The owner is what makes this place special. He was so enthusiastic and really wanted us to enjoy our visit. Aside from answering our questions about the menu, he wanted to make sure our 4 yr old was comfy and eating well too. He brought out a smaller plate, a smaller cup and made sure he was sitting close enough to the table to eat well--he acted like any doting grandfather would and he so kind to do all this. He even gave my son two tangerines while we were leaving...my son loved it "Snacks for school tomorrow Mommy!" is what he said. The food was good. I love Thai spring rolls--the tiny ones with glass noodles--and they were very good here. I could just eat an order of them myself. The Pad Thai was just OK. the noodles were a bit mushed, but the flavor was there. I really liked the Basil with Beef. I asked for it Medium spice which the owner said was already spicy, but I could have gone another notch and been ok. The chicken with red curry was also very good. Tender chicken in a spicy broth. My husband wanted it very spicy but the owner was hesitant to let us get it that hot so we compromised on a medium to high spice and he brought a side of thai chili peppers my husband could add if he wanted. I thought the spice was great and I wouldn't want it any spicier. And my husband? loved the Thai Chili peppers too. Fire! Complimentary slices of watermelon for dessert--a very sweet touch. We were happy enough that we do plan return visits to try other items. read more

No crab rangoon!? What? Oh don't you worry you're pretty little head because this menu is brimming with authentic Thai dishes, some of which I have never seen in a typical Thai restaurant. The tom kha kai soup is served in a type of soup tureen with a heating element, meant to be shared at the table. It was very citrusy and not as pungent as some other versions I've had. It was really delicious. Thai spring rolls were good, but not great. I can't wait to go back. This seems like THE place to try new dishes. (I waited a week for Tim to write the first review and suddenly there are three! So much for manners.) read more

Good food and great service! Definitely coming back. The waiter made several great recommendations and was very attentive. The good was very flavorful and delicious. read more

Really yummy, really freakin' spicy. I love hot and spicy but be careful here. If you ask for hot, they actually make it hot. Like you will hurt the next day hot. I've had their Tom Yum seafood soup, Yum Thai Aree seafood salad, various curry dishes and the pad thai. Loved everything except the pad thai. Very bland. I have noticed that the food flavors and spice levels do vary based on who is cooking in the kitchen that particular night. I might try the pad thai again. The Yum Thai Aree salad is really good. It sounded odd and I'm not sure why I ordered it but that is probably my favorite dish. The restaurant is not much to look at. I've only ordered take out and delivery. Workers are always friendly if not a bit frantic. This place is in regular rotation for take our nights. read more

I very seldom write a review but I feel this place def deserves it. I'm a tough critic and possibly a little boojie when it comes to food. I've tried dozens of thai spots all over the city and this has to be the freshest, absolute best thai food in all of Chicago. I ordered the noodle kee mow with chicken and my friend ordered the shrimp pad thai. We shared both dishes and both were amazing. I must say when you ask for spicy, expect to sweat. Aside from the amazing food, the owner is so incredibly kind. After I paid for my take out he says hold on one second and slices me up some delicious watermelon to go. The food won me over but that was just icing on the cake. Been looking for a great thai spot for over a year and I think I finally found it. read more

Fantastic Thai food. We had the Seafood Tom Yum, and as a South East Asian guy, I can tell you that it's the real deal. The soup was rich and flavorful. Went perfectly with the rice, and we drank every last drop. I don't think I've had better Tom Yum in Chicago. The owner was very friendly and enthusiastic. Had a nice chat with him for a bit about things back home, and he seemed genuinely happy to be interacting with customers. Will definitely be back to try some or their other dishes. read more

Thai Aree House - Seafood Tom Yum. Delicious! - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I stopped in here for like two seconds to order their Panag curry togo. Super friendly owner, fast service, more than reasonably priced. Final Verdict: The Panag curry was delicious and a must order! read more

The owner is super duper nice here! I love that he really wants you to have a good experience. He is attentive and kind and is there to help you with anything regarding the menu or your food. My friend was late to dinner so I was sitting there by my lonesome for a while. I guess he felt bad for me sitting by myself, so he brought out some complimentary tea! Seriously, such a nice guy... As much as I like the service here...Why can't I find a Thai place with good Tom Yum soup? This place is on the sweet side...I wonder if I can ask to add more lemongrass and spice to fit my taste buds? I don't know... read more

