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Roong Petch Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Thai Thai [Edit]
1828 W Montrose Ave(between Honore St & Ravenswood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60613
Neighborhoods: North Center, Ravenswood, Lakeview
(773) 989-0818
- Nearest Transit:
-
Montrose-Brown (Brown Line)
Damen-Brown (Brown Line)
Irving Park-Brown (Brown Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
90 reviews for Roong Petch Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Lunch specials run from Mondays to."
(in 9 reviews)
"...roll was divine and my pad see eiw was pretty good too."
(in 6 reviews)
"This place is awesome for quick delivery or take-out."
(in 14 reviews)
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90 reviews in English
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Review from Emma D.
Chicago, IL
11/27/2011
Roong Petch is my favorite for carryout Thai food. The interior of the restaurant is nothing to write home about, but I don't usually stick around for longer than it takes to pay.
If you're a pad Thai fanatic, please try it here. Not greasy, not sticky. Good consistency and flavor, seems a real step above what I've ordered elsewhere (which is just about everywhere, come to think of it). -
Review from David R.
1/20/2012
Truly 3.5 but I'm rounding down because there are just so many Thai places around here that fail to distinguish themselves. When oh when shall I find that one superlative Thai restaurant that I can return to again and again?
A few things that they do well:
1. Roong petch salad is a nice moderately unorthodox option with lots of tofu
2. Service is always warm and occasionally hilarious (e.g. hearing "Elizabeth" on a phone order and entering the name in the register as "Glidabith").
Things that they do a-okay:
1. Tom yum soup
2. Spring rolls
3. Pad thai
4. Pad ped
In other words, it's servicable food that will scratch your Thai itch but nothing for which to go out of your way.
PS.: "Medium" is HOT, so watch out, gringo palates!Listed in: Best of Ravenswood
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Review from Heather P.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2011
Good location makes it close and convenient. Service and staff are terrific. Very friendly and helpful. The ladies working allowed me to be seated while I waited for my take out order and asked if I would like water. When I ordered over a certain amount they offered me free egg rolls; which weren't that tasty but the idea is that rather than me having to ask - they came out up front and offered. I appreciate that.
As for the interior - definitely could use some updating. Does not have any pizazz.
The medium spicy beware, is more than just medium. I have learned my lesson the hard way. I had the panang noodles and in general, I love spicy but I found this to be nearly painful. The pad thai is how I usually measure the greatness of a Thai restaurant and this was definitely good enough to eat again but nothing that I would run back for. The pad see eiu again was good, not fantastic.
The sushi on the other hand was nothing that I would order again. We had a simple spicy tuna and a spicy ebi tempura and they lacked in flavor. I understand, these are not the most exciting rolls to begin with but truly it lacked anything one might want from sushi. -
Review from Damian P.
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Thai food seems to be prevalent and I love that. We actually were in line for Glens Diner but quickly soon realized that Thai Food was the taste of the day. My child (18) is purely vegetarian, so of course I asked the waitress if they have vegetarian dishes. She said "We can accommodate".
The lunch specials are for $5.99 and they include the entree, an appetizer and soup. May I add that the entree for myself of course was different than my child since she is vegetarian and I was happy for that, usually we have to send it back or they get it wrong. But this time, the waitress did pay attention and every time something was brought out, it had the vegetarian flair for my child. That I can totally appreciate and I would highly recommend this place for lunch. Not only was it pleasant, but it was not crowded. I mean I think there was one other family and us. I thought for lunch, this is great.
She highly deserved the $tip she got! One of the reasons for this was that, i wanted sticky rice and mangoes, but it is out of season. So she created a sticky rice combo with some kind of flan cheesecake that really was to die for. I didn't quite expect the taste of these two to come together, but they did and I was pleasantly happy for sure. -
Review from Heather P.
Chicago, IL
11/11/2011
There's nothing WRONG with Roong Petch, per se. I'm just still not 100% sure how I feel about it. In general a joint gets 3 stars if I'm willing to come back, but not rushing to come back. The experience was weird. Not good or bad, just... weird.
Pro: Friendly waitstaff.
Pro: BYOB, and there's a liquor store next door that's not super overpriced. And no corkage fee!
The decor is adequate, but nothing to write home about (which can also describe our meal.) Service was quick and friendly.
