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Arun's Thai Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Thai Thai [Edit]
4156 N Kedzie Ave(between Warner Ave & Berteau Ave)
Chicago, IL 60618
Neighborhood: Irving Park
(773) 539-1909
- Hours:
Tue-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
137 reviews for Arun's Thai Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"I believe each day the tasting menu changes." In 16 reviews -
"And filling since it was a 10 course meal." In 10 reviews -
"one of the 100 restaurants you must try before you die." In 9 reviews
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137 reviews in English
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Review from JNadene A.
San Diego, CA
2/11/2012 4 photos
The 12 course meal was superb but a struggle. The 12 courses starts with 6 appetizers, 4 entrees, and 2 desserts. This place knows the meaning of foodcoma. Caution, this place is heavily priced but well worth it. You don't get chances to come to spots like these often so if you have a chance too you should go. It's hard to find on the street so keep your eyes open. The servers were even nice enough to wait outside to pull over a taxi for us. The service is 5 stars just as the food is.
Listed in: Good for Groups
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Review from HTMS s.
Chicago, IL
4/25/2012
Not as good as I expected but still spectacular. I prefer the appetizers over the entrees. The flavors are Thai in every sense.
I am not used to Thai food looking this fancy. small portion (good thing in 12 course meal) appetizers and entrees are carefully plated over a bed of salad or fresh greens with colorful sauces. The flavors is what surprises you every time, definitely Thai , although it looks as any other modern high end american/ italian etc...
over all good experience and I am glad I was able to try this food. My 3 critiques would be 1) not spicy enough, only one out of 12 courses was spicy enough for my taste. 2) Deserts are uninspired. kind of a sad thing to end an atypical curious meal with something so... conventional. 3) I cant really elaborate precisely here but I will try. The temperatures of the ingredient did not blend well...at all. when you expect something to be warm or hot but its actually cold. this problems seemed to repeat in a couple of dishes. One dish had hot fried fish and below an almost frozen eggplant. if the fish was spicy then maybe I would understand but the fish had a sweet and sour sauce and the cold eggplant just killed it. A pasta dish had warm pasta and a cold broth. the broth made half of the pasta cold and the other half thats not covered with the broth was warm.
to summarize, appetizers were really good. the food was very different and worth trying. 3 stars for the food being super mild and too sweet at times, add one star because you cant have this meal anywhere else. -
Review from Diana P.
2/18/2012
I feel bad having to write a review for Aruns and only give it a 3 star, however, I am loyal to YELP and promised I would always be truthful and not use other reviews to sway my own. Here it goes...
It tooks us 3 years to finally come here (never seemed to work out) and we went on Valentine's Day of all days. Instead of the $85/pp, they raised it to $125/pp, kind of annoying but definitely understandable. We had very high hopes and were so excited for the 12 course meal, and then the courses started coming out. One after another, I was waiting and waiting to be WOWed and it just never happened. Every dish that came out did not make my mouth dance, was not unique and original as expected, just simple Thai food that if I closed my eyes and didn't know where I was, would probably have told you I was eating good takeout. I do consider myself a foodie and have eaten at some of the best places in Chicago so could I be a food snob, YES, should I expect high quality, amazing food for $125/pp, YES!
I asked for no spice, and one of the dishes was so spicy, my mouth/lips felt on fire. Expected a place like this to respect a request such as that and they did not. The dessert was the best part of the meal, very tasty and they gave everyone a Valentine's Day gift, a Thai silk scarf in a cute little bag with ARUN's card inside. Thoughtful and unique for a restaurant to do, however, I know my $125/pp went into that.
Overall, 100% NOT worth the money we spent. It was as if we just dropped over $300 just to say we dined at Aruns. Uninspired, overpriced and a huge disappointment.
Could we have come on an off day, perhaps but doubtful as it was Valentine's Day and they probably put their best foot forward, right? -
Review from Trevor S.
Chicago, IL
4/12/2012
Probably the only place I would ever pay that much for Thai and like it. I mean, curry is around $1 on the street there - and damned good. Despite what we paid, I can find little fault with the courses and service. Educated owner.
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Review from Erin C.
