Muan Jai Thai Kitchen

while walking in chicago , I found this place & added it in my must do before I leave ; I came here for the thai food , but looking at the rotatory plates chose the hot pot meals - for 90 mins this is Food-orgasm. Also look at the price point - its a great deal. There are so many options for the non-vegetarian as well as the vegetarians . In terms of my choice of broth - I chose the tom yum & I will say its the best .... its a great place for single diners too and definitely for a family . Each table can accomodate 4 diners & a single meal session is upto 90 mins. Don't waste your proteins - there is a penalty for that , so choose wisely.

Delicious food, the crying tiger and its sauce was great! Pad thai was also delicious and a hefty portion. The food looked good so I ended up spending more than originally planned, but it was worth it.

I came to visit from Texas, and this was one of my favorite places we ate at. I had the Cashew stir fry with fried chicken and extra spicy, delicious! We also had the matcha ice cream for dinner, definitely recommend. Our server was Anna, incredible sweet and helped me decide on my meal and made great conversation. When i’m back in Chicago i’m definitely coming back here.

This restaurant came, saw, and conquered. The street in which it resides will never be the same. Food so good that I wish I could pay rent to live in the kitchen. It’s as if the seas of Thailand have come to intermingle with our Lake Michigan. Crispy pork so good, I’d drive through all 7 seas and 7 mountains come back .We thought the regular Thai tea was already too good to be true but the green Thai tea was borderline unlawfully sinful (this is a good thing ૮₍´˶• . • ⑅ ₎ა) <333 Muan Jai, you have permanent place in my mind, body, soul, and heart. Also an extra special shout out to the two loveliest souls that aided us in our voyage through Thai cuisine, Beverly and Albert; because in the Muan Jai, we all fam <3.

Another surprise find. The Thai food is probably the best you can find. We have been to many Thai places and I can say the Kua Kling was the best hands down! Also had Pad Kra Pao and Basil Fried Rice, all which were delicious. My wife was excited to see the Luke chin pla on the menu and made it dissappear in minutes 😋. We plan to go back soon because we couldn't eat enough. Very nice place with great people too.

This has been one of my favorite Thai spots in downtown Chicago. I’ve dined in a few times and ordered pickup multiple times, and the food has always been solid. It’s located next to the hotpot place, so it’s easy to find. Food – 5/5 Everything I’ve tried has been really tasty and well-prepared. - Pad Thai: Really good! The first time, it was spicier than expected but still had great flavor. The second time, we asked for less spice, and it was just right. - Crispy Chicken: A great appetizer. Crispy, flavorful, and served with sweet and sour sauce on the side. My favorite!! - Tom Kha and Tom Yum Soup: Probably the best dishes I’ve had here. Bold flavors and really well-balanced. I get the squid one and it was very well cooked!! - Thai Iced Tea: Tastes great, and I liked that they serve it in a medium-sized bowl—nice little touch. Service has always been quick and efficient, especially for pickup. The restaurant has plenty of tables, but the high chairs weren’t the most comfortable for the table height. Parking is typical for downtown—street parking is available but pricey and sometimes hard to find, especially on weekends. It’s close to a CTA station and bus stops, so public transit is a good option. Overall, Muan Jai is definitely my go-to for Thai food in the area. The food is great, and they definitely deserve a higher rating!

A few friends and I ate at this restaurant during early October 2024. We wanted something different so we took a ride out from our hotel to try this Thai restaurant. Because there was no wait to be seated, we were very excited. The restaurant was very quiet and clean. Our server was very attentive. The food was very tasty. I can truly foresee myself returning to this restaurant in the future.

Amazing food. We ordered fried rice which was outstanding. The green curry was awesome. The service is excellent.

Small space, great food! Came here with two friends for lunch on a Sunday and it was pretty empty. Service was very friendly and quick. They were happy to answer our questions, make small tweaks to the dishes, and very attentive. We ordered 3 things: Crab curry, Tofu Pad thai, and Pad Cha cha cha. The crab curry and pad cha cha cha were a little salty on its own but definitely very flavorful. Both of these dishes were also served with jasmine rice, which was definitely necessary. The pad thai was really good. My friend asked for a few omissions from the original menu item which were gladly made for her. Overall, I would definitely come again to try other dishes, and plan to!

