Homegrown herbs, peppers and tomatoes are just some of the reasons to head to the Bangkok Cafe of Arlington Heights. Others include ample portions of well-prepared food, a cozy atmosphere and great prices.
Owner Kim Cho took over the small, 40-seat restaurant–located in a strip mall about a half block north of Golf and Arlington Heights Roads–from her nephew last May. Cho, who worked in the food and beverage department for the Hyatt Hotel chain in Chicago for 17 years, dedicates herself to the garden and to running an efficient restaurant.
Last summer customers raved about her fresh, organically-grown produce. So this year Cho has planted an even larger garden of herbs, tomatoes, Thai peppers and other vegetables for use in the restaurant. At the end of the season, Cho says, she dries herbs and freezes some of the vegetables for the winter. Cho’s garden also provides the flowers that considerably brighten the plain room crowded with small, oilcloth-covered tables.
Even first-time Thai diners will feel comfortable at Bangkok Cafe, with its straightforward menu dotted with chili pepper illustrations to designate spicy food choices.
Satay, the classic skewered appetizer of boneless chicken, beef or pork ($4.95), offers a good start to the meal. The chicken version packs lots of flavor into the moist strips of breast meat while the accompanying peanut sauce sports a little kick from hot chilies. Sweet and tangy marinated cucumbers help cool the palate.
Two large spring rolls ($3.50) are cut into serving portions to adequately offer four diners a taste. The tender wrappers arrive filled with fresh bean sprouts, cucumber and tofu and topped with a slightly sticky, sweet plum sauce.
The Bangkok crab appetizer (six pieces for $3.75), consists of won-ton wrappers filled with a rich center of cream cheese, crab and garlic and then deep-fried. A quick dunk in the bowl of vinegary-sweet sauce helps cut the richness.
Bangkok Cafe’s pad Thai should not be missed. This perennial favorite is concocted from a combination of Cho’s family recipes. The ample portion ($4.25) of mild, stir-fried rice noodles gets its wonderful flavor from shredded chicken, tamarind, crunchy bean sprouts, scrambled egg and freshly ground peanuts.
The bright yellow curry fried rice (it can include chicken, beef or pork for $4.50) offers a large portion of nicely cooked and highly seasoned rice. Sliced fresh cucumbers do more than just make the plate look pretty–they help cool the intense curry rush.
House specialties we enjoyed include ginger chicken ($4.75)–chunks of moist, stir-fried chicken with fresh ginger, mushrooms, sliced onions and a smidgen of heat from chili peppers. The pepper steak ($4.35), made from strips of tender, lean beef and straw mushrooms, pea pods and water chestnuts, is marred only by an excessive amount of sauce.
Service is brisk–especially on a busy Saturday night when a line forms–but diners never feel rushed; Cho sees to that.
Beverages include the traditional Thai iced coffee or iced tea with sweetened milk (each $1.50), along with soft drinks (85 cents) and hot jasmine tea (65 cents). Bring your own beer and wine if that’s your choice to cool the heat.
The menu lists cooked banana in coconut milk and various fruits, including lychees, rambutans and longans in syrup for dessert, each $2, but we were satisfied with the sweet coffee.
Bangkok Cafe of Arlington Heights
(2 forks)
39 E. Golf Terrace, Arlington Heights, Ill. 60005 708-437-3870
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Thu.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Closed Sun.
Credit cards: MC, V Carryout available, wheelchair accessible, reservations accepted
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RATINGS KEY: 4 forks: Top of the class 3 forks: Better than most 2 forks: Very good fare 1 fork: Middle of the road.
