Former Employees Buy Thai Sawadee

When opened in Hilltown Village Center in 2008, it garnered positive reviews and began building a loyal following. The owner decided to sell just last year, giving longtime employees Susan and Chinnapong (Chin) Saicholpitak an idea.

The Saicholpitaks had never owned a restaurant before or even thought about owning one, but the idea niggled at them. Hadn't they worked as both cooks and managers at Thai Sawadee since it opened, plus years of restaurant work before that? Three months later, in January, they made their decision.

“We both knew everything about how it worked—what the potential was,” Chin Saicholpitak said. “We decided to buy it.”

Adhering to the philosophy of “If it ain't broke don't fix it,” the Saicholpitaks have only made minor changes. The new floor makes the room seem larger and brighter, but the Thai decorations—including the statue that stands in the entryway—remain the same. Although a new menu is being developed, for now, the Saicholpitaks are sticking with the original offerings.

One difference is Thai Sawadee used to close from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. between lunch and dinner services. Now it stays open. “Why close?” Susan Saicholpitak said. “We're here anyway, so we decided to stay open. This way, people can come when they want.”

Incorporating generous amounts of curries, chili sauce and galangal (Thai ginger), Thai cuisine is known as being spicier than its Asian counterparts. Chin Saicholpitak said Thai food is heavily influenced by both Chinese and Indian cuisine.

“Noodles and rice are from China, spices and curry from India,” Chin Saicholpitak said. “These were combined with what Thailand offered. It's catching on. Thai food is not so different from Chinese. Thai has strong flavors, and Chinese food does not. This is why Thai cuisine is becoming popular.”

Using fresh ingredients whenever possible doesn't hurt either. The lemongrass soup I sampled had a refreshing brightness in a light but flavorful broth, and the fresh mushrooms and tender bits of chicken were a delight. “We try to use everything fresh, like fresh basil and lemongrass,” Susan Saicholpitak said.

Susan Saicholpitak is Chinese and born in America; she said her husband is the Thai food expert. Chin Saicholpitak was born and raised in Bangkok, where social occasions always revolve around food. The Saicholpitaks are fostering a friendly atmosphere at Thai Sawadee.

“We focus on our customer first,” Chin Saicholpitak said. “We talk about it all the time. We know over half of our customers names or what they order. We spend a lot of time talking to them. We get to know them. We have been practicing this for a long time, even before we became owners.”

Thai Sawadee is located at 171 Hilltown Village Center. Hours are 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday, 4:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday and 4:30-9 p.m. Sunday. For more information, to order carryout or see the menu, visit the Thai Sawadee website.

Try their recipe for lemongrass soup.