Thai Delivery to Bucktown?

I know there are quite a few threads about delivery into Bucktown, as well as Bucktown options, but I'm dying for some Thai food that doesn't require schlepping up to Spoon. I've tried Penny's, Thai Lagoon, and PotPan and have been underwhelmed. I can't help but feel like there's someplace more authentic within delivery range that I'm just missing out on.

If it helps, my nearest major intersection is Damen and Armitage.

Unfortunately, the only good Thai near Bucktown is long gone. You could try Luc Thang Noodle...they're sorta their own riff on pan-Asian cuisine(s)...longlived...hit or miss..but, when "on" they're really "on"...+cops seem to dig it.

LTN
1524 N. Ashland
773-395-3907

it's kinda a hidden resto of the undeveloped side of WP...just up the sreet from Carneceria Leon, yo!

when we lived at Ashland/Blackhawk for several years we tended to order from Luc Thang quite a bit...

Thai Lagoon sucked, Pot Pan was ass

Luc Thang isn't "authentic" but it's just skewed enuf that some dishes come off mighty tasty and almost preordained...

as with most Chicago Thai-American-Viet-SE Asian-somewhat-Chinese-kitchensink: stay away from the entrees

(1) The yam néua (spicy and tangy beef salad with tomato, cucumber, and red onion) at Thai Village rivals any other version that I've had in this town. And, although it has been awhile since I last tried it, I have always enjoyed Thai Avenue's version of kaeng mũu tay poh (mild, sweet curry with pork and spinach).

(2) The râat nâa mũu (wide rice noodles braised with pork and yellow bean “gravy”) at Thai Lagoon ably satisfies my cravings.

(3) The phàt krà-phrao kài (basil stir-fried with minced chicken - w/o mushrooms!) at Thai Castle is usu. excellent. Thai Castle's "Thai Castle Eggplant" and "Thai Spicy Catfish" are both quite good. And, a few of Thai Castle's yam (salads)--like, néua náam tòk (grilled beef salad with roasted rice powder), yam plaa mèuk (spicy and tangy squid salad), and nãem sòt kài (sour and spicy Northern Thai-style salad with minced chicken)--are more than adequately prepared.

(4) As Christopher mentioned, there is also Luc Thang, but I have never been impressed with their Thai offerings. In my experience, the Vietnamese menu items at Luc Thang have always been a better bet. But, then again, with a name like that, what would you expect?

The situation is bleak, yes, but it is not nearly as bleak as some others might have you believe. If you are determined to stay in the neighbourhood, keep poking around. You are likely to find something that satisfies you.

E.M.

Erik M. wrote:(1) The yam néua (spicy and tangy beef salad with tomato, cucumber, and red onion) at Thai Village rivals any other version that I've had in this town. And, although it has been awhile since I last tried it, I have always enjoyed Thai Avenue's version of kaeng mũu tay poh (mild, sweet curry with pork and spinach).

(2) The râat nâa mũu (wide rice noodles braised with pork and yellow bean “gravy”) at Thai Lagoon ably satisfies my cravings.

(3) The phàt krà-phrao kài (basil stir-fried with minced chicken - w/o mushrooms!) at Thai Castle is usu. excellent. Thai Castle's "Thai Castle Eggplant" and "Thai Spicy Catfish" are both quite good. And, a few of Thai Castle's yam (salads)--like, néua náam tòk (grilled beef salad with roasted rice powder), yam plaa mèuk (spicy and tangy squid salad), and nãem sòt kài (sour and spicy Northern Thai-style salad with minced chicken)--are more than adequately prepared.

(4) As Christopher mentioned, there is also Luc Thang, but I have never been impressed with their Thai offerings. In my experience, the Vietnamese menu items at Luc Thang have always been a better bet. But, then again, with a name like that, what would you expect?

The situation is bleak, yes, but it is not nearly as bleak as some others might have you believe. If you are determined to stay in the neighbourhood, keep poking around. You are likely to find something that satisfies you.

E.M.

thank you for the insight into a couple restaurants I've written off...

