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Thai Aroma
Category: Restaurants Thai Thai [Edit]
417 W North AveChicago, IL 60614
Neighborhoods: Old Town, Near North Side
(312) 664-3400
- Nearest Transit:
-
Sedgwick (Brown Line, Purple Line)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
65 reviews for Thai Aroma
Review Highlights
"It's BYOB and pretty darn inexpensive."
(in 22 reviews)
"...close to the train, cheap (can't beat the lunch special."
(in 11 reviews)
"My boyfriend had the pad thai with duck and it was..."
(in 25 reviews)
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65 reviews in English
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Review from Michael E.
Chicago, IL
11/21/2011
Delicious Pad Thai. BYOB which is another plus although I have not dined in yet.
I wish I could give a better review on this place but I've never gotten past the Pad Thai. -
Review from Carly G.
Chicago, IL
I ordered lunch here yesterday for delivery.
They are a block and a half down ( I know I am lazy, but whatever).
I ordered at 11 am and it took over an hour to get to me.
The delivery driver was very friendly so that's a plus.
I ordered the Pad Woon Sen and a Thai Iced Tea.
Why this took over an hour beats me.
The Thai Ice Tea was just that; you can't really F that up.
As for the Pad Woon Sen, the Chicken was as if it was dehydrated.
It was jerky like. The rest of the veggies were lacking any kind or moisture as well.
It tasted very old, as if it was last nights batch just microwaved.
I am saddened because I thought this would be my lunch time gem.
I guess not.
And warning, if you order anything medium hot, its very spicy. -
Review from Jaimi T.
Chicago, IL
10/3/2011
Have been here a few times for dinner, and they have a nice selection of Thai food. I tried the aroma pad thai, with the glass noodles and chicken and shrimp. It had a lot of veggies in it, and they didn't skimp on the meat. We started off with the tempura, and the peanut sauce to dip it in is delicious, just enough heat not to overpower the vegetables which are fried perfectly.
On a different night I got the green curry noodle hot, and woof, I was sweating a bit, but the heat didn't take away from the flavor of the dish for me. The broccoli and the bamboo shoot were cooked enough, but still had the needed crunch to to the dish.
My boyfriend had the pad thai with duck and it was perfectly smoky, and tender. There was a lot of meat added to the top of the dish. We really like the ambiance in there it's quiet and BYOB. It's a nice place for an easy going dinner, nothing fancy -
Review from LTine B.
Virginia Beach, VA
8/18/2011
Panang Noodle hit the spot!
Large portion, small prices.
AND you can BYOB.
What's not to love?
Only negative, it was sooo hot inside the restaurant, and not because I ordered my dish spicy. -
Review from Adoley J.
9/26/2011
I love this place. I have been eating here for years and the food is consistently delicious. First of all I support every place that is BYOB. Second the lunch special is out of this world. For a good price you get soup, an appetizer and a entree. I love the fried rice, the pad Thai and the basil chicken. Overall a great place to grab a delicious inexpensive meal.
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Review from Morgan V.
Chicago, IL
8/9/2011
Decent Thai food at a good price. I mostly eat their lunch special because it's cheap and they give you a LOT of food.
$6.66 gets you a meal, an appetizer, and soup if you eat in....no soup on to-go orders. Most of the appetizers are kinda bland, but the crab rangoon is great.
Cheap, quick, and gets the job done. -
Review from Tim Y.
4/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
FIrst time here, hopefully not the last. Though Old Town is not My Town, it's close enough to make this a regular stop.
I really enjoyed the Panang Curry. I asked for it to be "#5 hot" which is one below the "#6" that carries a warning. I didn't find it to be very hot, but it was still really quite good. I liked the fresh vegetables quite a bit, and the amount of chicken was surprisingly ample.
The small dining room lends itself more toward community discussion (e.g., unavoidable eavesdropping) than intimiate conversation, so this wouldn't be a place to take a date and let her know that the test came back positive. -
Review from Katelyn E.
