Mahanakhon Noodle Bar

Good vibes and I was happy to find this place serving boat noodles (a favorite dish of mine that I had in Thailand). Butterfly pea juice (among a few choices) was a nice free addition for the lunch special. The soup had a good taste but it didn’t quite match the depth I remember. It could be the day, because some photos from reviews at Mahanakhon look very close to what I was expecting. At least for my serving, the water level looks really high (perhaps causing dilution), the broth not as textury as the photos I reminisce on, and just missing the messy spices I’ve seen dashed around. I would definitely come back to retry as well as give other dishes a look too.

We got takeout from the restaurant and most of the dishes were flavorful and delicious. The ribs with green chili (Leng) is definitely the highlight! The meat falls off the bone into a rich and spicy broth that will make you crave for rice. Other items we also enjoyed include dry noodles and ka prow moo which were flavorful with a kick. Don’t sleep on the dessert! We got the itim kati (coconut icecream) and kanom tuay (coconut pudding) and thoroughly finished them both. If anything, I do not recommend the crab fried rice and a small warning is that the non spicy option is still a bit spicy!

For our entree we ordered the Thai Boat Noodles and Leng (pork bone soup). Both were great! For dessert we got the coconut milk ice cream and grilled banana dessert. Everything was authentic, the price was affordable and the portion sizes were suitable. Would definitely come back to try other items on the menu. *One thing to note was that the restaurant was a little cold when we visited (with fans blowing away from us), and so it made our food colder faster.*

The Thai food scene in Chicago is well-established, but finding a spot that serves Thai hotpot is no easy task. Hence, when I saw it on Mahanakhon’s menu, I knew I had to try it—and I’m happy to report they deliver authentic and satisfying Thai hotpots. The papaya salad was decent. Dry noodles were saucy, hearty, and delicious. But the highlight of my meal was no doubt the mor fai nuer toon (stewed beef hot pot). Piping hot, flavorful, mildly spicy broth paired with succulent, tender beef, satisfyingly chewy tendon, and bouncy beef balls. The veggies, slightly cooked in the broth, offered a nice crunch to the dish. Topping it off was a generous amount of fried garlic, which elevated the dish with its wonderfully garlicky crunch. Definitely hit the spot on a cold day. Service was also great: fast, courteous, and friendly.

Yummy! The stewed beef hot pot was definitely the highlight - tom yum noodles marked as spicy on the menu weren’t and I think had cooled for a little too long. Everything else fantastic and I would come back. With tax & tip the two entrees, dessert and drinks came out to $40 pp between me and my friend

Best Khao soy in Chicago. The beef stew, calamari and meatballs were also delicious. Confident in saying pretty much everything on the menu is delicious, looking forward to going back soon. Service and ambience were also excellent. 10/10

I might have just found my new favorite Thai noodle spot in Chicago! The food is incredibly comforting and well-flavored, and the interior is beautifully designed. During our visit, we tried the Mor Fai Nuer Toon (Stewed Beef Hotpot), which was hearty and generously filled with tender beef pieces, beef balls, and beef tendons. The boat noodles had a slight spice kick with a rich, flavorful broth and a similarly generous amount of beef. The Ba Mee Poo was refreshing and came with sizable pieces of crab meat, while the Khao Soi was well-seasoned, with a rich creamy curry base & tender beef shanks. I was very impressed by the overall quality of the food, and the well-decorated dining space made the experience even better. I am very excited to return and try more dishes.

I visited this restaurant due to its affiliation with Krung Thep Thai Cuisine on Halstead, which is one of our top-rated Thai eateries in Chicago. While certain items were identical, the Khao soi proved excessively salty. The desserts were the only notable aspect of our experience. The pricing for lunch was exorbitant, and the portions were excessively generous.

Been wanting to try this place out for a while after a Thai lady from my local Thai market suggested to come here (particularly for their Papaya salad). My friend and I were very impressed with the authenticity of the food as well as the great options that they had. We started off with a skewer appetizer which was good, but honestly the Leng hot pot soup option and the papaya salad truly hit the mark. My friend who's been to Thailand many times told me that this tastes basically identical to the street food flavors he had in Bangkok. The service was also perfect and friendly. They constantly came to refill our water cups as well. The spice levels are also not something to ignore. We ordered the "medium" spicy options, and we both felt that it was true to a Thai level of spice. We both can handle spice fairly well, so I'd imagine the hot and Thai hot to pretty intense. Next time we said we definitely want to try the boat noodles based off of the other reviews and recommendations. Everything here looks fire!