Chicago, IL
7/18/2011
Well, from what i've heard from others, arun's has gotten lazy and lost their once-golden touch. Several people told me that Arun's was one of their favorite restaurants in the city. They all went 1-3 years ago. We went recently for our anniversary and were ready to be impressed. Sadly, the food was uninspired, overpriced and no better than any local thai restaurant in the neighborhood. All of the special things people told us about (special garnishes, beautiful preparations, etc.) were strangely absent. The food usually looked better than it tasted, and sometimes was barely warm, strange for a restaurant with a limited menu. The presentations were ok, but no better than you would see on a cruise ship. We ordered the wine pairings as well and one was a kendall jackson chardonnay (about $12 at jewel). Not impressive, Arun's...not impressive.
The service had a few missteps as well. We were served the same appetizers twice in a row. When i pointed that out to our servers, she whisked away the plates and put them on the table next to us. Those diners seemed suprised to get plates that were on our table first.
The decor also leaves something to be desired. To me, glass placed over top of white tablecloths means that you are too cheap to wash them in between each patron. The bathrooms were also in dire need of updating and cleaning.
Overall, we felt like arun's is trying to cut corners from the food, to the decor, to the wine. I know times are tough, but if you want to be a destination restaurant, then step it up. People aren't stupid and will know when you're being cheap. There are so many better places to go in the city than this. -
Review from Casey T.
1/23/2012
My favourite place in Chicago. Yes it's a little fancy/formal for thai (esp. in Chi) but this place never fails to amaze me with the medley of delicate (and some not so) spices. If your are a pain-in-the-ass diner (read substitutions all the time) don't come here. It's a love-me-as-I-am animal and if you can roll then come for the ride.
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Review from Amber C.
Chicago, IL
12/27/2011
Although the food and presentation were amazing, the service was horrific. There was no coat check (in December) and that was just the start. The courses came out incorrectly and then were removed from our table. I am a vegetarian and made sure the staff knew of my food restrictions when making the reservation as well as when we got to the restaurant and I was STILL served fish. To top it off, the server's cell phone went off in his pocket while he was leaving our table!!! The bottom line is Arun's really needs to step up their game in the service realm... because really that is what we are paying for here. There are plenty of really good Thai places in the city. The service at Arun's is what should make this place stand out and it's a shame that it doesn't.
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Review from Ramya P.
6/28/2011
Ok, so I've been here just once (That's right, I'm not filthy rich!!). But the experience was mind-blowing that I had to praise the team. First of all, I felt very star struck when I entered and was surprised that it didn't look pretentious. The sculptures & the overall decor was opulent. The waiters were all super friendly. I definitely recommend the wine flight. The food was very artistically presented (just as I expected it) and its nice that they really cater to dietary restrictions and levels of spice each individual can handle.
The butterfly & the gold fish made out of carrot left me speechless. The waiter was kind enough to give me a glass with water & a lid to take the gold fish home as a souvenir. -
Review from Joanne W.
3/21/2011
I know I am totally going to be in the minority with my review....but here we go.
I had been dying to try Arun's for quite some time now. I had heard such wonderful things about it from friends and then of course all the buzz....one of the 100 restaurants you must try before you die...the 5-diamond star rating, etc etc. I'm sorry. I don't get it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Arun's is bad. It wasn't bad at all but my dining partner and I were underwhelmed. The word "ordinary" was even thrown around that evening.
Ok, so here is the low-down. Twelve courses for $85 consisting of 6 appetizers, 4 entrees and 2 desserts. The wine pairing is an additional $50 and you get 6 varieties. We splurged and did the whole she-bang. The wines were wonderful and definitely worth it in my opinion. The presentation on the food was beautiful and the vegetable carvings were impressive...especially the goldfish and the butterfly! In some instances, we felt the food looked better than it actually tasted. Also, we were disappointed in the "heat" factor...I'm Asian, I can handle the spice! We did mention this to our server and we were brought some dishes that had some more heat to them and it made a world of difference.
The highlights for us (aside from those rad carvings) were the soup with pork belly & garlic chips and the lemon grass crab cake with campoche squash sauce. I'm sure the spelling on the squash is totally wrong..but who cares...it tasted like deviled egg! The desserts were nice and how can you not appreciate two desserts? We were just not wow'd. We were expecting to have our socks knocked off and sadly that just did not happen. It was a lovely experience and I am glad that I had the chance to explore Arun's but I'm not sure I'll be back.
