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Lovely Thai Restaurant
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
32 reviews for Lovely Thai Restaurant
Review Highlights
"However, my new fav appetizer is the Golden Balls."
(in 2 reviews)
"There pad thai and lemon chicken are my favorite."
(in 7 reviews)
"I always order the shrimp rolls, yum tom soup and curry..."
(in 2 reviews)
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Jenifer W.
Grayslake, IL
1/20/2012
My family and I were looking for something different than the cookie cutter Eastern take out joints in the local area, and stumbled across Lovely Thai on the way home from work. Not expecting much, we were very pleasantly surprised by this place's authentic take on Thai cuisine.
ATMOSPHERE: Truthfully, kitchy. Full of the fake dragons, rice paper artwork, and even the fish tank you'd expect, all here. Set in a strip mall, the space is small, and the tacky decorations kind of overwhelmed us, adding to the low expectations we had.
FOOD: Thoughtful, and unique. The menu is different than most anything you can find in the area, and makes me think this place should be set up closer to Chicago than rural Grayslake. There are different pairings, you can choose a main course with Thai noodles, white rice, or a curry dish. We had three, as follows:
(1) Ginger entree - Fair, far less exciting than the other dishes. It was simple, with expected flavors. A slight bit disappointing, in that it seemed to have more mushrooms than anything.
(2) Green Curry - Delightful. An unexpected blend of basil and lime in the curry made this dish fresh and amazing. The first taste is sweet, and your taste buds trick your mind into thinking it's TOO sweet, and then the chili hits as you swallow, and it's like fireworks in your mouth.
(3) Rama Curry - Also very good. A bit expected with the peanut flavor, but the dish was beautifully presented and tasted truly "Thai" (not the Americanized version most places serve).
SERVICE: Meh. We were there for lunch, and the hostess, who was also our server, could have cared less if we were there or not. She was efficient, but not friendly. She came to the table with her pen and pad out, said very little, just motioned to us like "what do you want". She wrote down what we asked for, served it, and cleaned up when we were done, brought us the check. I would have loved more water, or drink refills, but couldn't seem to find her when we were looking. Service has a long way to go, but if you're looking for great food versus atmosphere, you might be able to overlook this.
VALUE: Decent! The lunch special was $7.95, and it included an appetizer, a soup, and one of many entrees on the "main menu" to choose from. Lunch portions are smaller, but absolutely filling for what you get. Dinners, if you go, are around $9.95 a plate and have about 1/3 more than the lunch portion. Definatey value priced for the quality of food, and we will absolutely go back (even if it's only for take out). -
Review from Tony R.
Grayslake, IL
11/1/2011
I always love my food when I come here.
Of course Pad Thai is awesome, but you should also try the Golden Balls - if you can order them without giggling.
Only downside has been said here before - they can be slow. Do not go here if you are in a hurry! -
Review from Caroline P.
San Diego, CA
10/23/2011
Great food. I love the Pad Thai. My husband usually gets some sort of curry. Portions are big and prices are just right.
It is a bit on the dive-y side, and service can be slow at times. However, its a great little spot for an informal thai dinner. -
Review from Lisa C.
Lake Villa, IL
11/5/2011
Have lived in the area for 8 years and eaten here off and on...now going to be off. Usually very good but the last takeout we got was awful. Called 30 minutes before they closed, enough time to cook it right? NO! I don't know why they think they can shove anything lukewarm into a take out container and think it will pass as what was ordered..
Tom Yum was Tom Yuck--weak broth(no lemongrass) tough beef and straw mushrooms. That was it! Panang curry was very light on curry, had lots of chicken but only 5 small strips of red pepper. Really??? We may not be Thai but we are not stupid.
The topper was the hostess asked us to pay in cash since they had turned off the credit card machine! The reason was that they hadn't had a customer in 2 hours. Now I know why. -
Review from Cameo S.
Bowie, MD
8/9/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This place is awesome. Just recently went for a visit to IL to see family and we stopped off here. The chicken pad thai is amazing. Even the leftovers were so good that we made a 2nd visit to this restaurant the next week because I wanted more. Also delicious are the shrimp tempura, teriyaki chicken, golden balls, and the basil chicken.
