I wouldn't call the interior lush and inviting, but I would call the food awesome. There's so much mediocre Thai in Chicago, and this unassuming little place manages to stand above the rest. I'd put Royal Thai up against the also-excellent-but-definitely-more-popular Opart Thai just a few blocks away on Western. My favorite Thai dish is panang curry with duck, and Royal makes my favorite version of it. The chunks of duck are juicy and tender and the curry is thick and flavorful. read more

Go! Now! .... You still there? Because you seriously have to shut your screen down and head on over to this place. Just trust me, like I trusted the faithfull Yelpers that have Yelped before me. Setting: Sunday night, 9 PM. Speeding down an Illinois expressway (Hellooo..deliciousness is waiting ahead!).. 9:20 PM asking (begging) the waitress if we can still have dinner. *sound of angels singing* The sweet waitress said yes! Thankfully I had done my research and we didnt need to see the menu. We ordered the highly acclaimed crab rangoons as an appetizer, and Pad See Ew and Panang curry noodles (chicken) for our entrees. Unless you have a severe allergy to shellfish, you have no reason not to order these six little crispy pouches of sweet, gooey crab deliciousness. Oh Em Gee. I love me some crab rangoons and these are probably (some of the) best I have ever had. I joked with my husband and said that next time I will order 15 of these and call it dinner. Onto the main course.. Both the dishes we order we are fond off, and myself I use Panang Curry to gauge a restaurant basically all the time. This Panang curry was different. It was light and almost refreshing, yet still had the creamy quality of a great curry. Both of our orders were ordered hot, but whereas my curry dish barely reached mild to our crazy heat resistant tongues, all of the other flavors were definately there. The main thing I absolutely adored about this dish were the noodles. They are crispy, yet gooey. Firm, yet soft. The crispy parts almost had a nutty quality to them, so incredibly addictive. I kept going back, dipping my noodles in the sauce and trying to pinpoint what it is about the noodles that makes them so awesome. Needless to say, I finished my plate. And dare I admit... I had daydreams of picking up the plate and bringing it to my face to lick it clean. Pig alert! The Pad See Ewe was great, too. A little less sweet than we normally come across, but this is a good thing. The portions at this restaurant are slightly smaller than usual, I think lunch-size is an appropriate way to describe them. Luckily for us we were still able to pack in desert. We ordered the sticky rice with mango. Really very good! The rice itself is sticky!, sweet, slightly salty and almost tastes toasted. The sweet mango is a nice contrast with both the consistency and flavors of the rice. We cannot wait to go back! Erin proclaimed Royal Thai to be the best Thai restaurant we have been to in Chicago thus far.. And I agree! Friendly service with great food and inexpensive prizes make it so that we cannot wait to come back!! read more

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If I were Taiwanese this is where I would eat, but alas - I am but a chubby white fella who loves Panang Noodles made with nothing but love, curry and crispy goodness. Thank you Royal Thai for being a brisk walk from my place, offering amazing dishes that range a myriad of flavors, being clean enough for me to eat in and hiring the greatest staff in the North Center Universe. I highly recommend bringing your own bottle of white that pairs well with the perfectly balanced curry dishes. read more

My husband and I were honestly originally thinking of dining next door at the taco place but it was super busy and so we decided to come here instead. We already have our go-to Thai place on Damen Ave under the train tracks by Montrose, but decided what the heck let's try a different Thai place... The ladies were sweet but one of them approached us to tell us they close at 9:30 p.m. (we stopped in at 8:45 pm ) this was after we had placed our orders already Maybe it was just a subtle reminder and I know it can probably get annoying when people walk in close to closing time. But that is the nature of the game and it's not like they can kick us out if we are still eating....they can close the kitchen at a certain time....but I just found it a little off-putting to be told that because the implication was to hurry up, eat and leave... We shared the pad Thai and our kids had the fried rice.. The fried rice was certainly the winner here.... Our picky kids enjoyed it.. However the pad Thai..was very unappetizing...first.. the sauce they use was drenched in the noodles...it was a thick sauce that clearly they just layered onto the noodles...which brings me to the 2nd dislike..the noodles were themselves not very good AND they tasted as though they were still undercooked...I will attribute it to the fact that maybe because it was later in the evening, they just rushed through it but still..no excuses...even though we were going to share...we ended up only eating the scant pieces of chicken they put in it and completely ignored the noodles....We love pad Thai but this is the first time we have to skip it.... Finally the Thai iced tea that we ordered while good and less sweet than other places...came in a tiny glass that seemed more appropriate for a small toddler...it was short and slim....it is a pet peeve of mine when businesses try to cheat the customer.... Luckily, we have our regular Thai place which is not really that far from this location...so if there was any doubt if this was comparable to that place..we learned our lesson. read more

