Thai Cafe
4950 Main St, Downers Grove, IL, 60515
Thai Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Downers Grove for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Downers Grove for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Downers Grove for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
4950 Main St
Downers Grove, IL, 60515 - Phone (630) 515-1471
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Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Laura M.
This is a place I need to go to while traveling for work. I was completely sold on their Tom Yum soup with Chicken and their shrimp cigars (never seen that before on a menu, and it's sooo delicious!). Their Tom Yum is hands down the best I've had so far. It's actually spicy, whereas other places I've had have 0 spice to it. More recently I had their Pad Kee Mao and it was delicious; so full of basil and spice! This place is much better for takeout since there isn't much of a seating area. However, that doesn't really bother me. Definitely check this place out!
(5)Hannah L.
Very friendly owners! Here's my take on lunch: Thai Iced Tea - A little on the sweet side. Shrimp Pad Thai - Generous portions! I can usually finish my plate at most other places, but these dishes can feed two. Noodles could have been cooked a bit more, but aside from that, the ingredients were fresh and the sauce was pretty good. Massaman Curry - The sauce was the epitome of perfection. Definitely my go-to place for curry. Space - It's a quaint, little place that has two tables inside with two chairs per table. There's also a counter with 4 bar stools. If you love curry, this is the place to go!
(4)Tiffany P.
This Thai place is a 3: good but not remarkable. It's located in downtown Downers in the small strip mall by the nail place and the Downers Grove Food Market. They are a kitchen only, so carry out is your only option. The food is pretty good, but not excellent. I got Thai red curry and the bf got pad thai. When I placed the order and asked for extra vegetables in my curry, they said it would be a $2 charge! I feel like I was nickel-and-dimed for that, but got it anyway. When we placed our order, we didn't specify the spicy level, but they also didn't ask. This resulted in a dinner that had Thai flavor, but was bland with the spicy level. We were dumping red pepper all over our food at home to kick it up a notch! I will say I liked the variety of veggies they put in my curry: green beans, carrots, onions, red pepper. And they cooked the tofu well too. But the curry itself was a little watery like most Thai restaurants around here. I have yet to find a Thai place that knocks my socks off.
(3)Migdalia J.
Food was really good here! It's a small place but the dishes were super tasty & the staff was very friendly & courteous.
(5)Ning W.
I have had experienced most of the popular and established names among thai restaraunts in chicago, and found this to be hidden jewel, and even better than other places!!! Food was superb, healthy yet sooo delicious, which is not always easily achieved in a balanced way! Service was even better; very timely and attentive! Overall, could not be better; so do try it out with delivery or stop by for a cozy experience with a friend!! Space is small, intimate though for a casual meal together!!
(5)M F.
In my opinion good Thai food is difficult to find outside of the city. Thai Cafe is my new "go to" for thai!!! You can always tell by some staple dishes whether the food is good. I ordered a lunch special. Good portions and good value. Comes with two little thai egg rolls, great starter. And then I ordered the green curry with chicken, mild. It was still rather spicy, but I loved the flavor. ingredients were all fresh and tasty. I will definitely be back!
(5)Grant P.
I didn't want to cook last night. Scratch that. I don't want to cook ANY night. But I do. And my wife does too. But I wouldn't say either one of us will be competing for a spot on the Food Network anytime soon. Either way, I had to pick her up from the train station last night and decided that takeout was in order. My eating hasn't exactly been of the most healthy nature as of late, so I decided to order up some Thai. Keeping it simple, we went with two orders of pad thai with chicken, and some potstickers. The lady at the counter was super friendly and made me want to order all my meals from her. However, the portion sizes seemed a little lacking. Maybe this is a Downers Grove thing? I seem to find that portions are smaller, with heftier prices everywhere in the Grove. I just moved here from a 'burb about 10 minutes south, and sure they're slightly less wealthy than the folks who inhabit Downers, but the $$ doesn't exactly grow on trees here either. And a deal is a deal. So when I spotted the two microwave entree-size containers and six miniature potstickers I was a little disappointed. I'm used to generous portion sizes, especially considering that the total for this meal was about $25. The food itself? It was all right. It wasn't the best pad thai I've had, but certainly wasn't the worst either. It had a very pungent sauce, and was extremely sticky. The potstickers were tasty, but definitely one-biters. We could've used a second order, methinks. So will I try Thai Cafe again? Most likely, especially considering that they deliver. But I don't think it'll be my first choice.
(3)Daniel N.
Tried this place for the 1st time and was excited to try their Pad Khee Mao (aka drunken noodles) based on all the great reviews. Overall good but just average, nothing special. This is a take out place not a sit down place.
(3)Sondra M.
Excellent Thai food and we've had it several times so it's consistent. If you say you want it hot, be forewarned that they don't mess around! My husband will be ordering the regular amount of heat in his delicious panang curry next time instead of requesting that it be made spicy in the special requests field, haha! This time I had the ginger stir fry dish with pork and it was sooo good with a lot of fresh vegetables and tons of pork--a much larger portion than I was expecting and more flavorful than expected. I strayed from my standard Thai order of mussamon curry this time and wasn't disappointed, although their mussamon is really delicious and their duck curry too! Everything we've ordered has had impressive depth of flavor, never flat, gloppy or underseasoned--highly recommended!!
(5)Erica D.
My classmates and I were really needing a pick-me-up before finals week, so we decided Thai food is what will motivate us. We all ordered pad-cee-yew and it was amazing. I personally prefer pad cee yews that are more on the sweeter side than savory, and I loved it. There was a perfect portion of noodles, chicken, chinese broccoli, and eggs. They also only use the leaves of the chinese broccoli (at least from what I noticed in my dish), which is a plus because the stems are kinda bitter. Will definitely come back soon!
(5)Punnee W.
Tom kha kai & scramble egg my favor. Thank chef . Basil chicken and scramble egg so happy for sweet treat Christmas present with ur oder
(4)Padma A.
Ordered carry out on Thursday before the holiday weekend to host house guests. The best Shrimp tomyom soup, chicken Red curry passed my test with flying colors and of course the family regular favorites veggie spring rolls and padthai were yummy. So glad to have my husband work in the suburb ;)
(5)Shannon D.
