So many flavors here! We really enjoyed all the dishes. Some stand-outs: * Crispy fried rice salad * Prawn toast youtiao * Crispy pork belly with garlic herb nuoc cham * Black cod in charred scallion tom yum broth * Lobster pad Thai with tamarind and peanuts * Crying tiger dessert * Kefir lime sorbet Good, but as you expect: * Hamachi crudo with bird's eye chili * Shaking beef with crispy cottage fries * Pork and shrimp dumplings * Coconut ice cream For drinks, be sure to ask for less ice. I ordered the salted plum soda and the entire glass was full of ice. I took two sips and the soda was gone...with lots of ice cubes left. It's important to get a reservation 30 days before at midnight Central Standard Time. Otherwise, walk-ins are a two-hour wait. There seems to be more 2-person and 4-person tables than larger tables. read more

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Diana was fantastic and super knowledgeable about the menu and made the whole experience feel welcoming from start to finish. The ambiance was intimate and cozy, and bonus points for having elevators available for the bathrooms. We started with the chargrilled sugarcane beef bò lá lốt wrapped in betel leaves and cabbage, along with the shredded chicken gỏi gà salad with ginger nước chấm. The salad had a nice kick to it that I absolutely loved; surprisingly flavorful and refreshing for a salad. For the entrée, I had the duck panang curry, and honestly, it was perfect in every possible way. I don't order duck often, but this was easily one of the best duck dishes I've ever had. Rich, balanced, and incredibly tender. To finish, we got the dessert everyone talks about at Crying Tiger, and now I get the hype. The sauce tasted like a deconstructed banana chocolate chip bread in the best way possible. Light, melt-in-your-mouth, and the perfect ending to the meal. The drinks were great too, whether you're going for cocktails or mocktails. Would absolutely come back again. read more

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Food was delicious. Thai food is one of my favorites and the prawn toast was a highlight. Waygu was also yummy and nothing was too spicy (in a good way). Drinks were also great Thai tea and the coconut drink were amazing. Honestly the presentation is what earned this rating. Food was played amazing and drinks were served in a fun way. The crying tiger Dessert was so fun to crack open and very instagramable. Service was impeccable. Hosts and servers were both very nice. Table was constantly checked and cleaned. Everyone was very nice and friendly. Decorations were cute and very good mood lighting. Perfect date night spot. Bathrooms are clean. read more

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Crying Tiger is all over Tik Tok and for good reason. You have to fight for a reservation, but once you get one, you'll see why it's so popular. The restaurant is beautiful. Perfect for date night or dinner with friends. There were so many options there were for pescatarians. I LOVED the shrimp today and green prawn curry, the flavors were perfect. Service was great! read more

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My friend really wanted to visit Crying Tiger while we were on vacation in Chicago. The most annoying part is trying to get a reservation. Since we couldn't get one, we tried our luck just getting bar seats. You have to be extremely aggressive and stand behind people as they're leaving. The food was pretty good. I ordered a thai tea and it was delicious. Probably the best I've ever had at a restaurant. Prawan toast was our appetizer and it was made of shrimp nestled in yu tao. Good, but I could skip it for the main dishes. We ordered the duck curry(spicy) and the lobster pad thai. The pad thai was a bit pricey but I really enjoyed it. The duck curry is deceiving since they mix potatoes with the duck and you don't get as much meat as you'd hope However, the flavor was creamy but spicy. Of course we had to end with they Crying Tiger dessert which has beautiful presentation - jade like and the banana cake inside was tasty. The decor of the restaurant is really neat down to the tiger mural in the bathroom. Service at the bat was very attentive. A bit pricey for what you get, but a fun experience overall. read more

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We finally got a reservation and was super excited to come but the food was alright. Being Asian, the pad Thai was missing flavor. The glass noodles was good but only had vegetables in them. I would say the ambiance was amazing and service was great. I got the jasmine iced tea and it was good but if you're not used to pandan flavors like my friends it would be an adventure to taste it. Overall really loved their prawn toast and the sauce that came with it. Wasn't too spicy. I would say the dishes lacked some spices and flavors. Pad Thai was really bland, we loved the lobster. The star was the crying tiger dessert which was wild Thai banana and it was good. Loved the chocolate and mousse cake under it. read more

