Banh Lao & Thai Cuisine — Restaurant in Sycamore Township

We waited and waited and waited…

We stopped by on Saturday, 3/8 at about 1:15 PM for Asian Cuisine Week. The place was small, maybe 8 to 10 tables, and packed. The food smelled wonderful and we were looking forward to Ginger Wings. It was our first rime there!

We were seated after about 5 minutes, so we sat and waited for menus, water, silverware, etc. There were two people taking care of customers, a young guy and a young girl both looked college age.

A group of 4 young guys entered and the female server knew them and greeted them. They sat in the front and waited for a table. We were still waiting for menus, water, silverware, etc.

The table next to us became available and the female server sat her 4 friends down, handed them menus and brought them all drinks! We were still waiting for menus, water, silverware, etc. She never looked our way, her attention was focused on her friends. Meanwhile, there’s a couple with a young child in a stroller waiting to pay, another table that got food but no silverware, and the male server was busy getting orders out for Door Dash and pick up. Apparently he headed towards our table at least twice, but got distracted by customers paying and delivery orders that were ready.

After 45 MINUTES of being ignored, we left, sad and hungry. They probably didn’t...

I strongly recommend reading this review before planning your visit!!!

Service that Shines - 5 Stars: I can't help but commend the impeccable service I experienced during every visit. The staff's friendliness was truly noteworthy and contributed to an enjoyable dining experience.

Aesthetically Pleasing Interior: The restaurant's interior exudes a pleasant ambiance, offering a cozy atmosphere that sets the stage for a delightful meal.

Delightful Culinary Experience, with Room for Improvement: The culinary journey was mostly a hit - the dishes were undeniably delicious. However, there's a glimmer of potential for even greater flavors to be unlocked.

WHY DID I REDUCE A STAR? During a previous visit, I tried the Laab Seen dish, only to be taken aback by an unpleasant odor. Authenticity aside, any dish shouldn't have a malodorous quality. So, be careful what you choose!

While most items on the menu were a culinary triumph, my sole qualm was the shortage of pineapple slices in my fried rice. A touch more attention to detail would have elevated this dish to perfection.

CONFUSED WHAT TO ORDER? For those embarking on their inaugural visit, feel free to consult my attached receipt photo for guidance. Everything was shared between me and my friend, just like any asians do!

Follow...

this place was recommended by a friend. thoroughly disappointing. have to have a chat with my friend and ask them if i did something to insult or harm them based on the suggestion of so-called "banh lao and thai cuisine". my friend and i got two different entrees and they looked and tasted nearly identical. his was a little sweeter than mine but the color of the noodles were both a horrible, off-putting brown of the same type/width noodles and similar flavor even though the dishes should have used different style noodles and sauces. we should have known when they said they up-charged for higher spicyness levels. i have never heard of anywhere charging more for spicyness. i like spicy food, but i opted for a level 3 out of 6 because i didn't want to pay $2 extra for spicy level 4. my friend got a level 2 spicyness and it was difficult to eat for how hot it was. i can't imagine what spicy level 6 would be, but i ate my meal because i paid for it, gosh darn it. it was nearly inedible and destroyed me the next day at the ren faire. i was sweating in the privy stalls, painful ring of fire. awful experience, not worth the high price point and next day liquid guts. on top of everything else, we got a note in our bag about how much jesus loves...