On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Thai, Asian Fusion [Edit]
Neighborhood: EdgewaterBryn Mawr (Red)
Mon-Tue., Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Loading...
Ben's Noodles and Rice is a great place to get a nice Asian meal in the Edgewater Neighborhood.
The only reason I didn't give Ben's Noodles 5 stars is that they raised their prices significantly after being featured on Check Please a couple of years ago. They do a HUGE eat in/carry out/delivery business and I felt this was unnecessary and "convenient"-I can only imagine they figured now that they're "famous" they can get more for their food.
That aside, you will get a fresh meal with quick and friendly service. The prices are still inexpensive for the freshness and quality of the food.
I enjoy watching people go by the windows in the front. There are so many "colorful" people in Edgewater.
Best pad thai, like, EVER.
We were at Flourish picking up cupcakes for wee-hours consumption later, but since we were right across the street from this cute little Thai joint, we decided to stop here for dinner. Very glad we did--this cozy restaurant has the tastiest pad thai I've had in the city to date. I usually order pad thai with tofu, but I had a wild and crazy moment and decided to order with pork instead. Perfectly cooked, fresh and tender.
Also, i'm a huge crab rangoon aficionado, but it seems like hardly anyone gets it right. Either the filling is virtually crabless, or the wonton is overfried, or the sauce is just blegh. These were right on the money--very crabby filling, crispy wrapper, and utterly delicious sweet-and-sour for dipping.
Definitely going back to this place--it's less than a block away from the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop, so y'all should, too.
I love the Christmas lights adorning the walls at this simply decorated, no frills joint. It's the inner beauty that counts at this place - It shows that they are all about their food and not how great they look - kind of like how we all judge people by their personality and not their looks (yeah right).
Give them a chance one day and visit them during their lunch hour. For around 6 bucks you can get an appetizer and an entree. Too bad the special is not offered for take-out (so says their menu).
If you're into curries - try the Massaman Curry. It is stew of coconut milk with potatoes, onions, and a protein of your choice - very flavorful and satisfying. If you have a cold - try the Red Curry - it should get you decongested within 2 minutes. My friend ordered the Steak Teriyaki which is served with onions and mushrooms. It was very umami. They could have provided him with a knife or the cut the steak into smaller pieces, yet it was entertaining to see him cut the steak with chopsticks and a fork.
Friendly service and a good crowd makes this place my favorite neighborhood thai spot. Make sure you check out the specials - I missed it because it's placed on a teeny-weenie dry erase board.
Okay, Ben must be putting liquid opium into the noodles. I am fully addicted. Since my first review, boyfriend and I have ordered here 3 more times! Everything has been REALLY good, even their egg rolls are addictive. That thai sweet chili sauce, mmm... thick noodles, fat noodles, skinny noodles, glass noodles... I might even go today. Someone help me!
I really don't think our order could have been improved in anyway. It was wonderful and we even… Read more »
This place is definitely a 4.5, but I couldn't in good conscience round up to 5 (the Lard Nar can be a little too soupy and the Pad Thai is a bit bland). Having said that, I want to emphasize that Ben's easily holds its own with other top Thai eateries across the city. My girlfriend and I have had the Panang curry a few times and are in agreement that it's the best in the city: not *too* spicy, but full of flavor in every bite and heaped with generous amounts of veggies and tofu (our friends have gotten it with chicken, too, and report that Ben's doesn't skimp on the bird). The Panang pairs very well with the Pad See Eiw, itself not overly oily and noodle-heavy-broccoli-light like its counterparts at other establishments. Additionally, Ben's soups are the best I've had in Chicago: smooth yet tangy, just the right amount of veggies, and easily a dollar or two cheaper than a bowl at a downtown Thai place. And while the ambiance of Ben's leaves a little to be desired -- we always do takeout -- the price certainly is right. Highly recommended.
I am happy to report that we tried Ben's again last night and I was very pleased this time around!
When my husband called, I had him ask the person on the phone what was in the massaman curry. Now on the menu it says it has potatoes, peas, onions and carrots. What the person on the phone said was potatoes, onions and peanuts. This cleared up one confusion. My husband asked if I could add broccoli and carrots instead of getting a meat or tofu. They said sure no problem! And they didn't charge me a substitution fee like some places do. Now that's good customer service!
