King & I Restaurant
105 N Marion St, Oak Park, IL, 60301
King & I Restaurant Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Oak Park for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Oak Park for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Oak Park for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
105 N Marion St
Oak Park, IL, 60301 - Phone (708) 383-2975
- Website https://kingandioakpark.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Janet P.
Really yummy pineapple fried rice and fabulous crab rangoon! Whatever the dipping sauce is for them (plum?) is a perfect complement to the cream cheese. I ordered for delivery and it was so delicious that I ordered again the next week and the man who took my order remembered that I don't like peas in my rice! Awesome! The delivery was really fast so everything was piping hot and my crab Rangoon hadn't gotten soggy!
(4)Rob W.
Pretty average. Looking for something different, I walked into this place as I can almost always eat pad thai on any night. So I ordered some with chicken along with an order of tod mun pla, small pancake-like deep fried veggie cakes that I've enjoyed at other Thai places. The entrée was $7.95 and the tod mun appetizer was $6.95. Well, the tod mun was probably the worst that I've ever had - five pieces that were thinner than most tod mun I've enjoyed and they were also kind of dry. The taste itself was ok, but overall not something I would order again. The pad thai was decent, not as large an order as I've seen at Mama Thai. It was also soy sauce based rather than fish sauce, which is the more authentic style. Also as noted in another review - no utensils! I was taking this home, so it didn't really matter, but they didn't know that. With a couple other good Thai options in the area, I won't be rushing back.
(3)Yvonne O.
I can't believe how long it had been since I ate here! The husband is a hard one to convince to eat Thai when there is a burger place right around the corner, so when I was out with my daughter and mom, we stopped here for dinner. The owner is super friendly and let us know that they make their own fish cakes unlike many other places that serve frozen ones. We got some spring rolls and the fish cakes, a pad thai with shrimp and a pad sie ew with beef and scarfed it all down! Delish. I've got to get the husband to come in for the basil chicken as I bet it would also be delicious.
(5)Claire M.
Solid Thai food. After saying for months (and possibly years) that we needed to try this place, tonight ended up being the night. We arrived at about 7:45pm. It was just us and one other table. For a hot minute, I feared they closed at 8 (Yelp said 9) because our initial reception was rather awkward as in, they didn't seem particularly thrilled we were there. Our icebreaker was when our waitress asked who Jared Leto was (the Oscars were playing on the tv). I barely know who the guy is and all I really know is that I can't stand 30 Seconds to Mars but whatever. So as an appetizer, we ordered Thai spring rolls and I had to try a veggie egg roll. I'm very particular about my egg rolls. It's not even that I look for authenticity because I'm no expert on Asian food, but I have a very picky palate for egg rolls. I knows what I likes. So out came the spring rolls. They were good, but not as good as Joy's Noodles. I much enjoyed the peanut sauce though, as peanut sauce is one of my absolute favorite foods, if you can call it a food. A condiment, perhaps? Next came the veggie egg roll. It was good... The sauce it came with was just okay. I liked that it had a more diverse filling than many places I've been. It seemed to actually contain various species of vegetable which was cool, though it was a tad soggy. Next came the entrees. We were both pretty boring and ordered pad thai, mine with vegetables and his with beef. I'm pleased to say it was very good and, as much as I hate this word, moist. There is nothing that disappoints me more than a dry, sticky pad thai. What I really liked was that they served it with lime, which I prefer to lemon. We were pretty full (and it was freezing outside) so no dessert but I noticed that they had a cotton candy flavored Thai ice cream. I bet that's interesting. They had more flavor options than I've seen at a lot of places. I'd try to "tropical" flavor next time if I wasn't completely stuffed.
(3)Sam P.
We ended up dining at The King & I after the restaurant we really wanted to go to was closed early for NYE. It was very cold outside, so a quick walk across the street was about all we could handle. We were greeted by a super friendly, smiley man who did most of the work as far as serving our table was concerned. There was a lady helping him who came and went here and there. This guy alone made me like the place, he was that nice. We had crab rangoon as an appetizer (shameful choice, I know, but so good!) It was the best I've ever had, and I've had lots. Crispy, sweet deliciousness. I'll go back just for that. Our entrees, unfortunately, were not as rave worthy. We had Thai fried rice with chicken and Mongolian beef. Both were oddly bland and...moist. Not moist in a good way, but moist in a not-supposed-to-be-so-mushy way. We would like to give them the benefit of the doubt and say these are just not their strong points, but...THAI FRIED RICE?! It's just kind of a staple. Both dishes were improved when we asked for hot sauce and added a ton. I did have a Thai iced coffee that I enjoyed immensely, my first time ordering one. Festive for NYE! This accidental visit leaves me with mixed feelings. Loved the service and the crab rangoon, but just can't get over the bland entrees. Worth another try for sure.
(3)Les D.
Great food. Service was good. True tests of a restaurant's service is when you have lots of time and a few people with you. That said, my 30 minutes alone there wasn't much of a test. But that's okay. I was in blue-collar, dingy work clothes and I was the only one in the restaurant. But the wait staff treated me well. I told them I had only limited time, and they got me my food very quickly. I appreciated that. When I try a new place, I tend to be cautious. At least for places I stumble on. I usually get the signature dish that is commonly found in other similar places. The Thai Spring Rolls had crisp lettuce, cucumbers, shaved carrots and tofu. With a light wrap, and a warm, sweet satay sauce, I was pleased. The basic Thai dish you'll find anywhere is Pad Thai. I opted for chicken instead of pork. The noodles were perfect, the sauce not too thick or too thin. There was the right amount of meat, and the bean sprouts were fresh. The green onion slices were great to accent with color and flavor, but not overpowering. This is a great place to come to. Had I experienced them when they were busy, or been there for longer, a fifth star is likely to have been earned.
