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Thai · Authentic Northern Thai · Chicago

Glai Baan Menu Prices 2026: Northern Thai Specialties in Chicago

Full Glai Baan menu prices for 2026 -- every Northern Thai specialty, curry, soup, and dessert from chef Ann Shen's acclaimed Rogers Park restaurant. Signature khao soi runs ~$17, Northern Thai specialties ~$14-18, starters ~$11-14. Below: the complete menu, a guide to Northern Thai dishes, vegetarian options, and everything you need to know before visiting.

Chef Ann ShenRogers Park, ChicagoAuthentic Northern ThaiCritically acclaimedKhao soi signature
Jump to full menu Cheapest items
Sample · $$

Signature items

Khao Soi~$17
Gaeng Hang Lay~$18
Miang Kham~$14
Laab Gai~$15
Pla Rad Prik~$20
Jump to: Menu at a glance Northern Thai specialties Vegetarian options About Glai Baan FAQ
Quick answers

Common Glai Baan menu questions, answered

The four things people most often look up about Glai Baan -- answered in one glance.

Signature dish
Khao Soi ~$17

Northern Thai coconut curry noodle soup. The dish Glai Baan is best known for.

Vegan signature
Khao Soi Tofu ~$15

The vegan version of the khao soi. Full depth of flavor, fully plant-based.

Most adventurous pick
Miang Kham ~$14

Betel leaf wraps with coconut, ginger, lime. A dish rarely found in the U.S.

Best starter
Sai Oua ~$13

Northern Thai pork sausage from Chiang Mai tradition. Bold and aromatic.

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Starters & Snacks6 itemsSoups3 itemsNorthern Thai Specialties5 itemsCurries & Mains5 itemsRice & Noodles3 itemsDesserts2 items
Full priced menu

Every item on the Glai Baan menu (2026 prices)

All categories below. Prices are estimates -- confirm with the restaurant. Menu changes seasonally.

Most popular

Most-ordered items at Glai Baan

The dishes that have made Glai Baan one of Chicago's most acclaimed Thai restaurants -- ranked by reputation and customer demand.

  1. 1Khao SoiGlai Baan's signature. Northern Thai coconut curry noodle soup with braised chicken.~$17
  2. 2Laab GaiNorthern Thai minced chicken salad with toasted rice powder and herbs. Intensely flavored.~$15
  3. 3Miang KhamBetel leaf wraps with coconut, ginger, lime, peanuts, and tamarind. One-bite flavor bombs.~$14
  4. 4Gaeng Hang LayBurmese-influenced Northern Thai pork belly curry. Rare, rich, and deeply aromatic.~$18
  5. 5Sai OuaNorthern Thai pork sausage -- Chiang Mai street food tradition. Crispy and fragrant.~$13
  6. 6Khao Niao MamuangMango sticky rice. The best way to end a Northern Thai meal.~$10
Northern Thai specialties

A guide to Glai Baan's Northern Thai dishes

Most American Thai restaurants serve Central Thai cuisine. Glai Baan specializes in the distinct food culture of Northern Thailand -- here's what to know before you order.

~$17 · Glai Baan's signature

Khao Soi

The dish that defines Northern Thai cuisine and Glai Baan's menu. Egg noodles in a rich coconut curry broth with braised chicken, topped with crispy fried noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots, and lime. The dish originated in Chiang Mai and shows Burmese influence -- it is uncommon at most American Thai restaurants. Glai Baan's version is consistently praised as one of the finest in Chicago. A vegan tofu version is also available (~$15).

~$15 · Bold and herbaceous

Laab Gai

Northern Thai minced chicken salad dressed with toasted rice powder, dried chilies, fish sauce, lime, shallots, mint, and cilantro. The Northern Thai style of laab is drier, more powerfully spiced, and more complex than the Isan version. The toasted rice powder adds a distinctive nutty crunch. This is one of the dishes that most separates Glai Baan from standard Thai restaurants in the U.S.

~$18 · Rare and rich

Gaeng Hang Lay

A Burmese-influenced Northern Thai pork belly curry that is a pillar of Chiang Mai cuisine. Slow-cooked pork in a paste of dried chilies, ginger, turmeric, garlic, shallots, and tamarind -- the flavors are deep, slightly sweet, and aromatic in a way that is completely distinct from coconut-based Thai curries. Rarely found outside Northern Thailand or specialist Thai restaurants.

