Always friendly service, intimate, quiet atmosphere, affordable prices, and tasty food. It's byob to boot. My favorite dish is the pad eggplant, but I'm also a big fan of the panang curry. Delivery and pick up are both quick options, but my partner and I prefer to dine in. And, yes, as the other reviews suggest, "American Spicy or... Thai Spicy!?" is kind of his catch phrase.
(5)
Rick P.
I LOVE Siam Country. Their food is so yummy! Pad See ew with Chinese broccoli and fried tofu are my JAM! Also, the curries are really good. Try the 'thai spicy' if you're feeling adventerous! The owner is a very nice and friendly man. In fact, I just ordered and he remembers me and my partner even over the phone. Great Service! I recommend!
(4)
Gino W.
This is hands-down my favourite Thai restaurant in the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood area. Love the tom yum goong. Love the tom kha gai. Love the panang. Love the red curry. There isn't anything on the menu that I don't love. One thing to note is that the food is prepared to order. I order my dishes spicy during the summer and Thai spicy during the winter. Well, when I can feel the heat rising from my scalp and still taste the flavours of the dishes, that's an indication that the food has been prepared in an outstanding fashion, even though the pepper makes my eyes water. The owners are phenomenal people. Every time I go, which is not as often as before, they greet me with warm hellos and that is one of the main reasons why Siam Country is top on my list. Outstanding service and even more outstanding food. What more could one ask for?
(5)
Lauren H.
Hands down, without a doubt my favorite joint for pad woonsen. It's packed with veggies and protein so the noodles don't get that gummy consistency you find from other places. I don't know what they use for seasoning, but I highly recommend it. Start with the shrimp potstickers. The dough is incredibly thin and the dumpling is super tender. I like that the dipping sauce is more runny than sticky. Last take out order included a rice noodle soup with roast duck. The quart size (9.95) container was loaded with noodles but a little skimpy on the duck, which didn't surprise me. The broth took the duck flavor and not much else so I added a taste of hoisin. The yum nue spicy beef salad is also great here. I didn't have one slice of beef that wasn't tender or juicy. If you order a side of rice you can make this a full meal. I like it as a salad in the summer because spicy means SPICY here. This place is also right by the Brown Line for you CTA travelers.
(5)
Jessica D.
We get food here once or twice a month. They're the nicest people I've ever met in a restaurant setting. Seriously, I dare anyone to not fall in love with the couple's laughter and continuous smiles. The food is also always good. I never hesitate to try new things with them. Great for pick up and dine in. Absolutely no complaints!
(5)
Molly P.
I feel like I am walking into a friends living room when I go here; usually I hate that. A restaurant is a restaurant. maybe because it's close to home, or the owners are unbelievably friendly but not overbearing, or I can easily pick up or dine in, but in a neighborhood of countless Thai restaurants, Siam gets in my rotation. They have plenty of veggie items, they know spicy, and their pa see ew with thin noodles is still awesome.
(5)
Dave H.
Super good food, fast and friendly service, pleasant environment. The pad Thai is of course good, pad ginger is even better. They are very accommodating to different levels of spice tolerance. I like hot food, but my husband does not - he gets mild, and I get "American spicy" - which is pretty hot! I haven't been brave enough to try the "Thai spicy" yet, but maybe one of these days!
(4)
G V.
Good food - can't believe it doesn't get more traffic. I suspect the decor doesn't look trendy enough for some. When I moved to the neighborhood I tried the same meal here and at Arroy across the street and this place was better. It was clean and well priced. The owner waited on us and was so nice and attentive - it's officially my go-to Thai on Damen
(4)
Jul N.
Thai food that's always made fresh with lots of flavor and good texture. Not overpriced, average portions, and the nicest staff. Spouses who own it and cook it all, they are very pleasant and knowledgable about Thai cuisine and also about the Ravenswood neighborhood. Try their pad thai, it is good, as well as their lad na.
(5)
Nickie P.
Start with friendly service, and add delicious food! We started off with a big bowl of tom yum soup for the table: great flavor, and the lemongrass wasn't too overpowering as it sometimes is. We had green curry and Thai style steak, which were both great, but by far the thing was the fried rice. We got a pretty simple veggie fried rice, but whatever they do to it...love it!
(5)
Shaina K.
The service here deserves five stars! The man who waited on us (pretty sure he was the owner) was so so friendly and attentive! He made our dining experience great. We started out with the shrimp dumpling appetizer. They were great! We fought over the last one. They came with this tangy sauce that complemented the shrimp perfectly. As for entrees, the boyfriend got the seafood curry, and I got the Pad Thai (as always). Both were perfectly sized portions. The seafood curry was medium spicy and had a nice kick to it. It was filled with seafood, and had a lot of broth. The Pad Thai was the standard, very yummy. Also, they had blue moon and coconut ice cream, but we were both too stuffed to eat either.
(5)
Sadie R.
I love this place so very, very much. I have been getting thai food here for about four years now. The owner and his coworkers always remember me and take good care of me. They cook the food per order, so you can make requests on certain levels of spicy and change things up and they absolutely will! I love the atmosphere for dine in as well, sort of stuck in the 90's in the best way. I highly recommend Siam. Get a bottle of wine and get treated like royalty while dining on delicious, perfectly priced Thai food! Oh, and they are fast with take out orders as well! If you are ever sick, get the Tom Yum soup spicy, that will clean you up and wake you up!
(5)
Todd M.
The food is terrific. The Pad Thai is so much like the pad thai that I had in northern Thailand. The owners are very nice, and always remember their customers.
(5)
Glenn S.
This is the friendliest local Thai restaurant in my neighborhood -- I try to eat there once a week. Great food and excellent service.
(5)
Taufiq H.
Awesome food..got the green coconut curry with extra veggies medium thai spicy
(5)
Jacob J.
Some of the restaurants on this stretch of Damen tend to have a dated interior. With that said, their ceiling tiles and carpets could be changed to update their look and smell. Unlike a nail salon, if you smell something funky don't go running too quickly. I too was trying to figure out that smell as well. Could be the enormous fish tank or old carpeting ? Moving on. Had a Groupon for a two course meal for two, but dined with three. Ordered an additional entree and appetizer and all was cool in our gang. Our waitress was uncomfortably giddy. Giggling at any remark or comment, which was a little off putting and hard to gauge. Shrimp potstickers were good, shu mai as well. Ordered a noodle dish, a curry and pad ginger. The Whiskey noodles with shrimp was excellent as well as the curry. Except the portions of meat in the entrees were meager, especially the shrimp. Asked if it could be made spicy which led to the following exchange. "Thai spicy or American spicy?" "How about Indian spicy, =) ?" "We make it Thai spicy then!" I like it spicy but on my next visit I'm going to ask for medium spicy. I was dining with folks that like very spicy foods but they too, thought it was a bit too spicy. We're talking sweat dripping from your head, needing extra napkins to wipe yourself and guzzling of chilled water. Yeah, medium spicy is best. On a random week night, it was dead except for another table with a few diners. It's easy to feel like you are part of another tables conversation. Parking is limited to the street but on this stretch of Damen it's easy to come by. They offer the usual Thai drinks, sodas and assorted bubble teas. I mention this mostly because some Thai eateries will not offer anything more than soda or Thai coffee. Per reviews it sounds like there is a solid lunch special to try. So I could see stopping in again for some good Thai food.
(4)
Kroydell G.
5 stars for service. Dude at the counter was nice, and greeted me. Had just come in from EAT N DRINK and left because of their terrible service. Forget that place. Come here. Food is damn good too. Thanks for being friendly!
I went there because the groupon deal and I am a big fan of thai food. I went there around noon and restaurant was death. I am only table there i guess that why my service wasn't too bad because there aren't other table to focus beside us. 1. the food was just ok. 2. the portion was much smaller than other thai place with the same price 3. the service was ok that why you got 1 star from me 4. The overcharge me the price at the end. BEWARE! 5. Not worth the price. Overall, it was a bad experience and never want to go back because there are many places that close by that offer better food in a reasonable price.
(1)
Amanda W.
So friendly, such good food. Used to live near Siam Country and we'd order delivery or stop by a few times a month, now I live very far away and I miss them. BYOB great for a quiet date night.
(5)
Amy T.
I came in here due to a groupon deal that's previously purchased from a featured deal. The place was pretty empty and quiet when I came in. There's one table occupied. There are really nice embroidered cloths on the table and it is held down with a glass topping. At the entrance are a few traditional musical instruments and a fish tank. Somehow the motors for the filter is a bit loud... I felt the humming of it at the table I was seated at with my date. The food here is not bad. We ordered the shrimp tempura, pad see ew with thick noodles, a Siam seafood dish, and a bbq pork. They were all pretty tasty even though the bbq pork was a bit burnt. Though the portions are a bit small as compared to the regular Thai restaurants I've been to. The shrimp tempura was nicely crispy and the sauce was a bit sour to my taste. Yet, it was still delicious. The pad see ew was nicely made with a sweet taste. It was the best tasting dish out of all that we ordered. The Siam seafood was ordered Thai spicy (not sure what American spicy would be like) and it was pretty spicy to the point we were guzzling water. My date left sweating really bad from that (haha). The service here is pretty good. There's a family touch and the guy (I'm suspecting is the owner) goes step by step with the customer. He's really courteous. He was a bit swamped by the dine-ins (one other table was occupied), deliveries, and other walk-in order to go, and pick-ups. This is pretty much out of the way for me to get here so I doubt I will come back. I also noticed a few more thai restaurants in the area, but I'm not sure if it's comparable with this one. I guess we have to try around ourselves to see if it's suitable.
(3)
Leon B.
In town for the weekend and had a free afternoon. Decided to check out Groupon for local deals. This spot down the street came up, so for $10 I thought I would check it out. In my experiences even the least of Thai food is satisfying. This place proved me wrong. I ordered the Nam Sod, Spring Rolls, and Tom Yum shrimp. The Nam Sod was on a tiny bed of iceberg lettuce and lacks the flavorful, refreshing punch I was looking forward to. The sprig rolls were borderline gross. The wrapper was very thick and there was hardly any filling. Also, the tamarind sauce was covering it. The Tom Yum was very good (which is why I'm giving two stars), though I only got two medium to small shrimp for my up charge. The service was nice enough, though I was their only customer. Glad I only invested $10 in this experience. I won't be returning.
(2)
Bella D.
The curry here is really watered down. If you want your curry to be soup like then this is where you go for that.
(3)
Christina X.
Their food is on the sour side and we like our Thai food a bit sweeter. We ordered Tom Yum, Papaya Salad, Pad Thai, and Green Curry. Most Thai food I've had had been sweeter but this is definitely more sour and the portions just a bit smaller. I do love their Pad Thai since I like that to be a bit sour :)
(3)
Julia J.
It had been a while since I ordered from Siam Country, and I'm sorry to say that it was rather disappointing and I probably won't return. We ordered: -Pad Thai- We ordered it spicy and the spice is pretty much crushed red pepper dumped all over the top of it. -Panang Curry- this was adequate but the container wasn't full and it was expensive compared to many other places. -Chicken Satay appetizer- again- the portion was very small for the price. -Egg rolls- These tasted good (it feels like years since I last had an egg roll) but they were very, very small and only 2 come in an order for $4. All in all, with the exception of the Pad Thai, the portions were very small for what you're paying, and the food isn't nearly good enough to justify those prices. I'll have to take this one out of rotation. Sorry, Siam Country! You were the first thai food I ever had and now it's one of my favorite cuisines. But with so many options for thai in the city, I can't imagine why I would ever return.
(2)
Chris H.
Great neighborhood spot for authentic Thai cuisine. It's relatively cheap and you get a lot of food. Restaurant is small, but not a big deal. Easy access from the Brown Line train, Damen stop. Employee's are super nice and helpful as well!
(4)
Christina G.