We decided to try Roong Petch rather than Legee specifically because of the sushi aspect, but when we began to order, we were told that they don't have Japanese food right now, for some reason. (Except for tempura, miso, and yakisoba. So basically just no sushi.) Things happen, I understand. But it would have been nice for them to put up a sign, or at least have told us when we were seated, when we were brought water, when we ordered appetizers, or basically any time before we actually tried to order. My boyfriend was hugely disappointed, because he hadn't wanted to go out at all and I had bribed him with sushi.
We ordered veggie tempura as an appetizer, and it was... different. The vegetables were breaded with panko instead of dipped in tempura batter and served with a spicy sweet and sour sauce instead of tempura sauce. It was delicious and a good portion, but certainly not what I was expecting.
My pad see ew was fine, if a little sweet (and a little wet). Good carmelization on the tofu. But the portion was tiny. Boyfriend's yakisoba was similarly fine, but tiny. Even after appetizers, we both finished our plates, which was sad because Thai leftovers are the best leftovers.
The prices are okay, but seem a bit high when you consider the portion sizes. There are many way cheaper Thai places in this city that foist enormous plates of noodles and curry upon you.
Final determination: I wouldn't not go back, but mainly because the location is so convenient. Probably will make an attempt to try their sushi next time I want to trick my boyfriend into picking me up at the Montrose brown line. -
Review from Julia J.
11/4/2011
3.5 stars.
This is a great neighborhood place for pick up or a casual night dine-in. It's conveniently located off the brown line, and I would come back.
We ordered:
Panang noodles- medium spicy
Pad Thai: medium spicy
Pad See Eiw
Spicy tuna maki
Spicy Ebi Tempura maki
I didn't try any of the pad see eiw, but my friend liked it well enough. I thought the panang noodles were actually pretty good (much better than I've had at other thai places right off the Addison brown line stop...) and the medium heat was still pretty spicy without being painful. It was delicious. I also really enjoyed the pad thai which was also ordered medium spicy but was not as spicy as the panang.
I don't think I would order the sushi again. It was mediocre at best.
Service was friendly and fast for pick up. They offered us water and had chairs to sit in while we waited. It's not the most updated place inside, but seemed clean and welcoming. -
Review from Bianca J.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2011
No. Just no.
Sushi was decent. Crab rangoon and wontons sucked. Pad See Eiw was meh.
I'm at a loss for words this place was just not worth it. -
Review from Kristy N.
9/18/2011
I had plans to meet a friend for dinner at Royal Thai but they are closed on Tuesday's. Weird.
We tried to stop in at Glenn's but it was crab leg night and at 7:30, their next available table was at 9:15. Ugh.
We already were armed with wine and in the mood for Thai so we ventured on in to Roong Petch.
The place was pretty empty but we were greeted and sat right away. We decided to try the crab rangoon which was exactly as expected.
I am a huge Tom Yum fan and its a must-do for me. CAUTION -- DO NOT ORDER IT SPICY. I can handle most spicy dishes but this was beyond. It was so hot that you really couldn't taste the soup.
The garlic chicken was well flavored but light on the veggies which was disappointing.
We split the bill and my piece was leas than $15..not too shabby.
If I do find myself back here ever, I will likely avoid the Tom Yum altogether..no one needs a repeat of that. -
Review from Matt S.
Chicago, IL
I had their chicken red curry and it was tasty. The eggroll was a little too crunchy (would've preferred it to be a little softer and flakier), but other than that everything tasted great.
I went in for the lunch special, so I knew it would be a little less food than I'm used to. However, I ended up asking for a second serving of rice, and still left a little hungry. Lunch special + rice + tax + tip = almost $10 for a not-too-large meal. The food is great, but compared to some of the other restaurants I frequent in the area, the food-to-cost ratio for lunch isn't that hot.
The décor is dated and the music often painful, but the servers are very friendly, the food is great, and it's prepared quickly. -
Review from Kamila T.
Schaumburg, IL
7/21/2011
One of my favorite Thai places to dine at (and its not only because its next to work). Their red curry is consistently delicious. Spicy with a sweet taste. I love hot spicy food, the first time I ordered the dish I asked for medium spicyness and I felt that was definitely hot and perfect!
Their Tom Kha is by far the best soup I've had in a long long time.
Overall this place is cheap and hits the spot every time! Their lunch menu deal is pretty good too. They do not let you substitute soup at all and the lunch menu comes with their Thai version of chicken noodle. -
Review from amelia m.
