coo thai is hands down the best thai cuisine in chicago and #1 in my book for best thai restaurants EVER. there's a reason they won the best new restaurant award. the service is overwhelming generous, kind, down to earth, and attentive. we came in closer to close and we didn't feel rushed, they even helped us pack up our boxes. you can tell the owner has a real passion for cooking so there's a real emphasis on quality, authenticity, and turning original thai food into elevated casual dining. the ambience is modern and very walk-in friendly. love how all the dishes come with rice (some places charge per rice), and the thing i love especially is that the coo's rangoon has LOBSTER in it. this is really a place you'd bring someone you'd want to impress -- i'm definitely coming back with some friends whenever im in the Lincoln park area! read more

See all

Wow best Thai food I've had in Chicago!! And I lived in Thailand for 1 month! Was recalled wowed at the presentation of everything. My favorite was the tom yum ceviche because it was so unique! After that it was the crab curry which had loaded about of crab!! The servers were so so so sweet and happy and smiley! I got to meet the owner too because she liked to go out and meet customers which means a lot. They also have a take out menu which has the same recipes but at a cheaper price. Decorations are beautiful and the ambiance is nice read more

See all

Name change - it's Coo Thai now. The staff here is amazing. They remember your favorites. Anthony Bourdain once said consistency is the key to restaurants. I'm glad to report nothing has changed(see previous reviews). The pad thai is still as intense. I've had crab fried rice but there's is the best. The squid with black ink is as excellent as before, but it is a little salty this time. The beef Panang curry sauce is just right and the meat is ridiculously soft. I cannot say enough about our server Oil, so thoughtful and attentive. Donot be put off the menu pricing outside. They are worth it! read more

COO Thai Cuisine - Pad Thai Duo - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Got takeout from COO and really enjoyed it! The Pad Thai wasn't sweet, which was a big win considering how many Thai restaurants in Chicago make their dishes very sweet, especially Pad Thai. It was flavorful and perfect! The Panang curry was delicious, although it was definitely spicier than expected even though we requested mild. The fried rice was pretty good too, but could have used a little more flavor. It was slightly bland. Overall, a solid meal! read more

I love this place! Went on a walk with my friends and it stumbled upon this place. We really enjoyed talking to the owner and the food tasted refined, and authentic! Decided to come back for a date night. I really like the interior here as well, I would recommend having a reservation if you're coming during dining hours read more

See all

This is the best Thai food in Chicago! The crab curry was amazing. It was creamy, rich, flavorful, and seasoned well. We also got the midnight pad see ew special and substituted the tofu with beef and I highly recommend it. The restaurant and bathroom is nice, clean, cool from the AC, and tidy. The staff is very friendly and kind. I highly highly recommend this Thai restaurant if you love Thai food or if you want to try a new one. I will definitely be coming back. read more

See all

I've been wanting to check this place out for the longest time and I finally dined here last night! But unfortunately my expectations weren't quite met. I ordered the pad thai duo. Unfortunately my dish was wayyyy too sweet. The shrimp also tasted fishy in a way that was slightly off-putting...like it maybe wasn't the freshest. I will say though the noodles were cooked nicely and the chicken was tasty. My partner ordered the koua kling (with warning from our waitress, as it is very spicy) -- he actually could barely eat his dish though because it was so spicy. So just a warning...it is not for the faint of heart! I think they could benefit from having spice levels listed on the menu, I'm not sure our waitress would have warned him if he didn't ask her himself. In terms of the atmosphere, the ambiance of the place was quite lovely and the waitstaff was both friendly and attentive. This was definitely not a bad meal, just truthfully not worth it for the price. I have eaten much better pad thai for $12 versus $23. But maybe I just ordered the wrong thing :') read more

COO Thai Cuisine - pad thai duo - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The food was absolutely delicious and the atmosphere is super fun. My favorites are the crab rangoon special, the pad sew with beef and the Thai tea. I will definitely be back and this is a new Lakeview staple for me! read more

COO Thai Cuisine - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wonderful Thai food! Super authentic and delicious! Services were excellent. Nice decoration. We will definitely go back to try different dishes! Everything was so good. read more

See all

I love Coo! Their food and service are simply amazing, and they have great ambiance. The sesame chicken and the short ribs were beyond amazing. Just genuinely good food and service on Broadway! Couldn't ask for much more. I am a repeat customer both in person and via DoorDash. read more

