The city of Chicago is well known for its culture and flair, its night life and cuisine. An early evening stroll through many of the city’s neighborhoods and you’ll find everything from fantastic Vietnamese cuisine, to Polish Buffets, to mouthwatering Middle Eastern delicacies. But what about the suburbs, the areas just outside the city limits? If venturing into the heart of Chicago really isn’t your thing, but you still want a taste of the exotic, be sure to check out these wonderful venues
Yum Thai Restaurant
This little gem doesn’t look like much from the outside, and the interior leaves a bit to be desired in the decoration department, but what it lacks in décor it more than makes up for in the food. They have a number of different Thai dishes, and the chefs are very well versed in varying the degrees of spiciness to your liking. Some of my favorite dishes that I highly recommend are the Panag Curry and Pad Thai Woosen, both of which have wonderful flavor and enough food to feed at least two to three people. The prices are very reasonable, ranging from $5 to $20 dollars, and a normal tab for two people is about $35 for a dinner with appetizer and non alcoholic beverages. The service is extremely friendly, and sharing of the individual meals is not only allowed and encouraged. Yum Thai is located in a small strip mall at 7748 Madison Street in Forest Park Illinois. They don’t take reservations, but if you’re worried about finding a place to sit, be sure to call their number 708-366-8888 to see if seating is available.
Khyber Pass
This is perhaps one of the most celebrated Indian restaurants in the Chicago land reason and with very good reason. As soon as a person walks into the door, they are transported in a world of Indian mysticism and impeccable service. The restaurant is awash in rich, vibrant colors, including gold and green, royal reds and rich mahogany browns. The lighting is muted, and the overall feeling of the place is one of comfortable quietness. And any given night you’ll see families or couples at various tables conversing in quiet tones, and the wait staff buzzing around, quickly and expertly filling the glasses and food desires of the patrons.
Besides the service, the overall food choices at the Khyber Pass are varied, and quite good. They offer a lunchtime buffet for those who are new to Indian cuisine and a full dinner menu complete with the classic Indian dishes including a number of curries, Nan bread, and Tandoori Chicken. Khyber Pass also offers a number of vegetarian dishes that go well beyond the usual salads or rabbit food that you find at most restaurants. On the drink side of things they offer a number of domestic and imported beers as well as a respectable selection of wines. For those who do not wish to partake in alcoholic beverages, they also offer a number of soft drinks, teas, and a refreshing mango lashi, a type of Indian milkshake. Weekdays are usually quiet affairs at the restaurant, but on occasional Saturday evenings there is live music in the form of singing or sitar playing, which can add that much more ambiance to the meal. Prices for an enjoyable two person dinner range between $20 and $50. Located in the heart of downtown Oak Park, directly across from the movie theater, this little restaurant is hard to miss. The address for Khyber Pass is 1031 Lake Street, Oak Park Illinois. They will accept reservations, so be sure to call them at 708-445-9032 to set up your next Indian dinning adventure.
Edo’s Japanese Restaurant
Located on the border of Crest Hill and Joliet, about 1/2 hour southwest of Chicago, this wonderful restaurant is a great place to introduce you to the wonderful world of sushi and other Japanese fare. One of the Edo Restaurant chain located throughout Chicago, the wait staff and cooks at this location always greet you with a warm smile and a very friendly and attentive nature. The sushi is expertly prepared, and there are a number of different sampler dinners for those first venturing into this type of cuisine. One of my favorite items on their menu, however, besides the sashimi is the miso soup. Usually serve in a large bowl; it can easily feed a small group, either as an appetizer or a small meal. Dinners are a little on the expensive side, ranging in price between $8 and $40 for individual meals, but the taste and presentation make it well worth the cost. Located at 1701 N. Larkin Avenue # CI in Crest Hill, their phone number is 815-729-4155, and they do accept reservations. If you ever happen out to the Joliet, Crest Hill area, Edo Japanese Restaurant is definitely one that you should check out.
These are just a few of the various restaurants around the Chicago land area that can give you a wonderful taste of the exotic, and do it for a very reasonable price in a wonderful atmosphere. Be sure to check them out!