If I am going to drop mad cash on a meal, I'd rather drop it at Schwa (which I've been and is worth it imo) or Tru (which is still on my "to-do" list). -
Review from Rachel R.
Chicago, IL
3/27/2011 4 photos
I was surprised with a visit to Arun's for a special celebratory dinner out. I love Thai food and when I read about the unique experience Arun's offers, I was even more excited to try it out. We went on a Tuesday night and the restaurant was quiet. The service was exceptional.
They tailored the food spice level to our liking - basically the hotter the better - and made sure that we didn't have any food allergies that could prove problematic.
We chose the 12 course meal and the wine pairing. The wine consisted of sweet champagne, two reds, another white, and ended with a dessert wine. It was a lot of wine for the cost and far more than I planned to drink on a school night - but, I'm not one to back away from a challenge!
The food was phenomenal and the presentation artsy and very unique. Overall, it was a delicious and fun experience. I highly recommend this restaurant for a unique & special night out. Who doesn't love goldfish and butterflies!? -
Review from Gregory P.
Highland, IN
5/9/2011
Yes this place is expensive, and worth every penny. If you want to enjoy an experience from a James Beard nominated chef, you are going to pay. This is a custom experience down to the dietary requirement. To date this is one of the Five best restaraunts I've been to in my life, and it is #1 as far as Thai food goes. I will be back.
Check out the site before you go so you know what to expect... -
Review from mary l.
Naperville, IL
3/10/2012
This place had been on my bucket place for years! Other than the neighborhood, I can say my dining experience was a complete delight. Food is prepared with precision and artistry. Service was top-notch. You must be a foodie to appreciate this place. If you want to chow down on inexpensive pad Thai, this isn't the place. This is a place that one eats slowly and savors.
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Review from Adam K.
8/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pretty alright, I have not been here for 2 years but I remember when I took my gf here for her bday we were both like, what was so awesome about this place again? Oh yeah, it is listed as one of the 1,000 places to go to before you die in some book. IT was ok, nothing that great, I guess I should go back to give them a fair shake. For $100 a person, I want to be blown out of my striped socks.
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Review from amanda g.
Chicago, IL
7/9/2011
maybe my expectations were too high.
there was nothing wrong with arun's but there was also nothing that made me feel great about spending $308 for two dinners and 5 drinks.
it was really good, but is was not so much better than many other thai places i've been. and especially not good enough to warrant the high price tag and industry hype.
the presentation and service were absolutely top notch (although i have to say the servers did feel very rehearsed, which was a tiny bit awkward).
glad i went, because it's been on my list to try for so long. but wouldn't recommend it to others. unless of course you have lots of extra money burning a hole in your pocket. -
Review from Simone T.
Chicago, IL
10/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wonderful! A perfect place for a special date for 2: proposal dinner, birthday, or anniversary!
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Review from Christina S.
Corte Madera, CA
4/2/2007
I have wanted to dine at Arun's for such a long time! Afterall, Arun's is considered the best Thai restaurant in the country, and I wanted to see if it lived up to the reputation.
When you step into Arun's you feel like you have been transported to Thailand. The beautiful interior is decorated with ornate thai artifacts and beautiful vibrant paintings that cover the walls. My seat was overlooking a beautiful mural depicting the life and death of Buddha, and unique Thai dolls displayed in a mahogany cabinet.
The 12 course tasting menu ($85/person) begins with six appetizers served degustation style followed by four family-style entrees and two desserts (thai food is traditionally served banquet style). In fact, there is no menu presented to you at Arun's. Each dish that presents itself is a surprise, which is part of Arun's unique experience. The food does not fail to amaze, and is prepared with top-notch ingredients and creativity. The presentation and attention to detail makes the experience even more special and memorable (such as tomatoes shaped as roses and carrots carved to resemble goldfish complete with eyes and fins). The food is complemented with a stellar wine list with many unexpected choices.
Although some would argue that it is silly to spend so much money on Thai food, I would beg to differ. Each course served was complex and required extensive preparation. I would almost consider $85 per person to be a great bargain. Besides, the memories that you have from such a great dining experience are well worth the price.
In Chicago's vast and excellent fine-dining scene, I would place Arun's in second place, following Alinea, and before Tru. -
Review from Eve A.
Chicago, IL
1/3/2009
Easily the best meal of my life.