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Wow, what an amazing experience at Crying Tiger! My friends and I have been dying to get in for dinner here and we were lucky enough to get a rese this week. The entire night was spectacular. The cocktails, the food, and the service were all excellent! The restaurant itself is beautiful. The bar is lively and vibrant. The dining room is more moody and relaxed. Once seated we were brought an amuse bouche which was so delicious! It was a bite of Thai flavors that you eat on a leaf and then follow with a sip of coconut water. It was a perfect bite! For cocktails we tried the Thai Colada, Salty Dog, martini, and our waitress recommended a Thai margarita! All were great! For appetizers we enjoyed the tuna tartare and prawn toast. The tuna was so fresh and perfectly spicy. Love that it was served in a coconut! For mains we got duck curry, shrimp fried rice, and rolled rice noodles. Fantastic flavors all around. One of the best panang curries I've had and the duck was so tender. The rice noodles were recommended by the chef and I can see why! Easily one of my favorite dishes of the night. We couldn't leave without dessert and had to try the Crying Tiger (bananas foster) and also chefs favorite toasted coconut sundae which was massive! Thank you Chef Paolo! We enjoyed every bite and can't wait to come back! Thank you also to our sweet waitress who was so attentive and kind throughout our entire night. read more

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This was our first time at Crying Tiger and wow when they say reservation go fast they do in a blink of an eye. You absolutely need one to dine here on a Saturday. We came for our anniversary and ordered 4-5 dishes as recommended by our server. Out of all the dishes which I list in the images, our favorite had to be the rolled noodles. Extremely flavor packed and crispy on the outside which chewy on the inside. As we ate we did notice a lot of the dishes were pretty salty as it was a flavor bomb bite after bite which did give us a little palette fatigue. Pork belly was an honorable mention. I wished there was some rice or something accompanying all these dishes. Overall the dishes weren't bad and portions weren't that bad either they did raise the prices on everything about $4-5. This was a cool place really beautiful inside but definitely a place to try once or twice and not a go to spot in my opinion. Also I wanted to talk about our server he was super nice and friendly but had some comments that were a little off putting. One that I want to mention was after me and my boyfriend ate the amount of dishes he recommended, he said "dang yall must be hungryyyy". I've work in the food service and I would never ever say that to anybody. That really threw me for a loop and would make small talk but we are not very talkative people. When he heard it was our anniversary as I asked about any desserts, he asked us what we loved the most about each other which made me overly embarrassed and blank in the moment. Nothing personal with him I can tell he is just a talkative person just not my cup of tea to talk that much while eating and that one comment which I did not like. read more

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It turns out the first, second, AND third times are a charm at Crying Tiger! Was lucky to snag another table recently and it was every bit as good as I remember. This time, we started with the chicken satay, which was perfectly grilled and among the most tender I've ever had. I could drink the spicy peanut sauce! For mains, we split the prawn green curry, rolled rice noodles, and the barbecue chicken. No notes on the chicken aside from that it's absolutely delicious and a must order. The roti dipped in leftover crispy chili oil was perfection. The green curry was good but not revolutionary. However, the rolled rice noodles might have been my favorite dish that I've had here! The outside was super crispy with an extra soft, chewy interior. Truly exceptional- do not skip this! Great experience all around once again, and I'm already looking forward to next time! read more

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I didn't love Crying Tiger. The reservation was unsurprisingly hard to get, but unfortunately the food didn't live up to the hype for me. We ordered the lobster pad thai and the rolled noodles, which were a bit too salty. That said, the khao soi and shrimp toast were definitely the standouts of the meal and were the dishes I enjoyed the most. read more

Excellent. The best restaurant I've been to in 2026 hands down and it's going to be hard touch. Seriously. I had an amazing time for my birthday. The service top freaking tier. The food outstanding. The drinks?! I can't even describe. And the vibe? Just a spot you won't forget. Just go. Lettuce Entertain You knew what they were doing when they made this spot. Everything is great but the shrimp toast, milk punch, basil fried rice were so lovely. The milk punch!!!!! See?! I still think about it. And yes get that tiger dessert, yes for the gram but mainly because it's such a delicious treat you will fight over the last bite. And lastly, get a spot at the speakeasy Kitty Club. I have no words for the amazing experience I had. Just go. read more

