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Ma & I
1234 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL map / directions subway directions (312) 663-1234 order delivery| Website: | http://www.maandichicago.com |
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Ma & I is a Thai, Asian, and Family Dining restaurant where most Menuism users came for fun with friends, paid between $10 and $25, and tipped between 15% to 18%.
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Stats
- # of dishes people have entered : 72
- # who want to try this restaurant : 1
- # who have favorited this restaurant : 2
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Reviews
Be a food critic: Write a review
- I came here for
- fun with friends
- My meal cost
- between $10 and $25
- I tipped
- between 15% to 18%
Half-way done with the menu..
If you read my revious review here, you’ll notice that I love this place. The balance of quality food and great prices is unbeatable. I recently came with a pretty large group of 10 people and also had food delivered. I think a few more times and I’ll have tried most of the dishes on the menu :) If you have a large group, they can rearrange some of the smaller tables into a nice long one, just give them a call ahead. Oh, and it’s BYOB so feel free to bring a 30 pack (I’ll let John tell that story) or a few bottles… As for delivery, I think the charge was only $2/2.50 – well worth it on a freezing cold evening.
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Naur Sub
The fat noodles are also good here – they’re wide and soft. This dish isn’t as good as a pad kee mao, but it’s nice way to mix it up.
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Spicy Fried Rice
Definitely filling (a huge mound of rice), but the spicyness prevented me from tasting too much of it – unfortunate. It’s quite spicy so just be forewarned. Thai spicy seems a bit sharper than other spicy so it was painful for me.
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Spring Roll
These were just ok for me because the sauce was a bit overwhelming. It was cut into a bunch of pieces so it also works for groups.
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Pad Kee-Mao
A great dish, but a little spicy. it comes with all kinds of meat that are all very well-sized, fresh and tasty.
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Beef Massaman Curry
Every curry here is great, but this one comes with super soft potatoes – normal and sweet I think. Filling and tasty.
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Salmon Roll
It’s basically like a sliver salmon, wrapped with some basil then fried in tempura batter. It’s really good. Comes with four pieces and not as filling as the big tempura dish, but it’s good fish.
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Kow Soy (Chiang Mai style)
The curry sauce is heavy and very flavorful and if you can handle it, it’s a great dish. It’s not for everyone ;) You may even want to get a side of rice there’s so much curry!
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Tempura
This is a great appetizer. It comes with 3-4 good size shrimp tempura and bunch of other vegetable tempura. The batter isn’t too heavy and the dipping sauce is very sweet. If you need to share with a bunch of people, I recommend this one.
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Red Curry
Got it with chicken – good stuff. Plenty of bamboo shoots and peas. As with most of the curry dishes, you need more rice than they give you so just ask for more or make some at home if you get it for delivery. The curries here are fantastic.
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Thai Iced Coffee
Tastes good, but I think my lactose-intolerance doesn’t like it…need to bring my pills next time :P
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Bird Nest Noodle
The sauce on top of the crispy noodles is very good. This dish is both light and filling with generous portions of meat (I got beef which was pretty tender).
- I came here for
- fun with friends
- My meal cost
- between $10 and $25
- I tipped
- between 15% to 18%
spice up your taste bud
I went to the restaurant w/ some friends, and it is definitely a good place to hang out and grab a bite of some spicy curry or if you perfer, some sweet peanut sauced plates. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed yet elegant and open spaced. It is not over crowded like some popular Italian restaurant. I would say it is a Thai restaurant that worth trying. I personally liked the dish-Tempura, the appetizer, the most because it is freshly made and is extra cryspy. yum.
However, it is not an obvious to find restaurant.
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Pad Kee-Mao
It was nicely done, but way too spicy. I would have loved it if it was toned down a little. I wonder if it’s because my taste bud was not strong enough or the chef was over zealous about the hot pepper.
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Tempura
I really like it. It was hot, cryspy, fresh w/ their shrimps, mushroom and green pepper. The sweet sauce also makes a nice compliment.
good thai in south loop
whenever i’m craving thai, i come here. the dishes are solid, the service is homely (very mom ’n pop feel), and the ambience is modern, clean & very nice.
come w/an empty stomach & ready to eat, and you won’t be disappointed.
My follow-up review for this restaurant. Read my previous review for this restaurant here
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Spring Roll
i give this 3.5 stars. the roll itself is tasty, and not the kind of spring roll that i’m used to. i’d give it 4 stars, but it’s heavily gooped in a sweet sauce that is overpowering. i would order this dish again, though, it’s good (and great for big parties to share).
