This post convinced me to sign up for Substack and to subscribe! I appreciated it because this restaurant has been on my list to check out. I was waiting for them to get their liquor license, although knowing how slowly that moves along in Chicago, that still might be a few months.
Curious - have you been to Eat Fine Design? That’s currently my fave Thai spot in Chicago.
Omg lol I LOVE this!!!! Can your writings get better?! I do agree with you on the pomelo and crab salad- I don’t think I’ve really had anything like this in Chicago. I stuck with mostly raw/cold dishes and the hot clams. All were great and flavorful. The menu is quite large, may go back at some point if I find myself in the south loop to try the noodles. The best of NYC is funny, none of my friends there have been to this place. For now, Ghin Khao is truly the best authentic Thai I’ve had here. Your recs are spot on for me!
Great per usual but this one had me thinking about making an Aspiring IG Influencer™ bingo card. References to "authenticity" and the vibes being "perfection" or the food being "cooked to perfection" would certainly be on there. Definitely need references to the food being "fresh" and how the person is "obsessed" with a certain dish. Your choices on narrative voice are either ASMR whisper or vocal fry. I'm assuming that AI will soon be capable of making these videos on its own and us taxpayers will be responsible for carrying waves of unemployed "creators."
I'm surprised not to see Immm mentioned here (and have been surprised not to see it crack your big restaurant list). Would be curious to see an Argyle/Uptown roundup of some kind in the future.
(prior comment deleted, sorry, needed to change display name) | I visited a week ago--as a resident of south loop, I really, really want there to be decent food options here. But I agree this isn't it. They were nearly full up so we sat at the bar (drink service not in effect yet), and as waiting patrons accumulated we were getting bumped into a lot. My wife had the pad see ew--not bad, totally fine--but I also had the short rib massaman and was disappointed. No beef flavor permeated the curry and the meat had a texture that suggested it was braised in advance, refrigerated, then cut and tossed into the curry. I regretted ordering it. Those two dishes and a (non-alcoholic) beverage and we paid $90 with normal tip%. I hope they find their stride yet, but I won't revisit until IG has long forgotten about it.
Gosh. Thanks for emphasizing to me that Instagram has become a cesspool of vulgar self-promotion and cheap bourgeois materialism. The advertising model of content delivery has become a dumpster fire of toxic waste.
Seems like they’re trying to occupy the same space for Thai food that Olio e Piu or La Grand Boucherie for Italian and French food. Better than average (but certainly not the best), expensive and vibe oriented.
“…east of 59…” my man. Dependable and insightful food journalism is dead, save your Substack. Everything wrong with dining/food these days is manifested by influencers and Yelp. In the last 25 years three ex-cooks from Arun’s have opened places. Each one crushed Siam in all aspects.(I do agree with the pomelo dish.) You remain my North Star!
This post convinced me to sign up for Substack and to subscribe! I appreciated it because this restaurant has been on my list to check out. I was waiting for them to get their liquor license, although knowing how slowly that moves along in Chicago, that still might be a few months.
Curious - have you been to Eat Fine Design? That’s currently my fave Thai spot in Chicago.
Looks amazing. I have not been, but will check out! Thanks for the tip and your support!
Omg lol I LOVE this!!!! Can your writings get better?! I do agree with you on the pomelo and crab salad- I don’t think I’ve really had anything like this in Chicago. I stuck with mostly raw/cold dishes and the hot clams. All were great and flavorful. The menu is quite large, may go back at some point if I find myself in the south loop to try the noodles. The best of NYC is funny, none of my friends there have been to this place. For now, Ghin Khao is truly the best authentic Thai I’ve had here. Your recs are spot on for me!
I do feel like this could be a regular feature...how do the influencers claims stack up. Thanks for the kind words,.
Great per usual but this one had me thinking about making an Aspiring IG Influencer™ bingo card. References to "authenticity" and the vibes being "perfection" or the food being "cooked to perfection" would certainly be on there. Definitely need references to the food being "fresh" and how the person is "obsessed" with a certain dish. Your choices on narrative voice are either ASMR whisper or vocal fry. I'm assuming that AI will soon be capable of making these videos on its own and us taxpayers will be responsible for carrying waves of unemployed "creators."
Lucid and entertaining as always!
I'm surprised not to see Immm mentioned here (and have been surprised not to see it crack your big restaurant list). Would be curious to see an Argyle/Uptown roundup of some kind in the future.
It’s been a minute. I need go back. How’s the Khao Soi? I’ve never had it. Good idea on Argyle. Let me see what I can do.
I quite liked the Khao Soi! And the crispy noodles definitely hadn't been stored in a container for hours...
That’s a relief! ;-)
(prior comment deleted, sorry, needed to change display name) | I visited a week ago--as a resident of south loop, I really, really want there to be decent food options here. But I agree this isn't it. They were nearly full up so we sat at the bar (drink service not in effect yet), and as waiting patrons accumulated we were getting bumped into a lot. My wife had the pad see ew--not bad, totally fine--but I also had the short rib massaman and was disappointed. No beef flavor permeated the curry and the meat had a texture that suggested it was braised in advance, refrigerated, then cut and tossed into the curry. I regretted ordering it. Those two dishes and a (non-alcoholic) beverage and we paid $90 with normal tip%. I hope they find their stride yet, but I won't revisit until IG has long forgotten about it.
Gosh. Thanks for emphasizing to me that Instagram has become a cesspool of vulgar self-promotion and cheap bourgeois materialism. The advertising model of content delivery has become a dumpster fire of toxic waste.
I think we're living in an American Rococo era. Everything is excessive, hyperbolic, and superficial. But maybe I'm just getting old....
Seems like they’re trying to occupy the same space for Thai food that Olio e Piu or La Grand Boucherie for Italian and French food. Better than average (but certainly not the best), expensive and vibe oriented.
“…east of 59…” my man. Dependable and insightful food journalism is dead, save your Substack. Everything wrong with dining/food these days is manifested by influencers and Yelp. In the last 25 years three ex-cooks from Arun’s have opened places. Each one crushed Siam in all aspects.(I do agree with the pomelo dish.) You remain my North Star!
IC #3: “Authentic”
Almost every one of these claims was made by a white girl, so, I’m not gonna go there.
LMAO
It's true. Plus yoga and matcha were obviously involved.