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5 stars because all things considered, I totally get the hype. A few nitpicks -- we were seated 45min after our 9pm reservation (but we were given complimentary papaya salad which ended up being my favorite thing all evening so who's winning really), the rolled rice noodles are too thick to pick up the sauce at the center of the noodle. The ambience is SO fun though, and the crying tiger dessert really is that good. I wanted to try everything on the menu, but if i were to get only three things, I'd get the papaya salad, the tiger dessert, and the prawn toast. Yum!! read more

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I had been trying to snag a reservation here for months after the opening thinking I'd find one by just getting lucky. When that didn't work I finally made the move to stay up late and get one at midnight a month out. In that time I started to get nervous that it wouldn't live up to the hype -- I am glad to say that my fears were misplaced! First and foremost, our night wouldn't have been the same without the guidance of our lovely server, Michael. We were between a few dishes and he helped us steer the ship. All of his recommendations were excellent, and his energy made the night all the more enjoyable. Having just returned from Chiang Mai a few months ago, I've been on the hunt for a khao soi dish in Chicago that remotely compares. The one at Crying Tiger is the most aromatic and flavorful that I have found yet. The rolled rice noodles were also a great recommendation, an innovative twist on the classic pad see ew with all the sweet & smoky you could ask for. The lemongrass pork belly special was another great dish and literally melts in your mouth, but we'll definitely be back to try the crispy HK version that has a permanent spot on the menu. Finally, don't sleep on the namesake dessert -- a bananas foster in a chocolate tiger shaped shell -- which is anything but a gimmick. All of this is wrapped together with the beautiful, bright, & lively interior that speaks for itself. The whole vibe is absolutely on point. read more

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Finally made it to Crying Tiger after wanting to try it for the longest. We had a 10 PM reservation since this place stays booked, which already says a lot about how popular it is. The vibe was fun and lively perfect for a date night or a girls night out. Service was solid throughout and the mocktails were actually really good, which I appreciated. Food-wise, everything had great flavor and a nice level of spice. The prawns with the sauce were sooo fire and easily one of my favorites. The egg rolls were tender and fresh. The khao soi was really interesting different from what I've had before but still really good. Pad Thai was also solid. Only thing to note is that the halal options are limited the lamb was the only option available. Overall, really enjoyed the experience. Great energy, flavorful food, and a spot I'd come back to. read more

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Crying Tiger was insanely good! We got the clay pot lobster pad Thai, the rolled rice noodles with roasted maitake and Chinese broccoli, the Burmese dried chili and cumin lamb, Vietnamese iced coffee, and the Crying Tiger signature dessert. The clay pot lobster pad Thai was really yummy and had a good amount of lobster. But the rolled rice noodles and the cumin lamb completely stole the show. Both were insanely good and genuinely wowed me. Those are the two dishes I'd go back for without even thinking twice. The portions were great too! Those three dishes were enough to fill us up and we left super satisfied. The Vietnamese iced coffee had a real kick to it and was delicious, although I personally wouldn't have minded if it were a little sweeter. And the signature dessert was superb. Really, really yummy and super unique. If you like banana, you'll love it. It was also just so pretty that we had to get it! The ambiance was also a huge part of why I liked it so much. The restaurant is actually super pretty inside and it really made the whole experience even better. You can tell they put a lot of attention into it, and it reminded me of some of the beautiful restaurants and bars I've been to in the Netherlands. Service was also great. Our waiter was super friendly and energetic, clearly knew the menu well, and gave us helpful recommendations when we were stuck between options. read more

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Delicious flavors, great service, and vibes were immaculate! Most notable dishes were the khao soi and prawn toast. Cocktails were refreshing and very unique. Looking forward to coming back in the future! read more

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I saw this restaurant on my social media when trying to find restaurants and had to make sure I came here when we visited Chicago. We love anything Thai and from what we could tell, this place was popular. I had to stay up until midnight to snag my reservation, and you have to book far in advance. The reservations were practically gone by the time I woke up 8 hours later. It was very much worth it! We were seated quickly and the atmosphere was super vibrant, moody, and trendy. I came for my birthday, and they handwrote a little card for us! My husband and I have been obsessed with Thai food, and we had very high expectations. We got the Khao soi and the crispy rice basil chicken and we loved them both. I do wish the Khao soi had a little more broth but it wasn't the end of the world. Both were filling enough for 2 people and for dessert they gave us a lime sorbet. Will definitely recommend and come back if I can! read more

