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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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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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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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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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

Crying Tiger - Clay Pot Lobster Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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 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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Wow, what an amazing experience at Crying Tiger! My friends and I have been dying to get in for dinner here and we were lucky enough to get a rese this week. The entire night was spectacular. The cocktails, the food, and the service were all excellent! The restaurant itself is beautiful. The bar is lively and vibrant. The dining room is more moody and relaxed. Once seated we were brought an amuse bouche which was so delicious! It was a bite of Thai flavors that you eat on a leaf and then follow with a sip of coconut water. It was a perfect bite! For cocktails we tried the Thai Colada, Salty Dog, martini, and our waitress recommended a Thai margarita! All were great! For appetizers we enjoyed the tuna tartare and prawn toast. The tuna was so fresh and perfectly spicy. Love that it was served in a coconut! For mains we got duck curry, shrimp fried rice, and rolled rice noodles. Fantastic flavors all around. One of the best panang curries I've had and the duck was so tender. The rice noodles were recommended by the chef and I can see why! Easily one of my favorite dishes of the night. We couldn't leave without dessert and had to try the Crying Tiger (bananas foster) and also chefs favorite toasted coconut sundae which was massive! Thank you Chef Paolo! We enjoyed every bite and can't wait to come back! Thank you also to our sweet waitress who was so attentive and kind throughout our entire night. read more

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

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

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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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Love the service, atmosphere and food. Will be coming back. We really enjoyed the dumplings, the duck curry was spicy but worth it, and the dessert was fun and tasty read more

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Crying Tiger is absolutely worth the hype! The atmosphere is vibrant, the food is amazing, and the drinks were so much fun. Our waitress, Diana, was outstanding and made the experience even more enjoyable. We couldn't have had a better experience! read more

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If you want to have an amazing experience, ask for server Jessie. All his recommendations were honest and we ordered everything he recommended. He was so attentive and kind, and made the dining experience amazing. I spilled water , instead of being embarrassed He brought over a really tiny caution when wet sign and put it on the table and instantly I couldn't stop laughing- thank you for personalizing our experience- I work at a trauma hospital and lately everything has felt so heavy dealing with patients, so coming to dine after 16 hour shifts to a pleasant atmosphere where people care for me in return means everything to me. All drinks are amazing. The coconut drinks come in actual coconut garnished with flowers, super cute for photos We ordered the ribeye steak , glass noodles, tuna tartar which comes in a cool coconut, the prawn with the bread , chicken satay , all the appetizers are amazing. Also have to add , I went up to the manager to thank our server , her name is Dea Bebo, one of the most inviting and kindest humans ever , if you read this Dea , thank you for your kindness we couldn't stop talking about you all evening and we also met the amazing chef, who was also beyond kind to introduce himself and ask how our food was. No wonder this place is always booked out- worth the hype and the amazing staff . read more

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

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This place was so fun & cute! Perfect date night spot, the lighting is dark, the drinks are GREAT & the bathroom is the perfect picture spot (it matters). The food was yummy, the wagyu short rib Khao soi curry was a little too salty, but if I could recommend one dish, the hamachi crudo was AMAZING. Definitely want to come back to try other dishes though. read more

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

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Saw some ads for this new restaurant and managed to snag an early Saturday dinner reservation! Let me just say that the interior designer(s) did their thanggg. Are we getting tired of everyone using minimalist/neutral color palettes for the sake of being "modern" or is it just me? When we walked into Crying Tiger, we immediately looked at each other like "THERE'S COLORS" The interior is truly fantastic. They really put together the perfect mix of textures and colors, and every section of the restaurant looked a bit different from the next. Draped cloths hugged the ceiling, and there was plant decor in every corner. I wish I was able to take a quick tour of the entire restaurant just to stare haha. We came at 4:15 and there was already a decent amount of other patrons there. When we left, there was quite the crowd in the lobby waiting, so I'm happy we were able to come before word spreads across all the social platforms. Service was good despite just having recently opened. The staff uniforms look sooooo comfy! We ordered two warm dishes (prawn toast+pork belly) and two larger dishes (crab rice and khao soi). The two warm dishes came out in record time, I swear it must've been less than 7 minutes! Prawn toast: surprisingly light. I find that a lot of other places tend to be too oily and heavy, but this was a perfect crisp. I'm unsure how they fit the prawn inside, but it definitely felt like a good chunk of prawn rather than just a minced ball (I could be wrong though). The accompanying sauce was something I need to keep stocked in my fridge at all times. Spicy, sour, herbaceous, it had everything and it helped balance the fried portion of the dish so well. Pork belly: This was pretty good, but the only thing I didn't love was that the crispy skin was extremely hard rather than crackly. The skin is always my fave part of crispy pork belly, but I was worries that I was going to break something, so I unfortunately had to take some of it off the pieces. Some people might like that texture, but just not my thing! Khao soi: Honestly just plain pretty to look at. I'm happy I opted to mix it myself so I could take a picture of it before things got saucy. The beef was SO tender and the textures of the crispy noodles, veggies, and soft noodles was top tier. My only regret is that I glossed over the sides section of the menu and only later saw that they had roti on there. I'm smacking myself just imagining dipping the roti in the curry sauce :( Crab fried rice: Lots of crab included! The crispy shallots (or garlic?) were a nice pop of crunch and flavor in each bite. Drinks: I really like that they have interesting NA drinks on the list. They cocktail menu is pretty unique, but I definitely want to try their regular drinks as well in the future. Much better than the standard "zero proof" section that other places have. read more

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Food 10/10 , service 10/10, ambiance 10/10 First of all we came w two kids and as parents we haven't gone out to a fancy restaurant in a year bc of 2 under 2. And this place made it so accommodating. The front host/hostess did everything to get us a high chair. And the server Jessie was probably the most nicest server we've ever had w kids. Truly can't say nicer things about the people. Now the food is amazing Thai Pricier than mom and pop Thai restaurant but well worth it. Wagyu beef and lobster pad Thai were phenomenal and cooked perfect read more

Crying Tiger - Grilled Wagyu Beef - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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