most authentic thai in chicagoland

anybody have a recomendation for the most authentic thai in chicagoland? franky, I don't care what region of thailand. just that it is authentic.

thanks

I think Spoon Thai has the secret Thai only translated menu which should be very authenitc Thai food as they dont post those items on the American Menu.

Spoon Thai Secret Menu
http://www.sptsb.com/spoon_thai_secret_menu.htm

polster wrote:I think Spoon Thai has the secret Thai only translated menu which should be very authenitc Thai food as they dont post those items on the American Menu.

Spoon Thai Secret Menu
http://www.sptsb.com/spoon_thai_secret_menu.htm

You might want to use Erik M.'s latest translation for Spoon found in this thread.

Two other excellent options include Sticky Rice (northern Thai) and TAC (ask for the Thai menu at TAC).

Best,
Michael

thank you very much

tried TAC, it was the closest to me. not great, better than others I've had since I moved to the area, but not as good as the thai place I used to go in NYC, and nothing like food in Thailand.

but, I have to say - when I tried to order from the "secret menu" that I had with me, the waitress said that they were out of the 2 things I tried to order. after the meal, when I told her that I was expecting something more authentic, she told me that I should have told her before I ordered that I wanted authentic food.

I'll try it again. in ny, we used to drive 90 minutes for thai. this is 15, so if they have great food that is on the secret menu, then I will be happy.

I'll try them again, then try the other two. thanks again

Interesting. What's the place in NY?

sriprapai

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7419856/

dirt cheap, very authentic, very good. usually packed, and about half the people there on any given night have traveled 90 minutes to get there.

the two things that I have been dissapointed about in Chicago have been finding a thai place (and we have only been here 6 months, I am hoping that willl change) and finding a simple (not distination quality) chinese plane near our house - also, I hope that will change. everything else, I think we have better options in Chicagoland.

The menu does look good; I'll have to try it next time I'm in NYC. The Thai food I've had in Manhattan has always been mediocre.

But I think you'll be happy at Spoon (and Sticky Rice) and you should definitely give TAC another shot. Was one of the things unavailable from the translated menu nam prik ong? They haven't had that in a while.

It's all a matter of opinion, but I've dined with Sriprapai regulars who think that TAC is head and shoulders better, dish for dish. I've never been, so I have no opinion. My barometer is set, more or less, from my experiences in LA's Thai Town. When TAC is on, it is great by any standard.

I think you should give TAC a few more shots before broadly writing it off. And do try some of the other places mentioned here.

I will say that neighborhood Chinese outside of Chinatown is not a strength of Chicago, but you might try Silver Seafood on Broadway for Hong Kong style, non-dim sum stuff.

By the way, you did ask for "authentic," and while I love what Andy does at TAC, his cooking is a little avant garde, I believe. For more down-the-middle renditions or recognized classics, Spoon, Sticky Rice and Thai Avenue might be better. Sticky, especially, has a vast menu of Northern stuff (including several insect dishes), and they are never out of anything in my experience. You should also check out the Thai Grocery on the corner of Argyle and Braodway (as you should the entire neighborhood). In the back is a steam-tray "deli" that has really nice, homestyle Thai dishes.

Finally got to TAC on Sat night. Easily the best coconut milk curry I've had in the city so far. Tried the Crispy On Choy also. They were a little heavy handed on the fish sauce for my taste with the on choy, but the plate was cleaned nonetheless. I have a question for some of you thai foodphiles out there:

Why do some thai places have disgustingly sweet (to me) coconut milk curries? Is it a regional thing to add some extra sugary substance?

Would it be too forward of me to ask for no extra sugar? My closest Thai place for pickup on the way home from work is one of those that makes their curries with extra sugar. My guess is that they dump a heavy spoon full of their peanut sauce (which is way too sweet) in the curry pot, but I could be wrong. So anyway, this place is decent, and I still choke down the curry, but if it were up to me, it would be exceptional if it were 80% less sugary. That said, the last time I asked for a "special order" (which was simply plain pan fried wide rice noodles) they totally lost their minds,
and had no idea what to do. How can I make sure that when I go to a new place, or to any of my old stand by places that I don't get the sugary version of coconut milk curry? BTW TAC quick was not sugary at all.

JeffB wrote:It's all a matter of opinion, but I've dined with Sriprapai regulars who think that TAC is head and shoulders better, dish for dish. I've never been, so I have no opinion.