FAN-FUCKING-TABULOUS. I love this place. Only drawback: Closed on Tuesdays. *Update* Did I mention that I love this place ? read more

A small, but very cozy Thai restaurant located on Montrose near Lincoln Ave. The dining area was neatly decorated, very clean and full of people that appeared very pleased with their food and experience. The two women waitresses were extremely friendly and very helpful. They had no problem catering to any dietary restriction even gluten-free. I chose the yellow curry, made spicy, because it was prepared with potatoes, red pepper, and onion and it sounded great on a cold Chicago night. It was so tasty I ate the whole serving. I also ordered ginger tea which was served in its own teapot (large enough for multiple servings) and was also very good with a touch of sweetness. The menu had an acceptable number of options but wasn't too large and the prices were very favorable. If you are in the North Center/Lincoln Square area and like Thai food (and have dietary restrictions) definitely stop at Royal Thai. read more

I'm starting to feel like this is my Thai home away from home... I've been here quite a few times in the past couple of months and it's always great. The service is quick and really friendly. BYOB :) The food is delicious (Peanut Sauce Spring Rolls, Veggie Egg Rolls, Fried Tofu, Chicken Satay, Pad See Ewe, Yellow Curry, Panang Curry....all Christine approved!). read more

It's hard to justify, sometimes, coming here when you're in such close proximity to Opart Thai, but, sometimes it's 20 degrees out and snowing and those extra few blocks just seem like an impossibility. You may be able to guess why I first walked into this place. For being such a devotee of Opart, however, I was pleasantly surprised with Royal. It's small, which I like very much, and I have never seen more that three tables filled at one time, which I also like. (For you Sex and the City people, this very much strikes me as one of those restaurants perfect for "being the last couple left making out" in.) Anyway, it's always quiet, chill, and relaxing. They have an awesome fish tank, complete with a goldfish that mimics people. I'm not kidding. I've studied him. He mimics people talking. It's very cool. The same couple of waitresses always seem to be in there, and they are very nice. I think they're part of the attraction of the place, it seems like a neighborhood joint with a lot of regulars, whom the waitresses all know and joke around with and remember. For example, I don't have to SAY I want Tofu pad thai when I go in there anymore. They know I want tofu pad thai, and they do not judge my lack of creativity. Not to my face anyway. The tofu pad thai, by the way, is not on the same level as Opart's, perhaps, but it is very good. However they cook their tofu, it's very nearly perfect. They also, very often, give me a complimentary cup of tea while I'm waiting for my take-out, which, in January, is MUCH appreciated. read more

Just picked up Carry Out, didn't eat in the restaurant. Inside it's small, but adequate/ Very Clean & Cozy! Was greeted by two very nice young asian girls who promptly processed my order. The food was very good! Only tried Beef Pad Thai and Crab Rangoon.. Ya, I know but that's usually a good gauge before you blow $100 on Carry Out and it's no good!! Have to say, the Pad Thai was def the best I've ever had and the Rangoon were great as well!! Can't wait to try their whole menu/ Definite "Diamond in the Rough"! Try it for sure.. GTFJD read more

The Co-workers & I have driven past numerous times and always mention we should try Royal Thai considering the $5.95 lunch special advertised in the window. So today we tried it and I'm very happy with a our new spot. I got the Royal Thai noodles which is deep fried wide noodles with vegetables. It was awesome. So was my coconut soup and dumplings. It was the perfect amount of kick for me. My friends were happy with their dishes too. I know we'll be back to Royal Thai, and really for the price how can we not. read more