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Vibes were okay. Dim lighting was nice, but it was super loud with music blasting and felt more like a bar or girls night out spot than a date night. Everyone was taking pics with flash going off constantly. Great for content, not really for an intimate dinner. Service was sweet but felt stretched thin. They were nice and attentive when around, but not super present. 7/10. I did like how they mixed the khao soi and poured the sauce over dessert at the table. Food was very hit or miss. The rolled rice noodles were my favorite. Perfect texture, nice sear, and super flavorful. 9.5/10. The Thai iced tea was one of the best I've had, super unique flavor. 8.5/10. The Vietnamese coffee didn't taste traditional but more like a cinnamon latte, which I actually liked. 8/10. The crying tiger dessert was really good. Loved all the layers and textures with the chocolate shell and caramel sauce. 8.5/10. Everything else was mid. The khao soi had great wagyu texture but barely any meat and the broth wasn't anything special. 7/10. The BBQ chicken wasn't crispy and felt oily. 6/10. The ribeye cap steak frites was disappointing for $72, only the sweet and sour sauce stood out. 6/10. Drinks were fine. Mango Stirred wasn't anything special. 7/10. Overall, I was expecting an elevated, flavorful experience, but it felt more like a trendy, influencer-heavy spot. Come for the photos, not for a date night. read more

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I fought for WEEKS to get a reservation at Crying Tiger and finally was successful! It lived up to every expectation and truly was one of the best experiences of our recent trip to Chicago! The space itself is one of a kind! You escape the windy, cool streets of Chicago into the most majestic, cozy, exotic space. Mood lighting, bursts of color, and greenery teleport you to Southeast Asia for your dining experience. The servers were also dressed in theme, and I have to say, were so enthusiastic about the experience and the food. I honestly got the feeling they thoroughly enjoyed working at Crying Tiger. Now the food was TOP NOTCH! Every single bite was delicious! We started with the Crispy Pork Belly, which blended crunchy exterior with silky interior, balanced with an herbaceous sauce. The Fried Rice was glorious, with plenty of flavor and crispy grains of rice. The Panang Curry had a light spice and creamy texture, served with a crispy duck leg. You absolutely CANNOT skip the namesake Crying Tiger dessert, which we agreed was the best bite of the night: dreamy presentation with crispy chocolate exterior and creamy caramel banana interior. It was a showstopper! Worth every penny and reservation struggle! read more

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If you want to have an amazing experience, ask for server Jessie. All his recommendations were honest and we ordered everything he recommended. He was so attentive and kind, and made the dining experience amazing. I spilled water , instead of being embarrassed He brought over a really tiny caution when wet sign and put it on the table and instantly I couldn't stop laughing- thank you for personalizing our experience- I work at a trauma hospital and lately everything has felt so heavy dealing with patients, so coming to dine after 16 hour shifts to a pleasant atmosphere where people care for me in return means everything to me. All drinks are amazing. The coconut drinks come in actual coconut garnished with flowers, super cute for photos We ordered the ribeye steak , glass noodles, tuna tartar which comes in a cool coconut, the prawn with the bread , chicken satay , all the appetizers are amazing. Also have to add , I went up to the manager to thank our server , her name is Dea Bebo, one of the most inviting and kindest humans ever , if you read this Dea , thank you for your kindness we couldn't stop talking about you all evening and we also met the amazing chef, who was also beyond kind to introduce himself and ask how our food was. No wonder this place is always booked out- worth the hype and the amazing staff . read more

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Crying Tiger in River North is one of Chicago's toughest reservations to land... but we got in! We really enjoyed the lush night market inspired design, high energy atmosphere, and their visually striking dishes + impeccable service. Highly recommend ordering the Rolled Rice Noodles, Clay Pot Lobster Pad Thai (it's worth the splurge), Wagyu Short Rib Khao Soy, and of course their infamous "Crying Tiger" dessert made with wild thai banana and foster sauce. read more