Yes, it's very expensive; haute cuisine almost invariably is. You're paying for ten or more courses of exquisitely prepared, flawlessly flavored Thai food tailored to your personal dietary and gastronomic preferences and presented to you as though you're royalty. For that, $175 isn't bad - and I don't have that kind of money to spend casually on food.
I'm not sure if it's useful to mention the individual dishes, since they are seasonal and vary by patron, but all four members of my party - the MSG-allergic, the kosher-keeper, the spice-phobic and the skeptical Midwestern meat-and-potatoes type - were delighted by the flavors, impressed by the service and well sated by the portions. Though I was the kosher-keeper and didn't get to try it, everyone raved about the pork stew; I got a marvelous sweet-and-sour chicken satay. We loved the passionfruit custard, too.
The wine list is excellent and appropriate to the food, and the cocktails are nice and strong.
Inshallah, I'll be able to afford to eat here again one day - but for now, our night at Arun's is a special memory which we consider well worth every penny.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Greg T.
Deerfield, IL
4/22/2007
The 12 course prix fixe menu left us both stuffed. Six appetizers, four entrees, and two deserts, each presented beautifully (my favorite was a 1-1/2" Nemo carved from a carrot, accompanying the sea bass) and spanning a wide variety of tastes. A good wine list with plenty of variety in the whites (didn't pay attention to the reds). The second appetizer (shrimp and chicken on rice noodles) came with a red chile sauce that we indicated was about the edge of the spiciness we wanted (having requested "hotter than moderate" while initially ordering) -- I think that was a mistake, and that we spooked the kitchen, as everything after that was not nearly hot-enough for my preference . . . but was delicious nonetheless.
Service was terrific: well-timed and never hovering or hurrying. All of the waiters and back waiters alternated to bring the different courses, explaining each one. There's a wild mural near that back that you'd probably want to request being seated near.
On the pricey side (about $100/head exclusive of the wine) but well worth it. Definitely look forward to coming back. -
Review from Michael S.
Chicago, IL
12/7/2009 10 photos
Really torn on how to write this review... Not because of the food here, but because of my own personal knowledge and experience with Thai food.
One thing that I remember vividly is that we were told to put our napkins in our laps. It wasn't a please put your napkin in your lap. Obviously, if I can afford to come to Arun's I have an idea of manners and dinner etiquette. We were still talking and didn't realize the first appetizer was coming out. I don't think I or anyone in my party should be lectured like that. Otherwise, all the other servers were friendly even giving me kanom jean (thin, white rice noodles) for the green curry (how I'm used to eating this dish.) Actually asides from that one snippy server, the rest of the people were really nice. It would of been nice to have more dishes explained though. I think they stopped when they realized we knew what the dishes were.
As you can see in pics I have added, the food is prepared really well. There was not one dish that I didn't like. The thing is that I've had all the dishes before in Thailand. Outstanding gang kiel wan (green curry) though.
I would love to comment on each dish, but I don't remember enough anymore to go into detail. Basically, the dishes here are your authentic Thai dishes done well. The first appetizer is something you get off of street carts.
If you haven't really had Thai food besides your standard pad thai and whatnot then of course you'll be amazed by this place. Knowing this food though and realizing I know people who can cook these dishes just as well if not better makes me not as impressed.
Even with the outstanding service at the end, this place is too pricey valuewise for what is served and we were mad about the napkin incident. If this place were even slightly cheaper, I'd be more inclined to go back. Instead, I'll just enjoy the same type of food at home or at other Thai places.Listed in: Thai Food!
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Review from Dave S.
7/16/2008
I held an engineering staff meeting in Chicago and took everyone to Arun for dinner. There were 16 people and to seat us, we were taken through the restaurant, through the kitchen and up to a private room.
We weren't shown a menu, but rather a "program" for the evening. If I remember correctly, there were 8 appetizers and 6 entrees. For each appetizer, the table was set and each person was served. The waitress would wait for everyone to shut the heck up (we were really noisy) and then tell us what it was, where it was normally eaten and what to notice in the flavors.
After each appetizer, they would clear the plates and reset the table before the next appetizer.
Oh yeah, this was off the hook, baby.
The entrees were served in a family style fashion and didn't take up as much time as the appetizers. The food was out of this world.
Five people in the group made a point to find me later at the hotel and each said exactly the same thing: "That was the best meal of my life."
