My first memory of this place was looking at the old Taco Bell building they reside in with a dubious eye... then opening the door and having the most delicious scents waft out!
The food is excellent, authentic, good quality food. The Laos Sausages are incredibly tasty, the Pho is really good, and they have the best Pad Thai I've eaten. The beef jerky is just like the jerky I used to make at home, and very tasty. Add a side of sticky rice and some of the tastiest won-ton soup you've ever had and it's a great meal.
The downsides are the dine-in atmosphere is really bad. It's a revamped Taco Bell that looks like someone just tossed a coat of paint on and threw some old tables they had in their basement around. It's not the best environment for eating in. I usually do take out, however, so this doesn't bother me very much, but it's worth mentioning for those looking for a good dine-in experience.
The other downside is the food is EXPENSIVE. While it's generally worth it, the cost is somewhat prohibitive, and someone used to other takeout places may well get some sticker shock. I think the value is pretty good overall, and the quality is top-notch, but price and value are a factor.
That said, it's the best takeout place I've found in Elgin yet for any style of food. You can't really go wrong, just be prepared to pay a premium for the quality they routinely deliver.
I was hoping this restaurant would be all that the other reviews on Yelp claimed it to be, but it wasn't. Mediocre food, terrible atmosphere (obviously was a previous taco bell location they didn't bother redecorating much) and the service was horrid. The only reason I gave this establishment a two star review is because the serving portions we large.
My girl friend ordered the pan fried noddles with chicken and received noodles that were so hard, that they were obviously not cooked!!! She's Thai and my father is an executive chef and the waiter argued, yes argued, that this is the way it's always cooked. Wow!!
While walking to the front desk to pay for our "meal", which she couldn't eat and I regretted paying for, our waiter had the audacity to hit on Sarra, saying "hi there beautiful". Seriously? Never again. It will be my personal vendetta to make note of this experience every time I drive by.
Unfortunately the decor is abysmal but the food is good. I especially like the egg rolls. They have a crisp delicate wrapper and I love the peanut dipping sauce. The pad Thai and pad si ew are exceptional. These dishes are perfectly spiced and the noodles have a great texture. They have an excellent selection of noodle soups. Overall the menu is limited. They don't have any beef or pork selections and they have only one curry selection which is chicken.
Review Source:I've been to White Pearl numerous times. Â Whenever I'm in the Elgin area, I always want to make a stop for some authentic Southeast Asian cuisine.
Everything that I've sampled here at White Pearl is delicious. Â Particular favorites include lap beef, lad na, and eggrolls (they are of the crispy/flaky variety as opposed to the Chinese style). Â Occasionally, I order the papaya salad, but it seems like it is way too spicy at times, so I really have to be in the mood to get it.
There are some major let-downs at White Pearl, unfortunately. Â For one, the decor is absolutely diabolical. Â Even though I'm sure it's clean, the whole place just looks dingy. Â Also, there is no air conditioning--just mini-fans that oscillate and blow napkins, etc. off the table. Â Perhaps worst of all, there is a big-screen TV in the dining room which always seems to be under the control of somebody who has odd taste in television-- if the Bulls are playing the Heat, why are we watching "Man vs. Food," watching some morbidly obese schmuck regurgitate 10 lbs of hot-wings? Â Soccer also seems to be a favorite. Â Bleh. Â In short, it seems that no effort has been put into creating a pleasant dining experience for customers.
Lastly, I'm sad to report that White Pearl recently raised their prices substantially. Â Whereas I would have otherwise given White Pearl a 4/5 rating, I must lower it to a 3/5 since the value has been decreased.
I will limit my visits to White Pearl to once or twice a year after the pricing change, especially since there are other good dining options in Elgin.
I have friends who will drive all the way from the city to check out this place. My expectation was high when I went there. It was probably too high that I was a little disappointed. Papaya Salad and Beef jerky was good. We ordered couple of stir fry noodle types (pad thai and pad-see eaw). I was really disappointed. The noodles were way overcooked. Seafood was really chewy which I assume that it's not fresh. The owner/ staff is friendly and that's probably the only pro i can find.
