Seeing so many amazing reviews about the restaurant, I decided to give it try despite my belief in the premium charge of restaurants in the Lincoln Park and Lakeview areas. There were some street parking as we got lucky but driving is definitely not recommended. We ordered their highly rated beef hotpot as our server said it was for two people. The hotpot tasted like beef soaked in a peanut butter drink - the beef broth was completely overpowered by the sweetened peanut butter tast, that was a huge NO-NO to me. The portion was pretty small so definitely not for two people...we ordered a seafood salad to go with the 'hot pot' so as you can imagine - two sweet dishes. The meal gave me discomfort due to the excessive sweetness so can't say I enjoyed the meal at all.... read more

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This is one of those spots that fulfills my need for authentic Thai food, specifically noodle soups. I'm so glad I finally tried it out and am already looking forward to coming back. We stopped by on a late Friday evening and the place was actually not too busy - I loved the interior and how home-y and cozy it felt. The colorful restaurant really set the mood for a warm bowl of noodles. I had the Nomyen drink which is one of my favs - it's a sweet pink milk with a great aroma. We started with the Som Tum and the flavors were perfectly balanced - sweet, sour and salty with a good amount of medium heat. For noodle soups, we went with the beef Boat Noodles and the Sukhothai Tom Yum. The Sukhothai had a flavor similar to good padthai. It was so flavorful and savory with a hint of sweet and sour that made the dish so good. The Boat Noodles were incredible. The broth was heavy and delicious and the beef was a fantastic pairing. The staff were so welcoming and next time, I definitely want to try the pork bone soup and pink noodles!!! read more

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We were finally able to come in person! The food was excellent, we tried: - Mor Fai Nuer Toon - Panang Curry - Som Tum Thai A big fan of the salad, the sour and spicy really hits the spot. The staff was friendly and the food came quick, definitely stop by if you're in the area! read more

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I needed a faster meal with protein after a lecture nearby and this was just right: on a Friday night not too crowded, nice service, flavorful soup (it was a little cold out, Tom Yum was just right, overly generous portion!). Nice hot jasmine tea as well, quiet atmosphere tonight. read more

Mahanakhon is our favorite Thai restaurant in the city!! We ate there once and were so enamored that we just kept ordering takeout out and coming back.. many many times. The restaurant itself is very quaint and cute! There are a handful of seats but can fill up pretty quickly so would suggest calling in for a reservation! Our faves and must eats have to be the khao soi, tom yum noodle soup, chive stick, and their green Thai tea. We've tried their pad see ew and yellow curry, but both were pretty standard and nothing you can't get anywhere else. The curry had good flavor but it was really soupy which wasn't bad but we weren't used to it! You have the option to get rice or fried crunchy noodles. I've never tried khao soi before and wow.. I have been missing out. It is so comforting and delicious! The broth really is so good and with the crunchy fried noodles and lime! Brings everything together. It can get a bit too much in terms of flavor so would suggest sharing everything! The tom yum noodle was actually the first dish I tried that made me fall in love. The presentation is so nice! They are also super generous with the protein in all their dishes. Chive sticks as an appetizer and you won't regret it! We order two plates every time we are there. Now the thai tea is so good!!! It's definitely the ChaTraMue brand! Been to Thailand and tasted the exact same. They are not skimping on the leaves. Such an amazing restaurant. Everything is a must! read more

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Nice family restaurant with good Thai food and a menu full of hard to find items. The standout was the giant river prawn dish. read more

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We recently tried Mahanakhon with a group of friends. We had a few hangry kids with us so didn't capture all the pictures or they jumped in before I could get a picture. We had a variety of dishes and drinks. My favorites were the mor fai nuer toon and the crab fried rice. Service was fast and efficient. The server was kind and helped us order the right amount of food for our group of 8. On my next visit, I hope to try other noodle dishes, the papaya salad and other curries we didn't have on this visit. read more