(4)Hillary S.
The Pad Thai was a little different than most Pad Thai's. It was very mild in flavor, but was very filling. The staff are very friendly.
(4)Dedulax A.
I come here regularly. I am giving them 3 stars because they have one of the worst customer service (applies to just 1 of the person working there) I ever experienced. The food although is authentic. They also have very good prices compared to other restaurants in the area. My husband and I love their lunch special, especially the yellow curry chicken. I will recommend the place from the food standpoint. However, Take your meal to go and eat peacefully in the comfort of your home.
(3)Kathy W.
Best Thai I've found around town so far. Food was excellent and they got 5 stars from me on flexibility because I'm always picky about my vegetables. They added and subtracted some veges in my cashew chicken without charging and it was tasty and just right. Nice cozy atmosphere. We will be coming back for more!
(4)Kevin J.
I have been a customer since they were located on the corner of Madison and Ridgeland. Couldn't be happier with the food and the service has always been top notch. I always order my food killer spicy and have never been disappointed. The owners, a husband and wife duo are quite kind and the servers rarely allow you to sit long with an empty water glass. I have heard some differing opinions but I have never been let down. This is not because I have not tried other places but because, in my opinion, nothing has lived up to my expectations as well.
(5)Martin P.
I had the Thai fried rice, egg roil, crab Rangoon won ton soup from the lunch menu. The egg roll was good. There wasn't a lot of the wont ton for the soup. The crab rangoon was alright but the rice was definitely overcooked and very soft.
(1)Krista W.
We lived in Oak Park for 5 years and this was our go to place. Excellent service, excellent food, excellent prices and good beer selection. When we went in early this year (5/2014) I was so disappointed that the place was under new management. Huge bummer. Prices were a bit higher and the food was not quite as good (yet still decent.)
(3)Mehul P.
King & I Restaurant was a whim choice for lunch that turned into something of a great experience. However, the components of the experience were slightly not expected. Nestled on a side street parallel to the green line in Oak Park, you'll find a lot of nice eateries around here. King & I sits in a small enclave that you can easily miss. You step inside and it's like you're transported to a far away place. A far away place that was... at the time... surprisingly empty. Not a single soul in sight other than our waiter. But even this is not bad. He was cheery dude, polite and accommodating. We get the menus and see this glorious lunch special. Basically, it's a sampling and sprucing offer of an appetizer, entree, and soup. You can't go wrong. I can remind I had the pad thai, some spring rolls, and a soup. What's noteworthy here is not just the good food, but the portion size. You get a great deal of food that is appropriate for the price you pay. It falls somewhere in between "I'm still hungry" and "I'm so stuffed I need a to-go box", those extremes were totally avoided. If you're in the area looking for a quick lunch fix, this is a wonder spot to make the most out of a lunch special. I walked out completely satiated and satisfied.
(4)Heather H.
I'm new to the area, and with this place getting rated consistently at 3 or 4 stars then I probably need to drastically lower my expectations for Thai food - or just give up on Thai food around here. The spring rolls weren't even edible. I'm not sure what was wrong with the roll they used, but it was terrible. Neither my husband or I could tell whether the rolls contained cheese or tofu. Plus, it was stuffed with wilted, brown iceberg lettuce. I ordered the massaman curry, which states on the menu that it includes sweet potatoes. Not only did the dish not include them, the sauce was clumpy and bland. The service was slow and the waiter didn't seem to be surprised that we didn't eat the spring rolls or want to take my leftovers. There was barely anyone else in the restaurant, and I'm not surprised. This place isn't deserving of a second chance.
(1)Esther G.
An affordable place for takeout that'll be ready far before 20 minutes. Three of us shared the pad thai with tofu, pineapple fried rice with tofu and pad see oaw with more than enough left over. The dishes all had plenty of ingredients, the fried rice sorely lacked pineapples compared to the tofu. Cashews are a nice addition in the fried rice, adding a nutty contrast to the pineapple's juice. Snow peas and also onions made this my favorite dish, just wish it had more pineapples. The pad Thai was extremely mild -- no spice at all, and we weren't asked for the level of it either, but still, my second favorite. The pad see oaw just had onions and broccoli and plain overall compared with the other two. One odd thing: We also ordered fried wontons but were told it had pork in the filling. With a vegetarian and a Lent observer in the group, we appreciated the heads up, but my friend (the veg) swore they had the wontons before, and it did not have pork.
(3)Sal K.
Just discovered the King and I and was pleasantly surprised! The prices are very fair, and the pad thai is excellent -- not too sweet. My wife had the red curry and really liked it. Our male server was extremely friendly too!
(5)Mary Ann C.
Super fast delivery on an early Sunday evening. Good was piping hot and delicious. I especially enjoyed the yellow curry. The flavors were superb. We also enjoyed the thai fried rice and pad thai with shrimp. Everything was packaged nicely and executed well. Only bad thing were the pot stickers. I wonder if they are frozen, as they were not tasty. Cannot wait to try more items!
(4)Veronica L.
I'm not entirely sure what ingredients they use for their sauce in curry. I got the lunch special and although it is the cheapest lunch special for thai curry that I've had in a while, it certainly wasn't appetizing or reassuring to look at or eat. I saw this foam stuff in the curry itself, and I don't think they cook it with coconut milk, which explains why it was super liquify with foam covering the veggies. I'm not sure if the presentation was affecting my judgment of the taste, but taste wise it seemed really watered down, and kind of flavorless.
(1)Nixa B.
Food was excellent. Best fried rice I've had in years! Will definitely be back very soon.
(5)Earliana M.