The food was horrible and it took over an hour for 3 items to to get to our house that's 1 mile from the restaurant. We got the Woon Sen Pad Thai and the Pad See Iew. It was pretty cold when it got here and there was basically nothing in either item beside noodles and chicken. The vegetables were almost nonexistent. They were both very dry as well. There was a very little bit of sauce at the bottom of the Pad See Iew, but the rest was dry. And the Pad Thai sauce was sparse and not good. We will never order from here again.
(1)Yvonne M.
Best Thai food around! I happened to find this place on grub hub and thought I'd give it a try. I always get curry (I switch off), a spicy soup (can't remember the name) and the veggie egg rolls. Oh my goodness!! Delicious! Every time I have a taste for Thai, it's Thai cafe for me.
(5)Eren R.
Wow......WOW! Don't be deceived by the small shop size. This was the best Thai food I have ever had. We had lunch with pork pad kee mao and tofu thai fried rice. Spectacular flavor with just the right amount of spice. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Trevor C.
Great tasting fresh food with many vegetarian options. The sauce they use is the best. The veggies are so fresh that it's as if I picked them then cut them up myself. Definitely way better than expected. It's around $8.00 for a meal, but they give you a lot. I would absolutely recommend to others. Only fault is I think they can really push the flavors and recipes. Other than that, it's a very solid place to eat in downtown Downers Grove.
(4)Shannon M.
Thai Cafe was our second choice for Thai food last night (see Siam Kitchen review), but it's definitely #1 now! The place is TINY and clearly does mostly a carryout business; there are two tables and a bar with a few stools for eat-in, but they were doing a brisk business of take-away on Friday night. We did eat in, but because they're used to timing orders to go, everything in the meal came at once (i.e. entrees only seconds on the heels of the appetizers). Everything was great, though! We tried the unusual shrimp cigars: shrimp wrapped in a wonton with a basil leaf and fried; unusual and tasty! The perfume of sweet basil permeated nearly everything that we ate, which was a good thing. Crab rangoon here was realized in the form of little purses, heavy on the cream cheese, with a slight bite of chive. My dining companion and I each kept stealing off each other's plates, meaning that we both liked everthing! He had the Pad Khee Mao wide noodles, and I had beef panang curry, both excellent interpretations of these standards. Service was friendly and fast, and the people getting their to-gos were treated in an efficient and timely manner as well. I would definitely come back. In the summer it would be nice to pick up takeout and walk down to the fountain area downtown to eat. :)
(4)Kishoree B.
Oh. Hell. Yes!!! Fast, fresh, steaming hot, flavorful and a STEAL for the portion sizes. Doesn't get better than that! I'll order again when I'm in this neck of the woods.
(5)Nicole M.
LOVE this place! My go to place. Just wish they had coupons. The chicken is so lean and perfectly cooked! Have been here so many times and order the same thing over and over again! Too good to try anything else! Panang Curry noodle- spectacular!
(5)Sarah M.
I don't like giving one star reviews, but I feel compelled in this case because I think there needs to be a warning amongst all these high ratings. I was really excited to get some great Thai food and the 4 star reviews for this joint made me excited to try some take out. My boy and I ordered a spread of Thai tastes - noodles, soup, spring rolls, rice. Sadly, every dish was seriously flawed. The spring rolls were wrapped in a thick wrapper that made you feel like you were eating a tube sock. The tom yum was boiling hot 30 minutes after pick up (re: microwaved) and the seafood tasted like it had been freezer burned. They also fail to mention on the menu that "crab" means "krab". That's fine - just tell me so I know what I am getting! A little expectation setting always helps ease the disappointment. The broth actually tasted OK - but not great. I didn't eat the noodles but my guy said they were flavorless (his exact words were "meh" as he tossed 3/4 of it in the garbage). The rice was fine but what is the point of rice if there is nothing tasty to eat it with! We won't be returning.
(1)Jeff A.
Decent food, but get lost every time they try to deliver to my place. Called 5 times by 5 different people. The driver hung up on me twice. Took over an hour for a small order 1 mile away. 15 minutes of that spent standing outside. Really pricey for awful service. Can you tell I'm a little bitter??
(2)Rachel S.
My husband I have ordered here on several occasions and have never been disappointed! The food and service are incredible! They have so many delicious and healthy options for vegetarians. This is one of our favorite go to places.
(5)Brian B.
Came by and had the Pad Thai. The food was good but they need to address the smell. It smells like "wet dog" in the restaurant. The smell was so strong I almost couldn't eat my meal. They also need to offer water to customers that dine in. They try to force you to buy a bottle of water as a way to increase revenue. My suggestions to the owners: Scrub the place down and if necessary put an exhaust fan at the back of the restaurant and don't be so cheap that you don't offer customers a 1 cent glass of water with their $15 order.
(3)Renita M.
I love tom yum soup. I had a jones for some tom yum and woonsen pad Thai, and Thai Cafe fit the bill. The place is small and warm and they make everything fresh. I hadn't called ahead, so I was happy to wait for my food. And about 12 minutes later, I was leaving with my double-bagged woonsen pad thai and piping hot tom yum. The soup was super-hot in temperature and just the right hot in spice. This is the perfect soup when you're sick, I think, although I love it any time. The balance of spicy-sour-sweet notes with tender chicken and tasty veggies really hit the spot. Then I dug into my woonsen pad thai. I love those glass noodles, the flavors were well-balanced, maybe a little less tofu than I would have liked, but it was a large portion and I can't complain. I really need more Thai food in my life, and I think Thai Cafe and I are going to be good buddies.
(4)Valerie W.
Thai Cafe may be my new go-to Thai place near work (or in general, as we don't really have great Thai options near my house, that I've found anyway...) "Dine-in" really isn't too much of an option here, they do have 2 small tables and a counter with a few stools, but it's really a take-out mecca. Instead of calling ahead, I ordered at the restaurant and just waited for my lunch to be ready. The girl who took my order was very friendly, and seemed genuinely happy I came in that day. Everything is made to order, which was evident by my 15 minute wait time. I ordered the green curry lunch special with chicken. The portion was huge, and came with a large heap of rice and two spring rolls, which I couldn't even get to after eating the curry. The curry. Ohmigosh, was the curry good! Rich, deep flavors and the perfect amount of spice. Packed with plenty of thai basil, veggies, and chicken, I couldn't finish what was given to me. So, if everything was super great and I'm raving away, why only 4 stars? $10 minimum for credit/debit card purchases. Boo-hiss. I just don't carry cash on me, and don't really like to have to order more than I'm going to eat in order to pay with plastic.
