Siam Siam — Restaurant in Buffalo Grove

We just enjoyed lunch at Siam Siam and will definitely be back. Our hunt for good Thai food has been disappointing so far, so we were pleasantly surprised to find this place in an unassuming strip mall. It is adjacent from the strip mall that Rivaj is located in, which is another favorite of ours.

I had the unique opportunity during my studies to live in Thailand for about half a year. Once you get exposed to Thai food, you are constantly in search of those bright, balanced flavors that make it so unforgettable.

With that in mind, I applaud this place for keeping authenticity in their food while still making obvious adjustments for the western palate.

Papaya salad - this is the best papaya salad we have had outside of the city. Loved the abundance of whole peanuts (as well as some crushed ones) and the depth of flavor in the fish sauce. Definitely recommend this!

Pad Thai (with Tofu) - I have had stellar pad Thai in the street markets throughout Thailand, so it is hard to find one here that compares. This version was a pretty good contender. The sweetness hits you first, with a hint on spice (we ordered ours medium). I worried it might be a bit too sweet, but contrasted against the tangy papaya salad, it was pretty good. I would definitely order again.

Thai Beef Noodle Soup - if you have been to Thailand, you’ll know there are few things better than the noodle soup stands. The broth is like a warm hug, and you crave it even on hot days. Siam’s beef noodle soup was all the right balance of flavors in a bowl big enough to share. It is not Pho, but has similar characteristics to it. Both my husband and I were not as keen on the beef though, it was a little chewy, but the broth and noodles were good.

Basil Fried Rice (with seafood) - the amount of seafood in this dish was impressive, huge ringlets of soft squid, shrimp, scallops (smaller ones), and fake crab (which I can live without) were perfectly cooked in flavorful rice, basil, and a prominent fish sauce base. My husband really enjoyed this - I was too full to try it but will enjoy the leftovers.

So pleased to know there is a good Thai place outside of the city. Thank you for giving me a little walk down my Thai memory lane with these dishes. We will definitely be back...

We've driven past Siam Siam several times since we moved here in 2020, and we finally tried it tonight. I'm currently kicking myself for not coming here sooner, as the food is phenomenal.

The prices seem steep, but you're paying for quality AND quantity, meaning you're paying for two meals' worth of delicious food. It's worth it, and it's worth visiting multiple times to try as much of the menu as possible. We ordered takeout, so I can't comment on how long it takes for dine in. I assume since they make everything to order, as the food tastes and feels fresh.

I tried the duck curry (no picture this time, I ate it before I remembered to take a picture), and the duck was cooked to perfection (think melt in your mouth). I should have asked for it to be spicier, but it's fantastic as is for those who can't handle heat. 11/10

Moo Ping pork was fantastic. Marinated and seasoned perfectly. 10/10

Green curry was very good. It was creamier than I would prefer (since I love my curry to be crazy hot), but the vegetables and chicken were cooked perfectly. Nothing overcooked or watered down.

Just do yourself a favor and try it once. Their lunch specials looks crazy affordable and delicious, so I can't wait to come back for lunch and see what other dishes taste like.

I can't give this place 10 stars, but 5 will have to do. So...

Food: The food was decent. We had crab Rangoon as an app - and it was good, but I have had better. However their dipping sauce was not good. It was oily and bland not the consistency of most places

I got my usually go to meal - the cashew chicken. It was good but I’ve had better. The chicken was lean with no suspicious pieces and the vegetables were crisp and fresh, just wish it had a bit more flavor and a bit more cashews. The mister got the Mongolian beef and also liked that. The meat was tender with no suspicious meats.

Service: the service was good. It was not busy when we dined. I don’t believe they serve adult beverages, so we drank lots of water.

Atmosphere: the atmosphere was nice too. I liked the tall booths (gave you privacy) and the elephant art on the walls. I did not care for the light music they played lol, but it was softly playing in background.

It’s hard to find a good Thai restaurant in the area. This one is good but for the best must...