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Ben's Noodles and Rice
Categories: Restaurants Thai Restaurants Asian Fusion Thai, Asian Fusion [Edit]
1139 W Bryn Mawr Ave(between United States Highway 14 & Broadway St)
Chicago, IL 60660
Neighborhood: Edgewater
(773) 907-8936
- Nearest Transit:
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Bryn Mawr (Red Line)
Berwyn (Red Line)
Thorndale (Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Tue, Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
177 reviews for Ben's Noodles and Rice
Review Highlights
"Oh, did I mention the Tom Yum soup."
(in 8 reviews)
"Crab Rangoon was crunchy with tons of filling and the..."
(in 22 reviews)
"...and now I'm drooling just thinking about that pad see-eiw."
(in 9 reviews)
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177 reviews in English
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Review from Kevin B.
Chicago, IL
10/9/2011
Best pad Thai in Edgewater. Good prices, fast carryout service, friendly staff, and of course the best pad thai in the 'hood (and that includes newly-opened Jin).
Pretty unassuming from the outside and could probably use a face-lift inside, but overall good grub made by nice folks at a reasonable price. -
Review from Kevin T.
Chicago, IL
2/1/2012
I don't want to detract from all the good reviews of Ben's - they're a good local option for Thai. I've had Ben's twice, once sit down and again via delivery. Both times I ordered noodle dishes (it's their specialty right? It's on the sign!).
The sit down experience isn't much to write home about, it's just your average run-down small mom and pop, but the conversation between the young couple on our right was fun to eavesdrop. They did eventually establish that they both considered their dinner a date. Heart Heart.
Anyways...Ben's charges too much for what you get, I can't substantiate poor ambiance/average food experience while still paying 8-9 for a noodle dish. But I'd order delivery again in a bind. -
Review from Sharee M.
12/1/2011
Every 'hood needs a Asian food spot. This is Edgewater's (to my knowledge).
I went to Ben's a while back during my Vegan experience. I needed the Vegetable Fried Rice (Stir-fried rice with mixed vegetables and egg) without the egg. It was good and large in portion. The prices were ok, but I have had lower around the area. But hey, there is another Asian spot not too far (many 9 blocks) from here...that I really dislike. So you get what you pay for. What is that you ask?
Goos service. I ordered and dined in. A cute little spot, ran by a nice group pf people. It was warm and invited, with lots of traffic. Everything was done timely. My water was always filled and they made sure I was happy the whole time. I was pleased with the service.
I will be back when I am in the mood for Asian or Thai. I'm a fan.Listed in: Da' Edge
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Review from K K.
Chicago, IL
11/19/2011
I live not two blocks away from here and love it! Whenever I take someone who asks me for advice on what to get, I reply that anything and everything is great. And make fantastic leftovers :)
The only reason why I'm giving 4/5 stars is that sometimes it can be difficult to get a hold of the staff, maybe there's just something going on in back or they don't want to appear hovery. Considering the awkwardness of the space, though, this is a bit more understandable. -
Review from Yaeko M.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2012
Yamm. The place is pretty small, not much of decoration. However, the food are very good. I had spicy basil noodle and Pad Kimao. Very good food, good service. A good local restaurant.
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Review from Krista W.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2012
Love this place! They are consistently delicious and offer great, friendly service. I dine there a couple times a month and my favorite dishes are the Spicy Basil Noodle and Tom Kha Kai soup. The staff greets me by my first name, which makes me feel special. If you are looking for ambiance, this isn't your place. If you are looking for a BYOB, with friendly service and scrumptious food...Head to Ben's Noodles!
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Review from Dan C.
Chicago, IL
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Excellent customer service, great portions and excellent space.
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Review from Cheryl W.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2012
I ordered the Tom Yum Seafood soup and spaghetti khee mao seafood. The Tom Yum Seafood soup tasted sweet and was not spicy or sour. The spaghetti khee mao seafood was alright...nothing special. Maybe I ordered the wrong things?? But, how I tell how good a Thai place is by their Tom Yum soup.
