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Name: Ben’s Noodles and Rice
Address: 1139 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL, 60660
Telephone: (773) 907-8936
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.10

Ben’s Noodles and Rice

1139 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL, 60660

(773) 907-8936
Store is closed

Ben’s Noodles and Rice Menu

Appetizers

Baby Egg Rolls

Chive Dumplings

Shumai

E-san Sausage

Basil Roll

Ben's Homemade Egg Rolls

Calamari

Chicken Satay

Chicken Wings

Crab Rangoon

Edamame

Fish Cake

Fresh Spring Rolls

Fried Tofu

Pot Stickers

Shrimp Rolls

Shrimp Tempura
Soups

Wonton Soup

Miso Soup

Tom Kha Kai

Tom Yum Goong Or Kai

Tom Yum Seafood Soup

Vegetable Soup
Salads

Cucumber Salad

Papaya Salad

Yum Woonsen

Beef Salad

Larb Chicken Or Pork

Pla Goong (shrimp Salad)

Tofu Salad

Seafood Salad

Thai Salad

Seaweed Salad
Entrees

Lime Chicken

Ginger

Basil

Oyster Sauce

Peppered

Spicy

Sweet And Sour

Garlic

Cashew

Stir Fried Broccoli

Bangkok Chicken

Basil Roasted Duck

Sweet Basil Squid

Chicken Teriyaki

Salmon Teiryaki

Steak Teriyaki
Noodle Dishes

Pad Thai

Pad See-eiw

Pad Kimao

Pad Woonsen

Spaghetti Kimao Sea Food

Spicy Basil Noodles

Lad Nar
Fried Rice

Ben's Fried Rice

Vegetable Fried Rice

Basil Fried Rice

Pineapple Fried Rice

Curry Fried Rice
Thai Curry

Green Curry

Red Curry

Panang Curry

Gang Pa

Massaman Curry

Yellow Curry

Red Curry Roast Duck
Ben's Specials

Pad Ped Catfish

Ginger Catfish

Basil Seafood Combination
Extras

Extra Beef Chicken Or Tofu

Extra Shrimp

Jasimine Rice
Desert

Fried Banana

Thai Custard

Mango Sticky Rice

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ben’s Noodles and Rice

Appetizers

Baby Egg Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chive Dumplings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shumai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

E-san Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Basil Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ben's Homemade Egg Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Satay [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Rangoon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Edamame [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fish Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Spring Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pot Stickers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Tempura [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soups

Wonton Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miso Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tom Kha Kai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tom Yum Goong Or Kai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tom Yum Seafood Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetable Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Cucumber Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Papaya Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yum Woonsen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Larb Chicken Or Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pla Goong (shrimp Salad) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tofu Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seaweed Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Lime Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ginger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Basil [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oyster Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peppered [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet And Sour [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cashew [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stir Fried Broccoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bangkok Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Basil Roasted Duck [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Basil Squid [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Teriyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Teiryaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak Teriyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Noodle Dishes

Pad Thai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad See-eiw [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad Kimao [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pad Woonsen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spaghetti Kimao Sea Food [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Basil Noodles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lad Nar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fried Rice

Ben's Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetable Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Basil Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pineapple Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Curry Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Thai Curry

Green Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Red Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Panang Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gang Pa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Massaman Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yellow Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Red Curry Roast Duck [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Ben's Specials

Pad Ped Catfish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ginger Catfish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Basil Seafood Combination [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Extras

Extra Beef Chicken Or Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Extra Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jasimine Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desert

Fried Banana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Custard [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mango Sticky Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Erika M.

I had to comment on how amazing the pad thai is here. Originally, when I first started getting take out from this restaurant, I would order the cashew chicken.. which was really good too but the pad thai is exceptional! I have eaten at a lot of thai restaurants... and this is by far the best pad thai I have ever had! They give a VERY big portion...and it is so good that even when I am not extremely hungry I finish the entire portion because I can't stop eating it!
(5)
John H.

I've been here several times and have ordered delivery a couple of times and have never been disappointed with anything. Just took my 79 y/o mother there over Thanksgiving week and she was equally impressed. We both had the Cashew Chicken and it was DELICIOUS. My mother ordered some Jasmine tea and didn't not care for it unsweetened, but when I asked for (and PROMPTLY received) some sweetener for her, she ended up liking it. Fast, friendly, efficient service along with reasonable prices for their tasty cuisine keep me coming back.
(4)
Cheryl W.

I ordered the Tom Yum Seafood soup and spaghetti khee mao seafood. The Tom Yum Seafood soup tasted sweet and was not spicy or sour. The spaghetti khee mao seafood was alright...nothing special. Maybe I ordered the wrong things?? But, how I tell how good a Thai place is by their Tom Yum soup.
(2)
Nikki J.

This is my favorite Thai place. I order from Ben's at least once a week, they just can't keep me away. The staff and delevery driver are all familiar with me and they are super nice. This is the best pad thai, crab ragoons and tom yum soup. I have other dishes but those are my stand-bys the things that I crave. When I am craving Thai food and go anywhere else I am disappointed... it is really Ben's Noodles I am craving. If you dine in, the service is excellent. They really will do anything to accomodate you. The food is extremely fast whether dine in, pick-up or delivery. It is absolutely the fastest delivery in Edgewater. I heart Ben's!
(5)
trina b.

I am happy to report that we tried Ben's again last night and I was very pleased this time around! When my husband called, I had him ask the person on the phone what was in the massaman curry. Now on the menu it says it has potatoes, peas, onions and carrots. What the person on the phone said was potatoes, onions and peanuts. This cleared up one confusion. My husband asked if I could add broccoli and carrots instead of getting a meat or tofu. They said sure no problem! And they didn't charge me a substitution fee like some places do. Now that's good customer service! This time we picked up the order because we were out and about. It was ready when they said it was going to be and it was piping hot! I opened up the bag quickly to check things out and was super excited to see carrots, broccoli peanuts and onion in my dish! HURRAH!!! :0) And the yummy taste was still there and I was in curry heaven! We also got complimentary egg rolls which were super yummy and the sweet and sour sauce that came with them was finger lickin' good. Seriously. I licked my fingers. What? It's finger food! And I was in the privacy of my own home darn it! The only thing I would say is to buy another order of rice, I felt I need a bit more with my dish. An extra small is only a dollar and it would be worth it I think. Anyway, I am SUPER pleased to say this is my curry spot! Finally!!
(5)
Kathy L.

Hands down the best Thai restaurant I've been to. Do not leave without ordering the crab rangoon and Pad See Ew. The owner is friendly and gets to know his customers. Unfortunately, we rarely get into that part of the city these days, but I would make a trip to Edgewater for Ben's!
(5)
Ayako M.

I was so disappointed! The Potato/Chicken curry was tasty but the sauce had a strange look and consistency to it, kinda like curdled curry...but it tasted great! The noodle dish, I think Pad Woonsen, was just meh, nothing to write home about. I'll give them another shot for the lunch special, but I think I'm sticking to Indie Cafe as my go to Thai spot.
(3)
Heather N.

Best Thai in Edgewater. They are always busy to dine in. I usually order take out. The pad see ewi is good.
(3)
Rahshonda K.

I love Thai food so why not take the leap and venture into Ben's!?. The leap was worth it because the Basil Fried Rice with Chicken was GREAT! I could not put the fork down. It was super fresh and cooked just right. The service was great as well. I definitely cant wait to order again when I am up in the area.
(4)
Krista W.

Love this place! They are consistently delicious and offer great, friendly service. I dine there a couple times a month and my favorite dishes are the Spicy Basil Noodle and Tom Kha Kai soup. The staff greets me by my first name, which makes me feel special. If you are looking for ambiance, this isn't your place. If you are looking for a BYOB, with friendly service and scrumptious food...Head to Ben's Noodles!
(5)
Jenni S.

Best pad thai, like, EVER. We were at Flourish picking up cupcakes for wee-hours consumption later, but since we were right across the street from this cute little Thai joint, we decided to stop here for dinner. Very glad we did--this cozy restaurant has the tastiest pad thai I've had in the city to date. I usually order pad thai with tofu, but I had a wild and crazy moment and decided to order with pork instead. Perfectly cooked, fresh and tender. Also, i'm a huge crab rangoon aficionado, but it seems like hardly anyone gets it right. Either the filling is virtually crabless, or the wonton is overfried, or the sauce is just blegh. These were right on the money--very crabby filling, crispy wrapper, and utterly delicious sweet-and-sour for dipping. Definitely going back to this place--it's less than a block away from the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop, so y'all should, too.
(4)
Dan C.

Excellent customer service, great portions and excellent space.
(5)
art s.

I think the food is decent but my wife doesn't always agree with me. Would definitely recommend it more for take-out than to dine in, as the place is small with harsh acoustics. On more than one occasion I've been picking up orders and felt bad for people in the 'dining room' who have no way to escape the inevitable one loudmouth clown who feels the need to recount his day's tales in full theatrical mode. FYI - they don't take AMEX
(3)
Mike P.

The wife and I stopped in for a quick bite last night. While the Thai food is spectacular, I must admit the staff is even better. So friendly. My wife is a Pad See-Eiw [sp?] junkie. She declared Ben's chicken version to be the best she's had. I tried the spicy basil noodles with beef. Spicy, yes, but not so much that it overpowered the basil. We grabbed a take out menu and declared Ben's to be our new go-to spot for noodles.
(5)
Mare C.

Did I go to the right place? After reading all the glowing reviews I went there for lunch last week with high expectations. What I got in return was something entirely different! The first tip-off was when I walked in and saw just 2 customers besides myself...at the height of the lunch hour. The next tip-off, and this is where I should've bolted was the prices. Yikes, the avg. price for an entree is $8.00 with a few in the $7.00 range. A little high if u ask me for lunch! The man who waited on me, who I think was the owner, kept on saying they have the same menu for dinner & the portions are the same. Plus, they give 2 free appetizers! He kept on repeating it. As I was about to order I noticed my favorite soup was scratched out, tom kha. All they had left was miso & another soup with lime in it. The owner told me coconut milk was now sky high so they took it out. I asked him why it wasn't reflected in the prices for the soup appetizers, they were all the same, $3.95 Again he repeated we give u the appetizers for free! Huh? No substitutions either. So i ordered the miso soup. A mini version of it, not a dinner size portion (like the owner said) with meager ingredients too. Same with the pot stickers. Bite size portions. For the entree I ordered the lad nar. I'll admit it was tasty but the portion was again small. I really feel gypped, I won't be going back.
(1)
Dantee A.

I love the Christmas lights adorning the walls at this simply decorated, no frills joint. It's the inner beauty that counts at this place - It shows that they are all about their food and not how great they look - kind of like how we all judge people by their personality and not their looks (yeah right). Give them a chance one day and visit them during their lunch hour. For around 6 bucks you can get an appetizer and an entree. Too bad the special is not offered for take-out (so says their menu). If you're into curries - try the Massaman Curry. It is stew of coconut milk with potatoes, onions, and a protein of your choice - very flavorful and satisfying. If you have a cold - try the Red Curry - it should get you decongested within 2 minutes. My friend ordered the Steak Teriyaki which is served with onions and mushrooms. It was very umami. They could have provided him with a knife or the cut the steak into smaller pieces, yet it was entertaining to see him cut the steak with chopsticks and a fork. Friendly service and a good crowd makes this place my favorite neighborhood thai spot. Make sure you check out the specials - I missed it because it's placed on a teeny-weenie dry erase board.
(4)
ATY L.

Good Service, great food. It's one of the most authentic Thai cuisine I've had in Chicago. The Basil Fried Rice was delicious, for 7 bucks, you cant ask for anything more. The only complain I have is the size of the restaurant. They have about 7-8 tables, so the place can get packed real fast.
(4)
Tony J.

Ate here for lunch today. Had the crab rangoon and spring rolls for an appie. Both were delish. Miso soup was great. Got the basil chicken and rice for entree...tasted great. Will definitely go back. I see they deliver too!
(5)
nina c.

It's good. Just good. The curry is okay, which kind of dipped the place into 2 stars for me after the first try. The crab rangoon and the cashew chicken I had the second time pumped it up to 3.5 stars. The thing that makes this place for me a 4 is the incredibly friendly casual and sweet attentiveness of the owners and the fact that it's half a block from my house. I will definitely be back.. would I travel half the city for it - no. Am I happy they are in my hood - heck yeah!! Oh, and if this isn't a testament to the place, I don't know what is.... every time we've gone there, there is an obsessed regular oohing and aaahing to a friend about how much they love the place.
(4)
Daniel S.

Amazing. Great curry and ragoon
(5)
Amy M.

Yummy yummy yummy. A step above your average storefront Thai. I've ordered a few different entrees from them and have yet to be disappointed. The dining room lacks in ambiance, but the food is good and the price is excellent. Favorites include lime chicken, Bangkok chicken and the crab rangoon.
(4)
Jocelynne G.

AHHHH I'm moving to Edgewater next month! I can't wait to order deliveryyyyy.
(5)
Cornelia N.

This place has the best service in any restaurant I've ever been to in the world! The two people who own/manage the restaurant and the teenagers who often work there know how to be friendly with their regulars but also give them space to enjoy their food and conversation. They also typically give the bill only when someone requests it, which I appreciate. The prices are good, the dining room is small, but the food is good. It can be a bit greasy at times, but you can always request light oil or any other substitution. I've had about half the dishes on the menu, and my favorites are pad see ew, curry fried rice, and beef with oyster sauce. Their crab rangoon has more of a vegetable taste than at other restaurants, and I highly recommend it. The egg rolls are also good, but the mini egg rolls are better (though they're not always available). My only complaint is that they charge a dollar for each extra portion of rice (which is small).
(5)
Jonathan D.

Authentic Thai food is hard to come by, but Ben's delivers. I've had some of their adapted Japanese and Chinese dishes which were good, but stick with curries, noodles and sweet basil dishes. Their Thai dishes are flavorful and cautious on spice without being mild, but you can ramp it up to authentic. At one point I spent an entire month in Thailand, this always reminds me of the best restaurants and my favorite dishes.
(5)
Yogi B.

Ben's Noodles and Rice is a great place to get a nice Asian meal in the Edgewater Neighborhood. The only reason I didn't give Ben's Noodles 5 stars is that they raised their prices significantly after being featured on Check Please a couple of years ago. They do a HUGE eat in/carry out/delivery business and I felt this was unnecessary and "convenient"-I can only imagine they figured now that they're "famous" they can get more for their food. That aside, you will get a fresh meal with quick and friendly service. The prices are still inexpensive for the freshness and quality of the food. I enjoy watching people go by the windows in the front. There are so many "colorful" people in Edgewater.
(4)
SusieSunshine S.

Love this place because: -Lots of interesting dishes -It's cheap -It's fresh -It's casual -The food is of high quality My only dislike: -The place is a little bit on the small side Overall: YUM!
(4)
Rick M.

A craving for Thai led us to this place in Edgewater, and deliver it did. The atmosphere here is really nice and casual, updated, and clean. They have all of the Thai staples, but I think their menu goes above that into some more creative and original dishes and specials. My wife and I both started with the Tom Yum soup, delicious and spicy as you please! We then moved on to the main portion of our meal; My wife just ordered egg rolls, and I tried the Pad Woonsen with tofu under the suggestion of our waiter. I would normally go for chicken or pork, but this combination was probably one of the best Thai dishes I've ever had. Oh, and the spicy sauce that comes on the side is a wonderous creation of man. The egg rolls were really good too. Good prices, Great service, and Excellent food; I will definitely be coming here regularly.
(4)
J B.

Great food and service. I feel like I am walking into a friend's kitchen. Highly recommend the PAD THAI.
(5)
Morgan C.

Disclaimer: I almost had to put down my plate to come write my review, but I found myself unable to do so. But now that I'm satiated, I can say that I've just eaten some of the tastiest pad woon sen in recent memory. Tons of crunchy veggies, lots of thin strips of tofu. And the crab rangoon might just have to forgo the "recent" part of "tastiest in recent memory." Crispy, creamy, crabby... perfect. And the sauce is a thin, deliciously sweet/hot complement. Yum. I wish it was 15 minutes ago so I could just be sitting down with my bag of carry out all over again. The crab rangoon was a little on the pricey side for me at $5.75, but I'd say worth a go. Oh yeah, this was from carry out. So it spent 10-15 minutes just chillin before I got to tuck in. And that's walking in tonight's cold. Now I'm home, full, and have exactly half of my entree waiting for me for tomorrow. I will be back to dine in; if it's this good on carry out, I can hope it's even better in person.
(5)
Erica T.

Ben's is a mere 1.5 blocks away, which rocks. I usually get a curry of some sort (I think I like green the best) and tom yum soup. And I can never forego the chance for Thai iced tea. I have never eaten in the restaurant - I usually get it delivered, or do takeout if I feel like venturing outside, but when I do go pick it up the owners are always extremely nice. I know my review says 4 stars but I really think it's about 3.5. This is because I still like Indie Cafe a little better - better flavors, comparable prices, better ambience, etc. (refer to my Indie Cafe review)
(4)
Erika G.

I have to update this review now that this restaurant has been here awhile. I've completely changed my opinion. I meet a friend here for lunch all the time, and anything we order is delicious. Big improvement - kudos to you, Bens!
(4)
Chenee L.

This is my go-to Thai place!! I love Ben's-- I love their pad thai, I LOVE their pad see-eiw, their crab rangoon, the pad ped catfish, and their curry fried rice. The only thing that I've had here that I didn't like is the Bangkok chicken, but I think that's just a matter of preference. The food is always fresh and delicious-- I've never had a bad experience with Ben's -- and their service, either with take-out or delivery is fast and friendly. And their prices are much better than Indie, which is a close second as far as Thai goes in this neighborhood.
(5)
Brianna R.

Best thai food in the city!! The owners are there from open to close everyday. They get to know their customers. Every time I go in they already know my order. Good prices. Fresh food. Great lunch specials. My favorites are the pot stickers, chicken satay and cashew chicken.
(5)
Ginger W.

I've been to Ben's many times and I always get so happy there. In fact, I get happy just thinking about it. I am fortunate to work around the corner so I get to come for the Lunch Special. I always get Crab Rangoon which I would say is the second best I've ever had. (Indie's is a tad better). Tom Yum soup is yummy. And all the entrees have been delicious. Service is fast, friendly and efficient. They keep that glass filled with ice water.
(5)
Chris A.

I went here with 2 friends and it was great! The food is standard thai, but make no mistake, it is good! My only complaint is that the calamari was REALLY greasy. None of us finished it, not very good. I had the Tofu Pad Thai, it was excellent, and reasonably priced. If you're in Edgewater, check Ben's out.
(4)
Emma S.

As I'm giving this "two star" rating, I'm thinking "Meh. I've experienced better" just as the Yelp people have labeled it. I just thought this place was unremarkable and a little expensive for that neighborhood for lunch. There was nothing bad about the food or the service. The dining room was a little small and a little uncomfortable, but everything was adequate. There aren't many other Thai options that are a mere stone's throw from the Bryn Mawr Redline stop, but this one is just ok.
(2)
Bill H.

I am singlehandedly putting Ben's children through college. The peppers are crisp, the chicken is tender and the pot stickers are basically an orgasm in your mouth. I'm serious. My hippie vegetarian girlfriend doesn't like spicy Thai so she always gets some variation of friend rice, and bland as it may seem to a flavor-hound like myself, she gushes over it. GUSHES. Squirty pile of Thai love juice. Also, she's a dainty young lass, so typically one order of Ben's can be 2-3 servings. Dinner tonight, lunch tomorrow, etc. At the inexpensive price, you cannot beat the amount of shit they cram into those little plastic containers. It's quite astounding. On to the real deal: my meal. I don't mix it up too much because I've found a delicious selection that burns my booty [in a fabulous way]. Bangkok chicken sets my soul on fire with a hearty mix of veggies, chicken and jasmine rice. I typically dump a bunch of those red things into the rice and suck it down until I put a nice dent in my platter and just throw the rest of the rice into the spicy muck at the bottom. I have found this technique maximizes taste and minimizes mess. Additionally, I think they really hook up the repeat customers. They know us, and our typical order--so each time it's tailored to our specific tastes (they cram my thing filled with delectable chicken chunks and supply me with roughly a quart of hot spice concoction.) Anyway, I am sitting here with a belly full of spicy Thai delight, rubbing my love basket with glee. I love Ben, and he loves me.
(5)
John H.

Fast and friendly service. (And the food is good too!) My wife and I visit Bens about 2 - 3 times a month. We never have the same dish twice. Remember its BYOB and Bens is closed on Wednesdays :-(. You can't go wrong for a good Thai meal at Bens.
(5)
Ivan H.

Ben's is a decent spot. I've had better Thai food all over Chicago, but it's conveniently close to the Bryn Mawr redline stop. I'm not as enthusiastic as some of the Ben's fans on this site, nor am I as critical as the staunch Ben haters. Maybe my taste in Thai food isn't as discerning other types of food. When it's excellent, I notice, but when it's just ok, it's still pretty good. Mediocre Thai just sort of blends together for me. That's how I feel about Ben's mediocre, but better than the other options around it.
(3)
Bryan C.

Ben's was great for fast Thai delivery. The Pad See Ew was super portion sized and super flavorful without the grease! Crab Rangoon was crunchy with tons of filling and the Cucumber Salad was...well, a cucumber salad. They have an easy online ordering service and the food was hot upon arrival. I'm really glad Ben's is in my neighborhood, I'll definitely order again.
(4)
Rachael t.

I love this place! I am always nervous when I go out to eat with my "veggie" friends because I am want to make sure they have a decent selection of food and Ben's def delivered selection. We started with Thai iced coffee and I had crab rangoon as a starter. It was prob the best I have had since I moved here. The portions were huge and the prices were extremely reasonable. The service was fast and attentive. I will be back soon! update 1/16/2009 I am addicted to Ben's Noodles. It has become a staple in my diet! :)
(5)
Keith H.

Great wide noodles; saw a preserved noodle bowl in the window. Furniture that was part of the wall. Noodle dish got spicy and the tofu was tender and springy. Ordered on the suggestion of the waitress and she suggested correctly. Seemed like they had a steady pick up and delivery traffic flow going. Great location and they kept my water glass filled.
(4)
Bethany J.

Great Thai, Great Price! I love Ben's Noodles and Rice - and not just because I live right around the block. Their pad thai is always great, and their curry fantastic. They also make wonderful crab ragoon, which, while not an authentic Thai dish is a must have for and Thai restaurant in the midwest. The only sad point is that they're not open on Wednesdays - which seems to be when I end up craving yellow curry chicken with potatoes.
(5)
James M.

Ben's has great food, great delivery, and great people working there. They're just plain nice - their prices are good, and they'll throw in little surprises everyonce in a while... like on a REALLY cold night this winter, they randomly gave me a hot tea to go, because I looked cold. I recently moved, but luckily it was even closer to Ben's :)
(4)
Patrick H.

I love this place for service and food. The calimari is so good that one doesn't even need the sauces. Usually have the Chicken Pad-Thia too! Doesn't get better for Thia food!
(5)
Virginia T.

I was recently hanging out in the neighborhood and my companions decided to order from Ben's....it was just ok. My friends all got tofu items and all agreed the tofu tasted a little "off". No one got sick, but there was a debate as to whether they used fermenting tofu or squeezed a bit too much lime on the dish that made it taste that way but nevertheless it was disturbing. I got cashew chicken which was meh.....the sauce was watery and veggies were a little undercooked. Not NEARLY as good as Cozy Noodles. The prices were good, and it was fast, but the quality was really lacking. I might try Ben's again if I was in the neighborhood.
(3)
Angela E.

Delicious Thai food! I was a regular here and never had a bad experience, the food always being fresh and wonderful and great service! The owners are so sweet, very friendly and give great service. On my commute home from work, I couldn't resist stopping in to order my usual Pad See Eiw with beef to go which would be prepared very quickly. 5 stars to this great restaurant!
(5)
Ashley W.

ugh! what a disappointment. I decided to give this place a chance despite of the lukewarm Yelp reviews and it was a total let down. I did takeout and ordered Shrimp Pad Ke Mao and basil eggrolls. The pad ke mao was so bland and lifeless. I had to add a ton of soy sauce to make it somewhat palatable. The egg rolls--the ground chicken was so dry inside that I needed to drink water whenever I ate a bite. Pass on this place and order from the fabulous Thai places on Argyle.
(1)
Jack D.

*Myself and 3 co-workers are eating Ben's right now* I work in the neighborhood and order dinner from Ben's ALL the TIME! There are countless Thai food places in my delivery area, but Ben's has always been my favorite. (Dib = second best). The prices are reasonable and the meats are waaaay higher quality than other Thai places I've had. Delivery never takes more than 50 mins, always nice on the phone and in person, never had a meal I didn't enjoy. FAVES: Pad Thai, Yellow Curry, Teriyaki, Satay, pad see-eiw. Least fave: Egg rolls (could be improved). Should also mention I've never had any of their seafood items. I'm sure they're good too!
(5)
Anthony M.

After reading some great reviews, my girlfriend and I decided to give this place a try. I was truly impressed with the food. The Pad-se-ew was one of the best dishes I've had ever had and the red curry was great. This will indeed be one of my regular Thai spots.
(4)
Melissa N.

Delicious! Fast! Friendly! Great location right off the red line Bryn Mawr stop, and a very clean (although small) restaurant. They offer local delivery too! I eat here almost once a week it is so good!
(5)
Dan S.

It's great for what it is. Great food, fast friendly service, inexpensive and clean. BYOB is an added bonus. We will be back.
(5)
Candace S.

I grab take out from bens a lot. Great food and a great price.
(4)
Monica W.

The reviews about this place are absolutely true. Clean, tasty food and no corkage fee!
(4)
Matt C.

Went to Ben's last night. My roommate and I were both too worn out from the week to bother cooking so we took a walk down to Bryn Mawr. We had every intention of going to Hellas Gyros but we decided to hit up Ben's instead. The service was fine, the prices were right, the food was good. All in all, it was a great experience. I'll be back, as it is so close to my apartment, and definitely good. Its all I can ask of a local "hole in the wall." I don't know if I would make a huge effort to get here if I ever moved, but as long as I am in the neighborhood, I'll be stopping by.
(4)
Sid B.

a must try for fellow hardcore Thai food connoisseurs.. I would rate this restaurant amongst the top 4 places serving "quality" Thai food in Chicago
(5)
Jim M.

I'd been blessed in sampling excellent Thai food in various cities before moving to Chicago. Ben's dishes are really good (i have personal preference for noodle dishes, but haven't disliked anything I've tried on their menu yet), but their strongest suits are the consistency in their cooking, and the friendliness of the staff. The owners are personable, outgoing, and really fun to talk to. Couple them with the cozy seating area, and you have a very welcoming restaurant that's fun to eat in. Love the BYOB aspect of this restaurant too.
(4)
Kim C.

I wish I could give it 10 stars! Best crab rangoon EVER. Ben (i think that is actually Ben's son or Ben's father...one of those)...is the nicest person EVER! I agree with Bill H's review...they do seem to hook up the repeat customers... :) I brought my boyfriend here who lives in Maryland and we ate like 35 bucks worth of food (which is a lot at Ben's awesome prices!) and he loved it. My parents will come visit me from the burbs just go to there. It's just the best place! The pad see eiw is my favorite! I try to only eat half and then save the other half, but its impossible.
(5)
Cassie K.

I love Ben's. The owner does everything and does it well. They are so kind and service is quick, whether it is eat in or to go. I have also overheard some horribly rude and whiny people ordering their meals and he is nothing but accommodating. The prices are great, too. I love the Tom Yum soup.
(5)
Karl Z.

Ben's Noodles is great! I've lived in Edgewater for 5 years now and never stopped in until recently. I was greeted very genuinely when I entered the restaurant and went to the counter to order my takeout. I asked some questions about some of the menu items and the woman working the counter answered them very thoroughly and was respectful of my lack of knowledge with some dishes. The food came out in about 10 minutes and brought the food home to my friends. I've ordered "spicy" from some Thai restaurants before and they usually don't even begin to come close to a spicy dish. Ben's made my dish SPICY and it was EXCELLENT!!! I'm so happy I found Ben's Noodles and just writing this review makes me want to order some Pad Kimao and Chicken Satay... mmmmmmm!!!
(5)
Michael M.

I had to update my review because this place just gets better every time I go. The staff is just amazing and the food, well lets just say no other Thai can compare in my opinion.
(5)
Gene W.