Cleveland, OH
11/17/2011
I used to live in the building behind this little gem and got take out from here weekly. The employees were always very sweet and friendly and I don't think that they ever messed up my order. Not even once! That is impressive. I STILL dream about their sweet potato maki. Best I've ever had and I used to date a sushi chef. Their Roong Petch salad is also amazing. I haven't been able to find anything else like it anywhere else. They have some really great noodle dishes and lots of lunch special options as well.
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Review from Joelle S.
Niles, IL
8/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
We were on our way to dinner at GLEN's Diner, it was packed!! The wait for a table was well over an hour. One day we will go back there and try again.
We ended up right next door at Roong. Didn't expect much. Not much of a crowd. The decor is very dated and the carpet is old.
The food however, was very good! To our delight the sushi was fresh and tasty! The tempura shrimp and vegetables were crunchy and hot! The Pad Thai was loaded with vegetables and there was an overflowing plate full. My daughter and I shared food and ended up taking some home there was too MUCH!!!
Prices are good too. Didn't think we broke something when the bill arrived! All in all it was an enjoyable experience and now if Glen's Diner next door is too crowded on our next try, we know that we will go back to Roong! -
Review from Dennis L.
6/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good Thai, but the restaurant is in much need of a face-lift.
My wife and I visited Roong Petch for dinner on a weekday evening. Being walking distance from our home, we thought we would give it a shot. The restaurant is very dated and has stained carpet. Note to all future restaurant owners: carpet in a restaurant is not good.
Aside from the decor, the food was good. I went with the Basil Noodles w/ Chicken and was very tasty. I may return to Roong Petch in the future, but it would probably be for carry-out. -
Review from Jessica G.
Chicago, IL
6/22/2011
Roong Petch used to be on my regular lunchtime rotation, but not after my most recent experience.
I went to Roong Petch with one of my coworkers, who had a hankerin' for BBQ pork fried rice. It's not on their normal menu, but since they serve a variety of fried rice dishes, and also have dishes with BBQ pork, we didn't think it'd be an issue.
When we ordered, the waitress checked quickly with the kitchen and then let us know that it was ok but would cost extra. No problem!
Well, the dish came out and didn't have any BBQ pork. Disappointing, but no big deal. We ate, and went to pay... and saw that the dish still had the up-charge on the bill!
We asked about that, and an older gentleman who we assume was the owner came charging out of the back, loudly berating us and SCOLDING us like naughty children. At this point we'd be happy to just pay and leave, but he won't let us.
"NO, YOU LISTEN!" *pulls out the menu and jabs his finger at the fried rice section* "WE NO DO FRIED RICE WITH BBQ PORK! YOU SEE HERE! NOT FOR LUNCH SPECIAL!! YOU WRONG!"
And so on... like we were trying to pull a fast one on him. We ASKED in advance if it was OK, and had happily agreed to pay extra! If they didn't want to make the substitution, that's fine as well - and we weren't even asking for the lunch special pricing!
It was astonishing and more than a little embarrasing. Sorry Roong Petch, you are officially off the menu.
I'll walk a little east to check out the new 'Thai Vegan' or a couple blocks north to Aroy Thai or Siam Thai instead. You're not the only game in town! -
Review from Kevin C.
4/2/2011
Yes, the name is awkward but the food hits the spot. I have not dined in but have had carry out a handful of times and its pretty consistent. I keep things basic for the most part when ordering Thai. I am usually pretty hung over/still drunk looking for a hot noodle dish.
I usually order the standard Pad Thai with chicken, Pad See Eiw with beef and crab rangoon. Which gets me to the 15 dollar order minimum to get a free appetizer. Options: egg rolls (2), fried won tons or edamame. Personally I would go with the edamame as the other two choices taste like they were free and edamame is good for you.
Both the noodle dishes have been good every time including my order today. Very good portions which is tough to finish in one sitting. They also have a sushi bar and I finally got around to ordering some. The Philly Maki has smoked salmon, cream cheese, scallion and avocado which was fresh and better than I expected for five bucks.
While picking my order up today, for a total of 18 and some change, they didn't have change for a 20. Which I found odd because what restaurant doesn't have a dollar bill and some change in the till? So I was forced to use my debit card which was slightly annoying.
Overall I would recommend this place for a good Thai fix. If you're in the hood I wouldn't hesitate. -
Review from matty z.