This time we picked up the order because we were out and about. It was ready when they said it was going to be and it was piping hot! I opened up the bag quickly to check things out and was super excited to see carrots, broccoli peanuts and onion in my dish! HURRAH!!!
:0)
And the yummy taste was still there and I was in curry heaven! We also got complimentary egg rolls which were super yummy and the sweet and sour sauce that came with them was finger lickin' good. Seriously. I licked my fingers. What? It's finger food! And I was in the privacy of my own home darn it!
The only thing I would say is to buy another order of rice, I felt I need a bit more with my dish. An extra small is only a dollar and it would be worth it I think.
Anyway, I am SUPER pleased to say this is my curry spot! Finally!!
This would most certainly be 5 star review except for one major thing.
This is a giant peeve of mine…
Read more »
Ben's Noodles and Rice is a solid, consistently good place for Thai. The panang curry is velvety and smooth with great balance of sweet heat. The pad se eiw has tasty bits of carmelized soy-noodle-egg. The sprin rolls are also fresh and tasty. It is our "go to" delivery place during the week as the food usually arrives within 30 minutes of calling.
I was so disappointed!
The Potato/Chicken curry was tasty but the sauce had a strange look and consistency to it, kinda like curdled curry...but it tasted great! The noodle dish, I think Pad Woonsen, was just meh, nothing to write home about.
I'll give them another shot for the lunch special, but I think I'm sticking to Indie Cafe as my go to Thai spot.
Great Thai, Great Price!
I love Ben's Noodles and Rice - and not just because I live right around the block. Their pad thai is always great, and their curry fantastic. They also make wonderful crab ragoon, which, while not an authentic Thai dish is a must have for and Thai restaurant in the midwest.
The only sad point is that they're not open on Wednesdays - which seems to be when I end up craving yellow curry chicken with potatoes.
Ben's is a decent spot. I've had better Thai food all over Chicago, but it's conveniently close to the Bryn Mawr redline stop.
I'm not as enthusiastic as some of the Ben's fans on this site, nor am I as critical as the staunch Ben haters. Maybe my taste in Thai food isn't as discerning other types of food. When it's excellent, I notice, but when it's just ok, it's still pretty good. Mediocre Thai just sort of blends together for me.
That's how I feel about Ben's mediocre, but better than the other options around it.
As I'm giving this "two star" rating, I'm thinking "Meh. I've experienced better" just as the Yelp people have labeled it.
I just thought this place was unremarkable and a little expensive for that neighborhood for lunch. There was nothing bad about the food or the service. The dining room was a little small and a little uncomfortable, but everything was adequate. There aren't many other Thai options that are a mere stone's throw from the Bryn Mawr Redline stop, but this one is just ok.
Good, solid thai food. I got take-out last night, and the very nice folk comped the cuppa tea I gulped down while warming up and waiting for my order.
Two entrees and an appetizer were done about 10 minutes or less.
I like that when I ordered my dish spicy, it actually showed up spicy.
Another unremarkable business off the Bryn Mawr stop. I thought it was a little expensive for lunch. The food's pretty good. not outstanding.
The service is adequate, though they were quite fast. I eat there, but don't get excited thinking about it.
3 stars
I live nearby and they are convenient, the portions are large I couldn't finish it all so I had it for breakfast the next day, if u can believe that.
This is my go-to Thai place!!
I love Ben's-- I love their pad thai, I LOVE their pad see-eiw, their crab rangoon, the pad ped catfish, and their curry fried rice. The only thing that I've had here that I didn't like is the Bangkok chicken, but I think that's just a matter of preference.
The food is always fresh and delicious-- I've never had a bad experience with Ben's -- and their service, either with take-out or delivery is fast and friendly. And their prices are much better than Indie, which is a close second as far as Thai goes in this neighborhood.
Yummy yummy yummy. A step above your average storefront Thai. I've ordered a few different entrees from them and have yet to be disappointed. The dining room lacks in ambiance, but the food is good and the price is excellent.