This place has been extremely disappointing and I would not recommend it to anyone! When we walked in we knew they had limited vegetarian options, but we weren't expecting the limited option would taste almost the same, would be undercooked or bland. My friends and I ordered Chive dumplings to share for apps. It was served with a sweet soy sauce which wasn't complimenting the dish at all. When asked for hot sauce, the server mentioned that they don't have it and instead offered vinegar with chilly powder. For main course we ordered basil fried rice, regular fried rice and pad see ew with veggies. Everything tasted almost the same and like mentioned earlier, it was served with uncooked veggies and was bland! The server also messed up our order for the main course and instead of apologizing or clarifying blamed it arrogantly on language barrier. Not to forget, the tables are extremely small and they serve water in weird bowls. I have been looking for a good Thai restaurant in downtown neighborhood since forever now, so far have only been disappointed.

Please steer clear of this place if you can! We swung by here since we were very hungry and needed a quick bite to eat. The ambience is basic. The tables are weird. The service? Even weirder. Our server was kinda rude and was talking to us really loudly. When we were trying to order, she affirmed that she understood the order but when the order arrived and we realized it was wrong, she blamed in on the language barrier. The food was mid at best. Chives dumplings are my favorite and the dumplings here were a bit sweet. We ordered the pad see eew with veggies and tofu, basil fried rice and the regular fried rice along with the chicken curry. None of the dishes stood out. Chicago lacks decent Thai restaurants and this restaurant just proved my point. Also, the glassware was almost off putting. Giving this place 2 stars because the food was piping hot, otherwise I would have given it a 1 star. I will never be back.

We swung by this place on a cold evening, because we were craving some Thai food. Place was pretty empty, so we got seated right away. The vibe? Kinda meh, basic, nothing special. The weirdest part? They gave us water in these tiny silver bowls that looked like hand washing bowls; I just avoided drinking water form it the whole meal. We started with veggie dumplings (nothing mind-blowing). I got the Panang chicken curry, which was decent. The service was disappointing. Our server had major attitude, messed up my friend's order and then blamed it on a "communication barrier" when she clearly understood it the first time. Not cool. The food was meh and the vibes and service? Hard pass. Wouldn't go out of my way to go back.

What the restaurant lacks in ambiance it makes up in the quality of the dishes. We started with their papaya salad (Som Tam Thai), which had quite a kick to it. Extremely flavorful and delicious but spicy. The Pad See Ew (flat noodles) with beef was also excellent. The noodles were especially delicious. The soft shell crab curry was incredible. Not a lot of curry but deep flavors and the crab was cooked perfectly. The Choo Chee salmon (curry) had a sweet flavor to it and was delicious. I just wish there was more curry. For dessert, we got the mango sticky rice -- yum! The cold mango was on top of the warm sticky rice--an interesting but delicious combination. The service was very friendly and helpful.

This restaurant is merged with another restaurant- sushi I think- so if you go through the wrong door just ask or go down to the next entrance. You are at the right place :) We were craving Thai and found this spot around the corner from the Park Hyatt where we were staying. The Hangover noodles were very good. Larb Moo was so good. Very spicy. Both dishes had great flavor and I'd have no problem coming back and ordering again when I revisit Chicago

Food: 4.5/5 Tom Yum Soup: The Tom Yum Soup was the perfect blend of sour, spicy, and savory, with a rich broth that burst with lemongrass and chili. It was a refreshing and tangy start to the meal. Thai Shrimp Salad: The shrimp salad was light yet packed with flavor, featuring fresh shrimp tossed with zesty lime, herbs, and just the right amount of heat. Each bite was a refreshing burst of spice and citrus. Basil Chicken: The Basil Chicken was a savory delight, with tender chicken stir-fried in a fragrant basil sauce. The balance of garlic, chili, and basil made the dish irresistible, pairing well with a side of rice. Service: 5/5 The service was prompt and friendly, with staff ensuring that we had a pleasant dining experience. Ambiance: 4/5 The restaurant had a cozy, laid-back atmosphere, perfect for enjoying a relaxed Thai meal. The warm lighting and decor added to the inviting vibe. Price: 5/5 The meal was reasonably priced for the quality and flavor of the dishes, making it an excellent value for authentic Thai cuisine.