I have to mirror this sentiment--and I have been to Sriprapai. My brother is a NY Chowhound Brooklynite (Jack S) with lots of gastronomic civic pride and he agrees that the "big three" in Chicago serve Thai food that's a notch above Sriprapai. Sriprapai is a good place and I'm happy to visit there when in NYC, but I think Spoon, Sticky and TAC prepare tastier authentic Thai food.

I think Aroy should be included along with the "big three" for authentic Thai in Chicago.

Kristen

Aroy Thai
4656 N. Damen
(773) 275-8360

tapler wrote:

JeffB wrote:It's all a matter of opinion, but I've dined with Sriprapai regulars who think that TAC is head and shoulders better, dish for dish. I've never been, so I have no opinion.

I have to mirror this sentiment--and I have been to Sriprapai. My brother is a NY Chowhound Brooklynite (Jack S) with lots of gastronomic civic pride and he agrees that the "big three" in Chicago serve Thai food that's a notch above Sriprapai. Sriprapai is a good place and I'm happy to visit there when in NYC, but I think Spoon, Sticky and TAC prepare tastier authentic Thai food.

glad to hear it.


I think that the poster that talked about TAC being a little "Avant Guard" may be on the money - that might have thrown me a little. I'll have to try again.

The most authentic place for Thai food is Siam's House in Niles. This is a favorite among Thais living in the northwest burbs. I'm Thai and will vouch for the authenticity. They have a special Thai menu, but they are written in Thai only and not English. You may need to go with a translator. My favorite dishes at Siam's House are Yum Praduk Foo (Deep fried, shredded, catfish salad) and Pad Krapow Gai (Chicken Basil).

Siam's House
7742 N Milwaukee Ave
Niles, IL
(847) 967-2390

Another good one is:

Siam Noodle & Rice
4654 N Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 769-6694

lisa3255 wrote:The most authentic place for Thai food is Siam's House in Niles. This is a favorite among Thais living in the northwest burbs. I'm Thai and will vouch for the authenticity. They have a special Thai menu, but they are written in Thai only and not English. You may need to go with a translator. My favorite dishes at Siam's House are Yum Praduk Foo (Deep fried, shredded, catfish salad) and Pad Krapow Gai (Chicken Basil).

Siam's House
7742 N Milwaukee Ave
Niles, IL
(847) 967-2390

Another good one is:

Siam Noodle & Rice
4654 N Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 769-6694

Look, I wanted to stay as far away from this train-wreck-of-a-thread as I possibly could, but I must jump in to correct you. Siam's House does have a Thai menu, yes, but I've also translated it, and copies of my translation should be available at the restaurant for anyone who might request one. Now, there ARE a few special offerings on the chalkboard which change from time to time, and which are only listed in Thai, but I can assure you (and/or anyone else) that any member of the waitstaff would be more than happy to translate them.

Copies of my Siam's House menu translation (as well as a number of others) may be freely copied from my website: www.silapaahaan.com

As I've always said, non-Thai speakers are best served to take their own copies of my translations with them, wherever they go.

I take exception with your classification of Siam's House AND Siam Noodle & Rice (i.e., "the most authentic," and "another good one"), but I will leave that matter well enough alone.

E.M.

Erik M. wrote:Look, I wanted to stay as far away from this train-wreck-of-a-thread as I possibly could, but I must jump in to correct you. Siam's House does have a Thai menu, yes, but I've also translated it, and copies of my translation should be available at the restaurant for anyone who might request one. Now, there ARE a few special offerings on the chalkboard which change from time to time, and which are only listed in Thai, but I can assure you (and/or anyone else) that any member of the waitstaff would be more than happy to translate them.

Sorry to take this even farther afield, but I wish the above had been the case during my two visits last year. Admittedly, I did not know of your translated menu or else I would have been better prepared. However, both times I found myself at Siam's House somewhat by accident. The first time, the conversation went like this:

Me: Do you also have a Thai-language menu? [not that I could read it, of course, but hoping the waitress could help in that regard]
Waitress: No, we only have one menu.
Me: So what do your Thai customers order?
Waitress: They order from this menu.
Me: What do you order?
Waitress: I like the pad thai.

So I ordered the sausage, which was very good, and something else, which wasn't.

The next time, I had (slightly) more wits about me and, after once again having the existence of the Thai-language menu denied to me, asked if they could make Khao khluk kapi. They could, and it was tasty (although I prefer TAC's version). But I don't feel like begging anymore, especially when Spoon, TAC, and Sticky Rice are all perfectly happy to offer your menu translations (as well as recommend specials, etc.) I'm not sure why I've had no luck at Siam's House. Maybe I just look untrustworthy.