We came here around 7pm on a Friday night to redeem our groupon: 1 appetizer, 2 entrees for $15. Right away, we were greeted by the host/waiter, and we liked him immediately. He was super nice, and he definitely seemed to have relationships with some of the regular customers. Good guy. We had the shrimp dumplings to start. They were pretty good, though nothing that blew me away. For dinner, I had the shrimp pad thai, and my husband had a dish with duck. He ordered it American spicy, but it wasn't really spicy at all. My noodles were very, very sweet, much sweeter than I expected. Mine didn't have even a hint of spice. Both dishes were adequate, but the thing that really bothered me was I bit directly into a bone when I tried some of my husband's dish. This restaurant should be really careful about that, as someone could really get hurt. As for the ambiance, it was OK, but the atmosphere was ruined a bit for me by a really annoying couple that was seated close to us. Service was spotty, as there was the one waiter for the whole place. We weren't offered dessert, or any sauces with our dishes. Always a plus, this place is BYOB. Oh, and to pay, you just go up to the register - you won't get a bill per se. $10 minimum to use a credit card there too. I would probably be back if we lived closer.
(3)
Renee F.
Excellent food, super friendly & fast service. Portions could be bigger. But that's no biggie.
(4)
Jennifer E.
This place is cute, cozy, and good. Recently came here because they had a Groupon Now special. We came in on a cold Monday night after a very hard workout which got us very hungry. We were the only ones in the restaurant other than the owners and their kid. It's felt very homey. We started with some fried tofu and then I got the tom yum noodle soup with chicken while my husband got the drunken noodles. All of our food were great. It was spicy and flavorful. The prices are decent. I would recommend this place. It's easily accessible via CTA Brown Line - Damen stop. It's right underneath the stop.d
(5)
Meredith K.
I had the groupon for a shared app and 2 entrees. We came here Sun. afternoon. It was empty but it was 2 pm. The guy that greeted me was so friendly!! We loved him. He even joked with us which is always a plus for me. So the food came fast but that was to be expected. We started w/ the crab rangoons which I would not order again but I think they made them there which is nice to see. I'm used to Spoon's crab lagoons which are kicky! I had the tofu basil pad on thin noodles. So good!! They were not skimpy with the tofu or the basil. The sauce was sweet but next time I'd go with rice b/c the noodles were slippery. My bf got the drunken noodles with chicken. Per the other yelp reviews he said mild w/ a little spice. We were afraid to say medium. Well it was no spice but that can be fixed. I would def go back and if I lived in the neighborhood I would be a regular take away customer.
(4)
Michael S.
Came here as a quick pitstop on my commute to class. It is on the opposite side of Aroy Thai and the same side of the street as the train exit. That and the fact they have the green and red soda was the only reason I stopped in. Really I want to say this is a 2.5 as my nam keaw (green soda) didn't have enough of the syrup mixed in and the taste wasn't quite right. Also, whenever I ordered this in Thailand I don't think they used soda water. Regular water is fine with me for this drink. The to go cups were tiny and to pay almost 7 bucks for a Thai iced tea and green drink is too much. Maybe I'll update for the food if I have more time before class. Or I could walk across the street and go to Aroy.
(2)
Amber S.
I really enjoyed this restaurant, it's a shame that's a little out of the way now. The food was good and prompt and we had excellent service from the waiter but I think he was the owner. He was really funny and friendly. The menu was also very full, so there is a lot to choose from. I would go here again but it's a little out of the way(maybe that's a good thing for my waist).
(5)
Candyce P.
I have been to this place many times because I live less than half a mile away. Today's visit made me decide to never go back. First, they increased the price of the lunch special, but made the portion size smaller. Today I ordered the red curry lunch special, and my sons chose beef pad thai and pad garlic beef. As soon as I tasted my curry, I instantly disliked it. I tried another bite to be sure, but there was still nothing but the flavor of fish sauce. I politely informed the woman that I did not like the dish, and she just stared at me. Finally, she told me they would trade for a different item on the lunch menu, but only this once, and then told me, "This is not McDonald's, this is a family restaurant and beef is expensive." ...I was shocked that she would say something like that to a loyal customer. Once she brought the replacement, which was pad garlic beef, she didnot come back to our table or ask if it was ok, although she did walk past us multiple times. My son repeatedly said he would like more water but she just ignored us. We were the ONLY people in the restaurant! After I paid for my bill, I realized, to my dismay, she charged me $3 over what my total should have been. I used to really enjoy this place because their yellow curry is delicious, and it's never packed with people. But now I think the reason it isn't packed is because there are better thai options right across the street. I think I will take my business to a thai place that actually appreciates it's loyal customers. Siam Country really disappointed me today.
(1)
Beth B.
We went tonight to use a Groupon that was expiring, and I wish I could give Siam Country a positive review, but alas I can't. They were clearly understaffed, and although I feel bad for the one-man front of house show working his tuchus off, it was hard to feel sympathy. It was clear that all of the carryout orders were taking precedence over the in-house diners because almost every table had that craning-their-necks look at some point to see where the server/food/check was. We waited for at least 10 minutes before he came to take our order; then, he brought us the wrong appetizer. So we waited another 10 minutes for the right appetizer (braised chicken thighs - pretty tasty, actually). Then, we waited and waited and waited for our entrees. We weren't expecting a long/late night out and eventually asked for the food to-go. We got home, dug into our food (which was pretty tasty!), but then found a raw piece of pork in the pad-sey-ew. There are many, many other BYOB Thai restaurants with similar prices in the same neighborhood; I'd say, visit one of those places instead. The food was tasty, but not worth the very long wait, hassle or disappointment and queasiness over finding a raw piece of meat.
(1)
Sam L.
I hate to say it, but this was my least favorite Thai Restaurant I've eaten at in Chicago (and I'm vegan so I've eaten at a heck of a lot of them). My date was pretty unimpressed, too. The portions were the smallest I've ever had (possibly because we had a Groupon?) and my guy makes better fried tofu at home than the $6 appetizer we had :[ The service was quick but there was joke after joke about what I would let my significant other order due to me ordering my meal first which made me feel pretty uncomfortable-one time's cute in a tradional, gender-biased kinda way, but it becomes less funny with every item he orders. The main dishes were alright, but not quality enough, by any means, to save this experience considering the portions, appetizer, and service. We won't be back as there's enough really good Thai food in the city elsewhere to keep our tummies full :)
(2)
Hannah P.
Came here for the first time and I will be back. The food had the right amount of spice and flavor. Love how they ask if I wanted American spice or thai spice. I love spicy food but chose medium thai spice because I know Thai can be very spicy. My food was delicious and the waiter (seemed like the owner) was very nice and friendly. I love going to restaurants that are personable and staff will converse with you. I could tell he loved his job.
(4)
Ingrid C.
This is a small cozy restaurant, easy accessible by the brown line. If i was rating only the service, I would give it a 5, our server was a really nice and polite guy. The food on the other hand, is simply not the best... not bad, but not great either. I mean we ate it all, but left the restaurant without much to say about it!
(3)
Richie D.
Step into this little hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant and the smell which will remind you of an antique store, perhaps Mode down the street, quickly takes over. Maybe they need to lay off the moth balls? What makes Siam what it is is the lovely waitress who just smiles and talks...oh...so...softly. This can often be difficult to find at other Thai joints. As for the Yelp special, it's available to everyone and is known as a Lunch Special for $6.75 (includes an app, soup or salad, and an entree). Well it caught my attention and trapped me. I had the spring rolls (two tiny rolls that were ultra bland, even with the brown gravy sauce on top), tom yum soup (nice flavor, but just adequate) and panang curry (simply mediocre). I'll give Siam Country 3 stars just because it was average all around. I did enjoy the fish tanks inside to keep my mind busy while waiting for the food and I hope the waitress keeps smiling! They also deliver through Grub Hub.
(3)
Pavithra M.
Siam Country is one of my favorite Thai restaurants....sometimes, I even prefer it to Thai Grill. Sssh! Don't tell anyone! The owners at Siam Country are perfect hosts. Every time we have been there, and we have been there a lot, we get treated to the famous Thai hospitality. He remembers our individual preferences for the level of spice, even when we return after a long time. When we started going here, we did not have a child, but it feels the same when we tote our toddler here for dinner. They give her a plastic plate, cup and cutlery. If the place is empty, they don't mind if she walks around and explores. The fish tank is a huge attraction for her! All that is great, but the thing we love best about this place is the food. We have ordered a lot of things on the menu over time, but I particularly like the shu mai and the fried rice. We like the food so much that we once had them cater a dinner party at our house. This worked out not very cost effective, but was good all the same. Give them a try...you won't regret it.
(4)
Choco Flan C.
The first time a friend took me to Siam Country, I was not a fan. My Thai food experience was previously spoiled by my living close to my "favorite" Thai restaurant that serves more elegant and complicated dishes, but also for much, much higher prices. Recently I've been a regular and I am appreciating the food differently, not to mention how nice the owners are and the fact that it is located right off the Brown Line so I can pick up dinner on the way home. Their noodle dishes are not greasy, so they don't sit in your stomach for the next few weeks. The seasoning is a bit different from most Thai food that I've had, but this could be either due to not Americanizing their menu, or the area of Thailand that the owners are from, or even both. They are also accommodating, so if you don't want any sweetening you can ask for that. Best of all they are very reasonable in price and the portions are generous. Wherever they are from, one thing is for sure. Their "medium" is not my medium - I asked him to do a 'mild/medium' and woo hoo it is most definitely a bit hotter than what I was expecting, but having had some "call 911" Thai peppers in the past, I know this is not at the super hot end of that spectrum. This is good information to keep in mind when I get an occasional cold, since hot Thai spices seem particularly effective at blowing colds and flus right out the door.
(5)
Lisica B.
It was no doubt the worst Thai experience I had in Chicago. If I could give( -5) stars I would have given. I ordered the mussels. The menu states they are served in a clay pot. They were not. When I expressed my surprise, the older man said- we do not do this . No apology. Just statement. The mussels were dry and tough. A few wilted leaves of basil with black parts did not help. The main course- curry with sea food looked as if it was leftover from lunch. Overcooked vegetables, 3 small shrimps, 1 mussel, 2 pieces of squid and a few pieces of crab imitation (advertised as crab meat!). Before I started eating, I asked whether the dish was prepared freshly, since it looked like a buffet food and the time between ordering and delivering to my table was very short. The man said to me - you are one of these people who buy Groupon because they do not want to pay for their food. You do not have to eat, just go!!! Wow!!! What a costumer service. All Groupon costumers are treated this way? Why does he do business with Groupon if he believes this is not fair ? I am not the only one who had a bad experience with Groupon in Siam Country.
(1)
Sara S.
I'm not a regular at writing reviews for places, but I love this place. It isn't the most fancy place inside, but the food is much better than some places near by and the staff is very friendly and accomodating. I've done both take out and dine in (BYOB) and haven't ordered something I haven't liked yet.
(5)
Jen F.
My bf and I moved to Ravenswood in September and this is the first restaurant we went to. We loved the food! I'm vegan and he is vegetarian and they are very accommodating to our diet restrictions. The owners are extremely friendly and they remember us which is always nice. We dine here about once a week. I highly recommend!
(4)
Sean M.
I have been here 3 times with groupons, etc. and the food is excellent. The host (guy) is very nice and friendly, he has great, warm energy. I love the panang curry with tofu and noodles.
(5)
Steve R.
Great food and service! The owners were very friendly and took some time to talk with me while I was there for dinner. I ordered the Pad Thai and it was piping hot and delicious. Highly recommended.
(4)
Erin B.