(4)Rafal K.
This place is always awesome, I'm here at least once or twice a month. Great great food and the owner is a sweetheart
(5)WP T.
My wife and I decided to try the Thai Cafe after hearing about it from friends and neighbors. I called to place a carry out order at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, 2-Nov. Simple order of Shrimp Cigar, Tom Tum soup and Basil Chicken. Total was $21 and change. The person who took my order said it be ready in 25 minutes. I walked in the door at 6:40 p.m. and the order was being placed in the bag. Total time spent inside was less than 2 minutes. Now that's service and the reason it get's five stars. Returned home to enjoy a piping hot Thai dinner that was delicious from start to finish. We will definitely return.
(5)Jie S.
I loved their dishes especially the Red Curry one! The owner was super friendly too. I am taking way one star since there was no seats to dine in. The owner had turned a party of four away as there was only one table with two chairs available when other two chairs were occupied. So pretty much this is a carry out place. We ordered the Shrimp Cigar which was big hit among us. The tender shrimp wrapped with Wonton skin which was fried to being crisp and crunch. The sauce with it was perfectly made as well. The Tom Yum soup had a nice balance with the sweetness and sourness which basically woke up all my taste buds. You have to try it out. The Red Curry with Duck had very tasty sauce. I probably had too much rice with it. The Pad Khee Mao was pretty good as well. However, the Basil with mixed vegetables didn't turned out as I expected. That was a bit dry and not spicy at all which I did ask when I ordered. We will be back to have more curry dishes from here.
(4)Pete B.
3.5 Called in for take out around 11:50. took me 3 attempts till somebody picked up. ordered the Pad Khee Mao. was quoted 20 mins which I thought was a long time for a primarily no-hassle take-out place. Got there around 12:10, and the place was totally empty, so I don't know why I was quoted a 20 min wait time. I was also charged the dinner price ($2 more with no spring rolls) because I didn't clarify that I want the lunch specials. I don't know about you, but I thought it's pretty obvious that I bought something on the lunch menu during lunch hours. Maybe it wasn't intentional, but it just wasn't a good first impression. About the food: the portion was small for a $10 lunch. The lady said that the dinner portion (which I got) is double the lunch portion, so I don't even want to think about the size of the lunch portion. My Pad Khee Mao was pretty good, but not great. I'll probably give this place another chance because it's the only Thai place somewhat near my work. I highly doubt I'll be a regular here though.
(3)Debbie M.
Panang curry is delicious as is the spicy thai basil rice. I love being able to substitute brown rice for the white rice. Everything is super flavorful without being at all greasy.
(4)D M.
food.is not consistent. when its good, its GOOD. but when its bad, it goes into the garbage. and I feel sad that I wasted money. thai basil rice chicken, was excellent the first time I haad it, 2nd time it was very dry and bland. crab rags were tastey but they forget the sweet sour sauce half the time. tomyum is very good. very frustrated with this place. but ill go back eventually.
(3)Mike D.
Best Thai food in Chicago land area. Family owned restaurant. Very small place with a big taste. Have been eating there for the last two years. Whoever makes negative posts is either a competitor or has no clue in authentic Thai dishes. Everything is made from scratch after the order. Chicken Cashews, Pad Won Sen with glass noodles (Pad Thai) , Tom Ka Kai (Coconut soup) and Tom Yum soup are to die for.
(5)C H.
Amazing Thai food, with quality you would normally think you can only get in the city. Thai Cafe is up there with the best Thai (even the now deceased, Vong's Thai Cafe in Chicago). Thai basil comes with nice ground chicken and nice and spicy! You can always request mild, but they have authentic level spice for those that like that. Only complaint is that they're closed on Sundays--it would become a weekly staple for us if they were.
(5)Maribel L.
I have ordered take-out several times now. I really love the Chicken Pad See Eiw & the Thai Veggie baby eggrolls. Order is always ready on time and the people are super nice.
(5)Steven W.
Yelp taught me to never judge a restaurant by its generic sounding name, and Thai Cafe embodies this maxim. I have now ordered various entrees from Thai Cafe and all of them have been spectacular. From curries to noodles to fried rice, all of them use fresh ingredients and they are well balanced in flavors. There are many great thai places around this area (Thai Pot, Mai Thai), but Thai Cafe provides the best value. During one very long workday, the thought of their duck curry was what actually kept me going...much better than the coffee that I chugged. It's the smallest of seating areas, so I would recommend getting your food to-go, but after that, you can't go wrong.
(5)Kenny G.
I've eaten at a few other Thai restaurants in the area and I have to say that this is as good as it gets for Thai food in Downers Grove. The restaurant itself is really small and can only seat 7 or 8 customers at a time, but it's perfect if you're looking for take-out. The food here has all of the traditional Thai flavors. Trust me, I'm Thai and I've had their Pad Thai, Larb Kai, Panang Curry, Nam Sod, Lard Nar, Tom Yum, Tom Kha, Crab Rangoons, and Thai Fried Rice. The only downside to this place is that their curries are a bit on the watery side and their portions could be a bit bigger. Their service is courteous and timely, sometimes they do get a bit backed up due to order volume but keep in mind that this place is run by a small Thai family and they freshly prepare their food. Undoubtedly my go to place for a quick fix to my Thai food cravings!
(4)Jay M.
This is one of the best Thai food places that we have found. Me and my wife are both very picky about Thai food, and this place is fantastic. Everything is great. I love the Thai fried rice with pork and sweet and sour chicken. Noodles are good. My wife loves the Tom Kai Khai soup. We order here once a week now. It's very small inside. You can eat inside, but I would suggest carry out.
(5)Candice G.
