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Aroy Thai Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Thai Thai [Edit]
4654 N Damen Ave(between Eastwood Ave & Leland Ave)
Chicago, IL 60625
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, Ravenswood
(773) 275-8360
- Nearest Transit:
-
Damen-Brown (Brown Line)
Montrose-Brown (Brown Line)
Western-Brown (Brown Line)
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
169 reviews for Aroy Thai Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Best pad see ew I've ever had."
(in 12 reviews)
"My husband loves their Pineapple Fried Rice."
(in 6 reviews)
"BYOB is always great and the food was great as well."
(in 22 reviews)
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169 reviews in English
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Review from Jennie T.
1/31/2012 1 photo
My Thai friend tells me that the food reminded her of home, and you know what? It's true, the food did remind me of home... even though home isn't Thailand for me. It reminded me of my mom's cooking (Chinese and Vietnamese, not Thai; I don't think she'd know how).
We started off with a plate of fish cakes. Delicious!
Then we had a plate of egg rolls; these were okay, I've had better ones. They certainly reminded me of the egg rolls I've had at temples though. That was the home-y feel of this plate.
We ordered two different soups. The first one was the Bangkok Beef soup. It tasted similar to the Vietnamese canh chua soup, but with beef. I suspect that they might have used tamarind for the soup base, just like the canh chua. On the other hand, I also thought I tasted nuoc mam (fish sauce) in there. It was weirdly fishy for me. I didn't particularly like or dislike it. I only wished that they hadn't cut the lemongrass so small because I nearly choked on it.
Then we had the tofu and vegetable soup. It tasted similarly to a wanton soup (but without the wantons). It was more bland than the Bangkok Beef soup. My friend ordered this for me because I had food poisoning a few days earlier so she ordered non-spicy things for me.
She also ordered chicken wings for us, but I didn't try any because I didn't think my stomach could handle it. One of my foodie friends loved it though, so I trust his taste. I'll have to go back and try some for myself.
There was also a seafood curry dish that I didn't try because I'm allergic to shellfish. Normally I'd eat it anyway, but in my weak state of mind that night, I didn't dare to. Too bad because it looked soooo delicious.
Then I heard that they have the best pad thai. Unfortunately, I also didn't try this dish. The color though, was reminiscent of a good pad thai. It wasn't overly orangey as in most places in Chicago.
if you follow my reviews, you'll know that I'm not fond of many Thai places in Chicago because they can't compare to the Bay Area. I'm really excited that I've a new Thai friend because FINALLY, I can enjoy good Thai food. I really look forward to coming back to Aroy to try their pad thai-- it's usually what I order to test out a Thai restaurant--among many other items.Listed in: A Piece of Home in Chicago
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Review from Catherine W.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 1/29/2012
Something happened to my green curry with tofu. I thought it was a fluke the first time it happened, but when I got the same flavorless nonsense twice, I knew something terrible had happened. I haven't eaten Thai food in a while because I feel like I've been dumped by my once-favorite dish. Or he suddenly changed and isn't the Thai food I would have married anymore. You get the picture.
To be fair, nothing much else has changed about the place and I know the other dishes are probably still tasty. I just haven't been able to try anything else yet. I'll let you know.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/1/2011
I'm obsessed with Aroy Thai. I've had some good Thai from other places in the neighborhood, but… Read more »
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Review from Alicia S.
1/7/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Again. The peanut spring rolls. Delish.
My husband and I always split the spring rolls & any of their noodle dishes. Great place to go for a quick bite of the Damen stop. -
Review from Fitness P.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2012
Authentic, clean, quick, courteous, flavorful, reliable. Bare bones interior but easy takeout experience.
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Review from Erin E.
1/3/2012
no, just, NO. we couldn't remember if we'd tried this place before. now we're pretty sure we did. the first time was unmemorable, second time disappointing. there will not be a third time.
unfortunate happenings:
--online ordering wasn't working so i had to call it in. (human interaction!?! NOOOO!)
--the total was more than i expected.
