Twin Falls thinks this restaurant is ‘to die for.’ It’s making the jump to Boise
An Asian restaurant with a Twin Falls fan base has made the leap to a larger market.
Full-service dining concept Mr. Thai recently took over the shuttered Nara Teriyaki & Wok at 7610 W. State St. in Boise.
Launched in Twin Falls just over a year ago, Mr. Thai has racked up an exceptional Google rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. It is “the spot” for Thai food, a recent review says. The Pad Thai is “to die for,” adds another.
Rocking Idaho’s world in the state’s capital city might be a slightly different challenge. In Boise, Mr. Thai shares a building with fast-casual chains Jersey Mike’s Subs and Chipotle. More important, it’s about a quarter of a mile away from direct competitor Krung Thai restaurant and sushi bar, 7107 W. State St.
Service Manager Polly Lengsrichaem said that Twin Falls customers have been attracted to Mr. Thai’s cuisine because of its authenticity.
“Everything’s fresh,” she said. “And I think comparing to other Thai places, we use a little bit higher quality. We don’t use any kind of frozen meat at all. And that definitely makes a difference right there. I think people can tell when they (taste) good and fresh food.”
Some of Mr. Thai’s most popular menu items are the Thai yellow and red curries, drunken noodles, Pad Thai and wok-fried dishes such as spicy basil and roasted cashew nuts. The Boise menu will be the same as in Twin Falls, Lengsrichaem said, but could feature even more choices. Weekly specials also are planned.
“We’ll be doing a lot of takeout,” she said. The restaurant also will offer catering.
Mr. Thai’s founder and chef, Phiden Prichawai, expanded to Boise for a simple reason, Lengsrichaem said.
“His goal is to open as many locations as he can,” she said, adding that he “would like to bring good food into every town he possibly could.”