Sawasdee to Thai Thani!

Local restaurant provides authentic Thai dining experience


For an authentic Thai dining experience in both ambience and cuisine, visit Thai Thani restaurant on International Drive.

“We have the best curry anywhere,” said Nat Sukitjavanich, manager of the family-owned Thai Thani restaurant on International Drive.

Thai Thani has earned the Thai Select Premium award as one of the best Thai restaurants in the country. In fact, Nat said that regular patrons come from around Central Florida and all the way from Titusville for Saturday night dinner. Some of diners’ favorite dishes include pad thai (of course), sizzling duck, and 3 Flavor Fish.

Nat’s parents, who have 35 years of experience in the restaurant industry, own the local Thai Thani and a second of the same name in Tampa. Both offer truly authentic Thai cuisine, a lavishly decorated dining room, and waiters and chefs who moved here directly from Thailand.

“We not only sponsor employees to come work for us, but we bring their spouses and children, too,” Nat said. “It makes for a happy staff and a friendly atmosphere.”

Thai Thani takes “authentic” one step further by presenting the traditional Thai dining experience known as Khantoke. This is when patrons sit on the floor on opulent cushions to eat. There are only four Khantoke dining tables in the Orlando restaurant, so reservations are recommended to have an opportunity to participate in this centuries-old experience. Thai Thani also has a private dining room where up to 40 people can enjoy an intimate atmosphere while eating.

With 8,000 square feet of dining space, Thai Thani in Orlando boasts being “the biggest [Thai restaurant] on the East Coast,” where there is always a table available. The Tampa location is smaller at 5,000 square feet.

Nat pointed out that his restaurants are also popular destinations for drinks and appetizers. The appetizers are flavorful small dishes that include the more common spring, deep-fried egg and summer rolls; fried tofu; and satay. There are also exotic flavors such as tod mann (fish patties with red curry paste) and kwatang na-tang (crispy rice cakes with ground shrimp, peanuts and chicken).

Thai Thani’s website boasts its menu to be “Thai food at its best,” explaining that it captures the essence of the Thai culinary experience. “At the heart of Thai cuisine are the diverse herbs, spices and flavoring that provide the dazzling array of delicious and exotic tastes that make Thai cuisine so unique. Thai cuisine is meant to stimulate and excite the five taste senses: sweet, sour,

hot, salty and neutral.”

 

Thai Thani is open for lunch and dinner. Its soup and salad menu is extensive and presents lighter samplings of Thai midday cuisine. Soups include potak (a savory combination of shrimp, scallops, mussels and squid with mushrooms, tomatoes and lemon grass in a lemony broth) and tom yum goong (a well-known hot and sour spicy soup). For the less adventurous, there is also tofu, won-ton and chicken with rice or noodles soups. Salads feature yum nua with slices of marinated steak, nam sod with sautéed ground pork, and som tom with green papaya.

The restaurant’s large selection of entrées consists of vegetarian dishes as well as fish, chicken and meat. Diners may want to try red, green or yellow curry or one of the house specialties such as Northern Thai tiger tear beef or pan-seared sea bass with grilled shrimp. Both are samples of the incredibly rich cuisine. In addition, duck can be prepared five different ways.

The décor of the restaurants is also worth

For an authentic Thai dining experience in both ambience and cuisine, visit Thai Thani restaurant on International drive.

For an authentic Thai dining experience in both ambience and cuisine, visit Thai Thani restaurant on International drive.

y of mention as it helps to transport diners to the rich and wonderful Thai culture. The warm, relaxing environment and peaceful surroundings of imported antiques and statues, hand-carved tables and tropical plants create a romantic atmosphere. There is also Thai music to set the mood.
Nat emphasized that both restaurants are open every day of the year, and reservations are not required except, of course, for Khantoke dining.

He and his entire family of staff look forward to saying, “sawasdee,” or “welcome,” to every guest who visits.

Thai Thani is located at 11025 International Drive in Orlando and on the water at 615 Channelside Drive in Tampa. For more information, call 407-239-9733 (Orlando) or 813-228-9200 (Tampa). Complete menus can be viewed at thaithani.net on the Web.