Review Source:Good pad thai with chicken-- lots of sauce, lots of peanuts, thin noodles. Â Went for lunch with a large group, we were served quickly and with very friendly service. Â Others had the pho and said it was good-- it looks good. Â Atmosphere isn't much to speak of-- it is a converted old-style taco bell. Â So best for lunch or carryout.
Review Source:I'm a lifetime Elginian and have never been to the White Pearl until last night. For the past few years I've actually purposefully avoided it. Â It looks like a fema trailer ate a taco bell, but I can tell you now from experience--do not judge this book by its cover.
The food is awesome and the servers have charisma. The portion sizes are huge and the windows are drafty. There was also a basketball game from 1985 on the flat screen which add a nice, confusing element to the whole scheme.
It's priced moderately and is definitely a place I'd come back to....for carry out.
I use to love to come here a lot for their chicken pad thai, extra peanuts and lime *wink*. Â I also loved their beef lad nar, noodles extra crispy! And they make delicious, fresh papaya salad. But I was not a fan of their pho. The broth is brown and a little fatty for my taste and I always find that there's just one something that is always missing. The service has always been good and food comes out fresh and quick.
Review Source:Wow. Â When I have to travel for work and need to grab food, I never have high expectations. Â Granted, Elgin is not exactly the middle of nowhere, but not knowing the area, I was reluctant to try Asian food before I needed to be at a meeting. Â So glad I checked Yelp and went in because this place is great! Â The menu is huge, the staff is super friendly and although it isa dive inside, it is not like it is filthy or something - just low frills and packed with municipal workers (another good sign) having massive bowls of noodles.
I got a fried rice combination plate and a spring roll and wished I had a cooler or fridge in my car because I totally would have taken the rest home if I didn't have to leave the food in the car for the next 4-5 hours!
I have been going here for 5 years. It's now a family legacy. Egg rolls with the sweet peanut sauce is so good that if i have friends try it for the first time, they will be asking me to bring them some more or will try it themselves. The Pho's broth is good which i cant find in any other Pho restaurants. Place has not changed though. I even think it's still the same tables when i first came here. But if you are looking for good,cheap quality meal. U would recommend it.
102 soup is one of my favorites... Sticky rice plus the beef jerky....NOMM!!!
Delicious! Egg rolls were fresh and cripsy. Not too fried or oily. The sauce was sweet and a touch spicy. the crushed peanuts on top of the sauce were just enough, not too overpowering like some peanut sauces are.
Hubby got seafood pho and loved it. I got the chicken pho. I like the beef broth better than the chicken.
Not much atmosphere, but we were warned. :)
Wow. I just got from lunch here and I'm extremely impressed. I ordered the pho combination (beef meatballs, pork, chicken, tripe, squid, shrimp) soup. It's bright, delicious and savory umami wraps around you like a warm hug on a fresh, breezy day. Dip some fresh lettuce in the broth, drop in some crunchy bean sprouts, add a dash of lime and please don't forget some Siriacha hot sauce (it is beautiful).
All of the other reviewers are correct. The food is amazing -- it's literally a pearl in a dumpy old Taco Bell. But a few bites into your food and you'll forget where you are.
Some basic notes: eating pho (pronounced "fuh") isn't like eating a regular bowl of soup. Here's some great tips below:
A Pho Primer
From <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.phofever.com%2Fprimer.php&s=22098d23624b72f71b5f7615b77438528f092d388580a5d8ebc5fe165601ed67" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.phofever.com/…</a>
Resist the urge to dive into your bowl of pho immediately after it is
placed in front of you. A little patience and adherence to the following
will enhance and enlighten your pho experience.