Chicago, IL
4/3/2011
umm.. YUM. I love this place! I ordered delivery and for me and the fiance, it was only $17! AND it came within 30 minutes. DEAL! I'm going to throw it out there...this might be my favorite Thai place in the city. It was delicious, not greasy or too heavy, and I loved the "hot meter" on their website. It allows you to pick between five (or six?) levels of spiciness. Being the huge spice baby I am, (even mild salsa is sometimes too hot for me) I loved the fact that I could pick the absolute mildest type of spice. Big bonus points in my book.
I ordered Basil Fried Rice with Tofu and the soon-to-be ordered Chicken Fried Rice. My rice dish was so delicious and full of fresh pineapple. The tofu was awesome as well. The entire dish felt healthy and I am super pumped to finish the rest of this tomorrow (the sizes are pretty big).
This is definitely my new to-go Thai joint. -
Review from Nicole N.
Chicago, IL
10/12/2011
Great no frills eniro. and friendly staff. We frequent Thai Aroma for the BYOB experience. Great prices, yummy food and good for groups.
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Review from Kelly K.
12/30/2010 10 Check-ins Here
This is a great BYOB joint in Old Town. While it's not anything spectacularly out of the norm, it's quick and tasty. I alternate between the garlic chicken and chicken pad thai. When it's particularly blustery, the Udon soup does the job!
Would I go out of my way to go here? Probably not.
Is it a standby when I'm in the area? Definitely. -
Review from Sharad K.
Chicago, IL
8/16/2011
Terrible customer service.
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Review from Elizabeth P.
Chicago, IL
8/14/2011
My favorite dish here is the Thai marinated chicken and rice. This dish is what keeps me coming back! It's priced right and you get a ton of food.
The only time I don't get the Thai marinated chicken is when I order the lunch special. You get a lot of food for a good price. The staff are also really nice.
This place knows how to keep me coming back for more! -
Review from Heather H.
Chicago, IL
7/19/2011
I have to say..Im a regular. I love it!! The lunch specials are rather large and tasty!! I do the crazy cousin noodle dish and its fabulous! Great deal for the money. Bold flavors. No weak watery sauces. Good stuff! Small little place but clean. Service is decent. Nothing to complain about. I say try it!!!
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Review from Kristian B.
Chicago, IL
11/28/2010
My go-to spot in Old Town. Have it on speed-dial.
I eat here at least once a week. Mostly for take-out.
The food is usually ready within 10 minutes of call-in orders. They have a quite extensive menu, at very reasonable prices. My favorites dishes are the curry dishes. For a long time, the duck curry was my preferred item (one time the duck was very fatty and chewy, but usually it is perfectly tender). Lately, I have been mixing it up with the jungle curry, red curry, yellow curry and panang curry -- all very delicious.
Value for money is great! -
Review from Vinny M.
IL
7/21/2010
Big bonus points for being able to pick your spiciness. They have a scale from 1-6 and 4's about right for me. Beyond that it's nothing special but that option has really spoiled me at other Thai places where the wait staff may not speak the best english.
Me: "Can I get the Pad Thai but can you make it spicy?"
Other Thai Place Waitresss: (Big Smile) "No! Pad Thai no spicy it's OK!"
Me: "No, I know it's not spicy, I was hoping you could make it kind of spicy? Please?"
OTPW: (Nodding extensively, still with the big smile) "Yeah, it no spicy, it's ok!" and then walks away.
Oh well. -
Review from Liz P.
Chicago, IL
4/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Thai Aroma may not look like much from the outside, but it is consistently excellent and reasonably priced. I highly recommend the red curry with chicken and the Thai iced tea.
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Review from Frank M.
Chicago, IL
8/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Hmmm...girlfriend and I went to dinner here Sunday night - early evening. Loads of street parking available which is great (even though we live walking distance)...Ambiance is lacking a bit, but I didn't expect it to be above average. This was our first time here and we will definitely be back - although we may opt for carry out instead.
I ordered the Lemon Grass Tofu with brown rice ($2.50 up charge), it was tasty - firm tofu, not too mushy, and they allowed me to determine how spicy I wanted the dish. I have an issue with spicy food, so medium was just right for me.