--when unloading the bag i discovered one of the containers was totally cracked. on the bottom. at the bottom of the bag. leaking.
oh no, we were not off to a good start. but nothing some yummy food couldn't cure. unfortunately i couldn't find any.
what's wrong with this place:
--$2 to add shrimp = 5 measly overcooked shrimp.
--pad kee mao was not the least bit spicy. mostly just noodles & not much of the other good stuff.
--thai wings were soggy & small.
--basil leaves w/ ground chicken had virtually no flavor. as soon as i saw it i realized i had set myself up for disappointment, having just had the to-die-for basil chicken from indie cafe last week.
--the free order of crab rangoon is actually only a half order (4 pcs).
--there are at least half a dozen other thai places within a mile or two that are hands-down better than aroy. i will stick to opart, rosded, or dharma garden for a mu-uch better experience. -
Review from Rachel T.
Chicago, IL
12/6/2011
Wow! The food here is really great, everything tastes really fresh and the spices are on point.
We ordered the Panang Curry Noodle with Chicken, Egg Rolls, and the Tigers Cry. The Panang was really good and the portions are huge, I got three meals out of it. I also substituted the wide rice noodles for thin rice noodles due to personal preference. My only complaint would be is that it needed more veggies. Nonetheless is was really flavorful and worth the calorie splurge!
The egg rolls were good as well I do, however, prefer the lighter batter or fry on the outside, but the filling was flavorful and again worth it.
Now the Tigers Cry looked phenomenal, the steak was cooked perfectly medium rare and seasoned to perfection. It is served on a bed of leafy Romain and paired with a fresh cucumber salad, rice and a rich Chile sauce. I did not try it, but my boyfriend loved it!
The service was mediocre, it took awhile to place our order and forget about water refills. All and all the place has great Thai food and great prices! -
Review from Becky M.
Chicago, IL
11/3/2011
Holy crap.
This place is good. I went here with my husband and a bunch of chefs and aviary bartenders.
One of the guys did all the ordering, and I'm pretty sure it was from a separate, more traditional menu than the one posted outside and online. I can't find some of the stuff we ate on their site.
We had the special pickled apples. If they're available, get them. They come with a sugar/salt/thai chili mixture that was absolutely perfect. A bunch of the people complained about the heat, but they were complaining about the heat of all the food the entire night. I didn't have a problem with anything being too hot, so if you're used to spicy hot food, you'll be fine.
Pad Thai- everyone else loved it. I don't dig shrimp, so I skipped it, but I trust a few of those people to judge food.
2 types of spicy sausage- one had fermented rice. Both of them were freakin' delicious.
Tom kha kai- Everyone else loved it, but it had too much fish sauce for me. If you enjoy fish sauce, you'll really enjoy that soup.
Tom saep with beef offal- All the offal lovers destroyed this soup.
En tun- easily one of the tastiest things I've ever eaten. I'm used to seeing the weird slices of beef tendon you get in pho. These were chunks that were so perfectly cooked, they just melted. Delightful. I'm salivating just remembering that.
Special pickled blue crab- couldn't do it. Almost everyone else tried it and there was no strong reaction either way.
A special eggplant dish- One of the people had to call the restaurant a day in advance to be able to order this. Apparently, they go to one specific market in the city and it takes a LONG time too cook the eggplant properly. It had shrimp, so I wussed out, but my husband said it was really tasty and super smoky.
Fish balls- those who ate this dish enjoyed it.
Some kind of offal fried rice- I didn't know this one had offal, either, since I had something unidentifiable. I was pleasantly surprised.
Fermented bamboo shoots- These smelled horrible. I mean, they smelled like a dive bar's bathroom. Oddly, though, they were pretty yummy. If you get them, try not to breathe through your nose.
I want to go back with different people next time. I was happy that we got to have a bunch of things we never would've tried without those people. There were just too many dishes I didn't eat due to my weird food aversions and even more dishes I wanted to try, but didn't get a chance because someone else ordered for the table of 11. -
Review from Pack C.
Schaumburg, IL
12/20/2011
The place is such a hidden gem. Every time i went there i saw only couple of people there, no need to make reservation. This is to my own surprise given how good the food is and how cheap they are! This is where I always go when hang out with thai friends. I took American friends there before and they love it too!