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What a spectacular meal! I was really excited to try Thai Dang's new restaurant in the city as I love Haisous and made sure to make a reservation early for when I was visiting Chicago and this meal has to be one of the best new restaurants I've tried this year. My friend and I came by for Sunday dinner and were promptly seated. The ambiance is lovely with a gorgeous interior, friendly and thoughtful service, and an atmosphere that has just the right amount of noise for a nice dinner without feeling too stuffy or formal. We ordered the Crispy HK Pork Belly, Prawn Toast and Roasted Black Cod in Tom Yum Broth to share and loved every bite! The pork belly was so well cooked with hard, crunchy skin and served with a deliciously spicy and tangy fish sauce. Loved this dish that reminded me of Hong Kong style bbq but with Southeast Asia flavors. Prawn toast was great as well with prawn paste stuffed in you tiao which made me think of an elevated version of my childhood snack. The cod for our main may have been my favorite dish of the nice, the fish was gorgeously flaky and buttery. Perfectly cooked served in a spicy tangy tom yum broth with mint, basil and roasted tomatoes which perfectly popped for added acidity. This dish was perfection! By the time we got to the cod, we knew we had to try something else and ended up opting for the Burmese chili cumin lamb. This was solid as well but could have used more cumin flavor and while I enjoyed it I thought the other dishes felt more unique. For dessert, after such great savory dishes, we knew we knew we JUST HAD TO try the signature Crying Tiger dessert. It's such a showstopped based on looks alone but I was surprised to enjoy the flavors so much. It is a spin on a banana foster, with layers of cake and banana cream served on top of a banana foster sauce. The cake is covered in a thin layer of white chocolate dyed green and covered in sparkles giving it the tiger head look. The banana foster sauce was 10/10 so yummy I would buy a bottle of the sauce if they sold it and surprisingly the combination of the ingredients in a bite wasn't too sweet and the cake and cream were light and fluffy and the chocolate coating was super thin. I'm not normally a restaurant dessert fan but would absolutely get this again the next time I come back (it's definitely a question of when and not if). Absolutely worth snagging a reservation! It was the perfect dining experience! read more

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Easily a perfect dining experience for us! We were seated about 15 minutes after our original dining time but it was well worth the wait. Our server got us started with some fantastic drinks, i loved the freezer martini! For appetizers we enjoyed the prawn toast and the crispy pork belly. Both had incredible flavors and a crispiness that i only dream of! Would recommend both For entrees we ordered the roasted black cod and the roasted duck curry! Both meats were very tender and full of flavor. Just so impressed with both of these dishes! Last but not least we ordered the crying tiger dessert! I'm not a big banana person but this dessert was absolutely delicious! I loved it and will dream of it always I also have to mention how beautiful this restaurant is! Every single place you look is just gorgeous! Even the bathrooms with the giant tiled tiger! Highly recommend this place for your next Chicago trip! read more

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It's not easy getting a reservation at Crying Tiger. I had to set alerts on OpenTable and was honestly starting to wonder if it was going to be overhyped, especially with how much it's been all over TikTok. But it actually lived up to the hype. The vibes and energy were great from the start. We had a 5:45 reservation and were seated pretty quickly. Our waiter gave us a solid list of recommendations and everything he suggested was really good. He checked on us just enough to make sure we were taken care of without being overbearing, which I appreciated. For appetizers, we ordered the grilled Wagyu beef and the hamachi crudo. The Wagyu was probably my favorite dish of the night. I usually don't like mint or cilantro, so I thought I wouldn't like it, but the flavor was bold and refreshing in the best way. It definitely has some heat, which I love, and the beef was very tender. It looks like it would be light but it is packed with flavor. The hamachi crudo was good and the fish tasted fresh, but starting with the Wagyu made it feel a bit more mild in comparison. If you get both, I would recommend having the hamachi first. For mains, we got the rice rolls with short rib added and the lobster pad Thai. The rice rolls were slightly crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. This was my husband's favorite dish. The short rib paired really well, and the rice rolls absorb the sauce nicely so they are very flavorful. The lobster pad Thai was also amazing. It is a little more sour than other pad Thais I have had, which I personally liked, and it came with a good amount of lobster. We ended with the Crying Tiger dessert and it did not disappoint. The inside tasted like banana pudding and the shell had a dark chocolate flavor. It had a nice balance of rich and light and was the perfect way to end the meal. Overall, great energy, thoughtful service, and bold flavors with nice presentation that are worth the effort of getting a reservation. read more