I really want to give Siam Country 3.5 stars...but it isn't an option. I am a big fan of Siam Country- partly because it's literally next door to my apartment and reasonably priced. But I keep going back because the owner is so friendly. The majority of the menu is pretty standard in taste and selection, however it is the perfect neighborhood joint- fast, tasty comfort food. Good panang curry :) There are a few other great spots in the neighborhood, too, but I like to stay loyal to people who remember me and my infrequent orders :)
(3)
Kelly B.
Went here with a groupon and was very impressed. I love Thai food and this was authentic. I ordered Thai spicy Penang curry, which was delicious. I can tolerate a lot of spice and they made it spicy, I could have had less, so be warned. I intend to return. The owners were very friendly too.
(5)
Victor H.
The owners are very nice and attentive. The food however was not that great. They can make their food really spicy but that's about it.
(3)
Jade T.
4.5 Stars Siam Country is my new favorite Thai restaurant in Ravenswood! What makes this Thai restaurant different from others is the service. The family who runs this place are just about the nicest [Thai] people I've met, hence the added half star. (There is one restaurant nearby that I do no longer frequent because the staff still didn't recognize me after coming in once to twice a week. I was definitely a regular and I didn't feel appreciated at all. The food was good, but I can get good Thai food elsewhere ... like at Siam Country.) I've only gone to Siam Country for take-out. Since I live near Rockwell, I like to stop by this restaurant since it's *right* underneath the train station on the way home. They always greet me with smiles and hellos. Even if I just ordered Pad Thai Tofu, they are very appreciative of my patronage. I never tip on take-out orders, but I like to leave a little something for them. Asides from the sweet family, the food is pretty solid. Noodle dishes are my favorite, and everything tasted pretty good. The food doesn't blow my mind, but I would definitely take my family here. The prices are very reasonable too. Sure, some dishes may be a dollar more, but are you seriously complaining over a dollar? Seriously. Their lunch specials are under $7, if that makes you feel any better. Siam Country is by no means a glamourous, hip Thai restaurant, but I don't care much for those at all. But with good food, good prices, and incredibly friendly service, I am impressed and thankful that such a quaint place exists near my home.
(5)
Jake V.
The fact is that this area has possibly 20,000 Thai places in the 2 mile radial proximity. In that regard, this place is standard. Not mind blowingly good but not bad, either. No, what sells it is that dude who serves your food. He acts like it is his mission to serve you food and refill your water. I just imagine him waking up, sitting up and just getting excited thinking about serving Thai food. Go ahead, I dare you to find a person who is more happy to be handing you Chicken Thai Basil.
(4)
Marco D.
Siam Country is a simple thai restaurant nestled next to the Damen brown line stop. The family who owns the establishment is always kind and very outgoing. I once lived around the corner and would always be greeted with a familiar smile. The food is always solid. I would often order spicy basil leaves with chicken. I usually order it thai spicy, which is about as much heat as I can handle. I actually order it regularly when I have a cold to clear out the congestion- since grandma is no longer around to make green chili sandwiches. It is reasonably priced, but honestly the solid food and sweet family owners keep me coming back! I believe it is BYOB also.
(3)
Dennis L.
Siam Country was good, but it did not stand out to me. The staff is very friendly and helpful, but the food was not impressive. I ordered a pad basil lunch special. The Tom Yum soup was average, the spring roll was well below average, and the pad basil was slightly above average. Siam Country suffers from the fact that there is an insane number of Thai restaurants in relatively close proximity. Overall, an average experience, but nothing that would make me a loyalist.
(3)
Liz D.
My favorite Thai restaurant for sure! Even though we no longer live in the neighborhood this is still the place when we want Thai. I love that I can tell them spicy - Thai spicy (knock your socks off) - or less spicy - and I get just what I asked for. I usually get a curry dish, either the panang or the red. Taste is consistently great. I also love their different soups and salads. You absolutely cannot go wrong eating here. Family owned and run, they are very personable and friendly. They always remember our favorite dishes and provide great service. They are always sincere and very kind.
(4)
Edward P.
I am not a Thai expert. I eat Thai food occasionally, and I know what is good and what is not. I've only ordered here either delivery or take out. I love that I can order online. Pick up and delivery service has always been very solid. Always good service; always good food. I've ordered a little bit of everything over the past couple of years, and have never been disappointed. So there you have it.....
(4)
John B.
I was driven to Siam Country by a need for soup. They do a nice Tom Yum soup that fixed me right up. The rest of the offerings were a mixed bag. The Panang curry was a bit weak. It wasn't a question of spice -- I ordered it only medium spicy, because you never know what a Thai restaurant considers spicy -- but something else. Salt perhaps? Something to bring the flavors up a level. The hot and sweet chicken wasn't terribly hot or sweet, but it was much tastier than the curry, and did the trick. The pad thai was free, and benefited from a dash of the dressing from the cucumber salad which came with the fish cakes. The fish cakes were small, which is not a problem, and had a great flavor and texture. See? A mixed bag. If you like your Thai food highly seasoned, this is not the place for you. The good? Lots of coupons for free add-ons with delivery. The bad? $3 delivery charge.
(3)
Casey M.
Ordered Siam Country through Foodler the other night and it was fast and delicious. I ordered the Tofu Satay, the Cucumber Salad (although there was a mini cucumber salad already included with the meal) and the Thai Whiskey Noodles. The Tofu Satay was average. They were just large rectangles of tofu grilled with a savory and slightly spicy peanut sauce to dip the tofu in. The already included Cucumber Salad and the one I ordered were refreshing with it's crispy cucumber, onions and carrots and a tangy rice wine vinaigrette. The Thai Whiskey Noodles, or otherwise known as Drunken Noodles, were good, but could have used more spice zing. But the wide rice noodles were tender as well as the broccoli and sprouts, but the sauce could have been better. The overall experience was good and the delivery only took 25 minutes.
(3)
Barry L.
small entrees .... 2 + a cucumber salad still didnt get me full, but the food was great...
(2)
Kathy B.
I love Siam Country! Delicious, fluffy Pad Thai that doesn't have a bucket of grease poured on top of it - what a concept! I also highly recommend their coconut ice cream! It will change your life.
(5)
Val B.
I tried this happy little neighborhood Thai place on a Saturday night and it was about half-full inside. The owner was waiting on all the tables by himself, but it was still prompt. I had the garlic chicken dish and was very happy with it. A note to other frequent Thai-goers, mild here means very mild, so don't be afraid of a little spice. They don't seem to go overboard like some other places. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Christopher L.
I'm definitely a fan of this place! The owner Sudi (sp) is especially nice and has an amazing memory. In fact, all the staff really know how to treat patrons. Best panang curry chicken in town. Appetizers are good too. Parking sucks though... then again where doesn't in this stupid city. Thanks alot Daley... I'm glad you're a gonner!
(4)
Shep L.
I should start off by saying that I really, really like Siam Country. I think the food is delicious, the atmosphere pleasant, and the proprietors extremely nice. I did have an experience worth mentioning, however, that definitely lowers Siam Country in my esteem. I recently ordered delivery for the first time. My food arrived quickly and was just as tasty as usual, though I was quite perplexed by how high the bill was in proportion to what I had ordered. So, I called to inquire as to the mystery charges. I was informed that there is a $3.50 delivery fee, even though this charge is mentioned nowhere on the menu. To be frank, this makes me a bit angry. Granted, it's pretty lazy of me not to just pick up my own food, considering the restaurant is literally around the corner from my apartment. Still, it seemed a little bait and switch-y to advertise delivery but not disclose this rather steep deliver charge. Delivery seekers, beware!
(3)
D W.
Great Thai Food, nice and relaxing atmosphere. This is a family owned restaurant, and they take pride in their food, and service. Good place to dine, not loud, and very comfortable. You can bring your own wine, and the owner is happy to uncork and serve in nice wine glasses. All the food I have had there is fresh, and delicious.
(5)
Joseph S.
Great. Appetizers were great. Entrees great. Fast delivery.
(5)
Lindsey F.
My boyfriend and I love Thai, so we try new thai restaurants constantly. Hands down, Siam Country is the best in the city! The know are our names and the things we love! PLUS, everything is homemade. Be sure to sure to try the peanut sauce, the thai tom kar soup and the whiskey noodles!!! The family that owns Siam is so kind. We feel like family when we are there. Become a regular ASAP. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Jen K.
I agree with everyone else that the owners are soooo nice. However, regardless of how nice you are, if you're food doesn't cut it, I'm not going to return. I had the shrimp pad thai (my standard) and thai egg rolls. The egg rolls were good but were charred on one side... which is weird because they're clearly fried. Maybe under a heat lamp or something?? As for the pad thai- shrimp WAY overcooked. Barely able to chew them they were so rubbery. Also, a weird lack of flavor in general... there was barely any sauce on the noodles so it was basically just a bland noodle mess...
(2)
Joe T.
As I have apparently inspired the ire of at least one Penny's devotee, I submit yet another installment in my series of reviews, tentatively titled, "Thai Restaurants That Don't Suck Like Penny's Sucks." This is a great little spot in Lincoln Square. The area, as Kerry S. points out, has no deficit of high quality Thai food, and sometimes it's a little daunting trying to decide exactly which one I'm up for checking out. Having readily scratched at least one non-contender off the list (see my review of Penny's), Siam is usually in my Top 3 Choices outside of Roscoe Village (see Pho's Hot & Spicy). Like Pho's, Siam is a little family-owned operation that makes delicious home-cooked Thai dishes. I go here for the Pineapple Red Curry. I've tried other items on the menu but I always end up wishing I stuck with "the usual." The owner/waiter is really friendly, which is always nice. On your way back to the bathroom you might notice some children's toys and perhaps a Tonka tricycle. Careful you don't trip.
(4)
Joy E.
I love this little place! I know it's probably not the best Thai food on the planet--the menu is simple and conservative, and the portions are a bit small for the price--but the service redeems the place. The owner is unbelievably friendly! We call in pretty regularly and he usually recognizes our order (which rarely varies). When we come in to pick up, he always greets us with a smile; the few times we've gone there for dine-in, the service has been quick and friendly. Once, I went to pick up an order and realized I'd forgotten my cash and credit card. I started to return home to grab my credit card, but because he knows me (and has delivered to my house several times), he told me to take the food and call him from home with my card number--why walk all that way? (It's only 2 blocks!) That was one of the nicest things any restaurant owner has ever done for me! We're always asked to adjust the spices: medium or spicy (and you must specify American or Thai spicy). Thai spicy's not as scary as I thought it would be, although I've learned to not eat the peppers. Wow. I love the pineapple duck curry, which is a bit pricey but worth it for a treat. The pad thai is nothing to sing about, but sometimes it's good. The soups are great, too--I'll second the review about tom yum soup. I hope we never move too far away from this place. And I really hope that the Brown line construction doesn't crush this restaurant, either.
(4)
Kerry S.
Ok, tried em all. Siam Country is my fave. It is not greasy. It is hot as hell. It is fresh and I love the owner and his wife. I don't know about places with secret menus. I'm probably missing out. But I want drunken noodles. I want pad woonsen. I want kai swan. It's always so good. Period.
(5)
Katie C.
This isn't the BEST Thai food around, but I'm a fan of it. Every time I go there the restaurant is quiet and cozy. The owners are VERY nice and the food is fairly priced. I've gotten delivery from them as well and they've always been extremely quick (although I live nearby).
(4)
K. T.
I love this restaurant. I think the food is excellent, very flavorful with good vegetables and well-cooked tofu, and the prices are very reasonable. What really pushes this into "favorite restaurant" territory though is the excellent person who is always there when I go - I'm guessing he is the owner but if he's not, he's a wonderful addition to the place. On my first visit, when I ordered a tofu dish, he asked if I wanted the tofu option for my soup as well - and I had had no idea that the soup would have had meat in it. I visit the restaurant maybe once every few months but he remembers what I order and even my "no mushrooms" policy. One time I walked in with an out-of-town friend about 5 minutes after the lunch special time had ended (we had trouble finding parking that day) and he gave us the lunch special anyway. I love that kind of service and it makes me feel truly valued as a customer. Extra bonus: tofu satay for those of us vegetarians who really miss the peanut sauce with chicken satay. It's great and you get a good amount of tofu, too.
