Confused on the hype! I went to crying tiger for a birthday dinner and was blown away by the ambiance and the decor! Absolutely stunning! Our server was wonderful as well and great with suggestions. What I was not blown away by was the food. It lacked depth of flavor and dimension. I only ordered one dish so I am eager to return and try other items on the menu. If you're looking for an amazing meal to blow your socks off, I don't think this is the place! Drinks: -Mango Limeade: A fun and tasty drink! Slushie like with rich flavor Food: -Glass noodles: Good size portion. Lacked depth of flavor and aftertaste! read more

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snagged a last minute Resy for 7:15 and it was AMAZING. Maya our server was thoughtful and attentive. I am visiting fromDenver and this place is just amazing. My favorite was pork belly appetizer. There were 3 people in my party and we went a little carb heavy so the chicken main course wasn't really needed but still delicious. Inside is moody and super trendy with the tigers. So so cute ! The crying tiger desserts was 10/10 no notes ! Will be back again! read more

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3.5 stars for me... I enjoyed the vibe! Great music! Great energy! Awesome service. Jesse our service help for dinner was fantastic! I just wasn't wowed with the flavors of the dishes. Nothing was outstanding for me except the tiger dessert. Don't get me wrong, I will come again and try different things but what I had wasn't what I had hoped it would be: Short Rib Curry - delicious heated up at home the next day for leftovers. Basically well seasoned short rib and standard curry. Chilli crisp bbq chicken - decent no complaints! The chilli crisp was good.... Hong Kong style crab fried rice - super garlicky. My daughter loved it. Sugar cane beef - not good at all. Imagine frozen turkey sausage heated up. Lacked any flavor. Drinks were not good at all. The dessert was amazing! The crying tiger was delicious and presented well. read more

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After a couple of failed attempts, I got to check out Crying Tiger this evening! Seen many IG stories and TikToks on the deliciousness that exists here! Their reputation here is well deserved as Lettuce Entertain You strikes again with another River North hit! I love a good Thai fusion place and this one doesn't disappoint. Staff greets you as you come in and then you are privy to the very nice decor this place beholds. The music here is on point as they got the 80s-early 00s hip hop going to set a dope vibe. Grabbed a seat at the bar as its first come first serve and just took a look around. I was then greeted by the very cool Grace and her partner in crime/drinks Matthew lol. They took good care of me. I started with the Milk Punch which was one of the best drinks I've had over the past few months. The Milk Punch consists of xo cognac, thai tea and lemon & cane sugar...outstanding cocktail! If you like a good milk punch, this is one of the best you'll get. The Force Carbonated Cocktail was amazing as well. Has a bit of sweetness to it due to thai banana being included but not too sweet. Japanese whiskey along with amontillado sherry makes for a great sip with this one. My entree was the Lap Cheong & Shrimp Fried Rice with basil and garlic. Nice sized, shareable dish that had a hint of spice included...it was very delicious! Highly recommend! The ladies dining next to me let me try their Prawn Toast and it was definitely a great selection by them. I was then convinced by another set of patrons along with Grace & Matthew to get dessert in which I had to go with the very popular Crying Tiger. Its basically a wild thai banana pudding/ice cream covered in a green edible tiger mask cover with foster sauce. Its really good! Came back a week later and got the Cumin Lamb and while it was good, it was def spicy...a good spicy though. So much flavor in this dish! Washed it down with the fantastic freezer martini and had the homemade lime sorbet for dessert. Really good but I recommend sharing as it's a nice size. Love Crying Tiger from the staff, food, drinks, vibe and environment. Great for dates, group outings and solo missions. read more

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Food was a 10 out of 10. Everything we got was spicy so the ice cream was a must and omg I've had the nothing like it. And I definitely will need to have it again. The service was so wonderful. They really made an effort to make us feel special during our dining experience. And the ambience definitely gave all the right vibes like oh my God who came up with this concept because it's amazing. The drinks were were so amazing. I requested them making me something special and they did it just like I like it. read more

