First Look: My Thai in the Central West End

When Basil Spice owner Somying Fox saw a rental vacancy at 4495 Forest Park Ave., in the Central West End, she jumped at the chance to open My Thai, setting aside her role in the upcoming Maplewood restaurant, Thai Table. In fact, she was so eager to join the bustling neighborhood that it only took about a month to formulate a plan and put the concept to work in the 1,400-square-foot space, which seats about 30 people.

Fox said she hopes her customers will get to know Thai culture by experiencing authentic Thai cuisine. “We have really good food in my country. When customers come in, I want them to try [authentic] Thai food over here in America,” she said. “We might be better than in Thailand [because of the] high quality ingredients. Everything is fresh almost every day. We’re so close to Whole Foods that we can go grab something if we run out.”

When planning the menu, Fox was careful to create new recipes – like American fried rice – while retaining a few of Basil Spice’s most popular items, like the pad thai, fried shrimp rolls and crab Rangoon. The restaurant offers vegan and vegetarian options, along with beer, wine and sake.

If you’d like a Thai dish that’s not on the menu, Fox said the restaurant is happy to accommodate requests. My Thai also offers catering and carryout meals, as well as delivery within the city limits.

Lauren Healey is associate editor at Sauce Magazine.