Arun's Restaurant Review

4156 N. Kedzie Ave. (Irving Park Rd.) Send to Phone

Our choice, if there be only one, for Thai food in the Midwest.

Arun's Restaurant is one of our 2012 | Top 10 Chicago Thai Restaurants |

Cuisine

Thai

Open

Dinner Tues.-Sun.

Features

Heart-healthy dishes
Private room(s)
Full bar
Reservations suggested
Valet parking
Business casual

Wine

Great Wine List

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Beautiful Thai art and antiques set the serene stage for 12-course, prix-fixe dining ($85, plus $50 for wine pairings) at chef-owner Arun Sampanthavivat's Northwest side place. Gracious, efficient servers begin by inquiring about dietary restrictions, desired spice levels and culinary preferences. Then the kitchen goes to work preparing a customized procession of six appetizers, four entrÃ©es and two desserts, served family-style. Possible starters include flower-shaped, purple dumplings filled with shrimp and shallots, dainty fresh crab spring rolls and spicy roast duck salad on a bed of Thai basil and cilantro. In step, main courses could include lobster tail paired with two jumbo shrimp in garlic-ginger sauce, beef tenderloin in a red curry-peanut sauce thatâ€™s infused with star anise, and green curry chicken with Thai baby eggplant. Sticky rice, topped with egg custard, typifies dessert. Unusual white wines, among them Alsatians and Austrians, dominate a wine list tailored to complement the food. Arun's is quite a culinary adventure, but one that, unfortunately, does not allow for repeat voyages without causing a credit card meltdown.

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Expensive for Typical Thai Food by bagwi@yahoo.com on 10/23/2009

For the price I paid I expect exceptionally unique food, attention to detail and excellent service. I also expect to be served all my courses. I arrived with a group of four and asked for a menu so we could know what would be served to us. I was told by a waiter that they would verbally describe it when they served each dish. The set $85 price included six appetizers, four entrees (served family style) and two deserts. Unfortunately, we didn't get all 12. The service was disorganized. We didn't have a primary waiter, but different people bringing out each course. There were times when the food would come out but we had no utensils or plates. The portions were small and what was served was good, but it wasn't anything exceptional. There were supposed to be 12 courses, but as I mentioned above, we were only served 11.