tax included but for an average meal it was the right size. The sauce for the dish was salty but you decide how much to add. Would definitely recommend and would come back to try other thai dishes.
(4)Julia K.
This place was the worst service I ever had in a restaurant for a while now. The food was good, but the service was just awful. We walked in and there weren't even a lot of people there. The woman that served us was not even that friendly. And that's fine because not all servers are friendly, especially in a asian restaurant. But it was not gucci. I ordered la tom yum noodle soup and my friend ordered a salad and my food came out in about a decent amount of time. But my friend's food didn't come out for 30-40 min. It was ridiculous. She ordered salad, not lobster with 5 sides. After we finished our food, we waited for a long time and the woman didn't come to give us our receipt. Like we could've left without paying and they wouldn't even notice. It was that bad. My friend had to waver her hands and call her to get her attention. I would pre order and pick up but I would not dine in again.
(2)Edward S.
Had beef pad kee Mao and crab Rangoon. Both were good and plentiful. Crab Rangoons were pretty basic but their sauce for it was unique. Usually you get a sweet and sour sauce, but they gave a chili sauce with just a little sweetness to it. Pad Kee Mao was a little spicy. It had a good amount of veggies and it's a great dish to try whenever you're bored of getting generic Thai dishes like pad see iew, fried rice or pad thai. I recommend trying this place out.
(5)Ellen L.
The food that was delivered last night was tasted by me and my daughter and then thrown directly in the garbage because the quality of what they sent us was garbage! I asked that they cancel the Taro bubble tea because they called and said there were no bubbles. They charged me and sent it anyway. It was GROSS! Neither one of us could drink it. The Shrimp pot stickers must have been reheated from 3 weeks ago, they were like cardboard. The Pad Thai was one big clump of stuck together noodles that we couldn't even separate. The taste was awful. It tasted like they poured some red sticky sugar syrup on it. Even though the vegetarian egg rolls were really greasy, they were at least somewhat edible.
(1)Shilpa M.
Loved d food here, the owner who also cooked and her lovely daughter looked after our taste palate very well.My husband ordered vegetarian deep fried spring rolls without egg n I must say it was cooked perfect, crispy and fresh and was served with a tangy sweet sauce which complemented the spring rolls ! Since i was hungry I went for entree directly, I ordered for thai basil chicken and asked our hostess to make it very spicy ( Being an indian I love d food served spicy n hot ) it was exactly the way i wanted, it was yummy I had the most sumptuous thai food i had ever had and my husband went for red curry with veggies !! I could make out from his face that he enjoyed it equally , we also got a hot tea pot to go after our filling lunch n we graciously thanked our hostess and her mom to serve us one of the the best thai food we ever had we came out happy and excited to visit thai wok soon again !! Our hostess was very warm and we loved the sweet ambience of the place !
(5)Sam S.
So I've only tried their Pad Thai and the coconut soup, but the Pad Thai is legitimately the best I've ever had. Thai's my favorite and I'm kind of a foodie so I highly recommend it! The coconut soup with the mushrooms and such was nice but tasted nothing like the coconut soup I've had at other Thai restaurants and therefore I was kind of disappointed with that aspect. But nevertheless, I'll most definitely be coming back to try more! Oh oh oh, and they deliver to UIC so I'm stoked.
(4)Daniel L.
I already wrote a tip but the service was just so bad I had to write a review. This was the second time we've been here. First time, the food was mediocre at best. Decided to check it out on a Saturday night too. Walked in at 7 pm and there was only one occupied table. Oh oh. Not a good sign. The waitress brought our lukewarm water to us right away. She then disappeared into the kitchen for who knows what. She would reappear once in a while to do things but she never came back. After 10 minutes of waiting, I walked into the kitchen to inform the staff we were walking across the street to Thai Bowl. No shits were given. No surprise there.
(1)Amy T.
Came in here with my date since I had two hours before my shift starts. The place can definitely improve on the service. There were about three occupied tables when I went on. It took a good half an hour before my order was taken. With the negatives out of the way, the food was definitely good and the waitress was very polite. Can't guarantee I will settle for a dine in again. Maybe a carry out will be best. Everything is cooked upon order ( it sounded like they chopped it freshly too). I'm kind of spoiled by other Thai restaurants with complementary goods when I dine in other Thai restaurants so I'm not very find of this place. Of course if this was the right place to give them tips I would say their service could be improved by having customers pay first and then allow them to get food. (Make it more like a lunchroom dining experience.) It will definitely encourage more diners who don't have two hours to spare for lunch. Also, I enjoyed their fishtank and authentic decorations, what puzzled me were the flashing colorful lights in one half of the dining area. The man who lived nearby recommended the ginger chicken and that he orders from this place at least two times each week. Good luck trying this place out!
(2)Nel M.