The owner is Thais, great hospitality & services. They have 2 versions of menu (in Thai and in English: almost entirely different dishes). I'm certain that you can ask the owner to help recommend some dishes out of the thai menu.
I tried things off the English menu before but not impressed (tried Pad thai and Tom Kha Kai). What i order every time is Thai wings, Papaya Salad, and Bambooshoot salad. We are always full leaving the place with some leftover to go and it always costs us less than $15 per pax -
Review from Samson P.
Chicago, IL
10/15/2011
My friend recommended this place because of their duck. She was right, it rocks! Absolutely fresh and authentic. Slices of perfectly cut duck in flavorful sauce. I have been here several times and have been impressed each time. My best friend who lived in Thailand 1/2 his life definitely said it was authentic. Its right next to the brown line on the Damen stop.
Some recommendations are:
Roast duck and rice
Basil Duck
Bamee Noodles
I'm craving some now! -
Review from John B.
Evanston, IL
10/16/2011
C and I have driven by this place, in the shadow of the El, at hundred times, saying "We should try that some time." Indeed, it looks cute from the street and has large windows facing Damen. We're seen the place packed, time and again, and saw the 4 stars on Yelp. Finally, we gave it a try, passing up our favorite, Yes Thai.
I dunno what the hoopla is all about. My Basil Chicken was the most uninspired version I've ever had. Literally ground chicken with no flavor at all. I had to pour tablespoons of that hot red sauce on it to make it edible.. I don't recall what C had, but she was equally unimpressed. Her's was a curry dish that looked like soup; the bowl filled to the brim. A serving of rice was delivered on a tiny plate. So what to do? Put the rice in the bowl? That won't work. Pour the soup on the rice? Hmm, that doesn't work either. What are they thinking?
Too bad. We expected we'd like this place and were very surprised at the outcome. Yes Thai's ambiance and food are far superior, yet they are almost never full. I don't get it. I will say, however, that the service at Aroy Thai was perfectly good.
Price: Yelp says it's one $. The prices are very similar to Yet Thai and other similar Thai restaurants in the area. i.e. two $$. Don't be fooled.
p.s. they do have nice wine glasses. -
Review from Nikki F.
Somerville, MA
10/28/2011
This is the best Thai restaurant I've been to in a long while!
First, I have to admit, while the menu (or the two menus, actually...) is very interesting & offers a lot beyond the normal pad thai, we ordered pretty conservatively since we were eating with a toddler. (I'll be back to try the rest!)
Everything was fresh & delicious. The crab rangoon & pad thai noodles were yummy. The crab rangoon contained more than just cream cheese (there were even vegetables in there!) & the pad thai was flavorful & fresh.
We also ordered the panang curry with tofu. The curry was delicious, though not too spicy, but there were no veggies & not a lot of tofu. Next time, I'd order it with tofu & veggies. Luckily we also ordered the vegetable combo which was no-frills but delicious none-the-less.
The place doesn't look like it'd be family-friendly, but the staff was very accommodating & friendly with my son. They brought his drink in a to-go cup with a straw & were just really nice.
Can't wait to go back! -
Review from Owl E.
Chicago, IL
8/6/2011
Aroy Thai is my gray sweatpants of neighborhood Thai food. Very comfortable, use it often, comes into my mind at the end of a long day, helps me relax, and I enjoy the most while on my couch watching TV. (No, it doesn't smell like sweatpants, that is not nice to think like that. These are nice people).
The food is legit, what you would expect of a normal Thai restaurant. There's a couple of other Thai places on the strip on Damen but I've enjoyed Aroy the most. They also have the most enjoyable dining area. I live in the area so I also feel a bit of loyalty to my local businesses so that I don't have to walk by empty store fronts but with that said I enjoy Aroy. -
Review from Jon C.
Chicago, IL
12/3/2011
In and out quickly for lunch. Cheap. And the best Tom Yom soup that didn't make me swell up after I ate it:)
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Review from Christine J.