Favorites include lime chicken, Bangkok chicken and the crab rangoon.
It's good. Just good. The curry is okay, which kind of dipped the place into 2 stars for me after the first try. The crab rangoon and the cashew chicken I had the second time pumped it up to 3.5 stars. The thing that makes this place for me a 4 is the incredibly friendly casual and sweet attentiveness of the owners and the fact that it's half a block from my house. I will definitely be back.. would I travel half the city for it - no. Am I happy they are in my hood - heck yeah!!
Oh, and if this isn't a testament to the place, I don't know what is....
every time we've gone there, there is an obsessed regular oohing and aaahing to a friend about how much they love the place.
This place has the best service in any restaurant I've ever been to in the world! The two people who own/manage the restaurant and the teenagers who often work there know how to be friendly with their regulars but also give them space to enjoy their food and conversation. They also typically give the bill only when someone requests it, which I appreciate.
The prices are good, the dining room is small, but the food is good. It can be a bit greasy at times, but you can always request light oil or any other substitution. I've had about half the dishes on the menu, and my favorites are pad see ew, curry fried rice, and beef with oyster sauce. Their crab rangoon has more of a vegetable taste than at other restaurants, and I highly recommend it. The egg rolls are also good, but the mini egg rolls are better (though they're not always available). My only complaint is that they charge a dollar for each extra portion of rice (which is small).
Disclaimer: I almost had to put down my plate to come write my review, but I found myself unable to do so.
But now that I'm satiated, I can say that I've just eaten some of the tastiest pad woon sen in recent memory. Tons of crunchy veggies, lots of thin strips of tofu. And the crab rangoon might just have to forgo the "recent" part of "tastiest in recent memory." Crispy, creamy, crabby... perfect. And the sauce is a thin, deliciously sweet/hot complement. Yum. I wish it was 15 minutes ago so I could just be sitting down with my bag of carry out all over again. The crab rangoon was a little on the pricey side for me at $5.75, but I'd say worth a go.
Oh yeah, this was from carry out. So it spent 10-15 minutes just chillin before I got to tuck in. And that's walking in tonight's cold. Now I'm home, full, and have exactly half of my entree waiting for me for tomorrow.
I will be back to dine in; if it's this good on carry out, I can hope it's even better in person.
I. Love. Ben's. Noodles. A friend suggested that we meet there for dinner about a year ago, and I have been back countless times since. So often, in fact, that the owners (a sweet, gracious couple whose names I have forgotten--for shame!) know me by name and know what I order.
It's a tiny place, and not remotely upscale, but the food is fantastic. The crab rangoon is so soft and creamy. I usually get the pad sie eiw with chicken, spicy, but I've sampled other people's dishes and and everything I've tried has been delicious. I especially like the curry fried rice.
You are typically served by one of the owners, and they are both extremely attentive. I usually get something free when I go in because I go so often and bring so many new people in to try it. No one I've taken there has ever had a bad word to say. AND they deliver, and the delivery is FAST (usually 20-30 minutes).
I really can't say enough about this place! Yum!!
The wife and I stopped in for a quick bite last night. While the Thai food is spectacular, I must admit the staff is even better. So friendly. My wife is a Pad See-Eiw [sp?] junkie. She declared Ben's chicken version to be the best she's had. I tried the spicy basil noodles with beef. Spicy, yes, but not so much that it overpowered the basil. We grabbed a take out menu and declared Ben's to be our new go-to spot for noodles.
Ben's is a mere 1.5 blocks away, which rocks. I usually get a curry of some sort (I think I like green the best) and tom yum soup. And I can never forego the chance for Thai iced tea. I have never eaten in the restaurant - I usually get it delivered, or do takeout if I feel like venturing outside, but when I do go pick it up the owners are always extremely nice.
I know my review says 4 stars but I really think it's about 3.5. This is because I still like Indie Cafe a little better - better flavors, comparable prices, better ambience, etc. (refer to my Indie Cafe review)
This tiny little place has pretty darn good Chicken Pad Thai and their delivery is quick.
