LTHForum.com

I'm nominating Spoon Thai, 4608 N. Western Ave., a great Thai restaurant of secret menu fame. As we lawyers say, res ipsa loquitor!:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3207

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=299

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=660

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3304

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3215

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Spoon Thai Restaurant
4608 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 769-1173

HI,

My first visit to Spoon Thai was the Westernathon, where I learned of one-bite salad, exploded catfish and banana blossom salad.

Sometime later, I brought a friend who has traveled to Thailand, sometimes as a guest of the Thai Government. As every dish arrived, it was something outside of any food she had ever had in Thailand. Of course much later I learned from Erik M the reason: Spoon Thai serves food familiar to those who grew up in the Northern region. Whereas Bangkok's regional specialities are quite different.

When we were leaving that evening, she was already planning to take other friends. She grabbed the take-out menu asking me to highlight what we ate. I said it was pointless as everything is on the menu for Thai's and not on the American-audience menu.

Spoon Thai has quite a legacy as the link which allowed our community access to the Thai-audience aka 'secret menu.' It also remains a very good Thai restaurant. It is my favorite stepping stone to introduce people to the magic of Thai cuisine.

I second Thursday's Kings' nomination of Spoon Thai as a Great Neighborhood Restaurant.

Regards,

_________________
Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

Though the venerable Spoon Thai hardly needs more supporting evidence, I'm happy to add that, in addition to their "secret menu" which I very much enjoy, they do a pretty nice job on the Ameri-Thai standards as well.

King's Thursday,

Please count me among the legions of Spoon Thai admirers who second, third and fourth Spoon's GNR nomination. In fact, if not for my obvious choice of 'Little' Three Happiness, Spoon Thai would have been in the 4-5 places I considered for nomination.

Had an excellent pre Tipitina's concert meal with LTHers at Spoon on Wednesday, including this delicious enoki mushroom salad (Yam Het)



Enjoy,
Gary

_________________
Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

Ask for the ‘secret’ Thai menu (which they’ll happily share) and a world of amazing flavors opens up for you.

There, I said it, now I can quote it on the certificate. Someone needed to offer that simple instruction to folks walking in the door...

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This restaurant is currently up for GNR renewal. Please post your comments below.

Thanks,

=R=
for the GNRs

_________________
I just wanna live until I gotta die. I know I ain't perfect but God knows I try. --Todd Snider

Twitter: ronniesuburban

another GNR up for renewal that has a dish on my 10 Best of 2008 list. I absolutely support renewal, but - as with many places on this list - I remind readers to research the Spoon threads thoroughly. I've had some fairly lackluster stuff at Spoon, but when you order one of the standout dishes, you're in for a real treat.

_________________
...defended from strong temptations to social ambition by a still stronger taste for tripe and onions." Screwtape in The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis

Fuckerberg on Food

What do I eat immediately after arriving home from the airport? One bite salad, banana blossom salad, crispy pork and chinese greens, and Thai fried chicken from Spoon Thai.
GNR renewal gets my unequivocal support.

_________________
Man : I can't understand how a poet like you can eat that stuff.
T. S. Eliot: Ah, but you're not a poet.

More on Spoon Thai here, here, and here.

Some events and menu requests detailed here and here, with some good secondary links within.

LTH,

Spoon Thai is a fixture in my dining rotation, always solid, often exceptional, I strongly support GNR renewal.

Enjoy,
Gary

_________________
Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

I don't get to Spoon Thai as often as I like (which is criminal, living just a short walking distance away) but when I do I kick myself for not returning quicker.

The quality to value ratio at Spoon is off the charts. With so much good stuff for so little cash, and with a couple bottles of BYO beer or wine, all is right with the world at Spoon.

_________________
Tweetyspacing @karlklockars.
Writing about craft beer at GuysDrinkingBeer.com
"You don't realize it, but we're at dinner right now." ~Ebert

This place is up for renewal of its GNR. Please post your comments here until 10/10/11.