It isn't everyday a girl finds the food of her dreams. And it's no secret that this little lady lives, breathes, and dies for good Thai food. Heck, I even have the logo of my now 2nd fave Thai spot tattooed on my body 3 separate times. So you can imagine the conundrum I'm in now that I've found my official untoppable fave with Thai Cafe, who doesn't appear to have an official logo as of yet. What's a gal to do? Well I'll tell ya what I did- stuff my pie hole with generous portions of the finest Thai food around. Anywhooo. I found Thai Cafe while doing my bi-weekly exodus and migration from Nordstom Oakbrook to my housing project in Naperville. Normally, I just get right on the highway and do not pass go and I certainly don't collect $200- just ask my empty -practically virgin- wallet. But on this particular day it was different. Instead of zipping home I felt oddly drawn to take the long, traffic filled, stress inducing drive through suburban America during rush hour for a scenic tour of d-town Downers Grove. Actually, I'm convinced that the fine businesses of DG have somehow (fingers crossed it wasn't rectally) implanted a homing and retrieval device in my stomach because whenever I'm hungry (or even when I'm not hungry for that matter) I find myself in the area and eating. Today I found myself ordering up a smorgasbord of food from Thai Cafe thanks to the delightful little 'refresh Nearby Restaurants' option on Yelp's mobile app. 5 star average + Thai Food- Looks like this is my lucky day! Again straying away from my norm, I ordered take-out instead of sitting down to eat- mainly because it's a not a place you're really meant to sit down and eat in. And though there is one table and some seating along the wall, I think it's meant for waiting and maybe having a beverage since they only have to-go packaging. When you order from here (and you absolutely MUST order from here!), you should get at least one order of shrimp cigars for every person you plan on feeding. TRUST ME. A plan to share these things is like an evil plot to start World War III... just ask my boyfriend. No, wait- don't remind him. Honestly, they're one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten in my entire life. Next time I'm getting 3 orders for myself + my meal b/c I'll be damned if I walk out of a Thai place without extra spicy basil with tofu. Truly, Madly, Deeply I promise you that everything I had from Thai Cafe was fantastic. The fried Tofu was perf and the crab rangoon (which I normally am not a fan of) was devilishly good. I LOVED their spicy sweet and sour sauce which has more of a vinegar-y flavor than most places that have a sweeter flavor and more of a honey consistency that I'm not a fan of. My Tom Yum soup was a steal at $8 for a large... and they gave us an extra soup and free bottled water b/c we waited all of 15-20 minutes for a metric ton of food. I followed up my spicy basil with tofu with some mango and sticky rice for dessert and I recommend you do the same on your trip. The boss lady owner went above and beyond to make us at home while their phone line was positively blowin' up with take-out orders at 8PM on a Monday evening. Not only is she beautiful, but you can tell she puts everything she's got into making every person's experience into a 5 star one from the food to the service to the (and I appreciate this from so many Thai experiences in the past that lack it) comprehensive website with menu and pricing listed. Oh, and did I mention they deliver?! I believe I'm out of their delivery range but the owner did mention that they're opening another restaurant shortly a little farther South closer to my house. This tastes like the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
(5)Lauren M.
Food is excellent and consistent. This is the only Thai restaurant in the area I order from now because every time I go there the food tastes exactly how I remember it-excellent. I'm particularly fond of the Pad Thai and pot sticker appetizer. I'm a weekly customer now!
(5)Reginald W.
If taken out of the suburbs and put into the city it would deserve a 3, but since its downers grove and given the dearth of decent thai food around this area, it gets a 4. The portions are a bit small, but they will satisfy. I've been here many times and tried alot of their items (pad thai, woon sen pad thai, pad woon sen, spicy basil fried rice, nam sod, shrimp cigars, tom yum) and i enjoyed all of it. I tend to stay away from the items that aren't thai, because who goes to a place named thai cafe and orders things that aren't thai?
(4)Melissa K.
Tasty food, but I would recommend take out. There are only about 6 seats in the place. I had the coconut curry tofu, which had a great flavor, but was more soupy than I'm used to. I would go back if craving thai and in the area.
(3)Dan R.
I would give Thai Cafe 6 Stars if I could. I've written over 100 reviews and find this place better than all. The food is excellent, of course, and reasonably priced. But it is all of the other things they do that separates them from everyone else. We called in an order from a downtown Downers Grove business and Thai Cafe delivered at no-charge and were absolutely delighted to do so. I stopped in last night to place an order after a long drive back from Wisconsin. They brought me a complimentary soup while I was waiting. I asked to use their restroom - it's not a public restroom - and had to walk through the kitchen, the place was immaculate. The bathroom was pristine as were the food prep area and where they do the dishes. I was very impressed as these are not areas open to the public and it speaks volumes about how they run their business. This is one of those places that you find yourself really rooting for. I'm glad Yelp gives me the forum to do so. The Basil dishes are fantastic!
(5)Jaded C.
I was taking my wifey's TSX across the street to Lang's Auto Service (awesome car shop, BTW), and I read all the good Yelp reviews before. So I gave it a shot. Ordered the crab rangoon, chicken basil fried rice, and the beef pad see eiw. The crab rangoons were REALLY small though, but for a low-priced Thai food joint, it was decent. As for eating here, I'd pass and just order carry-out. The eating area is only about 200 sq ft with barstool seating. If you're craving cheap Thai food, give this place a gander. If you want a much more refined Thai experience, try Baisi Thai in Oakbrook Center. It's slightly more expensive but it's a much more well-rounded eatery and the food's quality takes a noticeable upwards shift.
(3)W C.
Based on the high rating I had lunch at this restaurant when I walked in I almost walked out it was a carry out restaurant with two tables . My friend said let just eat here good choice the pad thai chicken was awesome the egg roll good won ton soup was not bad to much cilantro for my liking. But the pad thai again was awesome would eat at again
(4)Len W.
I would have given a 5 star review, but the beverage selection was a little light. But I did have the best Panang Curry ever. It was sweeter than others I've had, but not overly so. And there was still a good bit of heat to offset that, so really delicious. And no oil floating in the broth. I had lunch there, and there's not many places to sit. A couple small tables and a small counter, but who cares. The food was tremendous. They have a lunch special, and I'll be heading back again.
