Dinner at Elephant Thai

After hearing about my missed lunch opportunity at TAC Quickyesterday, I couldn't get Thai food off my mind, so I went to my neighborhood fave, Elephant Thai for a quick fix. The first thing I noticed (besides the new, more comfortable chairs) were the new items on the menu board...and the prominent posting of their recent review in the Reader.

Elephant Thai Menu Board


Ann, the owner, came out of the kitchen to say hello and more or less insisted I try the new Beef Noodle Soup with Beef Balls that was just posted on its own chalkboard. She was quite proud of this dish, whose name in Thai is Kauy Tiew Rua. She said that it is also known as "Boating Noodles". I have heard of "Boat Noodles" before, but I never knew exactly what they were. She also said that traditionally in Thailand, these noodles are served with marijuana, but she didn't have any on hand.

Kauy Tiew Rua


This soup was delicious. It had a very flavorful broth, with just the right amount of heat generated by a dollop of siracha that was served atop the noodles. The noodles are vermicelli-like in their thinness and the beef was tender and well flavored by the broth. The beef balls were single bite sized. I don't know where they find those bulls, but I expected the beef balls to be much bigger.

I also ordered some Nam Sod to go along with the noodles. It was very light and clean tasting. I think they might have thrown in an extra helping of peanuts on this batch which for me is a good thing.

Nam Sod


Just as I thought I was finished, Ann brought out a complimentary order of sweet sticky rice with fresh mangoes for desert. She said that they had made it up for the kitchen staff and had some extra that she wanted to share.

Sweet Sticky Rice With Fresh Mangoes


Although it's a little off the beaten path for may LTHers, I think it's worth the trip to Edgebrook to sample Ann's cooking at Elephant Thai. As I have probably said before, I always get the impression that if you had an Aunt from Thailand, this food is probably like what she would serve if you stopped at her house for dinner. An added bonus is that The Chocolate Shoppe is directly across the street for after dinner ice cream treats.

Elephant Thai
5348 W Devon
Chicago, IL
773-467-1168

The Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream
5337 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60646
773-763-9778

stevez wrote:Although it's a little off the beaten path for may LTHers, I think it's worth the trip to Edgebrook to sample Ann's cooking at Elephant Thai. As I have probably said before, I always get the impression that if you had an Aunt from Thailand, this food is probably like what she would serve if you stopped at her house for dinner.

Steve,

I couldn't agree more, Elephant Thai is a spotless, friendly place, run by the very nice Ann, who also happens to be a heck of a cook.

I've also had the pleasure of having Elephant Thai's version of Boat Noodle. A somewhat lighter, though very delicious, version than Spoon Thai or TAC.

Elephant Thai Boat Noodle (Picture taken by Mike G)


Steve and I have been discussing a duck themed dinner with Ann, including Duck Soup and a couple of other preparations. If the Thai Grilled Chicken dinner she put together for a few of us last year is any indication we are in for a real treat.

Elephant Thai Grilled Chicken (Kai Yaang)


Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:

stevez wrote:I've also had the pleasure of having Elephant Thai's version of Boat Noodle. A somewhat lighter, though very delicious, version than Spoon Thai or TAC.

The broth for kũay tĩaw reua, or "boat noodles," at both Spoon Thai and TAC includes blood. It is quite clear from your photo that the broth at Elephant Thai does not.

That is completely understandable. I doubt that blood soup would go over particularly well in the bucolic environs of Edgebrook.


kũay tĩaw reua at TAC Quick

Erik M.