Excellent. Great value and a ton of flavor. We needed a place to eat on Labor Day evening for 4 of us without a reservation, we were accommodated and well look after. We shared a selection of wraps, squid ceviche, Penang chicken, shrimp and chicken pad Thai and black ink grilled squid. What an excellent meal. Great value as well. Highly recommended. read more

We were seated right away when we came in on a Friday night. They actually pulled a table off another group to make room for us. It's a pretty small restaurant, and it's also BYOB, which we didn't realize until we got there. We ordered Thai teas and our entrees quickly. A few minutes later we saw another table get the Golden Shrooms, so of course we had to try them too. The apps and entrees ended up coming out at the same time, but our drinks took a while to arrive. The Golden Shrooms were good, but honestly way too much food for just two people. The Muu Hong was very, very good, but the Pad Thai completely stole the show. It was some of the best I've ever had and definitely the best in Chicago. Once the Thai teas came out, they were also amazing. The service could be a bit more attentive, but the food more than makes up for it. We'll definitely be back. read more

See all

This place was DELICIOUS! I recently moved to the area and I've been searching for a good Thai restaurant within walking distance. So glad that this is it!! My friend and I ended up making a reservation at the last second. We called around 6pm and they told us to try calling again around 7:30 to see if a table would be available. We did and luckily they were able to squeeze us in. Definitely a busy spot but I can see why. The place is super cute inside - very intimate seating but a fair amount of tables. The hostesses were super kind and knowledgeable of the menu. We got the Thai iced tea, Pad Thai with chicken and prawns, and the squid. The Thai iced tea was really nice - not too sweet and really refreshing. The Pad Thai was delicious and probably my favorite thing that we got. The squid tasted really good but the texture was a little too chewy for me. I probably wouldn't order again but I would recommend if you like squid. I will definitely be back to try the pork belly! read more

See all

Highly recommend giving this place a try! I used to love the Thai place that was previously in this space, and I was sad to see it go, but decided to check the new one out and I'm glad I did. The service is friendly and helpful, and they provided recommendations for options to order. The place is clean and thoughtfully decorated, and it is comfortable. For appetizers, we ordered the calamari and the dragon balls. The calamari was some of the best I've had in recent memory, and it's a big portion! The dragon balls had great flavor as well, and my only wish for those would be to have a sauce with them as they can be a little dry on their own. For entree, I ordered the Koua Kling. The waitress mentioned it was spicy, and indeed it was quite spicy, so may not be the best choice if you don't enjoy spicy food. Flavor was great, though, and I'd get it again. Overall a great experience, and a nice addition to the area. read more

See all

Not your everyday Thai food, this place is legit. I've tried three of the dishes here (Crimson Panang with chicken, muu hong, and the Gang Rawang [which has been my favorite so far]), all fantastic and all I've never seen at your generic American Thai spot. They're currently BYOB but trying to obtain their liquor license. Service was great, ambiance was very charming. read more

See all

Omg this Thai joint opened a few weeks ago in Lakeview and I am obsessed! I came here with a friend and we were very impressed with everything that came out. Literally drooling thinking about the food right now now as I type this. We started off with two appetizers.. one being the Tom Yum ceviche which was sooo good, and the other one being these chicken wing skewers (did not catch the name). Excellent way to start off! We then ordered 3 different larger plates that our wonderful server recommended: the grilled squid with blank ink plate, the Moo Hong (braised pork belly bowl) , and the Gaeng Rawaeng (Southern Thai yellow curry with herbs, creamy coconut milk, some spice, and an accompanying jasmine rice). Everything was so different but so tasty! While the prices are definitely on the higher side here as presentation is important and it's a bit more upscale, I thought it was totally worth it! As of right now in August 2025, they are BYOB so bring in your bottle of wine or 6 pack of beer which you can! read more

COO Thai Cuisine - Squid with black ink in the forefront. - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We came around 6pm and it really started to pick up about an hour later. You should still be able to get a table walking in, but I'd recommend booking a table ahead of time for now as they opened recently. We tried: - Thai Iced Tea - Anchan Lemonade - Dragon Balls - Gang Rawang - Koua Kling Overall it was pretty good, definitely a different regional cuisine than most of the Thai places I've been in Chicago. The dragon balls were good but you may find them a tad salty. The Gang Rawang was good, a much different curry than I've ever had. It is more on the mild side and I was getting a mustardy flavor from it. The Koua Kling was probably the spiciest dish we had, but very flavorful. A pleasant heat. read more

