It was the March of the slow melt in River Grove, when the last stubborn ice clung to the curbs like a defeated army refusing to surrender, and the wind off the lake still carried the bite of winter even as the sun began its tentative return, that the craving struck me deep and unanswerable. The Outback carried me south through the familiar arteries of the Northwest Side—past the shuttered factories and the glow of corner bars—until I reached Silli Kori on Division Street, a small brick outpost glowing warm against the gray afternoon, its windows fogged with the breath of cooking and the promise of something older than memory. I stepped inside and the air wrapped around me thick with lemongrass, galangal, and the faint smoke of charred chilies, a scent that rose like incense in a forgotten temple. The server brought the khao soi without ceremony: a deep bowl of golden curry broth, rich and unctuous, coconut milk tempered by the slow fire of turmeric and red paste, noodles coiled beneath like the roots of some ancient banyan. Tender chicken sank into the liquid heat and gave itself up willingly; crispy egg noodles rose above the surface in defiant golden tufts, half submerged, half defiant, catching the broth in their strands so that every bite was at once soft surrender and sharp crunch. The pickled mustard greens offered their tart bite, the shallots their quiet sting, the lime a sudden bright slash across the richness, and the chili oil—oh, the chili oil—floated in lazy red rings, promising fire without ever overwhelming the peace beneath. I ate slowly, deliberately, the spoon moving through the broth like a blade through silk, and felt the cold that had lodged in my bones since January begin its long retreat. Each mouthful was a quiet insurrection against the gray days: the curry warm as a hearth fire in a northern hall, the noodles yielding yet substantial, the whole bowl carrying the weight of northern Thai hills and the slow simmer of patience. It was good—more than good; it was resolute, life-affirming, the kind of dish that makes a man believe the thaw will hold this time, that spring might actually arrive before the next polar vortex descends. The Thai iced tea came alongside, poured over ice in a tall glass, orange-gold and sweetened just enough to cut the spice without cloying, condensed milk swirling lazy clouds through the amber like cream in old whiskey. I drank it slow, letting the sweetness linger on the tongue while the khao soi’s heat still bloomed in the throat, and for a moment the city outside—the traffic on Milwaukee, the salt-streaked cars, the endless gray—fell away, and there was only the bowl, the glass, the quiet hum of the restaurant, and the small, stubborn triumph of a meal well taken. I have not yet returned to plunder the rest of the menu—the green papaya salad that must sing with lime and peanuts, the drunken noodles that promise fire and basil, the mango sticky rice that waits like treasure at the end of a long voyage—but the khao soi stands as covenant between cook and cold, a steaming shield against the siege of Chicago’s reluctant spring, the steadfast companion a man hungers for when the wind still howls and the body demands more than mere sustenance. Ten stars out of five, though the heavens are miserly with such reckonings. I would sup it at the gates of Minas Tirith itself and fear no shadow on the long ride back to River Grove. 🍜🧡🧙♂️❄️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Clay Vesser
Amazing! Son in law eggs, satay and tom yum soup. Prices are very very reasonable. Music, mood and service is warm and inviting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Miken
We had the satay, Tom Yum soup, pad see ewe, son-in-law eggs, a seaweed salad, and the chrysanthemum tea...and everything was awesome! Service was wonderful, our server was so pleasant and the right amount of attentive - will definitely come back.
Zack
The food is really fresh and delicious and the prices are very reasonable. This is a great spot for a dinner date.
The Kao Soi with beef and crunchy rice salad with chicken were great, as were the chicken satay appetizers.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jong Youn
Their lunch special can't be beat for the price.
Food: 5
Service: 4
Christina Twist
Do not recommend for delivery, they only have 1 delivery driver and I never received my food after waiting 2 hours. It was a small order, so it should have been fast.
Service: 1
Tala Tala
the food is not good. The service is really BAD if you ARE NOT a white person. the server knocked over the vase on our table, and she shrugged, held it back and just let the water spill without even saying anything. another server taking order next to us saw the water spilled on the floor, directly took a napkin from our table and threw it on the floor to stop the water, but that napkin was actually used to wrap our personal belongings. When we picked up the napkin, our belongings are already soaked with dirty water on the floor. we had to tell them three times to fill up our empty water cups, and they seemed to not really acknowledge our presence. we felt that we got different treatment and level of hospitality offered to other customers. Overall, it was an extremely unpleasant dining experience. (the reason i gave three stars is because i was afraid that they delete the bad comments)DONT’T COME!!!!!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Erik Widman
Cozy as hell! Love it.