Ambiance - a neighborhood gem, great for dates, offers 1 table for larger party Service - food came out super fast, received our order within 10-15 min Food - crispy calamari was missing some flavor (batter itself was bland), clear soup noodles was the ultimate comfort food I needed, the homemade red sauce on the Kao moo dang paired really well with the roasted red pork

Came here with a group of friends and ordered a few dishes to try. Get the Boat Noodles!!! The broth is super flavorful! The Spicy level is just about right for those that can take the heat! Not too hot that would numb your tongue, but hot enough that make the food more interesting and intense. The next level after that is Thai Spicy... therefore, I had the Spicy som tum The seafood salad is def a must as well. Very fresh! Almost felt like Thai ceviche where the seafood is cooked with the chili pepper! Want to come back to try the beef hotpot which we were too full to order.

Great restaurant! I wish they had more authentic options. Staff is lovely. Interior is adorable. I would recommend the crab fried rice!

I stopped in for an early Sunday dinner, and there were plenty of tables. I ordered the boat noodles for dine-in and papaya salad for takeout. I was excited to see that there were some slightly less common Thai dishes on the menu. The entrance is kind of narrow because it's on the corner, but the space is actually a little bigger than you'd think. I love boat noodles, and this definitely satisfied the craving. The amount of meat was pretty generous in proportion to the serving size. The soup had an adequate depth of flavor. There are a lot of Thai restaurants in this neighborhood, but I would definitely come back for the convenience.

This new noodle bar opened on the corner and I was excited to try it out. We called ahead and found out it was BYOB. Further, when we got there, the place is very cute inside. Very cozy. I ordered the Boat noodles and my friends ordered a crab rice dish and curry. Everyone was happy with their dishes. I got to choose pork or beef for my soup. My soup was great other than one piece of meat I wasn't a fan of. I think it was liver beef. Otherwise it was a huge meal. The servers were nice. I would definitely return.

Stumbled here randomly around 2 pm on a Sunday! Ambiance: this place is small but has plenty of seating - there's multiple 2-4 tables and there was 1 big 6-8 table. Loved the homey decor and the music wasn't too loud and definitely added to an overall pleasant experience Service: they were quick and friendly - answered some of our questions and accommodated a little switch I requested! Food came out quickly and they made sure to check up on us frequently. Waters were always filled up and ice cold!! Food: I got the boat noodles for myself - they normally come with thin rice noodles but I asked for wide flat noodles. If they can accommodate it, I recommend it! For $18, it's packed with beef balls and tripe in the thick, savory, beef broth. Not the best boat noodle I've had but still tasty regardless. It is about a medium spice, perfect level in my opinion My bf got the panang curry with crispy noodles. The noodles are CRISPY and honestly the texture of thin kettle cooked chips. Pretty yummy and paired well with the curry. The curry is creamy and sweet, and is packed with beef. They don't skimp on the portions and all our food was quite yummy. Would love to come back and try something new!

Authentic and delicious Thai food. We ordered the papaya salad, crab fried rice, leng and boat noodles. Everything was great, especially the leng and boat noodles. The ambiance is very charming and our server was very helpful. Can't wait to come back to try other dishes!

For our entree we ordered the Thai Boat Noodles and Leng (pork bone soup). Both were great! For dessert we got the coconut milk ice cream and grilled banana dessert. Everything was authentic, the price was affordable and the portion sizes were suitable. Would definitely come back to try other items on the menu. *One thing to note was that the restaurant was a little cold when we visited (with fans blowing away from us), and so it made our food colder faster.*

This place is definitely a hidden gem... for now. The food is packed with flavor and beautifully presented. We ordered various items, but the standout dish was the boat noodles. The staff were incredibly friendly and made great recommendations based on our preferences. The inside is quite small but cozy and vibrant. Tip: Ask for the menu featuring all the available papaya salads, as not everything is listed on the main menu.