11/1/2010
A strong 4. And here's why:
When they got my order wrong (I don't eat rice, really, so I wouldn't have mistakenly ordered the dish), there was no argument-- there was a quick preparation of a wonderful dish that was then brought out to me by the owner. The Spicy Thai Basil noodles were AMAZING and very spicy-- they're really not kidding around.
The service was excellent, the food was great, and the BYOB is a plus, which goes without saying.
Cheers to Roong Petch, and I look forward to ordering more.
Also... sorry I fell out of your chair :-) -
Review from Brent W.
11/5/2010
A goto place for Thai and Sushi when in the area, have been dozens of times and always a good experience. Its decor is your predictable anyrandomthaiplaceinchicago but the food is defo above par imo as is the service and efficiency.
Highest marks would go to the green curry, salmon entree and the Roong Petch Rainbow. -
Review from Christine F.
Chicago, IL
9/2/2010
Sorry I have to do this to you Roong Petch, but honestly, you weren't good at all.
I came here to get a quick bite before my art class at Lill Street. I had seen a 5 star ROTD of this place, and hey, it's right next to Lill Street, so I figured I would try it.
Service was nice and fast. That's kind of why I feel bad writing this review. My waitress was really sweet. The food, however...
Blech. "Watery" shouldn't be an adjective to describe pad thai, but my pad thai was definitely watery. It was also really bland, the noodles barely had any color/flavor to them, other than being loaded up with sugar.
The egg rolls had a funny aftertaste, but they were also fairly bland.
Honestly, this definitely in the lower tier of thai food I've had in the city. When you have a city like Chicago, with tons of amazing thai food, this is kind of unacceptable. I won't be back. Sorry, Roong Petch.Listed in: Thai Around the City - Fuj…
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Review from Becky P.
Chicago, IL
3/23/2011
Like the sushi.
Wish it had better Pad Siew, because each time I've tried it here, it's been VERY bland. -
Review from Paul U.
Evanston, IL
8/29/2011
We've been eating at Roong for 22 years. It's probably one of the best Thai Restaurants in Chicago. The decor is getting tired but then again I don't eat decor. I have yet to find better AUTHENTIC Thai anywhere around Chicago. Great food, great prices. Enough said.
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Review from Misty S.
6/15/2010
This place completely fails the fried rice test, but it really opened up my eyes to the flaw in my rating system. I really cannot judge a Thai restaurant by their fried rice. No. Their noodle dishes are as delicious as their fried rice is disgusting. Well...maybe that's a little extreme. Their fried rice isn't that bad. Their noodles are phenomenal, though!!
My favorites:
1. Bamee - Egg noodle with BBQ pork. To me, this is one of the best bamee dishes I've had in the city. The noodles and taste is the most authentic I've had compared to elsewhere in Chicago. The only bad thing is the portion since I feel like I can't stop eating this stuff. There never seems to be enough!! This dish is the reason I am giving this place a 5 star rating.
2. Pad Thai - Noodles are cooked to perfection with great flavors.
3. Lad Nar - Very good mixture of noodles and sauce. The vegetables are fresh and crunchy.
4. Thai Custard - What a great dessert!! Very authentic flavoring, sweet and smooth.
The Thai ice tea and coffee are both good here.
I have never dined in but had countless deliveries and carry outs. -
Review from kourtney l.
Chicago, IL
11/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
My name is Kourtney and I am addicted to sweet potato rolls. There, I said it.
Roong Petch is a great little BYOB on Montrose with a sizable selection of Thai and Japanese dishes. I always appreciate service that begins with the hustling out of wine glasses so I needn't delay my vino sipping.
The sweet potato roll was divine and my pad see eiw was pretty good too. Though my dinner companion's food came out wrong, they were quick to prepare what he asked and did apologize for the mistake.
Hint: the floor slopes a little toward the street if you're sitting by the windows. Be careful lest your gentle giant of a dinner companion fall out of his seat too! -
Review from Dylan H.
Davenport, CA
7/27/2011
I love flavorful, inexpensive Thai food.
This place is exactly that; great specials, good dinner prices and delicious food.
The sushi is acceptable - not great, not bad. I wouldn't come here specifically for it, but it's fine if you want something else with your delicious Thai food. -
Review from Tom P.
Chicago, IL
11/2/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Roong Petch, how you treat me so well.
My darling, if I may be so bold as to offer a bit of feedback first: please pay attention to your spiciness. You know I love the hottttness, and yet sometimes you are so mild. Yet, other times when I introduce you to friends who can't handle your heat, you burn them. While I can't pull myself away, if you could find some consistency then I'd be much more likely to invite people to your place. For this, I must dock you one star, for now.
