I ordered raw shrimp salad, pad see yiu and eggplant dish. Everything tasted so good until I found an ant in the rice they packed. It ruined this whole meal. The food tastes great but hygiene is questionable. read more

Paula's Thai Kitchen - Rice - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This place is VERY VERY good however definitely better in-person or pickup than takeout. It just didn't taste the same after being in a car for 30minutes. My only complaint is that it's kind of a pricey, however the duck pad see ew really can't be beat so worth the extra few bucks. read more

The drunken noodles was absolutely delicious!! The green Thai curry was pretty good too. I just wish it was slightly spicier

Wow wow wow! Haven't been this impressed with food since the pandemic started. In the past month we've visited twice and both times loved every dish we ordered. Be warned though, flavors are strong and spice level is high, but you won't be able to stop eating because everything is so tasty. Personal favorites are the bamee with bbq pork, spicy basil with preserved egg, padwoonsen, and crispy rice salad. It's also byob. Definitely make res for the patio tables, indoor is tiny and loud and hectic. Our second visit was a bit odd as I'd called ahead for a same day reservation, but after finally getting to the host stand after the people picking up takeouts, I was told there are no tables available and then was just ignored. Um what? Thankfully we asked another lady who was much nicer and she told us they're cleaning up and we just needed to wait a bit. I get it they were swamped but all I needed was an estimate of wait time. The first waitress did eventually apologize to us at the end of the night so no hard feelings. Will be back! read more

See all

*Disclaimer: I am Thai, and I will no longer bring my business to the restaurant I have been a frequent customer (at least 2 times a week) at Paula's Thai Kitchen for approximately 1 year. I have recommended and spoken highly about the place to all my friends. Many of them are also now frequent customers. Recently, the quality of service at Paula's has been dropping significantly, especially around the weekend. I have had to spend over 2.5 to 3 hours every time I visit due to "a large number of customers". However, during my latest visits, I witnessed other customers come in and out while I had to ask the waitresses for every single service (water, check, food, etc.). Additionally, the attitude of the waitresses over the weekend could not be worse. On top of that, during my last visit, the waitresses sneaked a 40% tip onto ~$100 bill without informing us. Having not experienced this level of unethical behaviors before, we were caught off guard. My friend, who wanted to give the waitresses the benefit of the doubt because they were busy, ended up tipping an additional 20% on top of the bill. During the payment process, they pretended to "apologize" about the level of care we received, to distract us from the additional tip sneaked in. Please see the review by "Gabriella Rocha" for the picture of the bill. read more

Wow!! If you are looking for authentic Thai food and want more Lao flavored dishes, this is the spot. Their papaya salad korat style was just what I was looking for! Everything was flavorful and spicy - just how I love. I cannot recommend this place enough if you're looking for real Thai flavors. This is definitely the first Thai place I've found in the city that is serving this style of Thai food. My new go to Thai restaurant. Get out of your comfort zone and order from here! read more

See all

On a very cold night after a concert at DePaul, late Thai sounded perfect, and they did not let us down! The interior is very small but cozy, we sat far away from the windows to warm up. I licked the bowl clean, it was so warm and filling. They have several types of soups in big bowls, I got the beef and noodle special. read more

This is the best Thai food in Chicago. Trust me I'm Thai. If you are not ordering from their special Thai menu, you are doing it wrong. If you are here for pot sticker or orange chicken, don't do it ecause those are NOT Thai food. I've been here two times now. Everybody in my party loves it both times! The first time we ordered: pork with garlic sauce, basil with preserved eggs, seafood spicy hot pot, squid stream spicy lime sauce, papaya salad crab "Plara", and pork preserved herb salad. The garlic sauce was very authentic and delicious with a lot of garlic and cilantro root (very hard to find this in Chicago!). The basil with preserved eggs was really really good. It was not too sweet nor too salty, just about right! The basil leaves were crispy and there were a generous amount of those. Other reviewer complained that there were too many eggs, but I don't see why this is bad! The hot pot and squid were very delicious with just the right amount of spiciness and sourness (with real lime!). My friends told me that the "Plara" (fermented fish) here is sooooooo good but I don't like it so I didn't try. The second time I was there, we ordered sparerib soup hot pot, pork shoulder grill, and papaya salad Thai. They were very good too. The spareribs and the pork shoulders were very tender! The waitress and the owner/chef were very friendly. The service can be slow, but this is understandable since there were only one servers and the food need to be made fresh. Most bad reviews here were because they didn't know Thai food and tried to order some non-Thai dishes. Or they were disappointed at the take out or the delivery, especially with the noodle dish which is just stupid since everybody knows the noodle would get soggy if you wait too long. Never trust uneducated yelp reviews, epecially when it comes to ethnic food! To sum it up, order from their Thai menu, be patient, and you will get the best Thai food in Chicago! read more