Step One: Season your pho. Lift your spoon and sample the steamy broth. Mmmm. If the broth is a little bland, add a dash of fish sauce. Not too much, just a little at first and more if you need it. Next, add a sprinkle of black pepper and squeeze an entire wedge of lime into your bowl.
Step Two: Add herbs and sprouts. Add about a handful of beansprouts to your pho. Use your chop-sticks to push them down to the bottom of the bowl. Make sure to submerge any pieces of rare beef that are still pink as well. Next, add 10-12 leaves of Thai Basil to your bowl after removing them from the stems. If your pho restaurant serves saw herb, tear 2-3 of them into one inch long pieces and place them in the pho as well. Add 3-4 slices of serrano chili if you enjoy your pho spicy. Alternately, keep the serrano chili to the side for later use.
Step Three: Prepare for dipping. Squeeze some hoisin sauce and sriracha chili into a small saucer. A 50/50 split is recommended, but use less sriracha if you are sensitive to spicy foods. Mix the two sauces together where they meet along the border using the tip of your chopsticks. Take a taste of your creation.
At this point some like to add a splash of hoisin or sriracha chili to the
broth. Purists frown on this practice, but to each his own.
Step Four: Time to eat. You are now ready to enjoy your pho! Use your chopsticks and spoon to evenly mix all the ingredients in your bowl. Pair pieces of beef with Thai basil, saw herb or a slice of serrano chili - dip into the hoisin sauce / siracha chili mixture you made in Step Three. Don't forget to sip the broth in between bites of noodles and beef. Enjoy!
This is our regular go to place for pho and other noodles since moving to Elgin and not finding many options. It is a great place. It is family run. Recently learned the brothers who work here understand Cantonese. It is tasty. Also the deep fried Lao pork sausage is absolutely fantastic, redolent of lemongrass, crispy, juicy, and fragrant from frying. Have not tried anything else yet but should give it a shot. Purists can dismiss it, but they should bring me and everyone else in Elgin some pho, because we're 40 miles out of Chicago and we're not driving down to Bloomingdale or Uptown just to get a bowl. Or they can just shut up and join us here.
Review Source:This place is a secret hide out! It has pretty good authentic Thai/Viet food. I only get two items when and I go here and both items are superb! I usually go for the Phò or Lad Nah (Crispy). The phò has a great blend of ingredients, so it's very flavorful and the broth will help clear any cold or hang over and it's damn delicious too! The next thing I get is the lad nah. When I say I get it crispy I mean they deep fry the noodle for you and pour the gravy over the noodles. This is to die for and the texture is awesome! I'd give 5 stars but the cleanliness and service could improve a bit. I had they pork egg rolls too and they are delicious as well. I had the phat thai but I didn't like this as it was a bit too sweet for me. But you might like it if you like your phat thai sweet.
Review Source:Absolutely love White Pearl. I know it's in and old Taco Bell but I don't care. Consistently good food and a great change of pace from "traditional" Asian take out. People who give this place a hard time over aesthetics should post reviews on a design site not here where people are simply looking for good food. White Pearl is good food!
Review Source:We tried this place by accident since the other Asian restaurant was closed and we are So Glad we did. This place does Huge bowls of noodles and soups that are very authentic. If your just use to Americanized Chinese food then you need to try a place like this as it will rock your world. This place is very rustic and homey but these are the type of places you find the best food.
I had the Tom Yum soup which was the best Tom Yum soup I have ever had! We are so happy to find an authentic Chinese restaurant close to home. My friend ordered noodles & pork that was also amazing. The portions were large for the price as I would have paid double for the quality.
People who are not into authentic quality food will not get this place. Or if your all about decor and service you just don't get it and you wont get this place. If you are a true foodie and into authentic food I think you will love this place as much as we do.
While in town visiting family, I came here for some quick take-out based on the good reviews I had read on Yelp. Â 4 and 5 stars even! Â Don't get me wrong, I found the staff friendly and polite and it seemed that the place was family-owned and operated (something which I wholly support), but I don't get what all the fuss is about. Â Please note that I am not basing any part of this review on the exterior appearance of the building or interior design.
