Crying Tiger
River North, Chicago
Restaurant in Chicago, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Isan Grill Tradition
Dress
Business Casual
Why go
Crying Tiger is a practical River North pick for flexible evening plans, especially when timing and location matter more than a documented chef, cuisine, or award signal. Use it for casual small-group meetups or late-weekend planning; for a more defined special-occasion meal, compare it against Chicago peers first.
About Crying Tiger
In Chicago, treat Crying Tiger as a practical evening option when the priority is straightforward planning: daily hours beginning at 3 PM, closing at 10 PM Sunday through Thursday, and closing at 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. Plan around the timing and a business-casual dress code rather than a specific cuisine, chef, menu format, price point, or award history.
The main reason to choose it is timing. Hours begin in the afternoon and run into the evening daily, with later closing on Friday and Saturday, so it can fit plans that start after work or continue into a weekend night. Use it when schedule and city location matter more than a deeply defined restaurant narrative.
Use it for flexible Chicago plans, not a trophy dinner
For an explorer who usually books around cuisine depth, chef identity, or a known menu format, this is a cautious yes. Crying Tiger works when flexibility matters more than a highly defined restaurant narrative. If the night needs a clearer culinary identity, compare against other Chicago options in our full Chicago restaurants guide before committing.
Solo diners should view it as a practical Chicago stop when the hours fit the plan. Small groups can also consider it for an evening meet-up, but should make arrangements directly if they need private dining, seating capacity, or a group package.
The smart play is early evening or weekend late
The strongest planning window is either early evening, because Crying Tiger opens at 3 PM daily, or Friday and Saturday later hours, when it remains open until 11 PM. For a tighter itinerary, pair the venue search with our full Chicago bars guide or, if the night includes visitors, our full Chicago hotels guide.
Readers cross-shopping more broadly can also scan other Chicago venues and options such as Barrio, Bodega, Harry Caray's, Kitchen + Kocktails By Kevin Kelley - Chicago, or RPM Steak. For other travel planning, use broader Chicago guides as needed.
Quick reference: consider it for flexible Chicago evenings, especially with its daily 3 PM opening and later Friday-Saturday closing; skip it when the occasion needs a clearly defined cuisine, chef, menu format, price, or award signal.
Planning details
- Location
- 51 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- cryingtiger.com
- Phone
- (312) 736-0183
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Crying Tiger positions itself as a focused Thai destination inside River North’s pressure-cooker dining scene. The copy emphasizes specificity over wiggle-room ambition: this is a kitchen staking a claim on particular Thai preparations rather than trying to be everything to everyone. That posture, coupled with the neighborhood’s high-stakes evenings, gives the restaurant a sophisticated, quietly elevated character. It reads as a place built for meaningful nights out — anniversaries, date nights and business dinners — where the food’s fidelity to its sources matters as much as the occasion.
Best For
This is primarily an evening restaurant tailored to important dinners. The piece explicitly cites anniversary dinners and corporate entertaining as core use cases, and it repeatedly frames the spot as a River North destination for nights when the meal must deliver. Parties of two to four and small groups looking for a memorable Thai-centric dinner are the natural fit: it isn’t presented as a tasting-counter experiment but as a reliably noteworthy option for special occasions, business meals and celebrations in a competitive dining district.
Ordering Tips
Focus your order on dishes that underscore the restaurant’s stated specificity in Thai and Southeast Asian preparations. The write-up and provided signature list highlight the Crying Tiger dessert, Clay Pot Lobster Pad Thai, Prawn Toast and Crispy H.K. Pork Belly as standouts; these are sensible anchors for a dinner meant to feel memorable. Because the venue is framed as a special-occasion destination rather than a tasting-counter experience, pick a few signature plates that showcase the kitchen’s strengths rather than pursuing an extended progression.
Venue details
Ambiance
Vibrant tropical decor with lush forest-inspired elements, warm lighting, energetic music, and an upbeat lively atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Business Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Crying Tiger dessert
- Clay Pot Lobster Pad Thai
- Prawn Toast
- Crispy H.K. Pork Belly
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 51 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to look if Crying Tiger does not fit
If the night needs a more defined splurge, go to RPM Steak. If the group wants a casual, social alternative, compare Barrio and Bodega before deciding.
Restaurant context
How Crying Tiger compares in River North
Crying Tiger is the lower-commitment choice in this set: useful for flexible Hubbard Street plans, but less defined than RPM Steak, which is the clearer splurge pick if the group wants a steakhouse format and is comfortable with a $$$$ bill. Choose Crying Tiger when timing and ease matter; choose RPM Steak when the meal itself needs to carry the night.
Harry Caray's is the safer crowd-pleaser for visitors who want a recognizable Chicago dining stop, while Barrio and Bodega are better cross-shops when the brief is social, casual, and group-friendly. Crying Tiger sits closer to an easy evening fallback than a high-planning reservation.
Kitchen + Kocktails By Kevin Kelley - Chicago is the stronger pick if the group wants a more occasion-driven room. Crying Tiger is better for diners who want a central starting point and do not want the night to revolve around a formal dinner.
Explore Chicago
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Crying Tiger guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Crying Tiger
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crying Tiger | Chicago | , | , | No published awards |
| Harry Caray's | Chicago | , | , | No published awards |
| Barrio | Chicago | , | , | No published awards |
| Bodega | Chicago | , | , | No published awards |
| RPM Steak | Chicago | Steakhouse | $$$$ | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #173World's Best Wine Lists 20252025 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #204World's Best Wine Lists 20242024 Michelin Plate |
| Kitchen + Kocktails By Kevin Kelley - Chicago | Chicago | , | , | No published awards |
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How Crying Tiger Chicago compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crying Tiger good for solo dining?
It can work for a solo plan if the main need is an evening option in Chicago with daily hours starting at 3 PM. Plan around the hours rather than a specific counter, bar, or solo-dining seating style.
Can I eat at the bar at Crying Tiger?
Check bar seating with the venue directly. Crying Tiger runs from 3–10 PM Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and from 3–11 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Can Crying Tiger accommodate groups?
It may be worth considering for an evening plan in Chicago because it is open daily from 3 PM. Groups needing seating capacity, private dining, or a package should arrange those details directly before relying on it.
Is lunch or dinner better at Crying Tiger?
Dinner is the stronger plan. Hours begin at 3 PM daily, so Crying Tiger is not a lunch choice for a traditional midday meal.
Is Crying Tiger good for a special occasion?
It may fit an evening occasion if the hours and business-casual dress code match the plan. If the event calls for a tasting menu, chef-driven format, awards, private dining, or other special-occasion features, compare with options such as Harry Caray's or RPM Steak.