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Review from Ajamu R.
Chicago, IL
1/6/2012
Good food good service and owners are cool. Small but def a good spot for some thai food. No siam rice that's the only bad part.
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Review from Ellen S.
Chicago, IL
8/16/2011
Seriously, The best Thai food ever. I go here almost every stinkn' week to get one of their curries! I am never ever disappointed. Sometimes, I am on the train and I get the hugest craving for it and I have to call in for a pick up! Everyone who works there is so kind.
I live on the same block and although I am not a fan of a lot of the other restaurants nearby..I am super excited to have this one so close to get my fix! -
Review from Ehow C.
9/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Solid green curry and Thai iced tea, I'm curious to try more.
It looks like they have an efficient take-out system, and the staff is warm and friendly. -
Review from Matt M.
7/26/2011
I was told that this was the best Thai curry on the north side. Not so ladies and gentleman. Not to take anything away from Ben's but its not THE greatest. Its definitely worthy of top 10.
It is very good. The curry does have a strong and delicious flavor but it lacks the accent that I've seen in other "5 star" thai places. Also the rice is nothing special.
The portion sizes are also very good, but that is too be expected around this neighborhood. After all you can't compete for fat american business without catering to our flabby butts.
Pricing is average and so is the depth of their menu. I do love the location. Enjoy!Listed in: Curry Time
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Review from Iman W.
7/22/2011
I never reviewed Ben's. For shame on me!
Ben's was the first Thai place I went to in Chicago. My first Thai place period. The fact that I still continued to like Thai food goes to show that I was pleased with my first experience. I can't think of a single thing I ever had at that place that I disliked. And the people who work there are great, somehow managed to always remember me no matter how long it had been since I was in there.
Ben's is one of the things I miss about living right off of Bryn Mawr. -
Review from PJ H.
10/30/2011 11 Check-ins Here
Ben's has great food at very reasonable prices. The service is fast and the staff are nice. The decor is simple and had a clean look. It's a great place to grab lunch or have a catch-up dinner with you friends.
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Review from Harini R.
Chicago, IL
8/24/2011
Ben's Noodle and Rice is like our second kitchen :) This is THE place my husband and I go to when we have no time to cook. Been living in Andersonville for almost 4 years and yes, shame on me for not writing a review sooner! The owners are the nicest people! I have taken all of my foodie friends here and they all love Ben's dishes. My favorites are: the vegetarian eggrolls, green curry with Chicken, shrimp pad thai, pad ped catfish, curry fried rice (my husband's fave). Have tried the basil roasted duck too, yumm!! The Thai ice coffee is also really good!
Steps away from our apartment, great food, clean and cozy place. I am happy to give Ben's Noodle five stars :) -
Review from Lisa D.
Chicago, IL
8/5/2011
I went to check this place out last night after my roommate suggested it. Thai sounded good and I wanted to explore the neighborhood. The place looked pretty understated when I saw it from across the street. Honestly, I thought to myself...really? This dive has good food?
I had the pad thai with tofu, a favorite..I didn't feel like being adventurous. It was delicious and the service was great too. The guy kept re-filling my water and was happy to give me a box for my leftover pad thai (they gave me so much food!). I would definately go there again.
Great food and great experience overall. -
Review from C R.
Chicago, IL
8/12/2011
Hand's down my favorite Thai restaurant! Everything I have ever ordered from there has been fantastic.. it's a no-frill, no-fuss kinda spot and everything is not only tasty but very affordable! My personal favorite's there are the Shrimp Tum-Yum soup, the Beef Pad-See-Eiw, Chicken Pad Thai and the Chicken Friend Rice is always a winner as well!
