Fun, pleasant spot for a nice dinner. I really like the thousands of lunchbox and Pez dispenser chotchkes, along with the life-size Elvis Presley that they carried over from the previous location on Davis Street. My Thai basil chicken with rice was tasty, and they serve Singha beer, among other beer, wine, or cocktail options. read more

I truly wanted to love this adorable Thai restaurant especially because of how conveniently close it is to where I currently work however the bad vibes from the owner is a turn off. The first time I visited I didn't realize they close at 8:30 pm so I arrived at 8ish and the server/owner snapped at me that they will be closing their doors by 8:30 pm so I hurriedly ordered a delicious chicken satay appetizer with peanut sauce presented beautifully in a tiny goblet and a crispy curry puff which was extremely good too. I loved the thai iced tea even though it was served in a small glass with lots of ice. The reason I am leaving a two is because the owner made me feel like I was not welcomed and an inconvenience because I arrived half an hour before closing. It was hard for me to savor the food based on the fact that the owner who is also a server to cut costs made it clear she needed me to leave when they start the closing process so I rushed through my first ever dining experience there. Today was my second and admittedly will be my last. The owner gave me the same icy indifferent attitude as if I wasn't genuinely welcomed. The first time I dined there I had a feeling she was the owner so I didn't tip and this time the owner lied to me when I mentioned I knew she was the owner when she practically DEMANDED a tip after my disappointing dining experience. She said she works there as s server and doesn't have a clue who the owner was completely lying to me so I would be quilted into leaving her a tip. First of all I arrived here at 1:30 and she coldly stated they close at 2pm no exception. There was no separate lunch menu and she let me decide what I wanted and didn't even take my order till 1:40pm I chose the crazy noodles with beef and you either get a tiny portion of cucumber salad or an egg roll appetizer. When my food arrived there were no chopsticks just forks and the plate was very decorative but the portions were extremely small. The egg rolls were good but each eaggroll was the size of your pinky finger and you get 3 tiny pieces. I ate quickly and when I got up to pay she asked me how id like to tip. I knew she was the owner so I felt it was HIGHLY inappropriate to hustle a guest for tips especially if you own your own restaurant and you're serving to cut costs by not hiring a server to work for you. Again I thought it was a tacky move on her part to insist on a tip and then lie to me and say she doesn't know who the owner is in real life. I don't like the owner's lack of business ethics so I will not be returning here especially because the lunch deal is extremely overpriced and doesn't include a side of salad or rice or beverage. She never once smiled at me nor made me feel like a welcomed guest so I don't feel like returning to support a business that treats their customers with such disdain and genuine unkindness. Also let me Reiterate even if the food is good my meal was soured by the negativity from the owner who works here as a server too to cut costs. My meal was $18 ish dollars not much of a deal when you realize the plate portions are small and the appetizer is miniscule too. What spoiled it for me was her lack of kindness and no chopsticks. Just not the vibes I'm seeking. I don't like the fact that the owner lied to me about not being the owner so very sketchy! read more

Cozy Noodles & Rice - Drunken noodles with beef - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

Best Thai food around!! I've been coming here for years and there is no better Thai on the North Shore! Excellent menu options, flavors, and presentation. read more

Great find near AMC theater. Lovely people. Good service. Food was beautifully presented. Not the best Thai, but it was really good and the price was very fair. I also had their Tom Yum soup and it was excellent! The room was kitschy in a good way. We will be back! read more

Cozy Noodles & Rice - Pad Thai with Tofu - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

I wouldn't call this place "Cozy;" rather, chilly with a soupçon of rude. The server did not greet us. I had turned on the table lamp so I could read the menu, and they came up to the table and turned off the lamp without a word. That surprised me a little, since they obviously put the lamps on the table. Were we not supposed to use them? The order was taken with a minimum of interaction. The food was only okay. I had pad Thai and my companion had pad se ew; neither of which was exceptional in any way, but it was edible. There are any number of places to have Thai food -- I prefer to go somewhere that the food is more than adequate and the service is at least "warm" if not exactly cozy. read more