Even so, my sweet, in every other way you are what I need. Meat so tender, yet veggies so crisp and service so swift, and a lunch special to crown all lunch specials! (And lunch specials valid on Saturday, too!! Pad Basil, Pad Ped, Pad Thai, oh my!)
Alas, today I was not able to stay and visit awhile, but just long enough to grab a taste of your pad basil with beef. Next time I will not be so quick to depart. I will sit and enjoy your remodeled interior, and the soup with my lunch special.
I love that you are ever-present in my life. A quick walk from work and my apartment, there is no meal I wouldn't enjoy with you. And when I have strayed to your Thai cousins strewn about the neighborhood, I have been judged. They question me, "are you sure you want it that hot?" and "do you need a fork?" But you, you trust in me. Or maybe you plan to laugh and expect the silly white boy to be thwarted by the chopsticks and your sweat-inducing kiss of capsaicin. Either way, you give me what I want, what I need, and you don't judge me for it.
Thank you my love. Now go forth and master thy spices. Godspeed, lest I stray and find another, but rest assured that I will return. -
Review from Jade T.
This is my favorite Thai restaurant in Ravenswood, North Center, and Lincoln Square area.
I rarely rate Thai restaurants 5 stars.
Roong Petch's food is delicious. While there are certainly other Thai restaurants I haven't been to yet, I don't want to risk getting another bad order of Pad Thai. In fact, all of Roong Petch's noodle dishes are good. Their Lad Nar with a bit of vinegary chili sauce is heaven. The Red Curry with Tofu was (a deep) spicy and flavorful. Dishes can be requested without fish sauce, including the Pad Thai. I love the Roong Petch Salad because it is reminiscent of Larb Gai, only it's diced tofu instead of chicken.
Lunch specials run from Mondays to .. Saturdays! $5.50 for soup and appetizer of the day as well as choice of entrees. Those who order for carry-out and delivery do not get soup. One day, they offered a meat soup, but they were kind enough to make a vegetarian version. The soup is usually simple; made of clear broth and vegetables or meat. It reminds me of the stuff my mother used to make when I was a child.
Yeah, I've been here twice a week or so. My friends tell me I should just live here already. :-)
Truth be told, once I find a neighborhood restaurant that serves consistently quality food at affordable prices, I'm totally addicted.Listed in: Vegetarian-Friendly (or…, ROTDs!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/19/2009
I ordered take-out from Roong Petch, and when I went to pick it up, there were throngs of Thai… Read more »
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Review from Nilda R.
Chicago, IL
11/18/2008
Fiery hot Thai pads loaded with vegetables? Check!
Delicious spring rolls loaded with peppery cabbage and woon sen? Check!
Kampyo, avocado and cucumber maki? Check!
Mock duck? Hot damn!
00 Tofu? Don't be a fool. Order up before we beat you to it.
That kampyo maki ain't around all night. -
Review from Julia W.
11/19/2007
I am so sorry, Roong Petch. Your service was truly delightful and friendly, but your food was just not that good. Maybe it's my fault for not sticking with the Thai options. Maybe you just didn't notice that the asparagus in my asparagus roll was super woody and slightly discolored. I don't know. What I do know is that the crab rangoons were edible and okay, but so blah. Sadly, the same goes for the spicy scallop roll. It had nice spice and I liked that, but it's not a good sign that I didn't finish the roll even though I had been starving when I walked in for dinner.
With so many excellent Thai places in the city, I can't really recommend your food. I might just go back, though, because the server I had was a total doll, you're close to Lill Street Art Center and your Thai options might save the day in the end.Listed in: Crack Rangoon, Thai me up, baby!
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Review from Nick B.
Los Angeles, CA
9/2/2010
Finally! A Thai place that really knocked me on my feet. I was a sucker and saw Roong Petch receive the review of the day a few nights ago and immediately thought about devouring tofu and spring rolls...again. Called up a friend and we stopped by on Tuesday night at about 8PM. Surprisingly, it was pretty dead inside which was refreshing. Sometimes it gets old going to jam packed neighborhood restaurants.
