The Tastiest Soup in Chicago

Staropolska Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.5 (611) • $$

"Between high Yelp ratings & being greeted by old world charm, we were excited to eat at Staropolska. We'd both recently had good pierogis at other restaurants & were hoping for much of the same; however, the food here did not live up to our expectations. He had the lamb which didn't seem to garner any praise. I ordered potato pancakes with both sour cream & applesauce & enjoyed that the pancakes were thin & had crispy fried edges. My combo of vegetarian pierogis (half potato & cheese, half sauerkraut & mushroom) were boiled; I'm partial to pan-fried pierogis but boiled would've been acceptable provided they were flavorful & fresh which unfortunately these weren't. I also wasn't a fan of their onion & bacon "jam" which is usually my favorite topping. We ended dinner with kolaczki, Polish cookies with jam dolloped in the middle; they were bland & not sufficiently sweetened. Quite a disappointing dinner, all around."

Bacowka

★★★★☆ 4.4 (376) • $$

"Yelp did it again. Wanted to try this place. My partner and I went there around noon. The place was empty, yikes, but the reviews and pictures told me to stay. The two ladies there were very welcoming. I loved the complementary pickles, bread and spread. I had the Polish plate and my partner had the potato pancake and beef goulash. Wow the portions were generous and the taste, can't wait to go back. After fifteen minutes the customers started coming in. The servers were very attentive. This is a restaurant is awesome."

Cocoro Japanese

★★★★☆ 3.9 (383) • $$

"I've been here once with friends. I ordered a Japanese curry with katsu. It came with miso soup. Portion size was great and has generous amount of food. Quality was good. However, the price doesn't sit well with me. It's currently $26. After examining the other items on the menu, I'm not a fan of the price gouging. I suppose if you only lived in the city, with no car, and was virtually clueless, this would be okay with you. If you head out to the burbs like the Arlington Heights or Elk Grove area, you can find this exact dish for under $20. Tensuke Market has it for $11. The quality is exceptional. This is about a 3 for me since I know you can get great, authentic Japanese for less."

Royal Thai Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (318) • $$

"I like it! We've ordered different items from here in the past, and we always liked what we've gotten. I always order Pad Kee Mao, Pad See Ew, or Kow Soy Noodle Soup, but this time, I tried the Panang Noodle- flavorful curry dish with crispy wide noodles. We really like the Crab Rangoon from here (better than most!)"

Penny's Noodle Shop

★★★★☆ 3.9 (358) • $

"I always loved small places like this. I always appreciated the authentic spices, aroma, and taste of Thai and other south East Asian foods. Joseph suggested we come here for dinner. Glad we came here. I ordered the vegetarian bowl. It came with warm fragrant rice noodles, green onions, julienne carrots, red cabbage, mung beans, cilantro, spicy tofu, crushed peanuts, and a slice of lime. The vegetarian bowl tasted divine! The kitchen staff captured all the flavors I expected from a first class Thai restaurant. Joseph ordered the chicken soup. He said it tasted fine. Penny's Noodle Shop felt cozy and small. But groups of 4 could fit around the smaller sized tables. I liked the decorations on the wall. They looked fun and adorable. Come and bring friends, family or even a date. I highly recommend Penny's Noodle Shop."

Cozy Noodles & Rice

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (509) • $

"Cozy up for Cozy's Noodle and Rice Such a delicious dinner here we have two appetizers, Crab Rangoon and Shumai along with two delicious entrees of Bamee Noodles & Crispy Pad Kee Mao! So yummy and delicious and overall this restaurant is such an experience! The service was vey kind!"

Shawarma Inn

★★★★☆ 3.8 (355) • $$

"First time trying Shawarma Inn. Decided to order take out over the phone. The lady who took my order was polite and answered my questions regarding my order. Upon arriving, tye restaurant itself doesn't look much from the outside and the interior is quite simple. It does have ample seating. It wasn't busy around 830pm when I came in to pick up my order. My order was wrapped up for me when I got there.I ordered the Kefta Kebab platter/meal. It came with 2 large kefta kebabs, alot of yellow Mediterranean rice, a small salad/veggies, and squash. Also, it came with an order of pita bread and choice of soup, picked Lentil soup.Kefta Kebab was good, but it wasn't amazing. Rice tasted fresh. Soup was warm and tasty. Didn't like the squash. The meal was filling, and definitely good for 2 meals.For the price, it is alot of food and tastes good. You get your money worth for the quantity. Not sure if I would want to order the platter again. Definitely will try their wraps next time."