It sure was.
Just to make the experience even more amazing, we had two vegetarians in the party and the staff made vegetarian versions of every single thing that was served to the others.
That's right, they didn't leave the vegans in the dust, they treated them like royalty.
Picking up the tab for 16 people, including many, many bottles of wine was an interesting experience but that's what expense accounts are for! -
Review from Shilpa G.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2007
I was here a while ago, and I'd like to get back soon- the chef changes the menu often. The place itself is totally unpretentious and not too dressed up (though they could invest in the decor a little...), so the focus is really on the food.
The servers bring each small dish out at appropriate intervals (menu is set by the chef, and you can inform him of your allergies, spiciness-level preferences, etc. ahead of time). The food is pretty experimental, perfect if you like the flavors of thai cooking. Plus, my party sat at our table for about 3 hours, which seemed to be the norm here, and it's fairly quiet, so you can talk easily. -
Review from Stephanie L.
Chicago, IL
12/2/2010
I FINALLY made it to Arun's after like a year of thinking about going.
The space-its in a weird area (I secretly like that...off the beaten path). Inside the restaurant is pretty gaudy, however it engulfs you in the experience of the meal.
We all had the 12 course tasting menu.
There are a couple of things about Arun's that I really didnt like...
1. The wine list was pretty pricey...I mean, come on have some options that are reasonable...you already are spending $85 on dinner
2. They brought out our first course before we had even ordered our wine....felt a little rushed. I like to have some wine before I start with any food. I dont like to be rushed through a tasting menu.
Now for the food....
The appetizers were all scrumptious and kept getting better as they came out. Then the main courses came (family style)....unfortunately most of them were ehhh. Slightly disappointed. The two desserts were also just ok. They both were like fruit like...nothing decadent...which I was kind of ready for. They asked about food preferences and spicy-ness of the food so that is always a bonus in my book because I love the spice...
Overall a fine dining experience with a couple of glitches.....would I go back....probably not, but it was worth it for a one time deal. -
Review from Karen R.
Seattle, WA
7/2/2007 2 photos
Whether you've ever had Thai food in Thailand or not, you're gonna' love the food here; as long as you like good tasting food. Arun's has real Thai tasting food - at an American price lol - but worth it, I will add. The excellent service matches the food though I wished we had the same server the entire meal. Not that it matters I suppose but it's just a me-thing :) The neighborhood and decor is blah but I'm not eating outdoors nor the decor lol, so who cares... I believe they have valet parking on weekends. Other than that, you'd have to be real lucky to find street parking and be a good parallel parker :)
http://qomt.blogspot.c... -
Review from Arul V.
San Francisco, CA
6/20/2006
Hands down, Arun's is the best meal I had while living in Chicago. Each course on the set menu continues to be outstanding just when you think it cannot get better. As one example, they literally serve a beef entree that melts in your mouth. Moreover, the service is top-notch and they are willing to meet any need or desire-- whether you have food allergies or just do not like certain ingredients.
If I had to pick one fine restaurant to send an in-town guest, it would be Arun's without a doubt. It is one of those meals that you remember for a very long time.Listed in: Chicago Dining
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Review from Mike I.
Miami, FL
9/23/2006
Ate here this past week and it's one the best meals I've ever had. Filet, sea bass, lobster, shrimp, and the list goes on. Definitely for special occasions as it is pricey (spent +$300 for 2 including a moderately priced bottle of wine). Service is excellent and the ambiance is relaxed. If the cuisine in Thailand is anything like this, I may have to extend my vacation there next spring!
My only small critique is the wine. Although I'm not a wine expert at all, I think Thai cuisine (especially a tasting menu like this) is difficult to pair with a single bottle of wine. The restaurant should include a price fixe option that includes wine. -
Review from Karen N.
4/29/2009
I knew the price tag when we went. It was two of our birthdays so we thought we'd splurge. Ultimately, we agreed it was a nice experience, great service, well prepared food, plate presentation was amazing. But, why 2 stars, right?
Well. Even though the curry beef is very good, I have had a better lamb curry at a Thai restaurant that specializes n Southern Thai food in LA. The lobster and shrimp dish was good too and the garnish was oh so cool, but how's that a Thai dish? We Chinese would make the same thing, probably not garnished my a cute carrot fish though. The various appetizers... crab cake, soup, and I don't remember the rest of the dishes. All of them balanced and well prepared, but I really don't go to a Thai place for balanced and well prepared food, I go there for the PUNCH! I need some KICK and some excitement!