The Food Is Always Fresh & Delicious!!!! Better To Call In The Order As Any Dish To Go Takes A While!!
(4)Tasha F.
Ok, not a great ambiance, it's more like a cafeteria. I was the only dine-in customer. The food took forever. There were not so many people coming in for orders that it should have taken so long. The waiter did apologize. I had a cucumber salad that was pretty much like any other Thai spot. I had calamari and other vegetables. Now I knew I should not order calamari from a Thai spot, but I was craving. I was not craving rubber, which is what I got. I ate the calamari at the restaurant so it came out that way. I had a Spicy Basil Entree with chicken hat was delicious, but for the price, it was a portion size for a baby. I literally got it to share with my daughter, who thought I was joking. I told her I had no idea the portion size would be so small. It wasn't enough for just her. The extra tiny box of plain rice was a larger portion than the main dish. So although this dish tasted fresh and fabulous it was not worth the price. I'm not marking them down for the calamari because I should have known better.
(3)Jeevan J.
Food is good. Went there with wifey, ordered No.50 (Thai pasta kindof food with tuna. ) They didn't have it there, and requested to order something else. We ordered 51- which turned out to be pretty good. Loved the experience. The service was superb, and everybody was very friendly. Will go back again for sure.
(4)S.E. A.
Delicious green curry, pad see iew, and pad woon sen. Highly recommend this place.
(4)Mark T.
i had the spicy papaya salad and it was really good. this is my favorite Thai dish and this was as good as i've had it. i went in about 3pm on a week day, me and one or two other tables in the place. American pop music playing, some students studying. service was fast and friendly (should be when it's empty.) the food was the highlight, fresh and tasty and spicy and very authentically Thai. 5 stars because there's nothing else i'd ask for.
(5)Alex K.
Decided to check out a new Thai restaurant that opened on Taylor Street. Was not disappointed. The menu had all kids of tempting Thai choices, we tried a few appetizers and a few main courses to share. Everything was fresh, authentic and delicious. Generous portions. The strawberry smoothie sealed the deal. Great new addition to the neighborhood - we will be back.
(5)Chloe C.
I will no longer be returning to this restaurant. My first visit was very pleasant and welcoming. My second visit not at all, I was practically run out. Upon entering this older woman who I assume was the owner. Told me they were closed when their menu stated they close at 9pm on Sunday. I would think with how vacant this restaurant is, they wouldn't deter any customers away. I don't want to reach for the most convenient explanation as to why I was turned away. Starts with a d ends in ation, but it's very plausible. If a good old plate of Jim Crow is what your in the mood, for mosey on down to this crap shack.
(1)Jay L.
Updated 05/01/13 - went back and the second experience wasn't as great. The larb tasted old and not the clean taste I'm used to with larb. The wait was also longer than expected but they gave us free friend banana, which was nice. It's good but not great. I love Thai food and this place definitely beats Thai Bowl across the street. I'll definitely be back though.
(3)Karen N.
Taylor Street is full of Thai restaurants, but I like this one the best. Have already been twice for takeout. The food is more authentic than others, spicy enough when I ask for medium. I have only gotten the usuals, tom yum seafood soup, pad kee mao, green curry, papaya salad. Will move on to their seafood dishes and home made dessert for sure next time. The family who owns this place is very nice, mom in the kitchen and daughter up front. Please support!
(4)Barbara K.
[Disclaimer: We're extremely lucky- and spoiled - because we live in Oakland, where we can get any kind of excellent ethnic food for very reasonable prices. This review is while we're playing tourist in Chicago.] First the ambiance: Rainy night, looking forward to a nice warm place to dry out and have good food. But inside, it was cold, nice pictures on walls, but definitely a stark cafeteria style place for local U of Illinois students. Plus extra sticky tables. Yuck. Second the service: very good. No complaints. They aim to please. Third the food: We started out with the egg rolls. They were nice and crisp, but a little greasy; the sauce was blah and they were served on a beige melamine plate that belonged in a 1960s school cafeteria. Then we had Green Curry with vegetables and steamed rice. Rice was fine, good sticky texture and the curry sauce was okay, but the vegetables were nearly raw. I'm all for not overcooking veggies, but I want them more than just barely warmed up. Another dish was Cashew Chicken. All the main ingredients were fine, especially the cashews, but the sauce was uninspiring. Last dish was Pad See Ew, which sounded really tasty from the description on the menu, but it was vile. All I could taste was the thick sauce of sugar and soy sauce that drenched the whole thing. Bleah. I couldn't taste anything else at all. The noodles would have been good -- I usually really like the wide slippery noodles -- but I couldn't enjoy anything because of the awful sauce. So the summary: Good service, rice is fine. Aside from the curry sauce, which was acceptable, the vegetables were undercooked and the other sauces were awful.
(2)Gabby S.
Had pad Thai. Was ok very saucy and some pieces of it tasted like dirt. Service was a little slow too.