See all

Came when they must have just opened. Ordered two lunch specials. Don't know why they did not separate the curry and rice as it was a takeout order. By the time I got home, curry was mushy and the gyoza was soggy in the sauce. read more

See all

Very cute patio which can be hard to find with Asian food. The food was great, good vegetarian options as well. I wish they had put more veggies in the curry dish, but overall it was great read more

Came here twice while visiting Chicago!! The best place to have authentic Thai food! Told the waiter we wanted everything spicy and they did just that! read more

See all

I've ordered takeout here twice. Delivery is super fast and the food is always hot and tasty. I had Thai red curry with chicken and green beans and it was excellent. The only downside was there was a lot of rice- strategically placed to make the meat and veggies look like there was more than there actually was. The chicken egg rolls are fantastic. Can't wait to try more things here! read more

Paula's Thai Kitchen - Thai red curry with chicken (I don't remember the menu name) - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really loved the atmosphere on their outdoor, covered, heated patio and the food was delicious!

Beautiful restaurant and wonderful service. The food and drinks are immaculate and have such an amazing twist to them. 10/10 would totally go again. Only downside is that they already include 20% tip. read more

Very good and authentic, sad it took 7 years for me to try this place. Delivery times are long so order accordingly. I recommend ordering double the amount of food-- so you wont have to cook the next day either :) read more

I went here to try some new Thai takeout. Wow! What a disappointment! 1st I was charged an additional $1.80 on a $10 Pad Thai. When asked what it was. "City tax" City tax is 9%. That's illegal. 2nd, the chicken Pad Thai was awful. Noodles were a coagulated mass of overcooked grossness. No fresh vegetables, I did spy an onion shoot in there was one. No cilantro or herbs in the dish. No sauce either. I will not be going back. read more

Paula's Thai Kitchen - The wonderfully colorful Paula's Pad Thai. *sarcasm - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered take out, chicken pad Thai for $19 with tax. Picked it up and felt light. Possibly the smallest order of Asian food I have ever received. Also probably the least flavorful order of Pad Thai I have ever eaten. read more

Good food but very expensive for what you get. Ordered chicken pad se ewe takeout - it was $22 for a very, very small portion.

Great food! I've been looking for Yum Salad everywhere since I came back from Thailand and I cannot find it not make it anything close to how I had it over there. But Paula's makes it pretty darn close!!! We tried this place before heading back to Wisconsin and I'm definitely going to come again! The people are pretty nice. It's a small place with parking on the street (metered). The bathroom is in the back which kinda was weird walking thru the kitchen. But I really care more about the food than anything. Papaya salad was pretty bomb too! And you know a place is authentic when they got the papaya salad down! read more

Paula's Thai Kitchen - Yum Woon Sen Salad and Papaya Salad with crispy pork belly Thai style - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place made me sooooooo happy. It's authentic I swear I'm THAI. I hope it stays. I hate I have to cook Thai sometimes bc it's process . The taste reminded me of when I'm in Thailand. I will be returning with my friends. I ordered PAD SEE EEW (btw we rarely eat pad Thai it's for westerners but this is the noodle plate we usually eat), papaya salad ESAN, sticky rice, Kai tod (fried chicken), red curry, pork liver salad, poo Ming and I was happy with everything. read more

Environment is beautiful. Dish presentation is beautiful too. However, foods tasted awful! maybe their chef was on vocation? We only see three Hispanic boys and one girl were cooking in the kitchen. read more

See all

I will start with a caveat: I've never eaten in here, it's only been takeout. That said, every single time I've ordered from Paula's has been a great experience. The food is consistently excellent. I have no complaints about anything I've ordered, and I tend to get different items each time. I've ordered Paula's when visitors were in from out of town and the consensus is positive. Service is above and beyond (I'm talking to the driver who ran up to me in pouring rain so I didn't have to get wet...thank you!!). I love this place, I'd recommend it to everyone. read more

My journey to find the best pad thai in the United States continues. Eagerly, I make my way to the next thai restuarant on my list-- Paula's Thai Kitchen. My doordash driver drops off my order. I scurry up the stairs, excited to unveil the noodles. I take the noodles out of the bag and the first thing I see is beautiful, fresh, brightly colored vegetables. "Finally" I whisper to myself, "some damn fresh vegetables." I rip off the lid and dig in. Alas, I am immediately met with disappointment. First of all, the noodles looked like spaghetti noodles. I didn't realize I was ordering pasta. Second, the sauce tasted like simple syrup. It was water-y and overly sweet and it lacked any depth of flavor to the point that I couldn't finish the dish. Sad. My journey continues. read more

Food is ok. Very overpriced, considering the portions and overall value. Sticky rice and mango is delicious though.

