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    Paula's Thai Kitchen

    3.9 (177 reviews)
    ModerateThai
    Closed 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Paula's Thai Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

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    PAULA'S THAI KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Paula's Thai Kitchen

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    Stir-fried noodles with vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, and bean sprouts, served on a white square plate.
    Nolan F.

    1. Papaya Salad Thai style 2. Bamee BBQ Pork - Steamed egg noodles, BBQ pork, bean sprout, baby bok choy topped with green onion, cilantro, peanut and garlic. 3. Drunken Noodle - Stir-fried flat rice noodle, baby corn, peapod, carrot, tomato, beansprout, basil, with mild spicy brown sauce I'm going to try more Papaya salad moving forward. This one was so good and refreshing. Both the noodle dishes were flavorful and all the ingredients were cooked properly. No issues with service. I like the no frills interior. I would absolutely return.

    Paula's Curry Bowl (Gluten Free), very good!
    Yi B.

    Kudos to Paula for opening at 2pm on a Saturday, as opposed to some of other restaurants on the same street. Very cute yard, nicely shaded. Food was really good and I enjoyed everything I ordered. The waiter was missed one dish because he didn't take notes while we order, so if your food is not coming up for a while, might be a good idea to check. Otherwise, good experience. I would come back again.

    Panang Curry - A bowl of Thai chicken curry with boiled eggs is held outdoors at a street market, with tents and people visible in the background.
    Ashley H.

    Every neighborhood needs a solid go-to Thai restaurant! I had been eyeing Paula's for awhile and was finally able to try some of their menu at an outdoor pop-up event. The menu was sample sized but featured some favorites including spring rolls, noodles, desserts, and specialty drinks. The staff was very friendly and patient with the crowd of customers. I opted for the chicken panang curry and it did not disappoint! The sauce was so tasty and slightly spicy that I could just drink it, but the rice was the star of the show. It was perfectly sticky, fluffy, and incredibly addictive, soaking up the curry sauce perfectly. I appreciated that they did not skimp on the chicken, but found it to be a bit dry. Maybe this was just a challenge presented by maintaining inventory off-site all day. I highly recommend paying this restaurant a visit, and look forward to returning in person!

    Papaya Salad Thai Style (Gluten Free)
    Marian X.

    Ordered Ubereat once and I would give this place 3.5. Not a truly authentic Thai restaurant, lot of place could be improved on. It is a bit pricey compared the size of the portion of food givens I ordered lots of seafood dish, it is not very fresh and small amount of seafood were given. Tom Yum Soup (seafood): the flavor of the soup is enjoyable, but the not much of ingredients (seafood, mushrooms, etc.) were included. This soup was somehow really oily. I had Tom yum soup other places, but I don't remember it to be this oily. Papaya Salad: I ordered medium spice level, but it wasn't really spicy. The portion is small compared to the price I paid for. Lots of lime, but not much of a savor taste. The green beans were really RAW, I had to remove them. It is not well marinated. Just an ordinary papaya salad, nothing memorable. Garlic Scallops: I suggest on avoiding this dish. This dish is strongly flavored, you cannot taste the flavor of the scallops at all. All you can taste is the ginger and sauce (oyster sauce). It comes with lotssss of veggies and only a few scallops (5 to 6 smalls scallops). Definitely not worth the price. Seafood salad: overly priced for a small portion of seafood served. The seafood is small and not super fresh. The flavor was just alright, subtle sourness and spicy. Not an amazing dish. Overall, this place is pricy and the amount of seafood I got is just sad. Probably won't give this place a second try.

    Drunken Noodle
    Vina N.

    Found this place and was attracted to how cute it looked. The place has indoor and outdoor seating. One thing that was a bit off was the fact that, for the bathroom, you would have to go through the kitchen, but other than that the workers were super nice and the food was good!

    TIGER CRY - Grilled Steak
    Haley K.

    Cute patio area and very helpful and kind server. My food was good but would try a noodle dish next time. The tamarind sauce was sweet and unique. Really liked the ginger honey tea!

    Drinks did not meet expectations. Service was fine. The dining area was amazing. Everything else was great.

    Green beans and chicken - Fried rice with green peppers in a black container on a blue outdoor table, with chopsticks, a small cup of soy sauce, and a plastic lid nearby.
    June F.

    Came in for the lunch special because I just started working on the neighborhood. Probably the worst meal I have had in the 3 years I'm living in Chicago. I ordered string beans with chicken. It came with 3 potstickers. I ordered to go. When I opened the lid o saw the 2 potstickers which were somewhat warm, not tasty at all and this huge bowl of rice with a few little string beans, some green peppers a few tiny red peppers and a couple of little strands of chicken. Huh??? Where's the rest of the string beans. I ordered medium spice and it was so hot!!! Here is a photo of the lunch after I ate. The small portion of string beans and chicken.... Needless to say, I'll be finding other places for lunch at my job! Thanks for the white rice and spice.... Next time add something worth eating!