Banh Mi

★★★★☆ 3.7 (370) • $

"Used to go to their old location on Broadway. Loved their BBQ, chicken lemongrass and their chicken curry banh mi sandwiches. Stopped today. Place smells like mildew, you order at a kiosk and not with a human and the BBQ pork banh mi was fatty and flavorless except for the jalapeño pepper and cilantro. I was greatly disappointed."

Ban Po Jung

★★★★☆ 4.1 (300)

"This Korean restaurant is a hidden gem. We ordered soft tofu soup, streaming potstickers, kalbi, bulgogi beef, and spicy marinated blue crabs. These dishes are great. Taste like Korean home cooking food. This is the first time I tried the spicy marinated blue crabs.The husband and wife that serve us were nice. Service is friendly There is plenty of parking space in the front of the restaurant."

Thai Pastry & Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (347) • $$

"I've not been to Thai Pastry in years, but our group of three recently ate there on a Saturday for a late lunch / early dinner. Since it was not terribly busy, our server was very attentive in answering our questions about their numerous menu items and filling our water glasses.We ate family style as we shared three different entrees. I think we all agreed that we liked the sesame chicken the best. The battered pieces of sesame chicken had the perfect level of crispiness and were served with steamed broccoli and carrots and a bowl of white rice. The roast duck with rice and veggies was a close second in our unofficial tasting contest. The ba-mee noodles with BBQ pork were not bad, but somehow did not register with our collective taste buds. We asked for the noodles "dry" but perhaps the ensemble may have been more successful as a bowl of soup. Overall, we enjoyed our variety of food at Thai Pastry."

Flambe India

★★★★☆ 4.4 (219) • $$

"Flambe India is a wonderful place to get tasty and delicious Indian food. In my two visits here (for carry-out only), I had good experience, and the food was good both the times. On my most recent visit, I ordered their EGGPLANT CHERRY TOMATO CURRY (cubes of eggplant and cherry tomato cooked in a rich sauce of golden fried onions and tomatoes), NATKHAT BHEER MASALA (chunks of lamb soaked in a mixture of yogurt, garlic, ginger, papaya, and spices, roasted in Tandoor served on top of a creamy tomato and onion sauce), a couple of garlic naans, one tandoori roti, and a side of sliced onions and jalapeños. Rice came with the entrées and did not need to be ordered separately. I placed my order over the phone and went to pick up the food by the time I was informed the order would be ready. Upon arriving for pick-up, I received good service. The restaurant looked clean and inviting. I liked its decor and there was plenty of seating inside and some outside. I had to wait to a few minutes as there were other patrons before me that were being attended. Upon having the food I ordered, I can firmly say that Flambe India's food is bold and flavorful. It was quite to my liking. The eggplant cherry tomato cherry was a unique dish that I had not come across before, and the roasted lamb chunks in a creamy tomato and onion sauce definitely exceeded my expectations as the lamb was cooked properly and it was mixed in well in the marinade it was prepared. The Naan, tandoori roti, and rice were good. I liked my overall experience in trying Flambe India. Their menu has a nice variety of dishes to choose from, and in my two visits, the food has been tasty and of good quality. The only issue I had is their menu's pricing. The dishes are more expensive in price than they should be. We are talking about Schaumburg and Chicago level pricing. Some items are easily two to three dollars more than they should be. However, I understand that good quality food comes with its share of costs. Anyway, I liked the food at this restaurant and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes food Indian food."