With a bottle of wine in hand (BYOB!) we started with the fried tofu and spring rolls. WOW. I'm a tofu machine so after awhile it takes a lot to impress me and I have to say the fried tofu chunks were delicious! The sweet dipping sauce complimented it very well. The spring rolls weren't fried, which was cool, but they were warm and filled with more tofu and cucumbers. Great! For my entree I decided on you guessed it, more tofu! I went with the sweet and sour dish. Awesome. Loved the pineapples, peppers, mini corn, and rice it was mixed with.
Affordable, chill, and in the heart of Ravenswood. It's right off the Brown Line for my fellow CTA riders. Enjoyed it and made for a nice evening out on a week night. Check it out! -
Review from Richie D.
1/12/2009 2 Check-ins Here
Geez, I've walked past this Thai place a million times and each pass makes me think the name just sounds even more wrong...and raunchy! A friend told me it was good and everyone knows I don't pass up trying anything new!
This same friend wanted to do a Thai night at her place. Sooo she ordered the food and I picked it up while coming home from work. The Thai ladies were quick to greet and super smiley--more with the look translating to "I don't speak much English so I'll just smile instead of talking." It was cute to say the least.
We did receive 2 free egg rolls with our order!! No proof needed! The taste was all there, along with fairly nice sized portions. I still prefer Opart Thai, but hey, this just happens to be closer to my place.Listed in: Love THAI self...
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Review from Jill M.
Chicago, IL
11/15/2009
Convenience: I can order on the phone while on the el and pick it up on the way home! 1 star!
Pad See Ewe: a little bland for my taste, which is good because then you know its not over-salted. Just add sriracha hot sauce for some ZING! 2 stars!
And....they get one more star because I have to come back! -
Review from Gina K.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 5/17/2011
Yet another restaurant that doesn't actually have a gf menu. Recipes change all the time, and I had been feeling unwell when eating here. I asked about the pad basil dishes and all have soy sauce, so no good for gf. Pad Thai also is made with soy sauce, but, they will make it without if you request it. Most sushi without tempura in it is safe. And many of the curry dishes are also made gf. They were very accommodating and understood my needs and I did not get sick when I requested no soy sauce in my dishes. Also, they are now only closed I believe on Mondays.
Listed in: Gluten Free Me
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/24/2010
Great pad basil, the green hornet sushi and many of the other dishes are also great. I'm gluten free… Read more »
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Review from Kamil M.
Des Plaines, IL
12/29/2008
Ah, Roong Petch! Only you can provide me with a quick 'fix' when I really need it. You never fail with a hit of spice that is prepared so quickly, waiting for me at the counter the moment I step inside your magical establishment.
Yes, you are closed on Sundays, forcing me to travel farther away in the search of spice. But I forgive you. I forgive you and thank you for all of the other 6 days of the week, on which you are my dealer of choice. -
Review from Shama D.
Chicago, IL
4/9/2008
The Panang Curry is laced with cocaine. That is the only explanation I can offer for the highly addictive dish. I've never really liked curry dishes before, possibly because I am very very poor and eat a lot of rice. I suffered from rice-burnout (followed by Ramen-burnout and Hot Pocket-burnout), but Roong Petch managed to reaffirm my taste for rice, as long as it is smothered in a delectable sauce.
Oh, and thank you for making the sauce SPICY instead of "American Spicy." I appreciate it. The egg rolls are awesome, the spring rolls are fantastic, but what happened to the sauce for my take-out Pad Thai? Whoops. Oh, it happened again? Yikes. No, it's okay, I'll check the order before I leave, next time...
I have to describe the service as lovely. Every server I've had has been wonderfully sweet and polite, without being too distant or too overbearing.
I have yet to try the sushi. -
Review from Erica T.
Chicago, IL
7/4/2010
When I moved into the area I was excited to see that there was a Thai restaurant close by. I have been here a couple of times now and still have yet to be impressed.
The first time I came here I came with my husband. We shared some crab rangoon which was pretty good. I was not too hungry so I just had some tom kha kai soup after that, while he had the red curry. My soup was very different from any other tom kha soup I'd every had - it was very watery and bland, and it seemed like the only veggie in the soup was lettuce. My husband said the flavor of his curry was good but he is all about super-spicy food, and he asked that they make the curry extra spicy, but when he got it it still wasn't spicy enough for him. He asked for Sriracha sauce to add to the curry, and they didn't know what he meant. They brought out 3 other different things before they figured out what he was talking about.