    Fried Garlic with Crispy Pork Belly
    Ron T.

    Paula's Thai Kitchen offers delicious dining, takeout and delivery to Chicago, IL. Paula's Thai Kitchen is a cornerstone in the Chicago community and has been recognized for its outstanding Thai cuisine, excellent service and friendly staff. Restaurant is known for its modern interpretation of classic dishes and its insistence on only using high quality fresh ingredients. Great outdoor patio with heater for winter dining.

    Moo ping
    Shambavi K.

    Food and service was pretty good overall. The prices were tad high for the small portions however the execution was pretty good. We liked the pad see wee with seafood (kid friendly). Moo ping, pad prik catfish was good too. The only dish that we didn't care for was bambee pork noodle ( the meat tasted different -not stale but just personal preference). The seating in the inner patio is attractive and away from traffic.

    No one sees here I highly recommend. - Interior of a restaurant with a wooden table in the foreground, black chairs, and a mural of a city skyline on the wall.

    Great place open airy just a few other people here 1/4 restaurant full both times I have came here.

    Butterfly Pea Ice Tea
    Erica N.

    After passing this spot for months, I finally check it out this Friday. I opted for a lunch special and kept it simple... Thai fried rice with added protein. I did the crab Rangoon appetizer and ordered on the speciality teas, Butterfly Pea Tea. Nothing disappointed. The portions was average for a lunch serving and was just enough for me. Full of flavor but I did not like the greens included. The stems were very firm and leafy portion just had a super strong taste that took away from the other flavors. After just pushing aside, it was all good. I'm notably a Thai ice tea fan but I chose something new and it was amazing. The butterfly pea was so refreshing and really sealed the meal. Service was ok. There was only a handful of patrons. I did not read other reviews prior to dining but agree that the prices were on the higher end. Perhaps to keep in competition with Noodles in the Pot just a few doors down. Overall, I liked it. I would recommend for date or solo dining experience.

    I called for a take out.. didn't order thru any apps but they charged me $9.05 for side of sticky rice
    Khwanchanok N.

    The food is tasty but it's way overpriced If you want to pay $10 for an order of sticky rice.. go for it.

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    6 months ago

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    24 days ago

    So good! Love the chicken egg rolls, chicken pad Thai, tom soup. They're fast and really nice too! Thank you!

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    11 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Loved Paula's Thai kitchen! It was delicious and it's so cute. Paula was very sweet. I can't wait to go back.

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    3 years ago

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    11 months ago

    The food was delicious and the outdoor seating was cute. Could not get enough of the crispy pad thai or gui dumplings.

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    2 years ago

    Friendly staff, cozy environment outside and the food was just amazing!!! The drunken noodle was spicy but the taste was on point!

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    2 years ago

    Overpriced. Served as as adequate. Hard to find location. Won't be back to this location

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    6 years ago

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Paula's Thai Kitchen

    What are your hours? We went there on Wednesday evening after our Thai friends raved about it, only to find out they were closed with no explanation even though their posted hours on Yelp said they were open. Kinda strange.

    They are open at listed hours at least as of august 2017

    View All 2 Questions

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    Tuk Tuk Thai Isan Street Food - MANGO STICKY RICE

    Tuk Tuk Thai Isan Street Food

    (341 reviews)

    $$

    Lakeview

    I went on two separate occasions, a weekend and a weekday. I made a reservation for both visits…read morebecause i was unsure of how busy it would be. Luckily with the reservation we were seated right away. For the weekend visit it was so hectic and service wasn't the best. We didn't get our order taken until about 20 minutes after being seated. We were sitting and waiting for a while. Trying to flag down a server was impossible because of how busy it was. On the weekday service was much more attentive. Visiting on a weekday would be much more worth it since you can just walk in. Both times we ordered the Tum Thai (papaya salad), but the only difference is on the weekend we were NOT allow to adjust the spicy level on the salad. The server informed us that it was already premade so spiciness was no adjustment. I loved it but the spicy level was a bit too much for me. Everything came out relatively quick. All the dishes were very well seasoned and saucy. My favorite was the kor moo yang, tum Thai, and mango sticky rice! I would come back just for the sticky rice because it is so addicting!!!