I concur with your perception of Luc Thang's Thai offerings...I guess I was just reminiscing off-post...the Vietnamese is definitely the way to go...

however, Thai Castle? I suppose I could always give them another try, but the one time I ordered from them was some of the worst Thai I've had in Chicago(or, anywhere, really). It was something typical: tom kha kai, maybe mussaman or penang, and a laab: all were misjudged, ill-prepared, and horrifically salty---and I love the "salt" component of Thai cuisine. I know it has a following, but with the *memorable* crap I was served I just don't get it...

I don't think you can get outstanding delivery thai in the area, but I generally order from Charley Thai (3209 W Armitage Ave
773-278-3200). They have pretty good salads (Larb Kai, Pla Goong) among other things.

I also second the Thai Village recommend, although I generally eat-in rather than get delivery from TV.

sorry to hear you've had bad experiences, we're avid thai fans and have always enjoyed thai lagoon-- in particular the soups and mussaman curry

Maybe someone could help me out with Luc Thang. I've had take out from there a few times and I've tried about 10 different dishes, both Thai and Vietnamese. None have been much above average. I truely want to like this spot (I drive by it every day on my way home so it couldn't be more convienent) but I think I'm ordering badly. What should I eat?

Stagger wrote:Maybe someone could help me out with Luc Thang. I've had take out from there a few times and I've tried about 10 different dishes, both Thai and Vietnamese. None have been much above average. I truely want to like this spot (I drive by it every day on my way home so it couldn't be more convienent) but I think I'm ordering badly. What should I eat?

Well, I, for one, didn't mean to suggest that there was anything "much above average" at Luc Thang.

In the past, when I was too lazy to cook or leave the neighbourhood, I often ordered from the following short list of menu items:

Clay Pot Catfish
Vietnamese Grilled Beef Noodle
Vietnamese Pork Chop & Shrimp
Vietnamese Pork Chop
SomTam (strictly as a means of fulfilling my RDA of fruit and vegetables )

E.M.

Erik M. wrote:

Stagger wrote:Maybe someone could help me out with Luc Thang. I've had take out from there a few times and I've tried about 10 different dishes, both Thai and Vietnamese. None have been much above average. I truely want to like this spot (I drive by it every day on my way home so it couldn't be more convienent) but I think I'm ordering badly. What should I eat?

Well, I, for one, didn't mean to suggest that there was anything "much above average" at Luc Thang.

In the past, when I was too lazy to cook or leave the neighbourhood, I often ordered from the following short list of menu items:

Clay Pot Catfish
Vietnamese Grilled Beef Noodle
Vietnamese Pork Chop & Shrimp
Vietnamese Pork Chop
SomTam (strictly as a means of fulfilling my RDA of fruit and vegetables )

E.M.

I was gonna post my Luc thang favorites(and, agreed it's tastiness is relative to what's generally available in WP), BUT...

your list mirrors my own...I esp. enjoy the catfish in claypot and grilled beef noodle

the potstickers are odd thin-skinned ground beef things that I grew to appreciate with their sweet dipping sauce, the crab rangoon with chile sauce about what you'd expect...meaning...not some giant, fluffified, doughy concoction, but perfect little, plump pillows


their tom yum is distinctly citrusy/perky and an aquired taste

I also typically would order their laab gai...mainly because other versions available in the neighborhood were downright unpalatable

Luc Thang...not stellar by any means, rather workmanlike in many respects, but sometimes they hit the spot

*and just to iterate: do not order from the entree list

now...perhaps Erik can help me out...

my favorite Thai restaurant in Wicker Park...I've forgotten it's name...they closed a couple years ago...used to hold private Thai youth dances...oh!

I remember...

Roong

man, they were tasty

Christopher Gordon wrote:my favorite Thai restaurant in Wicker Park...I've forgotten it's name...they closed a couple years ago...used to hold private Thai youth dances...oh!

I remember...

Roong

man, they were tasty

Didn't they just open a couple years ago too? If I recall, they didn't last very long.

Also, I believe that they were owned by the same people as Roong Petch on Montrose near the brown line stop.

Best,
Michael

eatchicago wrote:

Christopher Gordon wrote:my favorite Thai restaurant in Wicker Park...I've forgotten it's name...they closed a couple years ago...used to hold private Thai youth dances...oh!