Chicago, IL
12/31/2011
This is truly a friendly neighborhood restaurant, and I don't even live in the neighborhood! The restaurant itself is a cozy place located steps from the Montrose Brown line. The owners are really sweet, and they recognize us whenever we go. Their chef is the mom of the family, sometimes you can see her resting on the bench right outside the kitchen in her apron. We usually order from the Thai classics menu, which are Northern Thai specialties. There's not a pad thai in sight on this menu. I would describe Northern Thai cuisine as sour, spicy, and funky. Vegetables are pickled, meats could be offal, and spices are hot, but not stupid hot. (Stupid hot is spicy for no reason - good hot is spicy that adds to the natural flavors). It's BYOB too. Make sure you check out some of the specials not on the menu. They are posted around the restaurant. One of my favorites is the choo chee curry, which is like a Thai bolognese on a crispy egg patty.
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Review from Carl B.
Chicago, IL
6/8/2011
I can't believe I have skipped this place for a year having lived two blocks from it.
I haven't been this satisfied with a Thai dinner since my first Indie Cafe experience. The Aroy Noodles are radish-dyed rice noodles topped with green beans, cilantro, amazing red bbq pork slices and finished with ground peanut. It's probably the best original take-out Thai dish I've ever had. Definitely give this place a shot. I'm sure I'll be eating here once a month from this point forward. -
Review from Alisa M.
12/20/2011
Aroy, meaning very good in Thai, is one of the very few places in Chicago that offers northern Thai cuisine. I actually prefer this place over Sticky Rice. Everything that I've tried on their menu is fresh and tastes almost as authentic as being in Thailand. Of course it doesn't taste like it 100%, but I think it's pretty close to what you can get in Chicago. The papaya salad is spicy. I made the mistake of ordering it spicy instead of medium and paid the price. When you ask for spicy, they'll make sure they make it spicy. Also, with Thai dishes, the cooks do not get offended when you ask them to make it a particular way. That's how it is when you go to Thailand also. For example, with the papaya salad, I always order it medium spicy, not too sweet, and more on the salty and sour side. They can customize orders for you. Their fried chicken wings are good with the spicy tamarind dipping sauce. I order from this place quite often as it's close to where I workout and the food is pretty good.
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Review from Victoria W.
Chicago, IL
7/17/2011
There are many Thai restaurants in this area, and we all have our favorites, but sometimes it's good to break out of your routine and try yet another Thai restaurant. In addition to the typical (perhaps Americanized?) menu of Thai noodle dishes and curries, Aroy has a second menu of northern specialties. I finally broke out of my pad thai habit and decided to get adventurous with the "phrik kaeng" fish curry here, and I was not disappointed.
The serving staff was very patient and answered all my questions as I tried to make up my mind -- but they never were condescending. The decor is not as nice as Opart, but I think Aroy wins in the flavor department. Now I have a reason to get off the brown line here to pick up dinner in the future. -
Review from Kimberly H.
Chicago, IL
10/1/2011
Had Aroy Thai delivered, and it was not good. I ordered a Diet Coke, which was warmer than room temperature. Pot stickers were ok, but the sauce that came with them was very sweet. Cashew Noodle was not appetizing. I have had much better Thai food at other restaurants. This was not my flavor. :-(
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Review from Andrew S.
Chicago, IL
11/17/2011
While Chinese food is ever elusive for me in Chicago, Thai food is ever present, especially in Lincoln Square. It takes a lot to stand out, and Aroy does it.
A small, cozy restaurant I found Aroy after a co-worker recommended it to me. I've had plenty of Thai food in my life, but Aroy is just plain delicious. Their Crab Rangoon is some of the best I've ever had, as are their Pot Stickers. I literally dream about their Pot Stickers at night, and I really have no idea how they get them so good.
The main courses are excellent as well, and I find myself jumping from Basil Leaves (INCREDIBLE), to the Pad Khee Mao, to the Tom Yum Soup. The funny thing is, I don't love the Pad Thai at Aroy, which is literally my staple at most restaurants (Noodles In The Pot being the best). Don't let this dissuade you though, as everything else is fantastic.