First off my family and I have been going to this place for almost 30 years (I'm 37). They use to be on Addison right around the corner where there is a newer (but not better, not even close) Thai restaurant, the Thai Siam. Before that they were on Lawrence in Albany Park wayyy back when, I hardly even remember that one. Hell, Eddy (the host/proprietor) was a young kid when we started going their. Definitely the longest time our family has gone to any particular restaurant. I guess you can tell we kinda like it. Enough of the history lesson, how's the food you ask? I think it is the best Thai place in Chicago(and I'm a self acclaimed foodie), definitely the best value given the great quality of the food. I've had most the dishes on the menu and they are almost all at least very good if not excellent. The curries, Panang, Kang Pa, etc. are excellent! The char beef salad, Yum Nue or Nue Num Tok is savory, spicy and exquisite (I have the menu in front of me). Excellent soups! The Tom Ka Kai which is a spicy coconut, lime soup is incredible! But so is the Tom Yum and Tom Ka Kai. I haven't had the others because those three are so damn good! They also have very good appetizers, the satays, spring rolls, egg rolls and the mee krob (puffy, crispy, noodles in a sweet and spicy sauce...mmm). They also use to have a fried snapper that was outstanding but I don't see it on the menu, you might ask though. Although they don't have much of a desert selection the coconut ice cream, which is homemade, is just a fantastic finish to the meal. I think it has lychees in it too, so tasty! Well, if you made it through all that thanks for reading. I could keep going really. I mean this place is a bit of an institution in our family. PS. Just in case you needed an extra bit of praise, my family had gone to Thailand a few years back (we are the original multi-cultural family) and made friends with some well respected Thai folks. Well, they had a chance to come to Chicago and of course we took them to a few Thai restaurants (including the one around the corner on Addison). This was there favorite one in town by far, besides Arun's. Of course, Arun's is a $100+ per person and isn't meant as an everyday Thai restaurant. PPS WARNING! They spice there foods very hot in general. If you order mild you will get medium. Medium=Hot and Hot...well let's not go there. Otherwise, Bon Appetit! read more

BEST SERVICE IN CHICAGO!!! The food is outstanding, but what makes this place extra special is the AMAZING hospitality. The owner is very very nice and can accommodate any request you may have. read more

The best Thai food I have ever had! And I have tried thai food everywhere! The people who work there are the nicest people ever! If you're not a fan of spicy food always tell them non spicy, the mild option is not that mild. The chicken pad Thai is the best, the soups are awesome as well! Try Tom ka Kai soup with chicken, there's so many fresh roots in it, don't eat then though, but they bring a delicious taste to it and it's super healthy read more

My favorite Thai food in Chicago. Owners are wonderfully kind and happy to customize food to your tastes. If you like spicy (like really, really spicy) just ask for it... and be warned. read more

Wow this place was great! But wow was it also spicy! This is one of those restaurants that are very authentic, and therefore their spice levels are authentic to the way Thai people eat it. I normally eat what I feel is pretty spicy food, but the Yum Thai Aree salad (a seafood salad with tomatoes and lettuce) that I ordered "medium" was incredibly spicy. Not at first, but Thai food has that kind of heat that builds slowly and in 5 minutes you're downing rice and water to try to level the heat. Next time I will realize that I am a Thai spice weaksauce and order mild :p. On to the dishes: Thai spring rolls - pretty good, reminded me of Taiwanese spring rolls my family (and most Taiwanese families) eat at New Years Yum Thai Aree Salad - SO GOOD! Green Curry with bamboo, eggplant and chicken - Very very good :d The coconut milk they add makes it so fragrant.... mmmmm.... Basil Chicken - a ground chicken and basil dish, pretty traditional. Incredibly flavorful here; this dish is a hit or miss with alot of Thai places, and Thai Aree hits! Pad See Yew - this was the only dish that I didn't enjoy all that much, but mostly because I found my love of Pad See Yew at River Kwai, which if you remember that gem, closed down a while ago. Why why why??? Haven't ever found a place that makes it quite as good. Sigh. But overall this isn't the best place for pad see yew, Thai Bowl is ok for that. I'll definitely be back. It's a small quiet restaurant, and the owner is just so sweet and nice. The food came out pretty quickly, and he takes the care to explain each dish you want to order in more detail so you know exactly what's in it. Street parking is also free (yay). My friend says she thinks it's the best Thai restaurant in Chicago. Check it out and decide for yourself :). read more

