Eat Fine Design By Khun Kung

Eat Fine Design’s menu is so huge, if you ordered everything, it would probably fill up the whole restaurant, top to bottom. But what’s most striking about this Bucktown spot is the excellent Thai food you can’t find anywhere else. The durian massaman curry with a vanilla-y sweetness is a knockout, while their pad kee mao swaps the typical flat rice noodles for firm, crispy instant cup noodles—cup included for extra charm. The more common dishes are also fantastic, like Hat Yai fried chicken so crispy, you might need earplugs. Prime dinner time is often busy with couples from the area or friends sharing their favorite wine (it’s BYOB), but it’s easy to grab a spot a little later—Eat Fine Design is open until 2am.

Food Rundown

photo credit: John Ringor

Durian Massaman Curry

The usual potatoes in massaman curry are sidelined so durian can have its moment. The result is one of our favorite dishes here—a less starchy curry with a unique sweetness that pairs perfectly with warming spices like star anise, cinnamon, and cardamom.

photo credit: Kuntima Waiyawuth

Fire Noodle Chicago

When this first lands on the table, a few “oohs” and “ahhs” will escape everyone’s mouths. But it’s the excellent flavor that will keep the amazed vocalizations going. As its name suggests, this is indeed spicy, but it’s got a lot more complexity thanks to some garlic, green peppercorns, and crispy basil. You get your choice of protein, too—opt for the immaculately tender beef rib.