(5)
Catherine S.
I am currently eating my $6.95 lunch special. It's a lot of food for the price, and as mentioned in many reviews, the couple who runs the place is super sweet. For the price, you get a salad , entree, and soup or spring roll. I went for the ginger tofu, cucumber salad, and spring roll. The roll was just bad--mushy tofu inside and mushy wrapper. The cucumber salad was light and delicious. The ginger tofu was nicely sprinkled with Thai basil, but otherwise missing a depth of flavor and strips of ginger. It was also supposed to have about five different types of veg, including broccoli, which was specifically mentioned in the menu description. Instead, it was atofu with about a cup of white onions, a few strips of bell pepper, and two slivers of carrot (literally, I counted). I hate it when Asian restaurants cut corners by making onion your main stirfry veggie--plain stirfried onion is pretty gross. Such nice people I'll try again, but so far Aroy is better, and the Thai places over in Lincoln Square are worlds better.
(3)
Kimberly W.
Hands down the best Thai in the area and I might venture to say Chicago. The family who owns it is great---super friendly! The veggies are fresh and you can just tell they use high quality ingredients. It's my go to place at least once a week.
(5)
Sarah L.
The guy (probably owner?) behind the counter here is just soooooooo nice all the time. Their food is great too. It's probably the freshest and healthiest Thai I've ever ordered! You get a lot of food for the money. There's nothing real impressive about the inside, I would not feel compelled to dine in. I moved in right next door though and I definitely see this being a regular go-to for some take out!
(4)
Travis G.
I stopped in here once before for a quick lunch special, had the pad thai, very unimpressed. Went back last night and had a wonderful meal. The server was personable, chatty and funny, not the usual for a thai place. We had the Tom Yum thai spicy, drunken noodle and the peanut sauce dish. Decided to get the drunken noodle "american spicy" as the soup almost made my throat close it was so spicy - and I usually like really spicy. I'll agree that the portions are a little conservative for the main entrees but with the soup the two of us were well fed. Decent, but nothing overly special.
(3)
Angela G.
This is GREAT Thai! I order for delivery and I get it hot and with in 30 mins each time. I order the seafood curry. The seafood is so fresh & the shrimp in it is great! As others have said before me I really like that I can pick my own heat and it is always exactly as I want it. I have had the tomyum soup and it is excellent. I have never been inside the restaurant so that is why I didn't give them five stars.
(4)
Thongsy S.
Prices are very good. But the dishes are not as great as some of the other Thai restaurants around. The thai teas and coffee drinks were super sweet to the point where we couldn't finish it. The spring rolls were also very dry and that too we couldn't finish. However, the panang curry was pretty good. If you plan on dining here, be sure to mention yelp to get 10% off your bill.
(2)
Michael S.
The owners are so nice, it's difficult to give this place a below-average review, but the food isn't up to par. I feel qualified to say this, as I eat Thai food at least twice a week. I hope the owners will consider this criticism and try to improve the atmosphere and quality of their food. I went for lunch. I was the only patron in the restaurant. It has a bit of a stale smell that bothered me. It reminded me of an old lady's house (a previous reviewer equated it to "moth balls"). I liked that they had curries among the lunch specials - some Thai places keep curry off the lunch specials. However, because the atmosphere had me feeling wary, I decided to go with Pad Thai, which is hard to mess up. The Crab Rangoon appetizer is not tasty. My first thought was "old oil." Compare the over-fried mess of dough to the delicate Crab Rangoon dumplings at nearby Royal Thai. I realize Crab Rangoon isn't authentic Thai cuisine, but it can still be good if done well. The Tom Yum Soup wasn't good either. Instead of a variety of veggies, it just had a couple big hunks of ginger. The flavor of the broth was bad. I usually devour Tom Yum, but this time I left the majority in my bowl. The Pad Thai was passable, but not great. There was no wedge of lime, but maybe that was an oversight. The dish looked better in the picture on the menu, with the fresh, uncooked bean sprouts (that's how I like it). I liked the ample amounts of fried tofu. I won't be back to Siam Country unless they do a bit of an overhaul. My fave Lincoln Square Thai places are Royal Thai (esp. for lunch specials) and Opart Thai House (esp. for curry dishes). Both have pleasant atmospheres and consistently great food.
(2)
Matt H.
This is OK. Good lunch specials, but I prefer Aroy down the street. I've been trying to find the one good dish to keep coming back for and I haven't come across it yet.
(3)
Shaun T.
Here's Thai in your eye! It's a quiet little unassuming place where the BYOB sign seems more prevalent than anything else. I went there shortly after moving into the neighborhood in 2005, and was treated very well. I didn't spend vast amounts of cash, the service was superb, and my Panang Curry was almost perfect. I really enjoyed their Crab Rangoons; not an especially Thai tradition, but these were more than passable. I've yet to find a Thai place that blows my socks off, but they're an above-average bite right off the Damen brown-line stop. If you're in that area and hungry, give it a shot!
(4)
Julie B.
I am so glad that this place is around the corner from my place! The proprietor is funny and kind and really makes you feel welcome, especially on a cold night! I just love coming into the cozy and unpretentious atmosphere (but not lacking in style!) and having a good noodle dish or a GREAT soup!
(4)
Angelique R.
Like other yelpers noted, the service is friendly and helpful. I like the ability to choose my spicy, and the Tom Yum soup is pretty delicious (though there were some things in it I found too crunchy to be edible). The sticky rice was a bit overcooked last time I was there, but I've been there at least two times before and it was fine.
(4)
Dana D.
The service was kind albeit a little inattentive. The Lard Nar and Panang Curry were "meh."
(2)
Steve K.
If you like hot and spicy, try the Pad Prik "Thai" style. I really like this place so far.
(4)
g t.
This is one of my favorite thai places. They really give good service. It is a family owned business. This place has really good curry dishes! I had left overs and I couldn't wait to come home from work and have it for dinner. Yum! Awesome food, can't go wrong.
(4)
kris k.
It is easy to walk by this place, but this BYOB is worth a stop. We went on a particularly snowy evening and had the place to ourselves. Obviously the owner was attentive with nothing other than the random pick-up order to deal with. My favorite part was when he asked "Thai spicy" or "American spicy"? We replied simultaneously "Thai spicy". This is the first Thai place (and we've tried many from Lincoln Park to Lincoln Square) that seems to know what we mean when we say spicy. We enjoyed our meal so much, we ordered a 3rd dish to go for lunch the next day.
(4)
Kristin B.
yeah yeah it's fine. tips, because everyone wants and deserves tips: order your food without broccoli -- it's way chewy the crab rangoon is not good.
(3)
Jeff C.
We love this place and have gone here for years. Everything is fresh - herbs and seasonings. Ask for "Thai spicy" and you'll actually get it and be sweating. The owners are wonderful people.
(4)
Jennifer I.
I love this place. I go there frequently even with all of the other Thai places in the area, so much closer to my house. The owners are amazing, and the food is delicious. This is the first Thai place that I am not afraid to stray away from my usuals. All of the curry dishes are yummy, they have delic spring roles and grab rangoons (the rangoons are on the sweet side, I like that but maybe not everyone would). And another great part is its BYOB! So no paying 5 bucks for a beer or a glass of wine. Oh and Thai iced coffee=AMAZING. Again its sweet but delicious. I love Thai food I would have to say it is my favorite or its tied with Japanese food but anyway I love it and this is my favorite place.
(5)
Miriam R.
This place has excellent food, especially considering the price. It is family owned, and the owner is usually at the counter. They are very prompt with orders, and deliveries take 25-40 min from the time you order (depending on where you live/what you order). They are always very nice and friendly and their panang curry is my favorite in the city.
(4)
Erin O.
I've been here several times, mostly for the convenience. Since the Brown Line has now closed the Damen stop, it's no longer very convenient ... but the food is reasonably priced and tasty enough to keep me coming back every so often (especially for the pad thai). The dishes are simple, and the portion sizes aren't as enormous as some Thai restaurants I've visited, but the service is fast and friendly. The place seems to do a heavier take-out business than dine-in, so there's always a table available.
(3)
Mary Kate R.
i can't believe i haven't reviewed siam country yet. this was my favorite thai place while i lived in ravenswood, and is one of the things i miss most now that i don't live there (it was about a 5 minute walk from my back door). i'm not sure how i picked it out of all the others, but i have tried a few other nearby places (sc is closed on wednesday....) and this remains my favorite. the owners are so amazing and definitely play a large part in my five star rating. they are just really good, kind, welcoming people...they knew my order from the start and always made it seem like i was a valued customer and that they appreciated my business. the food itself i really like. i've had and enjoyed a number of their dishes, but i mostly stay with the pad thai. so spicy and so good. and they gladly pack in an extra lime and some hot sauce without me even asking anymore. i know dishes can vary greatly in every restaurant, but it just seems like there is alot less grease here than at some of the other places ive been to. whenever im anywhere near ravenswood now it is a special occasion that calls for a trip to siam country. the inside looks like it was recently re-decorated, and i think it looks really nice and cute (it was cute before, just different now). ok, enough. i could clearly rave about the food and service for ever. i love these people and this place.
(5)
Evie M.
This quickly became my go-to Thai place after I moved to Lincoln Square. I'm boring, so I usually stick to the pad thai, which is always satisfying. SC is a whiz with dipping sauces, so I recommend trying their appetizers. The service is always wonderful, too - the owner is so warm and friendly. A bonus - they grow their own herbs on their roof, so they're always ultra fresh.
(4)
mick e.
great charming very good!
(5)
Jennifer H.
Good but no cigar. The owner kissed my husband's ass and more or less ignored me, which I found annoying (and I am totally not the kind of person who looks out for personal slights, real or imagined). The food is tasty enough (no MSG is a plus) but I prefer Aroy Thai across the street. The panang curry is very good (and spicy, as in Thai spicy!!) but I don't think I'll be coming here that often in the future. Ingratiating, sexist owners do not exactly whet my appetite.
(3)
A S.
We've tried all the neighborhood Thai places and this one is by far our favorite. Very fresh and flavorful. We always order veggie with tofu so wouldn't know about the meat dishes but LOVE the tom yum soup without coconut milk. The food is not too salty like so many of the other places. The owners are great and always happy to see us. This place gets my business every time, whether the Damen brown line stop is open or not!
(4)
Cat B.
Got take out from here last night...good food! Light sauces, not too greasy. I got shrimp in the entrees too and it was good quality. The Tom Yum soup with chicken was also really good. Prices are not too high. Definitely will be a good take out spot to return to.
(4)
steve h.
a big fat 'meh'. the menu was very uninspiring and the entrees were a bit lacking in siam flava imo. a small but annoying thing that occured was that even though my dish was supposed to come with rice, i had to order an extra one. i didn't want to quibble over a buck, they were dead at dinner time so maybe they were hurtin. ps-to the weird super quiet couple sitting behind me, how do you not say a SINGLE word to each other during the entire dinner? you two didn't seem mad... maybe you guys found each other on some chatroom for introverts on eharmony or something.
(1)
Lisa T.
I think this place was pretty decent. The food was light, filling, though you knoew you had a healthy meal. Great place for vegetarians or meat eaters. Service was a bit to be desired, though very respectable and they will remember you only if you have been there once!
(3)
Kristin A.
I've only been here once, but the food was greasy and I haven't been back. They still seem to draw a crowd, but I prefer Aroy Thai across the street. Siam does have decent outdoor seating in the summer.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Blake W.