Unfortunately I don't have much to say about the food because I never had a chance to try it. I went in with my partner right after they had just opened (5 PM~) and there were two tables occupied from the whole restaurant. We approached the lady at the counter and exchanged glances with the people sitting down. Everyone looked unhappy and quiet. It felt like a warning, especially since there were so many tables and she forced us to sit specifically on one table and with attitude given. My partner and I ended up walking out before ordering anything. We walked to Habibi Inn where it was like night and day. We were greeted and thanked for the business, and the food is amazing! read more

Not sure why this doesn't have better ratings. I went for dinner tonight. The food was excellent. The place is beautiful and quirky. The lighting and level of the music are just right. Check this place out! read more

Cozy Noodles & Rice - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This was probably the worst restaurant experience I've ever had in my life. I would give negative 5 stars if I could. I went in today around 4:30pm, and the restaurant was completely empty. I just wanted to grab an early dinner after seeing a movie. A short man was at the register, walked towards me and said "What do you want??"... No greeting. No hospitality. Nothing. Confused, I stared blankly, and replied "Um, food?"... As I thought that was the purpose of restaurants, to sell and serve food... Anyway, he then sits me at a table and gives me a menu and walks off. I look over the menu deciding on what I want. Shortly thereafter a taller man, looked like the owner, comes from the kitchen and asks if I'm ready... I tell him I am, and order an appetizer, and a pepper steak entree... I then ask if it comes with rice. He tells me no, and that it will have to be ordered separately. I say that's perfectly fine, I'll also order some fried rice with my order... He asks "So no pepper steak? Just fried rice?" I say no, I want the baby eggrolls, the pepper steak, and an order of the rice as well... he stares at me for a moment, shakes his head no, and says "That's going to be a lot of food..." He then just keeps shaking his head no, and doesn't take my order! I'm completely lost. It's just pepper steak with rice! I am a grown adult woman, why is this man trying to manage what I order, and how much I order?! I can take the rest of the food to go, if I WANT to, as I am the one paying for the food... It would've been $40 before tax and tip, I wouldn't be there if I couldn't pay it. At this point, between the cashier and his own behavior, it's very clear that this is racial, they simply don't want to serve me, and my business is not at all wanted. He does NOT take my order, so I then tell him "Nevermind, I'm just going to leave..." I grabbed my things, I left, and I got dinner elsewhere. Seeing the other reviews, their service is terrible on a regular basis, and the reviews that were not recommended, mention these racial undertones as well. I wish I would've known they were known for this before I walked in. I don't patronize places that treat people like this. The other reviews saying "I don't understand the bad reviews" after reading what others are experiencing, is a DOG WHISTLE. This may be ok for others, but it's definitely NOT okay for me. I'm not tolerating this treatment at all, not towards myself, OR anybody else. I'll never be back... My money and I both go where we're appreciated. This was an entirely disgusting experience. Never again. read more

went today for my dads birthday (pretty wheelchair accessible) extremely shallow, rude service. was getting rushed the second we got there. I was not welcomed or seated. when paying the lady asked if my dad was my boyfriend... receipt only says ($9.15 service charge included) and the total which for 2 was $70.. take of that what you will food was really good though. read more

So I've been a long time customer since before their relocation in Evanston and I'm disappointed to say that I heard plenty of people talk about their negative experiences and possible racism. I always liked the look and feel of Cozy Noodle, so I found this hard to believe. Unfortunately, after going to eat there and dine in - I completely understand. The woman at the counter would not let me sit where I wished, even though the restaurant was otherwise completely empty. In fact, she insisted that several whole tables were reserved for slightly after my arrival in a little under half-an-hour. So I oblige, sit and eat my meal in a less than optimal spot, then leave. Maybe 10 or 15 minutes later - well after she insisted there were so many reservations - I have to return because my phone fell out of my pocket there. So I walk back and the place is still dead empty. This woman straight up lied to me in an effort to keep 'out of view.' There were no reservations. Just she didn't want me visible in the window? Worried I'll steal the toys on the wall if she can't keep an eye on me? I can't say. It felt vaguely racial charged as the only other patron who came for take out was white, but spoken to a lot more politely for his takeout. If this wasn't as I felt it was - she certainly has some sort of attitude about people actually eating IN the restaurant. Then of course I was charged more that the total in food & taxes! Evidently, Cozy noodle insisted on adding a tip for you as my total order was about $4.00 more than the prices + tax should add up to. Worried a certain color of customer won't tip? With customer service like this, I certainly wouldn't have. Considering this experience, I can no longer say this is a restaurant I love, nor even like. In fact, I don't think I'll be returning to the Cozy Noodle in Evanston any time soon after this. read more