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Review from Christina S.
Round Lake, IL
I love this restaurant! My husband and I frequent Lovely Thai more than any other restaurant in the area simply because, for us, the food has always been fresh, delicious, and consistent. It's a small space, and servers are always friendly, some more than others.
I'm not much of a crab Rangoon fan, but LT makes the freshest and tastiest I've had. However, my new fav appetizer is the Golden Balls...make joke here. ;) They are crispy noodles wrapped around ground shrimp and pork "meatballs". See pic. They are yummy, unusual and plain fun to break into. Chicken satay is always good, as are all the curries, chicken panang is my personal favorite. My husband ordered the masamun curry with duck tonight and he was pleased. He said the duck was a tad overcooked, but not tough. He'd get chicken next time though. We always get a second side of jasmine rice because what comes with the entrees is a little small. We have noticed the portions seem to be smaller than before, but still more than adequate.
If you like mango, the sliced mango with sweet sticky rice is delicious for dessert. I HATE mango, but my husband loves it. I tasted his order tonight and it was delicious because it was so perfectly ripe. That was a huge surprise to me. Oh, and the Thai iced tea is delish, but I haven't met one I didn't like yet.
Give Lovely Thai a try. You might be surprised. We have yet to be disappointed in all the years we've lived here. -
Review from Chris T.
Grayslake, IL
9/4/2011
Great food but the service gets bad when it gets busy at the restaurant.
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Review from Steve Q.
Grayslake, IL
4/4/2011
Very solid menu. Great ambiance. Big fan of the lunch special menu. I love the Basil Beef, with chunk beef instead of ground beef. Very good!
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Review from Cheryl M.
Grayslake, IL
5/26/2011
I like to catch the lunch special. I always order the shrimp rolls, yum tom soup and curry chicken in whatever color I like for the day - so far green and red are very good. It is a relaxing atmosphere.
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Review from Kevin S.
Chicago, IL
12/3/2008
This place is amazing.
One Saturday night, my girlfriend and I went to have dinner with my parents. My dad wanted to go to Lovely Thai because he had gone the night before and he loved it. We ordered basil pork, curry fried rice, yellow chicken curry, beef pad see iew, an eggplant dish, and an appetizer sampler. Pretty much everything was great.
Fast forward one week, and my family invited us to dinner again. We all met up in the suburbs and decided to go to Lovely Thai yet again. We ordered most of the same dishes, but swapped the yellow curry for red and maybe added pad Thai, I don't remember. It was just as good as it was before.
This place is really great. My dad went there for dinner three times (each time his own idea) in eight days, so that must say something. My girlfriend and I will definitely make the trip from Chicago to Grayslake just for Lovely Thai, which also must say something. No joke, this Thai food is the absolute best I have had in years. It beats any place in Chicago that I've tried (a decent number) by a huge amount. It's just a shame it's so far away. -
Review from Laurie T.
St Joseph, IL
2/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
The only thing that could have saved this place was if the food was unforgettable...it wasn't. They need to hire more employees. The one lady could not serve all the people in that place. I stood at the door for five minutes before I was seated and sat at my table for five to ten minutes before she returned to take my order. She came back with my appetizer and I still had no water. It took so long that I had to ask for my check and a to go container when she brought my entree so I would not be late returning to work.
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Review from Chris B.
Grayslake, IL
4/15/2008
A very unassuming place to have a marvelous meal!
All dishes were exceptional and service was prompt, I would recommend this to anyone who wants a fair priced meal and generous portions. -
Review from Thom D.
Eatontown, NJ
8/27/2007
Highly recommended!
I've eaten there a half-dozen times or so and I've never been disappointed with the service or food. The kitchen is most accommodating, in allowing you to make some substitutions, and in preparing the order with your desired level of spiciness.
The restaurant is very clean and tidy. But with the exception of a few appointments, it lacks a Thai ambiance; if I were looking for an intimate, softly lit restaurant for that "special date," Lovely Thai wouldn't be at the top of my list. But then, when I'm looking for good Thai food, at a reasonable price, and with great service, Lovely Thai has my vote!