I ordered some fried spring rolls, tom-yum soup, and chicken pad thai. Â There was nothing spectacular about any of it. Â The fried spring rolls were average, the tom-yum soup was not that good, and the chicken pad thai was just okay. Â Overall, it's not worth going out of your way for this one.
From reading some of the other reviews about this restaurant, I would hope that the majority of people out there don't equate the terms "low-key" and "unmistakeably Asian decor" with a dated and unkept appearance. Â I have been to so many great small Asian restaurants that were well-designed and had a sleek appearance. Â Don't make excuses for a big-screen TV that looks like it came off the set of "Roseanne" flanked by three industrial fans in lieu of an efficient HVAC system for the dining room. Â Also, condiment caddies with Sriracha, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, hot oil, and all the misc. accoutrements on the table of any Asian restaurant / Pho house are about as ubiquitous as salt and pepper shakers at Red Lobster. Â I've found much better AND equally authentic Asian food elsewhere and I'm sure that you can, too.
"PHOking Fantastic"
   Okay now I could not resist.  If you get it, then you'll get this place.  If not  let em draw you the picture.
 Imagine if you will an old Taco Bell building from the 80's, the same shape but no Taco Bell colors.  On the inside the resemeblence falls completely off.  You are there amongst a sea of non-white folks (this is a very good sign). On each tbale is Siricha (a.k.a. Cock Sauce), chopsticks, asian spoons, soy sauce, chili peppers in oil, hoison sauce, etc.
   The food is very good, authentic asian cusisine here. Â
Appetizers of note: Â
 Laos Sausage (picture above from previous yelper).  These things are interesting.  Note I didn't say delicious but the flavor palaate is so unique I irder thenm  every time I being someone new.  I think I appreciate them on a different level each timeI try them. Â
  Egg Rolls* are good - thin crispy, pork and noodles on the inside - you get 6 of these wto an order and the peanut sauce they are served with relaly make them sing. Â
Entrees of Note:
 The Pad Thai is the most authientic you will find - I reccomend the beef myself and extra, extra spicy.  It has an awesome 'unnatural-natural' sheen to them that most white eyes are nto so familiar with now-a-days.  MSG!  Yeah that's right i said it and meant it! (read the data folks this is nowhere near as nasty as reputed).
 The Fried Rice - very tasty and fulof wonderful yummy whatever you get in there (chicken, veggies, bbq pork, etc. Â
 The Pho - Okay white people say it like the work above that is how it is pronounced. It is awesome.  If you do not know what pho is then you are in for a treat.  You see France tried to tkae over Vietnam a few years back (see Vietnam War for reference material) and being that the greatest spoil of war is delicious food this dish was born - a mixture of an old vietnamese dish with heavy french influences equates to an amazing broth served with noodles and a ton of throw them in yourself other options, cabbage, bean sprouts, chilis, etc.  Trust me it is Phoking good!  You also get to choose the meats you want in your Pho - go bold and try the combination - the 'meatballs' are not quite liek anythign I have ever had before and give a very nice fatty flavor to the Pho.  The seafood is alsways fresh in taste and never ppor smelling.  A nice touch (the squid strips  honestly does leave a it to be desired). Â
Price:
 Cheap baby - rela cheap! Â
*The Litmus Test as I have explained previously in reviews.
4.5! Â I had given up long ago looking for authentic Asian cuisine in the burbs. Â Normally, I have to take a train ride into Chinatown, or better yet take a business trip to Hong Kong or Singapore. Â Most of the time though, I usually try to put a meal together in the comfort of my own kitchen. Â This is a great find, and close to work! Â Thanks Yelpers!