My opinions on Thai Food aren't that high to begin with. I like Thai food because it's cheap and my heart naturally reacts positively to rice. I don't like Thai food very much because I'm not a huge fan of noodles and what really makes Thai food are their noodle dishes like Pad Thai Noodles, Pad See Ew Noodle, and etc. So basically what I'm trying to say is, I don't really like Thai food so if I say I like a Thai Restaurant a lot, that probably means something, okay? Well, I really really like Royal Thai. Physically, the restaurant is a cute little hole in the wall. It's clean and cute. Their tables are covered with table cloth and their silverware match which for a Thai place is a pretty big deal. I would recommend this place as a date place, well maybe for 2nd or 3rd date..Also, unlike most Thai restaurants, this place is usually t full. Not loud but kind of "happenin".. ya feel? Food wise, their portions are the same size as most other Thai places and their menu just as extensive. But the best thing about this specific Thai joint is their Woo Sen Pad Thai. I recommend if stopping by for dinner with a friend or two, order the Woo Sen Pad Thai with Tofu, Pepper Steak (really good here) and Thai Fried Rice with Chicken. If stopping by for lunch, check out their cheap but filling lunch specials. PS. My apologies if I offended any Thai Food lover or Thai person out there. Love ya'll. read more

Ordered from here after reading the reviews and I should have stuck to my good old regular places. Got the : 1) Vegan Panag curry with veggies and white rice...and tum yum soup. The curry was below average. Basically coconut milk, shit ton of sugar and maybe a pinch of curry. I felt like I kept added salt to it to get some flavor. The soup was meh. It was sweet and sour...really sweet a few cheap mushrooms from the grocery store ... the tofu in it was hard and chewy as fuck. Can't wait for all of this shit to pass through my system. 2) non: vegan yellow curry... chicken was dry and was the o my good thing about it. Once again the "Essence" of curry was there... although I paid for actually fucking curry. Honestly after eat a few bites... I just stopped and pour out the soup... don't have the guts to throw out the curry. Also tip: the price on postmates are different and lower than the amount on the receipt. 3) oh we also got the Thai ice tea... ''tis was Thai ice tea... read more

This is my fave restaurant in my hood. For dinner, it is never completely full, but there are enough people to feel comfortable. The decoration is very pretty, and the feeling is cozy. the waitresses are always the same and they're very polite. the food is quite good. Since I discovered the spicy garlic tilapia, I don't get anything else. However here are the other good ones: crab rangoon eggrolls pork dumplings sesame chicken (standard, but perfectly crisped!) black pepper chicken (so peppery!) sticky rice (strange for me, but a very tasty dessert) The prices are good, but not compared to the lunch special (which I never get to have!) I highly recommend this place :) read more

My friends suggested this place for a Saturday night dinner before going out. We had a group of four without a reservation and were seated right away. We started out with crab rangoons, wonton prawns and steamed mussels. Everything was very flavorful and delicious! I had the hot pot for dinner and loved it. I requested medium spicy and it was pretty hot! Everyone liked their meals and the portions were just the right size. We did not have any leftovers which was good since we were going out after. Oh and they are BYOB! I will definitely be back! I hope they deliver to Wrigleyville. read more

Yech. Why, oh why, did we try something new? There's a reason I don't stray from the old standards. So, I was all excited about having some nice, hot Thai food to warm my tummy on a chilly fall eve. Being in the adventerous spirit, we rang up Royal Thai, which has all sorts of accolades in its windows telling of its wonderful food. They must have forged them. First, delivery took almost 45 minutes longer than I was told. By t hen, my tummy was over being hungry. But the food was a welcomed sight, and we were ready to tuck in. BLECH. YECH. MECH. First, my food was cold. Ew. And, it had a little pepper next to it on the menu; I asked for it spicy, just to be sure, and it had less flavor than my grandma's clumpy oatmeal. That's saying something. The BFs dinner was better than mine; seems that's the story of my life. But it wasn't great and I won't be back. There is better Thai fare to be had in the LS 'hood. Royal Thai was just royally bad. read more

