What’s the hype around Crying Tiger?: A Review

Yenna Chong

A new restaurant has hit the scene in Chicago, and you’ve probably heard about it: Crying Tiger. Even 6 months after their opening, reservations for peak dining hours are taken within a minute of their release at midnight, 3 weeks before the reservation date. On the walk home from the Reg, after a late night of studying during finals week, I checked their website to book a reservation 3 weeks out. And by 12:01 a.m., everything between 5:45 and 8:15 p.m. had gotten snatched up. Tons of people were going, but were unspecific about aspects they enjoyed or didn’t. So, I was curious what the hype was all about and needed to see for myself.

As a party of three, my friends and I each ordered a drink, shared two appetizers, two mains, and a dessert. For drinks, I ordered the jasmine tea and had the opportunity to try my friend’s Thai iced tea. The jasmine tea was light and floral, with a touch of sweetness. As someone who loves floral drinks, even I thought the jasmine was a little too fragrant, and I also couldn’t taste the condensed coconut milk claimed to be in it. Despite that, it was mostly enjoyable. Contrasting with the jasmine tea was the Thai iced tea. It was rich, creamy, and slightly sweeter, yet perfectly emphasized the tea’s natural flavor.

Next up were the apps! We ordered the crispy pork belly and the green papaya salad. The pork belly meat was succulent and juicy, contrasted by the crispiness of the skin. The garlic herb nuom cham was a garlicky, aromatic sauce that balanced the richness of the pork, cutting through the grease.

The papaya salad was a nice, lighter contrast. It was nutty and had a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and salty. The simplicity and lightness of the dressing allowed each ingredient to shine through. The tomatoes, green papaya, and green beans provided diverse textures that made each bite crisp and bright.

Then for the mains: the Crispy Rice Basil Chicken and Short Rib Khao Soi. Among these two, I preferred the chicken, which was topped with a fried egg. Like the pork, the chicken had a delicious crunch on the outside, while the interior meat was tender and soft. The basil and veggies added a balancing vibrance to the dish. If I were to critique a couple of things, it would be that the egg was fried in too much oil, which made it too greasy, and that the yolk wasn’t runny. I think a generic sunny-side-up or over-easy egg would’ve been perfect for this dish because the softness would balance out the crispy chicken, and the runny yolk would add to the complexity of flavors. Maybe it was for presentation’s sake, but too much of the egg white was crisped up and lost its egg characteristics.

The short rib was served in a khao soi curry with noodles and crispy noodles on top. While the beef was soft and the curry was flavorful, I thought the dish was oversalted, so I couldn’t enjoy the aromas of the curry. The regularly cooked noodles were nice and chewy, but I would’ve preferred the dish without the crispy noodles on top. I thought it dulled the dish a bit and added an unnecessary crunch. Generally, this dish was my least favorite of the four.

Last but certainly not least, our group tried the famous Crying Tiger dessert. This was the star of the show; not only was the presentation stunning, but it was also incredibly delicious. I would describe it as banana pudding with a tiger-shaped, hard exterior that seemed made of white chocolate. It was truly decadent and creamy, balanced perfectly with the hard shell. This is most certainly a must-get.

Overall, while Crying Tiger’s food was generally tasty, there were some misses that didn’t quite explain all the excitement surrounding the restaurant. Intriguingly, what I thought was the stand-out point of the restaurant was not necessarily the food, but the ambiance.

The slightly maximalist interior design gave the restaurant a sophisticated feel and complemented the complexity of the dishes. An abundance of flowers and plants adorned the entire place, moody lighting was intentionally set through, and short drapes hung from the ceiling. However, the true spectacle is the beautiful tiger mosaic in the women’s restroom. It is the quintessential photo spot, so much so that I think everyone who enters leaves with a photo in front of it. Hence, the decoration and picturesque ambiance added a lot to our experience at Crying Tiger. My conclusion is not that the restaurant is overhyped, but it certainly is the vibe that amplifies the hype.