_________________
Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

I'm surprised there's been no chatter about Spoon Thai's renewal. Although I've been eating at Arroy Thai a bit more lately, I still think Spoon is one one of the best Thai restaurants in the city. Unlike some, I haven't been disappointed with the service or food recently. I support renewal.

Spoon Thai- The only place in Chicago I truly crave when I am away for long. I took my brother (he's a New Yorker) there, we ordered about 8 dishes from the Erik M. translated menu, and the bill came to around $65. My brother started laughing when he saw the bill. The same thing happened last weekend with friends from Iowa. Truly a great value. And these are all folks who knew Thai food from travel to Thailand. It's just an amazing value for the quality of the dishes. Also, though I go there only every few months, the staff always welcomes me warmly, like a long-lost neighbor. Spoon epitomizes the GNR to me- a definite renewal.

_________________
Man : I can't understand how a poet like you can eat that stuff.
T. S. Eliot: Ah, but you're not a poet.

This is one of a very few places for which there are items I crave weekly. I order food from Spoon more than any other restaurant in Chicago--no place else is close. If I had to make a list of the top 10 things I've gotten from my experience so far on LTH (not counting individual people of course ), Spoon's Naem Khao Thawt and Chinese Broccoli with Crispy Pork would certainly be in there. Thanks to Thai Obsessed wonderful rendition of NKT at the picnic, I plan to attempt my own version soon which means ordering a lot of them to taste test against my attempts. Certainly one of my favorite GNRs!

_________________
“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” Elizabeth Taylor

I also wholeheartedly support the GNR renewal for Spoon Thai. It's still a place I frequent at least once a month and every visit continues to impress. I hardly know what more to say about Spoon - it's still my personal favorite Thai spot in town (as much as I love the also nearby Aroy Thai), largely because of certain menu favorites (such as the catfish curry custard and banana blossom salad). Without question, Spoon continues to deserve mention and discussion when discussing the very best Thai restaurants in Chicago, and in the US. Consider Chicagoans lucky!

I'd like to thank BR for turning me on to the catfish custard. It's part of my standard order now.

Spoon is the only restaurant in Chicago where I have, at one time or other, tried everything on the menu. (The translated menu, that is.)

My Standard Order: One-bite salad (with dried shrimp, please!) Catfish Custard, Thai Fried Chicken, Isaan Sausage, Shrimp with Lemongrass Salad (or Waterfall Beef Salad), Crispy Fried Rice Salad (or Vietnamese Crepe, or Shrimp Paste Dip with Mackerel and Crudites), Banana Blossom Salad (or Enoki Mushroom Salad), Mudfish Curry, Crispy Pork with Chinese Broccoli, and Sticky Rice (2 orders). This is what I am going to pick up when my little brother visits from New York, just to make him sorry he doesn't live in Chicago. Between Spoon and Zaragoza, I've got the winning hand! (He can have Ducasse.)

_________________
Man : I can't understand how a poet like you can eat that stuff.
T. S. Eliot: Ah, but you're not a poet.

My last couple meals here have been solid (aka good) but not at the high level (aka great) I have come to expect -- and love -- from Spoon. Seeing other posts of support, from folks whose opinions I respect, makes me feel like I just went on off days but for now, I'm neutral on GNR renewal.

=R=

_________________
I just wanna live until I gotta die. I know I ain't perfect but God knows I try. --Todd Snider

Twitter: ronniesuburban

I've had some magical things at Spoon Thai, both in Erik M's company and solo. I kept the flame for Yum Thai during some years of reports of odd service or family stress, and am happy to do the same for Spoon. My last visit this summer was very rewarding (and I like the cozy quarters more than Sticky Rice and TAC, even if some dishes are more consistent at the others).

Admittedly my last lunch at Spoon was off, with the exception of Naem Khao Thawt and Vanna seemed distracted, an unusual occurrence. One mediocre lunch in no way obviates the countless terrific meals I've enjoyed at Spoon over the years and they remain one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Chicagoland. Yes to GNR renewal.

Spoon Thai, count me a fan!

_________________
Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow