Arun's Thai Restaurant

For apps, we ordered chive dumplings and eggrolls. We loved the chive dumplings. They were unique & unlike like a traditional dumpling - chewy on the inside, crispy golden shell on the outside. The eggrolls were average. For entrees, we ordered duck red curry & tofu red curry (both served with jasmine rice). The curries had a good kick to it! The duck curry unexpectedly had a couple pieces of lychee in it... which we thought was pretty odd and wasn't written in item description on the menu.I was pleasantly surprised when I found out everything on the menu, aside from 3 dishes, can be made vegetarian (and many items are vegan as well)! The service was excellent. The staff was all very friendly & kind - they made sure we had a great dining experience.

I had a chance to taste Khao Man Gai and shumai from Arun's through Taste of Chicago. I had high expectations based on Arun's yelp reviews and pictures but walked away disappointed and underwhelmed.I'd still love to try the food actually served at the restaurant in the future however.

Arun's has been around for a long time, and I was excited to finally check this place out!They offer a prix-fixe as well as an a la carte menu, including vegan options and a special takeout menu.We opted for the a la carte, so that we could pick-and-choose and obtain a variety. We started off with:+Crab Eggrolls - filled with blue crab meat, glass noodles, and shredded carrots and cabbage; served with a sweet and sour sauce; these were not that great, and were a forgettable app+Crab Rangoon - filled with blue crab meat, cream cheese, celery, and water chestnuts; served with a sweet and sour sauce; this had a generous amount of crab in them, so it was a pleasant surprise; however, the filling itself just didn't taste good and probably not for those who are 'purists' with crab rangoons+Fried Tofu - golden-fried organic tofu with a sweet and sour sauce; the tofu seemed to have been overfried, as the skin was just too tough and difficult to chewFor our entrees, we tried:+Phad See Ewe - wok-tossed wide noodles with Chinese broccoli and a house savory soy sauce; you can opt for organic chicken, beef, or jumbo shrimp, and we opted for beef; we were extremely disappointed, as the menu clearly states that Chinese broccoli was used, but it was not+Phad Thai - rice noodles with egg, bean sprouts, garlic chives, tofu bits, and shallots, wrapped in an egg omelet sheet; you can opt for organic chicken, jumbo shrimp, or add a grilled Alaskan king crab leg; we opted for the king crab, and there was a cracked portion of the leg, situated on top of the noodles; the noodles were a little dry and probably needed more sauce+Eggplant Basil - stir-fried eggplant with crushed garlic, cilantro, chili, Thai basil, and fermented soybeans; you can opt to add tofu, veggies, organic chicken, shrimp, or beef; we didn't go for any of the protein; this dish was okay, as the eggplant could have been more crispy, as they were more on the soggy category+Roasted Duck Red Curry - red curry with roasted duck, pineapple, sweet basil, kaffir-lime leaves, and cherry tomatoes; note that this is more on the sweeter side; the duck didn't seem to be prepared or cooked well and was unenjoyable+Massuman Curry - beef curry with sweet onions and potatoes, served with jasmine rice; we weren't fans of the beef in there+and, Shoo Shee Salmon - grilled salmon in a coconut-curry sauce, prepared with kaffir limes, sweet basil leaves, and young peppercorns; served with jasmine rice; the salmon was a little overcooked, and the curry itself was thin in consistencyOverall, we left disappointed, considering how long this restaurant has been around, we maybe had higher expectations?Service was fine. The interior of the place is a similar set up as other Thai restaurants, but slightly with an upscale vibe.Street parking can be found in the area.+inaccurate dish descriptions+okay service+street parking available

I've heard great things about this place and it didn't disappoint. There were a lot more dishes than I have pictured. Service was great. It was just us in the restaurant at first so it was quiet and chill. Although I don't often go out of my way to eat curry, the dishes here didn't disappoint. I only didn't like one dish but it was a small soupy one. Would return again!

Here's what you need to know: it's restored it's original glory days. The post renovation Arun's is incredible. Truly worth the praise and recognition deserving of a top echelon Chicago restaurant. The set menu (prix fixe) is very well executed and well priced at $100/person. The mains (entrees) are some of the best Thai dishes you will ever have - from the Penang to Mussaman to holy basil - just tantalizingly perfect. Oh, and DO NOT miss the desserts. The dark period over the last 3-5 years at this restaurant are over. All epicureans in Chicago need to go visit and enjoy this restaurant in its restored glory.Our party ordered several entrees, cocktails, and appetizers in addition to the prix fixe menu and almost all dishes were brilliant.The cocktails are a bit too mild so they need to address that. The one course I thought was weak in the set menu was five spice pork lettuce wrap. Otherwise I liked all the other courses. But despite these minor nuts, it was a fantastic culinary experience.

Tasting menu or ala carte- Arun's is exceptional.Prix-Fixe: you can select either the regular or vegan option (they have also accommodated pescatarians in the past, just ask). The entrees are packed with unique flavor combinations and are varied. The plating is also a highlight. Once, I had a carrot carved into a goldfish! This will cost you $100 for 9 courses is honestly a great deal for this experience.A La Cart: I've tried a bunch of these! Appetizers: chive dumplings are very unique and more like a flaky chive cake than a dumpling; crab rangoon are ultra crabby and light on the cream cheese; crab egg rolls are the most unique I've ever had and rolled up with chunky crab meat, glass noodles, and sheets of seaweed. All of the appetizers are accompanied by a unique dipping sauce! Entrees: Phad Thai is standardly tasty, but stands out because it is wrapped in an egg omelet rather than mixed throughout; Phad See Ew is on par with Immm's (super delicious), and Eggplant Basil with jasmine rice is quite good too.Bonus: They offer special menus specific for Valentine's Day. This is a perfect date spot!

HIGHLY recommend this place -- the food was fantastic. I love thai food and this fusion/elevated take was amazing while still appreciating the culture. The staff was excellent -- we loved the bartender in particular! Every cocktail was delicious. the atomosphere is beautiful too! we went for a friends birthday, would recommend going for a special event, and will definitely be back again :)

Such very average food for a LOT of money. Little flavor or specialness to the dishes. Seems to be riding on reputation rather than actual quality. Service is excellent.

We came here in the 80's and then the food and service were exceptional and it very busy. I just went a week ago, on a Thursday night, for the first time in years. The food was average, the service was just fine, and I think there were 8-10 guests for dinner. There are Thai restaurants in Chicago that are just as good, at less than half the price.

The wait staff was impeccable. The 9 course Prefix took us on a beautiful journey. The Lon, one bite salad, and curry were my favorites. The desserts were delicate and delicious..