I am a well eaten person, and this is not a restaurant that I will visit again. Once was good. Twice, no thanks. -
Review from Christine F.
Chicago, IL
11/30/2009
My parents, my husband, 12 courses of food, and one bottle of wine. Here we go.
We had 6 appetizers, 4 entrees, and 2 desserts.
Unfortunately, I did not write the courses down (or what exactly was in them). However, I'll highlight some of the bright points.
The very first course was great, it was more of an amuse. It was some type of leaf with peanut, coconut and leek with a coconut sauce. It was fresh and crisp and a great way to begin the dinner.
The last appetizer was great, it was a very spicy broth with thin rice noodles and vegetables. It's the kind of spicy where you're crying with deliciousness through the pain. Very good.
For entrees, there was basil chicken, something similar to Massaman beef, Panang vegetables, a tilapia dish, sweet and sour sea bass and scallops.
The scallops were some of the best I've ever had. They came with a light soy based sauce and asparagus. The tilapia, was "eh". The sweet and sour bass was great, and the curried vegetables were the bright spot - I was almost licking the bowl on that one.
Both desserts were great. One was lychee pear ice cream in a sweet, crispy shell served with lychee. I forgot how much I liked lychee until I ate that. Mmmm. The other was a cream based of some type of leaf in a crepe. That was fantastic too.
This is one of the few expensive restaurants that actually lives up to it's steep price. When you charge $85 for a meal, it better damn well be impeccable. And the vast majority of the 12 courses were perfect. I would surely come back to Arun's and see what else they have to offer. -
Review from Misty S.
4/21/2010 12 photos
Meh...
Sadly, I was not impressed. It definitely looks better on the inside than the inconspicuous outside may lead you to believe. Perhaps I waited too long to come here. My friend raved about this restaurant many years ago and I have been wanting to try it since. It's in the book "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" for crying out loud! It must be good. I checked out the pictures on Yelp before I went, of course, to get all psyched up. I don't know about you, but I was super excited about the carrot goldfish carve out!! I even called dibs on it.
Skipping to the end...
NO GOLDFISH!!!!
I know...boo hoo...but I really was looking forward to it. I felt robbed. I did get a tomato rose, but it wasn't the same. All the food that came out were delicious, I'm not knocking that. The appetizers were mouth watering delicious goodness. I wasn't impressed with the Mussaman beef curry (plain and unimaginative).
My FAVORITE dish of the night:
Appetizer #1 - Bite-sized salad of fresh betel nut leaf with bits of fresh ginger, shallot, lime, peanuts and toasty coconut flakes topped with tamarind-coconut sauce. Each bite was a symphony of flavors on my tongue.
We made reservations a week out and the only available time was 9pm (make sure you call way in advance if you want a different time slot). Street parking was easy this time of night. The bar area is small with 4 seats available. The wait staff seemed like they were stretched thin. After the first 3 course, we started getting food at the same time as the couple that arrived half an hour after we did.
I'm glad I came, but I won't be returning anytime soon.
Did I mentioned that my striped bass was exquisitely garnished with...
NO GOLDFISH!!!!
For over $200 for 2, I hate to say it, but it's overpriced for Thai food. -
Review from S S.
New York, NY
7/20/2011
Food was decent. HOWEVER- very overpriced. You will spend over 200 USD for 2 people. Some restaurants easily deserve to command this kind of pricing- Arun's definitely does not. Decor is tacky though service was pleasant (As it should have been at these prices!). Avoid this place- Thai Classic is a much better option.
I'm quite certain the waiters are getting a huge chuckle at our expense! -
Review from Mike K.
Updated - 12/28/2008
I woke up in a cold sweat from a nightmare in which I had returned to Arun's and got robbed blind again. Figured it was time to update my review. The place is still one of the most over-hyped and overpriced restaurants in the City.
I'm glad Salsaboy S. is keeping it real, but what are the other reviewers thinking? Should we start a discussion page on this? Should we start an Arun's victim support page?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/23/2008
I don't really know where to begin with this place. If I give the blow-by-blow, I'll be here… Read more »
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Review from Margot L.