My tastes buds run contrary to the majority of reviewers I guess, let me explain: I have had this place bookmarked for weeks bc it's right by my house and great ratings = perfection. This is the second time I've had their food. The first experience wasn't anything to write home about but I'm all about second chances. Alas, this was not worthy of a second chance. My review is based solely on the food bc the service is not lacking anything. I ordered the plain pad thai and hubby had the beef basil fried rice. Both sounded great but his meat was very, very dry and my noodles stuck together in an awkward way, they had to much peanut mixture and just wasn't very yummy. I had about 5 bites before I decided it just wasn't worth finishing. I love thai food and Chicago has some amazing options but unfortunately this won't be my "spot". read more

Love this place! We had been looking all around the city and suburbs and finally found a great place. We get takeout a lot from this place because the restaurant is kind of a hole in the wall, but definitely eat in your first or second time - the owner is amazing at recommending and coaching your order to be fabulous. He recommends sauces to mix and what to add to dishes. The shrimp in a blanket are the most delicious appetizer, with their lard nar and pad see ew being some of the best I've had. I think the pad thai is actually a little bland here, so we avoid that, but everything else we've had is delicious. read more

So so so so good for authentic Thai!!! Been here twice so far. Both times the restaurant has been relatively sparsely populated, but that says nothing for the quality of food. First things first, this place is ACTUALLY spicy when you ask for it. I absolutely loathe the places who advertise a "5 star" or "thai spicy" spice and then when it comes out is wimpy and barely deserves a sip of water. If you love spice, they make thiers on a 0-10 scale and I've found 7-8 level perfect and blows away most river north/downtown places' "5 star" spice. Their seafood tom yum soup is on point. I'm borderline obsessed and don't think I can order tom yum anywhere else after having this broth. Its full of vibrant lemongrass and galangal flavors, punchy saltiness from fish sauce and however spicy you would like it. We got it as a 7-8 level spice and it was perfect. Don't love the fact that theres fake crab in the mix, but hey its still delicious. Their pad kee mao is also fantastic, the best part of which is that its not greasy at all!! My main issue with pad kee mao from any other thai takeout/type place is that its typically coated in oil, and low on actual flavor. This again delivers on being deliciously spicy, noodles soft and chewy, seafood perfectly cooked. We've also had the Panang curry with duck, which is again solidly on point. The rice they serve is a little mushy/overcooked... but not worth complaining much about. Basically you just cannot go wrong. The service is wonderful and they bring you complementary watermelon slices for dessert! Love hitting this place up on the way back/to ohare when picking/dropping someone off as its close to the freeway. Hope to be back soon! read more

BLAND. Didn't get the hot sauce on the side that I requested or anything else. Not even a menu. Won't be back, still on a mission for good Thai food. read more

The kang green curry here is the real thing. Awesome flavor. For green curry this place and Yum Thai are the 2 best I've found. Also had excellent Kee Mao. The shrimp they use in their entrees are delicious & huge. They use plenty of spice. All around, everything is just done right. read more

5 STARS!!!!! Going off of the previous comments on YELP we dined in last night. It was a great experience. Nice and intimate. The food was AMAZING!! I had the Pad Sea-Ewe w/squid, medium spice but it wasn't hot enough. The owner was paying close attention from afar and brought me hot peppers to spice it up a little more. Man they were perfect!! The sexy man that was with me...oh yeah my BF! Got the Peanut Sauce Noodles w/Chicken and thick noodles, medium spice. He didn't like the noodles they were too thick lol but the flavor was to die for! TOTAL DINNER FOR 2: $21.26 The service is great and the food is even better! This is our new favorite neighborhood spot. Dine in or carry out...we will be back!! OH AND BYOB!! read more

The service is excellent- at least on the to-go order I placed with Sarah. She helped me pick out dishes and both were great. I got Panang Curry and Beef with Broccoli in Oyster sauce (me and my bf's standards). Both were good portion sizes, the broccoli in the beef dish was cooked perfect- crispy! I would have liked some broccoli in the curry, it was only sauce/ seasoning/ tofu, so I put some of the ample broccoli in my bowl. We also got pork egg rolls- not too greasy and very tasty. I wish they had an online menu, they gave me a paper one so I can order in the future but I can never find those things when I am looking for them. Overall, tasty. I am cheap so I will probably just make food at home and order take out on occasion, but worth trying. read more