See all

Went here on the snowiest November night in Chicago history! We got here an hour before they closed early and were able to quickly order. The restaurant was empty, but that was due to the snowstorm. Lol we got the crab fried rice and the pad Thai trio. Both were really good, but I definitely liked the fried rice! It's a good addition to the neighborhood. Nothing crazy in terms of the pad Thai I kind of wish that that portion was bigger, but I would come back for apps or something. We also split the tarot crème brûlée, which wasn't really sweet at all, but it grew on me. It is BYOB so keep that in mind! But a solid upscale Thai place! read more

See all

Food was great, service very kind. Small and intimate setting and BYOB (which I didn't know but wish I would've brought wine)! Chicken was a little bit tough. Calamari was a standout for me! Would recommend going with on a date or with a group - wish I could have tried more. read more

See all

Coup de Thai is my new FAVORITE dinner spot in Chicago! Mix modern vibes, good music, and exceptional Thai food then you get this place. My experience started by being sat in the window booth then dancing to 5 back to back bops, which followed with getting my taste buds rocked by the Anchan lemonade. We had the Crab curry, mushroom appetizer and Pad Thai. I enjoyed everything and regret not getting more. It's an excuse to come back soon, haha. read more

COO Thai Cuisine - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The inside filled up quickly when I sat down and the service was amazing! So friendly and kind. It's BYOB and I got the pad Thai. It was pretty tasty and a decent amount of food comes with the meal. I would go again. read more

COO Thai Cuisine - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Couldn't ask for a sweeter, more attentive service team. Smiles all around! Food is elevated Thai, beautifully presented and reasonably priced for the experience! Decorations are fresh, interesting and fun. Well done all around! read more

PROS - Fresh, flavorful, juicy food, including the vegetables. Cuisine is comparable to that of Sticky Rice (RIP) - Waitress is nice - Clean restroom - We eat out a lot and have been to many thai places. We will be back - Great place for friends or LT relationships (but not early dates or for work) CONS - NEED MORE VEG = the dishes that come w vegetables need more for balance - NOT SPICY ENOUGH = Curry is a bit too sweet and NOT spicy enough, even if you request it. Only the sausage was truly spicy - CRAMPED SPACE = Space is too small to accommodate demand. You'll wait ~30 mins before you're seated. And all but 1 table (booth by window) are too small! If you order more than 1 app and more than 2 entrees, you'll be out of space - INCREDIBLY LOUD = Do not come here on a first/early date or business dinner. You will NOT be able to hear each other v well - UNDERSTAFFED = They need another waitress. The 1 waitress and 1 hostess situation was tough on the waitress, who was endlessly running around and doing her best but behind - NOT ENOUGH BATHROOMS = Only 2, and they are individual rooms. If ppl are in there a while, you can't wash your hands or use the bathroom RECOMMENDED - Sausage w extra veg - Pork jowl - Crab curry w extra spicy sauce. they bring by a bowl of crab for the dish - Ask for a water jug for the table. restaurant is understaffed, and this is the best way to stay hydrated here read more

See all

Came here for Valentine's Day and had the spicy pork sausage, which was great but very spicy if you don't like spicy things. The pad Thai and the Thai iced tea were both excellent and the service was quick. Highly recommend if you haven't been here! read more

When I eat at a restaurant, I think of my experience relative to a few different factors; quality, value, service, and ambiance. Coup de Thai, is one of the best meals I've had in years. I eat out almost everyday, but it's been years since I've had something ground shattering enough to write a genuine review about. All things, quality, value, service, and ambiance were a 5/5. I went with a friend and first it was BYOB for the time being with no corkage which is an absolute win. The food is all large portion sizes at fair to great prices, we ended up after this meal at $106 before tip; which was fair considering the amount of food ordered. We were honestly shocked it was so affordable and had to check the receipt twice to make sure everything was included. The service was impeccable. They moved us to a larger table at the start of the meal when we let them know we planned to over order and checked on us throughout the meal to make sure we liked the food and had ample water. I unfortunately did not take pictures of the menu so forget the formal names for everything but we got the Golden mushrooms, the pork jowl, and the crab curry which were standouts, and then the scallop tom Kati and the first chicken item under entrees which was like a lemongrass chicken lettuce wrap pretty much which were pretty good, but not quite as huge standouts. Everything was perfectly cooked and the sauces were absolutely delicious. The vibe is super cute; definitely a nice modern feel but with a good homey vibe in line with the neighborhood. This is my first time having southern Thai food and overall this is genuinely one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Hoping this stays around for the long run! read more

See all

Really yummy food, love love the appetizers Nice ambiance/fast service 4/5 for not having mango sticky rice :( read more

COO Thai Cuisine - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Good food and service. It's always busy. The servings are large and shareable. It can get loud at times.