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Omg.. I have to come back for more. My coworker told me about this place, and finally I get to try it. It exceeded my expectations. Small cutely decorated restaurant with friendly staff. We order the combination seafood restaurant, pork bone stew, and marinated pork with sunny side egg. Unfortunately, my tummy is not big enough to devour them all. Don't let the pork bone stew intimidates you. The meat falls off the bone and the citrus moldy spicy broth made it enjoyable. I highly recommend. Definitely coming back to try other dishes. read more

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A family-own restaurant in Lakeview with lots of seating, attentive waiters, and delicious food! If you are looking for authentic Thai noodle soups, definitely check this place out and show them some love. The flavors of the khao soi and boat noodles were so punchy. read more

Mahanakhon Noodle Bar - khao soi - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The best Thai food that we've had in Midwest. The server is so friendly that makes us feel like we are in a Thai family. The restaurant itself is very cute and clean. The prices are very fair. Love love love. The food. We got a stewed beef hotpot, Tom Yum Noodles, Ka Prow Moo and iced Thai green tea, and truly enjoyed all of them. The beef in the hot pot is so tender and flavorful, even my toddler who is always picky loves it! The soup - we just drink it and soak with rice - so good. The soup of Tom Yum noodles is so delicious that I drink it too haha. Pro tip: get a spoonful of pork and white rice from Ka Prow Moo and then add a bit soup from the Tom Yum - addicting!!!!! The iced Thai green tea is very refreshing, but also on the sweet side. It's served fast so I think it's perfect for summer. We will be back to try more dishes on the menu! read more

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Been wanting to try this place out for a while after a Thai lady from my local Thai market suggested to come here (particularly for their Papaya salad). My friend and I were very impressed with the authenticity of the food as well as the great options that they had. We started off with a skewer appetizer which was good, but honestly the Leng hot pot soup option and the papaya salad truly hit the mark. My friend who's been to Thailand many times told me that this tastes basically identical to the street food flavors he had in Bangkok. The service was also perfect and friendly. They constantly came to refill our water cups as well. The spice levels are also not something to ignore. We ordered the "medium" spicy options, and we both felt that it was true to a Thai level of spice. We both can handle spice fairly well, so I'd imagine the hot and Thai hot to pretty intense. Next time we said we definitely want to try the boat noodles based off of the other reviews and recommendations. Everything here looks fire! read more

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i've never had thai hot pot before so i was very intrigued when my friend suggested we come here! we got the chive sticks as an appetizer, the Mor Fai Nuer Toon (beef hot pot) and Yum Woon Sen as entrees, and the Chow-Kluy Boran for dessert. i've never had chive sticks before and i liked them especially with the sauce it comes with. you have to be into slightly slimy textures to like it but i thought it was good. the beef hot pot was amazing and the meat was definitely delicious. the yum woon sen was a pretty good salad, but nothing to necessarily write home about. we were in the mood for dessert and got the chow-kluy boran which was basically shaved ice with glass jelly. the flavor was good but i don't think i like the texture of the glass jelly combined with the shaved ice; it wasn't necessarily satisfying but it was refreshing! i definitely liked the food here, but it's not necessarily a place i would think to come again. read more

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The service was great - so kind and welcoming. The food was very tasty. I got the Tom yum noodle soup! The ambiance was very cozy. Would recommend and come here again! read more

Mahanakhon Noodle Bar - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good food! Only ordered takeout - the steamed chicken was good. Right next to the car wash, so picked up food and got a car wash in 1 trip. Will be back to actually dine in! read more

My friend and I came to Mahankhon Noodle Bar for lunch a few weeks ago and had the best time trying out their dishes. We shared the coconut shrimp, stewed beef hotpot, tom yum noodles, and coconut milk custard. Everything was delicious, but I especially loved the Mor Fai Nuer Toon [beef hotpot], as the rich flavors of the broth and tender beef tasted incredible with the fragrant jasmine rice. The flavors of the tom yum noodles were quite intense, but a must try if you've never had tom yum. This is definitely a spot worth checking out if you're looking for authentic Thai food. read more

