Chicago's Thai scene runs from a James Beard finalist's tasting menu downtown to a BYOB street-food spot in Lakeview, and the gap in price and formality between them is huge. These restaurants have logged over 7,600 Google reviews between them, with ratings running from 4.1 to 4.8, so the real question for Chicago's Thai restaurants isn't quality, it's which kind of night you want.
Short answer: Crying Tiger in River North leads on rating at 4.8 across 2,212 reviews, led by James Beard finalist chef Thai Dang. Star of Siam has the most reviews at 2,376, while Oliang and Tuk Tuk Thai Isan Street Food both post 4.5 or better with more casual, street-food-style menus. Expect $20 to $40 per person at the casual spots and well over $60 at Crying Tiger.
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days
Crying Tiger
4.8★★★★★2,212 Google reviews
Crying Tiger is a River North restaurant led by Chef Partner and James Beard Finalist Thai Dang, built around the bold, balanced flavors of Southeast Asia, sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. Reservations open 30 days out at midnight, and larger parties of nine or more go through the events team. The space is designed with real attention to atmosphere, not just the plate.
What people praise
- Reviewers repeatedly single out the atmosphere and attention to detail
- Service described as attentive and genuinely welcoming, even on a busy night
- The coconut drink and crying tiger dessert get specific praise
Worth knowing
- Reservations can be hard to get, especially on weekends
- One reviewer found the flavor profile leaned tangy rather than savory, which won't suit every palate
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Review volume2,212 · 92th
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown88% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: The highest-rated restaurant on this page at 4.8, and reviewers consistently describe it as a special-occasion, not a quick-dinner, kind of place.
📍51 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
#2🕑 Open 7 days
Star of Siam
4.1★★★★★2,376 Google reviews
Star of Siam is a River North Thai restaurant offering a full menu of classics like pad Thai and green curry, with halal beef and chicken available for guests who need it. The restaurant also runs a catering operation and private dining space for events and parties, alongside its regular dine-in service.
What people praise
- Halal options available for beef and chicken dishes
- Large groups accommodated, with staff staying open past their planned arrival time in one account
- Reviewers describe generous portions relative to price
Worth knowing
- Lowest rating on this page, at 4.1
- One detailed review described specific dishes as flavorless on a given visit
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Review volume2,376 · 97th
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown56% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: It has the most reviews of any restaurant here, at 2,376, but the rating trails the rest of the list. A solid, dependable pick, not a standout one.
📍11 E Illinois St #1, Chicago, IL 60611
#3🕑 Open 7 days
Opart Thai House - West Town
4.3★★★★★1,602 Google reviews
Opart Thai House in West Town has served original Opart Thai House recipes since 1983, offering dine-in, carry-out, delivery, and BYOB service. The menu is customizable on meat, vegetables, and spice level, and Google lists it as a gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly restaurant alongside its standard Thai menu.
What people praise
- Customers can adjust meat, vegetables, and spice level per dish
- Reviewers highlight generous portions for the price
- Consistent recipes across repeat visits, per regular customers
Worth knowing
- A delivery order arrived incorrect for one reviewer, though this appeared to be an isolated mix-up
- Vegan-specific requests weren't always fully honored on delivery orders
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Review volume1,602 · 87th
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown61% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: A 4.3 average across 1,602 reviews, and one of the longest-running Thai kitchens on this list, operating under the same name since 1983.
📍1546 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
#4🕑 Open 6 days/wk
Oliang
4.8★★★★★639 Google reviews
Oliang is a Thai cafe on North Ashland Avenue built around its signature Oliang Thai iced coffee alongside a full food menu that includes vegan dishes. The business is run as a partnership between Tan, Kwan, and Joy, and it also operates a catering arm for events, offering dishes like Penang and green curry with customizable proteins.
