Little Bites: More Thai, Oh My!: Longtime members of the Thai restaurant community branch out

Angel Thai is opening a second location on the westside. The restaurant has been operated out of its Division Street location for about five years after a relocation from La Pine. The new restaurant will open in the former Sumi’s space on College Way near the Chevron gas station.

This second incarnation will be slightly more upscale, said Alley Kelley, an employee of Angel Thai, which is owned by Nicole Srijunyanont and Bee Wongsri. Wongsri also recently opened a food cart that often sets up shop in the Players parking lot.

The menu will be largely similar to what patrons have come to expect from Angel Thai’s midtown location, but with a few new items, said Kelley.

“I’m not going to disclose them,” said Kelley. “Hopefully it will be a surprise to get people in.”

Sumi Douglas, who owned Sumi’s Japanese restaurant, closed her place in order to spend more time with family outside the area, said Kelley.

The owners of Angel Thai have hired several new employees for the restaurant, but are also bringing friends and family in from Thailand to run the kitchen.

“I think that means a lot,” said Kelley. “There’s real Thais in the back doing the cooking.”

The restaurant will open June 12. (EFM)

New Thai Food Cart Downtown

The daughter of the operator of Taste of Thailand, the well-loved drive-thru near Greenwood Avenue and 8th Street, has opened her own food cart in recent months. The cart is now located in downtown Bend near the corner of Oregon Avenue and Bond Street.

Pimonpan Bentz, who worked with her family at Taste of Thailand for many years, is serving reliable favorites like pad Thai, lemongrass soup, stir frys and curries that change daily. Most items are $7.

“I enjoy cooking,” said Bentz. “I opened on my own because I had to try new things and wanted to be my own boss.”

Her food cart, called Thai on the Fly, is open in the space every day except Sunday for lunch, and also open Friday and Saturday nights during the dinner hour. (EFM)

This article appears in Jun 7-13, 2012.