Aside from the great food, the owner Chris is always super friendly and so is his wife.. I've never walked through their doors without being welcomed by a friendly smile. Whenever I'm in the area I always make it a point to visit them and indulge in a little Thai comfort food :) -
Review from chris e.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2011
Good stuff! Great food, nice people .. Those of u who have read my other reviews kno im especially tough on Thai -but this place gets a 5 star rating hands down. i havent had a dish there that i didnt like .. and ive had their pad se ewe, pad thai, mussaman curry, yellow curry, panang curry, spicy noodles and my fave - their spicy basil fried rice. Appetizers are great too ! Crispy, not greasy crag rangoon and tempura .. flavorful satay ...mmm Portions are healthy and prices are moderate.
After a time or two (and i go there frequently cause i work around the corner) they will start to call u by name if you give it to them on pick up orders
Just dont stop by on Wednesday cause they are closed. -
Review from kathryn l.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2011
I moved to Andersonville about a year ago and this was one of the first neighborhood spots I tried. Ben's has some of the best Thai I have ever eaten -- I am nuts for the pad thai (with pork) and crab rangoon; the only downside is that I love these dishes so much I haven't had the opportunity to try the other dishes as much as I would like!
The staff is so friendly and efficient, and the food is delicious. Definitely my favorite Thai food in Chicago (or ever). -
Review from Rahshonda K.
Chicago, IL
9/28/2011
I love Thai food so why not take the leap and venture into Ben's!?. The leap was worth it because the Basil Fried Rice with Chicken was GREAT! I could not put the fork down. It was super fresh and cooked just right. The service was great as well. I definitely cant wait to order again when I am up in the area.
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Review from Alice Y.
Chicago, IL
4/30/2011
Whoa, how have I not reviewed this place yet? Ben's, along with El Norte, are my go-to takeout restaurants in this neighborhood.
Prices are low, portions are large, plus they're very quick. I always get the Pad Thai or Pad See-Eiw with beef, both solid choices. And they don't skimp on the meat, like some places. I also have come in once for their lunch special, when you pay the price of the entree, but get soup and appetizer thrown in free. Sadly, Tom Ka soup is no longer a lunch special choice, but I'll deal.
My friend who's dined-in with me a couple times said the specialty dishes (with duck and others) are also good. I like that they're available on the menu for when I want to branch out and "upgrade" my meal. Best of all (again), unlike other Thai places, Ben's is generous with the duck and does not charge as much for these fancier dishes. -
Review from Amanda R.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 7/22/2011
Went back again and everything was as good as the first time, if not better. This time ordered extra spicy on the entree labeled "spicy" (look under the entree section, there is seriously one just called spicy). It was! Perfect amount of hot, where you get happy it's spicy (required some tissues, but no spice induced tissue mountain at the end of the meal) but it's not to the point that it overpowers the flavor. Trying to remember what my girlfriend got - something with the wide noodles of Pad See Ew but with different sauce/veg. She ate the entire meal in two sittings of the same day. My remaining "spicy" became lunch for two the next day.
We never, NEVER finish all of our thai takeout leftovers. Well done, Ben's.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/4/2011
Ordered here last night after an uncommon thai food craving. I love thai food, but have a bit of an… Read more »
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Review from Erika M.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 9/19/2011
I had to comment on how amazing the pad thai is here. Originally, when I first started getting take out from this restaurant, I would order the cashew chicken.. which was really good too but the pad thai is exceptional! I have eaten at a lot of thai restaurants... and this is by far the best pad thai I have ever had! They give a VERY big portion...and it is so good that even when I am not extremely hungry I finish the entire portion because I can't stop eating it!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/9/2011
Didn't love this place at first...but now I end up going about once a week for the cashew chicken!… Read more »
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Review from Lindsey G.
Glendale Heights, IL
5/9/2011
LOVE Ben's Noodles & Rice! I lived in the neighborhood for 3 years and this place was a staple for me. Their pad see-eiw with beef is out of this world. It has basically ruined the dish for me because every place I've tried since then has failed to live up to Ben's. They also have great fried rice and if you ask for spicy, they deliver!