Real authentic Thai cuisine that is extremely fresh and delicious! The vibe is chill and staff are super nice and hospitable. Highly Highly recommended (: read more

I had a great time at Paula's! We had the Pad Ginger and the Paula's Curry Bowl with tofu and they were both fantastic. The curry bowl was creamy and savory, wonderfully presented with fresh garnishes. The Pad Ginger was simple but so good and loaded with flavor. Definitely a must-try The waitress was really nice and seated us late shortly before closing. Great meal and great service! read more

the food here was pretty decent!! definitly not the best thai food i've had in chicago, but coming a little tipsy after a concert was such a nice experience. i got the steamed squid in spicy lime sauce and the dish came with SOOOOOO much squid and the flavor was spot on. i think the squid felt a little undercooked for my liking, but i also wasn't in the complete right state to be judging food, so it tasted good no matter what!! paula's def has a lot of menu items that aren't your stereotypical green curry or pad thai, and i would come back to try some of those someday!! read more

Paula's Thai Kitchen - menu from 2019 !! prices aren't probably too accurate anymore - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

As a Thai who's lived in the US for a while, I highly recommend this restaurant. The taste was authentic and the service was great. My significant other and I enjoyed this place with so much bliss. We highly recommend the noodle soups and the Isaarn food. read more

This place was great. Took my mom here for her birthday dinner and we ordered a bunch of our favorites and some new. Our waitress Fon was so kind and recommended the shrimp in a blanket appetizer which was awesome. I'm obsessed with Tom yum and green curry and both were delicious. Will be back again! read more

Paula's Thai Kitchen - Cucumber Salad, Shrimp in a Blanket, Tom Yum Hot Pot Soup - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Just wanna say that I ordered from them the other day and the food quality is still SO good despite shelter in place. Not trying to bash on other Thai restaurants but I tried to order from some other places (support some businesses) but the quality of the dishes slipped a lot relative to pre COVID but not Paula's :) TBH the food here is still the best Thai in chi hands down!! read more

I came to study and the food was sooo good. The restaurant has a home style feel and the energy is good. I had the shrimp in the blanket, Thai iced tea and the seafood Yen ta fo. I like spicy seafood and it was perfect. Thank you Jun for the recommendations. I will come back! read more

Paula's Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Oooooooooommmggg think I found my favorite penang curry in the city!! Almost licked my (I totally licked my bowl) good. Honestly didnt need or want to eat anything else but fine, I'll go on. We wanted thai vegetable puff but they ran out so got the spring roll but it sucked in my opinion. The crab rangoon was basic and the beef pad thai was mentioned it was good. They had a pretty extensive menu with some basics and some definitely unique items. I will 100% be back and probably crave the penang 24/7 but I'll behave and anticipate my next time and hope it's still delicious! read more

This is a gem--surprisingly authentic Thai food. Very easy to order for pick up- not much of a sitting environment. We had the Tom yum soup which was so flavorful and delicious. The pad kee moa was also delicious. I will be back! read more

I thought Panang curry was thick and full of potatoes and onions. Nope. Thin. Watery. Small serving. No vegetables except green peppers. I won't be coming back. Too high priced by comparison to other Thai restaurants in the area. read more

The food is delicious, but the portion sizes were a bit on the smaller side. Had the Pad See Ew, which was SO yummy. So close to my home so I will likely be back, even though I'm a big fan of Noodles In The Pot right next door :) read more

I want to be optimistic and say I chose poorly from the menu. This place is adorable and has a wide variety of items, but I do not recommend the Crispy Pad Thai. It is fried noodles which tasted like you were eating the outside of an egg roll. Not a sufficient entree. Had to order a different meal. read more

This place is actually really delicious... I was expecting it to be generic thai food because of the neighborhood but they actually have more uncommon dishes that previously I had been going to restaurants like Sticky Rice on Western for. Really enjoyed their Larb Crispy Pork Belly, Crispy Rice Salad with Nem Sausage, Spicy Basil Leaves, and of course the Sticky Rice with Mango. Their ingredients taste really fresh and high quality. read more

Great meal! We enjoyed our take out here and will be back. The crab Rangoon was amazing and the perfect size. The most authentic Thai I've had in Chicago - can't wait to return and try more. read more

Paula's Thai Kitchen - Thai Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good quality Thai! Good portions, comes with spicy sauce on the side if you want to add it on. Would recommend.

One of my favorite Thai spots in Chicago. The food is so fresh and authentic. When they say spicy, they mean SPICY. Great staff and very friendly. Location is also very good. Only down side is the space is pretty small and has limited seating, so if you have a bigger group or want to dine in during dinner hours, especially on weekends, expect to wait for a bit. We never had to wait, though. This place is awesome! read more