I'm gonna go ahead and put it out there: One of the best, if not *the* best, Pad Thai in Chicago. Lunch special comes w egg roll, which has a really light and crispy outer texture (not greasy whatsoever) and packed w. fresh veggies. Shrimp or Chicken, both are equally good...it comes w I think a dozen fresh shrimp, so even the lunch portions are generous...totals $7 before tax/tip.
I love this place! I am always nervous when I go out to eat with my "veggie" friends because I am want to make sure they have a decent selection of food and Ben's def delivered selection. We started with Thai iced coffee and I had crab rangoon as a starter. It was prob the best I have had since I moved here. The portions were huge and the prices were extremely reasonable. The service was fast and attentive. I will be back soon!
update 1/16/2009
I am addicted to Ben's Noodles. It has become a staple in my diet! :)
I am singlehandedly putting Ben's children through college.
The peppers are crisp, the chicken is tender and the pot stickers are basically an orgasm in your mouth. I'm serious.
My hippie vegetarian girlfriend doesn't like spicy Thai so she always gets some variation of friend rice, and bland as it may seem to a flavor-hound like myself, she gushes over it. GUSHES. Squirty pile of Thai love juice. Also, she's a dainty young lass, so typically one order of Ben's can be 2-3 servings. Dinner tonight, lunch tomorrow, etc. At the inexpensive price, you cannot beat the amount of shit they cram into those little plastic containers. It's quite astounding.
On to the real deal: my meal.
I don't mix it up too much because I've found a delicious selection that burns my booty [in a fabulous way]. Bangkok chicken sets my soul on fire with a hearty mix of veggies, chicken and jasmine rice. I typically dump a bunch of those red things into the rice and suck it down until I put a nice dent in my platter and just throw the rest of the rice into the spicy muck at the bottom. I have found this technique maximizes taste and minimizes mess.
Additionally, I think they really hook up the repeat customers. They know us, and our typical order--so each time it's tailored to our specific tastes (they cram my thing filled with delectable chicken chunks and supply me with roughly a quart of hot spice concoction.)
Anyway, I am sitting here with a belly full of spicy Thai delight, rubbing my love basket with glee.
I love Ben, and he loves me.
I wish Ben would sell me Bangkok chicken wholesale
Seriously, it's like an obsession [with Ben's…
Read more »
I was recently hanging out in the neighborhood and my companions decided to order from Ben's....it was just ok.
My friends all got tofu items and all agreed the tofu tasted a little "off". No one got sick, but there was a debate as to whether they used fermenting tofu or squeezed a bit too much lime on the dish that made it taste that way but nevertheless it was disturbing.
I got cashew chicken which was meh.....the sauce was watery and veggies were a little undercooked. Not NEARLY as good as Cozy Noodles.
The prices were good, and it was fast, but the quality was really lacking. I might try Ben's again if I was in the neighborhood.
This is the best neighborhood Thai joint I've ever been to. The prices are extremely reasonable, the service is great, and ever item we've picked off the menu has been delicious. We frequent this place as much as possible. The miso soup and Pad see iew are consistently my favorites. Yummm!
I am a big fan of Thai food, and this place is on my short list. Their food is very good.
Tasted several dishes and they were very good. The chicken and veggies are crisp and the noodles have a good flavor and are not overdone.
Definitely a place I will try again.
I went here with 2 friends and it was great! The food is standard thai, but make no mistake, it is good! My only complaint is that the calamari was REALLY greasy. None of us finished it, not very good.
I had the Tofu Pad Thai, it was excellent, and reasonably priced. If you're in Edgewater, check Ben's out.
I love this place! The service is excellent, and the food is always great, nice portions and it's cheap! I usually find myself here at least once a week.
a must try for fellow hardcore Thai food connoisseurs..
I would rate this restaurant amongst the top 4 places serving "quality" Thai food in Chicago
AHHHH I'm moving to Edgewater next month! I can't wait to order deliveryyyyy.
The owner's daughter is a good friend of mine, and I'm not even being biased when I say their thai… Read more »
Having been born and raised in Hawaii, this displaced islander's survival in Chicago is dependent on good Asian food. Ben's is hard to beat on the quality, price (as we say in Hawaii, "Gotta broke da mouth but not da bank!") and customer service! Ben's at the top of my all-time favorite Chicago restaurants.