"Began T" hit the nail on the head with her review! I ordered Beef Pad See Eew and the noodles were mushy and nasty. The beef could have been beef jerky, since it was so tough! I also tried the Pad Thai which was tasteless in a bad way! There are so many good Thai Food restaurants, don't waste your time or money here! read more

I have to say, I went here because I read all of your reviews. I was not impressed. Eddie was certainly a very nice man and very helpful. But when I got my food home to eat it, it just wasn't very good. I wish I could say more, but I can't, that's all I can get. My Pad Si-ew was bland and flavorless. That's all. I wish Manee Thai hadn't burned down, that was my favorite. read more

While visiting Chicago, we had to try a Thai place. Based on our location, we chose Thai Aree because of it's reviews.This place is a humble little place with impeccable service and great food. Don't be deceived by its decor. It's the food and service that really matters. We had our usual Pad Thai and Tom Yung Koon soup. For me, this is the true test of how good the food is. We also had red curry and the papaya salad. Sure enough, the dishes were seasoned perfectly, satiating my palate after trying many Thai places. The waitress who appeared to be family related to the owners of the restaurant was charming, perceptive, helpful, and courteous. She made our dining experience even better. read more

Thai Aree House - Pad Thai and red curry - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place has amazing wonderful delicious knock your socks off good food! The owner is so sweet and is very attentive and the sauces he provided were homemade. Definitely recommend if you're looking food good food! read more

We went here and got takeout last night. We both had different curries and both enjoyed the taste very much. $21.84 including tax for both chicken curries, takeout. Neither of us can handle spicy food- we are total lightweights when it comes to heat. I got green curry, mild, and it was a little spicy but I didn't finish it and used a bunch of rice so it was good. I'll finish it today. My husband got medium Panang Curry. He loved the flavor but will get mild next time. Both my husband and I went in to pick up the food, to check the place out. We had read the reviews and we disagree with people slamming the inner appearance of the place. Comments like "no decor" I really don't understand. It's obvious to me the place is decorated inside and the guy was soooo super nice I just can't see judging their design taste. If you want to feel like your on the Gold Coast or have very set expectation about design then don't come. For me it has its own decor and is clean and cute inside. read more

I was wrong, I ordered a heat level 6 the second time I went, and it makes me think the first time I must have actually had something like an 8, because this time it was a lot more tolerable. Still equally as delicious, and still had a lot of heat, just not as painful. This place is awesome. read more

What lovely people and amazing food!!!! I can't wait to go back. Seafood was fresh. Noodle dish was perfect. And my soup was amazing. I think this might be one of those places you can't go wrong with the menu. Close your eyes , choose , and for sure it will be delicious !! Omg.... I can't believe I almost forgot the best pat.... No MSG !!! read more

This is the best Thai restaurant that I've eaten at so far in Chicago. I grew up in Lake View and my family used to order from Bangkok Star. They had the best red and green curry soups along with many other excellent dishes. When they closed, we tried many Thai restaurants but all fell short (just plain not as good or inconsistent). Thai Aree House is great for a couple of reasons: excellent food, consistently good, extremely nice owners, the water melon at the end of the meal and the great service. The location is a bit out of the way and a lot of their business is pickup so there always seems to be a table to sit at. The prices are really great too. Delivery can be tricky -- it's best to pickup or eat in. read more

Amazing! The food and service are SO GOOD, I cannot emphasize enough that you should try this restaurant if you are in the mood for good Thai food!! read more

Thai Aree House was definitely a great surprise for the wife and I. We were in the mood for Thai, and for just moving into Jefferson park, we found this little gem through, of course, Yelp! And we weren't let down. We ordered the fried eggrolls, chicken panang, beef lard nar, and beef ka prow(sp?). All were dishes were good. The owner was very kind as well, even giving a little more extra rice when he asked how many people were eating. In summary, good food, normal pricing, good service. Will definitely return back! read more

My favorite Thai restaurant outside of New York City (and Thailand, of course, hah!). I love ALL the foods I have had there. They are extremely hospitable, quick, friendly, helpful, and amenable. And it's byob...need I say more? I took some friends here one night and they said they got sick (from it). I refuse to believe it was my beloved Thai Aree. It had to be something else. Crab rangoons. Oh yum! read more

Excellent food and service. The owners really care about your experience and are very friendly. Food is fresh and some of the best Thai, I have ever had. The soup portions are huge and perfect for sharing. I'm so glad this place is in my neighborhood. Couldn't recommend it highly enough. read more