(4)Carm C.
It wasn't horrible but it wasn't very good either. I ordered green curry, no eggplant, and pot stickers. The curry had eggplant and seemed more oily than anywhere else I've had curry. It was pretty bland and I had to spice it up with chili sauce. Unfortunately the only gave me about half of a small container of the sauce, plus about half of a container of rice. The pot stickers had a little more flavor, but that sauce was weirdly spicy. Everything about the experience seemed off. Definitely NOT going back.
(1)Elizabeth R.
In a word, LOVE! My husband and I stumbled across this place after we moved and needed a new place to order Thai food. The food is always yummy and the restaurant is very prompt and timely. The staff at Thai Cafe are also nice and friendly. Don't judge a book by its cover!!
(5)Montrew N.
We almost turned around when we pulled up. It was small and didn't look great in a little strip of shops. The yelp reviews were good so we tried it. It was really good and fresh. The chicken was real, nice cuts and good quantity in the dishes. The sauces had nice flavor and were light and fresh. Waited 15 minutes for our food. The rangoon and dumplings were good. I really liked the pad thai and I've been to Thailand and try it a lot here and usually don't care for it. The pad se ew was also good. Would definitely go back! No seating inside really.
(4)Roger K.
The best Thai food I have found in the area. I ordered the duck curry ($12.95) for delivery about an hour before close and was quoted 30 minutes for delivery. They showed up in 20. There was an unmentioned $3 tip/delivery fee on the bill which I did see until after I signed for the food. The curry itself was delicious. Lots of duck, lots of veggies, the perfect amount of spicy. When asked if I wanted it spicy I said the spicier the better which Thai restaurants usually take as a challenge. They made it decently spicy and included a little container of some siracha style sauce. Will be ordering again.
(5)Joe H.
Been here twice so far. Both times have been excellent. I've had the green curry and the pad thai. Both I'd get again. Affordable, good food, and nice sized meals.
(4)Rita D.
Good food
(4)Amelia V.
The pot stickers! I love the pot stickers! Now that I've got that out of the way, my fiance and I have been there several times and we have always enjoyed the food. Everything tastes fresh and well prepared. It's a hole-in-the-wal kind of place with nice decor and very good service. I enjoy their pad thai, and my fiance has tried a variety of dishes - beef, chicken, seafood - and has not yet been disappointed. Which reminds me, I haven't had their delicious pot stickers in a while... :)
(4)Insun M.
Decent take out thai joint. The food isn't amazing but there really isn't a lot of thai places in the area. Smaller portions. Really good red curry.
(3)Matt B.
No proper sign on the outside of the building. A makeshift paper sign taped to the window for the restaurant. Threadbare seating. A "just-got-started" look. Positively RIDICULOUS Thai food. Do -not- let the piecemeal appearance of this place fool you. This guy knows what he's doing. Went in on a Saturday afternoon awhile back and I, along with two of my friends, were met by a kindly older gentleman at the counter who took our orders. It left me with the impression of one of those (stereotyped) quiet Asian restaurants where the grand master cook comes out to meet you and is this totally unassuming person on the outside, but a freaking -wizard- in the kitchen. We honestly had our doubts when we walked in the place and it looked like they had literally just unpacked their equipment into the restaurant - but it became refreshingly clear once the food was served that the stereotype above was more the -reality-. And I have to say that that's one stereotype that benefits everyone involved! The place is designed more for take-out than it is for dine-in, so there's only a few seats in the place, and everything is served in take-out containers with styrofoam plates. Despite the cut-rate tableware, the food will freaking BLOW YOUR MIND. I ordered my old standby, pad cashew, chicken, medium. I've learned that at a Thai place, order it medium to start - because while you can always turn the heat up later, you can never turn it down, and one place's "medium" might be another place's "nuclear". That said, their definition of medium is just shy of what I would personally consider medium - about a 2.5 on a scale of 1-5, which is, incidentally, how you tell them how hot you want the dish. My friend got their Szechuan chicken at a 4, which was nice and solidly spicy as well. I ended up asking for an extra shot of spice in mine, turning what was once a 2.5 into a solid 4-plus for me. Flavors were much lighter than at other Thai places I've had, although the brown sauce used in the pad cashew was still quite savory. The red and green bell peppers really brightened up the flavor of the dish, and the chicken was tender and not at all stringy. What can I say? It knocked my socks off. And, as it turns out, the place actually -is- brand new - they had apparently only opened a few months before I walked in the door.
(5)Bea B.
Yeh- found another place with awesome Pad Thai in the burbs! I love Pad Thai and am very picky when it comes to this dish. Thai Cafe exceeded my expectations. I got mine with Tofu which was also fantastic. They included the right amount of everything from the bean sprouts, to the green onion, to the egg, to the ground peanuts. Fantastic! Prices were comparable to other area Thai places. We also ordered a Shrimp Panang Curry that came with white rice. Yum! We drove a little out of our way for carry out but well worth it!
(5)Christina F.
Wonderful hidden little restaurant on the north side of the tracks. Friendly staff, fast service and affordable! My favorite is the rama tofu with their fresh cut vegetables (how do they make them look so cute with those crinkles on my carrots?!), fried tofu and the yummy peanut sauce drowning everything in a peanut-ty heaven. Mmmmm.... Speaking of, maybe I should order some for dinner...
(4)Marty A.
I was looking a new restaurant in the area. Yelp gave this place great reviews so I figured I would give it a shot. I live within walking distance of this place but did not even know it was here. Don't let the paper signs in the window scare you off - they are just starting off. We ordered four dishes, three I thought were excellent. Crab Rangoon had light pastry-like wanton dough and not over cooked (nor as greasy) as is almost always the case with this dish. Filling was creamy and tasty. The shrimp cigars that someone else recommended were also excellent - this is not just battered or tempura shrimp. Sesame chicken was also lightly breaded and cooked to a golden brown - again not over fried as is common. Carrots were but retained their crispiness - no soggy veggies here. We got the crab fried rice mainly because I misread the menu. The crab was hard finely ground instead of in junks. I'll try the house Thai Rice next time. For Asian rice dishes, we tend to really partial to Jockey Rice from Jockey in Westmont - we found none better and tend to be hard on most other rice dishes. Very friendly husband and wife team run the place. This place will be my short list for takeout.