The second time I came here it was with my sister. She had the pad see eiw this time while I had the red curry with chicken. She seemed to like her pad see eiw. My red curry with chicken had good flavors, but I had asked for medium spicy, and this dish was so spicy it was almost inedible! Now, I am not a spice wimp, by any means, so for me to stop eating something because of how spicy it is is a pretty big deal. I managed to eat a little of the broth with the rice but then ended up packing up the rest to take home to my husband. He even thought the curry was super-spicy compared to the last time we ate there.
I know I've only been here twice, but from what I've experienced so far, I'm guessing that the cooking is pretty inconsistent. I will probably be back at some point because it is one of the closest Thai joints around, but will still be searching for a better place. -
Review from Space Emperor Z.
Chicago, IL
11/17/2008
This restaurant gets the job done as far as thai and sushi goes. I have had better thai and I have had better sushi. But it is convenient and cheap and the service has been good the several times I've gotten takeout from there.
I like their pad thai. It tastes fresh, which is a surprisingly rare quality in takeout thai food.
Their eel and tuna sushi has also been very good.
I got their basil chicken dish a couple times. The first time I really liked it, the second time I thought it was bad and too Americanized-Chinese-like with a cornstarchy sauce. Maybe hit or miss. -
Review from Jacob Y.
10/2/2009 2 photos
Since the addition of the sushi bar I have tended to eat more sushi from there than I have thai.
BUUUUUT...their beef panang curry is really good. And so is their pad thai. And if you love Tom Kha soup...they have a good one.
Sushi wise...gotta get the volcano roll...and the spider roll... mmmmm -
Review from Scott G.
Chicago, IL
3/16/2011
Roong Petch...more like Poo and Retch.
The service here is underwhelming and the food is pretty gross. My girlfriend and I came here for dinner only because two places nearby were super packed on a Saturday night. This place was basically empty and for good reason.
We asked for a bottle opener for the BYOB and it didn't have any threading. Had to use the old pop it open with a lighter trick. Classy. The waiter was about 17 and clearly didn't know how to take an order or refill a water glass. Half way through the meal another waitress appeared and was in charge suddenly of bringing our food and bill...still no water though. Weird.
They should really stick to one type of food on their menu, either thai or japanese. Not both. That was a bad sign now that I think about it. We ordered some kind of thai fish pancakes that were chewy and tasteless. It must have been cooked in dirty sweat sock filled water. I've tasted better sponges before. Then I had the chicken teriyaki and my girlfriend had some kind of sushi rolls. Neither of us were able to eat half of the food in front of us and not because there was an abundance. Everything about it was bad, even the presentation. It was more or less thrown together, with lots of garnishments. Low quality meat too. Just poor.
I wish I had more nice things to say about this place because I'm sure there are good people behind it, but I don't. It's overpriced, with bad service and even worse food. Kitchen Nightmares would love to come here for an episode. -
Review from Ben W.
Chicago, IL
1/27/2010
AWESOME!
VEGAN FRIENDLY!
I get my curry dishes with tofu and they never use fish sauce !
MMMMM Panang Curry and Masaman Curry ! -
Review from Arturo B.
Chicago, IL
12/28/2009
My four-star rating for Roong Petch is based on one dish- the pad thai. This is the best pad thai in the city, hands down! The noodles are saucy, not dry, and in a sweet brown sauce, not a tomato-ey ketchup sauce, like many other places. The sauteed green onions are perfectly cooked, the lean thin-sliced chicken is not to dry because of the saucy noodles, and the limes and chopped peanuts complement everything perfectly. I usually get it medium spicy, which ends up being pretty spicy in terms of Western tastebuds.
My only complaint?: The portions could be larger, especially with the lunch special (great price of $5.50, but I would pay a little extra for a larger portion). So delicious that you just want to keep on eating. Truly a hidden gem that needs more recognition. I have considered applying for a job at this place just to get my hands on the recipe. -
Review from Heather H.
Chicago, IL
1/31/2009
Ordered the Sushi/Sashimi platter, which consisted of 5 pieces of sushi, 5 pieces of sashimi, and 2 maki rolls. How shall I begin? The nagiri had WAY too much wasabi. It upset the entire balance of the sushi.
Then, the selection of fish was disappointing. There was no salmon, no tuna, but there were at least 5 pieces of fake crab, which is not something you would expect for an entree of this price. Besides the fake crab, they added pickled mackeral. Pickled! That's not sashimi. The maki roll had mushy nori, not at all crispy.
The presentation was fine, but overall it seemed like the sushi chef had no clue.
Maybe I should have ordered Thai? Either way, I won't be back.