San Francisco, CA
9/3/2006
Arun means "sunrise" in Thai, and Arun's does not disappoint. We were delighted with our twelve (YES, TWELVE) course meal of very small plates - delicately flavored and articulated so that we could go enjoy an after dinner drink without feeling over full.
Chef Arun himself emailed the menu to us, which included:
Thai crab cake topped with a seared scallop, and lemongrass, atop an avocado sauce (A-)
Beetlenut leaf wrapped around sweet dried coconut and chilis, with a scallion coconut tamarind chutney (A+)
Beef tenderloin medallion, seared (A)
Chili vermecelli noodles (slightly sweet) (A+)
Fresh noodle roll stuffed with mint and crab (A+)
etc. etc. etc.
It was very very good. I honestly don't know the price because I did not pay but if you want to splurge, this is the place. I did order wine, which ranged in the moderately-expensive ($50) range to the expensive range ($100-200). Dessert was also included and was equally stunning.
Fun fun fun. -
Review from Michelle H.
Brooklyn, NY
12/28/2011
Disappointing and over-priced! Uninspired food made from low quality ingredients and questionable business practices! I don't mind paying high prices, as long as the food is worth it, but on this first visit to Arun's I was cheated by both the quality and the service. I will never go back.
I came here expecting a stellar meal as I read many foodie sites touting this as one of the best restaurants in Chicago. When we were seated there was only a wine menu on the table. When we asked for menus we were told it was a prix-fixe menu, which was fine, but the waiter never mentioned the price. (only when the bill arrived did we find out it was $ 85 per person.) We ordered a bottle of wine, the waiter promptly took the wine menu from us, and then convinced us to try a different wine. He was quite convincing and so we went with his suggestion. Only when we got the check did we realize the bottle he convinced us to buy was $70 more than the original one we ordered! The original bottle we ordered was $50 and this one he pushed on us was $120! The fact that he never mentioned this is pure robbery! This is plain and simple bait and switch scam. I worked as a food server in many fine restaurants and you always tell the patron the difference in price if you make an upscale suggestion.
The food was ok, some of the appetizers quite good, but mostly just ok. Nothing was outstanding. As I previously mentioned, I often go out and spend a lot of money on fine dining, so the price wasn't the issue. Obviously this place has gone downhill from its heyday several years ago. -
Review from Salsaboy S.
Oakland, CA
11/10/2008
Arun's is a three-star meal at ten star prices.
It's good, but nothing is worth this premium. While I love fine-dining, I've never been to a restaurant this expensive.
They accommodated my vegetarian preferences -- or anyone's dietary constraints -- admirably. I ate different courses as a result than my companion. There were four or five appetizers, four entrees, and three desserts. We each had a glass of wine with the appetizers, and a glass of wine with the entrees. Total cost? $150 per person. (The prix fixe menu is $85, plus 10.25% tax, plus drinks, plus gratuity). Outrageous.
While the food was well prepared, it isn't ordinary Thai food -- as well it shouldn't be for $150. That said, I love typical Thai fare, and it may be more affordable to fly to Thailand, eat for a month, and fly back with change to spare. Expense aside, I actually prefer the simple food in Thailand -- inexpensive but perfection -- more than the gastronomic display at Arun's.
I would never return on my dime. -
Review from zoran o.
Lemont, IL
7/20/2009
Been here 3 times - pretty if you ask me !
This IS THE place if you love Thai and spice to come on a very special occasion and splurge-ola.
Now... I have been to the top-o-da-line joint in the city with 1,000 courses and 6 bottles of wine and still i feel my rear cheeks numb from 5 hours of ridiculous gluttony - well, this is NOT that place.
Also been to that place where the food looks amazing and leaves you wondering what "that was all about" and hungry - well, this is not that place either.
Yes there are many courses but you leave curious wondering what else they might create in their kitchen...
Yes all the dishes are art - but the explosion of flavor in your mouth is the actual art of senses.
Truly amazing and unique Thai. You will walk feeling like you got a deal for the amount work spent on your dishes. Well worth the steep price.
Can't wait to go back. -
Review from Dana C.