If I could give this place 6 stars, I absolutely would. I was craving papaya salad and I had marked this place to try for a month. Service was great. Very attentive to filling our water and checking in on us. Speaking of water, I need to take a moment to address their water cup. It's this small silver cup that feels like it was dunked in liquid nitrogen or something, and kept the water cold the entire time we were at the restaurant. I've no idea how they do it, but I was fascinated by it. Anyway, the food was nothing like I've ever tried in any other Thai restaurant before. Warning - when they say the food is spicy, the food is very very spicy. Fortunately, my partner, and I love spicy, but even we were sniffling by the end of our meal. What I really liked about this place was that the food did not make us feel heavy and oily afterwards, which tends to happen with American ice Thai food. Everything just tasted a bit more healthy and fresh. This is definitely my absolute favorite Thai restaurant that I've ever been to in any state in the US. For people who can tolerate legit spiciness, you must try this restaurant!

Our first dinner on vacation to Chicago! We only had to walk a few blocks to the restaurant. It wasn't crowded on a weeknight so we got a table. We were sat on a long table. I did found it weird the chair was too high so it would be difficult to eat. We ordered 3 dishes: Kor Moo Yang Basil Fried Rice (mild) Poseidon Dinner (mild) The Kor Moo Yang was delicious. Unfortunately, the other 2 dishes was too spicy for us and ended up with a tummy ache.

Muan Jai Thai Kitchen truly delivered during Restaurant Week 2025! They have a brilliant concept introducing different regions of their cuisine. They have a little smorgasbord to start your course. Wait time for food was not bad, service was attentive, music not too loud. My favorite items from the Central list were Crispy Rice Salad, Gaeng Panang and Crispy Mackerel. It was a pleasant Salmon Choo Chee for me. Hands down impressed! Can you imagine coming in a groip of four and ordering all four choices?

The service was great - no complaints there. However, the food was disappointing...the pad thai was not good. It was overly sweet, and I have a sweet tooth. It was also mushy and wet, so it was also bad texture-wise. The fried chicken was a bit overcooked and bland. Restaurant had a trendy interior but it was hot - felt like the AC was broken. The only positive was the complimentary shrimp chips accompanied by a delicious dipping sauce that they gave us when we sat down. Overall, I did not enjoy my dinner here and do not recommend Muan Jai.

This place is legit! Everything we ordered was delicious and service was amazing. The chicken larb was very flavorful and pad Thai was my favorite dish here it's not too sweet and the spice was there lol most Thai places in downtown can't perfect that sweet n spice flavor with tamarind. We also ordered some pork skewers and crab curry. I wanna go back already !!!!! Definitely adding this to my favorite spot in the city.

Great Thai food in town! Visited twice, but the food/flavor varied because it was made by different chief. Crab papaya salad: I don't recommend on ordering this unless you tried and love this. This is my first time trying and the fermentation and sauce was really strong for me. And it was really salty! Tom yum po-taek: had this soup on both of my visit, I definitely enjoyed it more on my second visit. If you can handle spicy, then my suggestion is to go with medium. The amount of seafood is acceptable. It is not overly sour. Tiger cry: the sauce was just ok, not outstanding. The steak was really hard to chew on. Not recommended. Pad Thai: I'm not a noodle person, but I enjoyed this dish. It is well seasoned, not overly oily. The lime juice adds a great hint of sour to it. The skillet keeps it warm, making it enjoyable and warm. Sticky rice: if you like chewy rice then give this a try! It is basically jasmine rice but soaked overnight, so it is chewy (but not super soft or watery) Fried chicken: my friend really enjoyed this with the sauce it came with. It is crispy and tender. Yum: If you love raw meat and sashimi, then you will love this dish! It is fresh and well made. It is spicy, sour and a hind of sweetness. Love it! Pad cha seafood: best pad cha I had so far! Not overly salty and oily. The basil adds a hint of refreshing flavor to the dish. The seafood is fresh. Great spicy dish. Papaya salad: not the best papaya salad I had. It is overly sweet and not sour and spicy enough. The papaya is crunchy and fresh, but the flavor needs to be worked on. The service of this restaurant is great and welcoming. The restaurant has a great environment and very cozy. However, the tastes of the dishes varied depending upon on the chief. It would be great if they can keep the flavor consistent. Also, this place is a bit pricey, the portion is smaller than the paying price.