    Ive gotten taken from Tuk Tuk previously but dined in for the first time on a Monday evening. Close…read moreto closing time and having a large party, we naturally needed to wait to be seated. The place is relatively small, with the largest table seating about 7, so expect to be separated if coming with more people and potentially bumping chairs with your neighborinos Theres accessible metered parking directly outside especially on a weekday, but besides that.. the ambiance itself was bright and vibrant with a warm color scheme, great for a cold winter evening As a place thats known for its pad thai, Tuk Tuk really hit the nail on the head! The noodles were soft and moist coated with that iconic sauce (a bit too heavily tho IMO) that really captured the sweet, sour, and savory essence of a pad thai. Although it was on the sweeter side, Im glad i got to mix the ingredients myself, which included some salt and a generous amount of beef (only for an additional $2) to balance things out, resulting in a top contender across other thai restaurants in the city

    Muan Jai Thai Kitchen - Pad Ka Paow

    Muan Jai Thai Kitchen

    (108 reviews)

    $$

    Near North Side

    The food here is very good.I had chicken pad thai which was seasoned very well and the portion was…read moreeasily enough for two. I also had the tom yum soup ..i give it a ten. Spicy but very delicious..the service is equally as good. If you are in the area and in the mood for Thai , definitely stop in enjoy the cool vibes and good food.

    Came to Muan Jai Thai for lunch on the weekend and was happy with my visit - the decor is really…read morenice, lots of greenery and plants, st patties themed - overhead lamps add a nice touch and everything is pretty clean, bathrooms included. There are window views from the restaurant, making for good people watching. Mainly metered parking available Medium to large sized place with dedicated sections for thai food (about 8 tables and 2 rows of bar style seats) vs for sushi and ramen but all under the same place/owner, can order from any menu - the decor on that side is super cute, fish cutouts, anime/manga decorated walls, decked out bars Got the scuba diving chicken from the chefs faves and must say it was pretty good - a bit on the greasier side but the aroma of the herbs and the spices from the curry really pull through, chicken is cooked very well, super tender and juicy. I got the "No turning back" spice level and theres a hefty kick - halfway into the dish my mouth def feels it but nothing too extreme (FYI theres a slight mala-like numbingness to it) The traditional papaya salad was crunchy and refreshing, sauce is tangy but not too overwhelming. The peanuts add a nice nutty element to it. There were hardly any dried shrimp, so wouldve like to see a bit more of that. Be sure to give it a good mix as the sauce and topping fall to bottom of the bowl To top it off, the service was great. Albert was really attentive and helpful - would come back if im in the gold coast area again to try the other menu offerings

    JJ Thai Street Food - Crab fried rice - recommend adding a fried egg

    JJ Thai Street Food

    (562 reviews)

    $$

    Ukrainian Village, West Town

    So so good! My husband & I were craving Thai food and decided to come here for lunch. We got here…read morejust about a half hour opening and it was already pretty busy with people dining in and people waiting for takeout... always a good sign! Seating was a little tight like at Phodega, but not terrible. To view menu, you scan a QR code at the table. My husband & I ordered the following: - Grilled Squid This was really good! I thought it was going to come out like little calamari rings, but it was actually a decently sized whole squid, sliced with the tentacles on the side. It was cooked perfectly as it was not chewy or rubbery. The flavor was great, especially with the paired Thai-spicy seafood sauce. - Crab Meat Fried Rice Loved that this was with real crab! & not the imitation crab. There were bits of crab meat throughout the rice and then topped with a big lump of crab meat. It came served with a lime & yummy fish sauce with fresh Thai chili's. - Bamee Noodles with BBQ Pork without broth This bowl of egg noodles had a slightly sweet flavor to it, served with a fox amount of BBQ Pork which was also nice & tender! Slurped it all up! - Jina's Fried Chicken This was good, but not anything like out of this world. It was fried chicken leg quarter, served with black sticky rice. - Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango LOVED this! It was a great way to end our meal! I loved that it came with extra sweet sauce! - Taro Tapioca in Coconut Milk Cream This was great too! It was actually a warm dessert. The menu described it as "Tapioca pearls" so I was expecting the tiny little clear boba balls, but it was cubes of like glutinous rice. Which was not bad! I liked it a lot; it reminded me of Ginataang Bilo Bilo (#iykyk if you're Filipino)! Overall, a delicious experience! We would eat here again!

    Crab fried rice here is the show! The fried rice had a generous amount of crab. It wasn't the fake…read morecrab either. The rice was perfectly made. Not salty either. I could have ate more of this. Crispy chicken was my other favorite and grilled squid. Yumm! I love how they made the chicken. It did need more veggies though. I was disappointed in the pad thai. You gave me a plate of bean sprouts. We barely got any noodles and 2 pieces of shrimp. Bogus. This dish needed more noodles and shrimp. Papaya salad was okay. Service was quick! Ambiance- casual. I'd come back again but don't be cheap with the pad Thai. Rice noodles aren't expensive bruh.

    Paula's Thai Kitchen - thai - Updated May 2026

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