My girlfriend ordered Pad Thai w/ chicken. She really enjoyed it (she dumps about half the jar of chili sauce on her plate) so I found it hard to believe how anyone can enjoy it...regardless, she thought it was tasty - I thought it tasted like the smell of a zoo... just my opinion - I'm very pick about thai food, so I tend to stay away from dishes with fish sauce.
All in all, pretty good; would recommend this place for a cheap dinner any day of the week. -
Review from Patty S.
Chicago, IL
4/5/2010
$5.95 for lunch special that includes an appetizer, soup, and entree! Seriously, can you really beat that? I mean a sandwich combo meal at subway is more than that!
There are 4 apps to choose from and about 10 entree choices on the lunch special ranging from your typical Pad Thai to Basil Chicken. You can also choose the type of meat you want - beef, pork, chicken, and for the vegetarians, tofu.
The veggies are also fresh and never over cooked. Overall, this place has my pick for a great lunch spot. Don't worry, they are also quick as well! If you're in the neighborhood and need a dependable place to eat, this is it! -
Review from Jenny T.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 11/9/2009
Ok...before you think "5 stars? This b***h is crazy", let me explain.
I give Thai Aroma 5 stars because a) it's cheap & fast, b) it's totally walkable from my place, 3) it's BYOB, 4) it's super tasty and 5) it's become my go-to order out place. If that doesn't justify my 5 stars I don't know what does.
I always order the lemon grass tofu & always leave Thai Aroma stuffed, happy, and with the best aftertaste I've ever experienced. It's not greasy nor cheap tasting, which is always a good thing. Also, they don't skimp on the tofu which so many other places do. The fresh peppers, mushrooms, bamboo, and onions combined with the firm tofu & lemony/salty sauce equals perfection in my book.
I'm not a huge fan of their pad see ew or their pad thai (other entrees I've ordered), but hey as long as I keep ordering what I know is the best I'll keep Thai Aroma at 5 stars & there aint nothin' you can do about it!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/22/2008
The bf & I got all bundled up to go out to dinner last night, but with one quick look out my windows… Read more »
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Review from Amanda Z.
6/17/2009
So, my little sister lives near here, and every time we walk by, she makes a comment..."I wanna try this." So when it came time for her birthday dinner, I took her here.
This place is typical of your little Thai joint. BYOB, little tables, and your basics on the menu. (Not sure about a corkage fee because I try not to drink with pre-teens...)
Egg rolls were decent, my garlic chicken was fine (nothing special), but my little sis a very interesting take on cashew chicken. It involved stuffing chicken with crab, rolling it, and deep-frying. Served with a side of peanut sauce, it was definitely unique. She loved it (aside from the peanut sauce).
Also fun? Using chopsticks. She's a natural.
Not the cheapest, not the best in Thai food, but seeing her smile with delight at her meal and hearing her tell our server "Good food, good service" was enough for me to take her back when she wants to go.
Oh, and she also decided that it would be a good place for take-out, telling me "I'll just tell my mom it;s Chinese food."
Eleven year olds truly say the darndest things.Listed in: Thai me to a chair and feed me…
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Review from T S.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 8/25/2008
So I wrote my review last night as I was waiting for Aroma to deliver my food. I guess I spoke too soon, because they made a major change in their menu.
First of all, they raised their prices. I get it, the economy sucks and the price of rice noodles has increased substantially. Right? I was also charged $3 for delivery when the new, updated menu that came with my food said that the delivery charge was $2. Whatever, it's a buck, I can deal.
But the big problem was the noodles in the Pad Thai. Rather than the typical long noodles that every other Thai place in the world (well maybe just America) uses, this order was made with these short, tiny, super thin clear noodles that were thinner than angel hair and about two inches long each. Weird, but I figured it couldn't taste much different--they are still rice noodles, right?
Wrong! So I took a bite and the texture and taste of these new noodles was just gross. I figured this had to be a mistake. Rarely one to complain on the spot (I'd rather just bitch on Yelp :) ), I called the restaurant back to ask what the deal was.
