When a late-night fire engulfed Avondale’s Manee Thai in early May, reinforcements arrived quickly. And we don’t mean the fire department, though they were on the scene in full force. We’re talking about a whole new restaurant.
After the fire, it was only a matter of months before Manee Thai #2 opened in West Town. (The second spot was in the works before the blaze.) While the owners work to rebuild the old location, with plans to reopen as early as January, the Chicago Avenue spinoff is filling in quite nicely.
Like the Northwest Side original, the new outpost offers better-than-average Thai food (as well as a smattering of Chinese, Japanese and Mongolian dishes) at lower-than-average prices — most are $6.95-$7.50.
You can easily order two entrees and spend less than $20, but to get the most for your money, take advantage of the weekday lunch special. The $6.50 deal, available 11 a.m.-3 p.m., includes an entree plus soup and an appetizer. You’re at the kitchen’s whim on the latter two items (the menu changes daily), though you’ll likely end up with satisfying standards such as egg rolls and tom yum. Entree orders are confined to an abbreviated version of Manee’s regular menu, but you won’t want for options — nearly 30 dishes make the cut.
The kitchen makes a decent pad Thai, but if you like more heat, try the pad khee mao, a.k.a. spicy basil noodles. Or go for the panang curry. Manee’s spicy-sweet version of this coconut milk-based standby is fragrant with curry spices, Thai basil and kafir lime.
Heat levels are fairly tame, but if you ask the kitchen to crank it up, they’re happy to oblige. Of course, then you’ll need a drink to quell the burn. Hot tea ($1) is the practical choice. If you’re up for a splurge, try one of the fruit-and-ice drinks. At $3 each, they might put you over your $20 limit, but it’s worth it — and you can just consider it a donation to the reconstruction fund.
2 for $20
Manee Thai #2
1546-48 W. Chicago Ave.
312-733-3339
What is 2 for $20?
Twice a month, we set out with no more than two Hamiltons in our pocket. The task: Feed two hungry people — and feed them well.
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