Kookkook Khao Man Kai
Kookkook Khao Man Kai — under-the-radar thai in Lincoln Park. Order the Khao Man Kai. You're eating the real thing here. "The rice was well-seasoned and incredibly fragrant: rich with chicken fat, ginger, and garlic" — Christina Huynh
What 270 diners keep saying
What 270 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“I was visiting Chicago and I realized how midwestern food can lack in flavor (sorry my fellow midwestern people, I love you) and so I was in search for some flavorful meal and came across this perfect spot. If you are like me, visiting out of town or love food with a lot of packed flavors then this is your place. Each dish I ordered was absolutely delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Id definitely recommend them and I look forward to eating here again.”

“Love the pad see ew! Was lookin for something authentic and yummy— this by far is the best in Chicago in terms of taste, vibes, and service. Will definitely come back again!”

“Shrimp shumai and khao man Kai were killer!! Very kind staff as well”

“Tastes just like Thailand. Highly recommend getting the ginger-garlic sauce with the Khao Man Kai. (They have ginger-garlic sauce and sweet soy sauce, if I remember correctly). We tried both the steamed and fried chicken. I prefer the steamed version. If you get set #1, you’ll get the entree with Thai tea/coffee, which saves $1. So so good, would def go back. Went on a busy Sunday afternoon, luckily grabbed the last available table. Cozy spot with about 10 tables or so. Small wait (maybe max 20 mins?) for the others who came in after us. Fantastic customer service. Restaurant is located on a busy street so I recommend parking a few blocks away, if you’re driving in.”

“The food is amazing and so worth the wait. I can't keep woahh with every taste. The service is also top-notch, they clean the table and even the seat for customers. Should arrive early cause the restaurant is small and full, plus you cannot reserve beforehand.”

“Will definitely be back for the perfectly fried chicken n rice dish and warm coconut pudding and mango sticky rice desserts. All fresh and delicious! Friends enjoyed the grilled chicken and rice and Tom Yum soup entrees on this rainy afternoon. Friendly, attentive service and reasonable prices. Great find. Give this new spot a try! Pics don’t do justice to the taste 😋”

“What a treat to find this place on a chilly night. We noticed this was a new restaurant and decided to give it a try and we were so glad we did. When we came in, we were greeted warmly by Tom. Atmosphere was super inviting, clean, and friendly. You can bring your own bottle of wine or beer and they charge a Reasonable corking fee of two dollars. We had the pad Thai, the noodle soup, and a taro puff as an appetizer. For dessert, we had the warm coconut pudding. Prices were reasonable 😊The food was the highest quality and we will definitely go again!”

“I don’t write reviews normally but I’ve been here twice in the last 2 months. The khao man kai is deliciously light and comforting. Hope this place stays in business for a while!”

“Lovely quiet soothing clean & organic atmosphere. Great service with flavorful dishes!”

“I need to know why this place isn't packed every day and night, because the food is delicious!! I could probably eat the fragrant rice all on its own, but the steam chicken is delicious. I also really love getting the chicken curry puffs, which are perfectly spiced and crispy. The taro puffs are really good too. I love everything this restaurant is doing, and I hope to see them busy because their food is so comforting, I always feel better after eating it.”
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 Thai in Lincoln Park & Old Town
See the ranking →If it's packed, walk to…



More good rooms in Lincoln Park, minutes away.




