Sai Mai Thai is the best Thai restaurant in Chicago. I have tried several other places and they just do not
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Penang Curry Fried Rice, Green Curry
Carly Nelson
I just ordered delivery from SaiMai and I am NOT disappointed! I got the drunken noodles w chicken and held the tomatoes and substituted broccoli. It was perfection. I ordered medium spicy and that wasnt too spicy but definitely had a kick, it has the right amount of sauce on it, not too dry, not drowning in liquid. The chicken was a thinner cut and a nice quality of meat. The vegetables tasted fresh and crunchy and overall the dish was delicious! I will definitely try this place again to explore other dishes!
Food: 5
Recommended dishes: Pad Kee Mao
Kirthi D.
It was a bit mediocre. The vegetables and tofu were fresh, which was nice, the the service was very quick. But the food was almost sickly sweet. We ordered Pad Kee Mao and Green Curry, which were labeled as spicy, but were not in the least spicy. There was also too much sugar added to both, and the noodles were quite under seasoned. I will not be returning. I wonder if the good reviews are from those not particularly used to authentic Thai food. I'm guessing being in Lincoln Park is a factor. I don't blame the restaurant; they know their clientele, but don't come here expecting great Thai food. It's fresh, but that's about it.
Simone-Nicole Angelov
Delicious! Kind service. Look forward to visiting again.
We got take out for dinner and decided to try a different place than the usual Thai place. The place was set up only as take-out and delivery that day which works for us. Parking could be a challenge.Our little kids enjoyed their pad see wee which was wonderful for any parent that have fussy eaters. We got Mongolian beef. It wasn't prepared they way I expected which would be more Chinese stir-fry style with lots of onions but this version was still very good. The basil chicken was spicy but the flavor was off and wasn't as great as other Thai places for me. We also got egg noodle kee mao which was meh. maybe it would have been better if i stuck to the usual rice noodle.
Shambavi Kamaraj
We got take out for dinner and decided to try a different place than the usual Thai place. The place was set up only as take-out and delivery that day which works for us. Parking could be a challenge.Our little kids enjoyed their pad see wee which was wonderful for any parent that have fussy eaters. We got Mongolian beef. It wasn't prepared they way I expected which would be more Chinese stir-fry style with lots of onions but this version was still very good. The basil chicken was spicy but the flavor was off and wasn't as great as other Thai places for me. We also got egg noodle kee mao which was meh. maybe it would have been better if i stuck to the usual rice noodle.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
The Chicago Diva T.
My favorite is the crab Rangoon. I live the Pad See Ew! The service is fast and kind!
Lindy B.
It was good - but I'd like more beef. Expected that thick rich sauce, which this doesn't have, but the flavor was still delish. Would order again, but probably want to try other dishes first! Such quick, easy, friendly order and pick up over the phone.
Quinn W.
I used to live right at Clark and Armitage and I walked past Sai Mai a handful of times. They don't allow "dining-in" service anymore so I was always impressed they stayed open through the pandemic. One night when I was craving pad thai I went with a friend and now it's been over a year and I haven't stopped ordering since! Whether you order in person at the restaurant or order over Door Dash my food has always arrived quickly. I've never had an issue with an order. At this point my body is probably 20% pad thai with how much I've eaten there. I no longer at Clark and Armitage but I still order Sai Mai and I haven't found a better place.
My Le
Really authentic Thai food, flavorful Shrimp tom yum.Can be perfect if the dine-in option is available.
I tried Sai Mai Kee Mao and Tom Yum and they are so authentic and delicious. It tastes exactly what legit Thai diíhes but it only serves take-away. Highly recommend those wanna try Thai food with reasonable price.
Zahra E.
Delicious food bursting with flavor and at a great price!! It's also always piping hot ready to eat whether I pick it up right on time or 30 minutes later. I am addicted to the curry here. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The portions are fair and if you have self control (unlike me) one item should last you 2 meals. Also, the garlic chicken is incredible... I asked for extra garlic and they obliged. You can also tell everything is fresh and high quality. I am so happy I discovered this place. At the time of writing this review they are carry out or delivery only which is fine by me. Just a heads up to anyone going to try.
Christina S.
The Chicken Pad Thai was a "hit or miss" but the noodles and the sauce were "on point."Something to ponder-
Sarah A.
After a festive evening of Zoolights at the Lincoln Park Zoo, all we were craving was hot, spicy, comforting Thai food. I placed a carryout order as we were leaving the zoo. They use ChowNow, and you can select the spice level and any extra toppings you want. You can get 10% off using a promo code on their website. The order was estimated to take 30 minutes (just a heads up if you're ordering on the weekend!), and it was ready at the stated time. When we arrived, they were not doing Dine-In, but seems like it would probably be nice! We were in and out in less than a minute with our big brown bag of goodness. We ended up ordering our favorites--steamed shrimp shumai, tofu pad see ew with extra vegetables, and panang curry with chicken. It was a bit of a drive back home, but the food was still pretty hot when we arrived. Luckily I could just pop the noodles and curry in the microwave for a minute or two since I like it extra steamy. The shumai were flavorful--especially with the delicious sauce on the side. The noodles were delectable, and a good level of spice (medium level)--full of fresh vegetables (as a reminder, I ordered extra), eggs, and tofu. The panang curry (which we ordered spicy), definitely had a strong kick. It was also super tart from the lime and rich from the soft chicken and coconut milk. We devoured our meal in front of the TV and really enjoyed it, especially on a cold Chicago night. Highly recommend!
Erin M.
I ordered delivery and got crab rangoons and vegetable pad Thai. I was really happy with the amount and variety of veggies that came in the pad Thai, including zucchini, and I thought it tasted very fresh. The crab rangoons were crispy and had the perfect amount of filling for me. I would like to try to dine in sometime!