Always friendly service, intimate, quiet atmosphere, affordable prices, and tasty food. It's byob to boot. My favorite dish is the pad eggplant, but I'm also a big fan of the panang curry. Delivery and pick up are both quick options, but my partner and I prefer to dine in. And, yes, as the other reviews suggest, "American Spicy or... Thai Spicy!?" is kind of his catch phrase.
(5)Rick P.
I LOVE Siam Country. Their food is so yummy! Pad See ew with Chinese broccoli and fried tofu are my JAM! Also, the curries are really good. Try the 'thai spicy' if you're feeling adventerous! The owner is a very nice and friendly man. In fact, I just ordered and he remembers me and my partner even over the phone. Great Service! I recommend!
(4)Gino W.
This is hands-down my favourite Thai restaurant in the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood area. Love the tom yum goong. Love the tom kha gai. Love the panang. Love the red curry. There isn't anything on the menu that I don't love. One thing to note is that the food is prepared to order. I order my dishes spicy during the summer and Thai spicy during the winter. Well, when I can feel the heat rising from my scalp and still taste the flavours of the dishes, that's an indication that the food has been prepared in an outstanding fashion, even though the pepper makes my eyes water. The owners are phenomenal people. Every time I go, which is not as often as before, they greet me with warm hellos and that is one of the main reasons why Siam Country is top on my list. Outstanding service and even more outstanding food. What more could one ask for?
(5)Lauren H.
Hands down, without a doubt my favorite joint for pad woonsen. It's packed with veggies and protein so the noodles don't get that gummy consistency you find from other places. I don't know what they use for seasoning, but I highly recommend it. Start with the shrimp potstickers. The dough is incredibly thin and the dumpling is super tender. I like that the dipping sauce is more runny than sticky. Last take out order included a rice noodle soup with roast duck. The quart size (9.95) container was loaded with noodles but a little skimpy on the duck, which didn't surprise me. The broth took the duck flavor and not much else so I added a taste of hoisin. The yum nue spicy beef salad is also great here. I didn't have one slice of beef that wasn't tender or juicy. If you order a side of rice you can make this a full meal. I like it as a salad in the summer because spicy means SPICY here. This place is also right by the Brown Line for you CTA travelers.
(5)Jessica D.
We get food here once or twice a month. They're the nicest people I've ever met in a restaurant setting. Seriously, I dare anyone to not fall in love with the couple's laughter and continuous smiles. The food is also always good. I never hesitate to try new things with them. Great for pick up and dine in. Absolutely no complaints!
(5)Molly P.
I feel like I am walking into a friends living room when I go here; usually I hate that. A restaurant is a restaurant. maybe because it's close to home, or the owners are unbelievably friendly but not overbearing, or I can easily pick up or dine in, but in a neighborhood of countless Thai restaurants, Siam gets in my rotation. They have plenty of veggie items, they know spicy, and their pa see ew with thin noodles is still awesome.
(5)Dave H.
Super good food, fast and friendly service, pleasant environment. The pad Thai is of course good, pad ginger is even better. They are very accommodating to different levels of spice tolerance. I like hot food, but my husband does not - he gets mild, and I get "American spicy" - which is pretty hot! I haven't been brave enough to try the "Thai spicy" yet, but maybe one of these days!
(4)G V.
Good food - can't believe it doesn't get more traffic. I suspect the decor doesn't look trendy enough for some. When I moved to the neighborhood I tried the same meal here and at Arroy across the street and this place was better. It was clean and well priced. The owner waited on us and was so nice and attentive - it's officially my go-to Thai on Damen
(4)Jul N.
Thai food that's always made fresh with lots of flavor and good texture. Not overpriced, average portions, and the nicest staff. Spouses who own it and cook it all, they are very pleasant and knowledgable about Thai cuisine and also about the Ravenswood neighborhood. Try their pad thai, it is good, as well as their lad na.
(5)Nickie P.
Start with friendly service, and add delicious food! We started off with a big bowl of tom yum soup for the table: great flavor, and the lemongrass wasn't too overpowering as it sometimes is. We had green curry and Thai style steak, which were both great, but by far the thing was the fried rice. We got a pretty simple veggie fried rice, but whatever they do to it...love it!
(5)Shaina K.
The service here deserves five stars! The man who waited on us (pretty sure he was the owner) was so so friendly and attentive! He made our dining experience great. We started out with the shrimp dumpling appetizer. They were great! We fought over the last one. They came with this tangy sauce that complemented the shrimp perfectly. As for entrees, the boyfriend got the seafood curry, and I got the Pad Thai (as always). Both were perfectly sized portions. The seafood curry was medium spicy and had a nice kick to it. It was filled with seafood, and had a lot of broth. The Pad Thai was the standard, very yummy. Also, they had blue moon and coconut ice cream, but we were both too stuffed to eat either.
(5)Sadie R.
I love this place so very, very much. I have been getting thai food here for about four years now. The owner and his coworkers always remember me and take good care of me. They cook the food per order, so you can make requests on certain levels of spicy and change things up and they absolutely will! I love the atmosphere for dine in as well, sort of stuck in the 90's in the best way. I highly recommend Siam. Get a bottle of wine and get treated like royalty while dining on delicious, perfectly priced Thai food! Oh, and they are fast with take out orders as well! If you are ever sick, get the Tom Yum soup spicy, that will clean you up and wake you up!
(5)Todd M.
The food is terrific. The Pad Thai is so much like the pad thai that I had in northern Thailand. The owners are very nice, and always remember their customers.
(5)Glenn S.
This is the friendliest local Thai restaurant in my neighborhood -- I try to eat there once a week. Great food and excellent service.
(5)Taufiq H.
Awesome food..got the green coconut curry with extra veggies medium thai spicy
(5)Jacob J.
Some of the restaurants on this stretch of Damen tend to have a dated interior. With that said, their ceiling tiles and carpets could be changed to update their look and smell. Unlike a nail salon, if you smell something funky don't go running too quickly. I too was trying to figure out that smell as well. Could be the enormous fish tank or old carpeting ? Moving on. Had a Groupon for a two course meal for two, but dined with three. Ordered an additional entree and appetizer and all was cool in our gang. Our waitress was uncomfortably giddy. Giggling at any remark or comment, which was a little off putting and hard to gauge. Shrimp potstickers were good, shu mai as well. Ordered a noodle dish, a curry and pad ginger. The Whiskey noodles with shrimp was excellent as well as the curry. Except the portions of meat in the entrees were meager, especially the shrimp. Asked if it could be made spicy which led to the following exchange. "Thai spicy or American spicy?" "How about Indian spicy, =) ?" "We make it Thai spicy then!" I like it spicy but on my next visit I'm going to ask for medium spicy. I was dining with folks that like very spicy foods but they too, thought it was a bit too spicy. We're talking sweat dripping from your head, needing extra napkins to wipe yourself and guzzling of chilled water. Yeah, medium spicy is best. On a random week night, it was dead except for another table with a few diners. It's easy to feel like you are part of another tables conversation. Parking is limited to the street but on this stretch of Damen it's easy to come by. They offer the usual Thai drinks, sodas and assorted bubble teas. I mention this mostly because some Thai eateries will not offer anything more than soda or Thai coffee. Per reviews it sounds like there is a solid lunch special to try. So I could see stopping in again for some good Thai food.
(4)Kroydell G.
5 stars for service. Dude at the counter was nice, and greeted me. Had just come in from EAT N DRINK and left because of their terrible service. Forget that place. Come here. Food is damn good too. Thanks for being friendly!
(5)Megan H.
I found a Groupon for Siam Country when I was in the mood for some Thai food. It happened to be a Wednesday, and when we showed up, we find out this place is closed on Wednesdays. Super random and super frustrating, so be warned. When we finally got around to going, everything was just fine. Nothing to rave about, but the food was good. My fiancé's Panang Curry seemed to be an especially small portion for a Thai restaurant, but I realize that is maybe not saying much. Would not bother to go back, only went for the Groupon deal.
(3)Erica J.
I went there because the groupon deal and I am a big fan of thai food. I went there around noon and restaurant was death. I am only table there i guess that why my service wasn't too bad because there aren't other table to focus beside us. 1. the food was just ok. 2. the portion was much smaller than other thai place with the same price 3. the service was ok that why you got 1 star from me 4. The overcharge me the price at the end. BEWARE! 5. Not worth the price. Overall, it was a bad experience and never want to go back because there are many places that close by that offer better food in a reasonable price.
(1)Amanda W.
So friendly, such good food. Used to live near Siam Country and we'd order delivery or stop by a few times a month, now I live very far away and I miss them. BYOB great for a quiet date night.
(5)Amy T.
I came in here due to a groupon deal that's previously purchased from a featured deal. The place was pretty empty and quiet when I came in. There's one table occupied. There are really nice embroidered cloths on the table and it is held down with a glass topping. At the entrance are a few traditional musical instruments and a fish tank. Somehow the motors for the filter is a bit loud... I felt the humming of it at the table I was seated at with my date. The food here is not bad. We ordered the shrimp tempura, pad see ew with thick noodles, a Siam seafood dish, and a bbq pork. They were all pretty tasty even though the bbq pork was a bit burnt. Though the portions are a bit small as compared to the regular Thai restaurants I've been to. The shrimp tempura was nicely crispy and the sauce was a bit sour to my taste. Yet, it was still delicious. The pad see ew was nicely made with a sweet taste. It was the best tasting dish out of all that we ordered. The Siam seafood was ordered Thai spicy (not sure what American spicy would be like) and it was pretty spicy to the point we were guzzling water. My date left sweating really bad from that (haha). The service here is pretty good. There's a family touch and the guy (I'm suspecting is the owner) goes step by step with the customer. He's really courteous. He was a bit swamped by the dine-ins (one other table was occupied), deliveries, and other walk-in order to go, and pick-ups. This is pretty much out of the way for me to get here so I doubt I will come back. I also noticed a few more thai restaurants in the area, but I'm not sure if it's comparable with this one. I guess we have to try around ourselves to see if it's suitable.
(3)Leon B.
In town for the weekend and had a free afternoon. Decided to check out Groupon for local deals. This spot down the street came up, so for $10 I thought I would check it out. In my experiences even the least of Thai food is satisfying. This place proved me wrong. I ordered the Nam Sod, Spring Rolls, and Tom Yum shrimp. The Nam Sod was on a tiny bed of iceberg lettuce and lacks the flavorful, refreshing punch I was looking forward to. The sprig rolls were borderline gross. The wrapper was very thick and there was hardly any filling. Also, the tamarind sauce was covering it. The Tom Yum was very good (which is why I'm giving two stars), though I only got two medium to small shrimp for my up charge. The service was nice enough, though I was their only customer. Glad I only invested $10 in this experience. I won't be returning.
(2)Bella D.
The curry here is really watered down. If you want your curry to be soup like then this is where you go for that.
(3)Christina X.
Their food is on the sour side and we like our Thai food a bit sweeter. We ordered Tom Yum, Papaya Salad, Pad Thai, and Green Curry. Most Thai food I've had had been sweeter but this is definitely more sour and the portions just a bit smaller. I do love their Pad Thai since I like that to be a bit sour :)
(3)Julia J.
It had been a while since I ordered from Siam Country, and I'm sorry to say that it was rather disappointing and I probably won't return. We ordered: -Pad Thai- We ordered it spicy and the spice is pretty much crushed red pepper dumped all over the top of it. -Panang Curry- this was adequate but the container wasn't full and it was expensive compared to many other places. -Chicken Satay appetizer- again- the portion was very small for the price. -Egg rolls- These tasted good (it feels like years since I last had an egg roll) but they were very, very small and only 2 come in an order for $4. All in all, with the exception of the Pad Thai, the portions were very small for what you're paying, and the food isn't nearly good enough to justify those prices. I'll have to take this one out of rotation. Sorry, Siam Country! You were the first thai food I ever had and now it's one of my favorite cuisines. But with so many options for thai in the city, I can't imagine why I would ever return.