I also should mention there is a hidden, traditional menu that you can ask for that contains various dishes. I have only tried the Chuchee Pork (incredible) and the wings (delectable) but I'm sure there's many more surprises - especially because everything is written in Thai!
If you're in the area for work, or even relatively close by, the lunch special is a great deal, seeing as how you get an appetizer and main course (which can easily give you leftovers) for $7. Their Thai Iced Tea/Coffee is also well worth the trip.
I wish there was more to say, but honestly, just go there and eat! Yum. -
Review from D s.
Chicago, IL
12/4/2011
Totally don't get the love for this place. medicore food, bad service. Don't even think about delivery. They won't get it right, they won't get it to you hot.
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Review from Debbie L.
Chicago, IL
4/27/2011
I've been ordering from Aroy for about 3 years. They do not disappoint. Fast delivery - like 20 minutes if you live close.
dishes don't leave you feeling greasy. It's good food, not good "dirty" food.
favorites are the aroy noodle and the pad see ewe. crab rangoons are refreshingly light.
I don't like curry very much so I don't order it. My friends that ordered the curry dishes did not rave about it from aroy thai. -
Review from Onur U.
5/3/2011
Another authentic Thai gem in Chicago! Seriously, we are so lucky to live in such an awesome food town.
As usual with the authentic Thai places, they offer a separate menu with the funkier offerings. I don't know how their pad thai, or masaman curries taste, because I can get those delivered quick and cheap from just about anywhere. I go to Aroy Thai for the "Thai Classics" menu, which is just awesome.
They make their Thai sausages in house. Big, bold flavor, coarse texture, served with peanuts and Thai chilis, this sausage will change they way you view Asian sausages. Then move onto the raw shrimp salad that features crunchy, fresh greens, plenty of onions and fish sauce. For something totally unique, try the chou-chi pork which is a gingery-coconut flavored ground pork dish served atop a fluffy omelet. And for the truly courageous, try the fermented bamboo, it's funky and totally unique. These are only a couple of their excellent options. And all for remarkably cheap.
If you're not feeling up to choosing from the four page Thai Classics menu, the owners of the restaurant are more than willing to help you pick. Oh and don't be afraid of a little heat, it makes the food sooo much better! -
Review from Deborah H.
Ridgewood, NJ
4/28/2011
Went here for a rehearsal party so did not have the names of the food but I can report it was all good. Most of the food was vegetarian that was served at the party but it was very tasty-one dish was a very different soup with tofu and shrimp and a lovely broth with lemon grass and thai basil. Lots of different pad type dishes and a great sweet sticky rice dessert.
It is BYOB so we drank Thai beer and a non-oaked white burgundy which complemented the food. It was a very crowded place and very noisy so was hard to talk to the other party goers. Lots of take-out going out so a popular place. You have to drive around a bit to find a parking place but the neighborhood feels safe. -
Review from scott b.
Keller, TX
5/9/2011
I don't why it's taken me so long to try this place out. Maybe because there are a slew of Thai restaurants within a stone's throw from my condo?
The other night, wifey & I swung by here to get some take out. We ordered the Ginger Chicken, Aroy Beef, and Crab Rangoons.
We left, and were almost home when a sweet Thai woman called and noticed that they forgot to place on of our apps in our to-go sack. We pull back up, and she actually ran the order out to our car. Even though they initially forgot this order, I thought it was cool that they picked up on this, and called. Most restaurants probably wouldn't even bother.
To the food: Very good with excellent flavor. The chicken was tender, and not overly saturated in ginger. The aroy beef was very good too. The crabs...well, their rangoons, and typical of most Thai restaurants. Not too greasy, and generous portions.
I will return- next time, I'll dine it with a BYO bottle of wine. -
Review from Megan G.
8/2/2011
It took a Rogers Parker to introduce me to this awesome restaurant right in my own backyard. I'd passed Aroy a million times, but this little restaurant under the el never managed to catch my eye. That all changed when a Red Eye article gave my dining companion a hankering for rice sausage. Faced with the choice of cooking for myself on a Friday night or hitting a BYOB, I gladly assented to Aroy.