I got takeout. The tome yum veggie soup was delicious! Spicy flavorful and balanced out perfectly with the coconut. Definitely would order again. The pad Thai was okay, it was super dry when I got it so I drenched it in lime at home. But was a large portion definitely had leftovers.

This was super good!! Saw this on social media saying it's super authentic and pretty close by so wanted to try it. We got complimentary shrimp crackers to start which was great. We ordered the Thai iced tea, soft shell crab curry and pad Thai and the portions were actually really big, we ended up taking home for second meal. Both were delicious and would recommend trying!

This is as good of Thai as there is in not only Chicago but also the whole country. I'm an elite from out of town here in Chitown for the weekend and this place was impeccably good. The ambiance is that of a small dope Thai cafe. The service works incredibly hard to meet your needs. We had several Thai iced teas and one matcha tea. We also had the crying tiger, the hangover, the pad Thai and the fried rice. We had them all with chicken and shrimp. The hangover was a show stopper. The texture of the noodle was incredibly smooth and the dish was tbe perfect amount of spice at medium. The pad Thai was delish and so too was the fried rice. The crying tiger was the best we'd ever had. This place is new to Chicago but it is among the very best Thai place I ever ever been and among the best here hands down. Even the serving glasses make you feel like royalty. Thanks for treating us like kings and queens.

To my surprise, this Thai restaurant moved into the space where a former sushi spot was. That sushi spot was pretty good, although fairly pricey. I'm very happy to see this Thai spot move in because River North lacks decent Thai food, and this location is right next to a Red Line subway station making it super convenient for my partner and I. Onto the food - everything we ordered was easily an 8/10 or higher. I really also liked their cocktails as well. I don't feel like there was any dish that we didn't like. Everyone agreed that this was a nice choice for sure. I think my only two complaints would be that our server (who was indeed nice) forgot to bring us extra plates/getting water or getting their attention in general was a little difficult... AND that it was super hot in the back where we were sat (literally the very back). Not sure if the AC wasn't working or if it just didn't reach us, but we were all sweaty back there. Would still recommend this place for a date night or to grab dinner with friends. It's definitely not a place where you're getting cheaper Thai food, but also not outrageous either.

Nice cosy place. Great food and great service. Tamarind Margarita the best. You must go!!!!

I called to place my order and the pick up was quick and easy. It was a lunch that hit the spot. I got the Tom Yum soup and the chicken pad Thai and both was delicious. It tasted like a very authentic spot. I recommended it to my boss and his wife while they were visiting in town from Toronto and they enjoyed it just as much. This might be the go to Thai spot in the area.

Amazing new Thai restaurant in River North! All dishes seemed very authentic. Spice level is on point too! So be prepared for some spice in your food. Every dish was delicious & I'd order every one of them again. The service was helpful when trying to figure out the menu. What a nice little quaint new spot that I will definitely be returning to.

This place is really nice! We were seated very quickly and had shrimp fried puffs at the table. The food was very fresh and large portions. Decently priced for the area - excited to come back and try something new!

Save your time and money and go to Shabu hot pot instead. Service was extremely slow here. Yes there were only two girls who were the hosts, servers, and everything in between - but that isn't my problem. The food was ok - lack of variety like Shabu has: no corn, no various desert options, slow service as you need to place every round with a server vs a tablet, had to ask for water twice and only got it mid meal, low variety of veggie options and sauce area was small. Broth was not as flavor as descriptions made them sound to be. Wouldn't be back.