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This was a good, but not great meal. To start with the aesthetics, the interior is stunning. Every detail was extremely well thought out and the effect was gorgeous. The drinks were a great start. The cocktail menu is quite interesting and offered a lot of unique options. The wine menu wasn't particularly inspired, but it was solid enough. As for the food, there were some very high highs (the hamachi crudo and khao soi), some middling options (crispy pork belly), and some big bombs (the clay lobster pad thai). The pad thai almost tasted like something had gone wrong - the vinegar was so overwhelming that we couldn't taste anything else. It was odd enough that I wonder if it was just a kitchen mistake. Unfortunately at this price point, I don't have a lot of tolerance for mistakes like this. Service was a mixed bag. While our server was incredibly sweet, I suspect she was just overworked. Everything took ages to arrive. It seemed like she just had too many tables. In fairness, it was PACKED when we went. I think they just need to adjust to their staffing levels a bit. read more

Oh my goodness. So yummy. I completely understand the hype. The decor is amazing. It would be a fantastic date night spot or for a birthday dinner. This is what we got to eat. Drinks Tequila w pickled plum- very good Thai coconut colado- so delicious, highly recommend Starters Prawn toast- loved their spin, definitely worth ordering Chicken satay- VERY good Pork belly- good flavors Tuna tartare - probably my top 3 tartare EVER- so YUM Rice & noodles Rolled Rice noodles- Do yourself a favor and order 2 of them!! My favorite dish on the menu!!! Basil chicken- this was the only thing I wouldn't order again- it was very very spicy Curries Short rib with Crispy noodles- I liked this. It was tasty Signatures Bbq chicken- the flavor was delicious and it was a lot of food I will 100% return! Thank you so much! A very delicious and unique edition to the Chicago food scene read more

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OBSESSED! From the food to the drinks to the decor, everything was a vibe. We celebrated my birthday here and they wrote me a cute card from the staff to begin with!! We ordered an app and 2 dishes which was plenty for 2 people. The food was absolutely delicious. If you can't handle spice, I wouldn't recommend because the food was ! I would love to go back and try more things on the menu! I ordered the mango limeade and it was so refreshing and paired very well with the spicy food! Our server was so kind and brought us dessert for my birthday. We wanted to try the crying tiger but unfortunately it was already out. Pro tip: apparently you'll have better luck if you order it as soon as you're seated! We will definitely be going and certainly recommending this place to friends! read more

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Delicious food, fun ambiance, excellent service! It's nearly impossible to get reservations but it's honestly worth it. We split 3 apps and one main and one dessert and a couple of drinks - the shrimp toast, beef, and pork belly apps were sooo good, especially the beef and pork belly. The lobster pad Thai was delicious but honestly not above other pad Thai I have gotten in the past. The flan cheesecake was honestly one of the best desserts I've had in the city and 100% recommend it! read more

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Im not one to complain, but here's an honest review from a South East Asian perspective: The restaurant clearly invested in its aesthetic -- the decor, ambiance, and staff are all genuinely impressive. But the kitchen doesn't hold up its end of the deal. The prawn toast was the standout, and the H.K. pork belly was solid, but neither dish was anything you couldn't find done better elsewhere. The khao soi was a salt bomb -- nearly inedible straight from the bowl, to the point where I was diluting it with water just to get through it. The pickled mustard greens were so aggressively salty they had to be pushed aside entirely. The chili crisp BBQ chicken was fair. For a restaurant with this much buzz around its food, the reality is a letdown. Come for the atmosphere -- it's worth seeing -- but don't let the hype set your expectations for what's on the plate.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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Overcooked rice??? Thats honestly pretty disappointing. Very mushy. Seems like should be an easy thing to do The roti was also super dense. Felt like they fried 2 together on accident. Bbq chicken was incredibly mid. I'm gonna ASSUME it's bc this was ordered in but such a thick cut of meat served with a pool of oil and bland cabbage. Every now and then I would get a bite that tasted like something but besides that it was pretty mid. Cumin lamb and confit duck panang were really good though. Def had better cumin lamb in Chinatown and curry at oliang is better. Meat was tender though, especially the duck. Duck is carrying this review tbh. But even then, soft potatoes and random pineapple. These guys r lucky I like pineapple. read more

Crying Tiger - Roasted Duck Panang, Barbecue Chicken, Cumin Lamb - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a new trendy lettuce entertain you restaurant in river north. It is beautifully decorated. It is also hard to get a table right now. The food is tasty and definitely leans on the heavier salted side. Great cocktails and the crying tiger dessert is fun and pretty. For my Asian food fix I think I'd stick to my Chinatown spots - but this was a fun new experience and worth a try. read more