Everytime I order for the first time at a restaurant I always order the signature dish. So I ordered delivery and I got pad thai. Unfortunately, the pad thai had so much tamarind sauce in it that I couldn't taste the chicken or tofu or any of the vegetables in the dish! All I tasted it was sweet sauce with no other spices, it was almost enedible. I might give this place another chance but be warned don't get the pad thai unless you like your pad thai very heavy on the tamarind sauce!
(2)Nirav P.
Hidden away in an a tiny square in Oak Park lies this stellar Thai restaurant. I stopped in and had the lunch special. It includes an entree, soup, and spring roll for $5.99! I got the Pad See Ew with tofu and was very impressed with the quality of the food. The veggies were cooked perfectly and the tofu was firm just like I prefer. The seasoning of the dish was excellent, and they gave me a spice dish alongside so that I could add more. I will definitely be eating here again when hungry in the Oak Park area. On another note, I really enjoyed the decor of the restaurant. There were not many other customers since I came in after the lunch rush, and the manager stopped by to make sure the food was to our taste.
(5)Angela C.
I'm not sure what to think of this place. The main guy out front is super nice, but the main girl is a piece of work. The pad see eiw was pretty good, but it wasn't spectacular. We were there on a normal Friday night and we were the only people in there. I've heard speculation that it's a front for something else... probably just lies, but there's something sketch about the place. Can't say I'll be going back on a regular basis. I do appreciate the fact that they participate in Thursday Night Out, though.
(2)Jess C.
Cute little place that is right in the heart of Oak Park and surrounded by lots of little shops. Pad see eiw is delicious! One of my number one choices for the Thursdays nights out. Service has been mixed.
(3)Andrea B.
Best Thai food in the area! This restaurant is a hidden gem in oak park, somewhat hidden next to a shop on Marion. They make the best Pad Thai I have ever had in my entire life. After eating here, I will never eat at another Thai restaurant again!
(5)Nessie V.
Great food. Now one of my Chicagoland faves. Dishes were much more rich than your typical Thai, making me think they are some regional variation (Southern?) but I can't be sure. Decor is okay, I kinda liked it but I was in the minority. The robot made of cans is funny. Note there is not good cell/data reception here, atleast on my carrier.
(5)Nick D.
The King and I is another regular visit for my girlfriend and I. The portions are usually decent. They make all the dishes with tofu if you want and will also amp up the spiciness on request as well. Every time we dine in, the place is usually empty and very quiet, which is great because I like people more (when they are no where around). The staff is always very attentive and friendly. I love this restaurant. In fact, I think we should order tonight.
(4)April S.
This has been my long time favorite Thai place in Oak Park. They're very nice and happy to make adjustments to dishes. They offer a good amount of food for the price and every meal I've had has been full of textures and flavors I crave often. They offer yummy plum wine and a delicious Thai custard pie like dish. It's creamy and filled with a toasted coconut and vanilla flavor. Great soups and vegetarian options as well!
(5)Cher M.
Pad Thai is my ultimate comfort food. On a freezing January evening, I ordered from King & I for the first time, hoping for the best. The food was delivered in 15 minutes **head snaps** "whaaaat?" yeah, you read that right. Super quick, and everything was still hot, fresh out of the kitchen. Too bad fast delivery can't save food that was lackluster to begin with. So much pepper! I can't remember ever getting pepper as a garnish on Pad Thai, yet here is was, staring me (and my sensitive nose) in the face. After several sneezes, I scraped the top layer into the trash. (portions are huge, this was no big loss) The remainder of my pad thai was ok. Just ok. It was pretty bland, which for me isn't a good thing. I love spicy food (just not loads of cracked pepper!) I also ordered the gyoza, which were decent but nothing to write home about. I'll probably try one of the many other Thai options in and around Oak Park before I return to King & I.
(2)Whitney S.
Only ordered from here once. The pad thai had more like a dark, garlic sauce on it. Too salty and heavy. I couldn't eat it and my fiance, who normally will polish off leftovers like it's his job, could not eat it. We ended up trashing it. Didn't give this place a second try.
(1)Grace N.
Just ordered pick-up from here and the King and I will have more of a short fling than a lasting relationship. I don't have crazy high standards for an $8 dinner, but the portions were small (the pepper steak was about a cup or less of food and mostly liquid), the hot & sour soup was really salty and strange (it definitely was not the right color), and the egg roll was about the size of my thumb. And there were absolutely no utensils, plates, napkins, etc. included which is amateur for a pick-up order. If this is what passes for good Thai in Oak Park, I'll have to move a Park over.
(2)Melissa T.
Not great. Not Awful though either. Although I've been up in the area for nearly 3 years, I've never tried King & I. I'll admit that it's partly due to a poor experience at a King & I in a different city that was lauded as the best thai in the city. Deciding that I was unfairly prejudicing this place by name alone, I gave it a try: spring rolls, crab rangoon, chicken satay, kee mao, and yellow curry. Spring rolls: why do I bother anymore? I should just know that if I order them up here, I'm going to get this bastardized roll made with a flour rap loosely rolled around a piece of cucumber and tofu. It's simply not worth the $4. Thank god the boyfriend will eat anything. Crab Rangoon: see first sentence from spring roll review. I have not had a genuinely good, basic crab rangoon up here (compared to some of my favorite STL establishments), and this was no different. They weren't bad for a thai place, but I've had better for sure. One thing I found disappointing was the dipping sauce. I love sweet chili sauce that many Thai places serve with crab rangoons. Sadly, I think this was the exact jarred sauce I had in my fridge. It was too congealed and overly sweet. Chicken Satay: the peanut sauce was really good. The cucumber salad was mediocre at best. As for the chicken, I can't help but get the idea it was frozen. It was really juicy, but it was like that overly-juicy that you get with an frozen breast that has been injected for flavor purposes. Yellow curry: It wasn't the greatest, but it wasn't bad. The boyfriend really liked it. The potatoes were cooked well, and it was pretty hearty. Kee Mao (ordered it thai spicy): It was spicy, but it was like 3.5/5 star spicy. Still, that's a whole lot better than I've gotten from most places up here, so I'll take it. The kee mao was a little oily for my taste and the noodles were overcooked, but it certainly was decent and worth ordering again if I was craving oil kee mao (hey, it happens). The best part about it was that I ordered it with egg. When I opened the bag of food and pulled out the kee mao, there was a giant egg patty on top of the kee mao. They didn't even stir fry it in with the rest of the kee mao. I was a little annoyed at first, but I just mixed it in and ate it anyway. I guess next time, I'll have to ask them to stir fry it with the dish. Overall, it wasn't bad. I'd definitely go to other places before coming back here, but if you wanted to buy me lunch here, I wouldn't say no.