Exterior looked deceptively closed, especially with the mechanics' next door, but this turned out to be a yummy Thai place in Roscoe Village. I got the Kao Mun Gai, which always comes with the most delicious sauce on earth. The accompanying soup was very clean and quite refreshing. My friend got the Ba-Mee Poo, the crab noodles, and she cleaned her plate. She also got, of course, a Thai iced tea, which was delicious. Highly recommend for a quick lunch or dinner while checking out some of the local businesses in the area.

Great food and comfortable interior in the wedge space of a corner building! I live in the neighborhood and entering this noodle bar and discovering the larger space inside was a delight, given that the outside of the building looks very small. Don't be fooled! The food is incredible and I'll be back for more. I particularly enjoyed the Moo Kra Tiem, which had really delicous pork. The Kanom Tuay (coconut milk custard) for dessert was really really tasty. It comes in 5 little bowls (like each maybe 1oz), so it's also easy to split with a few people (or enjoy all yourself!). The thai iced tea was delicoius and very sweet. Service was straightforward and attentive, no complaints there.

went for the first time today after noticing its grand opening a few weeks ago. so glad we did. the food, space (super cute), and service were great. but mostly excited about the food -- love to have another neighborhood noodle joint. had the crispy wontons to start off, which were very tasty (however, no tamarind sauce, but the sauce it did come with worked fine). i ordered the dry noodles which were excellent and the side soup it came with was a nice addition. and lastly (since i have a massive sweet tooth and love pandan) the kanom tuay was pretty incredible. already looking forward to have it again. excited to go back and check out other options on the menu!

Authentic Thai food! Great service. Great Som Tum, calamari, and noodle soups - all of them. Between me and my friends, we have tasted pretty much all of them. Even their Kra Pow is very good.

Discovering Mahanakhon Noodle Bar was an absolute delight. Every dish evoked nostalgic memories of my childhood in Chiang Mai. The standout dish was undoubtedly the Tom Yum noodle soup. While the word "authentic" is often overused in this part of the world, Mahanakhon's version truly lives up to the claim. Unlike the generic Tom Yum broths that rely on sweet shrimp paste, their recipe is a traditional blend of white sugar, generous amounts of lime juice, fish sauce, and the crucial element: crushed peanuts. This combination creates a harmonious symphony of tangy, savory, and sweet notes that is truly unique to this noodle soup. To complete the experience, I ordered my childhood favorite dessert, the shaved ice. This decadent treat, with its delicate ice flakes, sweet condensed milk, and colorful toppings from Hale's Blue Boy flavored syrup, was the perfect extravagant finale to a truly memorable meal. Mahanakhon Noodle Bar captures the essence of Thailand with its authentic flavors and cozy ambiance. I highly recommend this gem to anyone seeking a genuine taste of Thai cuisine. Don't just take my word for it - check out the photos of these delectable dishes and prepare to be amazed!

I'm a big Fan of noodle in general. Even I been living in Chicago for a while, I found only a few solid ones in there. Somehow right after Mahanakhon opened and my first visit; their boat noodle beat all the ranking in my mind. So far it's my number one on the list.

Food was great. You have to order the leng, broth is amazing, meat was fall of the bone! We also ordered the -Ka prow moo: very solid dish and spicy -Ka prow Nuer toon: so tender, and spicy my friend would was so surprised by how tender and good it was. -Kao moon dang: all he said was this shit hits. The only down side was us fighting over the leng soup cause it was that good.

I have biked past this pace several times and decided to finally check it out. The inside is small but cute, definitely best for a couple or a small group. Food came out quickly and was tasty. My partner went back and took a friend they liked it so much

Update - I ate here again and the service was much better and the food was better. I may have just not ordered the right thing for myself. I think the prices are too high but it's not bad.

Most authentic and delicious Thai food I've had since I lived in Seattle. Service was fantastic, waiter was so kind and helpful!

New to the neighborhood, but a can't miss place! The green curry is incredible, tastes very authentic and some of the best in the city. The boat noodle is also amazing, very flavorful and perfect for a fall day. Will be returning.

Love this place! The food was super authentic. And everything was flavorful and delicious.

I've been twice now and it's so good with such friendly staff! I can't wait to go back the food is amazing

Wow. Best Thai I've had in Chicago hands down. Everything tasted so fresh and authentic. They were very busy and understaffed, but the server was so sweet and helpful. May order for pickup today... so good!