Madame Puffs & Thai Bistro - Review - Lincoln Square - Chicago - The Infatuation

"At this solid Lincoln Square spot, the Thai puffs prove they’re worthy of the restaurant's name. Each pastry pocket has a delicate flakiness and comes with fantastic savory fillings like peppery basil chicken or curry chicken. We’d gladly make a light on-the-go meal out of them, and add one of the sweet versions for dessert. Madame Puffs also has plenty of showier entrees—panang curry gets poured tableside next to abstract art while full tables of friends snap pictures of kao soi that suspends chopsticks in the air thanks to fried noodle engineering. But while the gravity-defying noodles and curries are solid (albeit with occasionally overcooked proteins), if you want a casual sit-down meal in the area, the puffs are the main reason to swing by. Food Rundown Puffs These stuffed pastries come with a variety of sweet and savory fillings and can be ordered to-go from the counter at the front. You can’t go wrong with any of the savory options like curry chicken with spiced potatoes, basil chicken, and shredded spicy pork. And for the sweet ones, our favorite is the pineapple—the fruity filling nicely complements the buttery shell. photo credit: John Ringor Thai Fish Cakes Our favorite non-puff appetizer. They’re soft with plenty of lemongrass flavor and come with a sweet chili sauce for a little kick. photo credit: John Ringor Kao Soi With Chicken Any time this makes its way from the kitchen to a table with its fried noodle-chopstick sculpture, a few wandering eyes and some audible “wows” will accompany it. But while the smoky and slightly sweet curry is tasty, the chicken is a bit dry. photo credit: John Ringor Panang Curry With Ribeye Their panang curry is served in a little pitcher and poured over carrots, asparagus, and a protein of choice. The rich and nutty curry is great, but gets overpowered by the marinade of the beef—which, like the chicken in the kao soi, is also a little overcooked. photo credit: John Ringor" - John Ringor