(3)Bria D.
I tried King & I last a few weeks ago and was very pleased with my meal. Im embarking on a journey to try something that I have never eaten before so I ordered thai iced tea and curry rice. The thai ice tea came first and boy was it good! Seriously, I think its ny new addiction because I find myself craving it randomly. Its a smooth taste, think of sweet tea with a coconut twist. The curry rice came next and it was amazing! I don't think I left a single crumb on my plate. I definitely recommend King and I to everyone. TRY THE THAI ICE TEA!!!!!!!!
(5)A. J.
The food here is ok, but their style of cuisine is a tad odd. They don't serve lime with the pad Thai, even when requested. I've ordered delivery from here three times and not once has it been correct, even though I've reviewed the order each time. The maitre d' is either oddly quirky or just downright rude. The delivery man called me in a panic and had a meltdown on the phone because the woman who took my order did not pass along the correct information although I reviewed it with her twice (at the time I just moved and my name wasn't yet on the bell, although I did tell her the right name on the bell which I identified as being different than the billing information). The delivery man called me and was actually for real crying on the phone, which I guess could indicate he was committed to doing his job which is cool, but had the lady actually passed along the correct information which I emphasized then his life would have been less stressful. The food was cold and the order was wrong. The only reason I tried again was because the first time I ate here, although the matre d' was rude, the food was good, although the order was wrong at the table.
(1)Allison M.
On a hunt for the best pad thai in Oak Park, I started my search here and was not disappointed. The pad thai itself was absolutely fantastic-- great flavor, plenty of egg and tofu, tasty bean sprouts. The other food, though, wasn't so great. We got the Pad Ped Tofu, medium spicy, and the red curry sauce didn't have very much flavor at all. It was spicy like red pepper flakes, but the tastes weren't very complex or very infused into the tofu and vegetables in the dish. Still, for the price (about $8 an entree), it's a great deal. And the decor-- the robot made from soda cans-- in the entryway adds a nice touch of kitsch. My recommendation: come here for fantastic noodle dishes; don't expect too much from the vegetable-based menu items.
(3)Lavon K.
We were very pleased with our meal. I had the veggie egg roll and it wasn't greasy but nice and crispy. I had the panang curry with tofu -- very fresh and tasty. The rice was more sticky, dare I say almost mushy, but I didn't eat very much of it and the panang was so tasty that it was totally fine.
(4)Sherry Y.
Good impression of this restaurant. Went with family, which is quite miraculous considering my then toddler-aged little brother enjoyed his food. Ordered a bunch of food, though the pad thai is pretty excellent. Choose anything with peanuts (if you're not allergic) and be rewarded! The sauces are tasty and savory, especially the one for the spring roll appetizers. Kind of off Lake Street, so its both quieter than the main street (with less traffic) and efficient for car-riding. I think couples, especially if they're celebrating an anniversary, would love this quiet nook in Oak Park. Try something to spice up that life, eh? ;)
(4)Camille A.
Awesome! My sister and I recently moved to the area and found this place on grub hub. We got the lunch specials, green curry and Thai fried rice. Both were outstanding!NNeither of us really liked the soup that came with it but that's not going to stop us from ordering from there again.
(5)Irina F.
Well, we came in between lunch and dinner. As you could imagine we were the only customers there. Food was good. Nobody was disappointed in food and the waiter did a great job serving us.
(5)David K.
Quirky little place with very friendly service, great lunch specials and some of the most amazing yellow curry in the world. It's nearly secret location hidden off Marion street means it is never crowded.
(4)Charlie L.
Great Thai food and excellent service for a great price!!!
(5)Stephanie V.
I went around 3 pm and enjoyed a egg roll n delicious chicken pad Thai. It was well worth my $9 bill. They only "bad" thing I would say that I didn't like the cheap decor n how it lookedinside, but the food was great.
(4)April P.
This place is incredible. Now, I am not anything even close to an expert on Thai food, but as much of it as I've had, this place seems more like a Chinese(American) restaurant to me. It has Chinese options and Thai options, so if you're looking for Chinese on Marion, you should probably go here. (Actually you should definitely go here, I've had the other Chinese in the area, and this is what you want) The service is great. The people who work here are SO nice! If you don't know what to get and you feel like trying something new, you should SO get the Pad See Ew. Oh my goodness. I worked across the street this past summer, and it felt like my coworkers and I were getting Pad See Ew once a week. Trust me, you'll find yourself craving it soon after you have it. Look out.
(5)Susie C.
This is the best thai place in the Oak Park/Forest Park/River Forest area. Everytime my boyfriend and I want Thai we always order from them. We've checked out pretty much all the Thai restaurants around our area and this place is the best. The entrees do cost more than the other Thai restaurants in our area but it is delicious. My favorite is the Pad Kee Mao (spicy). They have two different versions of spicy - American spicy which is a bit mild for me and Thai spicy which IS spicy!! Try it out if you are very into spicy. My boyfriend loves the Thai curry rice dishes. He always order that. We normally get take-outs. We dined in once. The place is like your normal cafe...nothing spectacular about the restaurant.