Mariano Villalba
Great food located in beautiful Wicker Park/Ukrainian Village. The pot stickers and pad se ewe were delicious. I also recommend trying the tamarind cocktail. Homey, cozy ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Camille
Outstanding experience. The atmosphere was sensory friendly with romantic lighting. Fun music but not too loud. Amazing food and service with very affordable prices. My jasmine tea was served in a gorgeous teapot from Thailand. Definitely try the tiramisu. Seems like maybe a takeout spot (at least on weekdays) but definitely worth dining in, too. Can't wait to come back. Thanks again!
New fav Thai place in the area! Curry was the perfect consistency- veggies are cooked but stay crunchy. Sauces are incredible. Even the little lunch salads are flavorful. Ordered to go three times and everything is always packed great and tastes perfect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mackenzie S
I’ve had pad Thai from a decent amount of places on the north/west side of Chicago and Sili Kori is by far my favorite! We are regulars here! You honestly can’t go wrong with anything on their menu. Always nice to dine in as well, the atmosphere is so nice and relaxing ☺️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
erin green
Very efficient, friendly, and delicious!
The lunch special was such a great deal for a small app and generous portion of entree
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anshuma Chandak
Great food - very delicious and non-greasy! Taking away one star because the servers were inattentive and indifferent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Ruby Flores
Silli Kori is a hidden gem in the city. The cozy, brick-lined space sets the perfect vibe for a laid-back dinner. I went for dinner and tried the Pad Thai with chicken and a Thai iced tea. The Pad Thai was packed with flavor—sweet, savory, and just the right amount of spice. The Thai iced tea was the perfect balance of creamy and sweet. For dessert, I had the carrot cake, which was moist and not overly sweet. The service was friendly and attentive, making the whole experience even better. Spent around $35, and it was worth every penny. Highly recommend this spot for anyone craving authentic Thai food in a chill setting.
It was the March of the slow melt in River Grove, when the last stubborn ice clung to the curbs like a defeated army refusing to surrender, and the wind off the lake still carried the bite of winter even as the sun began its tentative return, that the craving struck me deep and unanswerable. The Outback carried me south through the familiar arteries of the Northwest Side—past the shuttered factories and the glow of corner bars—until I reached Silli Kori on Division Street, a small brick outpost glowing warm against the gray afternoon, its windows fogged with the breath of cooking and the promise of something older than memory.
I stepped inside and the air wrapped around me thick with lemongrass, galangal, and the faint smoke of charred chilies, a scent that rose like incense in a forgotten temple. The server brought the khao soi without ceremony: a deep bowl of golden curry broth, rich and unctuous, coconut milk tempered by the slow fire of turmeric and red paste, noodles coiled beneath like the roots of some ancient banyan. Tender chicken sank into the liquid heat and gave itself up willingly; crispy egg noodles rose above the surface in defiant golden tufts, half submerged, half defiant, catching the broth in their strands so that every bite was at once soft surrender and sharp crunch. The pickled mustard greens offered their tart bite, the shallots their quiet sting, the lime a sudden bright slash across the richness, and the chili oil—oh, the chili oil—floated in lazy red rings, promising fire without ever overwhelming the peace beneath.
I ate slowly, deliberately, the spoon moving through the broth like a blade through silk, and felt the cold that had lodged in my bones since January begin its long retreat. Each mouthful was a quiet insurrection against the gray days: the curry warm as a hearth fire in a northern hall, the noodles yielding yet substantial, the whole bowl carrying the weight of northern Thai hills and the slow simmer of patience. It was good—more than good; it was resolute, life-affirming, the kind of dish that makes a man believe the thaw will hold this time, that spring might actually arrive before the next polar vortex descends.
