"Just a few blocks away from Hug Esan and the rest of the little Bangkok spots, Saranrom Thai is right up there with some of the other big names in Elmhurst. Come with a small group, enjoy some bright, refreshing sake-based cocktails and get distracted by the reruns of Top Chef: Thailand that always seem to be on. The food doesn’t stick to one particular region, so feel free to order around the menu. Our perfect meal starts with a papaya salad and an order of the yum pla duk fu: a mango salad with shredded and fried catfish that is not to be missed. Grab a few curries and fragrant kee mao Thai (with some of the longest rice noodles we’ve ever seen), and finish off your meal with durian sticky rice." - bryan kim, hannah albertine, nikko duren, arden shore, will hartman