Cozy Noodles And Rice is...cozy. It has such a crazy interior it almost makes me forget about how good the food is. Lots of action figures, robots and whatever crazy treasures others discarded have been placed on every square inch of the walls. Kind of distracting like there's too much going on, but it's clear this place is more than about food. This location doesn't feel quite as welcoming compared to the other one, maybe because it's not the same area probably. All the stuff that's in here, and there's still enough room to dine inside. It's hard to look away, and you'll be scanning the walls throughout your meal. This restaurant is almost packed full of random items like the one at Wrigley Field, but there's no Cubs stuff. Lots more things are crammed in here however. There's another wall with hundreds of toy robots. I almost forget about the food. What I had last time was a Hot Tea, the Vegetable Pot Stickers, and the Tofu Salad. It's about $10 for a good amount of tofu and fixings. This is spicy with cilantro and while it's not huge, it's still a lot though. Crazy amount of salt, for real. This item was especially salty. Best place for crazy looking Thai restaurants and food. If you love kitschy junk you'll love looking around here. Those who dine in have to pay cash, or pay the fee, but why do that though you however can actually use a credit card or whatever. read more

See all

Came in to pick up my order that i had placed. The lady was extremely rude when i asked her if the curry dishes came with rice. Not only was she rude but lied to me because once i took my order home, it did come with rice. I was willing to pay for extra rice in the restaurant and she said they only take cash which i have a feeling is not the truth either because i paid through card for my pick up order. Customer service seems awful. My first time going to this place and although the food is great, I would not come back because of this lady! read more

I want to be fair to this place, and I honestly don't understand all the hate this place gets. The people here are ACTUALLY THAI. Why would you complain about how they do things? They didn't put an extra tip on (party of 2) or acted rude toward us. Their food is great, the decor is awesome, and the ambiance is laid back. I get where people may be coming from for not understanding that southeast asians may be short or terse with you, but that's just literally just how they operate. If you had a different experience let me know. Whatever the case it was good, they are nice and enjoyed my meal. read more

Ate here last evening and it was delicious and service was excellent. Not sure about some of the reviews on here as my experience has been so positive. Super clean place with clean, lovely food. We had mixed appetizers that were hot and tasty. Then entrees that hit the mark. Not expensive. The owner/server is "cool" however she warmed when we talked about a photograph. She even cracked a joke. She is efficient-I don't need the wait staff to be my friend. We always have delightful conversations about all the interesting collections from Pez machines, comic books, old lamps and canned goods. (Our grandson loves looking - he knows better than touching. Sheesh parents, bring your own toys to entertain your kids. ) read more

This local Thai spot has been a staple in Evanston for many years and always serves hot, delicious food. Sadly, the last few times I've gone with friends at 11:30 am, (their listed opening time), they did not actually open until at least 15 minutes later, while people waited outside. Luckily, the quality of the food hasn't changed, but anyone needing to get in and out early during the work week may want to consider other options in the area. read more

See all

The lady told me they don't take credit cards for dine in. This was after she told me I had to take off my coat before sitting down, which I didn't do because I was cold. read more

A friend had recommended this place. The food was ok but I have had better Thai other places. But after my experience dining in here tonight I will never spend another cent in this restaurant. The server or owner woman was extremely rude. Made me feel like we were a bother being there. This place is also extremely unfriendly to families. I took my 3 year daughter here and this place is covered in old toys which looks cool but is very tempting for kids to touch they don't want anything touched. When I went to pay they also told me not to touch the counter. They also won't let you split checks unless you pay cash. Fuck this place never stepping foot in here again read more