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Tempura
we got tempura b/c we had a large party (+8), and it was a good recommendation b/c it came w/many many pieces. the tempura batter is light and coated the vegetables just the right amt. tasted very freshly made!
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Pad Kee-Mao
i forgot how SPICY this dish is – too spicy for my delicate stomach! but otherwise, an excellent dish packed w/veggies & shrimp.
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Thai Fried Rice
a mountain of thai fried rice. i thought this dish was just alright. it’d be a good complement to another dish (maybe a curry), but all on its own, a little too lonely/boring to eat by itself.
My follow-up review for this restaurant. Read my previou...
My follow-up review for this restaurant. Read my previous review for this restaurant here
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Summer Roll
neatly made, beautifully presented, and filled w/juicy shrimp. comes w/a sweet dipping sauce. very tasty.
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Millenium Duck
a strange combo of veggie additions (egg noodles, blanched broccoli, mushrooms, asparagus, zucchini, squash, carrots) to the duck, which was dry and drenched in a black gooey sauce. not too crazy about this dish.
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Kow Soy (Chiang Mai style)
crispy egg noodles on top of a rich, flavorful yellow curry. i enjoyed eating this dish w/rice. more than enough curry & noodles for 2. we had leftover curry to take home.
- I came here for
- fun with friends
- My meal cost
- between $10 and $25
- I tipped
- between 15% to 18%
Top Thai in the South Loop - I love it!
Ma & I seems to have snuck into the South Loop without much notice, but I don’t think their low profile should last much longer. In my opinion, I think they have some of the best Thai in the area.
It all starts with the very nice decor. Everything about the place looks and feels nice. The room is open and well lit with large windows. The seats are nice and comfy. The fork is abnormally large and useful for saucy Thai food. These are the little things that help.
The food is great and prices are very reasonable, especially when compared to some of the seemingly unjustified high prices in the South Loop. I thought the ingredients were very fresh and you can tell that thought and care was put into each dish. There are too many asian places that just throw the same ingredients into different sauces – it’s quite a shame.
The location is easy to miss since they don’t have a big sign, but you gotta check it out. It’s right south of Roosevelt on Michigan. Trust me, you’ll have a good meal at a very reasonable price. Stop eating subpar food and getting ripped off at other South Loop asian restaurants and have dinner with Ma & I. Say hi if you see me there :)
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Roasted Duck Curry
I’m usually skeptical of duck dishes like this, but I was totally surprised to find the duck was very tender and good. The curry sauce was awesome. i think i could have just ordered the sauce with rice and been happy. Seriously.
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Pad Kee-Mao
The noodles were very soft and the shrimp was huge and juicy! Chicken was pretty tender as well. My only complaint was the pepper that I bit into. Ouch, that was spicy. It caused me to order the Thai Iced Tea to cool down.
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Thai Iced Tea
I don’t think I’m sophisticated enough to discern different thai iced teas, but this one was definitely good and quite large. It’s a must have to help cool down any spicy dishes.
- I came here for
- a romantic date
- My meal cost
- between $10 and $25
- I tipped
- more than 18%
thai divine
ma & i is bar-none the best thai restaurant i’ve been to in a long time. i will most definitely be returning here, and recommending it to all my friends.
the food is absolutely delicious – rich & flavorful, cooked w/amazingly FRESH ingredients. i’m still in awe of how yummy and satisfying my experience was at ma & i. it’s rekindled my fondness of thai food! (also, portions are comprable to price).
the decor is modern thai, clean, upscale (even the chairs are nice!) – fitting for a romantic dinner date / a group outing / a casual lunch meal. you’ll feel good eating here.
the only con i see fr/this place is parking, which may be difficult to find on the street.
otherwise, i highly recommend ma & i.
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Roasted Duck Curry
does it get any better??? lots of big juicy duck slices and veggies stewed in a richly spiced & flavored curry sauce. mmm…unbelievably good.
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Pad Kee-Mao
loaded w/veggies, succulent shrimp, fresh chicken. comes w/a strong kick – watch out for those hot green peppers!
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Thai Iced Tea
i love a sweet, rich thai iced tea, but this one tasted a little quirkier than what i’m used to….not quite sure what it was, but didn’t sit too well w/my palate.
- I came here for
- fun with friends
- My meal cost
- less than $10
- I tipped
- between 15% to 18%
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