Really good food, in large portions, at a small price. I've started eating lunch here at least once a week, and those lunches seem to always be the most satisfying. I'm a big fan of the red curry chicken, but I haven't found anything I dislike. The service is extremely friendly and quick. The place can get a little drafty, but really, if that's my only complaint, I'm stretching.
(4)
Anne B.

A fantastic, usually quick dinner right by the Bryn Mawr stop. The owner and his wife, I assume, are always there and always have a smile for everyone walking in the door. Fantastic food, wonderful service...as good as it gets.
(5)
Ryan W.

this is, hands down, my favorite thai place in all of Chicago. The prices are great, the food is ALWAYS great, and service is incredible! My favorite is their chicken satay, massaman curry, and ginger chicken. the tom yum kai and tom kah kai (sp) are amazing. The best illustration of the quality of this place, is during the winter, when I stop in and order take out, they bring me a cup of hot tea to warm up with, while Iwait for my order to take home. I love this place!
(5)
Jarrad M.

My wife and I eat here pretty regularly. She loves the Pad See-EuW and eats it almost exclusively. I will eat pretty much everything else. Folks that talk about it being "bland" are mistaken. You can easily ask them to "up" the flavor or spiciness of a dish. I enjoy almost everything on their menu. I like that the fact that it's small, neighborhoody and family-run. They recognize me when I walk in. They ask about my wife if she's not with me. They're just really nice. When we do take-out, the food is ready by the time I walk in (and I live only a couple of blocks away...).
(4)
olivia h.

This the best place to go for thai food! It's so yummy and delicious!
(5)
Gerald F.

Having been born and raised in Hawaii, this displaced islander's survival in Chicago is dependent on good Asian food. Ben's is hard to beat on the quality, price (as we say in Hawaii, "Gotta broke da mouth but not da bank!") and customer service! Ben's at the top of my all-time favorite Chicago restaurants. What's great about Ben's is that the owner takes the time to get to know his regulars and does everything he can to make sure his customers are comfortable. He's called my friends and I into the restaurant from the street when we pass! And I remember after a hot summer's commute, waiting for my take-out, he had me rest at a table and offered me a free drink to cool off. Service like this is hard to find in Chicago. While the menu is not remarkable, it is what I would call authentic comfort home cooking for an Asian-Pacific Islander like myself. The menu is affordable with very sizable portions. Although, I like to order things with less sauce... I'm not a very saucy person. Here's a cool tip! The menu is not exhaustive. Make sure to look up the daily specials written on the tiny dry-erase boards on the walls! I always get excited when the Lime Basil Chicken or Rice Soup is up on the board! I also love their fried rice... it's not the typical Americanized Chinese fried rice but has a softer texture and fresh vegies. Also, they are more than willing to accommodate your personal nuanced tastes and change the recipe a tad for you. We've had small groups at Ben's for Saturday night dinners or Sunday morning brunches. The room is intimate but comfortable. Also, Ben's is gay friendly and a nice place to bring a date on occasion.
(5)
Brent W.

I'm gonna go ahead and put it out there: One of the best, if not *the* best, Pad Thai in Chicago. Lunch special comes w egg roll, which has a really light and crispy outer texture (not greasy whatsoever) and packed w. fresh veggies. Shrimp or Chicken, both are equally good...it comes w I think a dozen fresh shrimp, so even the lunch portions are generous...totals $7 before tax/tip.
(5)
Frank Z.

When it comes to Thai restaurants, the first thing that makes one a great one is their Pad Thai. It's the dish that sums up all the ways the food is cooked, seasoned and smothered. This place is clean with a friendly service but a terrible* plate of Pad Thai. The egg rolls and pot stickers were average. Good for cheap Thai. * By terrible I mean that compared to a good Thai restaurants, not a triple cheap Thai/Vietnamese/Chinese joint.
(3)
Vinay D.

I've tried numerous Thai places and none come close to the down home feel of Ben's! Go in enough and they recognize you and will remember if you order a dish spicy or not. Prices are reasonable and about par for Chicago.
(5)
Cliff E.

The SO and I ordered delivery from here and it arrived pretty quickly and that was good, but I'm wondering if maybe we called on an off night because both of us thought the food wasn't as good as the Yelp/hype led us to believe. We ordered the Tom Kha, Tom Yum Goong, Larb, Pad Thai, and Basil Chicken. The soups were good. The Larb wasn't spicy at all. And Basil Chicken was bland chunks of chicken in a bowl with too many green bell peppers. Ton's of bell peppers is the thai equivalent of the salad bar at a Brazilian Steakhouse. Filler. It's cheap and adds bulk to the portion. Then I tried the Pad Thai... I view Pad Thai as the "bacon and eggs" of Thai food. It's a complex dish, that with a little practice you can make a decently, and it's really, really hard to screw it up. It was horrible. The Pad Thai was super bland. I added the hot liquid (calling this stuff sauce is an insult to sauces everywhere) which gave my Pad Thai a thin vinegary, peppery flavor, but no heat. I also had to add some Tiporos to up the savoryness of it, but to no avail. No sweet, no savory, no creaminess, only salty bland noodles and veggies with weak soft ground peanuts on top. Even the lime stuffed on top was limp and dark ( think British racing) green. This is the kind of Pad Thai I would expect to get in my hometown in central Georgia rather than a metropolis like Chicago. And I definitely expect more from a place that consistently gets 4 star reviews. For the amount of $ we spent, we'll go to Roseded, Thai Aree House or TAC Quick instead of Ben's.
(2)
Jason P.

Spacing on the inside was a little tight so i wouldn't recommend showing up with a group of people, but the food was great. Good prices as well. Fast service was appreciated. I highly recommend the pad Thai!
(4)
Steve K.

I'm a thai food junkie and live just a few blocks away, so I was really excited to try Ben's. First the good: the tom kha was incredible. Since this is my favorite thai dish, it's likely that I'll get it from Ben's in the future. It was an auspicious start to the meal. Then the bad: that's probably all I'll get. Nothing else was even average. My friend loves crab rangoon. If there is an order of six, he'll have four and I'll have two. Shockingly, he tried one of Ben's and was done. They were majorly underdone and cold in the center. Our main courses were watery disasters. There was no nuance whatsoever to the sauces, both of which were extremely thin. I'm guessing they were from a jar. Pour, add water, heat. On a five star scale, these were zero star main courses. We didn't finish and had no interest in the leftovers. I'm very surprised at the high ratings.
(2)
Chicagoguy J.

Great little Thai place and very reasonably priced. Went in there to pick up some food last weekend and the staff were very polite and gracious, food was cooked to order quickly, nothing to complain about. Chicken pad thai was very good, as were the spring rolls.
(4)
Kendrah R.

Friendly, food is good, consistent. To die for? No. But tasty and comforting? Yep! Fastest delivery in the city. I call for order; it is at my door in 15 minutes. Chive dumplings are great. Owners are super sweet and friendly.
(4)
Patricia V.

Great food, (Pad Thai) & Good Price. My favorite restaurant in my neighborhood.
(4)
Mel A.

*Update...food is far from basic when you actually eat in the restaurant. Finally did that after 3 years of living here ;) Friendly staff. They know me by name. Fast take-out service. Food is basic but CONSISTANT! Key in my book. I have ordered Chicken Pad Thai for 2 years now and it tastes the same every time. Great job. Nothing fancy-great for a quick lunch. One block from Bryn Mawr Red line stop.
(4)
Steve T.

I went to Ben's with a friend Saturday night and had some delicious Pad Thai and potstickers. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone that would like good, authentic Thai. You will not be disappointed.
(4)
Antone R.

I live nearby and they are convenient, the portions are large I couldn't finish it all so I had it for breakfast the next day, if u can believe that.
(4)
Matt P.

This tiny little place has pretty darn good Chicken Pad Thai and their delivery is quick.
(4)
Kelly S.

Ben's Noodles and Rice is a solid, consistently good place for Thai. The panang curry is velvety and smooth with great balance of sweet heat. The pad se eiw has tasty bits of carmelized soy-noodle-egg. The sprin rolls are also fresh and tasty. It is our "go to" delivery place during the week as the food usually arrives within 30 minutes of calling.
(4)
Benjamin H.

I've been ordering from this place 2-3 times a week for the past month and don't know why I haven't reviewed it yet. The food here isn't exceptional, but it's pretty good. Everything I've ordered so far (Pad Thai-$6, Pad Kimao-$6, Basil Fried Rice-$6, Pineapple Fried Rice-$6.25, Green Curry-$7, Panang Curry-$7, Massaman Curry-$7) had good flavour and decent portions. I've been enjoying their curry the most. This place is always a safe bet for some quick carry-out (usually takes only 10-15min) on your way home or if you don't feel like cooking. The staff is always nice and helpful, especially when you become a regular. The Thai Iced Tea ($2) is also very good, as is the Tom Yum soup ($4-5). The papaya salad, however, is the only thing I haven't liked. Cheers
(4)
Allie P.

I moved in right down the street about 6 months ago but have never tried this place until today. I've been missing out BIG time! My sister and I split egg rolls, pad thai with chicken, and pad see ew with beef. I eat thai food all the time, and I feel like most places cook the noodles until they're mush. These were cooked perfectly, and both noodle dishes had a light, fresh sauce. The egg rolls were fantastic too - not too greasy, perfectly crunchy, and the insides weren't overcooked. I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Torrie B.

Best Thai in the city, as far as I am concerned. My boyfriend and I have tried lots of high end and other small places, but somehow we always end up back here raving about the food. I've have never had a bad meal a and the owners are quite possibly the nicest people. After a few visits they've memorized your face and your order. Huge portions and with extremely reasonable price tags. Another plus BYOB with no hidden fees. This place is a gem, all should check it out.
(5)
Michelle J.

I've only been here once. It is small, but inviting with very quick and efficient service. The crab rangoon and garlic chicken were very good with large portions. The bowls of jasmine rice were great (compared to places that only give you small amounts of rice with your food). The green tea was also a nice sized mug and served piping hot. My dining companion had the spring rolls and pineapple chicken with good reviews as well.
(4)
Adam V.

Very good food and prices. BYOB. Excellent service. Atmosphere is below average. They could use a new paint job and some plants or pictures on the walls. Other than that this place is great!
(4)
Jordan H.

I LOVE THIS PLACE. I'm only in the wonderful city of Chicago once or twice a year but always head over to this hidden gem. Good food, great price, and friendly owners. Try the Panang Curry, always good but I like the spicy stuff.
(5)
Devon R.

Ben's serves some of the most consistent and most delicious take-out Thai on the North Side -- or anywhere, in my opinion, and I consider myself a bit of a Thai food snob. We're not talking super high-end gourmet stuff, but really great basics and beyond. They use fresh and flavorful ingredients of the highest quality, no skimping. Portions are huge and prices are so reasonable. Huge menu, great selection. Service is always friendly and fast, kind and gracious. Never had a bad meal, never had any complaints whatsoever. This is a place I would order from every day, without hesitation. Ben's is the best!
(5)
Marcia D.

My lunch companion and I had high expectations for this place after hearing from multiple people that it was great and that they ate there all of the time. Also, we noticed it had a lot of great reviews here and other places on the web. Sadly, it did not come close to living up to the hype. We were extremely disappointed. We ordered it as take-out for lunch, so our first disappointment was the price. A pad Thai and a panang curry, two Thai food staples that we order as a litmus test for new Thai restaurants, was over $16. 2 simple Thai dishes at lunch time for a small sort of divey looking place should not cost that much. As for the food itself, the pad Thai was not that great. It was eggy and a little sour, it didn't taste like pad Thai, which combined we've had at probably at least 20 other restaurants, so we know what it should taste like. It wasn't bad, it just didn't taste "right." Then I had the panang curry. It was watered down and pretty mediocre. I'd say it was bland, except for the fact that it had a ton of basil. Luckily I love basil or it would have totally ruined the dish for me. The only good thing I could say about it was the people that took our money seemed nice and friendly. Considering we are halfway between this place and Argyle, which has slightly better Thai places, we will probably never go back to this place.
(2)
Ryan A.

Excellent place for Thai food in Edgewater. Delicious food, good portions, reasonable prices. Absolutely perfect for me to call in an order for pickup for dinner as I'm driving home from work. My favorite is the basil chicken and rice dish, but I've never been disappointed with any dish. Unfortunately, they are closed one day a week (I think it is Wednesdays??)
(4)
Becky T.

I love this place. I always get the Ginger Pork entree, which is DELICIOUS and fresh! The thai chili sauce is amazing!!!! I crave it. I find reasons to go to this part of the city just to eat there. Great lunch special deal. Very friendly. It's never very crowded, but the phone is always ringing off the hook with carry out. No frills, great food.
(5)
Justin S.

The Ginger chicken dish there is SO good. I've been there twice and gotten it both times. I will have to try something else cause I will definitely be back. Just hard to stray from something thats as good as the ginger chicken dish. Go try it you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Margaret T.

Although not the absolute worse, I was very disappointed with the meal I received from Ben's. The sauces were watery (I doubt there was much coconut milk in my green curry) and a lot of soy sauce was used in other dishes. The only time I'd ever come back here is if the dining hall and my favorite Thai restaurant, Thai Spice, were closed. No, thank you, Ben.
(1)
Gabe H.

Certainly there is better Thai food out there than Ben's. But there is no restaurant that delivers the whole package as well as Ben's does. Everyone on the staff is incredibly friendly at all times, the prices are reasonable, the delivery is super fast, and the food is very very good. I find myself eating either Pad Thai or Bangkok Chicken twice a week these days. The Crab Rangoon is also very very good. I would probably reccomend it more for delivery than dine-in, because the restaurant itself is a little cramped. The location kind of sucks. Right off the Bryn Mawr Red Line Stop, where all sorts of shady people hang out on the sidewalks doing shady-looking things. Where do all those people come from? Anyway, I can't really hold it against Ben's, especially since they deliver. But yeah, the location is awful.
(5)
Rex M.

I was here on Halloween. I had a nice meal. I had a nice server. I had a nice table. I guess I'm just trying to say it's nice.
(4)
fox a.

I will be frequenting this place on a weekly basis; ordered the Spicy Basil Tofu & nearly died of culinary delight. A bit greasy, but who cares, when loaded with TONS of bell peppers. Most asian restaurants skimp out on veggies, but this place treated me right. I left very full & with a happy wallet. I'd give this place 5 stars if the servings were a touch larger.
(4)
Doreen M.

Great neighborhood Thai spot. Ben and his family are so kind and make you feel welcome. Generous amounts of food at a good price. Perfect place for a casual date, or gathering with a group of friends. I enjoy Ben's Fried Rice, Chicken Basil Rolls and the Pot Stickers.
(4)
Mill V.

It's good since it's so damn close to where I live. When I don't feel like eating from my freezer, this place fills that need. The people who work here at so nice, always greet you with a smile. Haven't had a bad dish here. Nice Tom Kha.
(3)
K. B.

I don't know why in the world you would go anywhere else for Thai food in Chicago. Ben's is excellent. It's BYOB, and a nice little neighborhood place--the best Pad See Ew I've had away from the West Coast. Owned and operated by a really lovely family. Give it a try!
(5)
Rocky B.

Food here is pretty good tho I think the tastiest thing for me here is the fried rice. Service is fast and friendly. I just like the fact that Ben's has added to the restaurants that are popping up on Bryn Mawr.
(3)
Ann Y.

I love Ben's. The owners are very, very nice and the food is consistently good. I love the pineapple chicken fried rice. It is just wonderful. My husband loves the Pad Thai though I had one or two times where it wasn't up to par (out of about 50+ trips). I really loved it.
(4)
Jelly C.

Ben's is a cute little place. The food is good but not anything to go out of your way for. The food came out quickly and they have a lunch special that's not bad. I tried their fried rice and basil chicken and both were yummy.
(3)
Cindy B.

This little Thai place is great. I live in the neighborhood and think it's a great option for dining for low-budget dining on Bryn Mawr. You can taste the fresh ingredients in the dishes, and they always accommodate any special requests you have. My favorites are the basil fried rice and crab rangoon, yummy! The interior though decorated minimally is enjoyable and clean; and the help is friendly and always smiling. Definitely a good buy!
(4)
April M.

Ben's Noodles and Rice looks like your normal hole in the wall Chicago Thai joint from the outside but inside it has a great environment. They have all the popular entrees and some different ones that sound really good! Their prices are decent, not low but not too high; though they are lower than you would expect from the quality of food you get! The service is fast and very friendly! I believe they are BYOB since I saw another table with their own whine bottle, but I'm not 100% sure. They also do take out! :D Which is a BIG plus for commuters since they are steps away from the Bryn Mawr Red line stop!! If you like Thai food, and love hole in the wall joints you should definitely check out Ben's Noodles and Rice!
(4)
Nellie T.

I just moved to Edgewater and have been searching for replacement restaurants for all my usuals. Thai food is one of my usual weekly meals. I thought this place was better than my last weekly thai place in Lakeview. I thought the food was very flavorful (something I find lacking in a lot of Thai restaurants in the midwest). I liked the small family owned restaurant feel. The service was pleasant, but a little slow. I think the wait staff had some friends in the restaurant dining and were paying a lot of attention to them. However, I would absolutely pick up another meal for a regular weeknight meal. Since it's right by the El and on the way home, you can't really say no to that convenience.
(3)
Greg G.

Small little Thai restaurant with so-so food. It's ok but not remarkable. Good place to pick up dinner on the way home when you don't feel like cooking. Tiny room, but I've always gotten a seat. Happy, friendly family run. Reasonably busy all week long. It's right off the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop and there is street parking on Bryn Mawr though you may have to find it on Broadway.
(3)
Jeff M.

Basil Chx... Good. Fried Rice... Good. Egg Rolls... Good. Great food, quick delivery, and consistent. My basil chx tastes super fab every time I order which is about once a week. Only complaint is that sometimes if I order on Grubhub the actual receipt they bring on delivery is $1 or $2 more... need to ask about that.
(4)
Jason N.

I love this place! The service is excellent, and the food is always great, nice portions and it's cheap! I usually find myself here at least once a week.
(5)
Benjamin H.

What can I say besides the fact that this place lived up to the hype and more. I really enjoyed my experience at Ben's Noodle this past week. For the past years I have been spoiled by living in a neighboorhood that is saturated with some of the cities best thai restaurants. Between Spoon, Rosded, Sticky rice...why go elsewhere? Well I was burnt out on the local haunts and wanted to go elsewhere. I am sure glad that I did. My dining companion and myself were immediately surprised with the intimacy of the spot. We were greeted by Ben (im assuming) who was kind and gracious. We had the chicken potstickers, which were really good. The sauce that came with them, however, was excellent in all it's surypy and sweet goodness. Next, I had the spicy Basil noodles. They came directly from the kitchen, steaming and aromatic. I really enjoyed the firmness of the rice noodle. Often they can be overcooked and mushy, while these were a Thai-version of "Al Dente". The vegetables in the noodles were very fresh and crunchy. The Pad Se Eiw that my companion had was quite delicious, she seemed to really enjoy it. Great place to go and then have dessert at Flourish across the street! I will be coming back.
(4)
Katie X.

I initially wanted to give this place 3.5 stars, because although the food was just "good" (and not "amazing," which would merit the fourth star), the service was wonderful in that "i'm moved by this wonderful service" way, hence the fourth star. the owner was incredibly nice and brought us food and tea quickly and with an enormous smile, as if we were sitting in his living room. and the place wasn't exactly empty, so we weren't the only ones being doted upon. a very nice dining experience, with solidly good and filling (not to mention affordable) thai-ish food. we had stir-fried chicken and wide noodles, as well as the green papaya salad. pretty good.
(4)
PJ K.

I want to like this place. The owner and the small staff are really quite nice and it's located a stone's throw from the Ranch and I really want to support the local neighborhood business, but the food's just simply not all that great. It'll do for a quick Thai fix if you're within walking distance, but there's zero reason to go out of your way to eat here.
(3)
Ise B.

ben's has a large number of dishes which are full of variety in vegetables and spices, always a good mix. the food is prepared with expert care. table service is pert and highly thoughtful, well-spoken but always considerate of the diner's state of mind and desire to talk or not. the decor is simple but extremely clean and nicely designed. i am always surprised at how fast the food arrives, and how good it tastes. you can eat here for about ten dollars and be speedily on your way to your next big enterprise feeling well nourished to take on any hurdle. the only reason i didn't give it five stars is that the menu is modest in size, as it doesn't attempt to do what it can't in this price range. extend the concept to a larger menu and you would have a five star restaurant.
(4)
greg r.

everything is good. the staff is nice and the chicken wings are phenomenal! pot stickers and pad thai are also very good.
(5)
Joel S.

Tried delivery from Ben's for the first time recently. The delivery was prompt, and they offered a coupon for free delivery, which was nice. Their crab rangoon and egg rolls were still crispy when we got them, which is rare and definitely appreciated. The Pad Si Ew was decent as well, I like my wide rice noodles ever so slightly sweeter and with more sauce than they prepared them with, but they were still tasty. The tofu in my dish was prepared excellently, however. I'm going to walk over and eat in the restaurant sometime soon, and I could definitely see this being a great 4 star regular option for Thai food up in the Edgewater area if I have a good experience.
(3)
Brandon V.

Its not easy to get a five from me because I save them for the best (as it should be done). This place has great food, great people, very personal. Inexpensive. I'm not gonna write anymore, just try it.
(5)
Megan B.

My husband and I love Ben's! We've never been disappointed. The staff is very friendly, and the service is usually pretty good (it can get pretty slow when they're busy). I've tried just about everything on their menu and love the bankok chicken and all their fried rice varieties. They also use the highest quality ingredients -- no dark meat chicken or random extra chicken parts. And it's always super clean in there. Overall a great place!
(5)
G G.

A yummy and convienient thai restraunt right off the Bryn Mawr stop. I always get take out so I have nothing to say about the dining experience.
(4)
Ziggy I.

This place is definitely a 4.5, but I couldn't in good conscience round up to 5 (the Lard Nar can be a little too soupy and the Pad Thai is a bit bland). Having said that, I want to emphasize that Ben's easily holds its own with other top Thai eateries across the city. My girlfriend and I have had the Panang curry a few times and are in agreement that it's the best in the city: not *too* spicy, but full of flavor in every bite and heaped with generous amounts of veggies and tofu (our friends have gotten it with chicken, too, and report that Ben's doesn't skimp on the bird). The Panang pairs very well with the Pad See Eiw, itself not overly oily and noodle-heavy-broccoli-light like its counterparts at other establishments. Additionally, Ben's soups are the best I've had in Chicago: smooth yet tangy, just the right amount of veggies, and easily a dollar or two cheaper than a bowl at a downtown Thai place. And while the ambiance of Ben's leaves a little to be desired -- we always do takeout -- the price certainly is right. Highly recommended.
(4)
Michael C.

Delicious food, I have never had a bad meal. My favorite is the Spicy Basil with Chicken. I always add the extra meat for $1 because I enjoy the leftovers the next day and the prices are so low it is still cheaper than other Thai options in the neighborhood.
(5)
Kimberly L.

I liked Ben's well enough. The papaya salad was a bit underwhelming but the tom yum kai soup was good. Bonus for the fresh (not canned) mushrooms. The pad see ew tasted fresh though I guess I need to ask for "Thai-spicy" spice levels next time. The service was friendly and the restaurant was tidy and bright. I'd give them 3-1/2 if that were an option.
(3)
Leang E.

This review is for delivery only. I think they got here in like 45 minutes, and the food was still piping hot. I got the crab rangoons, which were pretty good. I also got the Chicken Pad Thai and the Beef Pad See Ew. The noodles might have been more softer or over cooked since they'd been in the container and not fresh on a plate, but the flavor was really good. The portions were a reasonable size as well as the prices. I would definitely order from here again or meet up with friends here.
(4)
Mike F.

Absolutely delicious. We were visiting a friend and looking for a good, cheap place to eat. Really enjoyed our meal. The larb with pork was nice and very flavorful. The standout dish was the Pad Pet Catfish. It was really nice and somewhat unusual. Highly recommended.
(4)
Halleh C.

I've been craving thai food all the thai-m (haha) lately and wanted to try something closer to home. I usually go to Yes, because YES its so good. I guess Ben's satisfied my cravings, sort of. Yes, I got pad thai and crab rangoons, and yes, it was aiight. However, I wasn't that excited about it. There was a lack of sauce in my dish, and the hot sauce was too watery and not hot enough. It wasn't bad, but I've definitely had better. I guess I'll continue searching.
(2)
Jade T.

When was the last time you've left a restaurant feeling really happy and wanting to return ASAP? I honestly don't remember the last restaurant, if there were any, that made me feel that way until I dined at Ben's Noodles. One of the owners, an older Thai lady named Penny, reminds me of my many aunts. She is probably the nicest Thai person I've came across at a Thai restaurant, no lie. I find it really cute that she started talking to me in Thai/English, which my family does. (Not that this is important, but I encourage Thai people to speak Thai with me to help retain my barely existent fluency of the language... but most don't.) Alright, the staff is nice. That isn't enough to warrant a repeat visit for some of us. I ordered the Pad Thai Tofu and my dining companion ordered the Mussaman Curry. Drinks arrived within 5 minutes. I *hate* it any non-busy restaurant takes forever to bring me water or a can of soda. The food came out within a few minutes too. Usually, this makes me nervous. How good can food possibly be if it takes them a short time to make it? Well ... my doubts instantly vanished. = READ: BEST PAD THAI IN CHICAGO. = (I wish I could italicize, bold, and enlarge the font by 10x.) ARGH!! SERIOUSLY!!! I've eaten Pad Thai hundreds of times throughout my life, and I judge a restaurant based on that dish. If the Pad Thai sucks, I don't return to the restaurant. But Ben's Pad Thai is amazing ... amazing. It has the perfect balance of all the flavors: sweet, savory, and tangy. The noodles were cooked to perfection, with the right amount of tofu and vegetables (not too much, not too little). I felt like I was back eating at a street vendor in an alley of Bangkok, that's how good the Pad Thai was. While this term is overly used these days, the Pad Thai was ... orgasmic. Of course, not everyone will agree ... because people have had different Pad Thais therefore different ideas on how it should taste. I'm telling you, Ben's Pad Thai is the real deal. I almost want to ship it to my mom in DC and ask for her opinion. (Tip: Ask for dried chili powder on the side for an extra kick! That's the traditional condiment Thai people use for this dish.) I won't write about the Mussaman or the Fresh Spring Rolls much, but they were pretty good too. The Thai Iced Coffee was delicious, not too strong or sweet. I can't wait to try the Pad See Eew here. I find Ben's Noodles to be very vegetarian-friendly. They are more than happy to omit fish sauce. Seriously, I LOVE Ben's Noodles! I love the lady who co-runs it (she joked about having me come back and learn more Thai from her - gosh, she's so awesome to talk to), I love the Pad Thai and the convenience of the restaurant. I've written many reviews on Thai restaurants, some of which I rave about their Pad Thai, but Ben's Noodles outranks them. I'll be here once at week, at least, for my Thai food fix. I would return tomorrow, had I not have yummy leftovers. :-) Update: The owner remembered me after having been there ONCE. Too awesome. Update 2: Their Pad See Eew is THE BEST I'VE HAD. Period.
(5)
Jamie C.

This place was, is, and probably will forever be the best Thai restaurant I've ever been to. The people are very welcoming and friendly, and they know when you want to eat in peace, and when you're ready to order. The options are extremely affordable and all of the dishes are ultimate comfort food! I think my dad is in love with the place, too. The last time I took him to Ben's, he wanted to talk the owner into branding and selling his hot sauce!
(5)
Peter C.

Nice little place to sit and eat. Nothing fancy, but cozy. Egg roll tasted like something I could have bought from the frozen foods section at Jewel. Not impressed with the quality or quantity. However, the portion size of the Pad Thai I ordered was generous for the price....and also delicious. That gets an A.
(4)
Jason H.

This is one of our usual go to places for Thai food and usually quick and good... Until tonight! Ordered online... One hour passes (they usually don't take even that long). Call. "It's on it's way, should be there shortly." Two hours pass. Still no food. Call. "We had two people not show up in the kitchen..." So basically the food has taken hours to arrive, and was lied to by the restaurant. Really sh*tty work Ben. (Finally arrived 2 hours 15 minutes...) There's too many good Thai places in the city to deal with crap.
(1)
Rachana U.

