When did Thai food come to Denver, and how has it evolved?
Thai food seems to be getting more and more popular these days. I remember my first experience in Pittsburgh eating Pad See Yew, and it was absolutely delightful! Denver happens to have some pretty great Thai food options as well. Funnily enough, Denver is supposedly home to the first Thai restaurant in America—who knew! If you're curious about some of the Thai restaurants Denver has to offer, read on to learn more. Let's take a closer look at the history of some of the Thai restaurants in Denver:
Chada Thai
Some sources also refer to the original Thai spot in Denver as the Chada Room or the Chada Cafe. Said to be the first Thai restaurant to hit the scene in the United States, Chada Thai opened around 1960 right here in Denver. It was owned by Lai-iad "Lily" Chittivej, who was originally from Thailand. Lily even had a cookbook of popular restaurant recipes, though it does not seem to still be in print today.
Chada Thai has since changed location and ownership. You can, however, find one of the original recipes and a first-hand account of the dining experience here.
Daughter Thai
As the times have changed, modern touches have been added to the classics. Daughter Thai is the perfect example of this. This is one of the newer Thai restaurants in Denver, as it opened in 2019. Chef and owner Ounjit Hardacre grew up in Thailand, and she previously owned a noodle cafe in Bangkok before going to work in some of the top Thai restaurants in San Francisco. She also initially owned a restaurant in Golden called Citizen Thai Bistro prior to bringing Daughter Thai to Denver.
Daughter Thai delivers on great food and a lovely environment for its diners, decorated with Thai-inspired artwork. Hardacre aims to educate people on Thai food done correctly and with intention. She also adds some updated twists to menu items, such as The Lamb Massaman Curry. This dish uses Colorado lamb and lychee. At Daughter Thai, both authentic Thai cuisine and contemporary Colorado-style touches can be found. Oh, and don't forget about their selection of cocktails!
Chao Praya Thai and Erawan Thai Cafe
Lily's son, Pop, opened up Chao Praya in 1975, which he ran with his wife, Nita. Pop ultimately passed away, and Nita closed the restaurant in 2000. This was not the end for the Chittivej tradition, however. Arthur (Art) Suthihanin, Nita's brother, had worked in the kitchen at Chao Praya in Commerce City. He later opened Erawan Thai Cafe with his wife, Linda, in 1979. Unfortunately, Linda also passed away in 1993.
You can still find Art at the Erawan Thai Cafe, cooking up his family's recipes.
Tommy's Thai
Tommy's Thai, located on E. Colfax, is a family-owned business that opened in 1988. They remain up-to-date and have vegan and gluten-free items available. They even offer free delivery if you live within a certain radius. Tommy's Thai also features a beautiful mural that fits into the Denver culture perfectly. Westword awarded them Best Thai Curries back in 2005.
Denver has many interesting Thai restaurants, and this is only just a taste! Who knew we had the first Thai restaurant in the country? Today, there are many options for some tasty Thai food in our community, with authentic cuisine and modern touches.
Let us know your favorite Denver Thai restaurant in the comments below!