Anna's Asian Bistro
813 W. Lake St.Chicago, IL 60661
West Loop
312-344-1090
annabistro-online.com
Hours: Lunch, dinner: seven days
Open late: Friday & Saturday till 11
Our Review
The view was a little Hopper-esque at this West Loop spot: the el rolled by above, and Lake Street was in full gritty promenade. Once inside, however, a calm, modernist dining room awaited. My companions remarked on the feng shui of the place; the benches with metallic-accented throw pillows, the vaguely atomic chandelier. We came for a workday lunch and received attentive service. The menu is substantial, and represents a fusion of cuisines from Thailand, Laos, India, and Japan. We wandered through these influences, focused on small plates to share. We started with appetizers and found the generous roti canai with chicken to be an auspicious beginning, its curry sauce nuanced and a perfect consistency for dipping. We ordered the Indian calamari, also with a curry sauce, and cross-dipped with favorable results. My companions shared the seafood-stocked Volcano soup, which one described it as reminiscent of lobster bisque but lighter and fresher due to the coconut milk. We also tried the Anna’s Favorites Sampler: a samosa in an eggroll wrapper, a scallop nestled in a salsa with exquisitely ripe mango (how is that possible in December?), and a coconut-cream dip we all fell in love with. The nam sod was a punchy progression into more traditional Thai cuisine. It was outstanding, with superfresh ingredients, a flavor heavy with lemongrass, and balanced spice. We selected the Ocean Drive, a chef’s signature sushi roll, and were impressed by the size of the roll and the quality of the fish. The spicy mayo and unagi sauces on the plate made soy sauce and wasabi unnecessary. We didn’t make it to pan-Asian, curry, or noodle dishes, and the taste of Anna’s specialties means a return visit to the second half of the menu is in order soon.
Price: $
Payment Type: MasterCard, Visa, AmEx, Discover
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