One of my fav Thai cuisine restaurant. Very very nice and quick service. Will defiantly visit this again We had: Bangkok chicken (recommended) Basil roll (recommended) Fish cake (didn't liked much) Very happy :)
(5)
Jennifer N.

I've ordered from here a number of times and have had a good experience each time. The prices are reasonable and the service is fast. Their pad see eew is amazing and does not disappoint. Their panang curry is decent but a bit watery. Their pad Thai is also good but I've definitely had better. Overall this place is great for when you want a cheap, quick bite :)
(4)
Jasna C.

Been going and picking up for over five years and finally writing a review. Shame on me!! Always consistent, delicious, and flavorful food. Some of my favorites: Basil Vegetable Entree Tom Yum Goong Pad Thai Panang Curry Spring rolls
(5)
Hinna S.

I absolutely loved the pad thai! the location was very convenient and it took less than 10 minutes to pick up my takeout order. This was my first time here so I was a little anxious but the food was up to Par and simply delicious. I am vegetarian and they were able to substitute the egg with the tofu in the pad thai which was a delight. A delicious meal! I would definitely come again.
(5)
Noah B.

We ordered delivery from Ben's through their online system and were happy with the food. We got pad thai, pad woon sen, a green curry, a red curry, and the beef basil entree. Also, with orders of $25 or more, you get a free appetizer (choose from either: egg rolls, pot stickers, or edamame). We ordered the pot stickers and this was my least favorite part of the meal. They tasted very plain and like they were previously frozen; not homemade. Overall, it's good Thai food but nothing was spectacular. I think we'll need to try the other places in the area to see how they stack up but we would definitely still repeat at Ben's based on our first experience. Only complaint: the price. At $8.50 average per dish, and some dishes pushing $12, this is some of the more expensive Thai food we've had from a local, neighborhood spot. With tax and tip, the per person price was around $13, which to me seems really high for Thai delivery. 3 out of 5 stars for good food, nice, courteous delivery service, and OK overall value.
(3)
Gino W.

While in the Bryn Mawr area, I had intentions of going for Indian food. But seeing Ben's Noodles and Rice off to the side, I stopped in instead so see how they fare with their Thai offerings. Tom yum goong. Basil rolls. Pananag curry chicken. Fried banana. I haven't had tom yum goong that I didn't like. I loved it at Ben's Noodles and Rice. The basil rolls were a switch from the usual mini egg rolls. Ground beef wrapped in basil leaves and then fried in a light pastry, yep, these were perfect. The panang curry had a thin base, but it was packed with flavour. Not wanting to do the usual Thai custard or mango with sticky rice, I ordered fried banana and green tea for my finale. Wow!!! I noticed a lot of people coming in for take-away orders. Clearly, the restaurant is a favourite among the locals in the Bryn Mawr/Broadway vicinity. I understand fully.
(5)
Mark S.

Closed on Wednesdays. We had an early dinner tonight (Tuesday) at Ben's. Parked right in front in a pay spot. The restaurant was neatly decorated and clean, and the service was really good. We had the Papaya Salad ($5.95), Panang Curry with chicken ($8.50), Pad Kimao with beef ($7.75) and the Mango Sticky Rice ($4.95). I thought the food quality was excellent, especially considering the reasonable prices on everything. Not a big deal, and I hesitate to mention it, but the only thing that wasn't great were the tomatoes in the salad and the noodle dish. They were very unripe and would have been better left out. We definitely will be back!
(4)
Thomas G.

Great place! I havent tried much here. Only the pineapple fried rice. So far so good. If you ever dine in here, bring a jacket or wear a sweater, because its colllllllddddd. Their air conditioner will run you out of the place.
(4)
Emanuele C.

By far the best Pad Thai in the city. The owners are super sweet and friendly and the service is fast and efficient. Always quality and always delicious.
(5)
Maria P.

This is one of my favorite Thai places. I love their chicken pad Thai. They make it just right! I have ate there once. It's small there but it's fine. I usually did delivery or take out until I moved far from them recently :( I miss Bens :(
(5)
Bridget B.

This place is delicious and the prices are very reasonable. I am not even finished eating and already felt it was necessary to write this review. SO GOOD. I had the oyster sauce with chicken, but it all looks so good.
(5)
Rafia J.

Good food and great service. It's my neighborhood joint and have gone there a couple of times. Loved the pad thai! I am huge fan of curries but did not find their curries to be that great. I'd stick to their noodle choice. Their thai custard is pretty darn good though! Will go back!
(3)
Brad V.

Great Thai food at really reasonable prices. BYOB is nice also. The service is fantastic. Seems like a family run business. Really kind and attentive staff who obviously care about your meal and experience. Loved it!
(5)
Sarah A.

Bens is great! Family run restaurant with great friendly service and quality food. Spicy basil noodles dish is delicious every time. They have an amazing lunch special of $7 for entree, soup and half of an appetizer. Such a deal. Really good food. They are closed Wednesday's.
(4)
Filipe G.

My first restaurant in Chicago, who would pass hot dogs and pizza for Thai? I guess I did, and I am glad. It's a very nice, small, privately owned restaurant where it seems to be run by the family with the owners on the floor and the kids in the kitchen. It was clean, the owners provided excellent customer service and the food came fast and furious. I had the Thai salad with peanut sauce and an order of fresh spring roll. They were both delicious, and hands down one of the best Thai food I have had. Did I mention their prices are extremely affordable? If you are not looking for a fancy ambiance, but love good food, give it a whirl, you won't regret.
(5)
Trinadi S.

First off, it is a crying shame that Ben's only has four stars on Yelp! If this place doesn't warrant a five star review, I don't know where would. It is super fast, cheap, and the staff is so friendly! Being a member of the service industry myself, I really appreciate great service and a genuine smile. Every time I have gone in there have been the same two people working the front, the cutest man and woman you have ever seen. I'm always tempted to ask the former if he is Ben but I haven't yet mustered the courage. Ben's is BYOB and there is a liquor store nearby so it could not be more perfect. They also offer take-out and delivery (which is what I am doing tonight). tldr; Go here. You won't regret it.
(5)
Josh M.

Unfortunately, my meal was not up to par with the great reviews on here. I ordered some of the worst orange chicken and fried rice I have ever had. Very, very bland. I couldn't finish it. Strongly recommend ordering something different from menu.
(1)
Reggie A.

Great for lunch.
(4)
Jenny H.

This place is awesome! I love thai food, and Ben's Noodles and Rice did not disappoint at all. In fact, it was one of the best pad thai's I've ever had. They give very large portions- we shared a pad thai chicken, and a tom yum shrimp soup, and were stuffed! We were still thinking about the pad thai 4 hours later because it was so delicious. It was loaded with chicken. They deserve 5 stars, since the food was amazing, it was cheap, the place was clean, great service, and BYOB!
(5)
Ryan W.

Came by both combination of friend recommendation and Yelp not realizing that both were the same place. The Pad Thai was quite delicious but the pot stickers and basil roll appetizers were great! Lots of food was left over for breakfast the next morning. If you can, drop by for their lunch special during the week. Same price of the normal meal but get a small portion of some appetizers and a bowl of soup. Was definitely a good bang for our buck.
(4)
John T.

No for real. SO good. Really happy I found this place. It's a bit further away from my house than some other thai restaurants, but it's worth it. And their prices are so good that delivery is actually a decent option so there's no excuse not to order from them. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
hannah s.

Ben's continually has not only great food, but fantastic service. I usually don't love Pad See Eiw, but theirs is fantastic. Their servers and hostess are some of the nicest in the city. Highly recommended.
(5)
Heidi B.

This place is solid. I recommend the chicken pad Thai, pork pot stickers and wonton soup... Panang curry was pretty good, but there was zero heat; next time I would order it extra spicy. I got delivery today, and the food was piping hot.
(4)
Angela D.

The food is delicious. The prices are right. The owners are sweet. A treasure of Edgewater.
(5)
Torque C.

This place is always good. Great service, always glad the customer comes through their door, very small seating area and excellent, fast, hot food delivery.
(4)
Rich S.

Enjoy going here often. Food has great consistency and my take out orders are always ready when I arrive. Staff friendly and accommodating. Interior needs some sprucing up but nothing that deters me from eating there. :) Thanks, Bens.
(5)
Calin D.

Huge fan. Great Thai food. The duck is great. Anything spicy is also very good. I love this place in the winter - it makes me feel warm and fuzzy just thinking about a nice cup of soup with hot tea and some veggies in a bowl with amazing sauce and noodles capped off with a small jar of spicy sauce. Yum!
(5)
Nicole K.

When I lived in Edgewater I would always order from Ben's. Their pad thai is delicious and has just the right amount of flavor. I've also had the pad see eiw and was never disappointed. The service is great and the staff are very friendly. The delivery would always come within a reasonable time and food still hot. I recommend Ben's to anyone. Great pad thai for a decent price and the portions are huge.
(5)
Tanisha M.

Quick and polite service! I have them delivered all the time! They're great. I frequent the Pad Thai with shrimp and chicken, crab rangoon, basil egg rolls...I've recently tried the Pas See Ew...which is also delicious! They do a great job!
(4)
Sara R.

I have definitely had much better thai food elsewhere. I like their noodle dishes better than their rice dishes. Their pad thai and pad kimao are probably the best! I won't recommend having the food delivered, they stuff everything in boxes too small to hold the food which makes it turn into a hot moosh once it gets to you. But it's a nice small place to enjoy a simple thai food.
(3)
Jacquelynn G.

I have yet to eat anything from Ben's that wasn't good. With that said, the massaman curry and the pad Thai are some of the best I've ever had. Their delivery is fast, hot and the order is always correct. The only negative is that my husband is not a fan of their basil chicken.
(5)
Marc R.

Excellent Thai dishes prepared for the American palette. Homemade egg rolls and dipping sauce are refreshing and not overly greasy. Pad Thai is consistently on point. It's a quaint and friendly atmosphere. Delivery is speedy as well. I don't know if their dishes are authentic to Thailand but they sure are yummy. Also recommend the sweet and sour chicken. Admittedly, the dishes seem fresher when eaten at the establishment, but overall no complaints here.
(5)
Muteya M.

This is my favorite Thai place in the city. As a bonus, it's the most affordable! My staples are the Crab Rangoon and the Chicken Pad Thai. The service is really good as they are quick and the food is still delish!
(5)
Jul N.

Not much Thai right in this area - Ben's you're friendly and fast and you have good pad thai, pad woonsen, papaya salad, egg rolls, and everything else!
(5)
Matthew M.

After putting in an online order, it took over an hour to get the food. I called to check on the order and it took them 10 minutes to figure out where my food was. When the food finally arrived, I was so fed up that I gave the driver a 10% tip (could have been nothing) and he had the nerve to say something as I closed the door. Finally when we sat down to eat, the curry was spilled in the bag. The food was just ok. Never again.
(1)
Astrid G.

My friend and I visited this small restaurant (conveniently located right next to the Bryn Mawr CTA stop) yesterday, and ordered som tum (raw papaya salad), spaghetti kee mao (a Thai take on pasta with heavy basil scent/taste, shrimp, and imitation crab meat), and lad nar. The som tum, while not identical to the ones you get back in Thailand, was still good and sour. I thought it could've used more chillies to add spice to it (I had requested for it to be more spicy), but the dish was probably designed for a Western palate. The spaghetti kee mao was surprisingly good! I did NOT expect to enjoy this dish anywhere outside of Thailand, presuming everyone would make it wrong (or just the way I didn't like it), but Ben's proved me wrong. It definitely could've used more spice, again, but I'm pleased that I can come back here whenever I'm craving for this dish (which is pretty damn often). I didn't really like the lad nar as much. While the texture of the flat, sticky rice noodles was chewy, it wasn't to my taste -- it reminded me of Korean dukbokki. But it seems to be a popular dish with the restaurants' visitors, so I say try it and form your own opinion. We received complimentary fried spring rolls, which was very kind of the friendly and polite native Thai couple who presumably own the restaurant.
(3)
Imane O.

I called for a pickup the service was not that great, my boyfriend went to pick it up. The vegetables were old not fresh,the food ok but not good, the portion were big but it's useless cuz it taste old. I found a hair hmmm. Not going there a gain, there is good places with same price but better quality
(1)
Nikki C.

BYOB tasty and pretty quick. Came by for dinners one spring eve and at the peak Midwestern dining time of 7 it was packed, but as quick as it filled it was once empty an hour later and open for ghosts of diners past. If you have some flexibility in your dining routine, choose to come in on a less popular time slot to allow yourself some chillaxed ambiance, or go for it and elbow up with the rest of thems. Standard western styled Thai noms. what!
(4)
Jessica C.

My favorite Thai place of all time! Ben's Noodles and Rice is a hole in the wall off of Bryn Mawr on the red line and it does not disappoint. They serve one of (if not THE) best pad thai I've ever had! The noodles are perfectly chewy and the dish isn't too greasy, as I've experienced elsewhere. Their other dishes I've found are good as well--their Tom Yum Soup, crab rangoon, pad ki mao, pad see eiw, their basil fried rice...but their pad thai is the one dish that I will sometimes have those cravings for... ...and ask for chili sauce on the side! adds a delicious extra kick if you want in between bites. Their service has also been great in my experience. Food has come out latest around 10 minutes even on busy days. I remember one time when I came at a slow hour, I asked my friend if we should ask for the check. The place is so small that the server could hear us from the register and got it for us right away! The size of the restaurant makes for pretty attentive service.
(5)
Gretel C.

Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night with a deep soul craving for Ben's Noodles Pad Thai. It's amazing and delicious. I've only eaten in the restaurant once, but the service was normal. We get take out probably once a month or so from here and they are always ready for us and it's ALWAYS delicious.
(5)
M M.

This is THE BEST Thai place in Chicago! I always order takeout/delivery, so I've only eaten in their restaurant twice in the last 8 years. Their food is phenomenal, delivery service is super fast (food always arrives hot too!) and it's not expensive! I honestly cannot say one bad thing about Ben's! It's even more convenient that you can go to their website, place your order online, and then pick up your food for carry out! My #1 favorite is Ben's Fried Rice with Tofu! If you're looking for a delicious Thai food, this is the place!
(5)
Adam J.

I went there after reading some good reviews. The truth is... VERY NORMAL food. The tom yum soup is so sweet (that is the only thing you taste) and i rate it one of the worst i tried so far with only thin sliced mushroom and your choice of protein !!! That is not how you make tom yum at all (and they charge you $3.50 for this) !! I then ordered the spicy basil noodle with beef.... again the most normal thing i tried in a Thai restaurant, the noodles have no bite and they are thin (taste like the frozen meals you buy from any supermarket), the beef sliced so thin you don't taste nothing.... I mean why would anyone go there when you can go to Tac Quick for example that is only couple train stations away?. I am sure not going back here again ... Nothing special at all. And i truly believe that all the 5 stars you see here are written by people who may be just tried Thai food for the first time in their life. PS: service was ok and waiters were nice and polite.
(2)
Lina W.

Each Thai restaurant I have tried in the city has been different. Unfortunately, my food at Ben's Noodles and Rice is not as good as some other Thai restaurants in the city (e.g., Opart Thai and Jin Thai). The establishment had the proper ingredients, but unfortunately the execution of the dishes wasn't there. I ordered papaya salad, basil with pork stir-fry, and pad kimao with beef. The papaya salad was competent, but I've had better. Both my entrees were over cooked such that the meat was hard to chew. The noodles on the pad kimao was also overcooked and as a result had a soggy/mushy texture as if someone chewed up my food for me.
(2)
Cal L.

Very inexpensive for very decent food and great staff. Will definitely be going there again.
(4)
Matt M.

Alderman Harry Osterman could have placed his office anywhere in the 48th Ward, but he chose to be just a few steps from delicious Shumai, Lad Nar, and Thai Custard. Such delicious offerings, and so reasonably priced! When I entered Ben's, I wondered what all the commotion was about, but after my tasty meal I could see it was I who was late to the party. I have only been to Ben's once, but I will be back to explore this exciting and promising menu.
(5)
Tyler M.

Live for this place!
(5)
Stojko B.

Food here is really good! I've been here a few times... Okay maybe a lot of time but the food keeps bringing me back. The owners are very nice! The price is also very good for what you get. The food has been the same basically every time except once it was a little off. I still recommend everyone try it!
(4)
Chitown D.

I'll never understand why such average places get such great reviews on Yelp! This was another disappointment; not the biggest, but up there. I love Thai food and have it regularly. I ordered the Pad See Ew and it was not good. The ambiance is terrible and the service was just ok. I found myself wishing I just stuck to Indie Cafe, which is a few blocks north on Broadway.
(3)
Sarah B.

We had just visited Dice Dojo around the corner, and were trying to figure out dinner. We smelled something awesome and decided to follow our noses. After a quick wrong turn, we crossed the street and found Ben's Noodles and Rice, which is where the awesome scent was coming from. We went in and got seated right away. It was a little chilly since it's small and people were almost constantly coming in and out, which is a good thing, the people, not the cold. We got two orders of crab rangoon and they were awesome. The sauce it comes with is delicious and they were super light. The Thai iced tea and coffees were good too. We ended up ordering two shrimp sukiyaki, a beef pad thai, and garlic beef. The sukiyaki was pretty yummy, all noodles shrimp and spice. The pad thai was really good too, but my favorite was the garlic beef. Luckily the bf ordered that so I was able to snag quite a bit of it. The restaurant is adorable, the food is good, and whenever we're in the area we'll definitely go back.
(4)
Victoria P.

Excellent place! Quality service and quality food!!! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! Their pad Thai and Korean chicken was delicious! Fast service! Ahhh this place is doing it right. :) A+++++
(5)
Alexandra D.

This is the first place I ever tried chicken pad see eiw and I naively thought pad see eiw other places would taste similar. WRONG. Bens noodles and rice makes the best, most tender pad see eiw in town. Every other thai place has been a supreme disappointment on that dish... I can not speak for any other dish as I am one picky mofo but if you like pad see eiw this is your place. If you are wondering, what is pad see eiw? Come and taste the magic.
(5)
Michael T.

I stopped in and had Thai Pineapple fried rice with Chicken. And compared the same meal to Chi-Tungs Restaurant over in Evergreen Park. Love them both! But Ben's portion was smaller but added juicy tomatoes and other spices which gave it more flavor, I like flavor.
(3)
Ashley C.

I've lived in Edgewater for about a year now and Ben's Noodles and Rice continues to be my favorite place to eat in the area. The owners are sweet and make you feel at home when dining in; service is speedy and neat when ordering take-out. Must tries: Ben's Fried Rice, Curry Fried Rice, Basil Rolls and their Chicken Pad Thai. I usually get their chicken in my meals, but have had their shrimp as well - big and just as yummy. Portions are big. Enjoy!
(4)
Tim H.

After 8 more months of constantly ordering Ben's, I have to upgrade the score. The more I've been to other Thai restaurants in the meantime, the more I realize how fantastic Ben's is. The Ben's fried rice and spicy basil noodle are so d--n tasty I literally smile every time it arrives because I know how tasty it's gonna be. Trust me, eat here. Your belly will thank you.
(5)
Alicia K.

I love Ben's! They seriously have the most flavorful, well-cooked pad thai in all of Chicago. The restaurant is owned by actual Thai people, so I trust that they know what they're doing. The option to add extra noodles for $1 is amazing! Other than pad thai, I also get the Pad See Ew, Panang/Green/Red Curry, Egg Rolls, Fried Shrimp App, Fried Calamari App in my rotation of items. Everything on the menu is really tasty, but I am deducting one-star for the outrageously priced egg rolls.. 2 tiny pieces (the size of your finger) for $4.50. They're delicious - and I get them every time - but I feel like it's highway robbery. (!!) This is my go-to place when I don't feel like cooking. They have an easy online ordering system.
(4)
Kara B.

Ben's is phenomenal. It is a quaint,simple, clean restaurant with wonderful food and even better service. The Panang chicken is to die for and something I frequently crave, and go get, even though we are in River North instead of Edgewater now. Each time we go in, the waiters remember us...and that we like to get two entrees and share them. I have never gotten anything that disappointed me- Pad See Ew, Pad Thai, Panang- all favorites. Would highly recommend Ben's for great food, nice atmosphere, and awesome service. You wont be disappointed! And it's BYOB!
(5)
Chirag K.

Bens noodle is a simple place with amazing food. The owners are friendly. I like spicy food. So, they suggested red curry and chicken pad see eiw. Both were just delicious! And price is just unbelievably cheap for the quality of food. A must visit.
(5)
Victor M.

Best place to eat in Edgewater. The crab rangoons, lime chicken, pineapple fried rice and pork pot stickers are all fantastic. I go here at least once a week. The owners are very friendly as well. Prices are reasonable.
(5)
Justine D.

i was here a few times the food is delicious ! BUT when i order for take out last night it was a disappointment ... my pad thai was not well seasoned it was blend and so as my tom yum seafood soup, it doesnt even taste like tom yum it tastes like sweet soup. i was so sad when i ate the soup because i was craving for something spicy and sour ... never again ... thai pastry is still my favorite.
(2)
David R.

Dang, still searching for that perfect nearby Thai restaurant. I heard on good authority that these guys have the best pad thai in the city but I wasn't impressed. It seemed kind of bland and some of the noodles were underdone at the ends. I went out on a limb and ordered a couple of fried appetizers for delivery. The shrimp rolls stayed crispy but the fried calamari was limp. However, a few minutes in the oven resuscitated them very nicely. The calamari batter is pretty bland and floury; but in both cases the seafood itself was cooked perfectly and they both come with a delightful sweet chili sauce. So an overall win. The second time I ordered, I tried something new to me--bangkok chicken. That was damn tasty. I also got the spicy basil noodles, another home run. Or at least a triple anyway. Spicy basil is one of my Thai favorites but I've never seen it in noodle form. I will definitely revisit those two dishes in a future purchase. Their online ordering system (apparently implemented by ehungry dot com) is one of those idiosyncratic versions that looks janky and applies logic inconsistently, but for the most part it works. In the confirmation email, you don't get a delivery estimate; it says "This order is scheduled to be ready on [date] @ [time]" where the time isn't in the future but in the past--the time that you got to the checkout page! Not even the time that you clicked "Place order" but the time that you started the checkout process! As a person who designs user interfaces like this for a living, it bothers me to see this kind of shoddy workmanship. I wish that every restaurant who wants to do this would join GrubHub or Seamless just to make my life easier. However, there is a perpetual "Free Delivery" coupon available, and you can schedule the delivery or pickup for a certain time in the future (this is useful to those of us whose evening commute can be 60 minutes or more). The ups and downs of my first two orders land them smack in 3.5 range, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt.
(4)
Peter B.

delicious! Great Curry! highly reccomended!
(4)
Ron Z.

Great pad-thai, after a couple of trips to Thailand you can really tell the good and the bad Thai food. Is place reminds me of a restaurant in Chiang Mai. The food is authentic and the service is really good . The only bid downfall is sometimes Tha parking in the area is very had to find. The good thing it is at the Bryn Mawr "L" stop and great for an after work pick up. This is one of my favorite Thai restaurants. Sometimes it is very busy, but well worth the wait
(5)
Cynthia L.

Yum!! Authentic, delicious & Family friendly. No frills atmosphere. You walk in, sit down and chow down.
(5)
Anne R.

So this place is addicting. The owners are always very nice and the food is super awesome. My fave is the sweet basil squid. It's the perfect sweetness and the squid is not rubbery. Their soups are so delicious, especially the miso soup. Super quick delivery and just great service when you're there.
(5)
Craig P.

Love this place. Owners are friendly, food is consistently delicious, and it's reasonably priced. Haven't ordered a dish there that I haven't liked.
(5)
Sara V.

I had a friend who lived off the Bryn Mawr stop and I swear I never noticed this place! That friend has now moved, but in the name of the Search for the Best Curry in Chicago, another friend and I stopped by here on a recent Sunday evening. The place is small. And a little chilly. But atmosphere aside, the food was pretty durn good. Egg rolls were above average, which is always a good sign. Nothing like rolls that are simultaneously overly hardened and soggy to put you off your food. My green curry was delicious, with enough of a kick to make me happy. The portions are perhaps smaller than I've come to expect in this Land of Plenty, but to be honest, we could all learn a little portion control. The service was sweet and I enjoyed my meal. I wouldn't go out of my way to return, but it makes a good go-to Thai place for that immediate area. Additionally, I'd imagine it would be the perfect place to kill time by yourself with a good book since it is right off the Red Line.
(4)
Erin B.

Hands down one of the best thai restaurants I have ever been to. It's a tiny place and not fancy at all but get over yourself and get in there to eat some effing amazing Pad Thai! The food here is always so fresh and you can taste all the unique flavors they put into each dish (lemongrass, ginger, etc.). It's super clean and the owners/ waitstaff are very sweet. My dad lives in the area so I always bring my toddler age son with and they are very nice to make sure he has something he likes. They cut the spring roll into much smaller pieces so it wouldn't fall apart when he was eating it. I appreciated that gesture. It's BYOB and you can't go wrong with Pad Kee Mao. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
C L.

Great little place with good food and good service. The orange chicken is delish with a nice light sauce and light breading. Love the atmosphere and I definitely can't wait to go back to try some of their other items. Prices are great too and it's byob!
(5)
Angela T.

On Jan 6th we ordered delivery from here again and while the food was good, my noodle dish had a long piece of knotted twine in it, the type that's used to tie packages. It looked like it was cooked in with the food, so I'm hoping it was disinfected by the heat. I'm still not happy about it.
(1)
Sharee M.

Every 'hood needs a Asian food spot. This is Edgewater's (to my knowledge). I went to Ben's a while back during my Vegan experience. I needed the Vegetable Fried Rice (Stir-fried rice with mixed vegetables and egg) without the egg. It was good and large in portion. The prices were ok, but I have had lower around the area. But hey, there is another Asian spot not too far (many 9 blocks) from here...that I really dislike. So you get what you pay for. What is that you ask? Goos service. I ordered and dined in. A cute little spot, ran by a nice group pf people. It was warm and invited, with lots of traffic. Everything was done timely. My water was always filled and they made sure I was happy the whole time. I was pleased with the service. I will be back when I am in the mood for Asian or Thai. I'm a fan.
(4)
Matt M.

I was told that this was the best Thai curry on the north side. Not so ladies and gentleman. Not to take anything away from Ben's but its not THE greatest. Its definitely worthy of top 10. It is very good. The curry does have a strong and delicious flavor but it lacks the accent that I've seen in other "5 star" thai places. Also the rice is nothing special. The portion sizes are also very good, but that is too be expected around this neighborhood. After all you can't compete for fat american business without catering to our flabby butts. Pricing is average and so is the depth of their menu. I do love the location. Enjoy!
(4)
Craig g.

I've been eating at Ben's (or having my food delivered) for a number of years now. In an area full of good-to-great Thai places, Ben's stands out. Tonight I ordered Ben's Yellow Curry with Chicken and pot stickers. First let me say-- Ben's makes the best pot stickers in town, bar none! Always perfectly crispy, never too greasy and Ben's dipping sauce is to die for! Yellow curry is one of my go-to dishes and the standard which I judge Thai restaurants by. Quite simply Ben's curry was fantastic! Lots of flavor, a nice heat bite at the end. And, unlike most places, Ben's curry has lots of chicken and vegetables to go with that delicious sauce. Most places give you mostly sauce and a few bits of protein and veggies. I've had many dishes over the years at Ben's... their Pad Thai is some of the best and their orange chicken is wonderful. In fact, just about everything I've had there is very good or better. Give Ben's a try-- their prices are reasonable and their food will exceed your expectations for Thai delivery.
(5)
Megan K.

Here I sit after inhaling my pad thai, and I'm in food bliss (coma?!). I placed an order for delivery around 11:45 on a weekday and the food showed up slightly after 12:20. Not too shabby for a 2 mile drive, and the delivery man was very friendly. Here's the damage that was done: 1) Crab Rangoons: Hands down probably some of the best crab rangoons that I've had in awhile. They were still incredibly crispy when they arrived and the inside was stuffed with cream cheese, crab, green onions, and other spices. Very tasty. The chili sweet and sour sauce was also very tasty, it wasn't the nasty goopy pink blob of sauce that plagues so many Chinese and Thai restaurants. 2) Chicken Pad Thai: HUGE portion that will easily equate to two meals. The noodles were perfect, not too saucy, not too dry and incredibly flavorful. The cabbage and carrots were also very fresh, and the freshly squeezed lime over the top made it perfect. The chicken was moist and flavorful, no complaints here! 3) Pork Pad Thai: Same tastiness as above, but the pork was a little chewy, so the chicken definitely stood out above this. I would've given it five stars had the pork been better. If you check out the coupon area of their website you can get free delivery on orders over $15! The whole bill came in just over $20 for a boat load of tasty food. I can't wait to try other items on their menu the next time I'm craving some delicious Thai!
(4)
Patrick M.

