Spoon v. Sticky

LTH-

I'm coming home to visit my parents this weekend, and I'd like to take them out to a really delicious Thai meal. We visited Thailand last winter and my parents were amazed at how much better the food was than what they were used to eating in Evanston. I assured them that amazing and authentic Thai food can be had for a pittance (compared to Arun's, at least) just a few miles down Western Avenue.

I am deciding between Sticky Rice and Spoon Thai. I was initially drawn to Sticky Rice because I heard it mentioned during Steve Dolinsky's Thailand segment on 848 as great for northern Thai food, and we particularly loved the food in Chiang Mai. But all I hear is Spoon Thai this and Spoon Thai that! I see that they do have a good selection of northern dishes there, too. But I'm really jonesing for the best kao soi I can get. How do they compare?

Any suggestions which restaurant I should decide upon (bearing in mind I'll probably end up going to the other one the next day for lunch to eat more)?

Thank you for your invaluable input.

While I am *definatly* no expert on the subject (though we have certaily have some Thai food savants in the community) I'd say that if you are looking for Northern [Issan] food Sticky Rice is the way to go. My understanding is that the sâi ùa (Northern Thai-style spicy red sausage) is actually exported to a few other Thai spots in town. It is ceratily the best example if Thai sausage I've had. I know the northern style "pressed ham" is sold to other eateries and pretty much everything I've had at Sticky Rice withe the pressed ham has been great. Another favorite of mine is the kaeng hangleh (Burmese-style curry // pork, pickled garlic, ginger and red chile in a
pungent, oily, and complex curry sauce [no coconut milk]) This is a deep rich curry that reminds me off a Chinese muslim curry that would typicaly be done with goat but far better. The pork has the tender, fall apart quality of the best Brunswick Stew and the sauce has a flavor that is so deep and complex it boggles the mind. Another favorite of mine is the kaeng pàa (“jungle” curry // spicy, herb and vegetable curry with c/o/m [no coconut
milk]).

That being said you won't go wrong at Spoon either. Both places are exceptional, just different. I would suggest checking out Erik M's translated menus at his web site http://www.silapaahaan.com/menus.html (where the above decriptions come from BTW) and any of his posts on individual dishes at either eatery. I know I have had several wonderful meals using these as a guide. No matter which place you choose you will surely have a great meal, it is just a question of what you are in the mood for.

Stagger wrote:Another favorite of mine is the kaeng hangleh (Burmese-style curry // pork, pickled garlic, ginger and red chile in a
pungent, oily, and complex curry sauce [no coconut milk]) This is a deep rich curry that reminds me off a Chinese muslim curry that would typicaly be done with goat but far better. The pork has the tender, fall apart quality of the best Brunswick Stew and the sauce has a flavor that is so deep and complex it boggles the mind.

I agree wholeheartedly with this assessment. The kaeng hangleh is one of my favorite menu items anyplace. It really is mind-bogglingly delicious.

We need more Burmese and Burmese-style food in Chicago!

Thanks so much for your input. I think that I'll give Sticky Rice a try with the parental units this week, and save Spoon Thai for another trip to Chicago.

I'm a big fan of both. Sticky Rice is a bargain, but if I were in the mood for a slightly more upscale meal (parents in town), I'd pick Spoon. The Ikea vibe of Sticky Rice doesn't do it for everyone, and some of the presentations at Spoon (the tom kha soup, for example) are quite lovely.

TAC Quick is another spot in the area that you might consider...clean, modern dining room, good dishes at comparable (low) prices.

TAC Quick
3930 N. Sheridan
773.327.5253
Closed Tuesdays

edit: A more careful reading of your last post suggests that you've already made a decision, and one I can't and won't argue with! Enjoy yourself! I'll just leave my post up for posterity's sake.

So Sticky Rice it was, and we had a delicious meal, easily the best Thai meal I have had in the United States:

Fried banana appetizer
Northern style sausage
Roti with curry sauce
Banana blossom salad
Green mango salad with fish powder
Kao soi
Duck and lychee curry
Fish ball curry
Massaman curry with chicken
Pad see ewe with chicken

The highlight may have been the banana blossom salad, which I haven't seen mention of on this board. Next time I'll bring along some more adventurous eaters and hit up the ant larvae omelet.

jonathanlehman wrote:So Sticky Rice it was, and we had a delicious meal, easily the best Thai meal I have had in the United States:

Fried banana appetizer
...
Banana blossom salad

Man, I loved that fried banana appetizer. Awesome.