Crying Tiger - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Celebrated our wedding anniversary over the weekend and WOW what a gorgeous restaurant! The interior is absolutely gorgeous and you can tell how much thoughtful planning was taken into consideration from the wallpaper, decorations, and silverware. The bar area in the front looks absolutely gorgeous but I have to say walking downstairs to the bathroom was like walking into a beautiful jungle fever dream, it's a must have experience. Service was terrific, prompt, and all around exceptional. For cocktails I ordered the salty dog vodka cocktail (5/5) it was so darn cute and had tamarind salt. For food we started with the crispy pork belly (5/5), they leave part of the rind on so it crisps up perfectly on one side with a nice hard crunch while remaining flavorful and easy to chew through the rest. The tuna tartare (4/5) comes chilled and served in a coconut, my husband loved it but I unfortunately have the cilantro gene. For mains we split the crispy confit duck and roasted peanut panang curry (5/5) as well as the rolled rice noodles (5/5), both were out of this world with the flavor and presentation. Make sure to get a side of roti bread for the panang, you will devour this. Since we came in early (5 PM) we were able to order the crying tiger dessert and omg no wonder this sells out, what a fun dessert and it's perfect for banana lovers. Everything exceed our expectations, thank you for making our wedding anniversary special! read more

Crying Tiger - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Crying Tiger was the restaurant I was most excited to visit on my trip to Chicago and it did not disappoint. Getting a reservation here was tough, and walking in, it's easy to see why. The space is stunning- very modern with Asian influences, moody lighting, and a vibe that's perfect for anything from a first date to impress someone to a business dinner. Honestly, even just visiting the restroom alone would have been worth the trip. Service was fantastic, attentive without being overbearing, and the ambiance is versatile for all types of meet-ups. The menu is Asian fusion, pulling inspiration from several cuisines including Thai, Burmese, and Vietnamese, which makes for an exciting mix of flavors. Sugarcane Beef: 9.5/10 Juicy, tender pieces of meat around sugarcane and wrapped in betel leaves. Super flavorful and a fantastic way to start the meal. Hamachi Crudo: 9/10 Fresh hamachi dressed in a sweet and spicy fish sauce. Simple, refreshing, and delicious. Duck Curry: 8.5/10 Flavourful curry with a tender, crispy duck leg. I wish there had been more duck, but still fantastic nonetheless Eggplant Banh Xeo: 5/10 Deep-fried eggplant that was way too oily, leaving the dish soggy. Flavourful and fun to eat, but the toppings didn't elevate the dish much beyond aesthetic appeal. Rolled Rice Noodles: 9/10 Think pad see ew, but the rice noodles are rolled up into little tteokbokki-shaped dumplings. One of the best takes on pad see ew I've ever had-loved the mushrooms and broccoli. Would've given it a 10, but it was a bit too salty. Crab Fried Rice: 7.5/10 A bit on the blander side, but paired really well with the curry, making it a solid complement to the meal. Crying Tiger Dessert: 7/10 The famed tiger-head-shaped dessert you've probably seen on social media. Be sure to order it at the start of the meal, as it runs out fast. Super photogenic, but the flavors and texture were lacking. The chocolate shell wasn't my favourite, though the filling was decent. I wouldn't get it again, but glad I tried it. read more

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The food was authentic and delicious! Prawn Toast, Lobster Pad Thai in Clay Pot, and Sautés Baby Broccoli, with a French Sarah. Service provided by Niya was wonderful, and Anselmo provided a warm welcome when we arrived. The atmosphere was very modern, yet Asian, with a romantic and business appeal. In the background played upbeat, mellow 80's Hip Hop music devoid of cursing and violence. Highly recommend. Moderate pricing. Memorable evening. read more