Sai Mai Thai is the best Thai restaurant in Chicago. I have tried several other places and they just do not
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Penang Curry Fried Rice, Green Curry
I just ordered delivery from SaiMai and I am NOT disappointed! I got the drunken noodles w chicken and held the tomatoes and substituted broccoli. It was perfection. I ordered medium spicy and that wasnt too spicy but definitely had a kick, it has the right amount of sauce on it, not too dry, not drowning in liquid. The chicken was a thinner cut and a nice quality of meat. The vegetables tasted fresh and crunchy and overall the dish was delicious! I will definitely try this place again to explore other dishes!
Food: 5
Recommended dishes: Pad Kee Mao
It was a bit mediocre. The vegetables and tofu were fresh, which was nice, the the service was very quick. But the food was almost sickly sweet. We ordered Pad Kee Mao and Green Curry, which were labeled as spicy, but were not in the least spicy. There was also too much sugar added to both, and the noodles were quite under seasoned. I will not be returning. I wonder if the good reviews are from those not particularly used to authentic Thai food. I'm guessing being in Lincoln Park is a factor. I don't blame the restaurant; they know their clientele, but don't come here expecting great Thai food. It's fresh, but that's about it.
Delicious! Kind service. Look forward to visiting again.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pineapple Fried Rice, Basil Fried Rice
We got take out for dinner and decided to try a different place than the usual Thai place. The place was set up only as take-out and delivery that day which works for us. Parking could be a challenge.Our little kids enjoyed their pad see wee which was wonderful for any parent that have fussy eaters. We got Mongolian beef. It wasn't prepared they way I expected which would be more Chinese stir-fry style with lots of onions but this version was still very good. The basil chicken was spicy but the flavor was off and wasn't as great as other Thai places for me. We also got egg noodle kee mao which was meh. maybe it would have been better if i stuck to the usual rice noodle.
We got take out for dinner and decided to try a different place than the usual Thai place. The place was set up only as take-out and delivery that day which works for us. Parking could be a challenge.Our little kids enjoyed their pad see wee which was wonderful for any parent that have fussy eaters. We got Mongolian beef. It wasn't prepared they way I expected which would be more Chinese stir-fry style with lots of onions but this version was still very good. The basil chicken was spicy but the flavor was off and wasn't as great as other Thai places for me. We also got egg noodle kee mao which was meh. maybe it would have been better if i stuck to the usual rice noodle.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
My favorite is the crab Rangoon. I live the Pad See Ew! The service is fast and kind!
It was good - but I'd like more beef. Expected that thick rich sauce, which this doesn't have, but the flavor was still delish. Would order again, but probably want to try other dishes first! Such quick, easy, friendly order and pick up over the phone.
I used to live right at Clark and Armitage and I walked past Sai Mai a handful of times. They don't allow "dining-in" service anymore so I was always impressed they stayed open through the pandemic. One night when I was craving pad thai I went with a friend and now it's been over a year and I haven't stopped ordering since! Whether you order in person at the restaurant or order over Door Dash my food has always arrived quickly. I've never had an issue with an order. At this point my body is probably 20% pad thai with how much I've eaten there. I no longer at Clark and Armitage but I still order Sai Mai and I haven't found a better place.
Really authentic Thai food, flavorful Shrimp tom yum.Can be perfect if the dine-in option is available.
Restaurantji Recommends
I tried Sai Mai Kee Mao and Tom Yum and they are so authentic and delicious. It tastes exactly what legit Thai diíhes but it only serves take-away. Highly recommend those wanna try Thai food with reasonable price.
Delicious food bursting with flavor and at a great price!! It's also always piping hot ready to eat whether I pick it up right on time or 30 minutes later. I am addicted to the curry here. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The portions are fair and if you have self control (unlike me) one item should last you 2 meals. Also, the garlic chicken is incredible... I asked for extra garlic and they obliged. You can also tell everything is fresh and high quality. I am so happy I discovered this place. At the time of writing this review they are carry out or delivery only which is fine by me. Just a heads up to anyone going to try.
The Chicken Pad Thai was a "hit or miss" but the noodles and the sauce were "on point."Something to ponder-
After a festive evening of Zoolights at the Lincoln Park Zoo, all we were craving was hot, spicy, comforting Thai food. I placed a carryout order as we were leaving the zoo. They use ChowNow, and you can select the spice level and any extra toppings you want. You can get 10% off using a promo code on their website. The order was estimated to take 30 minutes (just a heads up if you're ordering on the weekend!), and it was ready at the stated time. When we arrived, they were not doing Dine-In, but seems like it would probably be nice! We were in and out in less than a minute with our big brown bag of goodness. We ended up ordering our favorites--steamed shrimp shumai, tofu pad see ew with extra vegetables, and panang curry with chicken. It was a bit of a drive back home, but the food was still pretty hot when we arrived. Luckily I could just pop the noodles and curry in the microwave for a minute or two since I like it extra steamy. The shumai were flavorful--especially with the delicious sauce on the side. The noodles were delectable, and a good level of spice (medium level)--full of fresh vegetables (as a reminder, I ordered extra), eggs, and tofu. The panang curry (which we ordered spicy), definitely had a strong kick. It was also super tart from the lime and rich from the soft chicken and coconut milk. We devoured our meal in front of the TV and really enjoyed it, especially on a cold Chicago night. Highly recommend!
I ordered delivery and got crab rangoons and vegetable pad Thai. I was really happy with the amount and variety of veggies that came in the pad Thai, including zucchini, and I thought it tasted very fresh. The crab rangoons were crispy and had the perfect amount of filling for me. I would like to try to dine in sometime!