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Came here with a group of friends and ordered a few dishes to try. Get the Boat Noodles!!! The broth is super flavorful! The Spicy level is just about right for those that can take the heat! Not too hot that would numb your tongue, but hot enough that make the food more interesting and intense. The next level after that is Thai Spicy... therefore, I had the Spicy som tum The seafood salad is def a must as well. Very fresh! Almost felt like Thai ceviche where the seafood is cooked with the chili pepper! Want to come back to try the beef hotpot which we were too full to order. read more

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Ambiance - a neighborhood gem, great for dates, offers 1 table for larger party Service - food came out super fast, received our order within 10-15 min Food - crispy calamari was missing some flavor (batter itself was bland), clear soup noodles was the ultimate comfort food I needed, the homemade red sauce on the Kao moo dang paired really well with the roasted red pork read more

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Exterior looked deceptively closed, especially with the mechanics' next door, but this turned out to be a yummy Thai place in Roscoe Village. I got the Kao Mun Gai, which always comes with the most delicious sauce on earth. The accompanying soup was very clean and quite refreshing. My friend got the Ba-Mee Poo, the crab noodles, and she cleaned her plate. She also got, of course, a Thai iced tea, which was delicious. Highly recommend for a quick lunch or dinner while checking out some of the local businesses in the area. read more

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This new noodle bar opened on the corner and I was excited to try it out. We called ahead and found out it was BYOB. Further, when we got there, the place is very cute inside. Very cozy. I ordered the Boat noodles and my friends ordered a crab rice dish and curry. Everyone was happy with their dishes. I got to choose pork or beef for my soup. My soup was great other than one piece of meat I wasn't a fan of. I think it was liver beef. Otherwise it was a huge meal. The servers were nice. I would definitely return. read more

Mahanakhon Noodle Bar - Crab Crab Fried Rice - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There were wall-to-wall Thai people eating in here if that tells you anything. Now that Sticky Rice has shuttered it is very easy for me to declare that Mahanakhon is easily the BEST authentic Thai restaurant in Chicago. This is big city Bangkok style boat noodles so damn good it is very close to the famous Pa Ord Noodle in Hollywood, CA. From the moment the pad-see-ew hit the table and I could see the seared/burnt noodle edges and white pepper indicating this was authentic Thai cooking and not some typical Ho-Fun imitation. When the Tom yum arrived it was absolutely perfect. Spice level: Thai. My sinuses are now completely drained, my children are crying. Everything is perfect. This will now be our go-to spot. read more

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Stumbled here randomly around 2 pm on a Sunday! Ambiance: this place is small but has plenty of seating - there's multiple 2-4 tables and there was 1 big 6-8 table. Loved the homey decor and the music wasn't too loud and definitely added to an overall pleasant experience Service: they were quick and friendly - answered some of our questions and accommodated a little switch I requested! Food came out quickly and they made sure to check up on us frequently. Waters were always filled up and ice cold!! Food: I got the boat noodles for myself - they normally come with thin rice noodles but I asked for wide flat noodles. If they can accommodate it, I recommend it! For $18, it's packed with beef balls and tripe in the thick, savory, beef broth. Not the best boat noodle I've had but still tasty regardless. It is about a medium spice, perfect level in my opinion My bf got the panang curry with crispy noodles. The noodles are CRISPY and honestly the texture of thin kettle cooked chips. Pretty yummy and paired well with the curry. The curry is creamy and sweet, and is packed with beef. They don't skimp on the portions and all our food was quite yummy. Would love to come back and try something new! read more

Mahanakhon Noodle Bar - Panang Curry Crispy Noodles - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great restaurant! I wish they had more authentic options. Staff is lovely. Interior is adorable. I would recommend the crab fried rice! read more

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Really delicious noodles and Asian (read not to sweet) desserts! The pad Thai here and boat noodles were both divine and the interior is cozy. Think cute for a catch up or a first date without being overly fancy. read more