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When bold Southeast Asian flavors meet a high-design, millennial-forward vibe, Crying Tiger absolutely delivers. Set in the former Hub 51 space, the transformation is striking. The room leans hard into a jade-green palette layered with gold accents and tropical flair, and it works. From the lighting to the finishes to the 90s rap playlist, the energy is elevated without being stuffy. It's clearly built for today's Chicago dining crowd--stylish, social, and confident. Service * Warm, friendly host and an attentive, knowledgeable server * Helpful guidance through a large, shareable menu * Polished but relaxed, which fits the room perfectly Drinks * Salted Mango Limeade (non-alcoholic) - preserved citrus over shaved ice; bright, refreshing, and thoughtfully composed * Pineapple Macerated Flecha Azul Reposado Tequila Thai Coconut Colada - their take on a piña colada, elevated with Thai basil and crushed ice; tropical and fun * Coconut Fat-Washed White Negroni Sbagliato topped with Nomine-Renard Champagne - inventive, balanced, and well executed * Overall, a creative cocktail program that favors flavor and concept over gimmicks Food * Grilled Wagyu Beef Nam Tok - shaved red onion and mint; beautifully prepared beef with bold spice, though extremely mint-forward * Shiitake & Vegetable Spring Rolls - crisp, clean, and satisfying * Lap Cheong & Shrimp HK Fried Rice with basil and garlic - savory, aromatic, and comforting * Wagyu Short Rib Khao Soi with crispy noodles - a standout; rich, deeply flavorful curry with a great contrast of soft and crispy noodles mixed tableside * Chili Crisp Barbecue Chicken Gai Yang with grilled roti - excellent; not "barbecue" in the American sense, but intensely spiced, juicy, and layered with heat and flavor Portions are generous. For two people, a couple of starters and three mains was more than enough--we still took food home. Dessert * The Crying Tiger - Wild Thai banana with Foster sauce, presented as a glittering jade-green chocolate tiger cracked open tableside. Dramatic, playful, and legitimately delicious. Verdict Crying Tiger is one of the most exciting new restaurants in Chicago right now. The space is stunning, the menu is ambitious but cohesive, and the flavors--especially the curries--hit hard. It's elevated without being pretentious and creative without losing focus. An easy five stars and a major win for the neighborhood. read more

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This spot is impossible to get rezos at so i was sooooo stoked to come here when my friend was able to cop an early rez. The interior is stunnig, absolutely on point. I can't believe this spot used to be hub51. The service was lovely and helpful. She told us to get the crispy sticky rice w the green papaya salad and man was that such a crucial tip, those two items together so well. The crispy rolled rice was insanely good. We also had the lobster pad Thai and the Wagyu khao soi. The crying tiger dessert was a party in my mouth. The outside is white chocolate i think? And the inside has texture while being creamy and banana-y. Amazing Thai iced tea as well. I would love to come back if I could get another rez! read more

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It's basically impossible to get a reservation, so we ended up eating at 4:30pm but it was worth it! The spring rolls were the only miss for us, not very special or particularly memorable. Everything else was delicious. The pork belly was super flavorful with a nice kick of heat. The papaya som tum salad was fresh, crunchy, and acidic in all the right ways. The wagyu khao soi was rich and very flavorful -- almost a bit too strong on its own, and we wished it came with rice (we ended up ordering a side, which helped a lot). The basil chicken was also really good and spicyyy. You have to get the iconic "crying tiger" banana dessert, it was unique, delicious, and the perfect way to end the meal. The interior is beautiful and service was solid overall, though our server did disappear a bit toward the end. Food comes out pretty quickly, which is nice. If you can snag a reservation (or are willing to eat early), it's absolutely worth the hype. read more