(5)Liz C.
Cute little place for takeout! We ordered the BEST crab rangoons I have ever tasted (mind you I'm not huge on seafood!). And some amazing tom kha soup!!! Delicious! Quick service and freshly made!! We also ordered the fried tofu. It was good. Not my thing. My husband really enjoyed it!
(5)Danny Y.
This little take-out in Downtown Downers Grove just opened 2 months ago, and looks slightly uninviting with their sign made of print-outs. But do not let this deter you from checking them out, because this is simply the BEST thai food I have yet to come across. So why the 3-star rating? Well, unfortunately, I can't in good conscience put it in the same category as some of the culinary LEGENDS due to its lack of appeal. Just realize that the 'restaurant' is really just a take-out, with sparse window seating and just but one table. Now for the important part: what we ordered! My wife ordered the Pad-Thai noodles, and Crab rangoons, both of which she said were excellent. I personally RECOMMEND the Mongolian beef, which consists of well-marinated and perfectly cooked beef mixed with a variety of bell-peppers, onions, and carrots. Both the pricing and quantity is fair, at about $9/dish, you will be what I call, "happy-full."
(3)Jeff M.
I had my first experience at Thai Cafe at lunch today and it was superb. I decided not to do the $7.95 lunch special, and went with one of my favorite Thai dishes, Pad Khee Mao. Everything was delicious. Some may argue that the vegetables were a tad undercooked, but I love the crispness. Well done. The spring rolls (called egg rolls on the menu) were very good. The sauce served with them was not entirely to my liking, but I thought the dish was excellent. I got carry out and sat at one of the 5 bar stools in the window. While I waited, the server surprised me with a complimentary cup of the noodle soup. This soup, and this restaurant, have found a home on my favorites list very quickly. One word of warning, hot means HOT! at the Thai Cafe. I love spicy and I asked for the Pad Khee Mao spicy. It did not disappoint, but I feel like casual "spicy" people would be overwhelmed by this. I recommend working up to spicy if you are on the fence. Overall, a wonderful addition to the downtown DG restaurant scene.
(5)Usama H.
I was excited about this place with all the 4 star rating from many users and decided to buy lunch for my co-workers. I bough cucumber salad, Mongolian beef , chicken satay and others and all of them were extremely disappointing on two levels. The ingredients were not cooked properly and the sauces were not really developed. It was somwhere between bland and no taste whatsoever. I hope they improve their kitchen otherwise, they shouldn't be open at all
(1)Jay S.
Thai Cafe is a great addition to Downers Grove. The Tom Kai Kai soup is top notch. Our kids love the Lard Nar and I love the Cashew Chicken. The only bummer is that eating in is not really an option. I urge everyone in DG to give this place a try - you won't be disappointed.
(4)Ali M.
Diamond in the rough. Not that DG is a "Rough" but i have had some amazing Thai food in the city and when i moved to the 'burbs I thought i was up the creek. In my experiences, Asian take out is hit or miss. THIS IS A HIT! Tom Yum soup is amazing (even though it is with chicken instead of the traditional seafood) and the thai style basil is Oh la la. I have done both take out and delivery and it is my go to Thai place.
(5)Christopher K.
This was a first-time carryout visit after a day of cleaning. It was a good carryout experience and I will certainly try it again. I ordered the pot stickers as an appetizer -- they were crispy and tasted very good with the ginger sauce. For an entree I ordered the Panang curry -- it was flavorful and spiced nicely, though a little heavy on the bell peppers. Total of $17 for dinner, I will be back.
(3)Justin B.
Great Thai Food. I would not recommend this for a nice sit down meal but to frag food to go it is perfect! I go here at least once a week for lunch.
(4)Kelly D.
Excellent take-out spot! Always good! Also gracious when all I want is a can of Coke. Family owned business.
(5)M K.
VERY YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is rather pricey and you don't get the biggest of portions BUT you get what you pay for you can tell she uses really fresh vegetables and good cuts of meat and seafood. I always get the Pad Thai with shrimp. It tastes different than other Pad Thai's Ive had but pretty good! Also all of the currry's with chicken are yummy!! Not a big fan of the deserts or appetizers though they are just too overpriced and not that good. They used to have delivery but I think they lost their driver, hopefully they got a new one. The people who work there are super nice and REALLY appreciate your business. I get the feeling its hard for them to get by in these hard times especially with them being fairly new. I hope they make it :)
(4)Jessica D.
My husband and I went to Downer's Grove to visit a friend and I read the reviews on Thai Cafe and thought we'd give it a try. Either I didn't read the review entirely or else I just overlooked it but I was under the assumption that it was a sit down restaurant, but they are geared more towards carry out, delivery and catering. However they do have seating at a counter that either faces the wall or the window overlooking the parking lot. We had the fried tofu for an appetizer and it was pretty good. I would have liked for it to have been a little more on the crispy side, but the tofu was firm and the sauce was nice and spicy. When I try a thai restaurant for the first time I like to order the pad thai because you pretty much can't mess that up. I was definitely happy with the quality of the pad thai...overall it was perfect. The portion size was also big enough for me to enjoy the next day too.
(4)Emily W.
My husband and I just walked in off of the street, not expecting much based on the threadbare sign out side and the lack of a real building sign. The digs were much too look at so we didn't expect too much. From the look of the outside we thought the food would be typical at best. Boy were we wrong! Thai food is one of my favorite types of cuisine so i considered myself to be well versed in classics like Tom Kha soup and yellow curry. Of all the thai i've tried around the world (mainly Europe and the US) this is the BEST thai i've ever had. Sam the owner is VERY friendly and warm. We sat by the window (there are a few little stools for dining in if you so prefer) and couldn't stop talking about how good the food is. The place is very clean and the portions are big enough to split among two people. We've now gone back 3 times in 2 weeks and Sam recognizes us by face everytime. This is definitely our new favorite Thai place.
(5)Poonam M.