I should note that, in cooperation with a local wine merchant, Lovely Thai occasionally conducts a multi-course set menu and wine pairing dinner. Most people don't associate wine with Thai food, but the pairings worked extremely well. You'll have to check with the restaurant to learn when their next pairing dinner is scheduled. If you love Thai food, and you love wine, it's a worthwhile experience! -
Review from Kathleen S.
Chicago, IL
8/16/2010
I went here with my husband a few months ago and we were seated right away. Then we waited...and waited...and waited...and someone came to take our order and give us water. Our food arrived fairly quickly and was delicious. Unfortunately, I ordered a spicy dish and drank all my water pretty quickly. I had to stop eating for at least 20 minutes before anyone came near our table and I could indicate that I needed more water. The phone rang and rang and rang for what I assume were take out orders and the staff were busy with a large party on one end of the restaurant. I'm torn about going back, the food was great but the service was mediocre and I'm not sure carry out would even be possible if the ringing phone we heard was indicative of a normal night there.
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Review from Rich A.
Gurnee, IL
7/11/2010
Best Thai in the Gurnee/Grayslake Area. My kids love the Hawaiian Fried Rice w/ Chicken, which is better than any of the fried rice of surrounding Chinese area restaurants (unfortunately). My wife loves the Lemon Chicken, and I love the Basil Fried Rice w Chicken more than the regular Basil Chicken dish. Good tempura too!
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Review from Marina E.
Bronx, NY
6/6/2009
I came to Lovely Thai when they first opened and they knocked my socks off. I love love love their food. I haven't been back in the area for many years and had lunch here with my girlfriend. I was a little disappointed that their lunch menu had cut out a lot of the other foods that I used to love, like their won ton soup and fried sweet potatoes. None the less, the food was still great!
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Review from Jay K.
Round Lake, IL
6/24/2011
Great food, Good service, Excellent value! Love Love LOVE this place! the bangkok tofu is excellent, the Chu chee Tilapia and the Pad Kee Mau is wonderful. Little nice place, can bring your own wine. Enjoy!
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Review from Kris D.
Grayslake, IL
10/13/2010
Stoped by for their lunch menu. Had the best dumplings I had ever tasted, followed by a tofu broth, that was out of this world. So flavorful, and clear, I was amazed that so much flavor was in that cup. The entree brought this beautiful, magical aroma that raised me from my IPad to the table. Warm red curry with a hint of coconut, chicken was a little overdone but that red curry was so intoxicating I was not bothered by the chicken. All this was under ten dollars, a small price to pay to be so rich in flavor. I can't wait to dine again.
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Review from Jill L.
Lake Zurich, IL
7/24/2009
We ate here a couple times. I think it's pretty good. Definitely not my favorite. The service is good. But for Thai food, I have had much better.
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Review from Renato P.
Grayslake, IL
Updated - 11/30/2009
Been here a few times more and I've consistently enjoyed the food here. I haven't had anything bad in 4 visits, and have been genuinely disappointed when I found the place to be closed when I had a taste for it.
Listed in: Asian flair ..., My Lake County ...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/6/2009
Wow, two for two for great Thai places in these parts. Ordered carry out from here , decent looking… Read more »
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Review from Jon M.
Grayslake, IL
8/2/2010
Lovely Thai is what it is. I have been here many times, and it is your local Thai restaurant. Some things they do really well here- the spring rolls are excellent, and several of the usual dishes they serve up are not bad.
Don't stray very far off the beaten path, as the "specialty" dishes really are rather mediocre. This is a great place though when you are tired and the kids are running around and you want something easy. If you do takeout, inevitably it seems they are either behind or SLOW. Call way in advance. The service is really hit-or-miss. -
Review from Diane T.
Fort Worth, TX
3/24/2008
I was visiting from out of town recently with some family members and we decided to have dinner here one night (I had previously read the reviews of this restaurant). I have to agree with everyone that this is a good restaurant. I would go here again if I lived in the area. Very noticeable when you walk through the door is the fact this this place looks very clean and tidy - a big plus in my book. The service was attentive; our waitress took drink and appetizer orders promptly while we perused the menu. We ordered several dishes and all were quite tasty. My only complaint is that the one mixed seafood dish that we ordered had imitation krab instead of the real thing (although we were told that upfront so I suppose I really shouldn't complain...). Friendly service and good food make this place a winner!