(2)Chris H.
Great neighborhood spot for authentic Thai cuisine. It's relatively cheap and you get a lot of food. Restaurant is small, but not a big deal. Easy access from the Brown Line train, Damen stop. Employee's are super nice and helpful as well!
(4)Christina G.
We came here around 7pm on a Friday night to redeem our groupon: 1 appetizer, 2 entrees for $15. Right away, we were greeted by the host/waiter, and we liked him immediately. He was super nice, and he definitely seemed to have relationships with some of the regular customers. Good guy. We had the shrimp dumplings to start. They were pretty good, though nothing that blew me away. For dinner, I had the shrimp pad thai, and my husband had a dish with duck. He ordered it American spicy, but it wasn't really spicy at all. My noodles were very, very sweet, much sweeter than I expected. Mine didn't have even a hint of spice. Both dishes were adequate, but the thing that really bothered me was I bit directly into a bone when I tried some of my husband's dish. This restaurant should be really careful about that, as someone could really get hurt. As for the ambiance, it was OK, but the atmosphere was ruined a bit for me by a really annoying couple that was seated close to us. Service was spotty, as there was the one waiter for the whole place. We weren't offered dessert, or any sauces with our dishes. Always a plus, this place is BYOB. Oh, and to pay, you just go up to the register - you won't get a bill per se. $10 minimum to use a credit card there too. I would probably be back if we lived closer.
(3)Renee F.
Excellent food, super friendly & fast service. Portions could be bigger. But that's no biggie.
(4)Jennifer E.
This place is cute, cozy, and good. Recently came here because they had a Groupon Now special. We came in on a cold Monday night after a very hard workout which got us very hungry. We were the only ones in the restaurant other than the owners and their kid. It's felt very homey. We started with some fried tofu and then I got the tom yum noodle soup with chicken while my husband got the drunken noodles. All of our food were great. It was spicy and flavorful. The prices are decent. I would recommend this place. It's easily accessible via CTA Brown Line - Damen stop. It's right underneath the stop.d
(5)Meredith K.
I had the groupon for a shared app and 2 entrees. We came here Sun. afternoon. It was empty but it was 2 pm. The guy that greeted me was so friendly!! We loved him. He even joked with us which is always a plus for me. So the food came fast but that was to be expected. We started w/ the crab rangoons which I would not order again but I think they made them there which is nice to see. I'm used to Spoon's crab lagoons which are kicky! I had the tofu basil pad on thin noodles. So good!! They were not skimpy with the tofu or the basil. The sauce was sweet but next time I'd go with rice b/c the noodles were slippery. My bf got the drunken noodles with chicken. Per the other yelp reviews he said mild w/ a little spice. We were afraid to say medium. Well it was no spice but that can be fixed. I would def go back and if I lived in the neighborhood I would be a regular take away customer.
(4)Michael S.
Came here as a quick pitstop on my commute to class. It is on the opposite side of Aroy Thai and the same side of the street as the train exit. That and the fact they have the green and red soda was the only reason I stopped in. Really I want to say this is a 2.5 as my nam keaw (green soda) didn't have enough of the syrup mixed in and the taste wasn't quite right. Also, whenever I ordered this in Thailand I don't think they used soda water. Regular water is fine with me for this drink. The to go cups were tiny and to pay almost 7 bucks for a Thai iced tea and green drink is too much. Maybe I'll update for the food if I have more time before class. Or I could walk across the street and go to Aroy.
(2)Amber S.
I really enjoyed this restaurant, it's a shame that's a little out of the way now. The food was good and prompt and we had excellent service from the waiter but I think he was the owner. He was really funny and friendly. The menu was also very full, so there is a lot to choose from. I would go here again but it's a little out of the way(maybe that's a good thing for my waist).
(5)Candyce P.
I have been to this place many times because I live less than half a mile away. Today's visit made me decide to never go back. First, they increased the price of the lunch special, but made the portion size smaller. Today I ordered the red curry lunch special, and my sons chose beef pad thai and pad garlic beef. As soon as I tasted my curry, I instantly disliked it. I tried another bite to be sure, but there was still nothing but the flavor of fish sauce. I politely informed the woman that I did not like the dish, and she just stared at me. Finally, she told me they would trade for a different item on the lunch menu, but only this once, and then told me, "This is not McDonald's, this is a family restaurant and beef is expensive." ...I was shocked that she would say something like that to a loyal customer. Once she brought the replacement, which was pad garlic beef, she didnot come back to our table or ask if it was ok, although she did walk past us multiple times. My son repeatedly said he would like more water but she just ignored us. We were the ONLY people in the restaurant! After I paid for my bill, I realized, to my dismay, she charged me $3 over what my total should have been. I used to really enjoy this place because their yellow curry is delicious, and it's never packed with people. But now I think the reason it isn't packed is because there are better thai options right across the street. I think I will take my business to a thai place that actually appreciates it's loyal customers. Siam Country really disappointed me today.
(1)Beth B.
We went tonight to use a Groupon that was expiring, and I wish I could give Siam Country a positive review, but alas I can't. They were clearly understaffed, and although I feel bad for the one-man front of house show working his tuchus off, it was hard to feel sympathy. It was clear that all of the carryout orders were taking precedence over the in-house diners because almost every table had that craning-their-necks look at some point to see where the server/food/check was. We waited for at least 10 minutes before he came to take our order; then, he brought us the wrong appetizer. So we waited another 10 minutes for the right appetizer (braised chicken thighs - pretty tasty, actually). Then, we waited and waited and waited for our entrees. We weren't expecting a long/late night out and eventually asked for the food to-go. We got home, dug into our food (which was pretty tasty!), but then found a raw piece of pork in the pad-sey-ew. There are many, many other BYOB Thai restaurants with similar prices in the same neighborhood; I'd say, visit one of those places instead. The food was tasty, but not worth the very long wait, hassle or disappointment and queasiness over finding a raw piece of meat.
(1)Sam L.
I hate to say it, but this was my least favorite Thai Restaurant I've eaten at in Chicago (and I'm vegan so I've eaten at a heck of a lot of them). My date was pretty unimpressed, too. The portions were the smallest I've ever had (possibly because we had a Groupon?) and my guy makes better fried tofu at home than the $6 appetizer we had :[ The service was quick but there was joke after joke about what I would let my significant other order due to me ordering my meal first which made me feel pretty uncomfortable-one time's cute in a tradional, gender-biased kinda way, but it becomes less funny with every item he orders. The main dishes were alright, but not quality enough, by any means, to save this experience considering the portions, appetizer, and service. We won't be back as there's enough really good Thai food in the city elsewhere to keep our tummies full :)
(2)Hannah P.
Came here for the first time and I will be back. The food had the right amount of spice and flavor. Love how they ask if I wanted American spice or thai spice. I love spicy food but chose medium thai spice because I know Thai can be very spicy. My food was delicious and the waiter (seemed like the owner) was very nice and friendly. I love going to restaurants that are personable and staff will converse with you. I could tell he loved his job.
(4)Ingrid C.
This is a small cozy restaurant, easy accessible by the brown line. If i was rating only the service, I would give it a 5, our server was a really nice and polite guy. The food on the other hand, is simply not the best... not bad, but not great either. I mean we ate it all, but left the restaurant without much to say about it!
(3)Richie D.
Step into this little hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant and the smell which will remind you of an antique store, perhaps Mode down the street, quickly takes over. Maybe they need to lay off the moth balls? What makes Siam what it is is the lovely waitress who just smiles and talks...oh...so...softly. This can often be difficult to find at other Thai joints. As for the Yelp special, it's available to everyone and is known as a Lunch Special for $6.75 (includes an app, soup or salad, and an entree). Well it caught my attention and trapped me. I had the spring rolls (two tiny rolls that were ultra bland, even with the brown gravy sauce on top), tom yum soup (nice flavor, but just adequate) and panang curry (simply mediocre). I'll give Siam Country 3 stars just because it was average all around. I did enjoy the fish tanks inside to keep my mind busy while waiting for the food and I hope the waitress keeps smiling! They also deliver through Grub Hub.
(3)Pavithra M.
Siam Country is one of my favorite Thai restaurants....sometimes, I even prefer it to Thai Grill. Sssh! Don't tell anyone! The owners at Siam Country are perfect hosts. Every time we have been there, and we have been there a lot, we get treated to the famous Thai hospitality. He remembers our individual preferences for the level of spice, even when we return after a long time. When we started going here, we did not have a child, but it feels the same when we tote our toddler here for dinner. They give her a plastic plate, cup and cutlery. If the place is empty, they don't mind if she walks around and explores. The fish tank is a huge attraction for her! All that is great, but the thing we love best about this place is the food. We have ordered a lot of things on the menu over time, but I particularly like the shu mai and the fried rice. We like the food so much that we once had them cater a dinner party at our house. This worked out not very cost effective, but was good all the same. Give them a try...you won't regret it.
(4)Choco Flan C.
The first time a friend took me to Siam Country, I was not a fan. My Thai food experience was previously spoiled by my living close to my "favorite" Thai restaurant that serves more elegant and complicated dishes, but also for much, much higher prices. Recently I've been a regular and I am appreciating the food differently, not to mention how nice the owners are and the fact that it is located right off the Brown Line so I can pick up dinner on the way home. Their noodle dishes are not greasy, so they don't sit in your stomach for the next few weeks. The seasoning is a bit different from most Thai food that I've had, but this could be either due to not Americanizing their menu, or the area of Thailand that the owners are from, or even both. They are also accommodating, so if you don't want any sweetening you can ask for that. Best of all they are very reasonable in price and the portions are generous. Wherever they are from, one thing is for sure. Their "medium" is not my medium - I asked him to do a 'mild/medium' and woo hoo it is most definitely a bit hotter than what I was expecting, but having had some "call 911" Thai peppers in the past, I know this is not at the super hot end of that spectrum. This is good information to keep in mind when I get an occasional cold, since hot Thai spices seem particularly effective at blowing colds and flus right out the door.
(5)Lisica B.
It was no doubt the worst Thai experience I had in Chicago. If I could give( -5) stars I would have given. I ordered the mussels. The menu states they are served in a clay pot. They were not. When I expressed my surprise, the older man said- we do not do this . No apology. Just statement. The mussels were dry and tough. A few wilted leaves of basil with black parts did not help. The main course- curry with sea food looked as if it was leftover from lunch. Overcooked vegetables, 3 small shrimps, 1 mussel, 2 pieces of squid and a few pieces of crab imitation (advertised as crab meat!). Before I started eating, I asked whether the dish was prepared freshly, since it looked like a buffet food and the time between ordering and delivering to my table was very short. The man said to me - you are one of these people who buy Groupon because they do not want to pay for their food. You do not have to eat, just go!!! Wow!!! What a costumer service. All Groupon costumers are treated this way? Why does he do business with Groupon if he believes this is not fair ? I am not the only one who had a bad experience with Groupon in Siam Country.
(1)Sara S.
I'm not a regular at writing reviews for places, but I love this place. It isn't the most fancy place inside, but the food is much better than some places near by and the staff is very friendly and accomodating. I've done both take out and dine in (BYOB) and haven't ordered something I haven't liked yet.
(5)Jen F.
My bf and I moved to Ravenswood in September and this is the first restaurant we went to. We loved the food! I'm vegan and he is vegetarian and they are very accommodating to our diet restrictions. The owners are extremely friendly and they remember us which is always nice. We dine here about once a week. I highly recommend!
(4)Sean M.
I have been here 3 times with groupons, etc. and the food is excellent. The host (guy) is very nice and friendly, he has great, warm energy. I love the panang curry with tofu and noodles.
(5)Steve R.
Great food and service! The owners were very friendly and took some time to talk with me while I was there for dinner. I ordered the Pad Thai and it was piping hot and delicious. Highly recommended.