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The only reservation time for a Friday night was 3 pm (after putting an alert in OpenTable). They were surprisingly busy for the early dinner crowd. It's a beautiful restaurant- the Tiger theme and the gorgeous colors made for a great atmosphere. They've layered cloth at the ceiling so there is sound dampening that means you can hear your dining partners and I appreciated that. It would be a great first date or special occasion date venue. The food was overall good. My dining partner had the Burmese dried chili and cumin lamb and it was delicious. A bit salty, but great spice! I had the crispy confit duck and peanut panang. The duck skin was crispy, but overall the flavor wasn't amazing- very peanut forward. The hamachi crudo as our appetizer had a great flavor- you had to be intentional to get all the components in your bite. We both liked it. The service was good. Attentive without being overbearing. Nice selection of wine and some fun artisan cocktails. read more

Came to Crying Tiger to celebrate our anniversary after hearing so much about it, especially since we both love Thai food. Reservations were difficult to get, but we were able to secure an 8:30 PM slot through OpenTable by setting an alert. We arrived at 8:25 PM, but unfortunately were not seated until around 9:00 PM. While we were able to get drinks at the bar while waiting, it was still disappointing to be seated late without any acknowledgment or apology. The bartender mentioned that evenings tend to run behind since there are no time limits for tables, which may explain the delay, but for a restaurant that is this hard to get into, I would expect the timing to be managed a bit better. We ordered the Betel Leaf Martini and the Salty Dog -- the martini was creative and enjoyable, while the Salty Dog was a bit too salty for my taste. The ambiance is nice, with cool decor and a lively atmosphere. As vegetarians, the menu felt somewhat limited, but the dishes we ordered the rolled rice noodle, glass noodles, papaya salad, and the tiger dessert and they were all good. Since we were celebrating our anniversary, I had noted it on the reservation and noticed some other tables receiving candles with dessert, so it was a little disappointing that it wasn't acknowledged for us. Small touches like that can make a big difference, especially for special occasions. Overall, the food was good, but the experience didn't quite live up to the level of hype. Given how difficult reservations are to get, I expected a bit more consistency with service and overall hospitality. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way for it. read more

Crying Tiger - Tiger Dessert - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Every bite was truly outstanding, and wowww that crying tiger dessert is now one of my favorite desserts! The wild Thai banana mousse was divine on top of a crisp base and encased in a white chocolate shell. And don't even get me started on that foster sauce. Most flavorful caramel sauce I've ever had. I would like a whole jar of that please! I understand why everyone orders this dessert. It would be a crime to come to crying tiger without ordering this showstopper. I knocked off a star because our food came out very slowly and so oddly paced. For example, our curry dish came out way ahead of the other entrees and I would've liked it to come out with the roti. Instead the roti came out last when we had already eaten a lot of our entrees. We also got one appetizer first and then waited like 20 minutes for the second. The ambiance is sleek and inviting, the service is warm and accommodating, just need the kitchen to be a bit more organized. I'd recommend the pork belly (so good), the shrimp toast (memorable take on a classic), the lobster pad Thai (omg!), short rib khao soi (so rich & flavorful), and you must order the crying tiger for dessert. Check with your waiter to make sure they have enough, because sometimes they run out. The flan cheesecake was delicious as well and I'd like to try the coconut sundae next time. All the cocktails we tried were tropical delights. They also do takeout and delivery now! The full menu is served at the bar. Great addition to the Chicago food scene that remains a tough table to snag! It is worth setting up opentable notify to enjoy these stellar dishes. read more

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Food 10/10 , service 10/10, ambiance 10/10 First of all we came w two kids and as parents we haven't gone out to a fancy restaurant in a year bc of 2 under 2. And this place made it so accommodating. The front host/hostess did everything to get us a high chair. And the server Jessie was probably the most nicest server we've ever had w kids. Truly can't say nicer things about the people. Now the food is amazing Thai Pricier than mom and pop Thai restaurant but well worth it. Wagyu beef and lobster pad Thai were phenomenal and cooked perfect read more

Crying Tiger - Grilled Wagyu Beef - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is so hot right now and unbelievably difficult to get a reservation but we got lucky! The interior is vibrant, oasis-like, definitely a fun place and showy! I need to go back and try more of the food to accurately assess but I got the papaya salad and it was fresh, well balanced between the fish sauce + spice, and I really did love it. My friends got the garlic chive glass noodles and they thought it was just okay. The cocktails though were strong and tasty! Not sure if it's 100% hype-worthy yet but the next time I go back I really want to try the lobster pad thai. read more