Conversation between myself and the woman who picked up:
Me: "Hi, I just ordered Pad Thai for delivery and it came with the wrong noodles. They are small and very thin clear noodles."
Lady: "Yes, we changed the noodles, these new ones taste much better!"
Me: "Oh so you are using these permanently? I don't like how they taste--and I always loved your Pad Thai!"
Lady: "Sorry!" and hung up
Okay so she really likes the new noodles. I picked the chicken out of the noodles and ate that. Anyway, the crab rangoon was still good. But no more Aroma PT for this girl.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/24/2008
This is my go-to Thai spot for delivery. I have never eaten there, so I cannot comment on that… Read more »
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Review from Shane H.
Chicago, IL
1/3/2007
Fast Food THAI!!! Why Thai-Aroma on North is better than BK.
Yup, I stop in here and get a boat-load of Pad Tai Chicken for about the same price as a Western Bacon Chee' Combo meal at the Burger King. Not spicy at all but they are very nice and accomodating if you want to kick it up a notch. Sorry, no little plastic toy comes with this meal though. However, you do get chopsticks that you can try and catch a fly with later if you want. Just not in here because the place is really clean and comfy. It's a BYOB that I stop in about once a week before my Second City times. But the BEST thing about Thai Aroma vs. Burger King is that you won't find any Creepy King commercials with them.
I would have given them 5 stars but the crossword that I was working on when I was waiting for the food was obviously broken. I couldn't figure it out. -
Review from Cayce M.
Chicago, IL
12/7/2009
My order was last night, they delivered in a timely manner but I have had a horrorshow experience today as backlash from last night's mediocre eats. My tale is as follows...
So have you ever seen a diagram of what a blocked artery looks like? With yellow congealed blockage? That's what my sweet and sour chicken looked like. The breading peeled off easily, the pieces of chicken were tiny and the inside of the breading was bright yellow, greasy and entirely unappetizing. I know that sweet and sour chicken is really unhealthy, but that was way too gross looking to be eaten.
I also ordered the crab rangoon and baby eggrolls. Unnecessary to say that the whole meal was unhealthy as greasy Thai/Asian food usually is, but this was disgusting. Everything tasted the same as thought the grease hadn't been changed for months. The crab rangoon had the consistency of what I imagine fried butterballs to be like. The baby eggrolls tasted like miscellaneous meat french fries. GROSS!
I felt fine after waking up, but a couple of hours later I felt the typical symptoms of mild food poisoning. I felt clammy and booted for 15 mins. I can't leave my house because I have what olestra claims as a common side effect. Making myself redundant, I am not feeling well.
I will stay as far away from Thai Aroma as possible as I fear even the sight of that place will make me ill again. -
Review from Annie W.
11/10/2008
Bare decor, barely hole-in-the-wall. Prices aren't even THAT cheap and portions are nothing to write about. We were studying at the Borders a few blocks away and wanted to grab some Thai and this was the closest option (yay for iphones).
Do NOT get the Pad See Ew. Beef was tough as hell and the noodles were oily and rubbery. Do NOT get the Larb Gai. Chicken was dry and tasteless. So dissatisfying. I instead had quite a bit of my friend's Green Curry Noodles to fill me up. The noodles were quite good and the curry tasty but this place sure does add helluva salt. It's not that noticeable at first but a couple hours later, I could not stop drinking water.
They have a spice meter where you can indicate about 6 levels of spiciness. Medium is pretty spicy--my friends had runny noses towards the end of the meal. Impressive: definitely not the gringo scale of hot! -
Review from K P.
Boca Raton, FL
10/20/2008
Decent enough, I guess, but nothing extraordinary for your typical hole-in-the-wall Thai. I prefer Jim's on Lincoln or Wild Thai Ginger on Clybourn. No secret menu here.
I say, keep going. -
Review from Marjorie F.
Chicago, IL
3/27/2009
A 5 minute walk from my place, I decided to give this place a chance. The verdict? It's not my favorite place for Thai, but it's decent.
