Humboldt Park residents now have a fresh dining option with the opening of TAAN, a Thai‑inspired restaurant and wine bar located at 2759 W. Augusta Blvd. The venue, whose name means “to eat” in Thai, launched earlier this month and has already attracted a loyal crowd thanks to its inventive menu and community‑driven décor.
Chef‑owner’s vision
Chef and owner Chanita Chayaluk, a Chicago native whose parents arrived in the 1970s, wanted to showcase Thai flavors beyond the familiar noodle and curry dishes that dominate many local menus. “I wanted Chicago to have a cool little Thai wine bar that showcases food outside of the traditional menus we have been seeing,” she explained. The menu changes with the seasons, emphasizing shareable plates that highlight balance of sweet, spicy, and sour flavors.
Menu highlights
Patrons can expect dishes such as deep‑fried sea bass with fish‑sauce caramel, herb dressing, and fries—a plate Chayaluk likens to a popular dessert in its appeal. Other favorites include handmade Sai Oua pork sausages and Makwaen fish‑sauce caramel wings. A new fall menu is slated for release this week, promising comforting, spicy, and warm autumnal flavors.
Wine program
Bar director Craig Langworthy, a trained sommelier, curates a rotating wine list that pairs Midwestern and European wines with the bold Thai flavors. Selections feature a California red called “Big Juicy” with watermelon notes and a California‑based Thai winemaker’s white with elderflower hints. Langworthy notes that the program also highlights emerging regions such as Michigan, which he believes is undervalued.
Community‑focused atmosphere
The restaurant’s décor reflects neighborhood generosity: empty wine bottles, repurposed Italian ceramics, and donated plants fill the dining room. The only overtly Thai element is a photograph of Thailand’s ninth king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, which Chayaluk says represents “Thai‑American” identity.
Team and work‑life balance
TAAN’s kitchen staff includes more than half of the former Segnatore crew, which closed in May, and a core team of seven cooks led by Chef de Cuisine Mark Cerullo, David Hoeng, and Marco Silva. To promote employee well‑being, the restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays, allowing staff to rest and return refreshed.
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., TAAN is already making a mark on the Humboldt Park dining scene, offering residents a place to explore Thai cuisine in a new, communal way.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