(3)Tony C.
Second lunch here made me upgrade to 5 stars. Tried a couple more curries and the Tom Kah Soup. The red curry w/ chicken, mild heat, is my favorite so far. Got anther taro bubble tea... so good.
(5)Mark T.
If you like Thai food, then Thai Wok is the best on Taylor Street. Their food is very authentic and delicous, service is attentive and friendly, and the restaurant is clean and simple. In the summer, they have an outdoor patio. I highly recommend trying Thai Wok's curry dishes and salads.
(5)Elvin C.
Quick update on desserts...they are fantastic. Best approach still is just to ask for what they have since it's not necessarily something on the menu. They can describe it to you and if it sounds remotely like your thing - I'd same go for it. So far, with the help of Wikipedia I think I had last time: - Sangkhaya fak thong - egg and coconut custard served with pumpkin, similar to the coconut jam of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. (yummy!) and more recently: - Khanom bua loi - mashed taro root and pumpkin are mixed with rice flour into small balls, boiled and then served in coconut milk. (a little too chewy in the center still for me but maybe that's how it is traditionally - still tasty). I'm still trying some of their other entrées...have tried some of the more off-beat...and will visit some of the standards. Updates later.
(4)NuttyKnot P.
I want to stress that this is one of the most LEGIT Thai food in Chicago! This is my second time here. This time I tried stirred fried deep fried cat fish with chili (). I think I might not be the best translation of that dish. They take a very crispy deep fried cat fish, and then stir fry them with fingerroot, basil, chili and ginger (I might be wrong; but basically a LOT of spice and herb). In the end, you'll get something crunchy and complex at a same time. Second dish I tried is galangal soup with chicken (). It's a coconut-based soup with galangal, lemon grass, and kaffir lime leaves. It's very creamy, but yet refreshing. In my opinion, this might be one of the best example of how Thais incorporate spices into our food.
(5)Kathy S.
We decided to get some takeout for a lazy Saturday afternoon. We ordered the tom yum soup, papaya salad, pad thai and basil chicken. All were enjoyed and we'll definitely keep this place in mind when we want Thai food. One thing that I did notice was that their menu says that customers get free crab rangoons with a $15 min order (which we had) but alas, no crab rangoons were in our order. Not a biggie but if a place states that something will be included, it would be nice if it was indeed was.
(3)Feb S.
Taste: 5/5 Location: 3/5 Cleanliness: 4.5/5 Ambience: 2.5/5 Value for Money: 4/5 (Price, given the Food Taste) Service: 4/5 This places seriously needs to get more attention from people. Along Taylor Street, this is the best thai food i've ever tried. The dishes are authentic and very rich in flavors. I ordered Papaya Salad (really good), the Thai Basil Fried Rice which was very strong in flavors, and the Beef Pad See-Eiw which was really delicious as well. I like it because it's quiet, and clean. And plus, they display the images of their dishes which really are helpful in choosing what to get. There was only 1 cook so it took a little bit long for our dishes to be served, but was not bad at all. All in all, I really think this is a great place for authentic thai food. Definitely will come back again.
(4)Vithida S.
For me this is the most authentic Thai place on Taylor street. I loved the Thai pasta with the grounded fish. The duck noodle is also good and the best part is the mango smoothie. The service can be slow sometimes but worth the wait.
(5)Chanannait P.
Wow, what a bold flavor. The food is very authentic. I am still thinking of Yum Neau I ate when I am writing. Will go back for more.If you love hot and spicy Thai food, this little spot is a must try.
(5)Johnny T.
Got the 57. Haw Mok, which is a catfish fillet/crab meat in red curry and coconut milk over rice. The presentation of the meat wasn't what I was expecting as it looked like tofu than anything else; then again, I'm not that well-versed in Thai cuisine. The sweet basil flavor was a little much for me. I did like the sweet potatoes I had on the side.
(3)Joseph O.
Best place on Taylor. Tom kah soup is amazing. The tofu here also rules.
(5)Nathan F.
My wife and I had a really unfortunate experience here. I think it was a series of things that added up to us perceiving this as one of the worst places we've eaten in the city. The atmosphere here was virtually inexistent. There is no music, and when we went (7pm on a weeknight) there were only one or two other groups in the restaurant. We placed our order and our food came out in decent time. I ordered the pad thai with wide noodles and my wife ordered drunken chicken. The tofu was undercooked to the point that I only tasted the oil coating the tofu. The noodles and sauce were okay. Disappointed with my own meal, I stretched my chopsticks over to my wife's plate when she violently shook her head no. The first bite of chicken was cold and she was avoiding it for the duration of her meal. Realizing we had a mistake we were ready to get out ASAP. We asked for the check and the waitress refused to take my credit card because the machine was down, something that would have been great to know before ordering. Luckily there is an ATM around the corner...
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