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Western: The Thai stop

The Brown Line’s German hub has a surprising abundance of Thai food.

By Lauren Viera
Published: January 24, 2013

413.rb.ft.brown.western
Opart Thai House restaurant off the Western brown line stop
A plate of Kanom Buang Yuan, a thin omelet with shredded coconut, shrimp, bean sprouts and tofu, at Spoon Thai off the Western brown line stop
Thai iced tea at Thai Oscar off the Western brown line stop
Thai Oscar restaurant off the Western brown line stop
Amy's Candy Bar off the Damen brown line stop
  • Opart Thai House restaurant off the Western brown line stop

    Opart Thai House

    Photo: Allison Williams413.ac.ft.el.brownthai.opart1xSS.jpgOpart Thai House restaurant off the Western brown line stop 160141011
  • A plate of Kanom Buang Yuan, a thin omelet with shredded coconut, shrimp, bean sprouts and tofu, at Spoon Thai off the Western brown line stop

    Spoon Thai

    Photo: Allison Williams413.ac.ft.el.brownthai.spoonThai2xSS.jpgA plate of Kanom Buang Yuan, a thin omelet with shredded coconut, shrimp, bean sprouts and tofu, at Spoon Thai off the Western brown line stop 160141062
  • Thai iced tea at Thai Oscar off the Western brown line stop

    Thai Oscar

    Photo: Allison Williams413.ac.ft.el.brownthai.ThaiOscar2xSS.jpgThai iced tea at Thai Oscar off the Western brown line stop 160141113
  • Thai Oscar restaurant off the Western brown line stop

    Thai Oscar

    Photo: Allison Williams413.ac.ft.el.brownthai.ThaiOscar3xSS.jpgThai Oscar restaurant off the Western brown line stop 160141164
  • Amy's Candy Bar off the Damen brown line stop

    Amy's Candy Bar

    Photo: Erica Gannett413.rb.ft.brown.damen.amyscandyxSS.jpgAmy's Candy Bar off the Damen brown line stop160141215

Opart Thai House

Photo: Allison Williams

Forget Lincoln Avenue’s bevy of brauhauses: No fewer than four unique Thai restaurants are within a quick walk of the Western stop. The standout is tiny, 36-year-old Rosded (2308 W Leland Ave, 773-334-9055) for everything from pad Thai to tender duck panang. Bustling Opart Thai House (4658 N Western Ave, 773-989-8517) serves predictable but good fare. Go for the catfish curry and the Tiger Cry appetizer of charbroiled beef with finger-lickin’ spicy sauce. The menu at Thai Oscar (4638 N Western Ave, 773-878-5922) is split between Thai and Japanese standards, featuring a full sushi menu alongside the curries, pan-fried noodles and noodle soups. Even some Chinese-leaning dishes (cashew chicken, sweet-basil fried rice) are done well. At Spoon Thai (4608 N Western Ave, 773-769-1173), your best bet is the not-so-secret authentic menu. Order adventurously—the northern-style sausage or the fish paste–tinged beef with egg—and you won’t be sorry. Also: Considering all of these restaurants are BYOB, Leland Tap (4662 N Western Ave, 773-561-4109) is a godsend of a slashie, stocking an impressive array of microbrews (including several from Asia) and racks and racks of Greek wine.

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