What people praise
- Reviewers highlight standout dishes like Khao Soi and duck curry
- Vegan and vegetarian dishes clearly available, including an eggless curry menu
- Cozy, plant-filled decor noted across several reviews
Worth knowing
- Smaller footprint than the sit-down restaurants on this list, which can mean a wait during busy hours
- Limited operating hours compared to the larger restaurants
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown90% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: A 4.8 rating across 639 reviews, tied for the highest on this page, and reviewers consistently call out both the food and the signature Thai iced coffee.
📍2428 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
#5🕑 Open 7 days
Tuk Tuk Thai Isan Street Food
4.5★★★★★795 Google reviews
Tuk Tuk Thai Isan Street Food in Lakeview serves dishes inspired by Isan, Northeastern Thailand, with a menu built around street-food staples like papaya salad, pork belly, and pad see ew. The restaurant operates BYOB with a small corkage fee and takes reservations online.
What people praise
- Papaya salad and pork belly repeatedly named as standout dishes
- Staff accommodate spice-level requests dish by dish
- BYOB with a modest corkage fee keeps the overall cost down
Worth knowing
- Reviewers note the papaya salad leans tangy, which some found overwhelming
- Popular enough that walking in without a reservation can mean a wait
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown78% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: A 4.5 average across 795 reviews, and the pick if you want Isan-region street food rather than the more familiar Thai restaurant menu found elsewhere on this list.
📍2852 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
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Claim this spot › How we rank these Thai restaurants
Rating is the live Google average for each restaurant. Review volume measures how many customers actually left a review, ranked against the others on this page. Confidence blends rating with volume, so a high score built on a small sample scores lower than one backed by thousands of reviews. Recency checks how recently people are still reviewing. No restaurant can pay to change these numbers.
How much does Thai food cost in Chicago? (2026)
Prices vary sharply by restaurant style on this list. The casual, counter-style spots run cheap, while Crying Tiger’s chef-driven menu sits at a different price point entirely, based on reviewer price-per-person data pulled directly from Google.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|
| Casual Thai dinner (Opart Thai House, Tuk Tuk Thai) | $10-$30 per person |
| Sit-down Thai dinner (Star of Siam, Oliang) | $20-$40 per person |
| Chef-driven dining (Crying Tiger) | $40-$100+ per person |
Ranges compiled August 2026 from Google reviewer price-per-person highlights for each restaurant.
Thai food across Chicago
These span River North (Crying Tiger, Star of Siam), West Town (Opart Thai House), Lincoln Park (Oliang), and Lakeview (Tuk Tuk Thai), so whether you’re looking for Thai restaurants near me downtown or on the North Side, there’s a strong option close by.
What to ask before booking a Thai restaurant
- Can the kitchen adjust spice level per dish?
- Is the restaurant BYOB, and is there a corkage fee?
- Are vegan or vegetarian dishes available, and are they clearly marked?
- Do they take reservations, and how far in advance should you book?
- Is halal meat available if that matters to your group?
- Does the restaurant offer catering for larger events?
Frequently asked questions
Are these rankings paid?
No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.
How did you choose these restaurants?
We pulled every Thai restaurant with a public Google Business Profile in Chicago, then ranked the strongest by rating, review volume, and how recently customers have been reviewing them.
Which of these is the most affordable?
Opart Thai House and Tuk Tuk Thai Isan Street Food both run cheaper than the others, based on reviewer price-per-person data, and Tuk Tuk’s BYOB policy keeps the overall bill down further.
Is any of this Thai food vegan-friendly?
Yes. Oliang and Tuk Tuk Thai both have reviewers specifically calling out vegan or vegetarian dishes, and Opart Thai House is listed by Google as gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly.
How often is this updated?
We refresh this page as new Google reviews and ratings come in. It was last verified in August 2026.
The bottom line
For a special-occasion dinner, Crying Tiger is the standout, both on rating and on reviewer enthusiasm. For an everyday, budget-friendly meal, Opart Thai House or Tuk Tuk Thai Isan Street Food are the safer, cheaper defaults. Either way, call ahead if you’re bringing a group of nine or more, since several of these restaurants route larger parties through a separate booking process.