(5)Kimberly S.
This place was the pits. Flavorless and about as good as a frozen Lean Cuisine meal. I spent $20 bucks on crap. Not going back.
(1)Becky E.
Reasonably priced, reasonably friendly service, reasonably tasty food. Reasonable, but nothing spectacular. The green curry (my favorite Thai dish) was not very exciting. It needed more basil. The pad Thai was pretty good as was the pad see ew. The rice was not good- mushy. I make better rice in my rice cooker at home. I will try elsewhere before committing to this place as my local Thai restaurant.
(3)Laura M.
Finally...delicious home-made Thai food. Thanks to Amaliya, we came to eat here after our trip to the zoo with the boys. Mind you, in my residential area, good Asian food is almost obsolete. Sometimes, I have to ask my husband to bring me sushi from Whole Foods in the city just to curb my cravings. Yes, it's that bad. King and I is small and lovely, the service is attentive, clean and quite relaxing. My son had the chicken satay (devoured), Amaliya's BFB had the potstickers (gone), and we ordered Pad Thai, Pad Prik Bai Krapao, and pineapple fried rice. Delicious, so many flavors, it was like having good ol' comfort food. I finished my meal with a lychee ice cream (home made of course). They serve the lunch menu even on the weekends, so I am definitely making the trip more often!
(5)Laura V.
Easily my favorite Thai restaurant in Oak Park because the food was amazing and a little atypical which is always nice. They have a very good vegetarian section and the Pad Thai and the Pad Ped Tofu were both delicious. We ordered the Pad Ped "Thai Spicy" instead of "American spicy" and we made the right decision. It was the perfect level of spice. Both dishes had a very nice smokey flavor that I don't see too often in Thai restaurants. The portions weren't as huge as at a lot of Thai restaurants but they were probably the perfect amount. We also had the spring rolls as an appetizer. The skin was a lot thicker than usual but they were very good and the peanut sauce was yummy. Aside from the food, the service was excellent. The decor is fine... a little bright, a little hotel-like with the carpeting and the table cloths but there was some nice thai decor and the environment was overall pleasant. I'm looking forward to getting delivery from this place, as well as stopping by to dine before or after movies.
(4)Austin S.
I think it helps to be a regular, but the staff here really does enjoy making sure you get food you're going to love. Pickup orders are ready usually in five minutes or less, and delivery is generally within 20 minutes. Make sure if you want to be Thai Thai instead of Americanized Thai you say "Thai spicy" when ordering.
(5)Gary N.
Came in for the lunch special on a Saturday, thinking I'd stumbled upon a great deal, but met by food that was of incredibly low quality. The spring roll covered in flavorless, gelatinous peanut sauce was inedible. The wanton in the soup was still cold from the freezer. The larb kai and pad thai were disappointing. Even the rice on the side was overcooked and dry! Sadly, you get what you pay for. Spend your money somewhere else.
(1)Taylor M.
My favorite thai restaurant. Great service! Awesome lunch special with includes soup and appetizer with your meal for only $6! i always get the Pad See Eew with tofu... it is so good, I cannot force myself to try something new. Everytime we go, my boyfriend gets something different and has NEVER been disappointed. Hot and Sour Soup and Wonton Soup are both amazing. We also really enjoy the fried potstickers! When I lived in the area, I went to lunch here once a week!
(5)Christina R.
A group of 17, birthday party. $30 per person. How does that happen? Matsaman curry, okay. I prefer the Massaman curry at New Pot. The servings were kinda small. The server was ok, alot of people were served before others. People who ate Pad Thai were in the bathroom a half hour later. They have a good lunch special. When there are 10 other Thai restaurants in close proximity, this isn't my first choice.
(3)Lauren A.
The food was good but beware if you order for delivery. I ordered via GrubHub.com . The restaurant called us to confirm our order which is nice. They confirmed their driver was on his way, about 20mins after placing the order. We don't live far from the restaurant so I was expecting it to be at our house in about 15 min, well 15 mins pass, 40 mins pass, 60 mins pass, you get the idea. The driver called us asking for our address, but he never showed up. I called the restaurant to see what was going on and they said he was close to our house. Around the 60min mark of waiting the restaurant called us back saying they needed to remake our order because the driver got into an accident. They sent a new driver out to deliver the food and he said the guy got lost, so who knows what actually happened to our food. The food was really good. I'm a picky eater so trying a new Asian restaurant is always risky to me. I'm glad that they made good and remade our order so that the food was actually hot when we got it. After finishing our meal the restaurant called us back again and said they called Grubhub and they credited our meal on our Grubhub account. Totally was not expecting that. I was originally going to give them 3 stars, but because they credited our meal that to me shows that they are running a fair customer focus business, so for that they get an extra star! We will def. try them again.
(4)Jim L.
Fast, friendly service and both my wife and I thought the food was very good. The prices are almost too low to believe. Appetizer, dinner and 2 drinks each for a little over $40. We'll go back.
(4)Amber V.
I was unimpressed. Pad Thai is my usual Litmus test for a Thai restaurant and it failed. Horribly. Won't be eating here again.
(1)Anne D.
I have been looking for a replacement for my favorite Thai delivery place in my old neighborhood and have been disappointed by the other places I've ordered from in Oak Park. I was pleasantly surprised with King & I! It's definitely of similar quality to my old favorite, plus the prices are decent and the delivery was lightening fast (as in Jimmy Johns "so fast you'll freak" fast.) I love love love Thai wide noodles, and these didn't disappoint. I'm excited to go eat at the actual restaurant sometime soon! Next time I want Thai, I'll definitely be ordering from here again.
(5)Cassie S.