I Was Looking for pad thai and a Royal thai far exceeded my expectations! Plus i came here during lunch so definitely appreciated the lunch special. Overall experience was Wonderful, the owner/host was very attentive and every thing from the crab rangoons to the pad thai was superb! Definitely come if you like great tasting thai food read more

Royal Thai Restaurant - Lunch time! - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow! Can I give this sh!t hole ZERO stars? After being there for 1hr 45 minutes guess what I had for dinner? Nothing! Because my friend's food came first and by the time my food arrived my friends were done with their dinners. It took over 1hr 15 minutes for us to order and for them to get their food. And when I asked for the bill and saw the server couldn't even comp our coffee/tea for the horrible service I was ticked...trying to get my meal that came late & no utensils taken off the bill was just as painful as this whole dining nightmare. read more

First, this is for delivery. Let me just get that most dissatisfying portion out of the way. When the gf planed our phone order, they told her 45 minutes; it was over an hour and fifteen minutes when the guy finally showed up. Approx 7.15 - 8.30 on a Friday night. And she lives about 5 blocks away. Tried to call them, the phone was consistently busy. Then when the driver did show up, didn't mention anything about the wait; a simple "sorry about the wait" would have taken some of the sting out of it. As it would have had the food been good, overall. The gf's noodle dish was tepid, and though she had asked for spicy, it was anything but. And for Kee Maw (Drunken noodles), which sounded pretty veggie heavy, seemed to be lacking in the vegetable department. The spring rolls were decent, but pretty middle of the road. My dish was the winner, a Pad Nao Prik (I think...) which was both listed as spicy and actually spicy. More veggies than the noodles, and plenty of peanuts. And the tofu on both wasn't as firm or cooked as it could have been. Not worth it when Opart is so much better... and faster on the delivery. read more

This place is an all time favorite. I eat here way too much. The crispy pad Thai is so devilishly craveable it might be evil. Or just delicious. I can't decide. My first true love here was the Panang noodle dish which is just fattening perfection on a plate. I add broccoli and get it spicy. One time I ventured out from my standard orders and got Kow Soy which was perfect as well. Delivery is fast but I also like dining in- unlike w/ most Thai spots in the neighborhood which lack in ambiance. The ladies who work here are sweet as can be and always remember my friends, myself and what we like to order. read more

Used to really love this place years ago when I lived in the area. My friends and I would rave about the seafood dishes and how we'd never had a single bad dish from this place. Fast forward a year and it seems as though things have completely changed. Service is curt at best (the server seemed to be offended after asking my friend's opinion of her potak and getting a less than glowing response), and the food is barely edible. My fish cakes were extremely greasy and my seafood royal Thai noodles had an awful/strange flavor, but I tried to get it down anyway. Icing on the cake: just a few minutes after we were done eating, I started to have some slight stomach discomfort. This later turned into a horrible, painful evening stuck in the bathroom at my friend's house. Let's just say that this experience has now completely ruined what was once a very fond memory of this restaurant. read more

I've always had consistently fresh meals here for a very reasonable price. I'd recommend the Tom Ka Kai, a lemongrass coconut soup with a bit of spice to it. I also love the light wonton wrapper used for the exceptionally creamy Crab Rangoon. I could go on all day about how much I have tried off their menu since I grew up in the area. Tip: Dine in, delivery doesn't taste the same! read more

I am completely and totally astounded by the bad reviews of this place. Opart Thai and Spoon Thai get all the glory, but the best Thai restaurant in Lincoln Square is Royal Thai. I've been ordering takeout from Royal Thai for seven years, and NEVER ONCE had a problem. The food is delicious (though better when you eat in). Try the scallops, or any of the appetizers, or the Tom Kha Kai soup. Prices can't be beat. Ignore all bad reviews of this place -- Royal Thai is one of Lincoln Square's hidden gems. read more

This is my favorite Thai restaurant in Chicago, and I've tried tooo many. It has such a chill, calm, nice vibe. The waitresses are always around to answers questions and fill waters. Food is brought out super quick, hot, and delicious. I love love love this restaurant. Things to try: -Panang Curry with wide rice noodles (chicken) -Spicy Basil Noodles with tofu -Papaya Salad -Tofu with cashews nuts and veggies -Rama Chicken Literally, I think everything on the menu would be great so bring your friends or go alone and enjoy this awesome food experience. read more