CoCo Vietnamese Sandwiches & Pho

★★★★☆ 4.4 (208) • $

"I came in here during a week day for lunch hoping to sit down and have a bowl of pho and have a Banh Mi and Viet coffee for take-out afterwards, but I quickly realized after I walked over here from my place that they are only doing take out and delivery orders. I assume that this all started post-COVID but I was disappointed. Onto the experience and food. The older man taking my order behind the counter was really nice. He did make a mistake however because I wanted a bowl of pho and a banh mi but when he rung me up, I paid, and then he was like "wait, you wanted two bowls of pho?". I told him that I wanted just one and a Banh Mi with coffee. He realized he made a mistake and he looked a little flustered since I had just paid. Anyways, I told him it wasn't a big deal. I waited less than 6-7 minutes and my stuff was packaged and ready to go. He also throw in an Thai Iced Tea for the mistake. I brought it home and everything was packaged nicely. I saved the other pho for the next day. My pho was pretty good. I don't normally like taking pho to-go as it is never the same, but I'd rate it an 8/10. Really wish I could have dined in. My Viet coffee and thai iced tea were good, however I wish the Viet coffee was just black with no sugar. I like that this Vietnamese place is located away from the other Little Vietnam (Argyle) restaurants because it allows for more options in my area. I'll be back!"

Sake Sushi & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (201) • $$

"Really my favorite restaurant in the area. There are much less options for AYCE sushi in the burbs compared to Chicago, but sake sushi & grill gives the Chicago AYCE spots a run for their money. Their makis are my favorite, the fish to rice ratio is awesome and the fish quality is at least good and usually great. The yellow tail maki and salmon makis tend to be my favorite. The dinner menu adds interesting special rolls for a light increase in price. Service is attentive without being overbearing. The price is awesome too, just 20$ for lunch - wild. I make a point to eat here every other weekend."

Phoday

★★★★★ 4.5 (155) • $$

"I visited Phoday for lunch on a Wednesday and found it to be fairly busy, yet the noise level was low. The space was clean, with pleasant music playing in the background. The service was quick and friendly, making for an enjoyable dining experience.Phoday offers a wide menu, including Halal meat options for pho. I ordered the #6 with beef broth and steak in a small size, which was more than enough for lunch. It was a delicious, hearty bowl of beef pho, and the pricing was reasonable. I would definitely come back."

Lao Sze Chuan

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (287)

"I'm a really big Lao Sze Chuan fan and I've been to the South side Chinatown, Uptown and Evanston locations too. Of course I've been to this Skokie location a number of times and I don't know how I've missed writing a review for them. Because this is the most convenient to me, I've eaten here the most between the 4 locations. They have solid crab Rangoon, egg-rolls, Mongolian beef, hot red chili with chicken, fried rice, and my favorite - fried eggplant with garlic and minced pork. This time around, I ordered shrimp with lobster sauce and it did come out like a soup (as pointed out by Teena). Not the best and not the worst. I was expecting it to be a little thicker. I'll be back again because of the numerous good choices and location. I also try to force myself to have something new, otherwise I'd be sticking to egg foo young."

AVVIO

★★★★★ 4.5 (147) • $$$

"Been wanting to come here for a while and so glad we finally made it! The food was absolutely delicious, huge portions! The pizza bread was so good! Our server, Lynette, was AWESOME!! Will definitely be back!!"

EaThai

★★★★★ 4.6 (107)

"Excellent neighborhood spot for solid Thai staples. I've only ordered takeout but I plan to dine in soon, so I really can't speak to the ambience at this point.The food is so flavorful and good. It's more flavorful and fresh than some other local spots, making this a quick new favorite for me.We ordered a couple of noodle dishes and the wings, and were really happy with everything we ordered. Spicy, sweet, savory, and cooked to perfection."