I've regularly eaten here (at least once every couple months) since I moved to the neighborhood around 4 years ago. The place is underwhelming to look at (though I love its soda can robot and big dipper inset lighting), but the food is consistently good, as is the service. The prices aren't bad, either. I always see the same few servers when I'm here, and within not much time (though I'm not there terribly often), they recognized me well enough to ask how I was doing and so forth when I've come in. This is a good thing. My favorites: their pineapple fried rice, pad thai, fried tofu, thai spring rolls, chicken satay, and special chicken.
(4)James S.
This review has been long time coming. I've been coming to this place regularly for about 5 years and I have to say I haven't had better Thai food outside of Thailand. The chef is amazing and her Tom Kha Kai soup is the best soup I've ever eaten in my life. Hyperbole? Not at all. I've made it a point to test Tom Kha soups in other restaurants and none came close. I don't think I need to stress I am coming back.
(5)Liz W.
So I just started my new job today and it's in Oak Park! I was so excited since Oak Park has lots of food choices. My manager took me out for lunch and she chose this place. We walked in around 2:30pm (yeah I know late lunch) and there was nobody in the restaurant. Awkward much? They do have a decent lunch special though. It was $5.95 for soup, egg roll, and chicken pad thai. The service was fast, but nothing special. The egg roll that I had was very fresh and tasty. The pad thai came out before I even finished the egg roll. It was pretty good, but not the best I had. A little too oily for my taste. If I'm craving thai I would probably come here again unless I find a better place nearby.
(3)Ken L.
There are several good thai restaurants to choose from throughout Oak Park, and if you live near this location or are shopping in the area, this is one of the good choices for Thai. Food is very good: I like the panang on a stick, thai spicy, and I will combine pad thai with the extra panang sauce. Very good service and kid/family friendly.
(4)Erin C.
I've gotten take-out twice now from this place, and the tofu pad thai is just meh- egg, noodles, sicky-sweet peanut sauce. I actually like veggies, especially bean sprouts, in my pad thai. And it was worse the next day for lunch, when traditionally pad thai is even better! The "spring roll" was horrible, too. It was soggy and they used a thick, pasty shell instead of nice rice paper. The whole thing was coated with gloppy brown sauce- it wasn't served on the side. On the plus side, it was ready quickly and the people seemed nice. But there are plenty of other Thai places in OP, so we're going elsewhere.
(2)D S D.
Lacks authenticity. Sometimes fewer items on a menu with better quality offerings can help them improve.
(1)Stephen D.
This is about as average a Thai restaurant as you'll get. Seriously. Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not. However, if I could replace three stars with a straight up "vanilla" rating that would be it. You want pad thai? Okee doke. . . You want [insert generic title] and basil leaves. . .they got that too. . . You want mind blowingly good food? Go elsewhere. . . Bottom line, a nice place to grab a quick meal and nothing else.
(3)Trinidad F.
I was upset with this place. My friend said it was great but I didnt think so. When I walked in the place was empty and that alone scared me. Lol. The people that work there are very friendly. I was seated and ordered the Pad thai with tofu and extra veggies and spring rolls. Service was quick. I got my order in about 6 minutes. My spring rolls were blah. The lettuce in the rolls was bitter. I guess my waitress didnt hear when I mentioned I wanted extra veggies because when I got my pad thai it was just the noddles, egg and some random pieces of tofu here and there. I was upset. I will definately not return to this place. I have definately had better.
(2)Giri C.
Not that great. I went for a Saturday lunch. We ordered the spring rolls as an appetizer and they were pretty blah. Also, they came out instantaneously. It seemed like they were pre-prepared and they just topped the rolls with some peanut sauce. I asked for my red curry chicken to be spicy, and it was pretty bland. As a previous reviewer noted, it looked like they added some frozen mixed vegetables. On a positive note, the service was fine.
(2)Sarah G.
The people at King and I are the sweetest--very attentive and excited to see you each time. My favorites are the thai iced tea, steamed pot stickers, spring roll, king and i vegetable (spicy!), and yellow curry. Can't go wrong here!
(5)Lindsey C.
Any Thai food I eat is compared to this restaurant- King and I is my standard. My family and I have been coming this establishment for nearly 10 years. I have a peanut allergy and they have been very careful with me. They have been even more accommodating with my step-mom and her recently diagnosed celiac disease. They often create something not on the menu for her sans wheat. After coming here for so many years, if I come in without my step-mom they ask where she is. They always remember me and I love that they ask about my apartment or work. I always order the crab rangoon, which is by far the best I have ever had anywhere. I usually order the pad woon sen and have never been disappointed. Recently I tried the pad ginger and it is really flavorful and has thin strips of ginger and those wood ear (?) mushrooms. They also have the best thai iced tea and I love getting it to go. There has only been one off-putting experience. My dad ordered some kind of curry dish- but I can't seem to remember the name. It tasted like dish soap- it was horrible. But don't worry, it wasn't the yellow, green, or red curry- those are perfectly safe and delicious.
(4)Michael T.
Had delivery tonight and it was very good. I would recommend.
(4)Michael K.
Supurb Thai Food.
(4)Benjamin T.
Good though not great Thai food. I thought their Tom Kha Kai soup was too salty, but the Panang curry was good. Very clean restaurant, friendly, attentive service; the restaurant has been around 25 years, so don't expect real fresh decor. Lunch special for $5.95 includes slightly soggy spring roll or egg roll and hot and sour soup.
(4)Marlene S.
This is an OK place w/fast, reasonably priced dishes. Not much ambiance. I wasn't there for a romantic dinner, but it seemed like there was way too much lighting. Wish I had ordered the Thai iced tea. It looked good.
(3)Bee L.