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Review from Bill C.
Round Lake, IL
7/6/2010
This place has great food. It is definitely a hidden gem. The Pad Ki Mao is exceptional. Always very peaceful inside. Great place to have a quiet dinner for two.
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Review from Tom B.
Volo, IL
9/8/2007
We went here at 8:45 PM on a Friday night (they normally close at 10 PM). The place was deserted which worried me a bit, but the service was top-notch and the food was extremely tasty. Top it off with the fact that for seven people the tab came to $90 (with appetizers). I consider this place a great deal! I suspect they are not normally BYOB, but if you buy the wine at Wine Knows right next door they're happy to set you up with only a minimal charge.
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Review from Jef K.
Grayslake, IL
1/24/2010
Though we haven't been here in awhile, the Hawaiian rice is the bar for which all rice dishes must beat.
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Review from Stacie W.
Chicago, IL
10/15/2009
Love this place...Great food and fast service...And the staff is always kind. There pad thai and lemon chicken are my favorite...Not open on Sundays though :(
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Review from H L.
Chicago, IL
10/17/2009
I used to love Lovely Thai but stopped going back after a baby cockroach crawled out of my friend's folded napkin. Another time, our server had an open cut on his hand, only partially covered by a band aid - which touched my plate. This place has obvious potential but I worry about cleanliness.
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Review from Brad R.
Hoffman Estates, IL
11/21/2010
Last night my girlfriend and I came here to eat. There was one other table of four already there eating and the place was deserted otherwise. We were seated immediately and given water. Then we sat there and looked at the menu. I finished reading the entire menu and still no one had come to our table. Around 15 minutes after we were seated we had not been approached by anyone and hadn't even gotten the chance to put in a drink order. Keep in mind there is only a single other table there, and they already had their food. At that point we just left because sitting in an empty restaurant for 15 minutes while the kid glances at you now and then is just retarded. Once we were out of our seats and putting on our coats they asked if we were ready. Obviously we were ready, ready to leave. If I had gotten to try anything but the water I might have given them a better rating but sadly that wasn't the case. I had to go home and heat up a can of beans with a cigarette lighter instead. SO THANKS FOR THAT LOVELY THAI!
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Review from Meinhard G.
Grayslake, IL
11/7/2007
Just GREAT Thai Food, went there 4 times in the past 3 month. Looking through the menu you find many items and "surprise" they do taste different. Order any Curry dish and you get a great tasting dish, go with noodles or rice and the dishes taste different and really great. Price is right most under $10, very friendly service (maybe sometimes over extended) from Thailand! Also did bring own bottle and there was no charge for the set-up. HIGHLY Recommend it for an informal Dinner.
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Review from Allison M.
Vernon Hills, IL
12/30/2008
This place is amazing! I love the tom yum soup, any of the curries and the pad thai is amazing. They run a great lunch special that comes with a cup of soup, small appetizer, and a lunch sized entree all for around 8 bucks. It's overall one of the best places in Lake County
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Review from Grace R.
Round Lake, IL
1/21/2010
I came here on New Year's Eve with my boyfriend and I will tell you, it was excellent!! To begin with, the atmosphere is cozy and calm. The food was great. We got an appetizer sampler with some great egg rolls, dumplings and sushi. We also ordered some Udon noodles with shrimp which was also excellent. The only thing I would have to say is the service was a little slow, but still worth every penny!! I will definitely come here again!!
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Review from Foram B.
Chicago, IL
1/30/2010
I live in the city and have had plenty of delicious Thai food. I must admit though, I do find myself craving Lovely Thai over these places at times. Mainly because their Garlic Chicken is my favorite. It has a great garlicky taste and you can easily see the minced pieces all throughout the dish. The one thing I appreciate is that this dish in particular is not boggled down with a whole lot of veggies. I don't mind vegetables in most dishes, but compared to the other Garlic Chicken entrees I've had from other Thai restaurants, I just like how this one is chicken, garlic, and sauce. They have plenty of menu items to choose from, and so far, everything I've had has been pretty solid and tasty. One of the better Thai places in and around Grayslake.
