Great home cooked tasty entree at the local mom and pop restaurant! If you like tofu, try the salt…read moreand pepper Japanese/custard tofu!

I have been going here since I was a kid. It was our family's go to spot for authentic Chinese…read morefood. My grandparents would go every Monday for lunch and then go grocery shopping after. We get a massive variety of dishes like baby clams with black bean sauce, chow mein/chow fun with fish fillet or choice of protein, lobster, crab, salt and pepper shrimp and vegetables. During this visit we got fish fillet chow fun, diced beef with green and black pepper, vegetables and salt and pepper smelt fish. The food tasted just the way I remembered- amazing!! They have the best fish fillet chow fun. It is crispy with just the right amount of sauce. They also have affordable lunch specials that I will be getting next time! The owners are the friendliest. During peak time it may be a little difficult to find parking and can be congested nearby but it is worth it.

Delicious food, great prices, and aesthetic. Must try if you are in uptown. Would highly recommend…read morefor a casual sit down

One of the more packed restaurants in the area, which definitely made me want to give it a try. I…read moredid have to put my name on the waitlist, and it took about 30 minutes before they called me when a spot opened up. Overall, my dish was good, and I really liked that it had a lot of vegetables. I'm not sure how much it stands out compared to the other options in the area, but it was nice to see that they have a small bar inside. It seems like there aren't many places around here where you can just sit down and enjoy a cocktail, so that's a nice option if you're looking for a drink rather than a full meal.

I enjoyed and definitely recommend this place!! My first time eating at a Lao place that's not at…read morehome! - Khao piek sen: broth was light! can't go wrong with chicken noodle soup. definitely recommend! - Mok gai: tasted like my moms! a wee bit dry but still yummy! - Nam khao: we got level 3 spice - has a good crunch but too citrusy for me A cozy, family owned restaurant and a staff were super friendly and quick!

This was my first time trying Lao cuisine, and overall, it was a pleasant experience! I ordered the…read moreLao pho, which had a flavorful, rich broth and noodles that were cooked perfectly al dente. I chose the beef shank, although I found the meat to be a little tougher than I would have liked. Going in, I expected the flavors to be somewhat similar to Thai cuisine, but I was pleasantly surprised by how distinct they were. It was nice getting to experience something different! One thing I did notice was that the aroma inside the restaurant was a little off-putting to me, though I recognize that this could simply be because I'm unfamiliar with Lao cuisine and its ingredients. The service was friendly, quick, and attentive, which I appreciated. Overall, I'd definitely be open to coming back and exploring more of the menu as I become more familiar with Lao food. A solid first experience!

How, despite living in the general area, has it taken me two years to stop in? Ordinarily, this…read morewould be a rhetorical question, except in this case, I have an answer. I am telling on myself not for clout, but as a cautionary tale that you do not repeat my mistakes. You see, I lumped in Ezankaya with Ye Olde Stereotypical Thai place. You know the one, with the same copy-paste Pad Thai and Pad See Ew. I am very pleased to report that Ezankaya is not that. I had the pleasure of trying: Crab Rangoons, Hamachi Crudo, Khoa Soi with Beef, and a Citrus Magic Blue (non-alcoholic) beverage. The Crab Rangoons were hot, fresh, and flavorful, and without the taste of old oil. The wonton was thin and crisp without greasiness. The filling, albeit a little on the sweet side, as is typical of Thai interpretations, hit the right spot in this rangoon-lover's heart. The Hamachi Crudo, while not my favorite dish as a matter of personal taste and preference alone, was well executed. The slices of fish were generously thick and allowed to shine. The ponzu dressing bestowed a light acidic brightness to the hamachi and the greens below. Now, while I appreciate the thought and sentiment behind the jalapeño and tobiko, I didn't feel this was enough to elevate this appetizer beyond a citrusy fish. Then we arrive at the Khoa Soi. A dish with warming spices (though not spicy), and fantastic turmeric curry flavor. There was a balanced amount of meat, and while not shy about the noodles, this appears to be by design. In the scope of the dish, everything just worked. I also loved that chili oil and some veggies are offered on the side, that they may be added to taste, and maintain their freshness and bite. The Citrus Magic Blue was a unique and delectable beverage. There were light coconut notes, a hint of acid, and that indescribable flavor which comes from butterfly pea flowers. If you're okay with a little sweetness, this is worth getting. The service here was fantastic! The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. Bonus points for calling out that the Khoa Soi with chicken is bone-in and would need some work. The food came out fast, also, despite the restaurant being busy. The vibe, for lack of a better term, is maximalist. There is a ton of color and Asian/Thai/Japanese-inspired decor. In the face of an increasing number of establishments going for the same, neutral, boring feel, I love that Ezankaya is not shy about using color, fun, and perhaps even whimsy. Finally, there is the matter of price. When the bill came, I was already mentally prepared for a gut punch. However, despite two appetizers, a main, and a non-alcoholic beverage, the prices came below expectations. Sure, it's not cheap per se, but when a McDonald's QPC and small fry costs $9, cheap as we knew it isn't on the menu anywhere. Final verdict: Ezankaya excels in all the ways that count. They have unique, interesting, well-executed, and delicious food. The only items I didn't love were a matter of personal taste, and not a failure on the kitchen's part. The experience is rounded off with excellent service, a fun vibe, and reasonable prices. Would recommend?: Hands down, yes. The menu is approachable and contains both Thai and Japanese items. Bring some friends, try some more food, and enjoy! Would return?: Absolutely, and I look forward to exploring more of their Thai and Japanese menus.