Honestly this was my last resort It was a sunday and me and my honey were craving pad thai mama thai didnt open until 3 same as amarinds and thai oak park :(( anyhow king and I was open so we decided to check it out....they had a lunch special of 5.95 which is the cheapest thai I've ever had. The place was cozy and comfortable the waitress was very kind and quick I had the spring roll with peanut sauce on top it was very tasty the wonton soup was also very good with the pork dumpling. The pad thai was ok though. I would go back though I'll just try a different dish :D
(4)April B.
Absolutely love their pad thai. I've recommended it to others, who all agree. Also great delivery service - they always beat their time estimate, which is not extensive (usually 30-45 minutes, here in 30 max).
(5)Allison M.
I love King and I for the friendly staff and the wide variety on the menu. My sister-in-law is a picky eater and we found plenty for her to eat, and now she's pretty into certain thai dishes! I think the flavor profiles could be a little stronger, but overall, it's a solid go-to choice in our take-out menu drawer!
(4)Amy L.
Reminds me of other thai restaurants. The food was good. Not amazing. I'd go back if I'm looking for a Thai fix. The service is good. Nice atmosphere. Will definitely give this place another try.
(3)C R.
After shopping I invited my friend for an early dinner at the King & I. Very relaxing. Food quite tasty. We had the chicken satay as appetizer, Riesling wine, choo chee kong (stir-fried shrimp with red curry, topped with coconut milk and kaffir leaves) and pad ped (stir-fried chicken with red curry, green peppers, green beans, onions and green onion) with sticky white rice, of course. You can have them mild, medium or high level spiciness. This time we had Thai custard for dessert. The waitress described it as "flan" but it more like a sweet cornmeal which was tasty. They also offer Chinese food as well. This place is quite affordable, great service and friendly waitresses.
(4)Sam S.
If I was too lazy to drive to Amarind's, I'd come here. Generally food here is a little cheaper than Amarind's, but the quality of food can vary. Their Thai ice tea is a must-have - no matter how late or how cold it is outside. The fish cake appetizer is done right, so is the Tom Yum soup. But get the "regular" Tom Yum with shrimp; do not get the seafood version, unless you like the raw stench of sea breeze in your face. A bit too fishy for my nose and tongue. Green curry is coconutty tasty. They serve jasmine rice, I think, 'cos it smells and tastes delicious. Other dishes aren't so great. Noodle stir-fried dishes can be so salty they might as well serve a whole plate of MSG instead. In fact, they aren't very good at stir-frying. Overall a decent place with decent price. It's better than Mama Thai for sure.
(3)Meg X.
Great food. The atmosphere is kind of dead. It's usually empty when I'm there, but the staff are very friendly and attentive. Parking is a pain. If you live nearby park on the south side of the tracks. If you're coming from the city, take the green line - it's right at the Oak Park stop. Really great Thai food. My mom is a vegan, and when she asks for vegan they make sure to make the food without any meat, milk or eggs. It's one of our favorite places to go when she's in town.
(5)Linda T.
I have completely stopped ordering pad thai when going to Thai restaurants. You're there to try the GOOD stuff! The staff is very friendly and attentive, so the meal was very enjoyable. The curry chicken was so good, it is a MUST have when here. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed this place and will be back for more.
(4)michele l.
I prefer the takeout/delivery to dining in because the portions of the Pad Thai are double or triple for delivery. When you eat in, it's on one tiny plate and I can eat it all in one sitting. The delivery portion I can eat two to three times. I do wish that the Pad Thai was served with cilantro, more bean sprouts, a lime wedge, more peanuts, and sliced cabbage (Penny' style). Regardless, the Pad Thai here has so much flavor that I almost don't miss it. It's not greasy and every bite has a delicious flavor. They also make things "Thai spicy" which keeps everyone else from wanting to eat off my plate! I like their soups and potstickers as well. The ice cream is amazing, too. The fresh spring roll has not one iota of flavor. The veggie egg roll is a joke. They put frozen vegetable medley in them. Ever seen an egg roll with a lima bean in it? Only here. And I don't care what they say about not using MSG. They use it. I think it's mostly in the soups. I tolerate it for the soups because they are incredibly full of flavor!!! I think that everyone could enjoy this place as much as I do once they figure out what is good to order (Pad Thai, soup, potstickers, ice cream) and what to avoid.
(4)Michael R.
Good Thai food at a reasonable price. The decor is a bit on the dated side but the service is great and the food is very good. Try the Mi Krob (sp?) as an appetizer. I've never seen anything like it--sweet and crunchy. Most selections are done very well and you can't go wrong.
(4)K D.
Placed a call in order (during lunch time) for Pad See Ewe. Go to pick it up and it costs $8.70. I see signs all over stating that it is $5.95 with a free appetizer and soup. I ask her, "Why is it $8.70? It's lunch, shouldn't it be $5.95?" She says, "Oh, you got dinner portion. You want lunch, you have to tell me. Next time you call, you say I want lunch portion." That's bad business to me. If your restaurant is advertising meals for $5.95 with a big sign out front, and another one by the register- then when someone calls in, tell them about it! Or, in the very least, ask them, "Do you want the lunch or dinner?" Plus, she was rude when I asked about it, sort of demeaning. AND it tasted nothing like Pad See Ewe. It was super oily, noodles that just tasted like onion (they put onion, no broccoli), yuck! Didn't fill my craving for Pad See Ewe, rude service, empty (2 tables were full in the whole restaurant, Friday at lunch time)- I will not be going back! There are other Thai places in Oak Park to eat.
(1)Joshua W.
really good...ordered from school and it came very quick...i put in which dorm i stayed in and he actually called when he was standing at door...plus....a ordered pad thai w/ extra shrimp...and crab rangoon...and sum red soda that taste like melon soda ( real good)....all in all ill be ordering from there alot now
(4)Jarod P.
The only place I get pad thai from anymore - theirs has the most perfect blend of flavors I've had in the area. Buttery and peppery, with fresh flavor notes from the eggs and peanuts.