My wife and I have been searching for a good Thai place in Evanston. We're glad we found Cozy. We got takeout and both the pad Thai and the massaman curry were excellent. The curry was the best I have had in years. Dine in/patio and interior looked great too; we hope to try it soon. read more

I have been going to the old location since my kids were in elementary school. They are now in college. I am a long time customer. The owner is always very nice. I went to the new location today for the first time. The new location is an upgrade in every way. The location is better, the food is better, they have alcoholic drinks, and the space feels more cozy. It continues to have fair prices. I wish more restaurants were approachable like this one is. read more

Happened into here after shopping the block. Was not treated when I walked in so I don't know if I seated myself or ordered at the counter then sat or what. Woman at the counter barked words at me because I picked up a menu which was apparently a take out menu. So I sat down at a table. Apparently since I was dining alone I was not allowed to sit at a 4 person table and was directed to sit somewhere else. Mind you the place is empty so it really didn't matter where I sat. I wasn't keeping other people from sitting. I ordered chicken pad Thai which was marked as a lunch special. I was there on a Friday at 1, so it should have been. Food came, I asked for chop sticks of which I was told they don't have chop sticks. ......... um. Ok. Food was presented beautifully, though taste was ok. Did not get the extra items that were part of the lunch special. I wasn't going to bother asking. Figured it was pointless. I was ready to go. So I had to go to the counter to get a box and the bill. Was given the smallest box to get my food into. That was a trial. Totally made a mess. Decor was cute though what it had to do with a Thai restaurant I couldn't tell you. Will definitely try somewhere else when I'm back up that way. read more

Cozy up for Cozy's Noodle and Rice Such a delicious dinner here we have two appetizers, Crab Rangoon and Shumai along with two delicious entrees of Bamee Noodles & Crispy Pad Kee Mao! So yummy and delicious and overall this restaurant is such an experience! The service was vey kind! read more

See all

Terrible service, very rude and slow. Additionally, we were not shown the bill, I'm not sure what hidden charge was on there. I even asked for a receipt as I was going to Venmo my friends their share and the cashier just refused and said I can split it evenly. Food was mediocre. I would go to other Thai restaurants (Siam splendor is much much better) read more

I've eaten at Cozy Thai three times since they moved to 1741 Maple Ave., I don't think I ever ate at the old location. The first two times were with my husband and they were nice experiences with good food and I expected the restaurant to become my favorite place after a movie at the theater down the block. Last night I ate there with two friends who are Black, and they were treated with such rudeness that I won't be going back. I have since heard from friends that Cozy Thai been known for racist behavior for years. read more

Food has never very good or as good as other Thai restaurants in the area and it's known that the owners are rascist. Why they are in Evanston if all places is mystifying. There's just too many other great Thai restaurants around such as Siam Splendour, Siam Pasta, Nakorn, Ruby of Siam, etc. read more

Terrible service, extremely rude and condescending waitress/lady at the register. Food quality has also deteriorated. I used to go there all the time to the old location, will never be back now! Horrible and disconcerting experience from start to finish! read more

I placed an order this evening via DoorDash. My pad thai had orange flavorless noodles with no taste, seasoning, limes or peanuts! It's pad thai! No peanuts, really? Never again. Such a disappointment. read more

I usually love the food and service but I was incredibly let down today. I came 40 mins before close to order an iced coffee, found the doors were locked, and the staff just shook their heads at me. So disappointing! read more

I have never experienced anything like it- not in a good way. As our server informed us that they were closing soon, she abruptly turned off the table light. Only for us, not the white couple seated next to us or the other white couple across the room. I certainly will not be retuning as this is unacceptable.please DO NOT PATRONIZE RACIST ESTABLISHMENTS. Thank you. read more

Very nice looking kitschy restaurant. We didn't eat in. We took our food to go. Didn't get any chopsticks or napkins. oh well. Also got charged for two orders of brown rice and only got one order. I got the garlic beef vegetable and he got the basil leaves beef. Mine had zero flavor. It tasted like something steamed. His was amazing. Very flavorful w a good kick of sweetness snd spice. Perfection. Brown rice and jasmine rice were light and flavorful as well. Very good. One star for no napkins or chopsticks and one star for mischarge. I'd come back for the basil leave dish. Yum. read more