I am a big Thai foodie and was looking out for a new place to try in the area. I found good reviews about this place and just went in. Trust me..this is the best place for Thai food and it was the best Thai food I ever had in my life. The Egg Rolls were fresh and amazing. The owner of this place is warm and welcoming. Will I go back? Yes..for sure :) Will I recommend? Surely..yes.
(5)Marc A.
Okay, this place just didn't cut it. I am in town for the weekend on business. I like to find the little "hole in the wall" mom and pop places. I found the reviews on here and thought it would be the perfect quick lunch. First off, I had planned to eat at the small counter by the window, however it just didn't seem clean to me and I decided to take my meal out to a small park down the street. The service was great. Very friendly and energetic. The gentleman who waited on me made me feel more comfortable about ordering even though the atmosphere made me leery. There were a lot of piles of papers and "stuff" next to the counter including a container of food. The chicken satay I ordered had okay flavor, but it was WAY over-cooked and the cucumber salad that came with it only had cucumbers in it (not what was described in the menu). Although the salad was also okay in flavor, there was only about 3 bites in the container. I would not come back here, nor would I recommend it to others. Sorry, but I think the "run-down" atmosphere, small portion and the "just okay" flavors made this one a negative experience for me.
(1)Alexandra D.
This place is highly overrated. Pad Thai is soupy sweet (vs. stick-to-the-noddle umami that's manifest in good pad thai), Larb Kai was good although the celery was a strange add, and the Pad Cashew followed in the Pad Thai's footsteps in being overly sweet and lacking complexity of flavor. If you like Americanized (e.g., sugary saucy) Thai food you will probably like this place. If you are looking for something more authentic along the lines of what a Thai person would actually eat, you will not be a fan. Better nearby options are Mai Thai in Westmont and Thai O'Cha on Plainfield Rd. Tough to find any great Thai in the burbs...if you find yourself downtown, Opart Thai is awesome in the S Loop and on the far north side, Siam Cafe is where the Thai expats eat in the city.
(2)Nick K.
My order was mixed-up a bit and the credit card reader didn't quite work... but I swear - it is the BEST Thai food that ever entered my mouth, and I've been to dozens of Thai restaurants. The food is flavorful, spiced right and you can feel the freshness. I believe carry-out is a better option with this restaurant, so if you are looking for an amazing Thai experience at the comfort of your own home - look no further. This is the place to go
(5)Joe M.
Nothing short of outstanding. Best Thai in the area. Ingredients are fresh and colorful and flavors are spot on. A great find. Love these kinds of strip mall surprises!
(5)Jessica B.
I just tried Thai Cafe for the first time. The Panang curry is delicious!!! So much flavor, they are not stingy with the shrimp (and chicken in the other entree) and it was cooked perfectly. I can't wait to go back and try the other great things on the menu. I will use the other reviews to pick my next favorite! We are foodies so I can be hard to please, especially Thai. We love Mai Tai and they have never let us down. I hope lots of people flock there (as well as Mai Thai) so they stay in business for a long time! They proved we CAN eat well, even when you aren't in the city! =)
(5)Susanne D.
After hearing (and reading) a lot of wonderful things about this place, I finally had the opportunity to give it a try. YUMMMYYY! I had the food delivered, and not only did it arrive quickly, but it was also REALLY hot! What a nice change of pace! I ordered the Shrimp Cigars and Pot Stickers as apps, and then the Chicken Pad Thai and Pad See Eiw as entrees. DeeLicious, and especially so as I paired them with a wonderful 2007 Pinot Gris from Alsace by Marcel Deiss. Perfection! (And having traveled to Thailand, I can say that these dishes were quite authentic.) The gentleman that took my order was very friendly, as was the young man that delivered the food. I look forward to trying more items from this great new business.
(5)Scotch E.
Very Solid Thai. Really a take out place there is no real decor or atmosphere to the inside of the place. The food is flavorful and prepared with fresh veggies. The meats and noodles are decent, but not the best I've had. I would definitely visit again. For the price it really cannot be beat by anything in the city.
(4)Marty G.
Yum Yum gimme sum! wish it was closer to my house
(4)Michelle Marie R.
Four stars because the customer service is SLAMMING! The owner is a lovely women with friendliness oozing out of her ears. Stopped in for some take out and while we were waiting for our food, we were served soup!?! Waiting for take out!?! The prices are so reasonable, the hours are reasonable,....food oh yeah you probably want to hear about the food...it's very good. I am very particular about my pad Thai and this was delicious enough for me to make this my neighborhood Thai joint! Happy crunching!
(4)Liz O.
I really love thier food. Just one block from where i work so i vist there lots. Lately though my favorite items have been different and some have completely left the menu :( I wonder if they sold thai cafe? Please bring back the sticky rice!
(4)Donald L.
We were very familiar with Tiffany Amprachna, proprietor of this establishment, from her former restaurant in Lombard. We were frequent flyers there, and will be here as well. This is outstanding Thai food, very fresh and fairly priced. Among our favorites are all the soups, Pad Woonsen, Pad Eggplant and Cashew Chicken. The curries are excellent, as is the mango and sticky rice dessert. Each dish has a distinct flavor with spice level at your discretion.. We have one favorite Thai dish not on the menu, and Tiffany makes every effort to give it to us. The service is as good as we came to expect in Lombard, and we look forward to the day when she offers full table service in Downers Grove. The luckiest ZIP code in Chicagoland is now 60515.
(5)Sage M.
OK. I admit I changed my mind. Since my last review I've ordered their lunch specials a number of times and really liked them. I don't know if picking up the order vs delivery makes a difference but now I do like them. My favorite is Pad Kee Mao and nowadays, I pick up my lunch there. It is oily but the vegetables seem fresher these days and it's a reasonable deal to get an entree and an egg roll.
(4)Ms G.
My Mom and I got take-out for lunch one day- great food! I love Thai and since recently moving to the area, am happy to find a good Thai restaurant. They have a great lunch special here, for $7.95 you can get soup and appetizer of the day, and an entree of your choice. My Mom and I both did that, and had the pad thai, with chicken soup and mini egg rolls. The food was very flavorful, lots of garlic, and a lot for the money. I will be back!
(4)Sal I.