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My group and I were so excited to finally try out this place! Reservations open up 30 days in advance and go live at midnight but I ended up calling them a month ago which was easier to get a spot! I first made it for 2 but then as more were added, I ended up messaging them on Open table and they were able to accommodate 4 adults and one baby for a highchair. For the tiger dessert: definitely ask to hold it when ordering everything else as there is a chance it can run out as the night goes on! It is a white chocolate shell filled with Thai banana mousse and light banana cake, topped with a warm banana foster sauce. I personally would have liked it better without the banana part but the experience was worth it. The decor is very colorful / vibrant & their herbs, spices, and culinary influences from Thailand, east India, China and Australia! The cocktails were refreshing too. Their name comes from the steak sauce which is pretty spicy. We all powered through it to get the authentic flavor because the waitress said if they make it mild, it won't be the same. We got it on the wagyu rib eye. Because it is so spicy, it makes the tiger cry. The nice waitress suggested to order sticky rice on the side too that helped! The other things we ordered were panang curry, prawn toast, and basil chicken. We were also celebrating a birthday and they were nice to give us free housemade sorbet. My friends baby liked the noodles they made as well for her! The women's bathroom is so pretty and outside of it was also a stuffed peacock. read more

Crying Tiger - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Visited Crying Tiger at 4:45pm on a Wednesday night. We had a reservation... thank goodness. This place filled up quickly! I highly recommend grabbing a spot hero or taking a ride share because street parking is very limited in the area. For anyone who has had a time in River North like myself will remember this place as Hub51! I was so sad to see it go. Babbbyyyyy aesthetically you would NEVER know this used to be Hub. The outer and inner decor is gorgeous. The outside gives Emerald city from wizard of oz. It def delivers on the "what's that?!" Inviting experience.Inside is boho chic. For my drink I did a spirit free option. The limeade with shaved iced. It was very sweet but good. Would prob be amazing on a warm day (it was prob 20 degrees when I visited. lol) For starters we selected the pork belly and the sugar cane beef. The Pork belly was DELICIOUS. The outer rim was crisp... dang near thick pork rind crisp while the inner was tender and juicy! The meat had a great flavor. The sugar cane beef. I'm assuming is slow cooked on a small stick of sugar cane was very tender. Honestly it wasn't my favorite and I'll prob never order it again. It was extremely soft and tender but maybe too soft for me, and the flavor profile was unique. I think I was expecting it to be a pinch sweet and it wasn't. For my entree I selected the rolled rice noodle. I had option to add a protein but I kept it light and cute as is. But the addition of a short rib sounded amazing. My friend did the curry duck. Both were great. We both agreed the rolled noodle was the star between the two. The sweet and savory was great! I'm not a mushroom girl and even those were good! The curry was warm, savory and def layered in some heat. If you're not one for spice that builds, it's not the dish for you by itself! Maybe share with a friend. And of course we tried the dessert. It's was enough for 2 or 3 to split! There were so many flavors and textures! The sweet banana caramel, the chocolate shell, the cake, the cream in the cake. Very good! Idk if it's something I'd want every visit but it was def worth trying! Overall we had a great experience. I'm not planning my next visit but I def won't turn it down if someone else suggests it. read more

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AMAZING! The ambiance is nice... forgot it was cold outside lol. Fun environment. It gets really busy. Started off with the hamachi crudo. It was a 4/5. Great combo of flavors and spicy Only thing wrong is that the aftertaste was a little bit fishy. The short rib khaki soi smelled AMAZING. Very fragrant and tasted great! Short rib was tender and delicious. Also ordered the lobster pad Thai. Best pad Thai I have had in a while. A tiny bit on the salty side but so so so good. Finished off with the "crying tiger" dessert. Delicious!!! If you like bananas foster, you will love this!!! Great service and would 10000000% recommend. We will be back to try more dishes! LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT. read more

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This place was impossible to get a reservation for and is very very hyped up, so I had super high expectations and it absolutely met all of them. This place is SO worth the hype. Every single thing we ordered was packed with flavor and was so so so delicious. The decor is great and the service is fast too. My favorite dish was probably the rolled noodles -- it is a MUST get. Also, they let you substitute tofu in the khao soi for vegetarians and you can still get the meat separately for non vegetarians which is nice if you're sharing! read more

