Elmhurst has incredible Thai food: kee mao noodles with Vicks levels of basil flavor, grilled skewers perfect with 10,000 beers, and Esan-style laab that makes your brain sweat. And while Ayada may not rock with a signature dish or style that makes it as memorable as some of the other spots in the neighborhood, it's Elmhurst's best jack-of-all-trades Thai restaurant if you're looking to feed a group. The optimal way to order here is to get a little bit of everything. (Actually, get a lot of everything.) But there are a few dishes that would be unfortunate to skip, like a raw shrimp salad that tastes like a refreshing Thai ceviche. And because you're inevitably going to run into some rich meat on the menu, go for Ayada’s sour, fruity massaman curry. It’s a perfect companion to the crispy pork belly or some beautifully roasted duck—and just another example of Ayada being able to do it all. The more people you come with, the more noodles, curries, and whole-fried fish you can try. Ayada's space makes things easy for a group, with its casual twin dining rooms, quiet indie rock, and $42 bottles of malbec. We usually order enough food for twice the amount of people sitting at the table so everyone gets leftovers. Your friends, cousins, and cousins' friends will thank you. It's not every day a restaurant makes everyone this happy.