Aroy was mostly empty when we arrived at 7ish and we were led to a table by the back room. A waiter immediately brought us wine glasses and a corkscrew - no waiting for my Friday wine? Love it. We started with the Issan (pork and rice) sausage. I admit I was dubious and tried my first piece cautiously. Delicious! The Issan is spiced but not too hot and has a delightful crunchy salty thing going on. I'm a fan. For my main course I opted for the basil leaves with chicken. The restaurant menu indicated this dish was "spicy" (I note that the online menu does not). My dining companion, who is as western European and spice averse as I, assured me he'd ordered the dish countless times and it wasn't that spicy. I'm not sure if the preparation varies or if he just thought it would be hilarious to see me cry, but my entree was decidedly heavy on the spice. From what I could discern before my tastebuds seared off, though, it was very good (I reheated my leftovers the next day and they seemed decidedly less hot - that confirmed that the dish really is delicious). Next time I'll impress upon the staff that I am the world's biggest spice wimp...
And there WILL be a next time. This is a great addition to my neighborhood BYOB list. Plus they deliver and have online ordering - I'm a fan. -
Review from Maureen S.
Chicago, IL
9/13/2011
This place has really great service and is super cheap and authentic style Thai food. What's also great is the Red Curry, and the Pad Woon Sen is also fantastic. Wasn't a fan of the crab rangoons, they were like fried pieces of celery, which was kind of weird. I've heard a lot of buzz about this place, and that it is the best Thai in Chicago- it was really good, but I don't think it was the best. A good Thai place if you're in the area, otherwise not outstanding.
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Review from Jessica C.
Chicago, IL
10/24/2011
I had a post -pediatrician lunch date with my four-month old here today. I'm not going to go into incredible detail about how delicious this place is, because that's been covered by... everyone. The food here is fantastic. Very fresh, flavorful, nicely presented, and well made. You can read about it in the 100+ reviews below, in the Reader, or on Zagat. I have nothing to add on that front.
The people here are incredibly friendly. I forgot my card at home in a fit of mommy-brain and ended up being unable to pay. My server took my information and allowed me to go home and phone in my card number. He was incredibly gracious about the whole thing. I apologized and he said, "It's okay, it happens." Honestly, WHEN does that happen? I worked in food service for years and I can tell you it never does. This man didn't even flinch when I explained my situation. He didn't express a smidgen of anger or worry. That's hard to do in situations when you could potentially get screwed. Especially because, in the process of pulling apart my purse, my Link card decided to take an extended vacation on the table amongst fist fulls of change. I'm very grateful that he was so cordial. I have a guilt complex that has only gotten worse since becoming a mother. I really appreciate him sparing my feelings. Bad things are always worse when you have a child to consider. This man is solely responsible for the three stars it did manage to receive from me. Of course, the food didn't hurt either.
I have mixed feelings about what I'm about to tell you. See, I realize that quite a lot of restaurants have "pests". Especially the divey places I tend to be so fond of. Aroy is pretty divey. It's not one of those posh, polished, upscale Asian eateries that I've become so accustomed to since living on the Northside. If it didn't have such gigantic windows in front, I would probably think that I was in Chinatown, not Ravenswood. You can hear the cooks talking loudly in the kitchen (in Thai) and the floor is carpeted. That's probably all I have to tell you. However, like I said, I love a good dive. The atmosphere didn't phase me. I understand that they could easily charge $5 more a plate, but don't have to because they don't have to spend anything on decor.
I have friends that lived on the corner of Kedzie and George back in the day and, let me tell you, that place was incredibly infested with roaches. It was one of the most disgusting things I've ever witnessed in my life. However, I basically lived there and would occasionally eat at the gyro place downstairs. So, what about seeing the Orkin man show up, unload his equipment, and walk into the kitchen is so disturbing to me? Everything. I don't think my brain would let me return, even though I want to. I think my standards are bit higher than they were when I was seventeen.
