Get A "Yuppie Thai" Food Experience at Star of Siam
One of my favorite places to lunch when I was working downtown was Star of Siam—because it was close and because it’s yummy and fast. If you’re hanging out north of the river (in the Mag Mile area) and suddenly get an urge for Thai food, it’s just a short walk to this restaurant at State Street and Illinois, tucked between a number of tall office buildings.
The restaurant is very large for a Thai place—it has two floors, both of which include regular seating as well as “tatami” seating, which is always fun if you can get it. It mimics traditional Asian floor seating with pillows and raised benches. The colorful décor is, of course, Asian-inspired, with a waterfall, tapestries, masks and other oriental touches, along with exposed pipes and red brick and huge ceilings for a more urban warehouse feel. It’s got more atmosphere than many smaller Thai places, but the food isn’t considered particularly authentic—think of the place as “yuppie Thai.”
For starters, I’d suggest the chicken or beef satay or the crab Rangoon, both of which are delicious. The crab Rangoon is perfectly crispy and flavorful. And I’ll always eat pot stickers, no matter where I am. My favorite soup is the Tom Kha Kai, just because I enjoy the combination of lemongrass and coconut milk. As for entrees, I love curries, so I usually pick something along that line, like the Chicken Pad Ped or the Panang Nue. I’m also a big fan of Thai-style basil dishes and oyster sauce, so there’s plenty on the menu for me to choose from (I’m getting hungry just thinking about it). You’ll find plenty of great food choices, including ones you might see more commonly on a Chinese restaurant menu. And I never go to a Thai restaurant without ordering Thai iced tea. I love that stuff.
Star of Siam bills itself as the first Thai restaurant in town—a true Chicago original. At lunch you’ll find a crowd of mostly business people and in the evenings it’s a mix of tourists and locals (I hear that Madonna visited once). At lunch I’ve usually found it easy to get seating—at dinner, we’ve had waits but not long ones. The service can be iffy, but usually it’s decent. And with most entrees under $8, it’s good for your budget, too. Vegetarians can substitute tofu for meat in any dish.
Star of Siam is located at 11 E. Illinois Street. It’s easily walkable from the Red Line stop at Grand and open for lunch and dinner every day. Street parking is difficult but there are pay lots nearby. For more information, visit www.starofsiamchicago.com.