Ben's is my go-to Thai spot in Edgewater. The food is always great, the service is fantastic, and the price is quite reasonable. I highly recommend Ben's to everybody. Some of my favorite menu items include Rama, Massaman Curry, and Cashew, though every meal is very good.
(5)
Ashley S.

So I came here once for lunch about 2 weeks ago and really enjoyed it. I had the egg rolls and tasted the shrimp pad Thai, both were really good! The service was fast and friendly, ill definitely be back!
(4)
Ehow C.

Solid green curry and Thai iced tea, I'm curious to try more. It looks like they have an efficient take-out system, and the staff is warm and friendly.
(4)
George M.

Ordered the chicken Pad Thai, Crab Rangoon and Spring Rolls. All were very good and the Pad Thai seemed authentic. I'm used to Pad Thai not having as much flavor as this one. Crab Rangoon had the right amounty of filling and the Wonton was nice and crisp. Spring rolls were tasty. Very quick service for carry out. Within 5-10 minutes I walked out the door with my food after ordering at the counter. The lady working the counter is extremely friendly and greeting every customer that walks into the restaurant. Bottom Line - When in the neighborhood again I will return to this restaurant. I found this restaurant via the Yelp App on my iPhone. I was in the neighborhood and needed to find a place to eat off the beaten path that was not expensive but quick.
(4)
Robbie K.

Still my fav spot in my own 'hood- everything is tasty and they really do have the best pad thai in town. Also BYOB!!
(5)
Travis K.

This place was excellent and quick. What more do you want from your corner Thai place
(4)
Iman W.

I never reviewed Ben's. For shame on me! Ben's was the first Thai place I went to in Chicago. My first Thai place period. The fact that I still continued to like Thai food goes to show that I was pleased with my first experience. I can't think of a single thing I ever had at that place that I disliked. And the people who work there are great, somehow managed to always remember me no matter how long it had been since I was in there. Ben's is one of the things I miss about living right off of Bryn Mawr.
(4)
Alexis O.

Decent Thai food at an affordable price. My friend and I had the cucumber salad, papaya salad, chicken wings, crab rangoons, Lime Chicken and Pad See-Eiw. The last two items, the entrees, were my favorite out of the bunch, with the rest being just okay. We enjoyed that Ben's is BYOB, and that they don't charge a corkage fee. The one downside is that it's a tiny place with limited space, and we felt rushed to leave. They were constantly staring and hovering over us in a "why are you still here" way. This is a good spot for a quick meal or carry out, but definitely not a place where you can catch up with a friend and enjoy your bottle of wine.
(3)
Terence V.

Was good. Would eat there again as long as I don't find a better place in the area. They were fast and friendly!!
(3)
Esther K.

Friendly, efficient service and low prices accompany some of the best curry fried rice and pad thai I've ever tried. With its proximity to my apt (and the Bryn Mawr stop) Ben's has easily become my go to Thai place! Plus they just sent me some coupons in the mail :)
(5)
Hac T.

I had the basil noodles at Ben's a few years back and have been thinking about them ever since. The funny thing is I work in uptown, which is super close, but haven't had a chance to go. I still remember how amazing that noodle dish was; the balance between sweet, salty, spicy. Simply delectable. I think I know where I'll be going to lunch on Monday.
(4)
Hanna R.

Let me start off by saying that I've never been a huge fan of Thai food. However, this place makes me LOVE Thai food! Maybe every other place I've tried has just been doing it wrong! The restaurant in itself is small, clearly more catered to be a pick up place than a sit down joint, but the atmosphere isn't too bad and there's always people there either dining in or grabbing their meals to go. There is also BYOB if you choose to eat in! Almost everything that I've tried here has been really good. No to mention the best crab ragoons I've ever eaten (and I am quite the 'Ragoon critic'!). Their homemade sweet & sour sauce is magical! My food already tasted great on its own, add the sweet and sour sauce and BAM! Makes everything taste even BETTER without overwelming the flavors that were already there. The perfect condiment! They really should jar that stuff up and sell it; I would buy that sauce by the bucket! We do not live in Chicago, but some good friends live within walking distance of this place. So naturally, I insist on eating here just about every time we make the drive into the city to see them! So take it from someone who 'disliked' Thai food. This place will blow you away!
(5)
Nektaria R.

Tom Kha Kai - Check Pork Pad Kimao - Check Thai Iced Coffee - Check Super nice staff who gave my friend a cute little coin purse for her birthday - Check I seriously cannot stay away from this place. Twice in 3 days. I think it's borderline obsession. It's also BYOB! Good food, decent prices, nice service. Got to check them out.
(4)
Todd G.

Fast service, reasonable prices, and always hot & delicious food. Ben's is tops on my list of favorite places to swing in on nights that I don't feel like cooking. They also have a great lunch special. Have you tried Thai Iced Tea? Do it next time you're at Ben's. It's more coffee than iced tea, but delicious nonetheless. My one tip about Ben's is that you'd be foolish to order from them on Wednesdays. Why? They are closed on Wednesdays and yet that's always the day that I seem to venture over there.
(4)
Nathan E.

Went by chance. Looks like a dive restaurant but man is their food good. The Pad Thai is legit and the Thai iced tea is amazing. Price is good and food is better!
(4)
Izzy N.

Hands down- THE best pad thai in the city folks. Now that's a bold claim but it's true especially coming from me cuz I'm really, really picky with my southeast asian cuisine. There's a lot of truely pathetic pad thai being made out there in the windy city and this is IT for you Chicago. Round of applause. There's southeast asians that actually know how to cook in this city? Ya don't say! The noodles have enough pull and bounce yet not destroyed from all that wok action and speaking of wok action, there's some of the lovely char marks from the wok. Good job.. Someone back there in the kitchen knows how to work a wok and delicate rice noodles. Char marks from the wok = PERFECTION. This is what good fried noodles are made of people. All my favorite noodle dishes require them. Also there's remnants of salted pickled turnips in this. My favorite! A good, proper pad thai has to have this and it's minced in there. The dish was very enjoyable. I asked for it spicy and it wasn't enough for me so I asked for a side of dried chili pepper. That really made it perfect for me. Do NOT destroy this dish with sirarcha or sambal oelek paste. Just ignore what one reviewer said about the pad thai not having enough sauce to it. It's stir fried street noodles bitch, it's not meant to be saucy. If you've had pad thai with lots of sauce to it, that's fucking nasty and the cook that made it didn't know what the hell they were doing. If you want saucy order lard na. I also had the pan fried chive dumplings as a starter. It's not really done well here so I'd pass on that. It's just underfried and comes out kinda pasty when you cut into it. Meh. Other than that, I highly recommend Ben's. It's cheap, good portions and most importantly- delicious. I'll return, it's not even a question- and try their pad see ewe and lard na- my other litmus tests but they've already pass their pad thai test which is major. It's tiny in here but the people running the place are very charming and attentive. I over tipped them, that's how happy I was. A great little gem near the red line. Thank you yelp!
(5)
Eric K.

Ben's Noodles and Rice is a small place but has really good thai food at reasonable prices. I am a frequent customer dining in and ordering delivery. I have had many of their dishes on their menu and everything has been good. Dining in the place - there isn't a lot of seating but the owners are real nice to their customers and you have a window onto the very interesting goings on on Bryn Mawr. Their lunch specials are the BOMB - Appetizer, Soup and full size entree for $8 dollars! A great deal! Their delivery is fast and friendly. They are one of the best things on Bryn Mawr. Try them out!
(4)
Stephen J.

This is a hole in the wall type restaurant that really delivers on the food. I ordered the chicken basil dish and it was excellent. The price is excellent and you get a ton of food.
(5)
Will W.

The mobile website alone is reason to order from here-- super easy to use and very quick. The food is yummy and the service is always friendly. I love this neighborhood gem :-)
(4)
Stephanie F.

1. Good pad thai 2. Super cheap 3. BYOB That's all I needed!
(4)
Evan Thoreau H.

Ben's Noodles and Rice. Shame on you! Your name should be: Ben's Noodles and Rice and Tom Yum Soup and Fresh Spring Rolls and Pad See Ew and Pad Kee Mao and Did We Mention the Tom Yum Soup. Seriously, if you only have time to read a paragraph and a half of this review, let me get to the point: the BEST damn Tom Yum soup in the city. So true to its name: Yum-friggin'-o. Tangy, sweet and spicy. It's the perfect appetizer to get you in that Thai crazy mood. Other soups are equally on taste-target. But BNR, you did pick this name for a reason and, yes, your noodles and rice are very good. My favs are the Pad See Ew (think chewy rice noodles with savory soy gravy and broc) and the Pad Kee Mao (think PSE's spicy younger cousin who brings peas and carrots to the party). Damn yum. I've heard the Pad Thai is amazing, but with so many other good things to choose from, somehow I always overlook it. As for the 'R' side, the curries are good, but not the best I've ever had. I guess that's why you'll always play second fiddle to the Noodles, buddy. Yeah, that's right, Noodles are daddy's favorite. The appetizers (spring rolls, crab rangoon, chix sataay) are good, but again, I've had others that are better. Atmosphere is super cute (ugh, did I just write that?). But seriously, it's the only way to describe this little storefront just steps from the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop (and dangerously close to home). The owners are amazingly nice and friendly. They always strike up a conversation when I come in to order. Speed is lightening fast. In fact, no matter what I order, it's ready in ten minutes. Temporal wormhole or fast, steady chefs? I ask you. Prices are unbeatable. $6-8 for mains, $4-5 for apps. And of course it's BYOB, so don't forget to grab a couple bottles (I won't judge). Oh, did I mention the Tom Yum soup?
(4)
Kaye A.

Loved it! Great customer service and the Shrimp Pad See Ew (misspelled) was very very good! I am a fan and wlil definitely go back there to eat!
(4)
Vince L.

I just moved to the city recently. I love to eat out. One day, I walk pass Ben's Noodle one evening and find the restaurant is pack, so I went in to try. I wasn't too fond of their Pad Thai but their Pad see iew (Chicken) is good. Is mom-pop own but they work so efficient, the food are fast, so the turn-around time (even though the place is small) is pretty fast. I agree it's a little bit pricy, but than you have to understand Bryn Mawr area is fancy (Nookies & Francesca), I am sure the rent is high.
(5)
Te D.

Everyone knows Thai Bowl in Lincoln Park is my favorite Thai spot, but Ben's Noodles has surpassed Thai Bowl by a landslide with their Chicken Pad See Ew. Sooo delish, decent portions, great prices, timely hot delivery. I'm a frickin' fan!
(4)
Kyle D.

Been to Ben's a couple of times, generally fine to good for a basil stir fry or pad thai. But today, after reading some crazy a-- talk on here about maybe this being the best curry on the north side, decided to have a red curry. I haven't had many north side curries, but that's some bullshit. The north side is a big place. And if there's nothing better than this you need to drive south and/or west. That watered down, bland, strangely-textured curry belongs on no 'best of' list. Somebody on here needs to pony up $10 and reimburse me.
(3)
Kevin T.

I don't want to detract from all the good reviews of Ben's - they're a good local option for Thai. I've had Ben's twice, once sit down and again via delivery. Both times I ordered noodle dishes (it's their specialty right? It's on the sign!). The sit down experience isn't much to write home about, it's just your average run-down small mom and pop, but the conversation between the young couple on our right was fun to eavesdrop. They did eventually establish that they both considered their dinner a date. Heart Heart. Anyways...Ben's charges too much for what you get, I can't substantiate poor ambiance/average food experience while still paying 8-9 for a noodle dish. But I'd order delivery again in a bind.
(2)
Caitlin S.

Best Thai food in Edgewater, hands down. The best I have and anywhere in Chicago - and I get around when it comes to Thai. The owners are always cheerful, pleasant and gracious and the food is consistently amazing. Not greasy, doesn't give you that MSG after-burn, and the veggies are crisp. Highly recommend...you must go. have the cashew chicken and some egg rolls, you will be in love.
(5)
Jennifer W.

So far I have eaten here twice. I thought the food was good and inexpensive. The Pad Thai and Pad Woonsen were very good. I found the red and yellow curry to be overly sweet and will avoid them in the future. Overall, they have a good selection for vegetarians. This is a small, casual restaurant. The owners are very friendly and will accommodate substitutions with no problem. I found the actual restaurant boxy and cramped so I plan to carry out in the future. (Note: they are closed on Wednesdays.)
(4)
Ellen S.

Seriously, The best Thai food ever. I go here almost every stinkn' week to get one of their curries! I am never ever disappointed. Sometimes, I am on the train and I get the hugest craving for it and I have to call in for a pick up! Everyone who works there is so kind. I live on the same block and although I am not a fan of a lot of the other restaurants nearby..I am super excited to have this one so close to get my fix!
(5)
Katherine J.

I'm kinda sad this is the Thai food I ended up eating during my trip to Chicago. I was super excited to get some Massaman curry with tofu. This place was just....off. The service was nice. But when I got my dish, the tofu was not fried. I've never ordered any thai dish (esp curry) where the tofu comes raw. My friend ordered spring rolls and she noted that they were strange also. Perhaps this is a different style of Thai? Or we ordered the wrong dishes? In any case, it wasn't awful. Just not what I was expecting.
(3)
Jarian S.

I'm gonna give Ben's 5 stars! This place is amazing! Their Pad Thai is the best in the city, I challenge you to find better. If you eat in person, it's a real no muss, no fuss, kind of place, so go ahead and place an order to go. You will NOT be disappointed.
(5)
Steve K.

Very Average Pad Thai. Nothing special. They do give you good portions. Only had take out order of Beef Pad Thai. I would stop by if hungry and in the area. Also I'm laughing at the guy who judges all Thai restaurants by Crab Rangoon. Stick to Panda Express buddy.
(3)
K- K.

I live not two blocks away from here and love it! Whenever I take someone who asks me for advice on what to get, I reply that anything and everything is great. And make fantastic leftovers :) The only reason why I'm giving 4/5 stars is that sometimes it can be difficult to get a hold of the staff, maybe there's just something going on in back or they don't want to appear hovery. Considering the awkwardness of the space, though, this is a bit more understandable.
(4)
C R.

Hand's down my favorite Thai restaurant! Everything I have ever ordered from there has been fantastic.. it's a no-frill, no-fuss kinda spot and everything is not only tasty but very affordable! My personal favorite's there are the Shrimp Tum-Yum soup, the Beef Pad-See-Eiw, Chicken Pad Thai and the Chicken Friend Rice is always a winner as well! Aside from the great food, the owner Chris is always super friendly and so is his wife.. I've never walked through their doors without being welcomed by a friendly smile. Whenever I'm in the area I always make it a point to visit them and indulge in a little Thai comfort food :)
(5)
Wenchy W.

Miss this place. Best Pad Thai I've had. Other dishes were ok, but the Pad Thai was excellent.
(3)
Missy D.

I have only ordered delivery from this place during offpeak hours so that is the extent of my experience with this place. The food is pretty good. i'm not too picky about my thai food, but it earns them about 3 stars. Granted,when ordering online, it isn't the same layout as grubhub, but its not impossible. Its quite simple and all i know is that i ordered my food from here and the delivery guy is ringing me about 20-30 minutes later. the food is still so hot that it could practically burn your mouth! Delivery adds another star and a half. but OMG their crab rangoon... WHAT DO THEY DO WITH IT?! its the best i've ever had. the BEST. add another star.
(5)
Jessica G.

Good, solid thai food. I got take-out last night, and the very nice folk comped the cuppa tea I gulped down while warming up and waiting for my order. Two entrees and an appetizer were done about 10 minutes or less. I like that when I ordered my dish spicy, it actually showed up spicy.
(4)
Beth H.

This is one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants! Cozy, casual family atmosphere, nice and clean with soft music playing. The food is fantastic, especially the noodle dishes and curries. All the food is flavorful, not greasy, and the veggies are fresh and served generously. My favs: see-ew, pad thai, and woon-sen.
(5)
Jeff G.

this is a 2.5 i rounded down because this place is over-rated at 4 stars average. our entrees were average - pad thai and lad nar. however, the thai salad was the saddest thing i have ever seen: the lettuce was brown, old and shriveled. the tomatoes where whitish and looked and tasted like plastic. the cukes were faded and dull. worst salad i have ever eaten anywhere. i don't care if it's winter and this stuff is not in season. if you are going to serve a salad that looks and tastes like that, take it off the menu and serve something else! just a couple weeks ago i had a salad at hot chocolate down in wicker park and everything looked and tasted fresh. it is so cheap and so close, i would actually try other entrees from there in the future, but i would stay away from the salad.
(2)
Crystal M.

Great food, great service at a great price! What more can a girl ask for? I ordered basil noodles w/chicken and my friend got basil fried rice w/chicken. They were both absolutely delicious! Hearty portions!! Spring rolls were fantastic and did I mention great service. I am very indecisive and the waitress was very patient and informative when I begin asking 50 questions about the menu. The place was kinda small (not a bad thing) but they had seating for large parties. It was also very clean inside the place (including bathrooms) which is a PLUS. Overall it was a great experience.
(5)
Lindsey G.

LOVE Ben's Noodles & Rice! I lived in the neighborhood for 3 years and this place was a staple for me. Their pad see-eiw with beef is out of this world. It has basically ruined the dish for me because every place I've tried since then has failed to live up to Ben's. They also have great fried rice and if you ask for spicy, they deliver! The staff is always courteous and will remember you if you're a frequent customer. Delivery was always lightning fast, but that could be because I was only about a half mile away (hey, sometimes a girl doesn't feel like schlepping to get dinner after work!). Highly recommended and now I'm drooling just thinking about that pad see-eiw....
(5)
E P.

I judge all Thai restaurants first by their Pad Thai. On my first visit and first dinner in Chicago, this was where I ended up based on location and Yelp reviews. I was offered water while I waited, only about 8-10 mins listening to my shrimp pad Thai being sizzled in the kitchen. It was delicious - noodles cooked just right, tasty sauce, a surprising number of perfect cooked shrimp (I give bonus points for them removing tails!) and all the requisite additions like lime, peanuts and sprouts. Perfect amount of food for a hungry traveler, right at the Bryn Mawr stop.
(5)
Kate H.

Shoe leather pork with ketchup, yesterday's dry, hard rice, imitation crab meat... Wow, way to not even try. Totally skip this place.
(1)
Kate P.

Don't order online, They lost my order twice and then offered me nothing.
(1)
McStrokin J.

I carried out at Ben's yesterday and I most say I was pleasantly surprised.My girlfriend loves Pad Thai so we decided to check Ben's out.I had Ginger Chicken and Garlic Beef.Both dishes were done well.Ample amounts of meat and veggies.I didn't find myself saying "hey where's the MEAT" like at some Asian joints.My girlfriend loved her Pad Thai.The lady behind the counter was very polite and cordial.I'm definitely going to go back and try some more of their cuisine. If you're into Thai i'd recommend you try Ben's out.
(4)
Alice Y.

Whoa, how have I not reviewed this place yet? Ben's, along with El Norte, are my go-to takeout restaurants in this neighborhood. Prices are low, portions are large, plus they're very quick. I always get the Pad Thai or Pad See-Eiw with beef, both solid choices. And they don't skimp on the meat, like some places. I also have come in once for their lunch special, when you pay the price of the entree, but get soup and appetizer thrown in free. Sadly, Tom Ka soup is no longer a lunch special choice, but I'll deal. My friend who's dined-in with me a couple times said the specialty dishes (with duck and others) are also good. I like that they're available on the menu for when I want to branch out and "upgrade" my meal. Best of all (again), unlike other Thai places, Ben's is generous with the duck and does not charge as much for these fancier dishes.
(4)
Matthew M.

Fantastic Pad Thai. I give it 5 stars based on the lunch special alone. I think it's something like 11am-3pm on weekdays, ~$7 gets you soup, appetizer and entree. Dine in only. Service is great, food is great.
(5)
Keely B.

For me, going to Ben's is like an Asian episode of Cheers. Chris, the owner, is one of the nicest people ever. We've been regular customers for so long, he gave us beautiful wooden chopsticks and an elephant bookmark from Thailand as a wedding gift. Still the best crab rangoon and pad sie eiw I've ever had. Ever. I could eat here every day. Tiny, adorable, BYOB. Win.
(5)
chris e.

Good stuff! Great food, nice people .. Those of u who have read my other reviews kno im especially tough on Thai -but this place gets a 5 star rating hands down. i havent had a dish there that i didnt like .. and ive had their pad se ewe, pad thai, mussaman curry, yellow curry, panang curry, spicy noodles and my fave - their spicy basil fried rice. Appetizers are great too ! Crispy, not greasy crag rangoon and tempura .. flavorful satay ...mmm Portions are healthy and prices are moderate. After a time or two (and i go there frequently cause i work around the corner) they will start to call u by name if you give it to them on pick up orders Just dont stop by on Wednesday cause they are closed.
(5)
Pete C.

I am at Ben's at least 3 times a week, either for take out or dine in. The food here rocks! the service is awesome, the atmosphere is quaint and pelasant. I like the open window to the kitchen, you can see the bustling in the kitchen! I reccomend the curry fried rice and the basil fried rice, teh pad see wee, the lad nar, pot stickers, I never had a bad dish there!
(5)
Minna A.

After leaving the comforts of living so close to Noodles in the Pot over in the old hood (Lincoln Park), I've yearned for a go-to thai place. And Ben's welcomed me with open arms. No one can beat the prices over at Ben's (Average tabe of $10 a person post tax). The pad thai tastes amazing, and proportions are huge! I usually don't ever order crab ragoon, but ordered the appetizer since I hadn't had it in a while. SO GOOD! They have bit of celery inside which really make it taste a lot better then the "plain" crab ragoons. BYOB people. BYOB. I love BYOB so much.
(4)
Marie B.

I am a big fan of Thai food, and this place is on my short list. Their food is very good. Tasted several dishes and they were very good. The chicken and veggies are crisp and the noodles have a good flavor and are not overdone. Definitely a place I will try again.
(4)
Lisa D.

I went to check this place out last night after my roommate suggested it. Thai sounded good and I wanted to explore the neighborhood. The place looked pretty understated when I saw it from across the street. Honestly, I thought to myself...really? This dive has good food? I had the pad thai with tofu, a favorite..I didn't feel like being adventurous. It was delicious and the service was great too. The guy kept re-filling my water and was happy to give me a box for my leftover pad thai (they gave me so much food!). I would definately go there again. Great food and great experience overall.
(5)
Tyrell C.

Ben's is one of the best Thai places in the city and a wonderful neighborhood spot. The owners/operators are some of the friendliest folks I've ever met. I am always greeted with a genuine smile and friendly conversation. The food is standard thai, but has some great standouts. First off, the pad thai is top notch. Every variety of it is hearty, and the noodles are always cooked to perfection. The pad ki mao is also perfectly spicey/sweet and the noodles are firm but not dry. Easily the best thing on the menu, though, is the basil rolls. This simple appetizer is ridiculously scrumptious. I wasn't sure what to expect, and I'm still not sure what magic they put in this, but it has a mild basil taste mixed with a savory flavor and couscous type texture. And the sauce is GREAT! I highly recommend Ben's to anyone in Edgewater, or for people just trying to get away from the busy/trendy restaurants downtown. It's right near the Bryn Mawr stop and well worth a look!
(4)
Maria M.

Some of the dishes at this clean and pleasant restaurant are great others are quite mediocre, which is why i gave it the 3 star rating only.
(3)
John G.

Fantastic food and value!
(5)
John D.

The service was too friendly to be true and the food was deeeee-lish. As a vegetarian, it makes me grin from ear to ear when a place will accomodate special meet-free requests. Sure the Panang Curry is available without meat and it is tasty. But I wanted my Tom Ka Kai without the foul . . . er . . . fowl. They made it up for me with some tofu and it was just about the best bowl of the stuff that I have had in the city. I also recommend the veggie dumplings. They are plump and crispy!
(4)
Stefanie P.

"You like it spicy?" That's what I was asked upon placing my order of basil chicken on the way home from the L. Having had several "spicy" dishes in Chicago come out not-so-spicy, I said yes and expected the usual. Oh, was I wrong. My mouth was burning for 20 minutes after I finished. But it was so worth it. So, so worth it. Ben's is quick, inexpensive, and tasty. And when they say "spicy", they actually mean it. Hurrah!
(4)
Teddy B.

okay Thai food. Only reason I order from here is because its close to home. I used to live by Cozy's which I think is 10 times better. Let's just say if I wasn't in the area I wouldn't be getting anything from Ben's because there are much better options.
(2)
Ben F.

Fast service. Good but not great food.
(4)
Daniel L.

The first time around, I like to judge Thai restaurants on what I consider the essentials: Crab Rangoon, Pad Thai, and Tom Kha Kai (or Gai, to some). The Crab Rangoon left a lot to be desired. Pretty bland, a little under-filled, and the dipping sauce was a thin, sour sauce as opposed to the usual gooey sweet sauce. For the record, I liked the sauce, but it was by no means standard and didn't save the Rangoon. The Pad Thai wasn't bad, but I've had much better many times. The flavor was about right (but again, not nearly top notch) and everything was just a bit too dry. To be fair, I did carry-out, which could account for the dryness, but that withheld the dish was still unremarkable. The Tom Kha Kai was my favorite dish of the meal, though once again not the best I've had. The broth was what it needed to be -- sweet and tangy. I'd prefer a little more chili oil kick, but that's just me. The chicken and mushrooms were nothing to write home about, but they did the job. If I need my fix, I could do a lot worse than getting it here. Again, I ordered out, so I can't comment on any of the ambiance of the joint, but while I won't vehemently discourage anyone from going here, you can do a lot better for about the same price elsewhere.
(2)
Michelle O.

Im new to the neighborhood, so I've been trying out all the resturants. I stopped in at Ben's to get some red curry. The staff was very friendly and offered me a glass of water while I waited for my take out. When I got home, I was pleasantly surprised by how much chicken and veggies they had in the sauce. Much more than any other Thai place where I have had red curry! The sauce was delishious and portions very generous. I was able to have two meals out of it easily and without having to cook up another chicken breast to add to it. I can't wait to try more dishes!
(5)
Katie T.

This place does have the best pad Thai that I have ever had. We also got the garlic beef dish and it was so tasty - i think that's what smells so good when i walk by it after work. Crab Rangoon and egg roles were both great. Thanks Ben's Noodles and Rice!
(5)
Christina M.

I had high hopes for this place but found it to be average. A big plus is that they did make the food spicy! However, the curry I got was watery and the potato was boiled and overcooked - the rice was also overcooked. The veggie pot stickers appetizer was the best thing we had there, they were pretty good. The employees were very nice and the restaurant is conveniently located near the red line.
(3)
Yaeko M.

Yamm. The place is pretty small, not much of decoration. However, the food are very good. I had spicy basil noodle and Pad Kimao. Very good food, good service. A good local restaurant.
(4)
D D.

Maybe I had the wrong thing, but I have no clue what everyone is raving about. First I had to wait about half an hour for my food ( I did take out). The person taking my order didn't put it in until the three people who came in after me got their food. But I was patient. I ordered the teriyaki chicken which comes with mushrooms and green onions. I also ordered extra veggies (which I told were green beans, carrots, bell peppers, onions..well you get the point.) Yeah, cone to find out ordering extra veggies means that my original order gets altered. Not a mushroom or green onion to be found. Not to mention that the "extra veggies" I paid for was barely there that when I asked about it they immediately apologized and asked if I wanted to wait more so they could cook more..nice gesture but no thanks. I get home Annnddddd.. the food had no taste whatsoever! The chicken had a soupy teriyaki sauce that was clearly not cooked with the chicken rather just put in the bottom of the dish. As a result, unless you were drinking the soup, the food had no taste. I. Was. Floored. Sorry, maybe other dishes are worth it, but based on my experience I would never go back.
(1)
Arlett F.