I ordered the Thai Iced Tea which was served with a giant dollop of whipped cream on top. Strange... But what the heck? I gave it a shot. Turns out it was wayyyy too sweet for my taste. It improved once the ice melted and diluted it a bit. I resorted to drinking my water for most of the meal.
Spring rolls were OK. They were fresh and with crunchy veggie filling (cucumbers and I'm not sure what else).
My main entree was something called "Crazy Cousin." I'm not sure what was so crazy about it, but it was pretty good! The fat noodles and marinated bits of chicken hit the spot.
Service was fast. They're not very chatty there, but then again I wasn't there to make new friends. :)
There wasn't much in the way of ambiance. Overall, it's just a decent place to grab a quick bite and catch up with a friend. -
Review from Krystyna B.
Chicago, IL
4/23/2009
Oh, Aroma, how you disappoint me. I've ordered takeout from you before, and while I wasn't bowled over by the quality of your food, I was also never disgusted.
What a change a single delivery order can make. Last night, while working from home and absolutely not feeling like venturing into my kitchen, I ordered pot stickers and BBQ fried rice from Aroma.
The pot stickers arrived cold and burnt. I'm not talking about a nice brown crust. It seemed that someone forgot about the dumplings, let them smoke in a saute pan, and then just dumped them in a carryout container. Unfortunately, that was the best part of the meal.
The BBQ pork friend rice was, in essence, sticky white rice mashed into a clear plastic carry out container and covered with about 2 cups of BBQ sauce. Arranged over the top of the rice were 7 slices of thinly sliced and dried out pork (also cold) smothered in yet more BBQ sauce. The highlight of this meal was the garnish. 2 tomato wedges and a few slices of fresh, crunchy English cucumber. I ended up eating the garnish and a few slices of pork with a forkful or two of rice - it was all I could rescue out of that container swimming in sauce. Thank goodness for microwaveable popcorn. It saved my night.
Aroma has a $12 minimum order for delivery. My order came to $14, delivery fee was an extra $3 and tip was another $4. I should have just called Thalia and ordered the $20 worth of food to get them to deliver. Aroma has lost my business. -
Review from jenn m.
Chicago, IL
2/1/2008
This is an interesting spot. Dining in offers one room with maybe 10 or 12 tables. Never dined in, but ordered food to carry out and for delivery many times. If you choose to dine in, you can BYOB.
The delivery is usually pretty quick; effectively keeping the food warm and not soggy. I like everything ive tried on their menu (ie: pad thai, garlic chicken, etc). The crab rangoon is pretty good as well. -
Review from cara r.
Chicago, IL
12/13/2006
Great place to grab a quick bite to eat - the noodles, curries, and rice dishes are as good as the Aroma on Randolph, and service is fast. It doesn't seem to ever be crowded, and the take-out is even faster than they tell you on the phone! Beware of the drinks, though - Thai iced tea tastes more like sweet water, and the hot tea is served with one tea bag in a big teapot.
Edited 12/4/07: Go for the lunch special! It is crazy cheap ($6), and I got a cup of deliciously good chicken glass noodle soup, 3 crab rangoon, and cashew chicken. YUMMMMY.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Natalia B.
Chicago, IL
5/18/2011
I like this place, food tastes great, they are BYOB, which is nice. I usually stop by there to get some food to go, as this place on my way home. I takes them 5-10 mins to provide me with my food.
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Review from Christine A.
Chicago, IL
10/6/2011
The food is pretty good and reasonably priced, but the people who work there are VERY rude! I love the way they cook their tofu and the curry fried rice. If this restaurant wasn't so conveniently close to my office, I'd be really put off by the staff and probably wouldn't go back. Would it kill them to smile?
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Review from Denise F.
Chicago, IL
6/16/2010
Thai Aroma is my go-to takeout spot in Old Town. It's close to the train, cheap (can't beat the lunch special!) has big portions, and tasty food.
It's not the best Thai food I've ever had, but it's definitely better than average, and like I said, you can't beat the convenience. One of my favorite features is that you can customize how spicy you want any dish, I believe on a scale from 1-6. Also, they keep your phone number on file, and I've noticed that you get bonus food every once in a while if you're a regular customer.