The Thai iced tea came alongside, poured over ice in a tall glass, orange-gold and sweetened just enough to cut the spice without cloying, condensed milk swirling lazy clouds through the amber like cream in old whiskey. I drank it slow, letting the sweetness linger on the tongue while the khao soi’s heat still bloomed in the throat, and for a moment the city outside—the traffic on Milwaukee, the salt-streaked cars, the endless gray—fell away, and there was only the bowl, the glass, the quiet hum of the restaurant, and the small, stubborn triumph of a meal well taken.
I have not yet returned to plunder the rest of the menu—the green papaya salad that must sing with lime and peanuts, the drunken noodles that promise fire and basil, the mango sticky rice that waits like treasure at the end of a long voyage—but the khao soi stands as covenant between cook and cold, a steaming shield against the siege of Chicago’s reluctant spring, the steadfast companion a man hungers for when the wind still howls and the body demands more than mere sustenance.
Ten stars out of five, though the heavens are miserly with such reckonings. I would sup it at the gates of Minas Tirith itself and fear no shadow on the long ride back to River Grove.
🍜🧡🧙♂️❄️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing! Son in law eggs, satay and tom yum soup. Prices are very very reasonable. Music, mood and service is warm and inviting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had the satay, Tom Yum soup, pad see ewe, son-in-law eggs, a seaweed salad, and the chrysanthemum tea...and everything was awesome! Service was wonderful, our server was so pleasant and the right amount of attentive - will definitely come back.
The food is really fresh and delicious and the prices are very reasonable. This is a great spot for a dinner date.
The Kao Soi with beef and crunchy rice salad with chicken were great, as were the chicken satay appetizers.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Their lunch special can't be beat for the price.
Food: 5
Service: 4
Do not recommend for delivery, they only have 1 delivery driver and I never received my food after waiting 2 hours. It was a small order, so it should have been fast.
Service: 1
the food is not good. The service is really BAD if you ARE NOT a white person. the server knocked over the vase on our table, and she shrugged, held it back and just let the water spill without even saying anything. another server taking order next to us saw the water spilled on the floor, directly took a napkin from our table and threw it on the floor to stop the water, but that napkin was actually used to wrap our personal belongings. When we picked up the napkin, our belongings are already soaked with dirty water on the floor. we had to tell them three times to fill up our empty water cups, and they seemed to not really acknowledge our presence. we felt that we got different treatment and level of hospitality offered to other customers. Overall, it was an extremely unpleasant dining experience. (the reason i gave three stars is because i was afraid that they delete the bad comments)DONT’T COME!!!!!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Cozy as hell! Love it.
Great food located in beautiful Wicker Park/Ukrainian Village. The pot stickers and pad se ewe were delicious. I also recommend trying the tamarind cocktail. Homey, cozy ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Outstanding experience. The atmosphere was sensory friendly with romantic lighting. Fun music but not too loud. Amazing food and service with very affordable prices. My jasmine tea was served in a gorgeous teapot from Thailand. Definitely try the tiramisu. Seems like maybe a takeout spot (at least on weekdays) but definitely worth dining in, too. Can't wait to come back. Thanks again!
Restaurantji Recommends
New fav Thai place in the area! Curry was the perfect consistency- veggies are cooked but stay crunchy. Sauces are incredible. Even the little lunch salads are flavorful. Ordered to go three times and everything is always packed great and tastes perfect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’ve had pad Thai from a decent amount of places on the north/west side of Chicago and Sili Kori is by far my favorite! We are regulars here! You honestly can’t go wrong with anything on their menu. Always nice to dine in as well, the atmosphere is so nice and relaxing ☺️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very efficient, friendly, and delicious!
The lunch special was such a great deal for a small app and generous portion of entree
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food - very delicious and non-greasy! Taking away one star because the servers were inattentive and indifferent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Silli Kori is a hidden gem in the city. The cozy, brick-lined space sets the perfect vibe for a laid-back dinner. I went for dinner and tried the Pad Thai with chicken and a Thai iced tea. The Pad Thai was packed with flavor—sweet, savory, and just the right amount of spice. The Thai iced tea was the perfect balance of creamy and sweet. For dessert, I had the carrot cake, which was moist and not overly sweet. The service was friendly and attentive, making the whole experience even better. Spent around $35, and it was worth every penny. Highly recommend this spot for anyone craving authentic Thai food in a chill setting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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