I was really excited about eating at this place because of the great reviews. So I decided to take myself out on a date. The restaurant is really small, which is fine because they get a lot of carryout orders and the workers are genuinely friendly. They knew almost everyone that walked into the restaurant that night. I ordered the Massaman Curry which comes with potatoes and your choice of meat or tofu. I had mine with tofu. When the dish came out it smelled fabulous, but as my spoon dove into my stew I noticed that the potatoes were still raw :-(. I was also given a BIG serving of tofu which I'm all for, but not at the cost of very little curry stew. Maybe they hired a new cook? Despite my raw potatoes, the curry was delicious. I'll be giving this place another try.
(3)
Patty C.

This is an okay Thai place. If you need a Thai fix, then this place works. I have only been here once, but will probably go again next week. I had a pad Thai and a Thai iced tea on my first visit. The pad Thai was soaked in a sweet sauce. This wasn't really what I'm used to. The traditional pad Thai I've had are more dry and less sweet, but it wasn't bad. I guess it's just different. Service was quick and friendly.
(3)
A'Daris M.

Love this place. I order take-out from here often. The pad see eiw is my fave and is delicious. The chicken wings are also good with a nice spicy kick. The curries are pretty tasty, and I love the varying veggie and sauce combinations of the entrees. The staff is very friendly and my orders are always hot and ready to go in a timely fashion, but the space is small, so I've never eaten in. All in all I love this place which is why its my go-to take-out spot
(4)
Pauline M.

This place has such delicious food! it's our go to place for Thai, and where we bring out of town friends and family. Their vegetable potstickers are out of this world!
(4)
M M.

This is THE BEST Thai place in Chicago! I always order takeout/delivery, so I've only eaten in their restaurant twice in the last 8 years. Their food is phenomenal, delivery service is super fast (food always arrives hot too!) and it's not expensive! I honestly cannot say one bad thing about Ben's! It's even more convenient that you can go to their website, place your order online, and then pick up your food for carry out! My #1 favorite is Ben's Fried Rice with Tofu! If you're looking for a delicious Thai food, this is the place!
(5)
Jessica C.

My favorite Thai place of all time! Ben's Noodles and Rice is a hole in the wall off of Bryn Mawr on the red line and it does not disappoint. They serve one of (if not THE) best pad thai I've ever had! The noodles are perfectly chewy and the dish isn't too greasy, as I've experienced elsewhere. Their other dishes I've found are good as well--their Tom Yum Soup, crab rangoon, pad ki mao, pad see eiw, their basil fried rice...but their pad thai is the one dish that I will sometimes have those cravings for... ...and ask for chili sauce on the side! adds a delicious extra kick if you want in between bites. Their service has also been great in my experience. Food has come out latest around 10 minutes even on busy days. I remember one time when I came at a slow hour, I asked my friend if we should ask for the check. The place is so small that the server could hear us from the register and got it for us right away! The size of the restaurant makes for pretty attentive service.
(5)
Gretel C.

Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night with a deep soul craving for Ben's Noodles Pad Thai. It's amazing and delicious. I've only eaten in the restaurant once, but the service was normal. We get take out probably once a month or so from here and they are always ready for us and it's ALWAYS delicious.
(5)
Adam J.

I went there after reading some good reviews. The truth is... VERY NORMAL food. The tom yum soup is so sweet (that is the only thing you taste) and i rate it one of the worst i tried so far with only thin sliced mushroom and your choice of protein !!! That is not how you make tom yum at all (and they charge you $3.50 for this) !! I then ordered the spicy basil noodle with beef.... again the most normal thing i tried in a Thai restaurant, the noodles have no bite and they are thin (taste like the frozen meals you buy from any supermarket), the beef sliced so thin you don't taste nothing.... I mean why would anyone go there when you can go to Tac Quick for example that is only couple train stations away?. I am sure not going back here again ... Nothing special at all. And i truly believe that all the 5 stars you see here are written by people who may be just tried Thai food for the first time in their life. PS: service was ok and waiters were nice and polite.
(2)
Lina W.

Each Thai restaurant I have tried in the city has been different. Unfortunately, my food at Ben's Noodles and Rice is not as good as some other Thai restaurants in the city (e.g., Opart Thai and Jin Thai). The establishment had the proper ingredients, but unfortunately the execution of the dishes wasn't there. I ordered papaya salad, basil with pork stir-fry, and pad kimao with beef. The papaya salad was competent, but I've had better. Both my entrees were over cooked such that the meat was hard to chew. The noodles on the pad kimao was also overcooked and as a result had a soggy/mushy texture as if someone chewed up my food for me.
(2)
Cal L.

Very inexpensive for very decent food and great staff. Will definitely be going there again.
(4)
Matt M.

Alderman Harry Osterman could have placed his office anywhere in the 48th Ward, but he chose to be just a few steps from delicious Shumai, Lad Nar, and Thai Custard. Such delicious offerings, and so reasonably priced! When I entered Ben's, I wondered what all the commotion was about, but after my tasty meal I could see it was I who was late to the party. I have only been to Ben's once, but I will be back to explore this exciting and promising menu.
(5)
Tyler M.

Live for this place!
(5)
Stojko B.

Food here is really good! I've been here a few times... Okay maybe a lot of time but the food keeps bringing me back. The owners are very nice! The price is also very good for what you get. The food has been the same basically every time except once it was a little off. I still recommend everyone try it!
(4)
Chitown D.

I'll never understand why such average places get such great reviews on Yelp! This was another disappointment; not the biggest, but up there. I love Thai food and have it regularly. I ordered the Pad See Ew and it was not good. The ambiance is terrible and the service was just ok. I found myself wishing I just stuck to Indie Cafe, which is a few blocks north on Broadway.
(3)
Sarah B.

We had just visited Dice Dojo around the corner, and were trying to figure out dinner. We smelled something awesome and decided to follow our noses. After a quick wrong turn, we crossed the street and found Ben's Noodles and Rice, which is where the awesome scent was coming from. We went in and got seated right away. It was a little chilly since it's small and people were almost constantly coming in and out, which is a good thing, the people, not the cold. We got two orders of crab rangoon and they were awesome. The sauce it comes with is delicious and they were super light. The Thai iced tea and coffees were good too. We ended up ordering two shrimp sukiyaki, a beef pad thai, and garlic beef. The sukiyaki was pretty yummy, all noodles shrimp and spice. The pad thai was really good too, but my favorite was the garlic beef. Luckily the bf ordered that so I was able to snag quite a bit of it. The restaurant is adorable, the food is good, and whenever we're in the area we'll definitely go back.
(4)
Victoria P.

Excellent place! Quality service and quality food!!! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! Their pad Thai and Korean chicken was delicious! Fast service! Ahhh this place is doing it right. :) A+++++
(5)
Alexandra D.

This is the first place I ever tried chicken pad see eiw and I naively thought pad see eiw other places would taste similar. WRONG. Bens noodles and rice makes the best, most tender pad see eiw in town. Every other thai place has been a supreme disappointment on that dish... I can not speak for any other dish as I am one picky mofo but if you like pad see eiw this is your place. If you are wondering, what is pad see eiw? Come and taste the magic.
(5)
Michael T.

I stopped in and had Thai Pineapple fried rice with Chicken. And compared the same meal to Chi-Tungs Restaurant over in Evergreen Park. Love them both! But Ben's portion was smaller but added juicy tomatoes and other spices which gave it more flavor, I like flavor.
(3)
Ashley C.

I've lived in Edgewater for about a year now and Ben's Noodles and Rice continues to be my favorite place to eat in the area. The owners are sweet and make you feel at home when dining in; service is speedy and neat when ordering take-out. Must tries: Ben's Fried Rice, Curry Fried Rice, Basil Rolls and their Chicken Pad Thai. I usually get their chicken in my meals, but have had their shrimp as well - big and just as yummy. Portions are big. Enjoy!
(4)
Tim H.

After 8 more months of constantly ordering Ben's, I have to upgrade the score. The more I've been to other Thai restaurants in the meantime, the more I realize how fantastic Ben's is. The Ben's fried rice and spicy basil noodle are so d--n tasty I literally smile every time it arrives because I know how tasty it's gonna be. Trust me, eat here. Your belly will thank you.
(5)
Alicia K.

I love Ben's! They seriously have the most flavorful, well-cooked pad thai in all of Chicago. The restaurant is owned by actual Thai people, so I trust that they know what they're doing. The option to add extra noodles for $1 is amazing! Other than pad thai, I also get the Pad See Ew, Panang/Green/Red Curry, Egg Rolls, Fried Shrimp App, Fried Calamari App in my rotation of items. Everything on the menu is really tasty, but I am deducting one-star for the outrageously priced egg rolls.. 2 tiny pieces (the size of your finger) for $4.50. They're delicious - and I get them every time - but I feel like it's highway robbery. (!!) This is my go-to place when I don't feel like cooking. They have an easy online ordering system.
(4)
David R.

Dang, still searching for that perfect nearby Thai restaurant. I heard on good authority that these guys have the best pad thai in the city but I wasn't impressed. It seemed kind of bland and some of the noodles were underdone at the ends. I went out on a limb and ordered a couple of fried appetizers for delivery. The shrimp rolls stayed crispy but the fried calamari was limp. However, a few minutes in the oven resuscitated them very nicely. The calamari batter is pretty bland and floury; but in both cases the seafood itself was cooked perfectly and they both come with a delightful sweet chili sauce. So an overall win. The second time I ordered, I tried something new to me--bangkok chicken. That was damn tasty. I also got the spicy basil noodles, another home run. Or at least a triple anyway. Spicy basil is one of my Thai favorites but I've never seen it in noodle form. I will definitely revisit those two dishes in a future purchase. Their online ordering system (apparently implemented by ehungry dot com) is one of those idiosyncratic versions that looks janky and applies logic inconsistently, but for the most part it works. In the confirmation email, you don't get a delivery estimate; it says "This order is scheduled to be ready on [date] @ [time]" where the time isn't in the future but in the past--the time that you got to the checkout page! Not even the time that you clicked "Place order" but the time that you started the checkout process! As a person who designs user interfaces like this for a living, it bothers me to see this kind of shoddy workmanship. I wish that every restaurant who wants to do this would join GrubHub or Seamless just to make my life easier. However, there is a perpetual "Free Delivery" coupon available, and you can schedule the delivery or pickup for a certain time in the future (this is useful to those of us whose evening commute can be 60 minutes or more). The ups and downs of my first two orders land them smack in 3.5 range, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt.
(4)
Peter B.

delicious! Great Curry! highly reccomended!
(4)
Ron Z.

Great pad-thai, after a couple of trips to Thailand you can really tell the good and the bad Thai food. Is place reminds me of a restaurant in Chiang Mai. The food is authentic and the service is really good . The only bid downfall is sometimes Tha parking in the area is very had to find. The good thing it is at the Bryn Mawr "L" stop and great for an after work pick up. This is one of my favorite Thai restaurants. Sometimes it is very busy, but well worth the wait
(5)
Cynthia L.

Yum!! Authentic, delicious & Family friendly. No frills atmosphere. You walk in, sit down and chow down.
(5)
Anne R.

So this place is addicting. The owners are always very nice and the food is super awesome. My fave is the sweet basil squid. It's the perfect sweetness and the squid is not rubbery. Their soups are so delicious, especially the miso soup. Super quick delivery and just great service when you're there.
(5)
Kara B.

Ben's is phenomenal. It is a quaint,simple, clean restaurant with wonderful food and even better service. The Panang chicken is to die for and something I frequently crave, and go get, even though we are in River North instead of Edgewater now. Each time we go in, the waiters remember us...and that we like to get two entrees and share them. I have never gotten anything that disappointed me- Pad See Ew, Pad Thai, Panang- all favorites. Would highly recommend Ben's for great food, nice atmosphere, and awesome service. You wont be disappointed! And it's BYOB!
(5)
Chirag K.

Bens noodle is a simple place with amazing food. The owners are friendly. I like spicy food. So, they suggested red curry and chicken pad see eiw. Both were just delicious! And price is just unbelievably cheap for the quality of food. A must visit.
(5)
Victor M.

Best place to eat in Edgewater. The crab rangoons, lime chicken, pineapple fried rice and pork pot stickers are all fantastic. I go here at least once a week. The owners are very friendly as well. Prices are reasonable.
(5)
Justine D.

i was here a few times the food is delicious ! BUT when i order for take out last night it was a disappointment ... my pad thai was not well seasoned it was blend and so as my tom yum seafood soup, it doesnt even taste like tom yum it tastes like sweet soup. i was so sad when i ate the soup because i was craving for something spicy and sour ... never again ... thai pastry is still my favorite.
(2)
Craig P.

Love this place. Owners are friendly, food is consistently delicious, and it's reasonably priced. Haven't ordered a dish there that I haven't liked.
(5)
Matt M.

I was told that this was the best Thai curry on the north side. Not so ladies and gentleman. Not to take anything away from Ben's but its not THE greatest. Its definitely worthy of top 10. It is very good. The curry does have a strong and delicious flavor but it lacks the accent that I've seen in other "5 star" thai places. Also the rice is nothing special. The portion sizes are also very good, but that is too be expected around this neighborhood. After all you can't compete for fat american business without catering to our flabby butts. Pricing is average and so is the depth of their menu. I do love the location. Enjoy!
(4)
Sara V.

I had a friend who lived off the Bryn Mawr stop and I swear I never noticed this place! That friend has now moved, but in the name of the Search for the Best Curry in Chicago, another friend and I stopped by here on a recent Sunday evening. The place is small. And a little chilly. But atmosphere aside, the food was pretty durn good. Egg rolls were above average, which is always a good sign. Nothing like rolls that are simultaneously overly hardened and soggy to put you off your food. My green curry was delicious, with enough of a kick to make me happy. The portions are perhaps smaller than I've come to expect in this Land of Plenty, but to be honest, we could all learn a little portion control. The service was sweet and I enjoyed my meal. I wouldn't go out of my way to return, but it makes a good go-to Thai place for that immediate area. Additionally, I'd imagine it would be the perfect place to kill time by yourself with a good book since it is right off the Red Line.
(4)
Erin B.

Hands down one of the best thai restaurants I have ever been to. It's a tiny place and not fancy at all but get over yourself and get in there to eat some effing amazing Pad Thai! The food here is always so fresh and you can taste all the unique flavors they put into each dish (lemongrass, ginger, etc.). It's super clean and the owners/ waitstaff are very sweet. My dad lives in the area so I always bring my toddler age son with and they are very nice to make sure he has something he likes. They cut the spring roll into much smaller pieces so it wouldn't fall apart when he was eating it. I appreciated that gesture. It's BYOB and you can't go wrong with Pad Kee Mao. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
C L.

Great little place with good food and good service. The orange chicken is delish with a nice light sauce and light breading. Love the atmosphere and I definitely can't wait to go back to try some of their other items. Prices are great too and it's byob!
(5)
Angela T.

On Jan 6th we ordered delivery from here again and while the food was good, my noodle dish had a long piece of knotted twine in it, the type that's used to tie packages. It looked like it was cooked in with the food, so I'm hoping it was disinfected by the heat. I'm still not happy about it.
(1)
Sharee M.

Every 'hood needs a Asian food spot. This is Edgewater's (to my knowledge). I went to Ben's a while back during my Vegan experience. I needed the Vegetable Fried Rice (Stir-fried rice with mixed vegetables and egg) without the egg. It was good and large in portion. The prices were ok, but I have had lower around the area. But hey, there is another Asian spot not too far (many 9 blocks) from here...that I really dislike. So you get what you pay for. What is that you ask? Goos service. I ordered and dined in. A cute little spot, ran by a nice group pf people. It was warm and invited, with lots of traffic. Everything was done timely. My water was always filled and they made sure I was happy the whole time. I was pleased with the service. I will be back when I am in the mood for Asian or Thai. I'm a fan.
(4)
Craig g.

I've been eating at Ben's (or having my food delivered) for a number of years now. In an area full of good-to-great Thai places, Ben's stands out. Tonight I ordered Ben's Yellow Curry with Chicken and pot stickers. First let me say-- Ben's makes the best pot stickers in town, bar none! Always perfectly crispy, never too greasy and Ben's dipping sauce is to die for! Yellow curry is one of my go-to dishes and the standard which I judge Thai restaurants by. Quite simply Ben's curry was fantastic! Lots of flavor, a nice heat bite at the end. And, unlike most places, Ben's curry has lots of chicken and vegetables to go with that delicious sauce. Most places give you mostly sauce and a few bits of protein and veggies. I've had many dishes over the years at Ben's... their Pad Thai is some of the best and their orange chicken is wonderful. In fact, just about everything I've had there is very good or better. Give Ben's a try-- their prices are reasonable and their food will exceed your expectations for Thai delivery.
(5)
Megan K.

Here I sit after inhaling my pad thai, and I'm in food bliss (coma?!). I placed an order for delivery around 11:45 on a weekday and the food showed up slightly after 12:20. Not too shabby for a 2 mile drive, and the delivery man was very friendly. Here's the damage that was done: 1) Crab Rangoons: Hands down probably some of the best crab rangoons that I've had in awhile. They were still incredibly crispy when they arrived and the inside was stuffed with cream cheese, crab, green onions, and other spices. Very tasty. The chili sweet and sour sauce was also very tasty, it wasn't the nasty goopy pink blob of sauce that plagues so many Chinese and Thai restaurants. 2) Chicken Pad Thai: HUGE portion that will easily equate to two meals. The noodles were perfect, not too saucy, not too dry and incredibly flavorful. The cabbage and carrots were also very fresh, and the freshly squeezed lime over the top made it perfect. The chicken was moist and flavorful, no complaints here! 3) Pork Pad Thai: Same tastiness as above, but the pork was a little chewy, so the chicken definitely stood out above this. I would've given it five stars had the pork been better. If you check out the coupon area of their website you can get free delivery on orders over $15! The whole bill came in just over $20 for a boat load of tasty food. I can't wait to try other items on their menu the next time I'm craving some delicious Thai!
(4)
Patrick M.

Ben's is my go-to Thai spot in Edgewater. The food is always great, the service is fantastic, and the price is quite reasonable. I highly recommend Ben's to everybody. Some of my favorite menu items include Rama, Massaman Curry, and Cashew, though every meal is very good.
(5)
Ashley S.

So I came here once for lunch about 2 weeks ago and really enjoyed it. I had the egg rolls and tasted the shrimp pad Thai, both were really good! The service was fast and friendly, ill definitely be back!
(4)
Ehow C.

Solid green curry and Thai iced tea, I'm curious to try more. It looks like they have an efficient take-out system, and the staff is warm and friendly.
(4)
George M.

Ordered the chicken Pad Thai, Crab Rangoon and Spring Rolls. All were very good and the Pad Thai seemed authentic. I'm used to Pad Thai not having as much flavor as this one. Crab Rangoon had the right amounty of filling and the Wonton was nice and crisp. Spring rolls were tasty. Very quick service for carry out. Within 5-10 minutes I walked out the door with my food after ordering at the counter. The lady working the counter is extremely friendly and greeting every customer that walks into the restaurant. Bottom Line - When in the neighborhood again I will return to this restaurant. I found this restaurant via the Yelp App on my iPhone. I was in the neighborhood and needed to find a place to eat off the beaten path that was not expensive but quick.
(4)
Robbie K.

Still my fav spot in my own 'hood- everything is tasty and they really do have the best pad thai in town. Also BYOB!!
(5)
Travis K.

This place was excellent and quick. What more do you want from your corner Thai place
(4)
Iman W.

I never reviewed Ben's. For shame on me! Ben's was the first Thai place I went to in Chicago. My first Thai place period. The fact that I still continued to like Thai food goes to show that I was pleased with my first experience. I can't think of a single thing I ever had at that place that I disliked. And the people who work there are great, somehow managed to always remember me no matter how long it had been since I was in there. Ben's is one of the things I miss about living right off of Bryn Mawr.
(4)
Alexis O.

Decent Thai food at an affordable price. My friend and I had the cucumber salad, papaya salad, chicken wings, crab rangoons, Lime Chicken and Pad See-Eiw. The last two items, the entrees, were my favorite out of the bunch, with the rest being just okay. We enjoyed that Ben's is BYOB, and that they don't charge a corkage fee. The one downside is that it's a tiny place with limited space, and we felt rushed to leave. They were constantly staring and hovering over us in a "why are you still here" way. This is a good spot for a quick meal or carry out, but definitely not a place where you can catch up with a friend and enjoy your bottle of wine.
(3)
Terence V.

Was good. Would eat there again as long as I don't find a better place in the area. They were fast and friendly!!
(3)
Esther K.

Friendly, efficient service and low prices accompany some of the best curry fried rice and pad thai I've ever tried. With its proximity to my apt (and the Bryn Mawr stop) Ben's has easily become my go to Thai place! Plus they just sent me some coupons in the mail :)
(5)
Hac T.

I had the basil noodles at Ben's a few years back and have been thinking about them ever since. The funny thing is I work in uptown, which is super close, but haven't had a chance to go. I still remember how amazing that noodle dish was; the balance between sweet, salty, spicy. Simply delectable. I think I know where I'll be going to lunch on Monday.
(4)
Hanna R.

Let me start off by saying that I've never been a huge fan of Thai food. However, this place makes me LOVE Thai food! Maybe every other place I've tried has just been doing it wrong! The restaurant in itself is small, clearly more catered to be a pick up place than a sit down joint, but the atmosphere isn't too bad and there's always people there either dining in or grabbing their meals to go. There is also BYOB if you choose to eat in! Almost everything that I've tried here has been really good. No to mention the best crab ragoons I've ever eaten (and I am quite the 'Ragoon critic'!). Their homemade sweet & sour sauce is magical! My food already tasted great on its own, add the sweet and sour sauce and BAM! Makes everything taste even BETTER without overwelming the flavors that were already there. The perfect condiment! They really should jar that stuff up and sell it; I would buy that sauce by the bucket! We do not live in Chicago, but some good friends live within walking distance of this place. So naturally, I insist on eating here just about every time we make the drive into the city to see them! So take it from someone who 'disliked' Thai food. This place will blow you away!
(5)
Izzy N.

Hands down- THE best pad thai in the city folks. Now that's a bold claim but it's true especially coming from me cuz I'm really, really picky with my southeast asian cuisine. There's a lot of truely pathetic pad thai being made out there in the windy city and this is IT for you Chicago. Round of applause. There's southeast asians that actually know how to cook in this city? Ya don't say! The noodles have enough pull and bounce yet not destroyed from all that wok action and speaking of wok action, there's some of the lovely char marks from the wok. Good job.. Someone back there in the kitchen knows how to work a wok and delicate rice noodles. Char marks from the wok = PERFECTION. This is what good fried noodles are made of people. All my favorite noodle dishes require them. Also there's remnants of salted pickled turnips in this. My favorite! A good, proper pad thai has to have this and it's minced in there. The dish was very enjoyable. I asked for it spicy and it wasn't enough for me so I asked for a side of dried chili pepper. That really made it perfect for me. Do NOT destroy this dish with sirarcha or sambal oelek paste. Just ignore what one reviewer said about the pad thai not having enough sauce to it. It's stir fried street noodles bitch, it's not meant to be saucy. If you've had pad thai with lots of sauce to it, that's fucking nasty and the cook that made it didn't know what the hell they were doing. If you want saucy order lard na. I also had the pan fried chive dumplings as a starter. It's not really done well here so I'd pass on that. It's just underfried and comes out kinda pasty when you cut into it. Meh. Other than that, I highly recommend Ben's. It's cheap, good portions and most importantly- delicious. I'll return, it's not even a question- and try their pad see ewe and lard na- my other litmus tests but they've already pass their pad thai test which is major. It's tiny in here but the people running the place are very charming and attentive. I over tipped them, that's how happy I was. A great little gem near the red line. Thank you yelp!
(5)
Eric K.

Ben's Noodles and Rice is a small place but has really good thai food at reasonable prices. I am a frequent customer dining in and ordering delivery. I have had many of their dishes on their menu and everything has been good. Dining in the place - there isn't a lot of seating but the owners are real nice to their customers and you have a window onto the very interesting goings on on Bryn Mawr. Their lunch specials are the BOMB - Appetizer, Soup and full size entree for $8 dollars! A great deal! Their delivery is fast and friendly. They are one of the best things on Bryn Mawr. Try them out!
(4)
Stephen J.

This is a hole in the wall type restaurant that really delivers on the food. I ordered the chicken basil dish and it was excellent. The price is excellent and you get a ton of food.
(5)
Will W.

The mobile website alone is reason to order from here-- super easy to use and very quick. The food is yummy and the service is always friendly. I love this neighborhood gem :-)
(4)
Stephanie F.

1. Good pad thai 2. Super cheap 3. BYOB That's all I needed!
(4)
Evan Thoreau H.

Ben's Noodles and Rice. Shame on you! Your name should be: Ben's Noodles and Rice and Tom Yum Soup and Fresh Spring Rolls and Pad See Ew and Pad Kee Mao and Did We Mention the Tom Yum Soup. Seriously, if you only have time to read a paragraph and a half of this review, let me get to the point: the BEST damn Tom Yum soup in the city. So true to its name: Yum-friggin'-o. Tangy, sweet and spicy. It's the perfect appetizer to get you in that Thai crazy mood. Other soups are equally on taste-target. But BNR, you did pick this name for a reason and, yes, your noodles and rice are very good. My favs are the Pad See Ew (think chewy rice noodles with savory soy gravy and broc) and the Pad Kee Mao (think PSE's spicy younger cousin who brings peas and carrots to the party). Damn yum. I've heard the Pad Thai is amazing, but with so many other good things to choose from, somehow I always overlook it. As for the 'R' side, the curries are good, but not the best I've ever had. I guess that's why you'll always play second fiddle to the Noodles, buddy. Yeah, that's right, Noodles are daddy's favorite. The appetizers (spring rolls, crab rangoon, chix sataay) are good, but again, I've had others that are better. Atmosphere is super cute (ugh, did I just write that?). But seriously, it's the only way to describe this little storefront just steps from the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop (and dangerously close to home). The owners are amazingly nice and friendly. They always strike up a conversation when I come in to order. Speed is lightening fast. In fact, no matter what I order, it's ready in ten minutes. Temporal wormhole or fast, steady chefs? I ask you. Prices are unbeatable. $6-8 for mains, $4-5 for apps. And of course it's BYOB, so don't forget to grab a couple bottles (I won't judge). Oh, did I mention the Tom Yum soup?
(4)
Kaye A.

Loved it! Great customer service and the Shrimp Pad See Ew (misspelled) was very very good! I am a fan and wlil definitely go back there to eat!
(4)
Vince L.

I just moved to the city recently. I love to eat out. One day, I walk pass Ben's Noodle one evening and find the restaurant is pack, so I went in to try. I wasn't too fond of their Pad Thai but their Pad see iew (Chicken) is good. Is mom-pop own but they work so efficient, the food are fast, so the turn-around time (even though the place is small) is pretty fast. I agree it's a little bit pricy, but than you have to understand Bryn Mawr area is fancy (Nookies & Francesca), I am sure the rent is high.
(5)
Te D.

Everyone knows Thai Bowl in Lincoln Park is my favorite Thai spot, but Ben's Noodles has surpassed Thai Bowl by a landslide with their Chicken Pad See Ew. Sooo delish, decent portions, great prices, timely hot delivery. I'm a frickin' fan!
(4)
Kyle D.

Been to Ben's a couple of times, generally fine to good for a basil stir fry or pad thai. But today, after reading some crazy a-- talk on here about maybe this being the best curry on the north side, decided to have a red curry. I haven't had many north side curries, but that's some bullshit. The north side is a big place. And if there's nothing better than this you need to drive south and/or west. That watered down, bland, strangely-textured curry belongs on no 'best of' list. Somebody on here needs to pony up $10 and reimburse me.
(3)
Kevin T.

I don't want to detract from all the good reviews of Ben's - they're a good local option for Thai. I've had Ben's twice, once sit down and again via delivery. Both times I ordered noodle dishes (it's their specialty right? It's on the sign!). The sit down experience isn't much to write home about, it's just your average run-down small mom and pop, but the conversation between the young couple on our right was fun to eavesdrop. They did eventually establish that they both considered their dinner a date. Heart Heart. Anyways...Ben's charges too much for what you get, I can't substantiate poor ambiance/average food experience while still paying 8-9 for a noodle dish. But I'd order delivery again in a bind.
(2)
Caitlin S.