TLDR: great food, friendly customer service, fun interior I came in on a Sunday night around 7 pm, didn't have to wait for a table. Ambiance 9/10: - very well decorated inside, limited seating - wouldn't recommend it for parties greater than 5 to sit comfortably - water came in these little bowls, super cute - honestly not my favorite to drink out of - our candle on the table burned one of the fresh flowers lol - beautiful artwork all throughout the restaurant Service 10/10: - extremely friendly and accommodating - they always made sure we had our waters filled up - checked up on our food & our food came out within 10 minutes Food 9.5/10: - damn near perfect! - I got a pad see ew ($14.99) with pork (+$1) medium spicy and my friend got a mild pad thai ($14.99) w/ chicken (+$1) - I think they may have gotten our spice levels mixed up but the food was delicious regardless! Hoping to come back & try more of their offerings soon!

The food here is incredible and hands down some of the best Thai I've had in Chicago. The tiger cry was absolutely delicious and the sauce on the side was savory and slightly sweet. We also got larb and added tofu and mushrooms and the sauce in this dish was a great combination of tangy, bright, and salty. Our waiter recommended getting the hangover entree and it was packed with all sorts of seafood. We requested the spice level for this dish to be mild; however, the dish was anything but. I would rate the heat/spice level a solid 8/10. By the end of the meal, I was crying and sniffling but thoroughly enjoying my meal. Curious as to how spicy the medium and even hot levels are because the mild is pretty spicy and beyond the standard level of mild. Overall, solid place for Thai food - I will be back to try some of the other options on the menu.

Really liked the free shrimp crisps. Kao pad rod fai and kaprao were good. Great service, but the menu is a bit limited. Huge portion sizes for a good price.

When we go out, we like going to multiple places and sharing a big plate or smalls plates. This place was perfect for what we were looking for. The service was great. We ordered sticky rice, pork laarb and grill calamari, and asked for thai spicy. They weren't hot enough for us so they gave us raw thai chili, which made the meal perfect. The sauce for grilled calamari was my favorite.

Excellent food! All you can eat veggies and protein hotpot is definitely worth the price. Would definitely go back!

We got takeout from this place! The sauce for tiger cry was really good, but the meat itself was a little hard. Thai ice tea wayyyy to sweetPad see ew not bad!

Wow I was blown away by this Thai food! Everything was so flavorful and tasty. I really enjoyed the pad see ew. Went here with a friend and my two toddlers. They did have high chairs but the restaurant really isn't made for families or large groups so just keep that in mind. They were so kind to my kids though and kept bringing out complimentary shrimp chips for them, We made it work and the food was delicious, I'll definitely be back!

opened last week : SUPER authentic & now my favorite in Chicago. I swear , Chicago has almost zero authentic Thai restaurants. Every Thai person I meet (you know who you are!) doesn't eat out because they get disappointed. I've been on the longest journey trying to find the best authentic Thai restaurant in Chicago and I might've found mine! HIGHLIGHTS 100% Thai chef, owner, & waiters. Please say hi to Eicq and welcome him to Chicago! He just moved here 5 months ago and the day we met him was the first day he was on the job! authentic ingredients, spices & herbs . Exactly how it tastes in Thailand, even the thai tea (less sweet), and mango sticky rice Thai spicy available! The owner made the Pad Cha for me, at 70% spicy SO GOOD and the papaya salad at 100% Thai spicy. Absolutely perfect. Crying like I did in Krabi note; EICQ orders his 200%-300% spicy , so if you're Thai this is an option! If you can't eat spicy, you should get 30-50% Absolutely PHENOMENAL grilled items. Im already craving the Moo Ping & grilled Steak. Seriously charcoal grilled to perfection with super tender meats + amazing flavor Super cute Thai dishes & cups, traditional & so pretty! With big portions Amazing seafood , especially if you love it the Pad Cha Cha Cha had tender octopus, scallop, mussels, shrimp, fish, and 2x mushrooms + all the peppercorns, chilli's, and basil I could dream of They have DURIAN Or MANGO STICKY RICE YESSS What we got: Nam tok $12.99 Grill beef +$4 Tom Tard big app with Som Tum papaya salad $45.99 Side sticky rice $3 x2 Moo ping grilled pork $12.99 Pad Cha Cha Cha $28.99 Mango Sticky Rice $9.99 Thai iced tea less sweet $6 x2 Chang beer $5.95