IL
2/20/2007
I went here Saturday based on numerous rave reviews and I was very excited to go (can't believe it took me this long really)... So my expectations may have been too high to really appreciate the restaurant fully. I am so glad I went (and would go back) but hear me out:
I knew it was a prefixed menu but I felt it was a bit interesting you had absolutely NO menu (No biggie really, just an observation)- they at least asked if you had allergies/spicy pref etc...and they only have one bathroom for women (again just an observation, but I had to wait 10 minutes to use it)....
The service was great but our table was so close to the next one that I had to "shimmy" in between the two to get in and out.(knocking both tables the whole time) . Kinda akward as I did not want to knock over the next tables food/waters.... ugh.
Now for the food:
Of the 12 courses I LOVED 3 of them- a thai crepe (tasted like pad thai fried in batter), the beef tenderloin curry (to die for), the red snapper main dish (yum).... I LIKED the crabcake app and shrimp...
But the rest I felt were simple thai dishes that were good, but did not blow me away - even the lobster I felt should have wowed me more, but it was fried and therefore tasted like most fried foods.. the desserts were also okay. I know not every dish is going to WOW you but from the reviews I was thinking this would be one place that would!
I guess my point to all of this is I WISH you could go back and choose your meal! It could make your individual experience so much more by picking the items you LOVE and leaving out the not so enticing stuff.. I know that is not how it works there BUT I WISH, I WISH! Because they may see me weekly then!
I really DO feel bad saying anything bad about this restaurant but I feel the expectations should be lowered just a bit, so we don't go in expecting perfection! -
Review from Vasudha P.
Austin, TX
11/20/2010
I came across this place in the "1000 places to eat before you die" section and I had to try it. Totally worth the splurge.
12 small portion plates - tasting menu. They are very accommodating of any food restriction/allergies you may have.
I cannot stop raving about their betel leaves appetizers. Beyond description.
Over all 5 stars. Definitely a life time experience. -
Review from Philip A.
Evanston, IL
4/14/2006
Arun's is by far the best Thai in this city. He has been drawing the line between food and art for the last decade, and crossing it every night with is beautiful creations on the plates. Great presentations with flavors of contemporary and traditional Thai. To some the $85+ prefix menu is a little steep, but it is worth the experience. You pay for what you get. FYI they only do prefix menus.
Beautiful artwork, and a nice art room to walk off some of the early courses before desserts. We dine hear a few times a year, mostly went for my birthdays as well and we would have a list of courses that we request when we make reservations, and Arun has never let us down. Ask for the tapioca dumplings with the carved carrot basket... they are out of this world, make sure you have two helpings.. one for ME!
The service is top notch as well. They also have an upstairs room for large parties, and Arun has his own bedroom and office up there too, gotta trust the chef that lives at his restaurant... my dad used to do the same thing!
There you have it, one of Chicago's true bests!
Cheers! -
Review from Amanda O.
Chicago, IL
11/15/2007
The food was interesting and excellent. Each bite contained an amount of flavor that cannot be put into words. I loved the style of the dinner, and how you were served such a wide variety of dishes. It was expensive, but worth the money.
My only complaint is that, while the service was fine, we did find ourselves waiting for wine at least twice during the dinner. It wasn't a huge deal, but when you are at that fancy of a place, that really shouldn't happen. -
Review from Richard C.
Arlington Heights, IL
1/19/2011
Have been there twice now and will be going back a third time soon...
This is Thai food like you've never had it. The dishes are works of art, especially all of the intricate vegetable/fruit carvings. With the changing menu you never know what you're going to get and I just love that; have yet to be disappointed in anything I've tried there.
When we've gone, we've requested the seating area upstairs. To get there, they take you thru the kitchen (the first time there we met Arun's mother who was working on deserts!) The seating upstairs has about 8 tables; very intimate.
The 12 courses are nicely paced out so expect to be there at least 2-3 hours; definitely not a meal where you will want to rush; just sit back and enjoy! -
Review from James K.
Chicago, IL
4/27/2007
This elegant gorgefest delivers across the board. The decor is beautiful, the wine list is diverse, with a relativeley inexpensive markup (roughly 2x retail) and has good selections at all price points.
The food is absolutely delicious and is delivered in an almost never ending deluge of delight. You don't order at Arun's, you get whatever the chef feels like cooking. That's ok, though, each surprise was right on. Every dish was presented beautifully, with plenty of fruit and veggie art, and tasted even better.
A visit to Arun's is a must for any serious diner who enters the Chicago area.Listed in: Top Restaurants