Overall, it's a great spot for takeout, and I find myself going there pretty regularly (well...enough to get bonus food...) I wouldn't make a special trip to the neighborhood for Thai Aroma, but it's a great quick option if you're nearby. Also: BYOB. -
Review from Nikki Y.
Chicago, IL
3/18/2009
I've never actually been here, but order delivery frequently. Their curries aren't that fantastic, but nothing to sneer at. But the tofu pad thai; man, that tofu pad thai is delicious!
And there's always enough for 2-3 meals too! So if you're college student looking for cheap, delicious pad thai, get on GrubHub and order from Thai Aroma. You won't regret it. -
Review from Brenna M.
Chicago, IL
7/30/2009
Less than half a block away, this place may have become my new go-to joint for pickup. I was so starved last night I jumped online at work and ordered from Thai Aroma. It was ready when I got home, paid in cash (so no need to enter any credit card info online, sweet), and left with a ton of food. Note, the interior is pretty blah, with 80's carpet and some laminate posters on the walls; but it is BYOB, so maybe ambience doesn't matter as much when you're tipsy?
The Basil fried rice with veggies was awesome. The green beans, mushrooms, onions and corn were all fresh and crisp. The fried tofu I got on the side was pretty bland, but the peanut dipping sauce was tasty. And for a little protein, it served it's purpose. I'll be back! -
Review from PAM D.
Cleveland, OH
2/12/2010
This is my go to place when I am dog sitting my best friends dog, which is usually once a month! Is is cheap, fast, and always filling for TWO meals. I tried the other Thai place in Old Town last month and it was OK but Thai Aroma regains supreme!
I only wish they had veggie pot stickers!! But their other food is amazing! LOVE the spring rolls and fried tofu with the yummy sauce it comes with is like a peanut type sauce, good whatever it is!!!
I have also eaten there for lunch I bring a book or watch the traffic of North Ave!
BYOB -
Review from Liza M.
Chicago, IL
12/29/2007
This place is OK. I've ordered take-out from them a few times and have been less than thrilled. Mostly, just know that this is NOT cozy noodle. (Cozy Noodle is my favorite thai place and holds a special place in my heart.)
The pad thai is fair, also garlic chicken is not impressive. The service was speedy when I went in to eat once. The curry was the best of anything I've tasted there. I ordered it medium, which was very, very spicy, but good.
Overall, it's average, go to cozy noodle if you can! -
Review from AV G.
Chicago, IL
9/12/2008
1. I live around the corner from the place
2. It is my go-to dump storefront carryout place
3. The food is really quite decent,and it appears to be a reasonably
inexpensive and clean place
4. They have a lunch special that includes an app and entre
5. It is totally good enough -
Review from alexandra k.
IL
1/13/2009
I was really hungry one day and pretty much anything would have tasted great to me... Almost anything.
I has the Pad See Ew and it was horrible. The place was empty the food was overpriced and when I finally did get it after a long wait it was sooo bland.
Never again. I can't believe this place is still open. -
Review from Laura R.
Chicago, IL
12/22/2008
Delivery to my job...
Oh man, I definitely have no choices of places to eat around my job and Thai Aroma saves my day! I order the same from their other location on Broadway (I like broadway better) and I eat something other than chicken... now tell me why places don't like to deliver any forms of beverages! -
Review from Jori F.
Chicago, IL
7/8/2009
Ordered Lunch Special at 11:34 a.m. for delivery and got a confirmation saying it'd be delivered by 12:37 p.m. (which is typical of most places), but when you get your food around 1:04 p.m., it's definitely a problem.
Not just that, but I called twice and they had no idea where the food was. To make matter worse, when the delivery driver finally arrived, I asked him what took so long and he said "I had another delivery and I'm always late." So I call and speak to manager, because now the food is cold (not that it's too die for anyway) and her response was, "What do you want me to do? You want refund, we don't give for nothing, you give us back food!"
Talk about terrible customer service. Definite thumbs down.