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To celebrate my husband's birthday, we went to Crying Tiger for the first time last night. This hot new Chicago restaurant is already drawing crowds, and reservations--released just 30 days in advance--are notoriously difficult to secure. It was my husband's birthday wish, so he planned ahead and snagged a table well in advance. Crying Tiger is a Southeast Asia-themed Lettuce Entertain You restaurant led by Chef Partner and James Beard finalist Thai Dang. The two-story space is beautifully designed; what appears to be a modest entryway opens into a series of larger, thoughtfully arranged rooms. Even the washrooms, located in the basement, are strikingly designed--the men's room features a standout wall adorned with a unique tiger mosaic. Our server was efficient but not particularly warm, especially when we asked for a few moments to review the menu. For cocktails, my husband ordered the Ripe Clarified Mango, stirred with JW Black blended whiskey, while I opted for the Spiced Vietnamese Coffee, having already enjoyed a cocktail earlier at Three Dots and a Dash. Both drinks were very good, and my coffee proved especially helpful once the spicier dishes arrived at the table. We began with the Prawn Toast appetizer, which was both plentiful and delicious. The Crispy Rice Basil Chicken with a fried egg was excellent, though notably spicy--a fact clearly indicated on the menu. While many diners will appreciate that level of heat, we generally prefer milder flavors. The Green Curry with prawn and Chinese eggplant was flavorful, though the dish included only four prawns, which felt a bit sparse. The undeniable highlight of the meal was Crying Tiger's signature dessert: a dramatic hardshell chocolate tiger filled with cream, cake, and caramelized "foster" bananas. It was delicious and presented with a candle on the side to mark the occasion. We were told that the freezer had malfunctioned earlier, eliminating three of the five dessert options, but the Crying Tiger appears to be the dessert nearly everyone orders anyway. While the menu includes some higher-priced options--such as whole fish dishes or the Clay Pot Lobster Pad Thai--most offerings are moderately priced, especially for an upscale dining experience. Crying Tiger is an excellent addition to the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant family. With good food, an impressive space, and a celebratory atmosphere, it's a terrific choice for marking a special occasion. I would like to give Crying Tiger 4.5-stars, but Yelp doesn't accommodate that option. read more

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Came here for my bestie's birthday and we had an amazing time! From the delicious food and drinks to the top tier service, we adored our entire experience. Not to mention the super cute photo ops read more

Crying Tiger - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Highly suggest making a reservation so you're not waiting too long as a walk in. But there's also barely any reservations since this new restaurant is the current talk of the town My friends and I really enjoyed the duck panag, pork belly, and hamachi. The duck was tender and delicious, and the sauce for the pork belly was mouthwatering. However there were some mid items. The basil chicken was so salty, it was hard to fully enjoy. The sugarcane juice was off putting of an aftertaste. Maybe it was my fault to compare it to authentic sugar cane juice bc I didn't taste like one at all. As for the other drinks. They were okay. We wanted to order the green tiger dessert but after looking around, it seemed that everyone left their table with it unfinished. The interior design of the restaurant was very beautiful and bigger than I expected! The workers are also so sweet and helpful. read more

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Amazing!! The ambiance is so nice, and the bathrooms are the prettiest part of the restaurant with tiger murals. Best thing we tried was the crying tiger dessert, a chocolate and banana dish that melts in your mouth. The rest of the food was good, but typical Asian fusion. Service was also extremely fast, but we went right when the restaurant opened. read more

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This is THE trendy resturant right now (and I fear it may be overhyped). Really hard to snag a reservation, so ended up walking in at 4:30pm on a Saturday and waited about 30 min for a seat at the bar. I will say they have a very fun selection of drinks (both cocktails and mocktails). Service was very fast and friendly as well. But the food was honestly just okay, and way overpriced in my opinion. I got a sugarcane juice mocktail, the papaya salad, duck curry, eggplant, and the crying tiger dessert. The sugarcane juice surprisingly wasn't sweet and had banana flavoring to it which made it taste....odd. The panang duck curry was tasty, but only a small portion of duck and the addition of pineapple did not mesh well in the curry sauce. The papaya salad was fine, as was the eggplant (nothing spectacular though). My favorite thing was the dessert ( definitely a show stopper, and worth getting). Overall a cute place for drinks and dessert but would go elsewhere for food read more

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Service: 1000/10 Ambiance: Beautiful I went on a solo date and genuinely enjoyed the entire experience. The atmosphere was stunning, the food was delicious, and the drinks were good, though they did go a bit heavy on the ice. To start, I had the prawn toast and pork belly, and both were absolutely incredible, easily 10/10. For my entrée, I ordered the rolled rice noodles. It wasn't quite what I expected; I didn't love the texture and felt like it was missing something, maybe a protein, so I'd give that a 6/10. The highlight for dessert was the crying tiger dessert, which was amazing and the perfect way to end the meal. Overall, I had a great time and would definitely come back. read more

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Came here with a group of coworkers for a team dinner, and Crying Tiger definitely lived up to the hype. The ambiance alone is worth mentioning: a very vibey, upscale space that works just as well for a night out with friends or colleagues as it would for a date. Service was another highlight. Our server and the whole staff were incredibly attentive and helpful throughout the night. Our waitress gave fantastic recommendations, which made it easy for us to try a good chunk of the menu. We went the family-style route, which I think is the best way to enjoy this place. The dishes were full of flavor and fun to share. Overall the food was good, though for me the flavors didn't stand out quite as much as some other 5-star restaurants I've been to. Still, it was a great experience and I'd definitely come back. A strong spot for groups and anyone looking for a lively, elevated dining vibe. read more