I like to save 5 star for those very special places (I would rate this 4.5). Mahanakhon is anything but a noodle bar, don't let the name fool you. This food is sophisticated and flavorful. Just discover this restaurant last night. We have been looking for a good Thai restaurant in chicago as most are just noodle shops slinging pad Thai. Mission accomplished. To the owners, please figure out how to activate the entryway so people walking or driving by can get a sense for the amazing goodness you are serving inside. We will be back! read more

I stopped in for an early Sunday dinner, and there were plenty of tables. I ordered the boat noodles for dine-in and papaya salad for takeout. I was excited to see that there were some slightly less common Thai dishes on the menu. The entrance is kind of narrow because it's on the corner, but the space is actually a little bigger than you'd think. I love boat noodles, and this definitely satisfied the craving. The amount of meat was pretty generous in proportion to the serving size. The soup had an adequate depth of flavor. There are a lot of Thai restaurants in this neighborhood, but I would definitely come back for the convenience. read more

Mahanakhon Noodle Bar - Boat noodles - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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How can you tell this place serves authentic Thai food? Because every table is taken up by OG Thai grandparents slurping delicious noodles and speaking nothing but Thai. We went during lunch time and took advantage of their lunch special: a noodle dish with a drink. It was fantastic! I had the boat noodles and my daughter had tum yum noodles. The broth was rich, the vegetables were crisp and the noodles were perfectly chewy. We also ordered dessert (which we never do) but they had the little coconut discs that aren't often on menus in the US. One order came with 4 discs and they were good but not freshly made. 2 of them were cold while the other 2 were hot, so we'll probably skip those next time. But our drinks were great! It's difficult to find authentic Thai restaurants where the broths are made from scratch without using pre-made pastes/powders. We will definitely make this our regular Thai place for noodles even though it's 30 minutes away! Well worth the trip! read more

This place is definitely a hidden gem... for now. The food is packed with flavor and beautifully presented. We ordered various items, but the standout dish was the boat noodles. The staff were incredibly friendly and made great recommendations based on our preferences. The inside is quite small but cozy and vibrant. Tip: Ask for the menu featuring all the available papaya salads, as not everything is listed on the main menu. read more

Mahanakhon Noodle Bar - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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For our entree we ordered the Thai Boat Noodles and Leng (pork bone soup). Both were great! For dessert we got the coconut milk ice cream and grilled banana dessert. Everything was authentic, the price was affordable and the portion sizes were suitable. Would definitely come back to try other items on the menu. *One thing to note was that the restaurant was a little cold when we visited (with fans blowing away from us), and so it made our food colder faster.* read more

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Came here for the first time for lunch with my husband and it was so good that we came back for dinner with our son the same day! At lunch, we tried the chive sticks recommended by our waitress--absolutely amazing. We also had the lunch special boat noodles and tom yum noodles, both of which were delicious and a great value. For dinner, we ordered papaya salad, curry noodles (Khao Soi Nuer Toon), and Ka Prow Nuer Toon. Our 9-year-old got fried calamari and chicken noodles. Every single dish was excellent! The papaya salad was on the spicier side, which I appreciated--it wasn't overly sweet like many others. The curry noodles were full of flavor and so unique, and the Ka Prow was perfectly balanced--not too greasy, not too dry. And the Kanom Tuay (Coconut Milk Custard) is to die for! It was served warm, which I had never experienced before, and it was so so so good. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes from the menu! read more