Pho Kho Gia Lai

★★★★☆ 4 (137) • $$

"Craving for Pho on a cold afternoon. Found this place on Yelp and decided to give them a try! It was around noon and there were 3 tables waiting for their food. The waitress was very friendly, nice and attentive. The place has simple decor, clean and cozy. I got my order to go. I ordered chicken pad Thai, Pho Tai, and crispy fried egg rolls. I wanted to get their pork rice dish but she told me the pork wasn't done marinating yet :( so I opted for pad thai instead. If you order pad thai, know that this is a Vietnamese place so the pad thai isn't going to taste anything like what you'd get at a Thai restaurant. It's less sweet , no cabbages, and the chicken was spicy. I didn't remember seeing anywhere on the menu indicating the chicken pad thai is spicy. I got this dish for my toddler and obviously, they weren't able to eat it. It was a bummer. The closest thing this dish is anything like pad thai are the noodles lol I would not be ordering this dish here again. It is a good noodle dish! But I wasn't liking the heat on the chicken or the flavors as much. The Pho, on the other hand, was delicious! (One would hope! Lol) Since I got mine to go, I picked the option of having to cook the meat myself at home. (The beef slices came in a zip lock bag. ) There was lots of noodles and bean sprouts in the container. The portion was huge! Easily can be shared with another person. Remember not to over cook the noodles! After the broth boils, I'd just throw the noodles , veggies and beef in there for a min or two max! Otherwise, you will get really soggy noodles. And let the beef defrost a little bit.The egg rolls were good. Crispy with lots of filling inside. I do have to mention it was very oily tho. I reheated it up and soaked up the oil with paper towels. I will be returning when I'm craving for Pho and will def be trying their pork dish and bahn mi!"

Simply Soups, Salads & Sandwiches

★★★★☆ 4.1 (128) • $

"Another wonderful black owned business to support! This is in Bronzeville, which is a good 45 minutes from our house, but I'm so happy we found it. We placed an order for two sandwiches and timed them to be ready by the time we got there. Due to the pandemic they don't have dine in, but they did have several people going in to order and waiting for their orders. They have a nice selection of sandwiches, wraps, salads and soups. (Four different soups every day.) It was hard to decide! I got the Jerk salmon pita and my daughter got the Grilled salmon panini. Both came with chips and a pickle, and were very good! I really wished we lived closer!! Next time we come I want to try their make your own salad. I can't wait."

Flambe India

★★★★★ 4.7 (91)

"Flambe seems to be a popular Indian spot for the locals, as the place was pretty busy when we came for dinner.Their menu is pretty extensive, offering skewers, apps, tandoor options, veg and non-veg entrees, rice, breads, and desserts.We ordered:+Malai Chicken Tikka - one of their more popular flambe skewers, this came with two hanging skewers of chicken chunks that were covered in some type of a marinade; there was a pool of malai gravy on the bottom; we thought that the presentation was going to give a more 'wow' factor, but there was some rum poured over each skewer, not really 'dousing' them as it was stated on the menu, and then lit - however, there really wasn't any flame action; the chunks of chicken and the gravy were more on the room temperature/cold end, so I'm thinking these were prepared way in advanced and maybe caught them in the thawing process?+Jinga Masala Vida - shrimp cakes prepared with chili, cilantro, mint, garlic, ginger, and spices; could have been served hot and fresh out of the pan; these came with 3 patties and had a slight crisp with a kick; these do fall apart easily and do not hold its shape+Butter Chicken - roasted dark chicken in a tomato-based sauce with fenugreek; even though the bowl that this was served in was warm, the curry itself was not; the sauce itself was also more thin in consistency and kind of watered down; flavor wasn't that great, either +Chicken Shahi Korma - prepared with chicken breast cubes, but this also seemed to use predominantly dark chicken meat; the menu stated this was topped with golden fried nuts and raisins, but it seemed as if there were little chopped nuts mixed in the sauce, and there were no raisins, which I actually was excited for; the dish was also served in a warm bowl, but the curry itself was not temperature hot; the sauce was also thin and watery +Peas Pulao - described as steamed basmati with tempered green peas; both rice and the peas were not cooked properly, as they were still undercooked/raw +Garlic naan - usually comes topped with cilantro, but they were able to make one without, which we appreciated; definitely larger ins size than the usual, but there were more hard, burnt areas rather than the fluffy bread you'd expect; I also wished there were more garlic on thereService was friendly, but the staff seemed a bit overwhelmed in checking in with tables - we had to wait a while to get extra plates and silverware, our drinks, and the menu. It also took time to place our orders in.When you enter, there really isn't a 'waiting area' or a host/hostess to receive you; it's a little awkward, as you'll have to stand in front of their bar in the back to let them know you need a table.The place is more on the smaller end with a handful of seating. I really loved their decor of the colorful hanging umbrellas!Located in a small strip plaza off of Peterson, there's ample parking in the large shared lot. They have another location out in Buffalo Grove.+food items are not served hot +friendly, but slow service +plenty of parking"