~$14 · One-bite wonder

Miang Kham

A Northern Thai snack where betel leaves are filled with toasted coconut, ginger, lime, dried shrimp, peanuts, and sweet tamarind sauce, then folded and eaten whole. The single bite delivers sweet, sour, salty, crunchy, and herbal notes simultaneously. It's one of the most theatrical and flavor-dense items on the menu and virtually impossible to find at other restaurants in Chicago.

Northern Thai cuisine vs. Central Thai: what's different

The Thai food most Americans know -- pad thai, green curry, tom yum, and massaman -- is Central Thai cuisine from Bangkok and the central plains. Northern Thai cuisine, from Chiang Mai and the mountainous north, is distinct in character: less coconut milk, more dried spices, stronger Burmese and Yunnan Chinese influences, and a reliance on fermented ingredients like naem (sour pork) and fermented soybean paste.

The staple starch is sticky rice (not jasmine), and dishes are designed to be scooped with the fingers. The heat comes primarily from dried chilies rather than fresh, and many dishes use toasted rice powder as a thickener and textural element. Glai Baan is one of very few restaurants in the United States focused on this regional tradition.

  • Staple starch: sticky rice (not jasmine)
  • Curry style: less coconut, more dried spice
  • Burmese influence: gaeng hang lay, khao soi
  • Key technique: toasted rice powder in salads
  • Fermented ingredients: naem, soybean paste
  • Heat source: dried chilies, spice pastes
Vegetarian & vegan guide

Vegetarian and vegan options at Glai Baan

Glai Baan's Northern Thai menu has a meaningful plant-based selection, with several dishes that are vegan by nature.

Vegan highlights include miang kham (~$14) -- the betel leaf snack -- yam hed mushroom salad (~$12), tom kha hed (~$13) (mushroom coconut soup), khao soi tofu (~$15), stir-fried morning glory (~$12), and mango sticky rice (~$10). Sticky rice (~$4) and jasmine rice (~$3) are also vegan.

Important note: Many Thai dishes use fish sauce, shrimp paste, or dried shrimp in their base pastes. Diners with strict vegan requirements should ask the server to confirm which dishes are fully plant-based. The restaurant is small and chef-driven, so modifications may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis.

  • Vegan: Miang Kham (~$14), Yam Hed (~$12)
  • Vegan: Tom Kha Hed (~$13), Khao Soi Tofu (~$15)
  • Vegan: Morning Glory (~$12), Mango Sticky Rice (~$10)
  • Vegetarian: Spring Rolls (~$11), Pad Thai veg (~$14)
  • Confirm fish sauce/shrimp paste with server for strict vegan needs
  • Menu changes seasonally -- check current menu at glaibaan.com
About Glai Baan

Far from home: authentic Northern Thai cuisine in Chicago's Rogers Park.

Glai Baan -- which translates to "far from home" in Thai -- is chef Ann Shen's love letter to the food of Northern Thailand. Located in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, Glai Baan opened with a mission to bring the rarely represented cuisine of Chiang Mai and the Northern Thai highlands to an American audience without compromise.

Chef Shen's menu focuses on dishes that are deeply rooted in Northern Thai culinary tradition -- khao soi, the regional coconut curry noodle soup; laab in the dry, spiced Northern style; gaeng hang lay, the Burmese-influenced pork belly curry; miang kham, the betel leaf snack; and sai oua, the fragrant Northern Thai sausage. These dishes are rarely found at Thai restaurants outside of Chiang Mai.

Glai Baan has been recognized by major food publications as one of Chicago's best Thai restaurants and one of the most important regional Thai dining destinations in the United States.

Rogers ParkChicago neighborhood
$$Price tier
Northern ThaiRegional focus
Ann ShenChef / owner
Ordering tips

How to order at Glai Baan

First visit

Start with the khao soi

On your first visit, order the khao soi (~$17). It's Glai Baan's signature and one of the defining dishes of Northern Thai cuisine. The crispy noodle topping, coconut broth, and pickled mustard greens are a complete flavor experience in one bowl.

Go adventurous

Order dishes you can't find elsewhere

Miang kham, sai oua, gaeng hang lay, and nam prik ong are virtually impossible to find at other Thai restaurants in the U.S. These are the dishes that make Glai Baan worth the trip -- don't order pad thai on your first visit.

Heat level

Authentic Thai spice -- plan accordingly

Glai Baan serves food at real Thai spice levels. If you're spice-sensitive, ask your server before ordering items marked spicy. The miang kham, spring rolls, tom kha hed, sticky rice, and desserts are mild or non-spicy options.

Reservations

Book ahead -- this is a small restaurant

Glai Baan is a small, chef-driven restaurant in Rogers Park. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially Thursday through Saturday. Check availability at glaibaan.com before you go.