Stopped by Ezankaya on our last night in Chicago and really enjoyed the delicious food and fun…read moreambiance. Service was a bit touch and go but we didn't mind. The food was flavorful and authentic. Our favorites included the tom ka "lava" egg omelette, the papaya salad, tom ka soup, pad thai, and mango sticky rice. The tom ka omelette was by far the star of the show. It was so flavorful with a fluffy consistency, well seasoned shrimp, and a bed of white rice. I would definitely recommend this spot! The menu is huge so come ready to eat and try new things

This spot is so freakin amazing for some authentic home cooked Korean food. The owner is super nice…read moreand friendly! I got yukgaejang which had shredded beef and noodles. It was so good when I had it in the winter because the soup literally warmed my whole entire body including my soul. I love supporting these small mom-pop stores because you know you'll always be treated well! It is very spacious inside and ton of free parking in the plaza. You definitely cannot judge this place just from its looks. I love coming here and tell my friends all the time about this place. I cannot wait to visit again when winter hits because you would need some home cooked soup to survive winter in Chicago. Overall, very solid place just slightly outside the chaotic city traffic for a nice meal that makes you feel like you're eating at home.

Ban Po Jung feels like a true authentic mom and pop shop. While I was a bit underwhelmed with some…read moreof the dishes this time around, I would return and try other menu items Its a smaller restaurant up by ravenswood situated in a plaza with a small parking lot. There is also nearby street parking for free The owners didnt really speak english and service could use improvement especially since it was a slow night (1 other table to serve besides us), but wasnt really expecting much tbh (stigma of authentic mom and pop shops amirite??). The ahjoomah owner was so cute and lovely tho when she checked in on us - theyre nice people!! With that said, our meal started off with a complimentary veggie pancake, which was pretty big for being a free offering. It was perfectly crispy and went well with the sauce. The banchans were pretty mediocre i thought - the veggies tasted a bit bland, kimchi was fermented but lacked sauce, and fish cakes were very salty, which im personally ok with We wanted to try the raw marinated crab for our first times so we got two flavors. The spicy one was not bad, good mix of sweet and not too much of a kick. The sauce was a bit too pasty and thick for my liking. The soy based one was extremely salty. Like to the point where I couldnt do another piece. I wouldve liked for the crab itself to have a bit more meat as I felt like I was just eating sauce (could just be a me problem tho to be fair). The texture and dish overall is not my preference haha. First time for everything tho! Finally we had the dubu kimchi, which i enjoyed - the kimchi goes well with the tofu together. This seemed to be their own style of the dish since it was a lot more liquidy than traditionally served (as pictured), so it felt more "stewed" than stir fried, which i was fine with. Great portions on this but less meat than I wouldve liked

This restaurant was a lot of fun to visit. The ambiance is totally worth it in itself. All the…read morefood is very authentic Thai but has elevated and unique presentations. The service lives up to the land of a thousand smiles standards. The menu has plenty of amazing options. He also have a seasonal menu with rotating items. We're definitely going to have to come back for different food options that they have seasonally I would highly recommend this place to anyone

Fantastic atmosphere, but the food for the price was lacking a little for me. We tried:…read more- Heritage Thai Garlic Sausage (Isan Sausage) - Thai Railway Fried Rice Ribeye with Sunny side Egg - Basil Chicken Puffs - Shredded Pork with Chili Paste Puffs - Khao Soi Nimman The best was the Thai Railway Fried Rice Ribeye. The steak was cooked and seasoned well and so was the rice. A very rich umami flavor. However, the rest was okay. The puffs were a bit cold in the center and the filling a little dry, but the pastry was good. The Khao Soi Nimman was entertaining, but the fact that protein was an additional cost was a bit surprising. Again a fun atmosphere but I don't think I'd go back.

1. Quiet, small, quaint neighborhood treat. 2. The lamb…read moresoup was delicious; just what I needed for the first day of fall weather.

It's different. The dumplings were sumptuous. The kebab had a great spice and the chicken dish the…read moresame. I don't know what sauce they flavor everything with, but it just fabulous. I kept stopping everything up with the bread gave us that was still.Warm. Still waiting to have the honey cake If you're looking for something Asian, but not your typical Asian style restaurant, give them a try

08/02/26 - We had a lunch @ Busaba Garden today to show appreciation to my brother in law for some…read morework he did @ our house. Busaba is. Thai restaurant @ 3246 W Foster Ave. In addition my wife, his wife, daughter, adorable grandson & other brother in law were all there. Our sever B was awesome working by herself to cover our table of 6 along w/all the other tables in the restaurant. We have eaten here before but noticed that they have anew improved menu w/more selections. As usual the food was very good & the service was excellent. It was a very enjoyable lunch

We were looking for good Thai food close to Swedish Covenant hospital and saw Busaba Garden on…read moreYelp. We were not disappointed as the food was excellent. The pad thai was delicious- not sweet and the shrimp were cooked to perfection. The pineapple chicken ordered medium spice was also not sweet and the pad woon sen ordered medium spice was equally delicious. Nathan, our host and server was helpful and kind. The restaurant is intimate and nicely decorated.