Best Thai food in Edgewater, hands down. The best I have and anywhere in Chicago - and I get around when it comes to Thai. The owners are always cheerful, pleasant and gracious and the food is consistently amazing. Not greasy, doesn't give you that MSG after-burn, and the veggies are crisp. Highly recommend...you must go. have the cashew chicken and some egg rolls, you will be in love.
(5)
Jennifer W.

So far I have eaten here twice. I thought the food was good and inexpensive. The Pad Thai and Pad Woonsen were very good. I found the red and yellow curry to be overly sweet and will avoid them in the future. Overall, they have a good selection for vegetarians. This is a small, casual restaurant. The owners are very friendly and will accommodate substitutions with no problem. I found the actual restaurant boxy and cramped so I plan to carry out in the future. (Note: they are closed on Wednesdays.)
(4)
Ellen S.

Seriously, The best Thai food ever. I go here almost every stinkn' week to get one of their curries! I am never ever disappointed. Sometimes, I am on the train and I get the hugest craving for it and I have to call in for a pick up! Everyone who works there is so kind. I live on the same block and although I am not a fan of a lot of the other restaurants nearby..I am super excited to have this one so close to get my fix!
(5)
Katherine J.

I'm kinda sad this is the Thai food I ended up eating during my trip to Chicago. I was super excited to get some Massaman curry with tofu. This place was just....off. The service was nice. But when I got my dish, the tofu was not fried. I've never ordered any thai dish (esp curry) where the tofu comes raw. My friend ordered spring rolls and she noted that they were strange also. Perhaps this is a different style of Thai? Or we ordered the wrong dishes? In any case, it wasn't awful. Just not what I was expecting.
(3)
Jarian S.

I'm gonna give Ben's 5 stars! This place is amazing! Their Pad Thai is the best in the city, I challenge you to find better. If you eat in person, it's a real no muss, no fuss, kind of place, so go ahead and place an order to go. You will NOT be disappointed.
(5)
Nektaria R.

Tom Kha Kai - Check Pork Pad Kimao - Check Thai Iced Coffee - Check Super nice staff who gave my friend a cute little coin purse for her birthday - Check I seriously cannot stay away from this place. Twice in 3 days. I think it's borderline obsession. It's also BYOB! Good food, decent prices, nice service. Got to check them out.
(4)
Todd G.

Fast service, reasonable prices, and always hot & delicious food. Ben's is tops on my list of favorite places to swing in on nights that I don't feel like cooking. They also have a great lunch special. Have you tried Thai Iced Tea? Do it next time you're at Ben's. It's more coffee than iced tea, but delicious nonetheless. My one tip about Ben's is that you'd be foolish to order from them on Wednesdays. Why? They are closed on Wednesdays and yet that's always the day that I seem to venture over there.
(4)
Nathan E.

Went by chance. Looks like a dive restaurant but man is their food good. The Pad Thai is legit and the Thai iced tea is amazing. Price is good and food is better!
(4)
Steve K.

Very Average Pad Thai. Nothing special. They do give you good portions. Only had take out order of Beef Pad Thai. I would stop by if hungry and in the area. Also I'm laughing at the guy who judges all Thai restaurants by Crab Rangoon. Stick to Panda Express buddy.
(3)
K- K.

I live not two blocks away from here and love it! Whenever I take someone who asks me for advice on what to get, I reply that anything and everything is great. And make fantastic leftovers :) The only reason why I'm giving 4/5 stars is that sometimes it can be difficult to get a hold of the staff, maybe there's just something going on in back or they don't want to appear hovery. Considering the awkwardness of the space, though, this is a bit more understandable.
(4)
C R.

Hand's down my favorite Thai restaurant! Everything I have ever ordered from there has been fantastic.. it's a no-frill, no-fuss kinda spot and everything is not only tasty but very affordable! My personal favorite's there are the Shrimp Tum-Yum soup, the Beef Pad-See-Eiw, Chicken Pad Thai and the Chicken Friend Rice is always a winner as well! Aside from the great food, the owner Chris is always super friendly and so is his wife.. I've never walked through their doors without being welcomed by a friendly smile. Whenever I'm in the area I always make it a point to visit them and indulge in a little Thai comfort food :)
(5)
Wenchy W.

Miss this place. Best Pad Thai I've had. Other dishes were ok, but the Pad Thai was excellent.
(3)
Missy D.

I have only ordered delivery from this place during offpeak hours so that is the extent of my experience with this place. The food is pretty good. i'm not too picky about my thai food, but it earns them about 3 stars. Granted,when ordering online, it isn't the same layout as grubhub, but its not impossible. Its quite simple and all i know is that i ordered my food from here and the delivery guy is ringing me about 20-30 minutes later. the food is still so hot that it could practically burn your mouth! Delivery adds another star and a half. but OMG their crab rangoon... WHAT DO THEY DO WITH IT?! its the best i've ever had. the BEST. add another star.
(5)
Jessica G.

Good, solid thai food. I got take-out last night, and the very nice folk comped the cuppa tea I gulped down while warming up and waiting for my order. Two entrees and an appetizer were done about 10 minutes or less. I like that when I ordered my dish spicy, it actually showed up spicy.
(4)
Beth H.

This is one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants! Cozy, casual family atmosphere, nice and clean with soft music playing. The food is fantastic, especially the noodle dishes and curries. All the food is flavorful, not greasy, and the veggies are fresh and served generously. My favs: see-ew, pad thai, and woon-sen.
(5)
Michael C.

Delicious food, I have never had a bad meal. My favorite is the Spicy Basil with Chicken. I always add the extra meat for $1 because I enjoy the leftovers the next day and the prices are so low it is still cheaper than other Thai options in the neighborhood.
(5)
Kimberly L.

I liked Ben's well enough. The papaya salad was a bit underwhelming but the tom yum kai soup was good. Bonus for the fresh (not canned) mushrooms. The pad see ew tasted fresh though I guess I need to ask for "Thai-spicy" spice levels next time. The service was friendly and the restaurant was tidy and bright. I'd give them 3-1/2 if that were an option.
(3)
Jade T.

When was the last time you've left a restaurant feeling really happy and wanting to return ASAP? I honestly don't remember the last restaurant, if there were any, that made me feel that way until I dined at Ben's Noodles. One of the owners, an older Thai lady named Penny, reminds me of my many aunts. She is probably the nicest Thai person I've came across at a Thai restaurant, no lie. I find it really cute that she started talking to me in Thai/English, which my family does. (Not that this is important, but I encourage Thai people to speak Thai with me to help retain my barely existent fluency of the language... but most don't.) Alright, the staff is nice. That isn't enough to warrant a repeat visit for some of us. I ordered the Pad Thai Tofu and my dining companion ordered the Mussaman Curry. Drinks arrived within 5 minutes. I *hate* it any non-busy restaurant takes forever to bring me water or a can of soda. The food came out within a few minutes too. Usually, this makes me nervous. How good can food possibly be if it takes them a short time to make it? Well ... my doubts instantly vanished. = READ: BEST PAD THAI IN CHICAGO. = (I wish I could italicize, bold, and enlarge the font by 10x.) ARGH!! SERIOUSLY!!! I've eaten Pad Thai hundreds of times throughout my life, and I judge a restaurant based on that dish. If the Pad Thai sucks, I don't return to the restaurant. But Ben's Pad Thai is amazing ... amazing. It has the perfect balance of all the flavors: sweet, savory, and tangy. The noodles were cooked to perfection, with the right amount of tofu and vegetables (not too much, not too little). I felt like I was back eating at a street vendor in an alley of Bangkok, that's how good the Pad Thai was. While this term is overly used these days, the Pad Thai was ... orgasmic. Of course, not everyone will agree ... because people have had different Pad Thais therefore different ideas on how it should taste. I'm telling you, Ben's Pad Thai is the real deal. I almost want to ship it to my mom in DC and ask for her opinion. (Tip: Ask for dried chili powder on the side for an extra kick! That's the traditional condiment Thai people use for this dish.) I won't write about the Mussaman or the Fresh Spring Rolls much, but they were pretty good too. The Thai Iced Coffee was delicious, not too strong or sweet. I can't wait to try the Pad See Eew here. I find Ben's Noodles to be very vegetarian-friendly. They are more than happy to omit fish sauce. Seriously, I LOVE Ben's Noodles! I love the lady who co-runs it (she joked about having me come back and learn more Thai from her - gosh, she's so awesome to talk to), I love the Pad Thai and the convenience of the restaurant. I've written many reviews on Thai restaurants, some of which I rave about their Pad Thai, but Ben's Noodles outranks them. I'll be here once at week, at least, for my Thai food fix. I would return tomorrow, had I not have yummy leftovers. :-) Update: The owner remembered me after having been there ONCE. Too awesome. Update 2: Their Pad See Eew is THE BEST I'VE HAD. Period.
(5)
Jamie C.

This place was, is, and probably will forever be the best Thai restaurant I've ever been to. The people are very welcoming and friendly, and they know when you want to eat in peace, and when you're ready to order. The options are extremely affordable and all of the dishes are ultimate comfort food! I think my dad is in love with the place, too. The last time I took him to Ben's, he wanted to talk the owner into branding and selling his hot sauce!
(5)
Leang E.

This review is for delivery only. I think they got here in like 45 minutes, and the food was still piping hot. I got the crab rangoons, which were pretty good. I also got the Chicken Pad Thai and the Beef Pad See Ew. The noodles might have been more softer or over cooked since they'd been in the container and not fresh on a plate, but the flavor was really good. The portions were a reasonable size as well as the prices. I would definitely order from here again or meet up with friends here.
(4)
Mike F.

Absolutely delicious. We were visiting a friend and looking for a good, cheap place to eat. Really enjoyed our meal. The larb with pork was nice and very flavorful. The standout dish was the Pad Pet Catfish. It was really nice and somewhat unusual. Highly recommended.
(4)
Halleh C.

I've been craving thai food all the thai-m (haha) lately and wanted to try something closer to home. I usually go to Yes, because YES its so good. I guess Ben's satisfied my cravings, sort of. Yes, I got pad thai and crab rangoons, and yes, it was aiight. However, I wasn't that excited about it. There was a lack of sauce in my dish, and the hot sauce was too watery and not hot enough. It wasn't bad, but I've definitely had better. I guess I'll continue searching.
(2)
Jeff G.

this is a 2.5 i rounded down because this place is over-rated at 4 stars average. our entrees were average - pad thai and lad nar. however, the thai salad was the saddest thing i have ever seen: the lettuce was brown, old and shriveled. the tomatoes where whitish and looked and tasted like plastic. the cukes were faded and dull. worst salad i have ever eaten anywhere. i don't care if it's winter and this stuff is not in season. if you are going to serve a salad that looks and tastes like that, take it off the menu and serve something else! just a couple weeks ago i had a salad at hot chocolate down in wicker park and everything looked and tasted fresh. it is so cheap and so close, i would actually try other entrees from there in the future, but i would stay away from the salad.
(2)
Crystal M.

Great food, great service at a great price! What more can a girl ask for? I ordered basil noodles w/chicken and my friend got basil fried rice w/chicken. They were both absolutely delicious! Hearty portions!! Spring rolls were fantastic and did I mention great service. I am very indecisive and the waitress was very patient and informative when I begin asking 50 questions about the menu. The place was kinda small (not a bad thing) but they had seating for large parties. It was also very clean inside the place (including bathrooms) which is a PLUS. Overall it was a great experience.
(5)
Lindsey G.

LOVE Ben's Noodles & Rice! I lived in the neighborhood for 3 years and this place was a staple for me. Their pad see-eiw with beef is out of this world. It has basically ruined the dish for me because every place I've tried since then has failed to live up to Ben's. They also have great fried rice and if you ask for spicy, they deliver! The staff is always courteous and will remember you if you're a frequent customer. Delivery was always lightning fast, but that could be because I was only about a half mile away (hey, sometimes a girl doesn't feel like schlepping to get dinner after work!). Highly recommended and now I'm drooling just thinking about that pad see-eiw....
(5)
E P.

I judge all Thai restaurants first by their Pad Thai. On my first visit and first dinner in Chicago, this was where I ended up based on location and Yelp reviews. I was offered water while I waited, only about 8-10 mins listening to my shrimp pad Thai being sizzled in the kitchen. It was delicious - noodles cooked just right, tasty sauce, a surprising number of perfect cooked shrimp (I give bonus points for them removing tails!) and all the requisite additions like lime, peanuts and sprouts. Perfect amount of food for a hungry traveler, right at the Bryn Mawr stop.
(5)
Kate H.

Shoe leather pork with ketchup, yesterday's dry, hard rice, imitation crab meat... Wow, way to not even try. Totally skip this place.
(1)
Kate P.

Don't order online, They lost my order twice and then offered me nothing.
(1)
McStrokin J.

I carried out at Ben's yesterday and I most say I was pleasantly surprised.My girlfriend loves Pad Thai so we decided to check Ben's out.I had Ginger Chicken and Garlic Beef.Both dishes were done well.Ample amounts of meat and veggies.I didn't find myself saying "hey where's the MEAT" like at some Asian joints.My girlfriend loved her Pad Thai.The lady behind the counter was very polite and cordial.I'm definitely going to go back and try some more of their cuisine. If you're into Thai i'd recommend you try Ben's out.
(4)
Alice Y.

Whoa, how have I not reviewed this place yet? Ben's, along with El Norte, are my go-to takeout restaurants in this neighborhood. Prices are low, portions are large, plus they're very quick. I always get the Pad Thai or Pad See-Eiw with beef, both solid choices. And they don't skimp on the meat, like some places. I also have come in once for their lunch special, when you pay the price of the entree, but get soup and appetizer thrown in free. Sadly, Tom Ka soup is no longer a lunch special choice, but I'll deal. My friend who's dined-in with me a couple times said the specialty dishes (with duck and others) are also good. I like that they're available on the menu for when I want to branch out and "upgrade" my meal. Best of all (again), unlike other Thai places, Ben's is generous with the duck and does not charge as much for these fancier dishes.
(4)
Matthew M.

Fantastic Pad Thai. I give it 5 stars based on the lunch special alone. I think it's something like 11am-3pm on weekdays, ~$7 gets you soup, appetizer and entree. Dine in only. Service is great, food is great.
(5)
Keely B.

For me, going to Ben's is like an Asian episode of Cheers. Chris, the owner, is one of the nicest people ever. We've been regular customers for so long, he gave us beautiful wooden chopsticks and an elephant bookmark from Thailand as a wedding gift. Still the best crab rangoon and pad sie eiw I've ever had. Ever. I could eat here every day. Tiny, adorable, BYOB. Win.
(5)
chris e.

Good stuff! Great food, nice people .. Those of u who have read my other reviews kno im especially tough on Thai -but this place gets a 5 star rating hands down. i havent had a dish there that i didnt like .. and ive had their pad se ewe, pad thai, mussaman curry, yellow curry, panang curry, spicy noodles and my fave - their spicy basil fried rice. Appetizers are great too ! Crispy, not greasy crag rangoon and tempura .. flavorful satay ...mmm Portions are healthy and prices are moderate. After a time or two (and i go there frequently cause i work around the corner) they will start to call u by name if you give it to them on pick up orders Just dont stop by on Wednesday cause they are closed.
(5)
Pete C.

I am at Ben's at least 3 times a week, either for take out or dine in. The food here rocks! the service is awesome, the atmosphere is quaint and pelasant. I like the open window to the kitchen, you can see the bustling in the kitchen! I reccomend the curry fried rice and the basil fried rice, teh pad see wee, the lad nar, pot stickers, I never had a bad dish there!
(5)
Minna A.

After leaving the comforts of living so close to Noodles in the Pot over in the old hood (Lincoln Park), I've yearned for a go-to thai place. And Ben's welcomed me with open arms. No one can beat the prices over at Ben's (Average tabe of $10 a person post tax). The pad thai tastes amazing, and proportions are huge! I usually don't ever order crab ragoon, but ordered the appetizer since I hadn't had it in a while. SO GOOD! They have bit of celery inside which really make it taste a lot better then the "plain" crab ragoons. BYOB people. BYOB. I love BYOB so much.
(4)
Marie B.

I am a big fan of Thai food, and this place is on my short list. Their food is very good. Tasted several dishes and they were very good. The chicken and veggies are crisp and the noodles have a good flavor and are not overdone. Definitely a place I will try again.
(4)
Lisa D.

I went to check this place out last night after my roommate suggested it. Thai sounded good and I wanted to explore the neighborhood. The place looked pretty understated when I saw it from across the street. Honestly, I thought to myself...really? This dive has good food? I had the pad thai with tofu, a favorite..I didn't feel like being adventurous. It was delicious and the service was great too. The guy kept re-filling my water and was happy to give me a box for my leftover pad thai (they gave me so much food!). I would definately go there again. Great food and great experience overall.
(5)
Tyrell C.

Ben's is one of the best Thai places in the city and a wonderful neighborhood spot. The owners/operators are some of the friendliest folks I've ever met. I am always greeted with a genuine smile and friendly conversation. The food is standard thai, but has some great standouts. First off, the pad thai is top notch. Every variety of it is hearty, and the noodles are always cooked to perfection. The pad ki mao is also perfectly spicey/sweet and the noodles are firm but not dry. Easily the best thing on the menu, though, is the basil rolls. This simple appetizer is ridiculously scrumptious. I wasn't sure what to expect, and I'm still not sure what magic they put in this, but it has a mild basil taste mixed with a savory flavor and couscous type texture. And the sauce is GREAT! I highly recommend Ben's to anyone in Edgewater, or for people just trying to get away from the busy/trendy restaurants downtown. It's right near the Bryn Mawr stop and well worth a look!
(4)
Maria M.

Some of the dishes at this clean and pleasant restaurant are great others are quite mediocre, which is why i gave it the 3 star rating only.
(3)
John G.

Fantastic food and value!
(5)
John D.

The service was too friendly to be true and the food was deeeee-lish. As a vegetarian, it makes me grin from ear to ear when a place will accomodate special meet-free requests. Sure the Panang Curry is available without meat and it is tasty. But I wanted my Tom Ka Kai without the foul . . . er . . . fowl. They made it up for me with some tofu and it was just about the best bowl of the stuff that I have had in the city. I also recommend the veggie dumplings. They are plump and crispy!
(4)
Stefanie P.

"You like it spicy?" That's what I was asked upon placing my order of basil chicken on the way home from the L. Having had several "spicy" dishes in Chicago come out not-so-spicy, I said yes and expected the usual. Oh, was I wrong. My mouth was burning for 20 minutes after I finished. But it was so worth it. So, so worth it. Ben's is quick, inexpensive, and tasty. And when they say "spicy", they actually mean it. Hurrah!
(4)
Teddy B.

okay Thai food. Only reason I order from here is because its close to home. I used to live by Cozy's which I think is 10 times better. Let's just say if I wasn't in the area I wouldn't be getting anything from Ben's because there are much better options.
(2)
Ben F.

Fast service. Good but not great food.
(4)
Daniel L.

The first time around, I like to judge Thai restaurants on what I consider the essentials: Crab Rangoon, Pad Thai, and Tom Kha Kai (or Gai, to some). The Crab Rangoon left a lot to be desired. Pretty bland, a little under-filled, and the dipping sauce was a thin, sour sauce as opposed to the usual gooey sweet sauce. For the record, I liked the sauce, but it was by no means standard and didn't save the Rangoon. The Pad Thai wasn't bad, but I've had much better many times. The flavor was about right (but again, not nearly top notch) and everything was just a bit too dry. To be fair, I did carry-out, which could account for the dryness, but that withheld the dish was still unremarkable. The Tom Kha Kai was my favorite dish of the meal, though once again not the best I've had. The broth was what it needed to be -- sweet and tangy. I'd prefer a little more chili oil kick, but that's just me. The chicken and mushrooms were nothing to write home about, but they did the job. If I need my fix, I could do a lot worse than getting it here. Again, I ordered out, so I can't comment on any of the ambiance of the joint, but while I won't vehemently discourage anyone from going here, you can do a lot better for about the same price elsewhere.
(2)
Michelle O.

Im new to the neighborhood, so I've been trying out all the resturants. I stopped in at Ben's to get some red curry. The staff was very friendly and offered me a glass of water while I waited for my take out. When I got home, I was pleasantly surprised by how much chicken and veggies they had in the sauce. Much more than any other Thai place where I have had red curry! The sauce was delishious and portions very generous. I was able to have two meals out of it easily and without having to cook up another chicken breast to add to it. I can't wait to try more dishes!
(5)
Katie T.

This place does have the best pad Thai that I have ever had. We also got the garlic beef dish and it was so tasty - i think that's what smells so good when i walk by it after work. Crab Rangoon and egg roles were both great. Thanks Ben's Noodles and Rice!
(5)
Christina M.

I had high hopes for this place but found it to be average. A big plus is that they did make the food spicy! However, the curry I got was watery and the potato was boiled and overcooked - the rice was also overcooked. The veggie pot stickers appetizer was the best thing we had there, they were pretty good. The employees were very nice and the restaurant is conveniently located near the red line.
(3)
Yaeko M.

Yamm. The place is pretty small, not much of decoration. However, the food are very good. I had spicy basil noodle and Pad Kimao. Very good food, good service. A good local restaurant.
(4)
D D.

Maybe I had the wrong thing, but I have no clue what everyone is raving about. First I had to wait about half an hour for my food ( I did take out). The person taking my order didn't put it in until the three people who came in after me got their food. But I was patient. I ordered the teriyaki chicken which comes with mushrooms and green onions. I also ordered extra veggies (which I told were green beans, carrots, bell peppers, onions..well you get the point.) Yeah, cone to find out ordering extra veggies means that my original order gets altered. Not a mushroom or green onion to be found. Not to mention that the "extra veggies" I paid for was barely there that when I asked about it they immediately apologized and asked if I wanted to wait more so they could cook more..nice gesture but no thanks. I get home Annnddddd.. the food had no taste whatsoever! The chicken had a soupy teriyaki sauce that was clearly not cooked with the chicken rather just put in the bottom of the dish. As a result, unless you were drinking the soup, the food had no taste. I. Was. Floored. Sorry, maybe other dishes are worth it, but based on my experience I would never go back.
(1)
Arlett F.

I was really excited about eating at this place because of the great reviews. So I decided to take myself out on a date. The restaurant is really small, which is fine because they get a lot of carryout orders and the workers are genuinely friendly. They knew almost everyone that walked into the restaurant that night. I ordered the Massaman Curry which comes with potatoes and your choice of meat or tofu. I had mine with tofu. When the dish came out it smelled fabulous, but as my spoon dove into my stew I noticed that the potatoes were still raw :-(. I was also given a BIG serving of tofu which I'm all for, but not at the cost of very little curry stew. Maybe they hired a new cook? Despite my raw potatoes, the curry was delicious. I'll be giving this place another try.
(3)
Patty C.

This is an okay Thai place. If you need a Thai fix, then this place works. I have only been here once, but will probably go again next week. I had a pad Thai and a Thai iced tea on my first visit. The pad Thai was soaked in a sweet sauce. This wasn't really what I'm used to. The traditional pad Thai I've had are more dry and less sweet, but it wasn't bad. I guess it's just different. Service was quick and friendly.
(3)
A'Daris M.

Love this place. I order take-out from here often. The pad see eiw is my fave and is delicious. The chicken wings are also good with a nice spicy kick. The curries are pretty tasty, and I love the varying veggie and sauce combinations of the entrees. The staff is very friendly and my orders are always hot and ready to go in a timely fashion, but the space is small, so I've never eaten in. All in all I love this place which is why its my go-to take-out spot
(4)
Pauline M.

This place has such delicious food! it's our go to place for Thai, and where we bring out of town friends and family. Their vegetable potstickers are out of this world!
(4)
Erika M.

I had to comment on how amazing the pad thai is here. Originally, when I first started getting take out from this restaurant, I would order the cashew chicken.. which was really good too but the pad thai is exceptional! I have eaten at a lot of thai restaurants... and this is by far the best pad thai I have ever had! They give a VERY big portion...and it is so good that even when I am not extremely hungry I finish the entire portion because I can't stop eating it!
(5)
John H.

I've been here several times and have ordered delivery a couple of times and have never been disappointed with anything. Just took my 79 y/o mother there over Thanksgiving week and she was equally impressed. We both had the Cashew Chicken and it was DELICIOUS. My mother ordered some Jasmine tea and didn't not care for it unsweetened, but when I asked for (and PROMPTLY received) some sweetener for her, she ended up liking it. Fast, friendly, efficient service along with reasonable prices for their tasty cuisine keep me coming back.
(4)
Cheryl W.

I ordered the Tom Yum Seafood soup and spaghetti khee mao seafood. The Tom Yum Seafood soup tasted sweet and was not spicy or sour. The spaghetti khee mao seafood was alright...nothing special. Maybe I ordered the wrong things?? But, how I tell how good a Thai place is by their Tom Yum soup.
(2)
Nikki J.

This is my favorite Thai place. I order from Ben's at least once a week, they just can't keep me away. The staff and delevery driver are all familiar with me and they are super nice. This is the best pad thai, crab ragoons and tom yum soup. I have other dishes but those are my stand-bys the things that I crave. When I am craving Thai food and go anywhere else I am disappointed... it is really Ben's Noodles I am craving. If you dine in, the service is excellent. They really will do anything to accomodate you. The food is extremely fast whether dine in, pick-up or delivery. It is absolutely the fastest delivery in Edgewater. I heart Ben's!
(5)
trina b.

I am happy to report that we tried Ben's again last night and I was very pleased this time around! When my husband called, I had him ask the person on the phone what was in the massaman curry. Now on the menu it says it has potatoes, peas, onions and carrots. What the person on the phone said was potatoes, onions and peanuts. This cleared up one confusion. My husband asked if I could add broccoli and carrots instead of getting a meat or tofu. They said sure no problem! And they didn't charge me a substitution fee like some places do. Now that's good customer service! This time we picked up the order because we were out and about. It was ready when they said it was going to be and it was piping hot! I opened up the bag quickly to check things out and was super excited to see carrots, broccoli peanuts and onion in my dish! HURRAH!!! :0) And the yummy taste was still there and I was in curry heaven! We also got complimentary egg rolls which were super yummy and the sweet and sour sauce that came with them was finger lickin' good. Seriously. I licked my fingers. What? It's finger food! And I was in the privacy of my own home darn it! The only thing I would say is to buy another order of rice, I felt I need a bit more with my dish. An extra small is only a dollar and it would be worth it I think. Anyway, I am SUPER pleased to say this is my curry spot! Finally!!
(5)
Kathy L.

Hands down the best Thai restaurant I've been to. Do not leave without ordering the crab rangoon and Pad See Ew. The owner is friendly and gets to know his customers. Unfortunately, we rarely get into that part of the city these days, but I would make a trip to Edgewater for Ben's!
(5)
Ayako M.

I was so disappointed! The Potato/Chicken curry was tasty but the sauce had a strange look and consistency to it, kinda like curdled curry...but it tasted great! The noodle dish, I think Pad Woonsen, was just meh, nothing to write home about. I'll give them another shot for the lunch special, but I think I'm sticking to Indie Cafe as my go to Thai spot.
(3)
Heather N.

Best Thai in Edgewater. They are always busy to dine in. I usually order take out. The pad see ewi is good.
(3)
Rahshonda K.

I love Thai food so why not take the leap and venture into Ben's!?. The leap was worth it because the Basil Fried Rice with Chicken was GREAT! I could not put the fork down. It was super fresh and cooked just right. The service was great as well. I definitely cant wait to order again when I am up in the area.
(4)
Krista W.

Love this place! They are consistently delicious and offer great, friendly service. I dine there a couple times a month and my favorite dishes are the Spicy Basil Noodle and Tom Kha Kai soup. The staff greets me by my first name, which makes me feel special. If you are looking for ambiance, this isn't your place. If you are looking for a BYOB, with friendly service and scrumptious food...Head to Ben's Noodles!
(5)
Jenni S.

Best pad thai, like, EVER. We were at Flourish picking up cupcakes for wee-hours consumption later, but since we were right across the street from this cute little Thai joint, we decided to stop here for dinner. Very glad we did--this cozy restaurant has the tastiest pad thai I've had in the city to date. I usually order pad thai with tofu, but I had a wild and crazy moment and decided to order with pork instead. Perfectly cooked, fresh and tender. Also, i'm a huge crab rangoon aficionado, but it seems like hardly anyone gets it right. Either the filling is virtually crabless, or the wonton is overfried, or the sauce is just blegh. These were right on the money--very crabby filling, crispy wrapper, and utterly delicious sweet-and-sour for dipping. Definitely going back to this place--it's less than a block away from the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop, so y'all should, too.
(4)
Dan C.