Sharing style

Order several dishes and share

Northern Thai dining is communal by tradition. Order the sticky rice (~$4) and share two or three dishes at the table -- the nam prik ong, laab gai, and a curry make a well-rounded spread.

Dessert

Don't skip the mango sticky rice

The khao niao mamuang (~$10) -- mango sticky rice with coconut cream -- is one of the great Thai desserts. It's a gentle, fragrant finish after the bold, spiced flavors of the savory courses.

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Common questions

Glai Baan menu -- frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the most commonly searched questions about Glai Baan's menu, khao soi, Northern Thai cuisine, and dining in Rogers Park.

What is Glai Baan Chicago?

Glai Baan is a critically acclaimed authentic Thai restaurant in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, helmed by chef Ann Shen. The name 'Glai Baan' means 'far from home' in Thai, reflecting the restaurant's mission to authentically transport diners to Northern Thailand. Glai Baan is widely recognized as one of Chicago's best Thai restaurants by major food publications, and stands out for its focus on Northern Thai dishes that are rarely found at other Thai restaurants in the United States -- particularly khao soi, laab, miang kham, and traditional Northern Thai curries.

What is khao soi?

Khao soi is the signature dish of Northern Thailand (particularly Chiang Mai) and Glai Baan's most iconic menu item. It is a coconut curry noodle soup made with egg noodles in a rich, aromatic broth of coconut milk and red curry paste, topped with braised chicken, a tangle of crispy deep-fried egg noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots, and lime. The dish shows Burmese culinary influence from when Burma and Northern Thailand shared cultural connections. At Glai Baan, khao soi is priced at ~$17 (chicken) or ~$15 (tofu, vegan). It is consistently described as one of the best versions of khao soi in Chicago.

What makes Glai Baan different from other Thai restaurants?

Glai Baan is differentiated in several important ways:

  • Northern Thai focus: Most Thai restaurants in the U.S. serve Central Thai dishes (pad thai, green curry, tom yum). Glai Baan specializes in Northern Thai cuisine from the Chiang Mai region -- dishes like khao soi, laab, miang kham, gaeng hang lay (Burmese-influenced pork curry), and sai oua (Northern Thai sausage).
  • Chef-driven: Chef Ann Shen brings personal connection and culinary expertise to the Northern Thai tradition, using house-made curry pastes and authentic techniques.
  • Critical recognition: Glai Baan has been featured in major food publications as one of Chicago's best Thai restaurants.
  • Rare dishes: Items like miang kham, gaeng om, nam prik ong, and gaeng hang lay are virtually impossible to find at other Thai restaurants in the U.S.
Is Glai Baan vegetarian-friendly?

Glai Baan has a reasonable selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes, particularly from Northern Thailand's plant-forward snacking tradition. Vegan options include: miang kham (~$14), yam hed mushroom salad (~$12), tom kha hed (mushroom coconut soup, ~$13), khao soi tofu (~$15), stir-fried morning glory (~$12), sticky rice (~$4), jasmine rice (~$3), mango sticky rice (~$10), and coconut ice cream (~$8). Vegetarian options include spring rolls (~$11) and vegetable pad thai (~$14). Note that Thai cooking often uses fish sauce and shrimp paste in curry pastes -- diners with strict dietary requirements should confirm with the restaurant which dishes are fully plant-based.

Where is Glai Baan located in Chicago?

Glai Baan is located in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood on the Far North Side. Rogers Park is one of Chicago's most culturally diverse neighborhoods and has a growing restaurant scene. For the current address, hours, and reservation information, visit the official website at glaibaan.com. Glai Baan is a small, independent restaurant -- reservations are strongly recommended, especially on weekends. The restaurant is accessible via CTA transit.

How spicy is the food at Glai Baan?

Glai Baan serves authentic Thai spice levels -- which tend to be significantly hotter than the adjusted heat levels at Americanized Thai restaurants. Northern Thai cuisine in particular uses dried chilies, fresh Thai chilies, and chili pastes in many dishes. Items marked 'spicy' on the menu -- including khao soi, laab gai, sai oua, gaeng hang lay, and most starters -- carry genuine heat. If you are spice-sensitive, inform your server and ask about heat levels when ordering. Some dishes (like khao soi) can be moderated. The miang kham, spring rolls, tom kha hed, sticky rice, and desserts are milder or non-spicy options. Glai Baan does not water down its dishes to American chain standards -- this is part of its appeal to diners seeking authentic Northern Thai flavors.

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