Sumi Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.9 (124) • $$

"Back again to try their newish all you can eat sushi menu. It's 29.99 (cheaper by $5 for weekday lunch) and like many of these, it's always a concern about the quality you get. They also still have their regular menu I believe.I'm glad to say I felt that what we got was the same level in terms of good sized fish cuts, not too much rice, etc as before this menu offering. I loved that there were some more interesting nigiri than the typical options and that people who like rolls with all the things inside would get great value.The appetizer menu, plus salads and dessert made this an exceptional deal with all the selections on the menu. Service was outstanding and attentive and they didn't make us feel bad if we filled out another form to order again.It's BYOB so you can make it a great dinner without pushing the wallet. We will be back!"

Oliang

★★★★★ 4.7 (80) • $$

"Overall Thoughts: This is a relatively new Thai spot in Lincoln Park with cute, green, aesthetic vibes. The space is fairly small, with 8 tables total that seat 2-4 people. I came on a Thursday night for dinner and it wasn't too crowded. The menu offers standard Thai fare with all the staples from noodles to curries to stir-fried entrees.I ordered the Khao Soi Chicken, which tasted good, but wasn't that traditional in its ingredient profile. The broth and egg noodles were both deliciously creamy with a strong curry taste, and had a mild spicy flare. However, I wish they used the traditional chicken drumstick instead of chicken breast, which was a bit dry and not as flavorful. The service was friendly, attentive, and quick. The prices are pretty standard for the area-- not unreasonably high, but not low either. Overall, it's a spot that I'd be glad to come back to whether by myself or with a small number of people.-- Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5Food: 4.3/5Ambience: 4.9/5Service: 4.9/5Overall Value: 4.4/5"

Paisans Pizzeria

★★★★☆ 3.8 (119)

"Excellent customer service server. The service is fantastic night not work thank you wow is that good? That's because we haven't found the right meatball fire weird why do I have a craving for meatball OK oh my God."

Raizes Mexican Cocktail Bar & Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4 (96) • $

"My friend and I went here the other day and we really enjoyed the service and atmosphere. The food was delicious and drinks were super yummy!! I loved the decor and had a really good time! We will return again!"

Chengdu Impression - Wicker Park

★★★★☆ 4.1 (86) • $$

"Great Chinese food with big portions. Got takeout and everything was good except for the scallion pancakes! They were SO greasy so beware of that. Otherwise we enjoyed everything else per usual. Will definitely return if we are nearby."

Rice & Noodles

★★★★☆ 4.4 (70)

"Come here for among the best Thai food in Chicago for about the cheapest. It's surprising not every restaurant in Pilsen is Mexican. Rice & Noodles is a pretty authentic restaurant. Easy to miss because it's in not such a happening area. The place is pretty small, meaning most people get takeout. After hearing about it we decided to come here. It has a pretty big menu for a small place. The advertisement inside was for the Thai Red Tea. It's $6 for a large. This is made with soda water and syrup. Simple but good. We found it incredibly refreshing. On to food. There's of course noodles and rice. It's about $9 for an entree. These come with a protein choice. We both got tofu. Good portions even at lunch. We had some classic Thai. I had the Pad See Ew. This has eggs but I left these off. She had the Pad Thai, good and basic. The food came out fast and the owner was about as friendly as there is. Helpful making choices. The medium spice level is plenty for most. Get your fill of reasonably priced Thai food. It has a lot of flavor and you can adjust the seasonings even hotter. There's plenty of items that can be made for vegans and vegetarians."

Peking Chinese Food

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (132)

"Always good, and fast delivery. Not sure why all the low scores but this is my Gold Coast go to for American style Chinese food for over 5 years."

Don Pedro Mexican Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.5 (63)

Dim Dim

★★★☆☆ 3 (129)

"Hidden gem! Love their lobster noodles and dim sum for lunch. They also have a big selection of baked goods when you first walk in the restaurant - I highly recommend their paper wrapped cake and sesame ball with red bean paste"

Lee's Wok

★★★★☆ 3.7 (81) • $

"This place is only a few blocks away from our house. It's not a big one and it seems to be carry-out only. But they keep it clean and tidy as possible as they can. I feel so lucky that we've come crossed this hidden gem!The lady who usually takes our orders is friendly and unbelievably efficient. For our two persons' dinner order, it only takes chef to complete cooking in 15 mins and 2-3 mins top for her to pack it all ready. No matter weekday evenings or weekend rush hours, the average waiting time has never been longer than 20 mins. I highly recommend their Mongolian beef and hot and sour soup! We can't wait to try other dishes from this store."