The staff is always courteous and will remember you if you're a frequent customer. Delivery was always lightning fast, but that could be because I was only about a half mile away (hey, sometimes a girl doesn't feel like schlepping to get dinner after work!). Highly recommended and now I'm drooling just thinking about that pad see-eiw.... -
Review from Jamie C.
Chicago, IL
1/31/2011
This place was, is, and probably will forever be the best Thai restaurant I've ever been to. The people are very welcoming and friendly, and they know when you want to eat in peace, and when you're ready to order. The options are extremely affordable and all of the dishes are ultimate comfort food!
I think my dad is in love with the place, too. The last time I took him to Ben's, he wanted to talk the owner into branding and selling his hot sauce! -
Review from Liz T.
Chicago, IL
12/11/2011
Best Pad Thai in the neighborhood. Great flavor! You can't beat the lunch special (entree, soup, and appetizer for 7 bucks!). I get disappointed every time I try somewhere new because it doesn't compare to bens. You can't beat the portion size for the money. The waitress is always really friendly and happy to serve you. I just wish the lunch special was on the weekends too!
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Review from james M.
Chicago, IL
9/27/2011
Dear Ben's,
Will you marry me and have my really fat babies? Or we could just be friends with benefits. But you are definitely my apetite's soulmate, like whoa. -
Review from Patrick H.
Chicago, IL
9/11/2011
I love this place for service and food. The calimari is so good that one doesn't even need the sauces. Usually have the Chicken Pad-Thia too! Doesn't get better for Thia food!
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Review from Halleh C.
Chicago, IL
9/9/2010
I've been craving thai food all the thai-m (haha) lately and wanted to try something closer to home. I usually go to Yes, because YES its so good.
I guess Ben's satisfied my cravings, sort of. Yes, I got pad thai and crab rangoons, and yes, it was aiight. However, I wasn't that excited about it. There was a lack of sauce in my dish, and the hot sauce was too watery and not hot enough.
It wasn't bad, but I've definitely had better. I guess I'll continue searching. -
Review from Mary C.
Chicago, IL
7/30/2011
Did I go to the right place? After reading all the glowing reviews I went there for lunch last week with high expectations. What I got in return was something entirely different! The first tip-off was when I walked in and saw just 2 customers besides myself...at the height of the lunch hour. The next tip-off, and this is where I should've bolted was the prices. Yikes, the avg. price for an entree is $8.00 with a few in the $7.00 range. A little high if u ask me for lunch! The man who waited on me, who I think was the owner, kept on saying they have the same menu for dinner & the portions are the same. Plus, they give 2 free appetizers! He kept on repeating it. As I was about to order I noticed my favorite soup was scratched out, tom kha. All they had left was miso & another soup with lime in it. The owner told me coconut milk was now sky high so they took it out. I asked him why it wasn't reflected in the prices for the soup appetizers, they were all the same, $3.95 Again he repeated we give u the appetizers for free! Huh? No substitutions either. So i ordered the miso soup. A mini version of it, not a dinner size portion (like the owner said) with meager ingredients too. Same with the pot stickers. Bite size portions. For the entree I ordered the lad nar. I'll admit it was tasty but the portion was again small.
I really feel gypped, I won't be going back. -
Review from Jade T.
7/24/2010 14 Check-ins Here
When was the last time you've left a restaurant feeling really happy and wanting to return ASAP?
I honestly don't remember the last restaurant, if there were any, that made me feel that way until I dined at Ben's Noodles.
One of the owners, an older Thai lady named Penny, reminds me of my many aunts. She is probably the nicest Thai person I've came across at a Thai restaurant, no lie. I find it really cute that she started talking to me in Thai/English, which my family does. (Not that this is important, but I encourage Thai people to speak Thai with me to help retain my barely existent fluency of the language... but most don't.)