Hands down the best Thai food on the planet... Try anything tofu, the cashew chicken, Royal Thai noodle, vegetable dumplings, Thai Beef Salad (Yam Neua), and the tom kha. Vegetarians and vegans will love this place, too. The owners are also very dedicated and lovely people. read more

This place is just amazing. I'm here at least once every couple weeks. Do NOT leave without ordering the vegetable dumplings, best appetizer I've ever had at a Thai restaurant in Chicago. Have tried probably 5-6 of their main dishes, everything has been fantastic. I eat (mostly) vegan and have never felt that options are lacking. BYOB. And if you have room for dessert, the mango and sticky rice is great. read more

A delightful dining experience! The restaurant is small but has a peaceful, inviting atmosphere. Every detail was attended to, from the wonderful service down to the beautifully folded napkins and fresh flowers on each table. There were even fresh cut flowers in the restroom! And the food was excellent! We could not decide on one dish so we ordered several between our group to share: we started with Vegetable Tempura and Tom Yum soup. Then we ordered Pad See Ew, Kee Mao, Royal Thai Noodles, Basil Beef, and finally Curry Fried Rice. My only complaint: the table was not big enough! If you are looking for a tasty Thai Restaurant with a quiet atmosphere, look no farther than this little gem. Please prepare to look hard for a place to park along the street, there is a park on this same block so finding a place is difficult. But it's BYOB, so there is a plus! Be sure to get the Thai Ice Tea too, it is absolutely perfect. read more

We have been to a lot of Thai places around north center/Lincoln square and this is definitely the best! We love the ginger tea, appetizer for two, and crispy chicken pad Thai. Delicious! read more

Had dinner and it was amazing! The food was great.... pot stickers were delicious, as well as the crab rangoon! The prices are ridiculously cheap and the best part is that it's BYOB. The waitress was very nice and the service was just fine. Highly recommend the Chicken Pad Thai and the Chicken Panang Curry read more

Finally! A Thai place in Chicago that: A) Is delicious! B) Affordable!!! (6.99 for a lunch special that includes soup, appetizer, and an entree) and -MOST IMPORTANTLY- C) Sends you away with leftovers in a bag so tiny and whimsical that Hello Kitty herself could carry it in the palm of her fingerless hand. read more

I always feel like crab rangoons can speak volumes about Asian restaurants. This rang true for this place. Probably some of the smallest and blandest crab rangoons I've ever had - EVER. They weren't bad if you like cream cheese and barely any crab. They were fried pretty well. But the sauce that came with - GROSS. It's obviously diluted with something to thin it out - sweet & sour sauce isn't supposed to be watery. It had some sort of weird tinge/taste to it, so much so I couldn't use it. We also got some cucumber salad (again - watery and weird sauce for this), an entree, and the chicken egg rolls. Everything we ordered was below average. If you want amazing Thai - go to Opart Thai House on Western. Unfortunately they don't deliver to my house, which is why I had to venture out with another Thai place that delivers. Next time, I will hop in the car and pick up from Opart. read more

Last night in Chicago and I treated my hosts to their favorite Thai restaurant, and now it's my local Thai favorite too. We ordered the Panang Curry with chicken, Masumum curry with tofu and Pananag noodles (spicy) with pork. Everything was delicious and the take-out was super fast. Prices are reasonable and service was friendly. The restaurant itself is classy and clean. Will return when I am back in town for sure. read more

So, my BFFL lives down the street from this place and we finally decided to try it since she read the Yelp reviews saying that it was "veggie friendly." And WOW. We loved it! So, let's just be honest here-- between you and me, I'm a vegetarian who has fallen off the wagon. So... there were crab rangoons. Lots of em. Two orders. We couldn't stop. I'm not proud... but I am happy. They taste like they're made in-house and they're the loveliest little pockets of goodness I have ever had. We would have gone for order #3 but we were slightly afraid of being judged. Their veggie eggrolls were solid and so was their Pad Thai. We both couldn't get over how delicious everything was. They're BYOB so we walked to Jewel and bought a couple of bottles..err.. um..I mean, "a dignified amount of wine appropriate for one meal." We also had really friendly and prompt service, but it was pretty empty for the first half of our meal. I would most definitely go back. Need...more..crab rangoon. read more