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I have been meaning to visit this place for a long time, but reservations are difficult to snag. My friends and I tried walking in, but the wait was quite long. They do offer first-come, first-served seating at the bar. If you want a table, the server mentioned that slots open at midnight a month in advance. Place was packed and busy, but the service was good. For drinks, I really liked the Ocho Blanco tequila with pickled plum, which had a nice hint of plum at the end. My friend also enjoyed the Haku vodka salty dog. As for the food, the papaya salad, spring rolls, and garlic chive glass noodles were all good. The chicken satay was just okay, but the real highlight was the Crying Tiger dessert, it was delicious. Overall, it is a great spot, but definitely try to book ahead or visit during off-peak hours. read more

Friendly tip: they do not take walk-ins for a table! We ended up waiting around 20 min to get two seats at the bar which is full-service. We ordered: - wagyu short rib khao soi (8.5/10): disclaimer, I am just not the biggest fan of khao soi, it's a bit too heavy and rich for me, but my friend loved it! - crab fried rice (8/10): definitely more of an accompaniment than a main dish, missing a bit of extra oomph to make it stand out. still prefer haisous's - pork belly (7.5/10): very crispy but also fatty, the sauce did a great job of cutting through it though, would've liked a bit more for $19 overall, the food was good but I'm not running to go back, service at the bar was incredible though (they were great at dealing with allergies), and interior was beautiful. May come back for drinks and dessert instead next time! read more

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This place is beautiful, but unfortunately the best thing this place served was the Thai cinnamon ice cream. The chicken satay is a great portion, but is so soft it almost feels undercooked and doesn't have a lot of flavor on its own compared to normal chicken satays. Their peanut sauce was notably good though! The rice noodle rolls and mushrooms was probably the best dish we got and had a good flavor. The crispy rice chicken was spicy and not bad, but nothing special or notably good. read more

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The dessert was my favorite part of the meal. It was so well rounded - gorgeous, rich, and creamy. The banana wasn't super overpowering but at a perfect level. The khao soi was pretty standard (they were a little stingy w the meat) and the crab fried rice was a little dry for my liking. Flavors were decent overall. The pork belly was not tender and clashed with the overly crispy skin. The sauce was amazing though read more

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Restaurant was beautiful and the service was fantastic but the real shining star was the food! Everything we had was fantastic but the crispy pork belly was a dish I'd go back just to get more of that! It was tangy and spicy and citrusy with the perfect crisp. And the crying tiger dessert delivered on both vibes and flavor! Can't wait for reservations to become a little easier to get to I can go back again!! read more

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Came here for my first time visit to Chicago, seen many videos on this place and had to try it for myself. If you do wanna eat here, I'd recommend a reservation or coming in when it's not peak hours to get seated. When I arrived it was at capacity and the only way to eat was at the bar if a seat became available. I waited about an hour to sit and it did not disappoint. I wanted to try the famous Clay Pot Lobster Pad Thai and it was so delicious. I loved the flavor and the generous portion of lobster. I would come back to Chicago for this again! For drinks I tried the Thai Iced Tea and the Mango Limeade. Both super delicious. The Mango Limeade is served on shaved ice and I was wondering how to drink it but I guess you let it melt a bit before you can actually drink it or eat the shaved ice first haha. Dessert was Bánh Flan Cheesecake. I took this home not realizing how full I was and it was incredible. Not too sweet and the perfect amount of creamy. The inside was so pretty and nicely lit for a night out. Overall, everything was incredibly delicious and I know why it has high ratings. The servers at the bar were incredibly nice and friendly despite the busy night. I believe I had Grace who was taking care of me, thank you for your great service! read more