Are those the same banana flowers I saw at H-Mart this weekend? (yes, I was there too ) I'd never encountered them before. What are they like to eat?

Not having seen banana blossoms in any form besides a banana blossom salad, I can't say if they're the same as you saw this weekend. But I suppose I would compare them to eating the outermost layers of an artichoke heart. Texturally, at least… the flavor is rather innocuous. The salad itself has some chicken and some shrimp in a thin curry sauce. Delish.

More experienced banana blossom connoisseurs, feel free to chime in.

germuska wrote:

jonathanlehman wrote:So Sticky Rice it was, and we had a delicious meal, easily the best Thai meal I have had in the United States:

Fried banana appetizer
...
Banana blossom salad

Man, I loved that fried banana appetizer. Awesome.

Are those the same banana flowers I saw at H-Mart this weekend? (yes, I was there too ) I'd never encountered them before. What are they like to eat?

More experienced banana blossom connoisseurs, feel free to chime in.

I am certainly not an expert on banana blossoms, but I researched them in a (not very successful) attempt at making the Filipino dish Kare-Kare.

In their natural state, banana blossoms require careful preparation to keep the leaves from turning black and to eliminate the bitterness. First the tough outer leaves need to be removed. Then the inner pistol needs to be removed, along with the immature bananas which are extremely bitter. The leaves need to be sliced and rubbed with salt then have the bitter juice squeezed out and rinsed. The leaves can also be soaked in aciduated water.

jonathanlehman wrote:Not having seen banana blossoms in any form besides a banana blossom salad, I can't say if they're the same as you saw this weekend.

Here is a photo that I took of a banana blossom near my brother's home in Los Angeles:

jonathanlehman wrote:But I suppose I would compare them to eating the outermost layers of an artichoke heart.

That is how I often describe it to people that have never tried it before.

NB Its manner of preparation was once discussed here in some detail.

E.M.

Erik M. wrote:

jonathanlehman wrote:Not having seen banana blossoms in any form besides a banana blossom salad, I can't say if they're the same as you saw this weekend.

Here is a photo that I took of a banana blosson near my brother's home in Los Angeles...

Those are them. Cool.

I really like Sticky Rice too, but when it comes to kao soi, I love Opart Thai's version (spicy with tofu). mmmm. It comes with both soft and cripsy noodles, lime, cilantro, and red onions on the side to customize. It is so good.

HI,

Last night I went to Sticky Rice looking forward to a quiet meal. The place was packed, I took the last table by the front door. Obviously the staff trying to keep up with the crowd, I took my own menus. A waitress brought me a glass of water, I settled down to reading. Meanwhile three sets of couples arrived and were advised minimum waiting times of 15 minutes.

I hadn't ordered yet. I realized I would have the good company of the people waiting for a table, which for no fault of theirs made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Danced around with the idea of suggesting one set might share my table. I then decided to leave, which surprised the waitress. As I was departing, one of the waiting couples were just as surprised as the waitress thinking out loud, "What's with that?" I simply told them I would return on a quieter evening.

I drove over to Spoon Thai, which had no more than 9 patrons. I took a table by the window and finally achieved the quiet dinner.

I am just as happy dining at Spoon Thai or Sticky Rice, however waiting for a table isn't something I am willing to do. Probably if I hadn't been by myself, I might have stuck it out, I just wasn't quite in the mood.

Regards,

Aw Cathy, a pity you didn't go to Spoon Thai a night earlier, or that my family had gone there a night later (we ate there Sunday night).

Jimthebeerguy ordered the pork neck dish, and fried tofu as an appetizer. Both were good, and these are the dishes most worth mentioning here since they were the most unusual. (I'm kicking myself, btw, for not ordering kai thawt, but had just been to Harold's the day before and was literally feeling chickened out. Even though kai thawt is way better than Harold's.)

Have you ever been to Sticky Rice when it was empty(ier)? We had gone on a Monday a couple months ago and there was lots of room, so I'm surprised to hear how crowded it was when you went!

HI,

I have no explanation for the crowds at Sticky Rice at 7 PM last night.

I have been there when it was quieter, though it has been some time.

If you had been there, I would have found you. I do put out the LTH radar when I walk into well known establishments. On this occasion I saw nobody I knew.

Regards,