(4)Erin B.
I really want to give Siam Country 3.5 stars...but it isn't an option. I am a big fan of Siam Country- partly because it's literally next door to my apartment and reasonably priced. But I keep going back because the owner is so friendly. The majority of the menu is pretty standard in taste and selection, however it is the perfect neighborhood joint- fast, tasty comfort food. Good panang curry :) There are a few other great spots in the neighborhood, too, but I like to stay loyal to people who remember me and my infrequent orders :)
(3)Kelly B.
Went here with a groupon and was very impressed. I love Thai food and this was authentic. I ordered Thai spicy Penang curry, which was delicious. I can tolerate a lot of spice and they made it spicy, I could have had less, so be warned. I intend to return. The owners were very friendly too.
(5)Victor H.
The owners are very nice and attentive. The food however was not that great. They can make their food really spicy but that's about it.
(3)Jade T.
4.5 Stars Siam Country is my new favorite Thai restaurant in Ravenswood! What makes this Thai restaurant different from others is the service. The family who runs this place are just about the nicest [Thai] people I've met, hence the added half star. (There is one restaurant nearby that I do no longer frequent because the staff still didn't recognize me after coming in once to twice a week. I was definitely a regular and I didn't feel appreciated at all. The food was good, but I can get good Thai food elsewhere ... like at Siam Country.) I've only gone to Siam Country for take-out. Since I live near Rockwell, I like to stop by this restaurant since it's *right* underneath the train station on the way home. They always greet me with smiles and hellos. Even if I just ordered Pad Thai Tofu, they are very appreciative of my patronage. I never tip on take-out orders, but I like to leave a little something for them. Asides from the sweet family, the food is pretty solid. Noodle dishes are my favorite, and everything tasted pretty good. The food doesn't blow my mind, but I would definitely take my family here. The prices are very reasonable too. Sure, some dishes may be a dollar more, but are you seriously complaining over a dollar? Seriously. Their lunch specials are under $7, if that makes you feel any better. Siam Country is by no means a glamourous, hip Thai restaurant, but I don't care much for those at all. But with good food, good prices, and incredibly friendly service, I am impressed and thankful that such a quaint place exists near my home.
(5)Jake V.
The fact is that this area has possibly 20,000 Thai places in the 2 mile radial proximity. In that regard, this place is standard. Not mind blowingly good but not bad, either. No, what sells it is that dude who serves your food. He acts like it is his mission to serve you food and refill your water. I just imagine him waking up, sitting up and just getting excited thinking about serving Thai food. Go ahead, I dare you to find a person who is more happy to be handing you Chicken Thai Basil.
(4)Marco D.
Siam Country is a simple thai restaurant nestled next to the Damen brown line stop. The family who owns the establishment is always kind and very outgoing. I once lived around the corner and would always be greeted with a familiar smile. The food is always solid. I would often order spicy basil leaves with chicken. I usually order it thai spicy, which is about as much heat as I can handle. I actually order it regularly when I have a cold to clear out the congestion- since grandma is no longer around to make green chili sandwiches. It is reasonably priced, but honestly the solid food and sweet family owners keep me coming back! I believe it is BYOB also.
(3)Dennis L.
Siam Country was good, but it did not stand out to me. The staff is very friendly and helpful, but the food was not impressive. I ordered a pad basil lunch special. The Tom Yum soup was average, the spring roll was well below average, and the pad basil was slightly above average. Siam Country suffers from the fact that there is an insane number of Thai restaurants in relatively close proximity. Overall, an average experience, but nothing that would make me a loyalist.
(3)Liz D.
My favorite Thai restaurant for sure! Even though we no longer live in the neighborhood this is still the place when we want Thai. I love that I can tell them spicy - Thai spicy (knock your socks off) - or less spicy - and I get just what I asked for. I usually get a curry dish, either the panang or the red. Taste is consistently great. I also love their different soups and salads. You absolutely cannot go wrong eating here. Family owned and run, they are very personable and friendly. They always remember our favorite dishes and provide great service. They are always sincere and very kind.
(4)Edward P.
I am not a Thai expert. I eat Thai food occasionally, and I know what is good and what is not. I've only ordered here either delivery or take out. I love that I can order online. Pick up and delivery service has always been very solid. Always good service; always good food. I've ordered a little bit of everything over the past couple of years, and have never been disappointed. So there you have it.....
(4)John B.
I was driven to Siam Country by a need for soup. They do a nice Tom Yum soup that fixed me right up. The rest of the offerings were a mixed bag. The Panang curry was a bit weak. It wasn't a question of spice -- I ordered it only medium spicy, because you never know what a Thai restaurant considers spicy -- but something else. Salt perhaps? Something to bring the flavors up a level. The hot and sweet chicken wasn't terribly hot or sweet, but it was much tastier than the curry, and did the trick. The pad thai was free, and benefited from a dash of the dressing from the cucumber salad which came with the fish cakes. The fish cakes were small, which is not a problem, and had a great flavor and texture. See? A mixed bag. If you like your Thai food highly seasoned, this is not the place for you. The good? Lots of coupons for free add-ons with delivery. The bad? $3 delivery charge.
(3)Casey M.
Ordered Siam Country through Foodler the other night and it was fast and delicious. I ordered the Tofu Satay, the Cucumber Salad (although there was a mini cucumber salad already included with the meal) and the Thai Whiskey Noodles. The Tofu Satay was average. They were just large rectangles of tofu grilled with a savory and slightly spicy peanut sauce to dip the tofu in. The already included Cucumber Salad and the one I ordered were refreshing with it's crispy cucumber, onions and carrots and a tangy rice wine vinaigrette. The Thai Whiskey Noodles, or otherwise known as Drunken Noodles, were good, but could have used more spice zing. But the wide rice noodles were tender as well as the broccoli and sprouts, but the sauce could have been better. The overall experience was good and the delivery only took 25 minutes.
(3)Barry L.
small entrees .... 2 + a cucumber salad still didnt get me full, but the food was great...
(2)Kathy B.
I love Siam Country! Delicious, fluffy Pad Thai that doesn't have a bucket of grease poured on top of it - what a concept! I also highly recommend their coconut ice cream! It will change your life.
(5)Val B.
I tried this happy little neighborhood Thai place on a Saturday night and it was about half-full inside. The owner was waiting on all the tables by himself, but it was still prompt. I had the garlic chicken dish and was very happy with it. A note to other frequent Thai-goers, mild here means very mild, so don't be afraid of a little spice. They don't seem to go overboard like some other places. I will definitely be back!
(4)Christopher L.
I'm definitely a fan of this place! The owner Sudi (sp) is especially nice and has an amazing memory. In fact, all the staff really know how to treat patrons. Best panang curry chicken in town. Appetizers are good too. Parking sucks though... then again where doesn't in this stupid city. Thanks alot Daley... I'm glad you're a gonner!
(4)Shep L.
I should start off by saying that I really, really like Siam Country. I think the food is delicious, the atmosphere pleasant, and the proprietors extremely nice. I did have an experience worth mentioning, however, that definitely lowers Siam Country in my esteem. I recently ordered delivery for the first time. My food arrived quickly and was just as tasty as usual, though I was quite perplexed by how high the bill was in proportion to what I had ordered. So, I called to inquire as to the mystery charges. I was informed that there is a $3.50 delivery fee, even though this charge is mentioned nowhere on the menu. To be frank, this makes me a bit angry. Granted, it's pretty lazy of me not to just pick up my own food, considering the restaurant is literally around the corner from my apartment. Still, it seemed a little bait and switch-y to advertise delivery but not disclose this rather steep deliver charge. Delivery seekers, beware!
(3)D W.
Great Thai Food, nice and relaxing atmosphere. This is a family owned restaurant, and they take pride in their food, and service. Good place to dine, not loud, and very comfortable. You can bring your own wine, and the owner is happy to uncork and serve in nice wine glasses. All the food I have had there is fresh, and delicious.
(5)Joseph S.
Great. Appetizers were great. Entrees great. Fast delivery.
(5)Lindsey F.
My boyfriend and I love Thai, so we try new thai restaurants constantly. Hands down, Siam Country is the best in the city! The know are our names and the things we love! PLUS, everything is homemade. Be sure to sure to try the peanut sauce, the thai tom kar soup and the whiskey noodles!!! The family that owns Siam is so kind. We feel like family when we are there. Become a regular ASAP. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Jen K.
I agree with everyone else that the owners are soooo nice. However, regardless of how nice you are, if you're food doesn't cut it, I'm not going to return. I had the shrimp pad thai (my standard) and thai egg rolls. The egg rolls were good but were charred on one side... which is weird because they're clearly fried. Maybe under a heat lamp or something?? As for the pad thai- shrimp WAY overcooked. Barely able to chew them they were so rubbery. Also, a weird lack of flavor in general... there was barely any sauce on the noodles so it was basically just a bland noodle mess...
(2)Joe T.
As I have apparently inspired the ire of at least one Penny's devotee, I submit yet another installment in my series of reviews, tentatively titled, "Thai Restaurants That Don't Suck Like Penny's Sucks." This is a great little spot in Lincoln Square. The area, as Kerry S. points out, has no deficit of high quality Thai food, and sometimes it's a little daunting trying to decide exactly which one I'm up for checking out. Having readily scratched at least one non-contender off the list (see my review of Penny's), Siam is usually in my Top 3 Choices outside of Roscoe Village (see Pho's Hot & Spicy). Like Pho's, Siam is a little family-owned operation that makes delicious home-cooked Thai dishes. I go here for the Pineapple Red Curry. I've tried other items on the menu but I always end up wishing I stuck with "the usual." The owner/waiter is really friendly, which is always nice. On your way back to the bathroom you might notice some children's toys and perhaps a Tonka tricycle. Careful you don't trip.
(4)Joy E.
I love this little place! I know it's probably not the best Thai food on the planet--the menu is simple and conservative, and the portions are a bit small for the price--but the service redeems the place. The owner is unbelievably friendly! We call in pretty regularly and he usually recognizes our order (which rarely varies). When we come in to pick up, he always greets us with a smile; the few times we've gone there for dine-in, the service has been quick and friendly. Once, I went to pick up an order and realized I'd forgotten my cash and credit card. I started to return home to grab my credit card, but because he knows me (and has delivered to my house several times), he told me to take the food and call him from home with my card number--why walk all that way? (It's only 2 blocks!) That was one of the nicest things any restaurant owner has ever done for me! We're always asked to adjust the spices: medium or spicy (and you must specify American or Thai spicy). Thai spicy's not as scary as I thought it would be, although I've learned to not eat the peppers. Wow. I love the pineapple duck curry, which is a bit pricey but worth it for a treat. The pad thai is nothing to sing about, but sometimes it's good. The soups are great, too--I'll second the review about tom yum soup. I hope we never move too far away from this place. And I really hope that the Brown line construction doesn't crush this restaurant, either.
(4)Kerry S.
Ok, tried em all. Siam Country is my fave. It is not greasy. It is hot as hell. It is fresh and I love the owner and his wife. I don't know about places with secret menus. I'm probably missing out. But I want drunken noodles. I want pad woonsen. I want kai swan. It's always so good. Period.
(5)Katie C.
This isn't the BEST Thai food around, but I'm a fan of it. Every time I go there the restaurant is quiet and cozy. The owners are VERY nice and the food is fairly priced. I've gotten delivery from them as well and they've always been extremely quick (although I live nearby).
(4)K. T.