What's great about Ben's is that the owner takes the time to get to know his regulars and does everything he can to make sure his customers are comfortable. He's called my friends and I into the restaurant from the street when we pass! And I remember after a hot summer's commute, waiting for my take-out, he had me rest at a table and offered me a free drink to cool off. Service like this is hard to find in Chicago.
While the menu is not remarkable, it is what I would call authentic comfort home cooking for an Asian-Pacific Islander like myself. The menu is affordable with very sizable portions. Although, I like to order things with less sauce... I'm not a very saucy person.
Here's a cool tip! The menu is not exhaustive. Make sure to look up the daily specials written on the tiny dry-erase boards on the walls! I always get excited when the Lime Basil Chicken or Rice Soup is up on the board! I also love their fried rice... it's not the typical Americanized Chinese fried rice but has a softer texture and fresh vegies. Also, they are more than willing to accommodate your personal nuanced tastes and change the recipe a tad for you.
We've had small groups at Ben's for Saturday night dinners or Sunday morning brunches. The room is intimate but comfortable. Also, Ben's is gay friendly and a nice place to bring a date on occasion.
I had been here before and was not to impressed but today was invited by a business contact to join him for lunch there today. I must say I was very happy with making the decision to go again. Ben's really stepped up their service and menu and made the experience very enjoyable. The only reason they lost a star was from a poor explanation of the menu even after I asked. Beyond this it was a very enjoyable experience and I will be returning for sure!
I've eaten at Ben's a few times in the past couple of months and have had a great experience every time. The owner Chris is always my waiter... he's very nice and respectful and polite and has a wry sense of humor if you pay attention. I felt like a regular on my second visit!
I'm not a big fan of Thai food, but I really liked the Salmon and the Ginger Chicken. Their Crab Rangoon is the BEST!!!
Also, they have a weekday lunch special that I checked out last Wednesday. It includes your choice of 7 entrees and the chef's choice of soup and an appetizer for $6.99. Incredible. When I went, they had Miso soup and California Spring Rolls with lunch... I'm not a big fan, but my friend loved it.
When it comes to Thai restaurants, the first thing that makes one a great one is their Pad Thai. It's the dish that sums up all the ways the food is cooked, seasoned and smothered.
This place is clean with a friendly service but a terrible* plate of Pad Thai. The egg rolls and pot stickers were average. Good for cheap Thai.
* By terrible I mean that compared to a good Thai restaurants, not a triple cheap Thai/Vietnamese/Chinese joint.
Hands down, my favorite Thai place in Chicago. The food is pretty good, but the service is what made me return over and over again.
My favorites are the Pad Thai, Bangkok Chicken, and Basil Chicken.
the Thai ice tea is great too.
I wish they would relocate to San Francisco!
Went to Ben's last night. My roommate and I were both too worn out from the week to bother cooking so we took a walk down to Bryn Mawr. We had every intention of going to Hellas Gyros but we decided to hit up Ben's instead.
The service was fine, the prices were right, the food was good. All in all, it was a great experience. I'll be back, as it is so close to my apartment, and definitely good. Its all I can ask of a local "hole in the wall." I don't know if I would make a huge effort to get here if I ever moved, but as long as I am in the neighborhood, I'll be stopping by.
My wife and I eat here pretty regularly. She loves the Pad See-EuW and eats it almost exclusively. I will eat pretty much everything else. Folks that talk about it being "bland" are mistaken. You can easily ask them to "up" the flavor or spiciness of a dish. I enjoy almost everything on their menu.
I like that the fact that it's small, neighborhoody and family-run. They recognize me when I walk in. They ask about my wife if she's not with me. They're just really nice. When we do take-out, the food is ready by the time I walk in (and I live only a couple of blocks away...).
Please visit our site for our…
Neighborhood: North Center
Daily Specials!
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Category: Tanning
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Edgewater is an up and coming neighborhood in…
Amitabul on Milwaukee. Cafe 28 on Irving Park.…
My favorite type of food (after Greek) is Asian.…
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Edgewater and…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