I feel bad posting this after they were so kind to me, but I believe in full disclosure. That's why I write Yelp reviews. People should be able to make an educated decision as to what they put in their body and where they decide to do so. Hopefully, it was a one time fluke and Orkin really cleaned the place up. I think it's safe to say that that's probably not the case, though. Roaches are pretty resilient.
I hope that someone from Aroy reads this and they're suddenly inspired to raise THEIR standards. I also hope that I don't start vomiting within the next couple of hours.
I'm sorry, Aroy. I wish our brief love affair didn't have to end so soon and so very sourly. Good luck. I'll miss you. -
Review from tony p.
Chicago, IL
11/21/2011 1 photo
love there larb salad and thai sausage!!
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Review from Suzy D.
3/20/2011
My husband and I met two friends here for dinner last night. Our friends have been raving about this place but we have never been, so we decided to try it out tonight. The restaurant is pretty small but we were seated right away. We ordered the thai sausage, some sort of barbecued pork with a spicy sauce, thai wings, pad see ew, ham hock in a spicy sauce, spicy fish ball soup.
We were blown away. Everything was delicious. The thai sausage was probably my favorite dish of the evening. The basil flavor was amazing. The barbecued pork was also great. The thai wings were good but nothing to write home about...basically just like crispy fried chicken with a dippint sauce. The pad see ew was quite tasty as well. Our bill for 4 people was only 56 dollars before tip (and we also all had thai iced teas). Very affordable. After we paid our bill, we sat around and chatted for a bit. Then my husband saw them bring out mango and sticky rice to a nearby table, so we decided we better get an order. The best mango and sticky rice we have had thus far in Chicago (even better than Thai pastry). Thank you for a wonderful meal, Aroy's Thai. We will be back!! -
Review from David R.
11/13/2010
$7 lunch special--thumbs up. Your choice from a handful of appetizers and about a dozen entrees.
Spring rolls: Good sauce, A-OK.
Cucumber salad: A little bland, but A-OK.
Service: A little slow, but A-OK.
$10 credit-card minimum: NOT OK.
The chicken pad thai was solidly above-average, a distinct pleasure to me since I've been on a run of mediocre to poor pad thai over the last several months. Not only does this theirs taste great but it looks like a small mountain on the plate. Economizing patrons could easily fill up on the appetizer and half the pad thai, and then have enough left over for a modest lunch the next day. Not bad for seven bucks.
One other point that I have to mention--when I first walked in, this place stank. Like, somewhere between five-day unwashed navel and old parmesan cheese. After I'd been seated for a few minutes, the odor (or at least my perception of it) began to morph into something closer to Thai food scent, and by the time my food arrived I wasn't noticing any smell at all. But man, those first few minutes really made me reconsider my restaurant choice.
That all averages out to about...A-OK.Listed in: Best of Ravenswood
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Review from Kato t.
Morton Grove, IL
5/10/2011
I love Thai food, and one of my favorites on the menu will always be chicken Satay. Well this little place I feel serves one of the best Satays ever!
If anything, that's what comes to mind first and also the vegetable fried rice is pretty good. I've eaten here now several times and I've always enjoyed there food and it's a nice quaint place on the corner. Many people who I know that are actually Thai seem to recommend it because they like the spicy dishes, so I'm feeling it must be hard core Thai.
Spicey is okay, but not always my favorite, but just the same I like this restaurant and enjoyed it. -
Review from Ellen K.
Chicago, IL
5/9/2011
I love this place. I take my out of town guests here because it's a great example of the little neighborhood gems that make our restaurant scene so awesome.
But, like some other reviewers have noted: go at dinner and ask for the Thai menu - it's filled with authentic, creative, spicy wonders that make for a totally memorable meal. The other menu has all the usual spring roll/chicken dishes you see everywhere else and, while they're tasty, they're not what makes this place so great. The authentic Thai menu is what makes this place a five-star Yelp destination. Be bold - try something new - it's a blast! -
Review from Jessi O.
Chicago, IL
3/25/2011
Whenever I try a new thai spot I like to get the Pad See Ew dish. We ordered from Aroy and I was very impressed with this dish. Big leaves of bok choy and very flavorful.