See all

Best Thai restaurant I've ever been to. Went here many times 18-20 years ago and it's just as good now as back then. Just went tonight for the first time in 18 years after moving to Michigan and it's still perfect. Noodles Panang is still my favorite. read more

Cozy Noodles & Rice - Noodles Panang - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Fun place for kids to try the ramen... Gus is busting the chopsticks in the ramen. He says cilantro is the one thing you always need in the ramen. Amen. Also dad is on cleanup duty and loving his role. Mom maybe found her green curry spot tho wowsers it's spicy ... read more

See all

Very rude lady runs da joint. This used to be my # l Thai place but the boss lady is RUDE. She puts a 20 minute time limit on dining inside although their hours indicate they are open longer. She is sneaky with the bill. She doesn't show you the bill. You pay at the cash register and find that your bill is at least 15% higher than the menu price. The food has been good but she she treats you like garbage. I won't be returning! She has transformed into a witch waitress. read more

We gave them another chance. I walked in while my partner was parking the car. It was an hour before they closed and the woman greeted me with how many, and then, you have to leave at 2:30P sharp. I said ok and nodded. She sat me on the bench next to a kid who would not stop shaking his hands and legs, so I got up and asked to be moved, and she said 'no, I'm not cleaning the rest of the tables'. There were 3 clean tables, 2 tables with 2 used water glasses, and 1 table with 1 plate and 2 used water glasses. So I said ok, handed back the menus and walked out. We went to another Thai restaurant. We won't be returning to Cozy Noodles. read more

Cute location but the service was terrible and the food wasn't great and was overpriced. The woman serving our group was VERY rude and very impatient. We definitely will not be returning. read more

Mediocre food with small portions. Crappy service, but that 's kind of what it is. The big winner to this place is it's relatively inexpensive, and BYOB. Being right across from EV1 Liquors, even if you didn't bring your own alcohol, it's easy enough to go get some. If you order online, order somewhere else. Once ordered orange chicken and got crappy nuggets barely cooked, and organ dipping sauce. Wasn't enjoyable at all- everyone knows orange chicken should be cooked with the sauce to enjoy the flavor. Super weird. (from @tastessky on Instagram) read more

Cozy Noodles & Rice - pad see ew - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Good was good and once I ordered it came pretty quick. I like driving through this great little town and exploring new places. The restaurant is decorated a bit differently. I highly recommend. read more

What happened ? It uses to be good despite being a little rude . They add on the tip and not show you the bill. Also, what happened? It was tasteless and poor noodles were stuck together . Hey guys , price hike and skimping on the sauces ???? read more

So I hear they are closing at the end of the month of June! Soooooo happy!!! Terrible service! Not welcoming at all. Many complaints about raciest incidents. If you are a person of color, the only time you will get good service is if you are accompanied by a white group. Very rude! It's such a sad shame that here it is 2024 and we're still dealing with this mess. The people of color are so happy to see them go good riddance.!! read more

With good food, reasonable prices, and a truly cozy atmosphere, it's easy to see why Cozy remains an Evanston and Northwestern staple. The restaurant definitely has its quirks-from a life sized Elvis Presley statue to its license plate wall decor-but Cozy also boasts an extensive menu and speedy (albeit not warm and fuzzy) service. It's hard to go wrong with shrimp pad thai, and my table also enjoyed their pad see ew and crab rangoon. My only complaint was that in paying at a front counter after our meal we did not receive an itemized receipt. This was especially frustrating given that Cozy already includes gratuity on your bill, and it was rather unclear what I was being charged for. Overall I enjoyed my experience at Cozy and will likely return to sample more off of their menu! read more

Cozy Noodles & Rice - Shrimp Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

My first time trying this restaurant, checked internet for good Pad Thai restaurant and this place came up. Told person at counter that this was my first time trying pad thai and she said "what do you want"! I wasn't sure, heard there was two type crispy and regular and wanted to know a little more about the dish, she just placed the order without explaining, I paid and she said "sit"! I had more questions regarding the lunch special or regular and she said "regular is better and I already put in your order and you can't change it!". I started thinking about how rude she was and requested my money back! Very rude! read more