Tried the Pad Thai and Panang Curry with tofu. The food was just okay, and several menu items weren't available. They also wouldn't make any modifications to dishes. Having been to Thailand, I didn't find the flavors very authentic. The staff was friendly, but overall it's not a place I would return to. read more

COO Thai Cuisine - Chicken Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Gracious hospitality, attentive service and scrumptious food--what's not to like? We weren't particularly hungry so shared the salted fried calamari--a preparation I'd not seen before--and a wonderfully rich crab curry that required a second bowl of rice to finish. From start to finish--delightful! read more

Delicious food, cozy atmosphere, friendly service. We had the crab curry, dragon balls, and shrimp & glass noodles in the clay pot. read more

We made a reservation for 7pm on a thursday and were seated almost immediately even though the place was pretty crowded. I had the Thai iced tea which was amazing and split the mu hong (pork belly) and pad thai. Everything was so good though a bit on the pricy side. Very friendly service! Would recommend making a reservation because the place is small and can get busy quick. read more

See all

Adding to my previous review: The crab curry is fantastic! So flavorful. It's fairly hot in the typical Thai style, but unless you're unusually sensitive to spicy food, the heat level is just right, and the great crab taste is not overwhelmed. Highly recommended dish and restaurant, and a friendly and welcoming staff. This place is a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. read more

See all

Food service and ambiance all great! This is a beautiful little gem in east lake view Chicago. Sesame chicken was delicious and plenty of protein. Noodle clay pot was very flavorful and filling. Asian wraps (fresh rolls) were elevated with fresh herbs and quality protein. Highly recommended!! read more

COO Thai Cuisine - Sesame chicken noodle clay pot - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very solid Thai but due to price and spice I wouldn't get it again. The dragon balls were solid, but didn't have a ton of flavor and needed some sauce with it. Crab fried rice is a very good value. Large portion, tons of crab, and its tasty. Sesame chicken was also very good, I'd have that again, on the sweeter side but a good version. Koula Kling tastes great but it so spicy you can't eat it and today I'm dying. Pad thai, again on the sweeter side but very solid. The prawns were huge but a bit chewey. Overall very solid, just not for me. But if you like spicy Thai this could be your spot. read more

Spent $40 here and left hungry. The scallop tom Kati was $16 and came with only one scallop and the broth was so flavorless...wtf? Thai tea was good, Thai sausage was mid and small. Would not come back. read more

COO Thai Cuisine - Scallop tom Kati came with literally one scallop - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A total gem in lakeview!!!! This cozy restaurant with great wait staff and excellent food is a total must. My girlfriend got curry and I got a spicy chicken thing. Delish! read more

COO Thai Cuisine - my girlfiend - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Have been here a few times. Ambiance is very cute! Crab curry 5/5 Pork belly 5/5 Tom yum ceviche - amazing the first time we visited but on reordering on second visit, it's changed it to solely shrimp and it's pretty unremarkable Short ribs - 0/5 (the meat was tough and and the fat was not properly rendered - was waxy and had a raw taste, and the sauce was unappetizing) Egg yolk calamari - not bad, 3.5/5 read more

Coup De Thai just opened recently, and it's already one of the most exciting new Thai restaurants in Chicago. It's the first modern Southern Thai concept in the neighborhood--and you can tell from the first bite that they take their craft seriously. The flavors are bold, layered, and beautifully executed. They make their own curry pastes in-house, and it shows. Everything tastes intentional, well-balanced, and deeply flavorful--spicy enough for Thai diners, but still accessible to newcomers. The space itself is cozy, clean, and modern. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Note: They're BYOB right now, so bring your favorite bottle. But the space is limited, so I highly recommend calling ahead for a reservation. So glad I stumbled across this spot--it's a fresh, modern take on Southern Thai cuisine done really well. Will definitely be back to try more! read more

See all

All the food was delicious! We had the chicken skewers, spicy chicken balls, and crab curry. We originally had an incorrect order brought out but it was fixed quickly without issue! read more

COO Thai Cuisine - Jumbo Lump Crab Curry - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The chicken meatballs are tangy, with a crispy outer layer, and they taste delicious. My favorite is Pad Thai; it's sweet and sour with a hint of spiciness, and the shrimp are very large. read more

See all