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Visiting Crying Tiger twice since November speaks to the consistency, care, and depth of flavor coming out of this kitchen. It lives up to the hype and firmly sits in my top three Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Chicken Satay (5/5)Exceptionally tender, deeply marinated, and balanced with just the right amount of smoke and richness. Easily a must-order and one of the strongest versions I've ever had. Emphasis on EVER. Glass Noodles with Vegetables (5/5)Light yet flavorful, with excellent texture and seasoning. A deceptively simple dish that delivers and works beautifully for sharing. Wagyu Salad (5/5)Rich without being heavy, well-balanced with acidity and herbs. The wagyu is high quality and thoughtfully prepared. Black Cod (4.5/5)A standout. Perfectly cooked, silky, and packed with umami. One of the most memorable dishes on the menu. Lobster Pad Thai (5/5)Well-executed and indulgent, though slightly less distinctive than the other standouts. Still very good and worth ordering. For dessert: Crying Tiger Dessert (5/5)The star of the dessert menu, especially if you're a banana fan. Rich, comforting, and memorable, but note they can sell out later in the evening, so order early. Overall, Crying Tiger delivers bold flavors, strong execution, super cute aesthetics and solid value, making it a repeat-worthy spot and worth the hassle to get in. read more

Crying Tiger - Feb 2026 - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cannot properly put into words how excited my beautiful wife and I were to finally get a reservation at Crying Tiger. Have been stalking OpenTable for weeks. It did not disappoint. The waitstaff were wonderful. Very high level of service. Ambiance was Thai night market themed. Had a great on theme cocktail menu. Staff recommendations on the cocktails and the food menu were right on point. The combination of the papaya salad with the pork belly appetizer was the hit of the evening for our table. Perfect combination of salty fat and acidity. We probably could've ordered two of each and a few cocktails, and then been happy. The shaking beef was definitely my favorite entree, but the basil rice dish was right up there as well. Don't pay the check without getting a Vietnamese coffee as well, the perfect end to a fantastic meal and great dining experience. read more

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What a beautiful restaurant! Not too many vegetarian options but there were able to make a few accommodations and we loved everything we ordered! Absolute favorite was the papaya salad! The papaya salad definitely has a kick but was amazing. We also really loved the eggplant ban xeo a lot! It was very unique and had really good flavor. The glass noodles were really good and the portion size was generous. They were able to make the Panang curry vegetarian and we were able to add tofu which was nice. This was probably my least favorite but it wasn't terrible. The highlight was the crying tiger dessert which was absolutely phenomenal. It's a banana pudding cake dessert with a chocolate hard shell and caramel sauce. Would totally come back! read more

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Visually pleasing and a nice ambiance. Only thing we witness is a couple of staffs members drop plates and one of the staff members over stacking plates and spill a drink, due to that, on another customers back. We help her out a bit but, I did notice the manager come over and speak to her. I loved their Thai Coconut Colada it's not too sweet. Order a lot here had dinner with some friends. Way Beef - delicious and slight spicy. Beef is perfectly cooked. Chicken Satay- not my favorite, kind of dry but loved the peanut sauce. Pork Belly- One of my favorites, very crunchy top and tender pork. Flavor is perfect. Papaya Salad- also one of my favorites, perfect amount of citrus balance pairs well with the pork belly. Glass noodle- absolutely the best, must try for sure. Barbecue chicken- very good and a little garlic heavy which I like. However it can be a little dry. Wish there was some kind of sauce so it's not so try. Crying tiger- perfectly sweet. Not going to spoil the surprise of it but perfect dessert. I would come back again and try other thing the menu looks very good read more

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Not one of lettuce entertain you's hits. Shocked by a lot of the reviews. I don't think it's an upgrade to the space. Is the interior pretty- yes. But for a restaurant that was opened for a month the tables are already very wobbly, and glasses were dirty. We were greeted and seated right away. Our waitress came by introduced herself and dropped off the menu. With the restaurant being my so new I expected to be walked through the lay of the land versus having to ask a dozen questions- tell me about the menu, recommendations , how much do you reccomend we order etc etc. Everything was good but nothing wow'd us We ordered: Hamachi crisp- good fresh Shrimp toast- fine broke apart in the sauce Black cod- a bit fishy, overcooked Rolled noodles- delish! Cocktails were fine. Nothing stood out. As much as I love lettuce entertain you I have zero interest to return here read more