Once ya get past the converted Taco Bell façade, you're immediately welcomed by a very simple, but unmistakably Asian décor - with guess what?  Yep - 90% occupied by people with Asian ancestry (find that in a Chinese restaurant in McHenry county).  I might as well have walked into a restaurant in Sha Tin.  The Pho was wonderful - tasty broth, and I love the fact that they have fish sauce, crushed chili peppers in oil, and Sriracha as added condiments that I could liberally roll into the Pho.  The meatballs and beef were very tasty, but they used the fake crab (yeah - please don't).  I also had a spicy shrimp salad that was pleasantly offset by nice amounts of basil.  I wish they'd introduce some Filipino cuisine - pansit maybe?  Stay with the noodle theme? Â
Can't wait to come back - wonder what their Pad Thai is like?
Not an eye catcher from the street but the food is so fresh and nothing I have tried has been less than delicious. Â Their egg rolls are closer to what cookie cutter chinese places call spring rolls but their home made quality and peanut dipping sauce can't be beat. Â Their wonton soup is amazing and I love, love, love that their soups come with fresh veggies to add yourself. Â Cilantro in the fried rice and soups! YUM! They are a little pricier than the run of the mill, generic asian joint but the freshness and flavor can't be beat. Â Soda is by the can. Â Mom and Pop is an understatement. Â There is a charming old man that grows peppers behind the building. Â You can see him tending his plot in the warm months. Â Don't miss this place.
Review Source:[Prologue] I started this review in Feb 2009, and am now just finishing it after going there again today. [Alrighty then...] This place was recommended to us by friends last year and while a bit far for the suburbs (near Elgin Community College), it's worth dropping by if in the area. We've now been there on a couple occasions and have not been disappointed yet. This place was another restaurant in another life [looks Taco Bell-ish], and the furnishings pretty sparse save the big screen TV [pic]....no worries. The place was actually pretty drafty inside and the bathroom downright chilly. Tables are well spaced [lotsa room] as is the waiter service: order then get food that's it. Also not a big fan of the plastic chopsticks. No checks, no AMEX.
This is not strictly Thai, they have a bunch of stuff there and bill themselves as "Authentic Asian Noodle Cuisine"--I would say 1/2 Thai 1/2 Chinese. I was Jonesin' for the Laos Sausage ($6.95 for three) which I remember as being good: and they were again :) Spicy, fresh, and rather large, could actually consider these as a small entree--you'd be missing out if you DIDN'T try these but generally enjoy red meat. Natch, I ordered Pad Kee Mao (Beef, $7.75) with no mushrooms and it was some of the better I had: spiciness was perfect; used red and green hot peppers; Thai Basil and Chinese broccoli; not a lot of residual oil. The spousal unit got the Wonton Soup ($6.50) and it was large, as expected, and rated 8 of 10--guess for a finicky person, that's a pretty good endorsement.
There are the token Tom Yum soups, and some rice dishes (mostly pepper or broccoli and XXXX [meat]), but don't expect a full Thai menu; only one thing is more than a ten-spot. A lot of the people there--probably regulars--seem to get some sort of Pho, so my bet is that's decent as well. I got my typical Diet Coke ($1.25, no refills) and Pooh got the Thai Iced Coffee-Black ($2.50) which she said was pretty good--I'm not a coffee guy so I didn't dare try it. The menu is not exhaustive and you won't get the full restaurant treatment, but the food is tasty, quick, and cheap.
I am definitely a big fan of "hole in the wall" joints, and White Pearl is one of the good ones. Â It's nestled in Elgin, which is a drive for me, but that didn't stop me from wanting to experience this place that offers most asian cuisines from Thailand, Vietnam, etc! Â If you're looking for ambiance, this isn't for you, it's not a wham-bam in your face decor, which I could care less for as long as there's good food. Â Set in an old Taco Bell building, there's no more than about ten tables.
We were immediately greeted and got to choose wherever we wanted to sit. Â No fancy table settings, just the necessities napkins, spicy hot sauce, and soy sauce. Â Food arrived in a timely manner, considering there were eight of us.