Wish I could give zero stars!! Absolutely horrendous- don't waste your time or money!! We walked in and were seated. The table was disgusting and sticky- they said it was the paint on the table. We ordered Pad See U with chicken- extra $2 for that- had no flavor at all and a few broccoli stalks. We ordered a stir-fry basil with beef. The beef was inedible. Tried several pieces and spit them out as did my friend. We also ordered 2 glasses of club soda with lime. When waitress asked how it was we told her the beef was inedible- she asked if we wanted something else. We said no- and asked for the bill. They were SO (not) generous and took off 10% for the terrible beef ($4.20) and charged us $3/ea for club soda that never got refilled. Was hoping for good new thai in the neighborhood- - NOPE!

Coming from San Diego, I don't typically expect to like any Thai as much as my favorite spot Bahn Thai. But honestly, we were so impressed and Everything tasted great! I'd say it rivals my favorite back home. My dad especially loved the hangover- like drunken noodles seafood edition. Staff was friendly, restaurant was clean, and service was prompt. We had the hangover , pad see ew, and pad Thai. Flavor was great, and staff was very accommodating of my shellfish allergy.

Hidden gem!! Absolutely delicious and worth the price. Chicken broth is sooo good . Service was very quick and helpful. Great music.

Loved the food. We had ordered Pad Thai, Pad See Ew and Fried rice. As we were sharing with vegetarians, they made us food specially without fish sauce. Everything was delicious. Then we ordered the Mango with sticky rice. It was so tasty that we had to order another one. Thank you so much for accommodating us today and making the dinner special.

Streeterville and River North finally has some REAL authentic Thai food!! Don't get me wrong, there are a few great options around without having to go north, but Muan Jai Kitchen has set the bar HIGH. So many flavors and ingredients!! I was sweating and on a spicy high at one point, in a good way. We also got the pork skewers. Delish! Everything was fantastic. We will be going back for more! Our server, Malika (sp?) was lovely and so nice. I thought we were going to a new restaurant, but it took over the sushi place that used to be there. Muan Jai is way better, and I'm excited for the future of it. The restaurant is smaller so not much space for seating, but the wait on a Friday night at 8 wasn't too bad. Hope it stays that way. Wishing this place all the best on their new chapter. Enjoy!!

I'm writing this just as we're finishing eating. This places hits the mark on all counts: ambiance, service, and -- especially -- the food. Wonderful! A highlight of our five days in Chicago. Make a point of coming here if you're in the area!

This cozy Thai spot offers a variety of unique and modern Thai dishes -- during my visit, I tried the Poseidon Dinner, which featured a rich curry flavor and a generous portion of seafood. The restaurant had an intimate interior vibe and the service was very friendly as well. Definitely one of the best Thai food spots in River North!

What a gem! Food was super delicious. We got the hangover noodles and Tom yum soup. Hearty portions that was great for sharing. Service was fast, friendly, and attentive. The decor in here is so cute!

Went there for dinner! Was a amazing. Definitely will go back. My girlfriend love foods the design too

Best crab fried rice I've ever had. Really delicious crispy pork and crispy chicken appetizers. Great service too! For me, that made up for the 2 missteps we experienced. My husband had a chicken stir fry dish that he ordered "Thai spicy" that was not spicy at all. I had a lemongrass shrimp app that was undercooked. Very cute restaurant, would be back

Good service. Food was pretty good, but didn't live up to the rave reviews. The atmosphere was pleasant. Spice level of meal was as ordered.

Ok I love this place. Such a trendy and authentic Thai restaurant. But when I tell you the Tiger cry SKIRT STEAK is the best steak I've had in my life, I am NOT lying. The steak is always cooked to profection and it has so much flavor. Wow! There are other good things on the menu also like the Thai friend chicken and then Thai noodles. So delicious. I even tried the espresso martini there and it's amazing. Will definitely be coming back!

This place was INCREDIBLE - best authentic Pad Thai we've had in Chicago yet. My fiancé got the Pad Thai and I got the Pad See Ew. Incredible drinks too. Highly recommend!!

Great food but small serving for the price. Compared to other Thai places, serving sizes too small for what you're paying. But really tasty