This place is such a gem. Tucked into Montrose, cozy interior, pleasant service. And they always deliver great quality. One of their dishes, the Crispy Pad Thai, should be considered one of the great Thai wonders of Chicagoland. It is just about completely addictive, and get it almost every time. Go here for a relaxed lunch or dinner and get a table with a window view. Watch LSQ and North Center life go by while you enjoy. read more

Just ordered delivery from here. It's so hard to find good Thai food in Logan Square. So happy that they deliver to here. It will definitely become my go to for Thai from now on. read more

Huge Thai fan, but this food was just really bad. I'm one to usually follow the "If you don't have nice things to say, don't say them at all" rule, but I figured I would save all of you money and a stomach ache. I normally order delivery from Thai Room on Western, but they are closed on Mondays. The only good thing about Royal Thai was the delivery service was quick...they told me an hour and were here in about 25 minutes. Probably why the Crab Rangoon looked like it just came from the International Space Station (seriously looked like space food and was cold). The noodles were so thin and clumpy too...no taste. I won't order from here again. If you want good delivery, Thai Room is really good. read more

I don't even know were to start... This little hidden gem is one of the best Thai places I've ever tried. Not only is it super affordable and delish, but it's also BYOB :)) this definitely helps when your on a budget!! My fiancee is a very picky eater to say the least! And is not very open to eating anything that's not either traditional Mexican or fast food. So when he tried the royal pad Thai for the first time it instantly became his favorite dish!! To make it sweet and simple, if you want good Thai food at an awesome price Royal Thai Restaurant is the place to go! read more

A small place serving really good food. The tiger prawns were great. (Psst....don't ask them to spice it up too much.....if u do so, you might run out of water at home and still not beat the heat.) The basil fried rice and the green curry were good too. I will definitely visit this place again. Conclusion - Highly recommended. read more

I go here just about every 2-3 weeks, and I really have nothing negative to say about this place and have never had a bad experience. The food is some of the best Thai I've had and is always consistent. I love their tofu tom yum soup, the crab rangoon, and every dish I've had - although I usually go for chicken pad thai. Here is why I'm giving this place 5 stars: 1) Very delicious and authentic 2) I've never had to wait for a table even though the restaurant is tiny. 3) The service is very quick and friendly (sometimes the food comes out too quick where we haven't finished our appetizers or soup yet). 4) BYOB (no corkage fee and no bottle limit) 5) Cheap (usually my boyfriend and I get an appetizer sampler for 2, 2 soups, and 2 dishes, and it comes out to $30-some.) 6) Delivers Love this place :-) read more

Best Thai food in Chicago, cheap, and BYOB. My wife and I order from here every Friday. Every category of food is perfection. For appetizers, we especially enjoy the steamed shumai and crab rangoon. All of the noodles are good, but the Royal Thai noodles (slightly crispy) are the best. The entrees are where this place really shines. My wife is addicted to the basil leave chicken. I love the garlic chicken, and the nam prik pow. Every sauce is unique and flavorful. Big portions. And this is one of the few places in the City that can really bring the heat. When you order a dish "spicy," be prepared. And somehow I haven't even mentioned the panang curry, which is their best dish. We will be eating here every Friday until we move or the restaurant does. read more

I absolutely love this place. I came here with my mom over a year and a half ago and have been coming back weekly ever since. The food is so incredible and the portions are perfectly filling for somebody like me who is a bottomless pit for Thai food. If you are going there for the first time be sure to order any of the noodle dishes that have crispy noodles-- to die for. Also don't miss the appetizers-- this place has the most amazing crab rangoon and steamed shumai in the universe. The waitresses are very sweet too. They have memorized our orders by now-- no joke. Once I was in the bathroom when the waitress came to take our order and my boyfriend ordered the wrong noodle dish and she corrected him-- now that's what I call service! read more