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| - I live on the north side of Chicago where there are 3 to 4 good Thai restaurants in a mile radius of one another. We were in for the holidays, and after passing on the 45 minute wait at the B Spot, decided to have dinner at Sweet Mango. What a treat!
It's located across from the McDonalds in a nondescript strip mall.
We started w/ the Mango Wings ($6.95): Chicken wings seasoned and fried to a crisp and served with homemade mango sauce. OK but nothing special.
We also tried the Thai Iced Coffee Martinis ($7), which were delicious. Highly recommend.
My sister had the Tropical Bird's Nest ($17.95 and only available for Friday & Saturday dinner): Combination of shrimp, scallop, chicken with an assortment of vegetables in a mildly spicy Thai special sauce served with sweet potato as a nest. Wonderful presentation and very delicious! A real standout.
I asked for Pad Si Ew ($9.95): Stir fried rice noodles w/ chicken, garlic, chinese broccoli and soy sauce, which is a menu standard at every Thai restaurant in Chicago, but missing from the Sweet Mango menu. I asked the server if the chef would make it as a special request and, to my delight, he willingly obliged. High marks for this level of customer service. Plentiful, tasty and also nicely presented w/ a carrot-flower garnish. It's a simple dish but very satisfying.
We got my brother takeout Shrimp Himaparn ($12.95): Sautéed shrimp with onions, red peppers, mushrooms, snow peas, scallions, pineapple chunks and cashew nuts in a honey lemon sauce, plus extra shrimp for $3. He's a member of the Clean Plate Club.
We indulged in the Sticky Rice w/ Fresh Mango and the Sticky Rice w/ Ginger Ice Cream. Both were ridiculously delicious. As Filipinos, we both really loved the creamy coconut milk in the warm rice. The ginger ice cream offered the perfect balance w/ an interesting spicy finish. Desserts are listed on a separate menu and are not on the takeout menu. Dessert prices range between $5 and $6. We also got a taro bubble tea smoothie. The tapioca balls were on the gritty side, and not as chewy as I prefer.
The dishes are clearly marked on the menu w/ asterisks for *Mild, **Spicy, or ***Very Spicy heat levels, and the kitchen will also adjust the spiciness upon request. The menu is diverse with traditional Thai soups, salads. noodles & fried rice, stir fries, and curries. Protein options include chicken, beef, pork, fish, shrimp & other seafood, duck, and tofu. They offer several vegetarian-specific entrees. The menu also states that they only cook w/ 100% vegetable oil and low sodium soy sauce, and they never use MSG:) Many of the entrees are offered as lunch specials (Mon-Sat 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM and Sun 12 Noon - 3:00 PM), prices range between $7 and $8. Plus, they offer a choice between jasmine or brown rice http://www.sweetmangoohio.com/
Servic was wonderful. The serving staff is young, but professional. Our server (I think her name was Alicia -- and she's Thai) was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. She offered recommendations upon request. Water was refilled frequently and dishes were cleared promptly after each course. We did not feel rushed. A relaxed, enjoyable meal.
The space is tastefully decorated w/ classic Thai art. Warm, cozy and comfortable. I did not check out the bathroom.
Overall, Sweet Mango is a terrific restaurant! The prices are a little bit more expensive than what I am used to paying in Chicago. However, the ambiance, the high quality and freshness of the food and presentation, the scrumptious flavors, and the service made our dining experience worth every penny. In my opinion, the best asian restaurant in the southwest suburbs. We have enjoyed Sweet Mango on several occasions, always enjoyable. We will definitely return for more!
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