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

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

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Luckily got invited to join a group of friends to this place because I heard getting a reservation is hard. We ordered a ton of food and everything was awesome! The pork belly, fried rice, pad Thai...everything. Can't wait to go back! read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Absolutely one of the most incredible, flavorful meals I've ever had in my entire life. Do not miss this restaurant!! my American Express Concierge was able to snatch a reservation for me. We had the dumplings, the Wagyu, beef, tuna, tartar, crispy, chili, chicken, rolled rice noodles each dish was better than the next. We were so full, but couldn't resist the crying tiger dessert and I am so happy we didn't skip this. Wow!! Just wow! read more

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The food was amazing, the drinks were to die forrrr. Joseph was an absolute angel and delivered exceptional service. Visited from CA with the cousins and I'll definitely be going back for the crying tiger dessert. Also Wu Tang was blasting over the speakers, music was 10/10. THANK U CRYING TIGER AND THANK U JOSEPHHHH read more

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

Got a lot of their food items to try. The appetizers were all not bad but didn't really wow me. My favorite app was probably the papaya salad but the prawn toast youtiao was also nice. For the main, got a bunch of stuff like curry, brazino and claypot lobster pad Thai. The brazino was my favorite and the pad Thai felt a little lacking and didn't feel like a full lobster. The brazino was $58 but was cooked well. I also liked the green curry though not as spicy. The Panang felt a bit lacking. The highlight was definitely the dessert. Their signature crying tiger dessert was delicious with a light caramel sauce. All the desserts we got were amazing including the sorbet and bahn flan cheesecake. Service was amazing too and very helpful in explaining the dishes as well as recommending what to get. Overall, a great experience! read more

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Crying tiger restaurant is by far the best restaurant I have been to all year the food is seriously delicious. I ordered the Glass noodles and added the chicken satay thigh for an extra $10 to add protein. The glass noodles were so incredibly tasty Ingredients were Springy glass noodles are stir-fried with garlic chives, sweet peppers, celery, shiitake mushrooms, and savory soy. The ambiance was moody and the bathroom was soooooo gorgeous. This place has the aesthetics the quality food amazing service and delicious drinks I will be returning here everytime I am in the Windy City. Okay and an added bonus is downstairs there's a speakeasy called the kitty cosmopolitan club that is also so aesthetically pleasing. It does close at midnight and gets booked fast so please book a week in advance to avoid long wait times. read more

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

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

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

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

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We didn't have a reservation but luckily got seated at the bar after ~15 min wait since there was a cancellation. Food was amazing, we tried the papaya salad, rolled rice noodles (I didn't realize it didn't come with any protein), and lobster pad Thai. Highlight of the meal was definitely the signature crying together dessert. Definitely a must try!! read more

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

Crying Tiger - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Dined in May 24, 2026 I visited Crying Tiger for dinner with my siblings, and we had an amazing experience from start to finish. The ambiance was beautiful and created the perfect atmosphere for a great evening out. Our waitress, Nelly, was exceptional. She was attentive, knowledgeable, and always available whenever we needed anything. She provided excellent recommendations for appetizers, entrées, and drinks, and every single suggestion was a hit. For appetizers, we ordered the chargrilled sugar cane beef, pork belly, and dumplings from the weekly special menu. Everything was outstanding, but the pork belly was my favorite. It was perfectly seasoned, with a delicious salty flavor and crispy edges that made each bite irresistible. For our entrées, we enjoyed the Curry Wagyu Short Rib, Lobster Pad Thai, Rolled Rice Noodles, and Crisp BBQ Chicken. The standout combination was the Crisp BBQ Chicken paired with the Rolled Rice Noodles. Honestly, those two dishes should be offered as one meal because together they were absolutely delectable. We finished the evening with the Crying Tiger dessert, which was delicious and the perfect ending to a fantastic meal. For drinks, we tried the Freezer Martini, and trust me--one is all you need! Overall, everything was a 10/10. Between the incredible food, wonderful atmosphere, and outstanding service, this was a memorable dining experience. I would definitely visit Crying Tiger again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great meal. read more

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

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

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

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

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Crying Tiger was definitely one of the highlights of my recent visit to Chicago. The ambiance was fantastic, the energy was lively, and the food was absolutely delicious. The portions were generous and packed with incredible flavor. You could tell that the chefs genuinely enjoy what they do and take great pride in creating dishes that provide guests with a memorable dining experience. We sat at the bar since the restaurant was packed and reservations appeared to be recommended. The space was very clean, beautifully decorated, and filled with a diverse crowd of people who were clearly excited to be there. The menu offers plenty of options, so we decided to share several dishes and sample a variety of flavors. Everything we tried was outstanding, right down to dessert, which was both delicious and a fun experience to eat. The service was great, and the drinks were just as impressive as the food. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience, and I will definitely return the next time I am in the area. RECOMMEND! 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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Dined at crying tiger twice for dinner. Very hard to get in but it is totally worth the hype. All this items tried were 5/5. Good service, nice vibe. We tried almost everything on the menu and it tasted delicious. Drinks and desserts are must so please save space. read more

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Overhyped and Below Average Overall Rating: (2/5) I'm really not sure what all the fuss is about. Overall, the food here is below average at best. It feels like just another venue riding on artificial hype and a heavy marketing push from the Lettuce Entertain You brand. I won't be back. The Food Breakdown Rolled Rice Noodles (3.5/5): This was easily the best part of the whole experience, but unfortunately, it was the only highlight. Grilled Wagyu Beef Nam Tok (2/5): A letdown. The red onion was way too overwhelming, and there wasn't nearly enough beef in the dish. Vegetable Spring Roll (2/5): Completely forgettable. There was nothing special about these at all. Khao Soi (1/5): A massive disappointment. I had such high expectations for this dish, but it missed the mark completely. The lemongrass was overpowering, completely masking the coconut curry and beef flavors. It desperately needs a proper balance. Service (3/5): Very average at best. Nothing terrible, but nothing impressive either. Ambiance (3/5): Decent, but standard. Final Verdict: Don't buy into the hype. Between the unbalanced flavors and the underwhelming execution, this is one Lettuce Entertain You spot that I wouldn't recommend. read more

Crying Tiger - Khao Soi - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

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pretty good spot! everything was flavorful and service was also pretty good! last min find and recommended to our other colleagues during our business meeting in chicago! read more

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

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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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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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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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Definitely was impressed by the ambiance. This was our first stop on our date night so we only tried a few appetizers but just based on those items the beef salad, crudo, and crispy pork I wanted to try the whole menu. The service was excellent and we will definitely be going back! read more

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

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