Excellent customer service, great portions and excellent space.
(5)
art s.

I think the food is decent but my wife doesn't always agree with me. Would definitely recommend it more for take-out than to dine in, as the place is small with harsh acoustics. On more than one occasion I've been picking up orders and felt bad for people in the 'dining room' who have no way to escape the inevitable one loudmouth clown who feels the need to recount his day's tales in full theatrical mode. FYI - they don't take AMEX
(3)
Mike P.

The wife and I stopped in for a quick bite last night. While the Thai food is spectacular, I must admit the staff is even better. So friendly. My wife is a Pad See-Eiw [sp?] junkie. She declared Ben's chicken version to be the best she's had. I tried the spicy basil noodles with beef. Spicy, yes, but not so much that it overpowered the basil. We grabbed a take out menu and declared Ben's to be our new go-to spot for noodles.
(5)
Mare C.

Did I go to the right place? After reading all the glowing reviews I went there for lunch last week with high expectations. What I got in return was something entirely different! The first tip-off was when I walked in and saw just 2 customers besides myself...at the height of the lunch hour. The next tip-off, and this is where I should've bolted was the prices. Yikes, the avg. price for an entree is $8.00 with a few in the $7.00 range. A little high if u ask me for lunch! The man who waited on me, who I think was the owner, kept on saying they have the same menu for dinner & the portions are the same. Plus, they give 2 free appetizers! He kept on repeating it. As I was about to order I noticed my favorite soup was scratched out, tom kha. All they had left was miso & another soup with lime in it. The owner told me coconut milk was now sky high so they took it out. I asked him why it wasn't reflected in the prices for the soup appetizers, they were all the same, $3.95 Again he repeated we give u the appetizers for free! Huh? No substitutions either. So i ordered the miso soup. A mini version of it, not a dinner size portion (like the owner said) with meager ingredients too. Same with the pot stickers. Bite size portions. For the entree I ordered the lad nar. I'll admit it was tasty but the portion was again small. I really feel gypped, I won't be going back.
(1)
Dantee A.

I love the Christmas lights adorning the walls at this simply decorated, no frills joint. It's the inner beauty that counts at this place - It shows that they are all about their food and not how great they look - kind of like how we all judge people by their personality and not their looks (yeah right). Give them a chance one day and visit them during their lunch hour. For around 6 bucks you can get an appetizer and an entree. Too bad the special is not offered for take-out (so says their menu). If you're into curries - try the Massaman Curry. It is stew of coconut milk with potatoes, onions, and a protein of your choice - very flavorful and satisfying. If you have a cold - try the Red Curry - it should get you decongested within 2 minutes. My friend ordered the Steak Teriyaki which is served with onions and mushrooms. It was very umami. They could have provided him with a knife or the cut the steak into smaller pieces, yet it was entertaining to see him cut the steak with chopsticks and a fork. Friendly service and a good crowd makes this place my favorite neighborhood thai spot. Make sure you check out the specials - I missed it because it's placed on a teeny-weenie dry erase board.
(4)
ATY L.

Good Service, great food. It's one of the most authentic Thai cuisine I've had in Chicago. The Basil Fried Rice was delicious, for 7 bucks, you cant ask for anything more. The only complain I have is the size of the restaurant. They have about 7-8 tables, so the place can get packed real fast.
(4)
Tony J.

Ate here for lunch today. Had the crab rangoon and spring rolls for an appie. Both were delish. Miso soup was great. Got the basil chicken and rice for entree...tasted great. Will definitely go back. I see they deliver too!
(5)
nina c.

It's good. Just good. The curry is okay, which kind of dipped the place into 2 stars for me after the first try. The crab rangoon and the cashew chicken I had the second time pumped it up to 3.5 stars. The thing that makes this place for me a 4 is the incredibly friendly casual and sweet attentiveness of the owners and the fact that it's half a block from my house. I will definitely be back.. would I travel half the city for it - no. Am I happy they are in my hood - heck yeah!! Oh, and if this isn't a testament to the place, I don't know what is.... every time we've gone there, there is an obsessed regular oohing and aaahing to a friend about how much they love the place.
(4)
Daniel S.

Amazing. Great curry and ragoon
(5)
Amy M.

Yummy yummy yummy. A step above your average storefront Thai. I've ordered a few different entrees from them and have yet to be disappointed. The dining room lacks in ambiance, but the food is good and the price is excellent. Favorites include lime chicken, Bangkok chicken and the crab rangoon.
(4)
Jocelynne G.

AHHHH I'm moving to Edgewater next month! I can't wait to order deliveryyyyy.
(5)
Cornelia N.

This place has the best service in any restaurant I've ever been to in the world! The two people who own/manage the restaurant and the teenagers who often work there know how to be friendly with their regulars but also give them space to enjoy their food and conversation. They also typically give the bill only when someone requests it, which I appreciate. The prices are good, the dining room is small, but the food is good. It can be a bit greasy at times, but you can always request light oil or any other substitution. I've had about half the dishes on the menu, and my favorites are pad see ew, curry fried rice, and beef with oyster sauce. Their crab rangoon has more of a vegetable taste than at other restaurants, and I highly recommend it. The egg rolls are also good, but the mini egg rolls are better (though they're not always available). My only complaint is that they charge a dollar for each extra portion of rice (which is small).
(5)
Jonathan D.

Authentic Thai food is hard to come by, but Ben's delivers. I've had some of their adapted Japanese and Chinese dishes which were good, but stick with curries, noodles and sweet basil dishes. Their Thai dishes are flavorful and cautious on spice without being mild, but you can ramp it up to authentic. At one point I spent an entire month in Thailand, this always reminds me of the best restaurants and my favorite dishes.
(5)
Yogi B.

Ben's Noodles and Rice is a great place to get a nice Asian meal in the Edgewater Neighborhood. The only reason I didn't give Ben's Noodles 5 stars is that they raised their prices significantly after being featured on Check Please a couple of years ago. They do a HUGE eat in/carry out/delivery business and I felt this was unnecessary and "convenient"-I can only imagine they figured now that they're "famous" they can get more for their food. That aside, you will get a fresh meal with quick and friendly service. The prices are still inexpensive for the freshness and quality of the food. I enjoy watching people go by the windows in the front. There are so many "colorful" people in Edgewater.
(4)
SusieSunshine S.

Love this place because: -Lots of interesting dishes -It's cheap -It's fresh -It's casual -The food is of high quality My only dislike: -The place is a little bit on the small side Overall: YUM!
(4)
Rick M.

A craving for Thai led us to this place in Edgewater, and deliver it did. The atmosphere here is really nice and casual, updated, and clean. They have all of the Thai staples, but I think their menu goes above that into some more creative and original dishes and specials. My wife and I both started with the Tom Yum soup, delicious and spicy as you please! We then moved on to the main portion of our meal; My wife just ordered egg rolls, and I tried the Pad Woonsen with tofu under the suggestion of our waiter. I would normally go for chicken or pork, but this combination was probably one of the best Thai dishes I've ever had. Oh, and the spicy sauce that comes on the side is a wonderous creation of man. The egg rolls were really good too. Good prices, Great service, and Excellent food; I will definitely be coming here regularly.
(4)
J B.

Great food and service. I feel like I am walking into a friend's kitchen. Highly recommend the PAD THAI.
(5)
Morgan C.

Disclaimer: I almost had to put down my plate to come write my review, but I found myself unable to do so. But now that I'm satiated, I can say that I've just eaten some of the tastiest pad woon sen in recent memory. Tons of crunchy veggies, lots of thin strips of tofu. And the crab rangoon might just have to forgo the "recent" part of "tastiest in recent memory." Crispy, creamy, crabby... perfect. And the sauce is a thin, deliciously sweet/hot complement. Yum. I wish it was 15 minutes ago so I could just be sitting down with my bag of carry out all over again. The crab rangoon was a little on the pricey side for me at $5.75, but I'd say worth a go. Oh yeah, this was from carry out. So it spent 10-15 minutes just chillin before I got to tuck in. And that's walking in tonight's cold. Now I'm home, full, and have exactly half of my entree waiting for me for tomorrow. I will be back to dine in; if it's this good on carry out, I can hope it's even better in person.
(5)
Erica T.

Ben's is a mere 1.5 blocks away, which rocks. I usually get a curry of some sort (I think I like green the best) and tom yum soup. And I can never forego the chance for Thai iced tea. I have never eaten in the restaurant - I usually get it delivered, or do takeout if I feel like venturing outside, but when I do go pick it up the owners are always extremely nice. I know my review says 4 stars but I really think it's about 3.5. This is because I still like Indie Cafe a little better - better flavors, comparable prices, better ambience, etc. (refer to my Indie Cafe review)
(4)
Erika G.

I have to update this review now that this restaurant has been here awhile. I've completely changed my opinion. I meet a friend here for lunch all the time, and anything we order is delicious. Big improvement - kudos to you, Bens!
(4)
Chenee L.

This is my go-to Thai place!! I love Ben's-- I love their pad thai, I LOVE their pad see-eiw, their crab rangoon, the pad ped catfish, and their curry fried rice. The only thing that I've had here that I didn't like is the Bangkok chicken, but I think that's just a matter of preference. The food is always fresh and delicious-- I've never had a bad experience with Ben's -- and their service, either with take-out or delivery is fast and friendly. And their prices are much better than Indie, which is a close second as far as Thai goes in this neighborhood.
(5)
Brianna R.

Best thai food in the city!! The owners are there from open to close everyday. They get to know their customers. Every time I go in they already know my order. Good prices. Fresh food. Great lunch specials. My favorites are the pot stickers, chicken satay and cashew chicken.
(5)
Ginger W.

I've been to Ben's many times and I always get so happy there. In fact, I get happy just thinking about it. I am fortunate to work around the corner so I get to come for the Lunch Special. I always get Crab Rangoon which I would say is the second best I've ever had. (Indie's is a tad better). Tom Yum soup is yummy. And all the entrees have been delicious. Service is fast, friendly and efficient. They keep that glass filled with ice water.
(5)
Chris A.

I went here with 2 friends and it was great! The food is standard thai, but make no mistake, it is good! My only complaint is that the calamari was REALLY greasy. None of us finished it, not very good. I had the Tofu Pad Thai, it was excellent, and reasonably priced. If you're in Edgewater, check Ben's out.
(4)
Emma S.

As I'm giving this "two star" rating, I'm thinking "Meh. I've experienced better" just as the Yelp people have labeled it. I just thought this place was unremarkable and a little expensive for that neighborhood for lunch. There was nothing bad about the food or the service. The dining room was a little small and a little uncomfortable, but everything was adequate. There aren't many other Thai options that are a mere stone's throw from the Bryn Mawr Redline stop, but this one is just ok.
(2)
Bill H.

I am singlehandedly putting Ben's children through college. The peppers are crisp, the chicken is tender and the pot stickers are basically an orgasm in your mouth. I'm serious. My hippie vegetarian girlfriend doesn't like spicy Thai so she always gets some variation of friend rice, and bland as it may seem to a flavor-hound like myself, she gushes over it. GUSHES. Squirty pile of Thai love juice. Also, she's a dainty young lass, so typically one order of Ben's can be 2-3 servings. Dinner tonight, lunch tomorrow, etc. At the inexpensive price, you cannot beat the amount of shit they cram into those little plastic containers. It's quite astounding. On to the real deal: my meal. I don't mix it up too much because I've found a delicious selection that burns my booty [in a fabulous way]. Bangkok chicken sets my soul on fire with a hearty mix of veggies, chicken and jasmine rice. I typically dump a bunch of those red things into the rice and suck it down until I put a nice dent in my platter and just throw the rest of the rice into the spicy muck at the bottom. I have found this technique maximizes taste and minimizes mess. Additionally, I think they really hook up the repeat customers. They know us, and our typical order--so each time it's tailored to our specific tastes (they cram my thing filled with delectable chicken chunks and supply me with roughly a quart of hot spice concoction.) Anyway, I am sitting here with a belly full of spicy Thai delight, rubbing my love basket with glee. I love Ben, and he loves me.
(5)
John H.

Fast and friendly service. (And the food is good too!) My wife and I visit Bens about 2 - 3 times a month. We never have the same dish twice. Remember its BYOB and Bens is closed on Wednesdays :-(. You can't go wrong for a good Thai meal at Bens.
(5)
Ivan H.

Ben's is a decent spot. I've had better Thai food all over Chicago, but it's conveniently close to the Bryn Mawr redline stop. I'm not as enthusiastic as some of the Ben's fans on this site, nor am I as critical as the staunch Ben haters. Maybe my taste in Thai food isn't as discerning other types of food. When it's excellent, I notice, but when it's just ok, it's still pretty good. Mediocre Thai just sort of blends together for me. That's how I feel about Ben's mediocre, but better than the other options around it.
(3)
Bryan C.

Ben's was great for fast Thai delivery. The Pad See Ew was super portion sized and super flavorful without the grease! Crab Rangoon was crunchy with tons of filling and the Cucumber Salad was...well, a cucumber salad. They have an easy online ordering service and the food was hot upon arrival. I'm really glad Ben's is in my neighborhood, I'll definitely order again.
(4)
Rachael t.

I love this place! I am always nervous when I go out to eat with my "veggie" friends because I am want to make sure they have a decent selection of food and Ben's def delivered selection. We started with Thai iced coffee and I had crab rangoon as a starter. It was prob the best I have had since I moved here. The portions were huge and the prices were extremely reasonable. The service was fast and attentive. I will be back soon! update 1/16/2009 I am addicted to Ben's Noodles. It has become a staple in my diet! :)
(5)
Keith H.

Great wide noodles; saw a preserved noodle bowl in the window. Furniture that was part of the wall. Noodle dish got spicy and the tofu was tender and springy. Ordered on the suggestion of the waitress and she suggested correctly. Seemed like they had a steady pick up and delivery traffic flow going. Great location and they kept my water glass filled.
(4)
Bethany J.

Great Thai, Great Price! I love Ben's Noodles and Rice - and not just because I live right around the block. Their pad thai is always great, and their curry fantastic. They also make wonderful crab ragoon, which, while not an authentic Thai dish is a must have for and Thai restaurant in the midwest. The only sad point is that they're not open on Wednesdays - which seems to be when I end up craving yellow curry chicken with potatoes.
(5)
James M.

Ben's has great food, great delivery, and great people working there. They're just plain nice - their prices are good, and they'll throw in little surprises everyonce in a while... like on a REALLY cold night this winter, they randomly gave me a hot tea to go, because I looked cold. I recently moved, but luckily it was even closer to Ben's :)
(4)
Patrick H.

I love this place for service and food. The calimari is so good that one doesn't even need the sauces. Usually have the Chicken Pad-Thia too! Doesn't get better for Thia food!
(5)
Virginia T.

I was recently hanging out in the neighborhood and my companions decided to order from Ben's....it was just ok. My friends all got tofu items and all agreed the tofu tasted a little "off". No one got sick, but there was a debate as to whether they used fermenting tofu or squeezed a bit too much lime on the dish that made it taste that way but nevertheless it was disturbing. I got cashew chicken which was meh.....the sauce was watery and veggies were a little undercooked. Not NEARLY as good as Cozy Noodles. The prices were good, and it was fast, but the quality was really lacking. I might try Ben's again if I was in the neighborhood.
(3)
Angela E.

Delicious Thai food! I was a regular here and never had a bad experience, the food always being fresh and wonderful and great service! The owners are so sweet, very friendly and give great service. On my commute home from work, I couldn't resist stopping in to order my usual Pad See Eiw with beef to go which would be prepared very quickly. 5 stars to this great restaurant!
(5)
Ashley W.

ugh! what a disappointment. I decided to give this place a chance despite of the lukewarm Yelp reviews and it was a total let down. I did takeout and ordered Shrimp Pad Ke Mao and basil eggrolls. The pad ke mao was so bland and lifeless. I had to add a ton of soy sauce to make it somewhat palatable. The egg rolls--the ground chicken was so dry inside that I needed to drink water whenever I ate a bite. Pass on this place and order from the fabulous Thai places on Argyle.
(1)
Jack D.

*Myself and 3 co-workers are eating Ben's right now* I work in the neighborhood and order dinner from Ben's ALL the TIME! There are countless Thai food places in my delivery area, but Ben's has always been my favorite. (Dib = second best). The prices are reasonable and the meats are waaaay higher quality than other Thai places I've had. Delivery never takes more than 50 mins, always nice on the phone and in person, never had a meal I didn't enjoy. FAVES: Pad Thai, Yellow Curry, Teriyaki, Satay, pad see-eiw. Least fave: Egg rolls (could be improved). Should also mention I've never had any of their seafood items. I'm sure they're good too!
(5)
Anthony M.

After reading some great reviews, my girlfriend and I decided to give this place a try. I was truly impressed with the food. The Pad-se-ew was one of the best dishes I've had ever had and the red curry was great. This will indeed be one of my regular Thai spots.
(4)
Melissa N.

Delicious! Fast! Friendly! Great location right off the red line Bryn Mawr stop, and a very clean (although small) restaurant. They offer local delivery too! I eat here almost once a week it is so good!
(5)
Dan S.

It's great for what it is. Great food, fast friendly service, inexpensive and clean. BYOB is an added bonus. We will be back.
(5)
Candace S.

I grab take out from bens a lot. Great food and a great price.
(4)
Monica W.

The reviews about this place are absolutely true. Clean, tasty food and no corkage fee!
(4)
Matt C.

Went to Ben's last night. My roommate and I were both too worn out from the week to bother cooking so we took a walk down to Bryn Mawr. We had every intention of going to Hellas Gyros but we decided to hit up Ben's instead. The service was fine, the prices were right, the food was good. All in all, it was a great experience. I'll be back, as it is so close to my apartment, and definitely good. Its all I can ask of a local "hole in the wall." I don't know if I would make a huge effort to get here if I ever moved, but as long as I am in the neighborhood, I'll be stopping by.
(4)
Sid B.

a must try for fellow hardcore Thai food connoisseurs.. I would rate this restaurant amongst the top 4 places serving "quality" Thai food in Chicago
(5)
Jim M.

I'd been blessed in sampling excellent Thai food in various cities before moving to Chicago. Ben's dishes are really good (i have personal preference for noodle dishes, but haven't disliked anything I've tried on their menu yet), but their strongest suits are the consistency in their cooking, and the friendliness of the staff. The owners are personable, outgoing, and really fun to talk to. Couple them with the cozy seating area, and you have a very welcoming restaurant that's fun to eat in. Love the BYOB aspect of this restaurant too.
(4)
Kim C.

I wish I could give it 10 stars! Best crab rangoon EVER. Ben (i think that is actually Ben's son or Ben's father...one of those)...is the nicest person EVER! I agree with Bill H's review...they do seem to hook up the repeat customers... :) I brought my boyfriend here who lives in Maryland and we ate like 35 bucks worth of food (which is a lot at Ben's awesome prices!) and he loved it. My parents will come visit me from the burbs just go to there. It's just the best place! The pad see eiw is my favorite! I try to only eat half and then save the other half, but its impossible.
(5)
Cassie K.

I love Ben's. The owner does everything and does it well. They are so kind and service is quick, whether it is eat in or to go. I have also overheard some horribly rude and whiny people ordering their meals and he is nothing but accommodating. The prices are great, too. I love the Tom Yum soup.
(5)
Karl Z.

Ben's Noodles is great! I've lived in Edgewater for 5 years now and never stopped in until recently. I was greeted very genuinely when I entered the restaurant and went to the counter to order my takeout. I asked some questions about some of the menu items and the woman working the counter answered them very thoroughly and was respectful of my lack of knowledge with some dishes. The food came out in about 10 minutes and brought the food home to my friends. I've ordered "spicy" from some Thai restaurants before and they usually don't even begin to come close to a spicy dish. Ben's made my dish SPICY and it was EXCELLENT!!! I'm so happy I found Ben's Noodles and just writing this review makes me want to order some Pad Kimao and Chicken Satay... mmmmmmm!!!
(5)
Michael M.

I had to update my review because this place just gets better every time I go. The staff is just amazing and the food, well lets just say no other Thai can compare in my opinion.
(5)
Gene W.

Really good food, in large portions, at a small price. I've started eating lunch here at least once a week, and those lunches seem to always be the most satisfying. I'm a big fan of the red curry chicken, but I haven't found anything I dislike. The service is extremely friendly and quick. The place can get a little drafty, but really, if that's my only complaint, I'm stretching.
(4)
Anne B.

A fantastic, usually quick dinner right by the Bryn Mawr stop. The owner and his wife, I assume, are always there and always have a smile for everyone walking in the door. Fantastic food, wonderful service...as good as it gets.
(5)
Ryan W.

this is, hands down, my favorite thai place in all of Chicago. The prices are great, the food is ALWAYS great, and service is incredible! My favorite is their chicken satay, massaman curry, and ginger chicken. the tom yum kai and tom kah kai (sp) are amazing. The best illustration of the quality of this place, is during the winter, when I stop in and order take out, they bring me a cup of hot tea to warm up with, while Iwait for my order to take home. I love this place!
(5)
Jarrad M.

My wife and I eat here pretty regularly. She loves the Pad See-EuW and eats it almost exclusively. I will eat pretty much everything else. Folks that talk about it being "bland" are mistaken. You can easily ask them to "up" the flavor or spiciness of a dish. I enjoy almost everything on their menu. I like that the fact that it's small, neighborhoody and family-run. They recognize me when I walk in. They ask about my wife if she's not with me. They're just really nice. When we do take-out, the food is ready by the time I walk in (and I live only a couple of blocks away...).
(4)
olivia h.

This the best place to go for thai food! It's so yummy and delicious!
(5)
Gerald F.

Having been born and raised in Hawaii, this displaced islander's survival in Chicago is dependent on good Asian food. Ben's is hard to beat on the quality, price (as we say in Hawaii, "Gotta broke da mouth but not da bank!") and customer service! Ben's at the top of my all-time favorite Chicago restaurants. What's great about Ben's is that the owner takes the time to get to know his regulars and does everything he can to make sure his customers are comfortable. He's called my friends and I into the restaurant from the street when we pass! And I remember after a hot summer's commute, waiting for my take-out, he had me rest at a table and offered me a free drink to cool off. Service like this is hard to find in Chicago. While the menu is not remarkable, it is what I would call authentic comfort home cooking for an Asian-Pacific Islander like myself. The menu is affordable with very sizable portions. Although, I like to order things with less sauce... I'm not a very saucy person. Here's a cool tip! The menu is not exhaustive. Make sure to look up the daily specials written on the tiny dry-erase boards on the walls! I always get excited when the Lime Basil Chicken or Rice Soup is up on the board! I also love their fried rice... it's not the typical Americanized Chinese fried rice but has a softer texture and fresh vegies. Also, they are more than willing to accommodate your personal nuanced tastes and change the recipe a tad for you. We've had small groups at Ben's for Saturday night dinners or Sunday morning brunches. The room is intimate but comfortable. Also, Ben's is gay friendly and a nice place to bring a date on occasion.
(5)
Brent W.

I'm gonna go ahead and put it out there: One of the best, if not *the* best, Pad Thai in Chicago. Lunch special comes w egg roll, which has a really light and crispy outer texture (not greasy whatsoever) and packed w. fresh veggies. Shrimp or Chicken, both are equally good...it comes w I think a dozen fresh shrimp, so even the lunch portions are generous...totals $7 before tax/tip.
(5)
Frank Z.

When it comes to Thai restaurants, the first thing that makes one a great one is their Pad Thai. It's the dish that sums up all the ways the food is cooked, seasoned and smothered. This place is clean with a friendly service but a terrible* plate of Pad Thai. The egg rolls and pot stickers were average. Good for cheap Thai. * By terrible I mean that compared to a good Thai restaurants, not a triple cheap Thai/Vietnamese/Chinese joint.
(3)
Vinay D.

I've tried numerous Thai places and none come close to the down home feel of Ben's! Go in enough and they recognize you and will remember if you order a dish spicy or not. Prices are reasonable and about par for Chicago.
(5)
Cliff E.

The SO and I ordered delivery from here and it arrived pretty quickly and that was good, but I'm wondering if maybe we called on an off night because both of us thought the food wasn't as good as the Yelp/hype led us to believe. We ordered the Tom Kha, Tom Yum Goong, Larb, Pad Thai, and Basil Chicken. The soups were good. The Larb wasn't spicy at all. And Basil Chicken was bland chunks of chicken in a bowl with too many green bell peppers. Ton's of bell peppers is the thai equivalent of the salad bar at a Brazilian Steakhouse. Filler. It's cheap and adds bulk to the portion. Then I tried the Pad Thai... I view Pad Thai as the "bacon and eggs" of Thai food. It's a complex dish, that with a little practice you can make a decently, and it's really, really hard to screw it up. It was horrible. The Pad Thai was super bland. I added the hot liquid (calling this stuff sauce is an insult to sauces everywhere) which gave my Pad Thai a thin vinegary, peppery flavor, but no heat. I also had to add some Tiporos to up the savoryness of it, but to no avail. No sweet, no savory, no creaminess, only salty bland noodles and veggies with weak soft ground peanuts on top. Even the lime stuffed on top was limp and dark ( think British racing) green. This is the kind of Pad Thai I would expect to get in my hometown in central Georgia rather than a metropolis like Chicago. And I definitely expect more from a place that consistently gets 4 star reviews. For the amount of $ we spent, we'll go to Roseded, Thai Aree House or TAC Quick instead of Ben's.
(2)
Jason P.

Spacing on the inside was a little tight so i wouldn't recommend showing up with a group of people, but the food was great. Good prices as well. Fast service was appreciated. I highly recommend the pad Thai!
(4)
Steve K.

I'm a thai food junkie and live just a few blocks away, so I was really excited to try Ben's. First the good: the tom kha was incredible. Since this is my favorite thai dish, it's likely that I'll get it from Ben's in the future. It was an auspicious start to the meal. Then the bad: that's probably all I'll get. Nothing else was even average. My friend loves crab rangoon. If there is an order of six, he'll have four and I'll have two. Shockingly, he tried one of Ben's and was done. They were majorly underdone and cold in the center. Our main courses were watery disasters. There was no nuance whatsoever to the sauces, both of which were extremely thin. I'm guessing they were from a jar. Pour, add water, heat. On a five star scale, these were zero star main courses. We didn't finish and had no interest in the leftovers. I'm very surprised at the high ratings.
(2)
Chicagoguy J.

Great little Thai place and very reasonably priced. Went in there to pick up some food last weekend and the staff were very polite and gracious, food was cooked to order quickly, nothing to complain about. Chicken pad thai was very good, as were the spring rolls.
(4)
Kendrah R.

Friendly, food is good, consistent. To die for? No. But tasty and comforting? Yep! Fastest delivery in the city. I call for order; it is at my door in 15 minutes. Chive dumplings are great. Owners are super sweet and friendly.
(4)
Patricia V.

Great food, (Pad Thai) & Good Price. My favorite restaurant in my neighborhood.
(4)
Mel A.

*Update...food is far from basic when you actually eat in the restaurant. Finally did that after 3 years of living here ;) Friendly staff. They know me by name. Fast take-out service. Food is basic but CONSISTANT! Key in my book. I have ordered Chicken Pad Thai for 2 years now and it tastes the same every time. Great job. Nothing fancy-great for a quick lunch. One block from Bryn Mawr Red line stop.
(4)
Steve T.

I went to Ben's with a friend Saturday night and had some delicious Pad Thai and potstickers. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone that would like good, authentic Thai. You will not be disappointed.
(4)
Antone R.

I live nearby and they are convenient, the portions are large I couldn't finish it all so I had it for breakfast the next day, if u can believe that.
(4)
Matt P.

This tiny little place has pretty darn good Chicken Pad Thai and their delivery is quick.
(4)
Kelly S.

Ben's Noodles and Rice is a solid, consistently good place for Thai. The panang curry is velvety and smooth with great balance of sweet heat. The pad se eiw has tasty bits of carmelized soy-noodle-egg. The sprin rolls are also fresh and tasty. It is our "go to" delivery place during the week as the food usually arrives within 30 minutes of calling.
(4)
Benjamin H.