Alright, the staff is nice. That isn't enough to warrant a repeat visit for some of us. I ordered the Pad Thai Tofu and my dining companion ordered the Mussaman Curry. Drinks arrived within 5 minutes. I *hate* it any non-busy restaurant takes forever to bring me water or a can of soda. The food came out within a few minutes too. Usually, this makes me nervous. How good can food possibly be if it takes them a short time to make it?
Well ... my doubts instantly vanished.
= READ: BEST PAD THAI IN CHICAGO. =
(I wish I could italicize, bold, and enlarge the font by 10x.)
ARGH!! SERIOUSLY!!! I've eaten Pad Thai hundreds of times throughout my life, and I judge a restaurant based on that dish. If the Pad Thai sucks, I don't return to the restaurant.
But Ben's Pad Thai is amazing ... amazing. It has the perfect balance of all the flavors: sweet, savory, and tangy. The noodles were cooked to perfection, with the right amount of tofu and vegetables (not too much, not too little). I felt like I was back eating at a street vendor in an alley of Bangkok, that's how good the Pad Thai was. While this term is overly used these days, the Pad Thai was ... orgasmic.
Of course, not everyone will agree ... because people have had different Pad Thais therefore different ideas on how it should taste. I'm telling you, Ben's Pad Thai is the real deal. I almost want to ship it to my mom in DC and ask for her opinion. (Tip: Ask for dried chili powder on the side for an extra kick! That's the traditional condiment Thai people use for this dish.)
I won't write about the Mussaman or the Fresh Spring Rolls much, but they were pretty good too. The Thai Iced Coffee was delicious, not too strong or sweet. I can't wait to try the Pad See Eew here. I find Ben's Noodles to be very vegetarian-friendly. They are more than happy to omit fish sauce.
Seriously, I LOVE Ben's Noodles! I love the lady who co-runs it (she joked about having me come back and learn more Thai from her - gosh, she's so awesome to talk to), I love the Pad Thai and the convenience of the restaurant. I've written many reviews on Thai restaurants, some of which I rave about their Pad Thai, but Ben's Noodles outranks them.
I'll be here once at week, at least, for my Thai food fix. I would return tomorrow, had I not have yummy leftovers. :-)
Update: The owner remembered me after having been there ONCE. Too awesome.
Update 2: Their Pad See Eew is THE BEST I'VE HAD. Period.Listed in: Vegetarian-Friendly (or…
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Review from Daniel S.
Portland, OR
8/26/2011
Amazing. Great curry and ragoon
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Review from Tyrell C.
Chicago, IL
2/1/2011
Ben's is one of the best Thai places in the city and a wonderful neighborhood spot. The owners/operators are some of the friendliest folks I've ever met. I am always greeted with a genuine smile and friendly conversation.
The food is standard thai, but has some great standouts. First off, the pad thai is top notch. Every variety of it is hearty, and the noodles are always cooked to perfection. The pad ki mao is also perfectly spicey/sweet and the noodles are firm but not dry.
Easily the best thing on the menu, though, is the basil rolls. This simple appetizer is ridiculously scrumptious. I wasn't sure what to expect, and I'm still not sure what magic they put in this, but it has a mild basil taste mixed with a savory flavor and couscous type texture. And the sauce is GREAT!
I highly recommend Ben's to anyone in Edgewater, or for people just trying to get away from the busy/trendy restaurants downtown. It's right near the Bryn Mawr stop and well worth a look! -
Review from Beth H.
Chicago, IL
3/28/2011
This is one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants! Cozy, casual family atmosphere, nice and clean with soft music playing.
The food is fantastic, especially the noodle dishes and curries. All the food is flavorful, not greasy, and the veggies are fresh and served generously. My favs: see-ew, pad thai, and woon-sen. -
Review from Brianna R.