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This restaurant is an absolute gem! From the moment I walked in, I was struck by how adorable and thoughtfully designed everything was. The decor is modern yet cozy, with so many cute touches that make every corner feel Instagram-worthy. Whether it's the vibrant wall art, the perfect lighting, or the beautifully plated dishes, this place practically begs for photos -- and trust me, they turn out amazing! But beyond the aesthetics, the atmosphere has such a warm, welcoming energy. It's the kind of place where you immediately feel at ease -- casual enough to relax with friends, yet polished enough for a special date night or celebration. The food was just as impressive as the ambiance. Every dish looked like it came straight out of a magazine and tasted even better. You can tell that a lot of care goes into every ingredient -- everything felt fresh, balanced, and made with genuine passion. And then there's the owner -- honestly, one of the sweetest people I've ever met in the restaurant business. He went out of his way to make sure we had a great experience, stopping by the table to chat and making everyone feel like family. You can tell he truly loves what he does and takes pride in every detail, from the presentation to the playlist. He's a total sweet and I love supporting good people! Not to mention the food is DELICIOUS! It's rare to find a place that nails both the aesthetic and the experience, but this one absolutely does. Between the charming decor, the thoughtful food, and the heartfelt hospitality, it's a spot that makes you want to come back again and again. If you haven't been here yet, go -- and don't forget to snap a few pics! read more

This little hole-in-the-wall Thai spot is truly a hidden gem--tucked away next to a car wash (lol), it serves up incredibly authentic flavors, warm service, and some of the best Thai food I've had in ages. Highly recommend for casual dinners with family or friends. read more

I'm a college student and was craving food from home. My family is Cambodian but with a lack of Cambodian restaurants around I always opt for Thai food since it is similar. I ordered the Thai boat noodles for delivery and I kid you not I almost shed a tear from how good they were! It gave the feeling of homemade and was definitely comforting. One of the best foods I had had in a while. They also packed individual seasoning like sugar, pickled chillies, and pepper flakes so you can season your bowl to your liking. I thought that was very considerate and convenient. The soup and noodles were nicely packed and separate so the noodles would not get soggy. I definitely recommend and will consider dining in one day but will definitely be trying out their other menu items! read more

Amazing food, noodles were phenomenal. Friendly staff and quick service. 10/10 would come back!

I'm a big Fan of noodle in general. Even I been living in Chicago for a while, I found only a few solid ones in there. Somehow right after Mahanakhon opened and my first visit; their boat noodle beat all the ranking in my mind. So far it's my number one on the list. read more

Mahanakhon Noodle Bar - Beef Boat Noodle - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Authentic and delicious Thai food. We ordered the papaya salad, crab fried rice, leng and boat noodles. Everything was great, especially the leng and boat noodles. The ambiance is very charming and our server was very helpful. Can't wait to come back to try other dishes! read more

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Great noodles! Interesting dishes and nicely cooked, still very chewy. Soups are very flavorful and rich

Great food and comfortable interior in the wedge space of a corner building! I live in the neighborhood and entering this noodle bar and discovering the larger space inside was a delight, given that the outside of the building looks very small. Don't be fooled! The food is incredible and I'll be back for more. I particularly enjoyed the Moo Kra Tiem, which had really delicous pork. The Kanom Tuay (coconut milk custard) for dessert was really really tasty. It comes in 5 little bowls (like each maybe 1oz), so it's also easy to split with a few people (or enjoy all yourself!). The thai iced tea was delicoius and very sweet. Service was straightforward and attentive, no complaints there. read more

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went for the first time today after noticing its grand opening a few weeks ago. so glad we did. the food, space (super cute), and service were great. but mostly excited about the food -- love to have another neighborhood noodle joint. had the crispy wontons to start off, which were very tasty (however, no tamarind sauce, but the sauce it did come with worked fine). i ordered the dry noodles which were excellent and the side soup it came with was a nice addition. and lastly (since i have a massive sweet tooth and love pandan) the kanom tuay was pretty incredible. already looking forward to have it again. excited to go back and check out other options on the menu! read more

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Authentic Thai food! Great service. Great Som Tum, calamari, and noodle soups - all of them. Between me and my friends, we have tasted pretty much all of them. Even their Kra Pow is very good. read more

Food was great. You have to order the leng, broth is amazing, meat was fall of the bone! We also ordered the -Ka prow moo: very solid dish and spicy -Ka prow Nuer toon: so tender, and spicy my friend would was so surprised by how tender and good it was. -Kao moon dang: all he said was this shit hits. The only down side was us fighting over the leng soup cause it was that good. read more