My friends were big fans of the Tom Kai soup. I'm not a fan of that dish in general, but they get it everywhere so I would trust their opinion. -
Review from Ney N.
Chicago, IL
4/24/2011
If you go there and order from the "American," your meal would just be like from any standard Thai joint you've seen around Chicago.
Ask for their secret "Thai" menu and ask your waiter to recommend you something from there (you won't be able to read it coz it's written in Thai) and take your taste bud for a grand tour to a street of Bangkok. My favorite: Tom-Zap-Kra-Dook-Moo, Sai-Aue, Nor-mai-Nam-Prik-Noom and Kor-Moo-Nam-Tok. -
Review from Jonathan W.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 7/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Two stars is too harsh.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/11/2011
All-in-all decent food and nice place but I've had better in the city. This place is not at all bad… Read more »
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Review from Kamila T.
Schaumburg, IL
5/31/2011
The restaurant itself is very nice. Clean and open concept. Service was good but the food was just ok. I had the cucumber salad which was fresh but too way to sweet. The sugar water viginar combo should be a subtle sweetness not overbearing. I had the red curry dish and it was ok, just ok at best. Kind of bland and not spicy at all. My co workers and I agreed, we've had better in the area.
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Review from Brittany B.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2011
Better than your typical Thai takeout!
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Review from Nick B.
Los Angeles, CA
8/29/2010
I had a craving for Thai food on Friday. I've lived in the neighborhood for awhile and I always run past Aroy. I checked a few reviews out and decided to take out. I ordered the tofu broccoli and spring rolls.
I enjoyed the food! I can't say that I was blown away but it was tasty. The tofu broccoli was a nice portion and the price was right. The tofu was a little flavorless and their was a lot more broccoli then I was in the mood for, fine. The spring rolls weren't fried which bothered me at first, but after eating them all in two minutes, I was happy they were fresh.
Turns our Aroy is BYOB. Cool! I'd go back to eat at the restaurant solely for the BYOB. Nice neighborhood restaurant, I recommend! -
Review from Tom P.
Chicago, IL
11/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
I'll stick to the food, since I got carryout. Perhaps eating in would provide a better overall experience...
That said, there are a ton of Thai places in the neighborhood, and the food here was worth forgetting. It wasn't awful, it's just that, as Yelp suggests for a 2-star rating, "Meh, I've experienced better." That I have.
I asked for spicy/hot and got what seemed to be mild at best.
The dishes were watery.
The best part of the meal was the crab rangoon. That was the only thing in our meal that seemed to rival other Thai joints in the area.
I might be back to give them a second chance, but given the competition I can't say I'm in a hurry. -
Review from Ben P.
Park Ridge, IL
5/16/2010
This was one of the worst restaurant experiences I've ever had.
I think my reviews are pretty legit - I tell it like it is. You can check out my other stuff. And I do not kid you when I say do NOT go here and this restaurant MUST CLOSE.
Where to begin...
The Service was horrible. Waiter was a yutz and didn't know how to take orders from a large table of 8 people. Two items that were ordered never came out (and weren't on the bill luckily). The entrees came out in a 15 minute stagger. We had to specifically ask the waiters twice about 2 entrees that didn't show up with everyone else's. And there were plenty of rookie serving mistakes, such as not cleaning appetizer plates, refilling water, etc.
The Food was absolutely disgusting. First the ground chicken salad had to be sent back because it literally smelled like shit. Next, we discovered PLASTIC in not one but TWO of the entrees! One was tiny like paper-shredder size, and the other was a full inch triangle like cutting the corner off a package. We made the manager aware who of course apologized, but come on you're running a restaurant. I personally got an upset stomach from the duck bomee noodles (overcooked egg noodles and odd taste), but did actually enjoy some of the appetizers like thai wings and pot stickers. I tried other dishes at the table and many were bland.
Bad Service. Bad Food. Is there anything else to a restaurant? The manager did give us a discount on the bill for the unpleasant experience but it doesn't make up for it.
I would never go back and recommend you go elsewhere for your thai food.