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Such a beautiful space! As I scan the room I notice lovers old and young with wide eyes, smiling in between bites. The presentation of the dishes is truly breathtaking. Phone eats first. Waited a long time for this reservation, giving me plenty of time to scan the menu over and over again. So much so that I knew exactly what to order. My drink of choice was the salted mango limeade, add tequila and it's a perfect cocktail. Sugarcane beef, shrimp fried rice, baby broccoli, grilled roti, dry aged ribeye and for dessert, the viral crying tiger. Wah, my server was amazing. She was surprised that I had a list and was ready. She explained some of the dishes and their spice level as well as shared her favorites. She was genuinely kind and took great care in making sure I was happy. Halfway through my first drink I got up to introduce myself to the chef. Love that he was 'hands-on' working the line along with his employees. Such a good spirit, easy to see how his energy flows through everyone else. Flawless. He shared his favorites. He gifted me with an order of the prawn toast. A mild flavor of shrimp with a light crunch from the toast. Once you dip it in the sauce, it wakes up everything you thought was dead. Together, the flavors balance each other out. Time for drink number two. Chef Thai Dang comes to my table to check on me. Talk about feeling special. Although, my belly is quite full, dessert is a must. It was so good I wanted to eat all of it. Green, sparkly, hollow dark chocolate tiger head hiding Thai banana mouse and a light banana cake. Once you drag it through the banana foster caramel sauce your life changes. Before leaving, the hostess came to check on me. Dining out should be an experience and I can happily say Crying Tiger delivered. They also have valet parking! read more

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Dined at crying tiger twice for dinner. Very hard to get in but it is totally worth the hype. All this items tried were 5/5. Good service, nice vibe. We tried almost everything on the menu and it tasted delicious. Drinks and desserts are must so please save space. read more

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I was wowed by this one. While usually not too fond of Asian fusion, this one gets it right. Really outstanding Crispy Prawn Toast, Cumin Lamb and Shaking Beef. The Hamachi Crudo was also excellent. I usually don't get dessert but the signature Crying Tiger dessert was too unique to pass up. Getting if you are a Bananas Foster fan. Great service and a super cool interior. Make sure you make reservations. Bar seating is limited. read more

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This restaurant is definitely worth the hype! My friends and I were able to snag a last minute dinner reservation on a weekday and we were so excited when we did. Upon walking in, we were in awe with the decor and space, it was quite beautiful. We were immediately seated after checking in at the host and right off the bat, our server was very welcoming and shared our excitement for getting to try this place. We started off with the pork belly, which was so flavorful and perfectly crispy. It was honestly the best bite out of this whole meal. We also got the prawn toast, which was naturally sweet from the prawn which paired really nicely with the dipping sauce. For our main dishes, we got the shaking beef, clay pot lobster pad thai, khao soi, and chili crisp barbecue chicken. They were all very good but the khao soi was the clear star, it tasted so rich and bold but was also sweet and mildly spicy, it was the perfect balance. We ended our meal with the "crying tiger" which was wild thai banana and foster sauce, coated in chocolate. It's as delicious as it looks and the presentation of the dessert was delightful. We were stuffed after all of this food and we will definitely be coming back! read more

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This place was so fun & cute! Perfect date night spot, the lighting is dark, the drinks are GREAT & the bathroom is the perfect picture spot (it matters). The food was yummy, the wagyu short rib Khao soi curry was a little too salty, but if I could recommend one dish, the hamachi crudo was AMAZING. Definitely want to come back to try other dishes though. read more

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This place is the best!! The ambiance is amazing. The bathroom is so pretty. But the food was phenomenal! I had duck curry and it was delicious, a little spicy, the duck was crispy and cooked to perfection. My friend had glass noodles that were the best I have ever had. And my drink was delicious, not very strong but very good. This restaurant is a must! read more

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The flavors on all the entrees were amazing, appetizers were so good but definitely spicy so be aware of that. Mango limeade was exceptional and the crying tiger dessert definitely lived up to the hype. Service was amazing and very attentive and the interior design is probably my favorite I've seen for an establishment. Definitely would love to come back again. read more

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