I remember...

Roong

man, they were tasty

Didn't they just open a couple years ago too? If I recall, they didn't last very long.

Also, I believe that they were owned by the same people as Roong Petch on Montrose near the brown line stop.

Best,
Michael

I'm not sure how long they were open. And...I forget how I stumbled upon them...iirc...they didn't advertise...

I ordered from them several times and remember only a single lackluster experience...they also had a knack for good presentation/garnishing(even in little, ugly styrofoam takeout boxes).

They were always empty when I walked past...despite conventional wisdom, the food didn't suffer at all.

I think they were open longer ago, and longer, than that. I noticed them not long after living briefly near Roong Petch during our house renovation, which was in 2000.

Erik M. wrote:SomTam (strictly as a means of fulfilling my RDA of fruit and vegetables )

Ya my food pyramid has always been shaped more like rectangle too. Anyhow, that helps. I knew as soon as I walked in the first time to stay away from entrees but nothing ellse was hitting the spot. I'll give it another shot... Really I just have to stop being lazy and take the long way home to go by Sticky Rice when I need any SE Asian takeout.

would silver spoon deliver to Bucktown? I know that I live in the Spoon "dead zone" of delivery - Diversey/Damen is too far north for Silver Spoon and too far south for Spoon Thai - but Bucktown residents might have more luck.

Give them a call:

Silver Spoon
710 N. Rush St.
(312) 944-7694

Both P.S. Bangkok (the original, on Clark) and Thai Classic deliver to Bucktown (east of Western, I believe).
My favorite dishes from P.S: miang kam (a.k.a one-bite salad, bite sized delight), crispy pad see ew, banana blossom salad, spicy steamed noodles (with duck or bbq pork), rama curry (any of the curries, really), knom jeeb (steamed dumplings)...they often have specials as well

Christopher Gordon wrote:I remember...

Roong

man, they were tasty

I was not a regular patron of the restaurant, but I did attend "afterhour" festivities on occasion, and where they served some very tasty kàp klâem, or "drinking food." Anyway, John (phîi Pite, to me, as he is my elder), Roong's owner, remains a partner at Izumi, on Randolph.

E.M.

I called Sticky Rice and TAC looking for delivery. Sticky WILL deliver to Bucktown (just S. of Fullerton, just E. of Western) for an extra dollar. My guess is that Fullerton is their cutoff. So YAY!

I third the Thai Village recommendation. The YumNue is VERY VERY good. I also love the lad nar (very crispy, far better than any others i've tried) and my fav curry is the Gang Mho Tepo (sp) with pork and spinach. I know it's probably not the best or most respected place in chicago, and I've been to most other thai recommended spots from this board and somehow I can't stop myself from returning to Thai Village for those 3 items.

Fast forwarding this thread a few years. If you had to order Thai food (delivery–or not, even) in Bucktown, from where would you order?

Missing our old local, Rainbow Thai. Like everyone with taste buds, we were big fans of their Nam Khao Tod and Kai Tod, as well as old standbys like Thai Ground Chicken Basil and Pad See Ew. Haven't found the same quality so far in Bucktown/Wicker Park.

We are generally happy with Silom 12 and eat it often. They have really fresh vegetables that they don't overcook, good noodles, a spicy papaya salad (ask for it "no-fry"), and some ambitious dishes like Thai Roast Chicken with Sticky Rice or Thai Osso Bucco.

annak wrote:We are generally happy with Silom 12 and eat it often. They have really fresh vegetables that they don't overcook, good noodles, a spicy papaya salad (ask for it "no-fry"), and some ambitious dishes like Thai Roast Chicken with Sticky Rice or Thai Osso Bucco.

Thanks. We've been burned (not in the good way) with Thai recently, so the impetus to try more Thai has lessened. We'll be sure to try out Silom 12.

Forgot to plug the crab fried rice. It is chock full of crab, really delicate, and delicious.

Opart Thai (Noble Square) and JJ Thai (Chicago ave) will deliver to Bucktown

Definitely consider O'Cha on Damen. It's run by a really nice couple and the food is quite good.

I'm embarrassed to say I live, like, three blocks from O'Cha and haven't been. I will right this wrong!