I'm not a big Pho fan, so I opted for a favorite of mine, Beef Pad See Ew. Â Prices are great for the quality AND the quantity. Â No complaints here.
Overall-
Cleanliness: Â B
Food: Â A
Presentation: Â B
Prices: Â A
Service: Â A
---------------------
Grade- Â A
Love, Love, Love it! Â Only reason it didn't get 5 stars was that the pad thai was a bit bland. Â The Pho on the other hand, WOW! Â My husband and I both love Thai food and I can eat Pho every week of the whole year.
I asked the waiter which Pho he'd recommend, he named two and when he noticed my hesitation cheerfully stated they could leave out the tripe no problem (sorry, Irish and German - dont' do tripe). Â Good service and wondefful soup. Â
The egg rolls/spring rolls were a treat, crisp without the heavy oily feel you often get with fried food. Â The chicken wonton soup is a winner also. Â Decor is nonexistent, but hey - I'm here for the food.
Been here twice now and both times I had to get the Pho. Â I haven't had great Pho in a long time and it was a must to get in this chili weather. Â The first time I went, the pho was near perfect except the fact that they do not offer basil leaves. Â We also ordered lao beef jerky which went great with sticky rice. Â The place doesn't look like much but the food is the closest to authentic.
The second visit, I once again had Pho but it was saltier and I also tried the laos sausage with sticky rice  which was also very salty.  The pat thai is great, it is less greasy than most places which I prefer.  Would I stop by here again? Definitely a yes!
Thai Ice Tea is also good.
If you want authentic (or at least as close to authentic as you can get in illinois) Thai food this is the place to go. The thing about this place is that they don't only serve Thai food, some of their dishes lean towards teh Laos, Vietnamese and Chinese sides. All of which are very good. It's also a mom & pop joint from what I can tell. The kids run the front end of the restaurant and the parents are in the back cooking and preparing the food.
The food is excellent here. As the other reviewer had mention their Pho is awesome! In case you don't know what Pho isLarge portions, savory broth. If you're not into Pho try their Wonton noodle soup also very good.
If you're not into soup try their main entrees. Start off with their chicken wing appetizer. The wings are huge and spiced with asian spices and deep fried. If you're a little more adventurous try the papaya salad. It's usually spicy so ask for a mild spiciness if you can't handle the heat. Also try the sticky rice with one of the chicken wings. In fact you can probably make an entire meal out of the sticky rice and chicken wings or fried beef. The sticky rice comes in a little colorful bamboo container and you're suppose to use your fingers to scoup out the rice and eat it. This is ok, that's how they do it in Thailand.
Try the Ladna or Pad See-euw they are one of my favorite dishes. Most Thai places americanize it too much and they end up being too sweet or too bland. Here it is cooked how it's suppose to be cooked.
Lastly, they don't serve dessert here but try their ice coffee or ice tea. Both are awesome.
The service here is very good. Smiles all around.
The restaurant itself looks like it might have been an old Taco Bell or something that was converted into a restaurant. The decor he is pretty bland but it looks like they are sprucing it up a bit. They have a huge TV screen inside in case someone wants to watch sports or catch-up on Heros.
I'm half Thai half Laos so I think i have a pretty good knowledge of how Thai/Laos homecooking is like. So if you want a really good homecooked Thai Laos comfort food (that's what I call it) then this is the place to check out!
This is a classic ma and pa shop where the food is served with pride. Â
You cant go wrong with the springrolls - 6 in a serving! Â We also like the Tom Yong soup served with shrimp. Â The seasoning is strong and authentic and will be made as hot as you'd like. Â I also order fresh chopped peppers on the side to crank mine up a bit more.
The Lad Na - chicken with rice noodles and brocelli is excellent. Â The owner is especially proud of her Pho which is served with fresh condiments so you may spice it as you wish.
The service may slip a bit, but there could be a grandkid holding things up... tolerate it for the good food!
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