New Thai Restaurant Opens In Lincoln Square

CHICAGO, IL — Green Leaf Thai Cuisine opened its doors Monday in Lincoln Square. The new restaurant has taken over the former Opart Thai House spot at 4658 N. Western Avenue. Green Leaf will continue the Thai food legacy with a focus on regional fare from Northern Thailand.

Deer Udompaichitkul, the son of former Opart chef Rattiya Udompaichitkul, said his family is excited about opening the new eatery.

"It took five weeks of hard work and lots of patience to finally be ready to open our new restaurant," he said.

"You learn so many valuable lessons along the way and become even closer with your family. The time has finally arrived to open our doors to the Lincoln Square neighborhood and let everyone try our new signature dishes."

The new restaurant will remain BYOB like its predecessor and include many dishes from the Opart menu, but add new options such as som tum gaiyang (marinated chicken, papaya salad and sticky rice) and meerkarti (stir-fried pink noodles, onion, tofu and shrimp).

Green Leaf Thai will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Opart Thai House closed after 34 years in Lincoln Square. Opart's co-founder Mookda Punmit remains close to the Udompaichitkul family and is happy that the Thai food legacy remains at the spot, the family said.

Top photos courtesy of Green Leaf Thai Cuisine