Thai

Andy’s Thai Kitchen: A Haven of Flavors to Cope with the Winter

Neighborhood: Lakeview

Vegetarian Options Rating: ★★★★

Pescatarian Options Rating: ★★★★★

Affordability: ★★★★★

Ambience: ★★★★

Service: ★★★★★

 Food Quality: ★★★★★

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

I came here with a group of friends on a Wednesday night and had high expectations.  My high expectations were fulfilled!  I love Thai food and can’t get enough of it.  Unfortunately, there really isn’t great Thai food in the Wicker Park/Logan Square area so I am willing to travel far for it, but we really need some better options around here.

We had to wait a bit for our table but they were very nice about it and gave us a complimentary order of veggie spring rolls which were presented very beautifully.  It’s a smaller place but has a nice decor/ambience.   They did have a lot of non-traditional food on their menu which made it feel more commercial and less authentic. But what I ate from their more traditional Thai menu, I adored.

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Tom Yum Soup

I love Tom Yum soup and this one was absolutely perfect!  The broth was heavenly and spicy.  There was a healthy serving of fresh vegetables in there like the broccoli and lemongrass.  Absolutely, mouthwateringly delicious!

Pad See Ew is a favorite of mine at Thai restaurants so we got an order of it and it was also scrumptious.  The wide noodle was prepared well with a generous serving of the firm tofu and stir fried broccoli.  It was also spicy, which made it even tastier.  I liked that this was moist because sometimes you can get Pad See Ew and it’s dry.  This had a perfect subtle sauce, which is what it’s supposed to have.

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Pad See Ew with Tofu

Now, ATK also knows how to make an amazing curry.  Being a fan of red curry, we got the Pad Ped Curry with tofu.  The flavors were so complex and spicy.  I absolutely loved it.  It had the perfect balance of spice and flavor to it along with actual, real vegetables like eggplant, jalapeño, basil, and pepper.  I am so tired of going to restaurants that have no vegetables in their curry!  These were fresh, delicious vegetables that complimented the red curry flavor so well.  My friend had the Pad Ped Catfish and I was lucky enough to get a taste of it!  The catfish was breaded to perfection so they know how to make tofu and catfish.

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Pad Ped Curry with Tofu

The portions were very generous especially for the reasonable prices (about $11 per entree).  I appreciate the fact that you can find unique dishes here that you can’t find at other Thai restaurants.

I cannot wait to come back here, just wish I didn’t have to go to Wrigleyville because it’s gross.  Though the BYOB at this restaurant can help one deal with the drunk bros around there (that you don’t see at ATK fortunately).

Jin Thai: Cozy, Authentic Thai Cuisine

Neighborhood: Edgewater

Vegetarian Options Rating: ★★★★

Pescatarian Options Rating: ★★★★

Affordability: ★★★★★

Ambience: ★★★★

Service: ★★★★ 1/2

Food Quality: ★★★★★

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Thai food is one of my favorite types of cuisines.  I could eat it multiple times a week. But prior to Jin Thai, I hadn’t been to a Thai place that was more than good in Chicago.  Jin Thai was excellent.  Jin Thai is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Chicago.  It is certainly up there for the best Thai food I have had in Chicago and it is a wonderful haven for vegetarians and pescatarians. Jin Thai has very unique Thai dishes that you do not see at most Thai restaurants.  It has a quiet, cozy ambience that is relaxing and chill.  The service is decent and they give you your space.  It’s also BYOB so you can bring in some nice wine.

I started with a ginger drink and it was fresh and perfect for a cold, rainy fall day.  It had ginger and hot water with fresh cinnamon.  No caffeine and sugar, so it was a healthy way to start the meal.  I’d like to see ginger drinks on more menus in Chicago!

Tofu Crepe

My friend and I started out with the Thai crepes and while it usually has shrimp in it, we had it without the shrimp and just the tofu.  Wow, the tofu was prepared so well.  It was made in a way that I haven’t seen before.  It was seasoned and minced into the crepe with some vegetables.  The crepe was hearty and crispy.  It came with a light, zesty cucumber salad that complemented the crepe very well.  It reminds me of a Hungarian cucumber salad that I grew up eating.  It had a nice, refreshing cold flavor in contrast to the warm, deep flavors of the crepe.  I definitely would get this appetizer again.

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Kao Soy with Tofu

For my entree I got the Kao Soy.  It was my first time having it and it was amazing!!!  The curry sauce was hearty and tasty.  The tofu was firm and there was a generous portion of it.  The noodles were crispy and wonderful.  I liked that some noodles were crispy on top while some were soaked in the coconut milk.  All of the flavors blended very well together!.  It was a perfect healthy dish for a cold, rainy day.

I cannot wait to go back!  If Edgewater wasn’t so far away from me I’d be here every week!  It’s affordable, authentic, and delicious!