I love thai food and I have to admit its hard to find a good thai restaurant. Thai Cafe, i'm happy to say, is one of those few places. Everything I've tried I've loved. I especially love the green curry, extra extra spicy. I only wish they had more space, so I can take clients there. Their current establishment is tiny, but the food is great. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Dani M.
So I came here with my bf since the yelp reviews were so good and... I'm so glad I did! We realized it was carry out/delivery when we saw the sign when we got there, but Sam (the owner I think) asked us if we wanted to dine in and let us sit at the only table in the restaurant since they weren't busy. We felt so special! What we had: Egg rolls - were okay, my bf liked them though. Chicken pad thai - (2/5 in spiciness was perfect)was delicious, sauce so savory/sweet. soo good. Basil fried rice - (3/5 in spiciness was a bit much) was ok I thought, but my bf really liked it. I was originally going to give 4 stars out of the 5, but bc the pad thai was so delicious AND bc the customer service was suberb, sam- you get 5 stars! :) Definitely coming back to this place. My mouth is watering thinking about the pad thai. yumyumyum.
(5)Nikki T.
Best place in area!!! this place is very reasonably priced, low delivery fee and some of the best thai food ever. Red curry is to die for, definitely ordering more!
(5)Shannon M.
Very very good Thai food! Tom Ka soup was superb! Panang curry was excellent! Finally, a Thai option in downtown DG!!! Highly recommend!
(5)Alex S.
Excellent authentic, well cooked thai food. A gem of a restaurant. I will definitely go here for my Thai cravings in Downers Grove.
(5)Nina G.
Stopped there for lunch today with a friend after reading many positive reviews on here. The food was wonderful, the service great, and Sam was extremely friendly!! I will definitely go back when I am in the area.
(5)Laura N.
This place is a gem! So tasty, the owner is so fun, accomodating, and personable, and so reasonably priced. I have long sought after the taste of the Thai food that you find in the city in the suburbs, alas(!), it has arrived. Check it out. You surely will not be disappointed. :o)
(5)E B.
Simply, OK. Mai Thai is much, much better. We ordered the thai fried rice with chicken and it was very bland and mushy. Tons and tons of onions. We also ordered the spicy basil entree with tofu and the portion was very small. I read that the portions were small, but I thought we would try it anyway. I'd say that for the 9.00 entree maybe 1/3 cup of cubed tofu was included and 2 cups of onion. I think onion must have been on sale. Super friendly, but we will not go back.
(2)Lisa S.
LOVE it! I've tried several dfferent dishes, each one equally delicious. They will cater toward your needs as well. No baby corn, OK. Add spice - OK. My husband likes #5 spice, and they deliver! My whole family loves it - 5 yrs. old - 32 yrs. old. Superb! Check out their Thai Pot sit down restaurant..
(5)Katie S.
PAY IN CASH, especially if you get your order delivered!! This restaurant charged my credit charged for an order that was never delivered! We called to inquire about the driver's whereabouts, the host kept saying the driver was on his way. 2 hours later the driver never came, and we canceled the order. However Thai Cafe charged my card. Each time I've called to have these charges reversed, they say it's been taken care of.....what does that mean? The manager acknowledged the mistake, but is in on hurry to rectify the situation...aka credit my charge card.
(1)FlyingShamu F.
My boyfriend and I went to this new, family owned Thai place and were really pleased. We almost missed it on the street because its small and unassuming (takeout only) but I'm glad we didn't! We called in our order, which was ready for us when we arrived, and the cashier was VERY friendly and happy. She seemed genuinely interested in how are day was and was happy to give us a good dinner. She seemed to be having a blast working. Not to mention our food was great-- I had rama tofu and bf had yellow curry.
(5)Randy S.
It's hard to find good Thai food in the suburbs, but not in Downers Grove. Not only is this place delicious, but the owner is super nice and very funny. The peanut sauce is real, and not just melted peanut butter, which is common to find in lesser quality Thai places. Apparently there is another location opening up with sit down service. If you like Thai food, you owe it to yourself to check this place out.
(5)Sara G.
This was the second time I tried Thai food, and I am def a huge fan not only of the fare, but of this phenomenal restaurant as well! I was taking a date out for birthday dinner, and the original Thai place I had found on here was closed. He had driven by Thai Cafe a couple of times, and suggested we try going there instead. And I am so happy we did. Ok, so the decor leaves something to be desired, but there are now several tabels, so don't worry about seating. And sure because they just changed their name and the new menus haven't arrived, they gave us menus with the scratched out name and hours of their old place. But the owners and food made it for me. You can tell everyone who works there is family. I'm not what the relations are, but everyone, especially the little old lady who came to take our orders, tried as hard as they could to make our experience great. I was a bit worried when the older woman walked away that she didn't know what we had ordered, but the owner came and double checked. The food was def the best part: we ordered chicken satay to start, and I got the sesame chicken and my date had panang noodles with chicken. The satay was great, and it was probably the best sesame chicken I have ever had (or at least the top 3). I had never tried panang before, but he loved it and I liked it quite a bit too. Thai Cafe is great: I plan on bringing my brother, a big Thai fan, back for sure!
(5)Brad P.
Please everyone...try this place out so it can stick around! The owner is as welcoming as can be and the food is fantastic!
(5)Steve B.
I live not six blocks from Thai Cafe, but did not know it had opened until I read a review here. Friday night, looking for some take-out to bring home and celebrate the end of the week, lead me to park and walk back to the strip mall just north of Rogers on Main Street in search of the store. If I hadn't know the address, I probably wouldn't have found this place! I orderd with the help of a nice person behind the register because I'm not a Thai food expert, and the other folks nodded and smiled at my remark "Just not too spicy, ok?". Sitting at the counter along the windows, (there are no tables or boths, and only six or so high chairs at the counter, so this is definately a "Take-Out" place unless they can arrange some outdoor seating in the spring), I was offered a complimentry bowl of soup - it was a nice broth with very fresh vegtables and a hint of jasmine!) It didn't take long, and I was on my way with very fresh, well packaged and portions ample enough for lunch the next day. A little pricey (the equivalent of a good pizza delivered) but well worth it and a great, much more exotic, alternative to other Take-out menus...I just have to spend the time to get familiar with Thai fare.
(5)