Let’s throwback to 1986…Top Gun was the highest grossing film of the year. The average Vancouver home price was about $120k. The SuperBowl Shuffle was a thing. The Oprah Winfrey Show debuted. And, Thai House Restaurant Group opened it’s first location on Robson Street.
Photo Credit: Thai House
The Thai House Restaurant Group’s story started in 1986, when Founder Patrick Chen took a trip to Thailand and was inspired by the country’s beautiful cuisine and culture, kicking off a life-long passion for Thai food. He had emigrated from Hong Kong in the early 70s, and in the early 80’s opened one of Richmond’s first Chinese Seafood restaurants, Unicorn. This trip to Thailand led Patrick to open the first Thai House location during Expo 86. The single Robson Street restaurant steadily grew to more locations and concepts.
Patrick’s son, Desmond Chen, started working at Thai House Robson at the age of 13. Desmond learned the business from the ground up, working his way through the ranks as a kitchen helper, delivery driver, waiter, saucier and more- gaining experience in all aspects of the company. Like his father, Desmond’s true passion for Thai cuisine was sparked during annual trips to the country. Desmond was inspired to introduce Vancouverites to a new approach to Thai food, and in 2000 at the age of 27, introduced Urban Thai Bistro in a then unknown area called Yaletown.
Photo Credit: Thai House
To celebrate and say thank you for 30 years of customer support, Thai House is reintroducing menu pricing from 1986, as a nod to where it all started! Available throughout the month of November at the Thai House Kitsilano, North Vancouver and Richmond locations, the 30th Anniversary Menu highlights the most popular dishes throughout the past three decades.
The tasting menu for two, for $30, includes:
- Two servings of Spring Rolls
- Vegetarian, deep-fried and served with homemade sweet chili sauce (1986 pricing: $2.98)
- Two bowls of Tom Yum Goong
- Hot & sour noodle soup with tiger prawns, mushrooms, lemongrass & Thai spices (1986 pricing: $5.95)
- Kaeng Kiew Waan
- Green curry chicken with coconut milk, fresh basil, eggplant and bell peppers (1986 pricing: $9.95)
- Pad Ma-Mung Him Ma-Pan
- Sauteed chicken with mixed vegetables and cashew nuts (1986 pricing: $9.95)
- Two bowls of Steamed Jasmine Rice with Coconut Milk (1986 pricing: $2.00)
Photo Credit: Thai House
For more information, visit: thaihouse.com.