I've been ordering from this place 2-3 times a week for the past month and don't know why I haven't reviewed it yet. The food here isn't exceptional, but it's pretty good. Everything I've ordered so far (Pad Thai-$6, Pad Kimao-$6, Basil Fried Rice-$6, Pineapple Fried Rice-$6.25, Green Curry-$7, Panang Curry-$7, Massaman Curry-$7) had good flavour and decent portions. I've been enjoying their curry the most. This place is always a safe bet for some quick carry-out (usually takes only 10-15min) on your way home or if you don't feel like cooking. The staff is always nice and helpful, especially when you become a regular. The Thai Iced Tea ($2) is also very good, as is the Tom Yum soup ($4-5). The papaya salad, however, is the only thing I haven't liked. Cheers
(4)
Allie P.

I moved in right down the street about 6 months ago but have never tried this place until today. I've been missing out BIG time! My sister and I split egg rolls, pad thai with chicken, and pad see ew with beef. I eat thai food all the time, and I feel like most places cook the noodles until they're mush. These were cooked perfectly, and both noodle dishes had a light, fresh sauce. The egg rolls were fantastic too - not too greasy, perfectly crunchy, and the insides weren't overcooked. I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Torrie B.

Best Thai in the city, as far as I am concerned. My boyfriend and I have tried lots of high end and other small places, but somehow we always end up back here raving about the food. I've have never had a bad meal a and the owners are quite possibly the nicest people. After a few visits they've memorized your face and your order. Huge portions and with extremely reasonable price tags. Another plus BYOB with no hidden fees. This place is a gem, all should check it out.
(5)
Michelle J.

I've only been here once. It is small, but inviting with very quick and efficient service. The crab rangoon and garlic chicken were very good with large portions. The bowls of jasmine rice were great (compared to places that only give you small amounts of rice with your food). The green tea was also a nice sized mug and served piping hot. My dining companion had the spring rolls and pineapple chicken with good reviews as well.
(4)
Adam V.

Very good food and prices. BYOB. Excellent service. Atmosphere is below average. They could use a new paint job and some plants or pictures on the walls. Other than that this place is great!
(4)
Jordan H.

I LOVE THIS PLACE. I'm only in the wonderful city of Chicago once or twice a year but always head over to this hidden gem. Good food, great price, and friendly owners. Try the Panang Curry, always good but I like the spicy stuff.
(5)
Devon R.

Ben's serves some of the most consistent and most delicious take-out Thai on the North Side -- or anywhere, in my opinion, and I consider myself a bit of a Thai food snob. We're not talking super high-end gourmet stuff, but really great basics and beyond. They use fresh and flavorful ingredients of the highest quality, no skimping. Portions are huge and prices are so reasonable. Huge menu, great selection. Service is always friendly and fast, kind and gracious. Never had a bad meal, never had any complaints whatsoever. This is a place I would order from every day, without hesitation. Ben's is the best!
(5)
Marcia D.

My lunch companion and I had high expectations for this place after hearing from multiple people that it was great and that they ate there all of the time. Also, we noticed it had a lot of great reviews here and other places on the web. Sadly, it did not come close to living up to the hype. We were extremely disappointed. We ordered it as take-out for lunch, so our first disappointment was the price. A pad Thai and a panang curry, two Thai food staples that we order as a litmus test for new Thai restaurants, was over $16. 2 simple Thai dishes at lunch time for a small sort of divey looking place should not cost that much. As for the food itself, the pad Thai was not that great. It was eggy and a little sour, it didn't taste like pad Thai, which combined we've had at probably at least 20 other restaurants, so we know what it should taste like. It wasn't bad, it just didn't taste "right." Then I had the panang curry. It was watered down and pretty mediocre. I'd say it was bland, except for the fact that it had a ton of basil. Luckily I love basil or it would have totally ruined the dish for me. The only good thing I could say about it was the people that took our money seemed nice and friendly. Considering we are halfway between this place and Argyle, which has slightly better Thai places, we will probably never go back to this place.
(2)
Ryan A.

Excellent place for Thai food in Edgewater. Delicious food, good portions, reasonable prices. Absolutely perfect for me to call in an order for pickup for dinner as I'm driving home from work. My favorite is the basil chicken and rice dish, but I've never been disappointed with any dish. Unfortunately, they are closed one day a week (I think it is Wednesdays??)
(4)
Becky T.

I love this place. I always get the Ginger Pork entree, which is DELICIOUS and fresh! The thai chili sauce is amazing!!!! I crave it. I find reasons to go to this part of the city just to eat there. Great lunch special deal. Very friendly. It's never very crowded, but the phone is always ringing off the hook with carry out. No frills, great food.
(5)
Justin S.

The Ginger chicken dish there is SO good. I've been there twice and gotten it both times. I will have to try something else cause I will definitely be back. Just hard to stray from something thats as good as the ginger chicken dish. Go try it you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Margaret T.

Although not the absolute worse, I was very disappointed with the meal I received from Ben's. The sauces were watery (I doubt there was much coconut milk in my green curry) and a lot of soy sauce was used in other dishes. The only time I'd ever come back here is if the dining hall and my favorite Thai restaurant, Thai Spice, were closed. No, thank you, Ben.
(1)
Gabe H.

Certainly there is better Thai food out there than Ben's. But there is no restaurant that delivers the whole package as well as Ben's does. Everyone on the staff is incredibly friendly at all times, the prices are reasonable, the delivery is super fast, and the food is very very good. I find myself eating either Pad Thai or Bangkok Chicken twice a week these days. The Crab Rangoon is also very very good. I would probably reccomend it more for delivery than dine-in, because the restaurant itself is a little cramped. The location kind of sucks. Right off the Bryn Mawr Red Line Stop, where all sorts of shady people hang out on the sidewalks doing shady-looking things. Where do all those people come from? Anyway, I can't really hold it against Ben's, especially since they deliver. But yeah, the location is awful.
(5)
Rex M.

I was here on Halloween. I had a nice meal. I had a nice server. I had a nice table. I guess I'm just trying to say it's nice.
(4)
fox a.

I will be frequenting this place on a weekly basis; ordered the Spicy Basil Tofu & nearly died of culinary delight. A bit greasy, but who cares, when loaded with TONS of bell peppers. Most asian restaurants skimp out on veggies, but this place treated me right. I left very full & with a happy wallet. I'd give this place 5 stars if the servings were a touch larger.
(4)
Doreen M.

Great neighborhood Thai spot. Ben and his family are so kind and make you feel welcome. Generous amounts of food at a good price. Perfect place for a casual date, or gathering with a group of friends. I enjoy Ben's Fried Rice, Chicken Basil Rolls and the Pot Stickers.
(4)
Mill V.

It's good since it's so damn close to where I live. When I don't feel like eating from my freezer, this place fills that need. The people who work here at so nice, always greet you with a smile. Haven't had a bad dish here. Nice Tom Kha.
(3)
K. B.

I don't know why in the world you would go anywhere else for Thai food in Chicago. Ben's is excellent. It's BYOB, and a nice little neighborhood place--the best Pad See Ew I've had away from the West Coast. Owned and operated by a really lovely family. Give it a try!
(5)
Rocky B.

Food here is pretty good tho I think the tastiest thing for me here is the fried rice. Service is fast and friendly. I just like the fact that Ben's has added to the restaurants that are popping up on Bryn Mawr.
(3)
Ann Y.

I love Ben's. The owners are very, very nice and the food is consistently good. I love the pineapple chicken fried rice. It is just wonderful. My husband loves the Pad Thai though I had one or two times where it wasn't up to par (out of about 50+ trips). I really loved it.
(4)
Jelly C.

Ben's is a cute little place. The food is good but not anything to go out of your way for. The food came out quickly and they have a lunch special that's not bad. I tried their fried rice and basil chicken and both were yummy.
(3)
Cindy B.

This little Thai place is great. I live in the neighborhood and think it's a great option for dining for low-budget dining on Bryn Mawr. You can taste the fresh ingredients in the dishes, and they always accommodate any special requests you have. My favorites are the basil fried rice and crab rangoon, yummy! The interior though decorated minimally is enjoyable and clean; and the help is friendly and always smiling. Definitely a good buy!
(4)
April M.

Ben's Noodles and Rice looks like your normal hole in the wall Chicago Thai joint from the outside but inside it has a great environment. They have all the popular entrees and some different ones that sound really good! Their prices are decent, not low but not too high; though they are lower than you would expect from the quality of food you get! The service is fast and very friendly! I believe they are BYOB since I saw another table with their own whine bottle, but I'm not 100% sure. They also do take out! :D Which is a BIG plus for commuters since they are steps away from the Bryn Mawr Red line stop!! If you like Thai food, and love hole in the wall joints you should definitely check out Ben's Noodles and Rice!
(4)
Nellie T.

I just moved to Edgewater and have been searching for replacement restaurants for all my usuals. Thai food is one of my usual weekly meals. I thought this place was better than my last weekly thai place in Lakeview. I thought the food was very flavorful (something I find lacking in a lot of Thai restaurants in the midwest). I liked the small family owned restaurant feel. The service was pleasant, but a little slow. I think the wait staff had some friends in the restaurant dining and were paying a lot of attention to them. However, I would absolutely pick up another meal for a regular weeknight meal. Since it's right by the El and on the way home, you can't really say no to that convenience.
(3)
Greg G.

Small little Thai restaurant with so-so food. It's ok but not remarkable. Good place to pick up dinner on the way home when you don't feel like cooking. Tiny room, but I've always gotten a seat. Happy, friendly family run. Reasonably busy all week long. It's right off the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop and there is street parking on Bryn Mawr though you may have to find it on Broadway.
(3)
Jeff M.

Basil Chx... Good. Fried Rice... Good. Egg Rolls... Good. Great food, quick delivery, and consistent. My basil chx tastes super fab every time I order which is about once a week. Only complaint is that sometimes if I order on Grubhub the actual receipt they bring on delivery is $1 or $2 more... need to ask about that.
(4)
Jason N.

I love this place! The service is excellent, and the food is always great, nice portions and it's cheap! I usually find myself here at least once a week.
(5)
Benjamin H.

What can I say besides the fact that this place lived up to the hype and more. I really enjoyed my experience at Ben's Noodle this past week. For the past years I have been spoiled by living in a neighboorhood that is saturated with some of the cities best thai restaurants. Between Spoon, Rosded, Sticky rice...why go elsewhere? Well I was burnt out on the local haunts and wanted to go elsewhere. I am sure glad that I did. My dining companion and myself were immediately surprised with the intimacy of the spot. We were greeted by Ben (im assuming) who was kind and gracious. We had the chicken potstickers, which were really good. The sauce that came with them, however, was excellent in all it's surypy and sweet goodness. Next, I had the spicy Basil noodles. They came directly from the kitchen, steaming and aromatic. I really enjoyed the firmness of the rice noodle. Often they can be overcooked and mushy, while these were a Thai-version of "Al Dente". The vegetables in the noodles were very fresh and crunchy. The Pad Se Eiw that my companion had was quite delicious, she seemed to really enjoy it. Great place to go and then have dessert at Flourish across the street! I will be coming back.
(4)
Katie X.

I initially wanted to give this place 3.5 stars, because although the food was just "good" (and not "amazing," which would merit the fourth star), the service was wonderful in that "i'm moved by this wonderful service" way, hence the fourth star. the owner was incredibly nice and brought us food and tea quickly and with an enormous smile, as if we were sitting in his living room. and the place wasn't exactly empty, so we weren't the only ones being doted upon. a very nice dining experience, with solidly good and filling (not to mention affordable) thai-ish food. we had stir-fried chicken and wide noodles, as well as the green papaya salad. pretty good.
(4)
PJ K.

I want to like this place. The owner and the small staff are really quite nice and it's located a stone's throw from the Ranch and I really want to support the local neighborhood business, but the food's just simply not all that great. It'll do for a quick Thai fix if you're within walking distance, but there's zero reason to go out of your way to eat here.
(3)
Ise B.

ben's has a large number of dishes which are full of variety in vegetables and spices, always a good mix. the food is prepared with expert care. table service is pert and highly thoughtful, well-spoken but always considerate of the diner's state of mind and desire to talk or not. the decor is simple but extremely clean and nicely designed. i am always surprised at how fast the food arrives, and how good it tastes. you can eat here for about ten dollars and be speedily on your way to your next big enterprise feeling well nourished to take on any hurdle. the only reason i didn't give it five stars is that the menu is modest in size, as it doesn't attempt to do what it can't in this price range. extend the concept to a larger menu and you would have a five star restaurant.
(4)
greg r.

everything is good. the staff is nice and the chicken wings are phenomenal! pot stickers and pad thai are also very good.
(5)
Joel S.

Tried delivery from Ben's for the first time recently. The delivery was prompt, and they offered a coupon for free delivery, which was nice. Their crab rangoon and egg rolls were still crispy when we got them, which is rare and definitely appreciated. The Pad Si Ew was decent as well, I like my wide rice noodles ever so slightly sweeter and with more sauce than they prepared them with, but they were still tasty. The tofu in my dish was prepared excellently, however. I'm going to walk over and eat in the restaurant sometime soon, and I could definitely see this being a great 4 star regular option for Thai food up in the Edgewater area if I have a good experience.
(3)
Brandon V.

Its not easy to get a five from me because I save them for the best (as it should be done). This place has great food, great people, very personal. Inexpensive. I'm not gonna write anymore, just try it.
(5)
Megan B.

My husband and I love Ben's! We've never been disappointed. The staff is very friendly, and the service is usually pretty good (it can get pretty slow when they're busy). I've tried just about everything on their menu and love the bankok chicken and all their fried rice varieties. They also use the highest quality ingredients -- no dark meat chicken or random extra chicken parts. And it's always super clean in there. Overall a great place!
(5)
G G.

A yummy and convienient thai restraunt right off the Bryn Mawr stop. I always get take out so I have nothing to say about the dining experience.
(4)
Ziggy I.

This place is definitely a 4.5, but I couldn't in good conscience round up to 5 (the Lard Nar can be a little too soupy and the Pad Thai is a bit bland). Having said that, I want to emphasize that Ben's easily holds its own with other top Thai eateries across the city. My girlfriend and I have had the Panang curry a few times and are in agreement that it's the best in the city: not *too* spicy, but full of flavor in every bite and heaped with generous amounts of veggies and tofu (our friends have gotten it with chicken, too, and report that Ben's doesn't skimp on the bird). The Panang pairs very well with the Pad See Eiw, itself not overly oily and noodle-heavy-broccoli-light like its counterparts at other establishments. Additionally, Ben's soups are the best I've had in Chicago: smooth yet tangy, just the right amount of veggies, and easily a dollar or two cheaper than a bowl at a downtown Thai place. And while the ambiance of Ben's leaves a little to be desired -- we always do takeout -- the price certainly is right. Highly recommended.
(4)
Peter C.

Nice little place to sit and eat. Nothing fancy, but cozy. Egg roll tasted like something I could have bought from the frozen foods section at Jewel. Not impressed with the quality or quantity. However, the portion size of the Pad Thai I ordered was generous for the price....and also delicious. That gets an A.
(4)
Jason H.

This is one of our usual go to places for Thai food and usually quick and good... Until tonight! Ordered online... One hour passes (they usually don't take even that long). Call. "It's on it's way, should be there shortly." Two hours pass. Still no food. Call. "We had two people not show up in the kitchen..." So basically the food has taken hours to arrive, and was lied to by the restaurant. Really sh*tty work Ben. (Finally arrived 2 hours 15 minutes...) There's too many good Thai places in the city to deal with crap.
(1)
Rachana U.

One of my fav Thai cuisine restaurant. Very very nice and quick service. Will defiantly visit this again We had: Bangkok chicken (recommended) Basil roll (recommended) Fish cake (didn't liked much) Very happy :)
(5)
Jennifer N.

I've ordered from here a number of times and have had a good experience each time. The prices are reasonable and the service is fast. Their pad see eew is amazing and does not disappoint. Their panang curry is decent but a bit watery. Their pad Thai is also good but I've definitely had better. Overall this place is great for when you want a cheap, quick bite :)
(4)
Noah B.

We ordered delivery from Ben's through their online system and were happy with the food. We got pad thai, pad woon sen, a green curry, a red curry, and the beef basil entree. Also, with orders of $25 or more, you get a free appetizer (choose from either: egg rolls, pot stickers, or edamame). We ordered the pot stickers and this was my least favorite part of the meal. They tasted very plain and like they were previously frozen; not homemade. Overall, it's good Thai food but nothing was spectacular. I think we'll need to try the other places in the area to see how they stack up but we would definitely still repeat at Ben's based on our first experience. Only complaint: the price. At $8.50 average per dish, and some dishes pushing $12, this is some of the more expensive Thai food we've had from a local, neighborhood spot. With tax and tip, the per person price was around $13, which to me seems really high for Thai delivery. 3 out of 5 stars for good food, nice, courteous delivery service, and OK overall value.
(3)
Gino W.

While in the Bryn Mawr area, I had intentions of going for Indian food. But seeing Ben's Noodles and Rice off to the side, I stopped in instead so see how they fare with their Thai offerings. Tom yum goong. Basil rolls. Pananag curry chicken. Fried banana. I haven't had tom yum goong that I didn't like. I loved it at Ben's Noodles and Rice. The basil rolls were a switch from the usual mini egg rolls. Ground beef wrapped in basil leaves and then fried in a light pastry, yep, these were perfect. The panang curry had a thin base, but it was packed with flavour. Not wanting to do the usual Thai custard or mango with sticky rice, I ordered fried banana and green tea for my finale. Wow!!! I noticed a lot of people coming in for take-away orders. Clearly, the restaurant is a favourite among the locals in the Bryn Mawr/Broadway vicinity. I understand fully.
(5)
Mark S.

Closed on Wednesdays. We had an early dinner tonight (Tuesday) at Ben's. Parked right in front in a pay spot. The restaurant was neatly decorated and clean, and the service was really good. We had the Papaya Salad ($5.95), Panang Curry with chicken ($8.50), Pad Kimao with beef ($7.75) and the Mango Sticky Rice ($4.95). I thought the food quality was excellent, especially considering the reasonable prices on everything. Not a big deal, and I hesitate to mention it, but the only thing that wasn't great were the tomatoes in the salad and the noodle dish. They were very unripe and would have been better left out. We definitely will be back!
(4)
Thomas G.

Great place! I havent tried much here. Only the pineapple fried rice. So far so good. If you ever dine in here, bring a jacket or wear a sweater, because its colllllllddddd. Their air conditioner will run you out of the place.
(4)
Emanuele C.

By far the best Pad Thai in the city. The owners are super sweet and friendly and the service is fast and efficient. Always quality and always delicious.
(5)
Maria P.

This is one of my favorite Thai places. I love their chicken pad Thai. They make it just right! I have ate there once. It's small there but it's fine. I usually did delivery or take out until I moved far from them recently :( I miss Bens :(
(5)
Jasna C.

Been going and picking up for over five years and finally writing a review. Shame on me!! Always consistent, delicious, and flavorful food. Some of my favorites: Basil Vegetable Entree Tom Yum Goong Pad Thai Panang Curry Spring rolls
(5)
Hinna S.

I absolutely loved the pad thai! the location was very convenient and it took less than 10 minutes to pick up my takeout order. This was my first time here so I was a little anxious but the food was up to Par and simply delicious. I am vegetarian and they were able to substitute the egg with the tofu in the pad thai which was a delight. A delicious meal! I would definitely come again.
(5)
Bridget B.

This place is delicious and the prices are very reasonable. I am not even finished eating and already felt it was necessary to write this review. SO GOOD. I had the oyster sauce with chicken, but it all looks so good.
(5)
Rafia J.

Good food and great service. It's my neighborhood joint and have gone there a couple of times. Loved the pad thai! I am huge fan of curries but did not find their curries to be that great. I'd stick to their noodle choice. Their thai custard is pretty darn good though! Will go back!
(3)
Brad V.

Great Thai food at really reasonable prices. BYOB is nice also. The service is fantastic. Seems like a family run business. Really kind and attentive staff who obviously care about your meal and experience. Loved it!
(5)
Sarah A.

Bens is great! Family run restaurant with great friendly service and quality food. Spicy basil noodles dish is delicious every time. They have an amazing lunch special of $7 for entree, soup and half of an appetizer. Such a deal. Really good food. They are closed Wednesday's.
(4)
Filipe G.

My first restaurant in Chicago, who would pass hot dogs and pizza for Thai? I guess I did, and I am glad. It's a very nice, small, privately owned restaurant where it seems to be run by the family with the owners on the floor and the kids in the kitchen. It was clean, the owners provided excellent customer service and the food came fast and furious. I had the Thai salad with peanut sauce and an order of fresh spring roll. They were both delicious, and hands down one of the best Thai food I have had. Did I mention their prices are extremely affordable? If you are not looking for a fancy ambiance, but love good food, give it a whirl, you won't regret.
(5)
Trinadi S.

First off, it is a crying shame that Ben's only has four stars on Yelp! If this place doesn't warrant a five star review, I don't know where would. It is super fast, cheap, and the staff is so friendly! Being a member of the service industry myself, I really appreciate great service and a genuine smile. Every time I have gone in there have been the same two people working the front, the cutest man and woman you have ever seen. I'm always tempted to ask the former if he is Ben but I haven't yet mustered the courage. Ben's is BYOB and there is a liquor store nearby so it could not be more perfect. They also offer take-out and delivery (which is what I am doing tonight). tldr; Go here. You won't regret it.
(5)
Josh M.

Unfortunately, my meal was not up to par with the great reviews on here. I ordered some of the worst orange chicken and fried rice I have ever had. Very, very bland. I couldn't finish it. Strongly recommend ordering something different from menu.
(1)
Reggie A.

Great for lunch.
(4)
Jenny H.

This place is awesome! I love thai food, and Ben's Noodles and Rice did not disappoint at all. In fact, it was one of the best pad thai's I've ever had. They give very large portions- we shared a pad thai chicken, and a tom yum shrimp soup, and were stuffed! We were still thinking about the pad thai 4 hours later because it was so delicious. It was loaded with chicken. They deserve 5 stars, since the food was amazing, it was cheap, the place was clean, great service, and BYOB!
(5)
Ryan W.

Came by both combination of friend recommendation and Yelp not realizing that both were the same place. The Pad Thai was quite delicious but the pot stickers and basil roll appetizers were great! Lots of food was left over for breakfast the next morning. If you can, drop by for their lunch special during the week. Same price of the normal meal but get a small portion of some appetizers and a bowl of soup. Was definitely a good bang for our buck.
(4)
John T.

No for real. SO good. Really happy I found this place. It's a bit further away from my house than some other thai restaurants, but it's worth it. And their prices are so good that delivery is actually a decent option so there's no excuse not to order from them. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
hannah s.

Ben's continually has not only great food, but fantastic service. I usually don't love Pad See Eiw, but theirs is fantastic. Their servers and hostess are some of the nicest in the city. Highly recommended.
(5)
Heidi B.

This place is solid. I recommend the chicken pad Thai, pork pot stickers and wonton soup... Panang curry was pretty good, but there was zero heat; next time I would order it extra spicy. I got delivery today, and the food was piping hot.
(4)
Angela D.

The food is delicious. The prices are right. The owners are sweet. A treasure of Edgewater.
(5)
Torque C.

This place is always good. Great service, always glad the customer comes through their door, very small seating area and excellent, fast, hot food delivery.
(4)
Rich S.

Enjoy going here often. Food has great consistency and my take out orders are always ready when I arrive. Staff friendly and accommodating. Interior needs some sprucing up but nothing that deters me from eating there. :) Thanks, Bens.
(5)
Calin D.

Huge fan. Great Thai food. The duck is great. Anything spicy is also very good. I love this place in the winter - it makes me feel warm and fuzzy just thinking about a nice cup of soup with hot tea and some veggies in a bowl with amazing sauce and noodles capped off with a small jar of spicy sauce. Yum!
(5)
Nicole K.

When I lived in Edgewater I would always order from Ben's. Their pad thai is delicious and has just the right amount of flavor. I've also had the pad see eiw and was never disappointed. The service is great and the staff are very friendly. The delivery would always come within a reasonable time and food still hot. I recommend Ben's to anyone. Great pad thai for a decent price and the portions are huge.
(5)
Tanisha M.

Quick and polite service! I have them delivered all the time! They're great. I frequent the Pad Thai with shrimp and chicken, crab rangoon, basil egg rolls...I've recently tried the Pas See Ew...which is also delicious! They do a great job!
(4)
Sara R.

I have definitely had much better thai food elsewhere. I like their noodle dishes better than their rice dishes. Their pad thai and pad kimao are probably the best! I won't recommend having the food delivered, they stuff everything in boxes too small to hold the food which makes it turn into a hot moosh once it gets to you. But it's a nice small place to enjoy a simple thai food.
(3)
Jacquelynn G.

I have yet to eat anything from Ben's that wasn't good. With that said, the massaman curry and the pad Thai are some of the best I've ever had. Their delivery is fast, hot and the order is always correct. The only negative is that my husband is not a fan of their basil chicken.
(5)
Marc R.

Excellent Thai dishes prepared for the American palette. Homemade egg rolls and dipping sauce are refreshing and not overly greasy. Pad Thai is consistently on point. It's a quaint and friendly atmosphere. Delivery is speedy as well. I don't know if their dishes are authentic to Thailand but they sure are yummy. Also recommend the sweet and sour chicken. Admittedly, the dishes seem fresher when eaten at the establishment, but overall no complaints here.
(5)
Muteya M.

This is my favorite Thai place in the city. As a bonus, it's the most affordable! My staples are the Crab Rangoon and the Chicken Pad Thai. The service is really good as they are quick and the food is still delish!
(5)
Jul N.

Not much Thai right in this area - Ben's you're friendly and fast and you have good pad thai, pad woonsen, papaya salad, egg rolls, and everything else!
(5)
Matthew M.

After putting in an online order, it took over an hour to get the food. I called to check on the order and it took them 10 minutes to figure out where my food was. When the food finally arrived, I was so fed up that I gave the driver a 10% tip (could have been nothing) and he had the nerve to say something as I closed the door. Finally when we sat down to eat, the curry was spilled in the bag. The food was just ok. Never again.
(1)
Astrid G.

My friend and I visited this small restaurant (conveniently located right next to the Bryn Mawr CTA stop) yesterday, and ordered som tum (raw papaya salad), spaghetti kee mao (a Thai take on pasta with heavy basil scent/taste, shrimp, and imitation crab meat), and lad nar. The som tum, while not identical to the ones you get back in Thailand, was still good and sour. I thought it could've used more chillies to add spice to it (I had requested for it to be more spicy), but the dish was probably designed for a Western palate. The spaghetti kee mao was surprisingly good! I did NOT expect to enjoy this dish anywhere outside of Thailand, presuming everyone would make it wrong (or just the way I didn't like it), but Ben's proved me wrong. It definitely could've used more spice, again, but I'm pleased that I can come back here whenever I'm craving for this dish (which is pretty damn often). I didn't really like the lad nar as much. While the texture of the flat, sticky rice noodles was chewy, it wasn't to my taste -- it reminded me of Korean dukbokki. But it seems to be a popular dish with the restaurants' visitors, so I say try it and form your own opinion. We received complimentary fried spring rolls, which was very kind of the friendly and polite native Thai couple who presumably own the restaurant.
(3)
Imane O.

I called for a pickup the service was not that great, my boyfriend went to pick it up. The vegetables were old not fresh,the food ok but not good, the portion were big but it's useless cuz it taste old. I found a hair hmmm. Not going there a gain, there is good places with same price but better quality
(1)
Nikki C.

BYOB tasty and pretty quick. Came by for dinners one spring eve and at the peak Midwestern dining time of 7 it was packed, but as quick as it filled it was once empty an hour later and open for ghosts of diners past. If you have some flexibility in your dining routine, choose to come in on a less popular time slot to allow yourself some chillaxed ambiance, or go for it and elbow up with the rest of thems. Standard western styled Thai noms. what!
(4)

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Address : 1139 W Bryn Mawr Ave
Chicago, IL, 60660
Phone (773) 907-8936
Website https://www.bensnoodlesandrice.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Ben’s Noodles and Rice

1139 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL, 60660

Ben’s Noodles and Rice Menu

Appetizers

Soups

Salads

Entrees

Noodle Dishes

Fried Rice

Thai Curry

Ben's Specials

Extras

Desert

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ben’s Noodles and Rice

Appetizers

Soups

Salads

Entrees

Noodle Dishes

Fried Rice

Thai Curry

Ben's Specials

Extras

Desert

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