(4)Tonia O.
The BF and I come here probably more often then we should, but this place has the BEST thai fried rice I have ever tasted, thus far. I've had Mama Thai which is not too far away and a few others downtown, but nothing beats this scrumptious taste. Let me say, however, there isn't much to the decor, actually its kind of bland and insulting on the stomach.
(4)Casey M.
I went here for lunch the other day and was so disappointed. I thought the pad thai was mediocre and the service...well let's see. When I told the waitress that the spring roll didn't taste right...she said that it was what I had ordered. After explaining to her that I know I had ordered it, but that it didn't taste right she said that maybe I was confusing their food with vietnamese. I said that I eat thai food constantly...still no luck. I had to ask the manager over so I could switch to the egg rolls. I don't recommend this place. There are so many better thai places to choose!
(1)Tom P.
This place has pretty good food and their Thai tea is excellent. Food service is pretty fast too compared to other Thai places I"ve been to. The place could have a nicer inside though. The lights are too bright and the room setup (tables, walls) could be a little nicer. I still recommend this place for an off night for eating out.
(4)Amaliya L.
For some reason I've had a really hard time writing this review. I have been to this restaurant twice in a week and a half. (Don't be mad at me Laura!) What has made writing this review difficult is the fact that all of the sudden it occurred to me that there is a huge difference between what people think of as authentic Thai and what I used to deem as authentic. I have never been to Thailand. Their food doesn't taste like what I am accustomed to when I eat Thai food at other restaurants. BUT it's freaking good.....and what I would consider what home cooked Thai food would taste like if I were Thai. Both times that I ate here. I brought my little one. We felt completely at ease, and treated like family. My first experience was with fellow yelper Laura M, her little one and mine. What I really appreciated was that there was no sense of dread by the staff that they had been invaded by 2 "3 year olds". Even though my little one was uncouth enough to announce to the each and everyone that he had just used the potty, the staff humored him and told them how proud they were! The staff was really friendly, chat with our boys and they actually ate their food! My son loved their potstickers so much that we had to order a second round! We had also ordered their Pad Kra Pao, Pineapple fried rice, Pad Thai, Chicken Satay, Iced coffees and homemade lychee ice cream. Everything was delish! Laura put it best, they serve comfort food. On our second visit, I ordered their potstickers, pineapple fried rice, Pad Thai and an order of green curry pork to go. I absolutely love their pineapple fried rice! It confirmed my belief that this is what home cooked Thai tastes like. I felt as if we were eating at an Auntie's house. They are so nice here! On the green curry...oh my God. Finally someone makes one that tastes just like River Kwai's!!! As a side note...portions are small..and unfortunately, their eggrolls are porbably some of the worst that I have ever had. It kind of tastes like kimchee in an eggroll wrapper..very spicy/ peppery and crunchy, and flavorless at the same time. The lunch menu is a steal! Appetizer, soup and entree for $5.95!
(5)Heather A.
Great Thai staff that are always quick on their feet and pleasant to talk to. Their food is spot on, as it is made from someone who is actually from Thailand. Ask for them to make it "Thai Spicy" if you want the real deal. Also, the Tom Kha Kai soup is amazing!
(4)leslie h.
I have been going to the King and I since i was 13 and they were located on Madison. They are my favorite Thai place in oak park. Food is very traditional as others have noted. If you want something fancier I suggest Mama Thai down the street. If you want a great meal for a great price you can't beat the King and I. The staff is amazingly friendly as well!
(5)Ren H.
When I'm at a friend's in oak park we always order thai from this place.. their portions are great and they are cheap! They make really good pad thai ..
(5)Renee B.
Nice atmosphere, lightning fast service, food always comes out piping hot!
(5)Yuly M.
How has this place managed to be around for so long beats me! I'm not gonna sit here and b* about the details but wen the waitress tells u in the most hard to understand english that the customer is NEVER right u should b smacked! Enough said!
(1)Tiara Lynn A.
Terrible food. Everything we had was greasy and bland, and my husband's seafood was rubbery and gross. The vegetables in my red curry were clearly from a bag of frozen mixed veggies (perfect cubes of spongy carrots, etc). The service was okay, but overall a terrible experience. With so many great Thai places in Oak Park (Amarind's and New Pot are the best), there's just no reason to go here)
(1)Stacey B.
they have a pretty decent lunch special. egg roll or spring roll, soup and entree. i'm vegan so i couldn't eat the soup. hell, you can't eat the soup if you're vegetarian, but they wouldn't give me an extra spring roll instead. the spring roll was good. i had a clear noodle dish that i got really spicy. it was good, but i've definitely had better thai food and the portion wasn't all that great. maybe if i had had another spring roll...
(2)Bex M.
I've been here twice and I can't fathom going back. Cheap and greasy, lacking the complex flavors of better Thai restaurants; there are better options that are not that much more expensive.
(2)S. M.
this place is decent and inexpensive, and our server was wonderful. but i prefer mama thai. it's no contest.
(3)boddhisattva-in-waiting H.
Following all the great reviews I've read, I ordered take out from the King and I last night. Maybe they were having a really off night, but the food was awful. One bite of the veggie egg roll and I knew something was really wrong - had to spit it out and throw it away. The crab rangoon was decent but the pad thai ( I asked for spicy) was tasteless - and no sign of chopped peanuts, sprouts or anything else that makes this dish so yummy. The masuman curry (also requested spicy) tasted like watered down potato soup. Yuck!! Maybe a bad night, but ....
(1)Andrew J.
Consistently good food, not the best Pad Thai I've had, but it's always hot, fresh, and good. The service is always friendly and quick.
(4)Justin G.
My favorite Thai restaurant. Red Curry Duck is great!
(5)