Much like Game Sevens are considered the two greatest words in sports, red curry chicken just might be the three greatest words when it comes to comfort food.
It’s been a beloved staple at Thai Away Home, one of Vancouver’s most renowned Thai food restaurants, for going on 30 years. And Vancouver’s love affair with the chain is readily apparent when reading any number of five-star reviews:
“Best Thai food in town. Portions are really good, that is why I keep going to this place. Please keep up the good work.”
“Got takeout, and the wife and I were both very happy with our food. So much so we came back the next evening.”
They are sentiments that aren’t lost on co-owners Mike Hariwongsanupap and Pim Panyathara.
“We get this feedback all the time, and it still gives me goosebumps,” Mike says. “It’s hard to express how much it means to us. Our team can tell when customers are happy with their experience, and it’s a great feeling for all of us.”
Established in 1995 at its flagship location in Cambie Village, the chain has now expanded to five locations across the city:
- Cambie at 17th – 3315 Cambie St.
- Downtown Granville – 1081 Granville St.
- City Square – 555 W 12th Ave #28
- Yaletown @ Club Kitchen – 988 Expo Blvd
- Hastings-Sunrise – 2404 E Hastings St.
That generational staying power has translated into generational appeal, as Thai Away Home’s customer base regularly includes grandparents dining with their children and grandchildren.
“We have one customer who has made a point of telling us that she’s been coming to us for 20 years – she started when she was a teenager and now she has a family,” Mike says. “I can’t tell you how proud we are that people are still coming back like that after all this time.”
Thai Away Home’s ability to stay the course over two decades hasn’t come by way of flashy ads or unnecessary changes to the menu. Instead, Mike and Pim commit to a few foundational basics: fresh ingredients always; a relaxing, warm and welcoming atmosphere; and a commitment to keeping prices reasonable.
Their pad thai, green curry, mango sticky rice and pad see ew are very much go-tos today as they were in 1995.
“The economy can be up or down, but we always make sure our prices are fair,” Pim says. “We focus on top-quality ingredients to create happy experiences, because happy customers are our recipe for success—no matter what's happening in the economy.”
The city’s appetite for all things Thai was recently reflected in Vancouver Is Awesome’s 2024 Stars of Vancouver Readers' Choice Awards, in which Thai Away Home cracked the top three in the Best Thai Food category.
“We are so proud and happy to have won that award,” Mike says. “I think it’s because we invest in our reputation. We don’t jeopardize the experience by buying cheap ingredients or cutting corners. We’ve been here for a long time and we want to be here much longer.”
Thai Away Home is featured in the 2024 Profiles of Excellence Magazine.