Chicago, IL
11/27/2011
Best thai food in the city!! The owners are there from open to close everyday. They get to know their customers. Every time I go in they already know my order. Good prices. Fresh food. Great lunch specials. My favorites are the pot stickers, chicken satay and cashew chicken.
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Review from Minna A.
10/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
After leaving the comforts of living so close to Noodles in the Pot over in the old hood (Lincoln Park), I've yearned for a go-to thai place.
And Ben's welcomed me with open arms. No one can beat the prices over at Ben's (Average tabe of $10 a person post tax). The pad thai tastes amazing, and proportions are huge!
I usually don't ever order crab ragoon, but ordered the appetizer since I hadn't had it in a while. SO GOOD! They have bit of celery inside which really make it taste a lot better then the "plain" crab ragoons.
BYOB people. BYOB. I love BYOB so much. -
Review from Evan Thoreau H.
8/3/2010
Ben's Noodles and Rice. Shame on you! Your name should be: Ben's Noodles and Rice and Tom Yum Soup and Fresh Spring Rolls and Pad See Ew and Pad Kee Mao and Did We Mention the Tom Yum Soup.
Seriously, if you only have time to read a paragraph and a half of this review, let me get to the point: the BEST damn Tom Yum soup in the city. So true to its name: Yum-friggin'-o. Tangy, sweet and spicy. It's the perfect appetizer to get you in that Thai crazy mood. Other soups are equally on taste-target.
But BNR, you did pick this name for a reason and, yes, your noodles and rice are very good. My favs are the Pad See Ew (think chewy rice noodles with savory soy gravy and broc) and the Pad Kee Mao (think PSE's spicy younger cousin who brings peas and carrots to the party). Damn yum. I've heard the Pad Thai is amazing, but with so many other good things to choose from, somehow I always overlook it.
As for the 'R' side, the curries are good, but not the best I've ever had. I guess that's why you'll always play second fiddle to the Noodles, buddy. Yeah, that's right, Noodles are daddy's favorite.
The appetizers (spring rolls, crab rangoon, chix sataay) are good, but again, I've had others that are better.
Atmosphere is super cute (ugh, did I just write that?). But seriously, it's the only way to describe this little storefront just steps from the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop (and dangerously close to home). The owners are amazingly nice and friendly. They always strike up a conversation when I come in to order.
Speed is lightening fast. In fact, no matter what I order, it's ready in ten minutes. Temporal wormhole or fast, steady chefs? I ask you. Prices are unbeatable. $6-8 for mains, $4-5 for apps. And of course it's BYOB, so don't forget to grab a couple bottles (I won't judge).
Oh, did I mention the Tom Yum soup? -
Review from PETE C.
Chicago, IL
3/10/2011
I am at Ben's at least 3 times a week, either for take out or dine in. The food here rocks! the service is awesome, the atmosphere is quaint and pelasant. I like the open window to the kitchen, you can see the bustling in the kitchen!
I reccomend the curry fried rice and the basil fried rice, teh pad see wee, the lad nar, pot stickers, I never had a bad dish there! -
Review from Jack D.
Chicago, IL
8/8/2011
*Myself and 3 co-workers are eating Ben's right now* I work in the neighborhood and order dinner from Ben's ALL the TIME! There are countless Thai food places in my delivery area, but Ben's has always been my favorite. (Dib = second best). The prices are reasonable and the meats are waaaay higher quality than other Thai places I've had. Delivery never takes more than 50 mins, always nice on the phone and in person, never had a meal I didn't enjoy. FAVES: Pad Thai, Yellow Curry, Teriyaki, Satay, pad see-eiw. Least fave: Egg rolls (could be improved). Should also mention I've never had any of their seafood items. I'm sure they're good too!
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Review from Melissa N.
Chicago, IL
7/25/2011
Delicious! Fast! Friendly! Great location right off the red line Bryn Mawr stop, and a very clean (although small) restaurant. They offer local delivery too! I eat here almost once a week it is so good!