This is a great neighborhood place. The food is really well made and tasty. We had the Pad Thai and Pad See Ew along with some spring rolls. Will definitely steely be back place doesn't look. That inviting but the food is worth it! read more

Best place for authentic Thai on the Northside, but be forewarned, authentic means unbelievably spicy hot if you ask for the food the way Thai people like it. The owner takes a hands on approach at this little neighborhood place, and remembers me even though nowadays it's months between visits. I think he likes to see me sweat and cry when I eat there, but I like a little pain with my Thai food, especially when it's hot and humid in Chicago. Have no fear, they will certainly tone it down for you if you ask for it that way, and if you're not that familiar with real Thai food, that's what I suggest. I also suggest you try the shrimp cake appetizers, and order at least one curry dish with tofu instead of meat. read more

The owner certainly takes pride in the food they serve. He even showed us the fresh herbs they were growing outside that they put in the Tom Yum soup (which was delicious, by the way). Green curry was good, but was made even more amazing when the owner showed us how to mix the curry/pepper mix that's provided on the table's condiments with some soy sauce to draw out all of its flavors. I was surprised! They're only open for dinner, so mind the hours. Owner was very friendly and welcoming. Definitely would return here. TL;DR - Yummy Thai food; friendly service. read more

YUMMM My husband and I decided to check this place out because it's close to our house and we are always looking for good Thai places. We were VERY satisfied! When you walk in, it doesn't look like it will be as good as it is. Very clean, but you can just tell it has been there for a while. It's definitely a mom and pop shop. The menu is very large. It was hard to decide on what we wanted. My husband was very impressed because he asked for his dish spicy and the owner said, ok- medium will make you sweat. He was right. It did! He even gave my husband a small dish of dangerously hot looking peppers in case it wasn't hot enough. He also brought over some sauces from the back to "add more flavor" to our dish if we wanted it. LOTS OF RICE! They certainly don't skimp on the rice here. You get a very large bowl to share. We usually always eat all of our rice, but we couldn't finish it here. And complimentary watermelon after we were done eating! (not sure if this is an every day thing- he might of just wanted to get rid of it) It was a pleasant surprise. I will definitely be back. There are about 15 more things i NEED to try! might be BYOY... not quite sure. read more

We love it here. The owners are great and prepare dishes to your preferences; they're very interested in knowing how spicy you can handle your Thai food before making something too hot. The owner even offered my sister a book about Thailand when he found out she would be studying abroad nearby. We love it here and go quite a bit. read more

5 stars not fair for this restaurant, wish I can rate it a 100 star :D,loved it,very cozy,feels like eating home with very tasty food,everything was wonderful n the owner is a nice uncle as well. Very recommended. Have to take tom yum sea food, for two to share it n try one or two of their fishes read more

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How adorable is the owner of this place? I saw some write-ups on Yelp and wanted some Thai food that was above average, so we ventured on over. We were one of two tables to start in the place that were occupied, but we do eat at typically senior citizen hours, so that was not a problem. The owner came over and made some recommendations and was really helpful in determining the right spice level and telling us what to add to the sauce. We got some fried wontons and shrimp in a blanket to start. I mixed the chili sauce on the table with the house sweet and sour as instructed and loved the result. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and there were a ton of both for the price! I then ordered the crab fried rice and husband got the Praree (?) curry with beef. He is a total cissy when it comes to spice, so I ended-up trading him (I knew it was a possibility, so I talked him out of getting chicken) I loved the curry - very reminiscent of Japanese curry to me, with a sweeter kick (from the coconut milk). And, you get a tureen of rice - there is enough there for 4 people! The crab fried rice had a mix of fake and real crab meat - fine with me - but it also had a little too much cartilage/shell for my liking, hence the one star off. I would totally come back here and explore the huge menu more! Be aware that the new hours are 4-9 pm only now. read more

Came here on a Friday evening. Every seat was filled and there was only one person working the whole restaurant. She was so busy. After around 25 minutes of waiting we were seated and ordered as quickly as possible. Chicken Satay- Nice tender pieces of chicken breast skewered and charred with a nice peanuty sauce. Spicy Basil Minced Chicken- pretty average in taste, was a on the saltier side. Chicken Panang Curry- the most mediocre dish of them all, flavors weren't balanced and it was on the sweeter side. Overall I had expected more from this restaurant, it felt pretty authentic but the food just didn't deliver. I think it may have been that we were seated 30 minutes prior to closing. I could potentially give this place another shot, but definitely have had better at other Thai restaurants. read more