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I loved this restaurant. It definitely lived up to the hype. The exterior and interior design is incredible. The service was impeccable, our waitress and other staff refilled our water and took our plates when we were done almost immediately. The food was also great. The pickled soda was a bit thicker and syrupy than I thought but still good but I did prefer the Vietnamese iced coffee. For the appetizers I really liked the chicken satay and the peanut sauce that was included. Definitely recommend that dish. The spring rolls were also pretty good but my favorite was the chicken satay. My favorite main dish was the duck curry. It came with rice and it was so flavorful, warm, and just made very well. The duck pieces basically fell off the bone because it was cooked so well. The roti with the curry was also phenomenal and reheated very well. I would say the lobster pad Thai was also really good but lacked a bit of seasoning and the crab fried rice wasn't as good and also lacked a bit of flavor. We added some soy sauce and it was fine. Highly recommend coming and I will be back for sure. read more

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We were excited to finally snag a reservation at Crying tiger. Upon walking in, we were in awe of the ambience. The place however, looks bigger from the outside than in the inside, but regardless, they had ample seating inside. Our server was friendly and sweet and had great recommendations. We ordered a bunch of cocktails but the list in all honestly isn't very impressive and we had to improvise as ask for coconut water with a shot of tequila or vodka on the side to create our own versions. The food, however, was outstanding. My friends ordered the green papaya salad, vegetable spring rolls, glass noodles and tom Kha. The food was insanely delicious. We were really looking forward to trying the famous crying tiger dessert and the server promised to keep some aside for us as they only make a limited number of this dessert everyday. However, when the time came, she informed us that they were out of the dessert. We were disappointed but they more than made up for it by giving us two free desserts: banh flan cheesecake and the toasted coconut sundae, both is which were super delicious. read more

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I am always hesitant about trying upscale Southeast Asian food, however, Crying Tiger seemed super promising, especially being familiar with Chef Dang. The work that was put into every detail of this place was stunning. It's giving retro nostalgic vibes of SE Asian restaurants in the 90's meets jungle opulence. I was OBSESSED. Bathrooms? 10/10. We started with the non-alc Sugar Cane drink which was delightful. It perfectly highlighted the natural flavor of fresh squeezed sugar cane with a hint of citrus. The freezer martini was incredible and has an herbal-y touch to it which I thoroughly enjoyed. My glass was also replaced halfway through with a new fresh and icy glass to keep the 'freezer' martini vibes going. I appreciated this a lot. The menu is sectioned off into categories and with most Asian spots, this is a family-style dining menu. I would say you could easily share a handful of these items between 2 or even 4. My partner and I shared a couple items across the menu and had a little bit of leftovers. We started with the crispy pork belly which featured a tangy fish sauce pepper on top. The pork had a good balance of crispy, fatty and meaty parts and I was glad that the pepper had a good kick to it! If you like spicy, this is a good option. We also had the green papaya salad which reminds me of a fusion between Thai and Vietnamese papaya salad. I loved all of the herbal notes from the Thai basil and cilantro. The dressing was perfectly sweet and salty. Really enjoyed this one! Trailing over to the 'heartier' dishes, we did the wagyu short rib khao soi and the special clay pot lobster pad thai. The wagyu short rib in the khao soi was so tender and a fantastic addition to a curry like this. The mix of the crispy and soft noodles adds so much texture to the dish. Highly recommend this if you've never had Khao Soi! The Pad Thai was also delicious and there is a fair amount of lobster in it. I love Pad Thai and find that a handful of restaurants have a difficult time balancing the flavors of sweet, salty and sour, however, this version isn't too bad. It was a tad bit salty for my taste, maybe too much fish sauce, but overall, still enjoyable! I also like that it wasn't too wet or too dry - a good pad thai should be right in the middle. A handful of these dishes are very fish sauce heavy, so if this isn't your thing, maybe try other dishes. We ended our meal with the Crying Tiger which is a banana foster dessert. You can't come to Crying Tiger and not get the Crying Tiger! 10/10 recommend, so cool and very yummy if you like banana! Our waiter was also super helpful and the rest of the staff were great. We were pretty impressed with everything we ordered and look forward to coming back to try more! It's amazing seeing SEA cuisine shared in a space like this. read more

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The food was good and fairly priced, and the service was great. I went there to celebrate a relative's birthday, and we brought a cake in. I was surprised to see we were each charged a fee for cutting the cake, as I was totally unaware there would be a charge. It would have been great if we were told beforehand. read more

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