Thai Village, Chicago

On the Michelin Bib Gourmand list from 2011–2012 for gourmet value, Thai Village excites palates with traditional Asian cuisine, including many vegetarian options. Behind the restaurant’s carved wooden façade is a bright, exposed-brick dining room with a pressed-tin ceiling and walls speckled with ornately framed art. During warm weather, the restaurant’s outdoor patio allows guests to mingle spicy tastes with no-holds-barred staring contests against the sun.