Crying Tiger
Victoria Logan · 218 Google reviewsCrying Tiger — top-tier food in River North. Come for the food, stay for the energy. The bar is worth the visit on its own. Christina Huynh: "The chicken larb was a fantastic balance of sweet"
What 1,954 diners keep saying
What 1,954 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“We had a great time. Good music good food and great service”
“Excellent! I loved the Wagyu Short Rib Khao Soi with Crispy Noodles”
“Staff was great! Service was amazing. Food was delicious, drinks were strong and good. We had a great time and can't wait to go back!”
“All the dishes were great, service was excellent. The atmosphere and vibes were awesome. Worth the hassle of getting a reservation”
“fireeee booked the table one month ago at 12 am sharp, really worth the hype and the price. very precise flavor for each!!! restrooms are very vibey too”
“Amazing experience. Server Sidney was amazing!! Ask for him”
“This restaurant is definitely worth the hype! My friends and I were thrilled to snag a last minute dinner reservation on a weekday. From the moment we walked in, we were in awe of the beautiful decor and spacious layout. After checking in with the host, we were seated right away, and our server immediately made us feel welcomed. She even shared in our excitement about finally getting to try this place, which set a great tone for the night. We started with the pork belly, which was incredibly flavorful and perfectly crispy, honestly the best bite of the entire meal. We also ordered the prawn toast, which had a natural sweetness that paired beautifully with the dipping sauce. For our main dishes, we chose the shaking beef, clay pot lobster pad thai, khao soi, and chili crisp barbecue chicken. Everything was delicious, but the khao soi was the clear standout. It was rich and bold, with just the right balance of sweetness and mild heat. We ended our meal with the “Crying Tiger,” featuring wild Thai banana with foster sauce coated in chocolate. It was just as delicious as it was beautiful, and the presentation was truly delightful. We left completely stuffed and already looking forward to coming back again!”
“As an Asian American, I often find that Asian cuisines in Chicago can be hit or miss, but Crying Tiger excels in every aspect. From the thoughtful presentation to the depth of flavor, each dish was exceptional. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, even during a busy evening. Every course, from starters to dessert, was delicious, but the rolled rice noodles with roasted maitake and Chinese broccoli, which I had back on Halloween night 2025, still stays on my mind.”
“The food here is very good, but also nothing special, you could likely get this food at various other places in chicago for a cheaper price. That said the vibes are great and the cocktails are unique. We really liked the chicken satay and the shaking beef. The hamachi and curry dishes were okay. Did not like the pork belly.”
“It’s nearly impossible to get a reservation here. But I got lucky last night because they had a late cancellation —I was able to snag a 9:45 slot. Stalking OpenTable definitely paid off! Sidney was a phenomenal server. And all of the food runners and back of house staff were very pleasant also. I saw a few smiles when I glanced over to the open kitchen. The decor is very tasteful. All of the plants are faux but they don’t “give fake”, I hope this makes sense. I’m one of those people that hates grass wall restaurants. This is not that. It’s like stepping into a posh forest. The women’s restroom is well lit! Ladies, you don’t have to worry about trying to reapply your makeup or fix your hair in a moody, ridiculously dim lit setting (which seems to be really popular among a lot of restaurants these days —zero practicality). The music selection was so great that it brought my little urban millennial heart lots of joy. Since I was dining alone, I sang and swayed back-and-forth through my entire meal. And finally, the food was ABSOLUTELY TO DIE FOR! I started off with the wagyu salad. I could’ve honestly just had like two or three of those and been fine; and not order anything else. If it was the end of the world, and there was only one serving of this dish left, I would sell a kidney to have it. Yes, that good! The papaya salad was good, but it was just your standard papaya salad. Nothing to write home about, but definitely not even remotely terrible. And for my entrée, I had the lobster pad thai. It was really nice and mixed tableside. By the time it arrived at the table, I was so full that I took a few bites and then asked for it to be boxed so that I could bring it home to have for lunch today. The coconut drink was tasty. I chose to have it made with tequila, but next time I’ll have it with whiskey. 10/10 it totally lives up to the hype. I’m so happy I stayed up past my bedtime to have a memorable meal. I also like that it’s relatively inexpensive. When I visit any of my other preferred restaurants around town, I go in expecting to spend at least $200. I received the same amount of food at Crying Tiger for half the price, and I earned Lettuce Eats rewards. There’s no question if I’ll be back, the question is when?”
“LOVED. worth the hype. we did have to wait an extra 15 minutes for our reservation to be ready but that was enough time for me to go to their bathroom which was beautiful, definitely worth a photo op. when seated they gave us free prosecco for our anniversary. nice touch. our drinks were great they have an excellent selection of both alcoholic and NA options. appetizers were good and the entrees very delicious. the DESSERT. my GOD. the crying tiger is chefs kiss id go back just for that. to be honest I expected everything to be more expensive but we ended up spending less than $300 for 4 people, not too bad.”
Sounds like your kind of place?
Star it — your hit list is where dinner decisions get made.
One email a month — new openings, hidden gems, and where locals are actually eating.
More dining in Downtown & River North
See the ranking →
In the same lane
If it's packed, walk to…
More good rooms in River North, minutes away.