Dharma Thai Garden Nocturnal Dining and Karaoke(chi)

By day Dharma Garden is your typical Thai restaurant that serves typical Thai dishes, but after midnight it turns into a festive food and whiskey gathering, perhaps at times some crazy dancing but always great singing.  It's located on Irving Park and Kedzie hidden between Walgreen's and Duncan Donuts.  Easily acessible off the Irving Park Blueline then a few minutes ride on bus number 80 heading east.  When you do arrive don't make the same mistake I did by not requesting the gringo menu.  They gave me the Thai version which looks like abstract squiggly writings to me.  This is a BYOB establishment but if you do forget there's a liquor store just a spitting distance away.    

Where are you going to find spicy Thai food that serves after midnight?  This is not your typical bar and grill because it's not a bar.  Everyone here brings their own booze and you won't find typical bar food like chicken fingers or buffalo wings.  Over here you can get anything from deep fried pork skin to snails the size of Montana or your typical normal Thai dishes such as spring rolls, spicy papaya salad, variety of soups, sticky rice and desserts such as 'bubble tea' which you will learn about in future blogs. There's other unique dishes that's not on the menu so you must requested it specifically which means if you're an outsider you must have a local with you to obtain these phantom items. http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/dharma-garden/

The Dharma Garden also offers great entertainment such as live bands and karaoke that goes on until four in the a.m.  It has a few futons and ottomans surrounding coffee tables the size of Nicole Kidman's forehead but also a separate dining quarter for a regular table.  It's a great place for friends and family to unwind after a long and brutal work week and catch up on current events.  The drink of choice for most Thai is Johnny Walker which will have you walking straight to the dance floor if you hangout with him long enough.  Typically mix with club soda and ice or if your a weakling like me I may add a few dash of cola to the mix.  Beautiful people and beautiful food with great entertainment, you can't go wrong.  At the end of a festive night please don't forget to pitch in for the bill, I myself tend to forget that part sometimes.

You can also get the same delicious food during lunch and dinner time.  Stop on in and let the ever so kind 'Nikki' greet you with a lovely radiant smile and feed you with care.  So remember, if you're hungry for a sit down cafe after midnight just make your way towards the Garden for a nocturnal dining experience and test out that voice box your mumma gave you.