I love this restaurant. I think the food is excellent, very flavorful with good vegetables and well-cooked tofu, and the prices are very reasonable. What really pushes this into "favorite restaurant" territory though is the excellent person who is always there when I go - I'm guessing he is the owner but if he's not, he's a wonderful addition to the place. On my first visit, when I ordered a tofu dish, he asked if I wanted the tofu option for my soup as well - and I had had no idea that the soup would have had meat in it. I visit the restaurant maybe once every few months but he remembers what I order and even my "no mushrooms" policy. One time I walked in with an out-of-town friend about 5 minutes after the lunch special time had ended (we had trouble finding parking that day) and he gave us the lunch special anyway. I love that kind of service and it makes me feel truly valued as a customer. Extra bonus: tofu satay for those of us vegetarians who really miss the peanut sauce with chicken satay. It's great and you get a good amount of tofu, too.
(5)Catherine S.
I am currently eating my $6.95 lunch special. It's a lot of food for the price, and as mentioned in many reviews, the couple who runs the place is super sweet. For the price, you get a salad , entree, and soup or spring roll. I went for the ginger tofu, cucumber salad, and spring roll. The roll was just bad--mushy tofu inside and mushy wrapper. The cucumber salad was light and delicious. The ginger tofu was nicely sprinkled with Thai basil, but otherwise missing a depth of flavor and strips of ginger. It was also supposed to have about five different types of veg, including broccoli, which was specifically mentioned in the menu description. Instead, it was atofu with about a cup of white onions, a few strips of bell pepper, and two slivers of carrot (literally, I counted). I hate it when Asian restaurants cut corners by making onion your main stirfry veggie--plain stirfried onion is pretty gross. Such nice people I'll try again, but so far Aroy is better, and the Thai places over in Lincoln Square are worlds better.
(3)Kimberly W.
Hands down the best Thai in the area and I might venture to say Chicago. The family who owns it is great---super friendly! The veggies are fresh and you can just tell they use high quality ingredients. It's my go to place at least once a week.
(5)Sarah L.
The guy (probably owner?) behind the counter here is just soooooooo nice all the time. Their food is great too. It's probably the freshest and healthiest Thai I've ever ordered! You get a lot of food for the money. There's nothing real impressive about the inside, I would not feel compelled to dine in. I moved in right next door though and I definitely see this being a regular go-to for some take out!
(4)Travis G.
I stopped in here once before for a quick lunch special, had the pad thai, very unimpressed. Went back last night and had a wonderful meal. The server was personable, chatty and funny, not the usual for a thai place. We had the Tom Yum thai spicy, drunken noodle and the peanut sauce dish. Decided to get the drunken noodle "american spicy" as the soup almost made my throat close it was so spicy - and I usually like really spicy. I'll agree that the portions are a little conservative for the main entrees but with the soup the two of us were well fed. Decent, but nothing overly special.
(3)Angela G.
This is GREAT Thai! I order for delivery and I get it hot and with in 30 mins each time. I order the seafood curry. The seafood is so fresh & the shrimp in it is great! As others have said before me I really like that I can pick my own heat and it is always exactly as I want it. I have had the tomyum soup and it is excellent. I have never been inside the restaurant so that is why I didn't give them five stars.
(4)Thongsy S.
Prices are very good. But the dishes are not as great as some of the other Thai restaurants around. The thai teas and coffee drinks were super sweet to the point where we couldn't finish it. The spring rolls were also very dry and that too we couldn't finish. However, the panang curry was pretty good. If you plan on dining here, be sure to mention yelp to get 10% off your bill.
(2)Michael S.
The owners are so nice, it's difficult to give this place a below-average review, but the food isn't up to par. I feel qualified to say this, as I eat Thai food at least twice a week. I hope the owners will consider this criticism and try to improve the atmosphere and quality of their food. I went for lunch. I was the only patron in the restaurant. It has a bit of a stale smell that bothered me. It reminded me of an old lady's house (a previous reviewer equated it to "moth balls"). I liked that they had curries among the lunch specials - some Thai places keep curry off the lunch specials. However, because the atmosphere had me feeling wary, I decided to go with Pad Thai, which is hard to mess up. The Crab Rangoon appetizer is not tasty. My first thought was "old oil." Compare the over-fried mess of dough to the delicate Crab Rangoon dumplings at nearby Royal Thai. I realize Crab Rangoon isn't authentic Thai cuisine, but it can still be good if done well. The Tom Yum Soup wasn't good either. Instead of a variety of veggies, it just had a couple big hunks of ginger. The flavor of the broth was bad. I usually devour Tom Yum, but this time I left the majority in my bowl. The Pad Thai was passable, but not great. There was no wedge of lime, but maybe that was an oversight. The dish looked better in the picture on the menu, with the fresh, uncooked bean sprouts (that's how I like it). I liked the ample amounts of fried tofu. I won't be back to Siam Country unless they do a bit of an overhaul. My fave Lincoln Square Thai places are Royal Thai (esp. for lunch specials) and Opart Thai House (esp. for curry dishes). Both have pleasant atmospheres and consistently great food.
(2)Matt H.
This is OK. Good lunch specials, but I prefer Aroy down the street. I've been trying to find the one good dish to keep coming back for and I haven't come across it yet.
(3)Shaun T.
Here's Thai in your eye! It's a quiet little unassuming place where the BYOB sign seems more prevalent than anything else. I went there shortly after moving into the neighborhood in 2005, and was treated very well. I didn't spend vast amounts of cash, the service was superb, and my Panang Curry was almost perfect. I really enjoyed their Crab Rangoons; not an especially Thai tradition, but these were more than passable. I've yet to find a Thai place that blows my socks off, but they're an above-average bite right off the Damen brown-line stop. If you're in that area and hungry, give it a shot!
(4)Julie B.
I am so glad that this place is around the corner from my place! The proprietor is funny and kind and really makes you feel welcome, especially on a cold night! I just love coming into the cozy and unpretentious atmosphere (but not lacking in style!) and having a good noodle dish or a GREAT soup!
(4)Angelique R.
Like other yelpers noted, the service is friendly and helpful. I like the ability to choose my spicy, and the Tom Yum soup is pretty delicious (though there were some things in it I found too crunchy to be edible). The sticky rice was a bit overcooked last time I was there, but I've been there at least two times before and it was fine.
(4)Dana D.
The service was kind albeit a little inattentive. The Lard Nar and Panang Curry were "meh."
(2)Steve K.
If you like hot and spicy, try the Pad Prik "Thai" style. I really like this place so far.
(4)g t.
This is one of my favorite thai places. They really give good service. It is a family owned business. This place has really good curry dishes! I had left overs and I couldn't wait to come home from work and have it for dinner. Yum! Awesome food, can't go wrong.
(4)kris k.
It is easy to walk by this place, but this BYOB is worth a stop. We went on a particularly snowy evening and had the place to ourselves. Obviously the owner was attentive with nothing other than the random pick-up order to deal with. My favorite part was when he asked "Thai spicy" or "American spicy"? We replied simultaneously "Thai spicy". This is the first Thai place (and we've tried many from Lincoln Park to Lincoln Square) that seems to know what we mean when we say spicy. We enjoyed our meal so much, we ordered a 3rd dish to go for lunch the next day.
(4)Kristin B.
yeah yeah it's fine. tips, because everyone wants and deserves tips: order your food without broccoli -- it's way chewy the crab rangoon is not good.
(3)Jeff C.
We love this place and have gone here for years. Everything is fresh - herbs and seasonings. Ask for "Thai spicy" and you'll actually get it and be sweating. The owners are wonderful people.
(4)Jennifer I.
I love this place. I go there frequently even with all of the other Thai places in the area, so much closer to my house. The owners are amazing, and the food is delicious. This is the first Thai place that I am not afraid to stray away from my usuals. All of the curry dishes are yummy, they have delic spring roles and grab rangoons (the rangoons are on the sweet side, I like that but maybe not everyone would). And another great part is its BYOB! So no paying 5 bucks for a beer or a glass of wine. Oh and Thai iced coffee=AMAZING. Again its sweet but delicious. I love Thai food I would have to say it is my favorite or its tied with Japanese food but anyway I love it and this is my favorite place.
(5)Miriam R.
This place has excellent food, especially considering the price. It is family owned, and the owner is usually at the counter. They are very prompt with orders, and deliveries take 25-40 min from the time you order (depending on where you live/what you order). They are always very nice and friendly and their panang curry is my favorite in the city.
(4)Erin O.
I've been here several times, mostly for the convenience. Since the Brown Line has now closed the Damen stop, it's no longer very convenient ... but the food is reasonably priced and tasty enough to keep me coming back every so often (especially for the pad thai). The dishes are simple, and the portion sizes aren't as enormous as some Thai restaurants I've visited, but the service is fast and friendly. The place seems to do a heavier take-out business than dine-in, so there's always a table available.
(3)Mary Kate R.
i can't believe i haven't reviewed siam country yet. this was my favorite thai place while i lived in ravenswood, and is one of the things i miss most now that i don't live there (it was about a 5 minute walk from my back door). i'm not sure how i picked it out of all the others, but i have tried a few other nearby places (sc is closed on wednesday....) and this remains my favorite. the owners are so amazing and definitely play a large part in my five star rating. they are just really good, kind, welcoming people...they knew my order from the start and always made it seem like i was a valued customer and that they appreciated my business. the food itself i really like. i've had and enjoyed a number of their dishes, but i mostly stay with the pad thai. so spicy and so good. and they gladly pack in an extra lime and some hot sauce without me even asking anymore. i know dishes can vary greatly in every restaurant, but it just seems like there is alot less grease here than at some of the other places ive been to. whenever im anywhere near ravenswood now it is a special occasion that calls for a trip to siam country. the inside looks like it was recently re-decorated, and i think it looks really nice and cute (it was cute before, just different now). ok, enough. i could clearly rave about the food and service for ever. i love these people and this place.
(5)Evie M.
This quickly became my go-to Thai place after I moved to Lincoln Square. I'm boring, so I usually stick to the pad thai, which is always satisfying. SC is a whiz with dipping sauces, so I recommend trying their appetizers. The service is always wonderful, too - the owner is so warm and friendly. A bonus - they grow their own herbs on their roof, so they're always ultra fresh.
(4)mick e.
great charming very good!
(5)Jennifer H.
Good but no cigar. The owner kissed my husband's ass and more or less ignored me, which I found annoying (and I am totally not the kind of person who looks out for personal slights, real or imagined). The food is tasty enough (no MSG is a plus) but I prefer Aroy Thai across the street. The panang curry is very good (and spicy, as in Thai spicy!!) but I don't think I'll be coming here that often in the future. Ingratiating, sexist owners do not exactly whet my appetite.
(3)A S.
We've tried all the neighborhood Thai places and this one is by far our favorite. Very fresh and flavorful. We always order veggie with tofu so wouldn't know about the meat dishes but LOVE the tom yum soup without coconut milk. The food is not too salty like so many of the other places. The owners are great and always happy to see us. This place gets my business every time, whether the Damen brown line stop is open or not!
(4)Cat B.
Got take out from here last night...good food! Light sauces, not too greasy. I got shrimp in the entrees too and it was good quality. The Tom Yum soup with chicken was also really good. Prices are not too high. Definitely will be a good take out spot to return to.
(4)steve h.
a big fat 'meh'. the menu was very uninspiring and the entrees were a bit lacking in siam flava imo. a small but annoying thing that occured was that even though my dish was supposed to come with rice, i had to order an extra one. i didn't want to quibble over a buck, they were dead at dinner time so maybe they were hurtin. ps-to the weird super quiet couple sitting behind me, how do you not say a SINGLE word to each other during the entire dinner? you two didn't seem mad... maybe you guys found each other on some chatroom for introverts on eharmony or something.
(1)Lisa T.
I think this place was pretty decent. The food was light, filling, though you knoew you had a healthy meal. Great place for vegetarians or meat eaters. Service was a bit to be desired, though very respectable and they will remember you only if you have been there once!
(3)Kristin A.
I've only been here once, but the food was greasy and I haven't been back. They still seem to draw a crowd, but I prefer Aroy Thai across the street. Siam does have decent outdoor seating in the summer.
(3)