Claypot

★★★★☆ 4.4 (56)

"Best bone broth soup I've had outside of Korea. Excellent. I enjoyed this more than Hanbat in NYC"

Saigon Pho

★★★★☆ 4.2 (51)

"Overall review: 7.8/10Very large inside space for hosting all kinds of quantities if guests. They also have a stage where I assume they have Vietnamese karaoke parties here from time to time. We had a server who wasn't Vietnamese take our order and take care of us mostly, however the girl who brought us our food (or should I say.. took the food off of the robot who got to our table) was definitely Vietnamese. Yes, this place does have robots that bring you food from the kitchen. Definitely did not expect that from a more hole-in-the wall type place such as this one.Onto the food: Egg Roll: Rating: 6.5/10Subpar, incorporated several Ingredients. Greasy. The ratio between the meat and vegetables was disappointing. The egg rolls came loosely wrapped resulting in oil accumulating between the fold of the egg roll. This causes air pockets. Clearly, the egg rolls were not wrapped hard enough. They did not drain the oil. They just fried it and served it. Also, traditionally egg rolls are supposed to come with lettuce wrap and pickled veggies. What came to our table was the bare minimum. N26. Beef Stew w/ Egg noodle & rice noodle / Hủ Tiếu Mi Bò Kho Rating: 8/10 Was baseline standard good. It came with all of the fixings on the side such as the herbs. The beef was tender, but there was a lot more tendon than meat. Not a lot of actual beef. The soup itself was well-seasoned, but still lacked a little richness to it. Vermicelli Noodles Salad Bowl:N01. Pork, Pork Patty, & Shrimp paste /Bún đậu mắm tôm, chả chiên, thịt luộc. Rating: 9/10Overall was a solid dish served how it normally would be, with the exception that we did not see the crispy shallots served with it even though it is apart of the description. In fact, the picture of the food on the menu they gave us looks different. We didn't have the little red chili peppers either. The pork patty was delicious. The sauce was well-seasoned. The veggies were fresh. The tofu, patty, and pork slices were well balanced. This was our favorite dish from our meal."

Lucky Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (80)

"Solid 3.5. Showed up and was let in and we picked a booth in the back. The waitress was late so we waited until she arrived. She came after we were there for about five minutes. I think this was about 15 minutes late but stuff happens so no biggie. She walked over and asked us if we knew what we want to order and we didn't have menus yet so waited a couple minutes to look through. My sister ordered eggs with ham and potatoes. I ordered a gyro omelette with potatoes and pancakes. My sister ordered a mini waffle and gave that to me to try. My omelette was big and delicious and the potatoes were amazing. I didn't particularly like the pancakes or the waffle. My sister liked her meal. All in all I am happy this place is in the neighborhood and I like their food. I know what I would order if I came back again and I would definitely come back."

Suffron Cafe

★★★★★ 4.8 (33) • $$

"This place is great. Came on a Sunday afternoon with my dog, and we sat on the patio. Passing trains are loud, by it's Logan Square after all, and the breeze was nice. As for the food, the Greek Salad with Gyro did not disappoint. Everything tasted very fresh, and portion sizes were perfect."

Arcadia Polish Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (41)

"I really loved my meal and the service here! The place is small but very cute and authentically decorated. I got husband and wife vibes from the staff, they were both super considerate and friendly. I started with an appetizer of grilled sheep cheese. The cheese is good quality and the accompaniments of bacon and (I think) cranberry relish really made for a tasty bite. I went with the polish plate for my entree. This might be the best polish plate I've ever had! The perogies were done just right, the potato pancake was huge, and the sausage was great as well. I'm not a big sauerkraut fan but this iteration is fried which makes a big difference, I loved it. The stuffed cabbage was probably the best part. I got it with the tomato sauce which was perfect, but they offer a mushroom sauce as well. This little strip mall spot is easy to miss but if your nearby it's definitely worth seeking out!"