Thai Orchid opening in Northland: How this family business is getting out of its comfort zone with street food focus

A second location for a longtime Johnson County restaurant is expected to honor the origin story of the family business — building on its menu with a new emphasis on casual Thai street food items and small plates.

Thai Orchid — a Mission, Kansas, restaurant that has been in the Rojjanasrirat family for 26 years — is set to open a new location in the Metro North Crossing development, northeast of U.S. Highway 169 and Barry Road, in October.

“We think the Northland is growing and needs more food selection for the people,” said second-generation owner Jonathan Rojjanasrirat. “We also want to do something fun and new to get out of our comfort zone. We can only offer so much at Thai Orchid Mission due to our limited space.”

“At this location, we know that we have the capacity to do more and be more,” he continued. “And that’s what we want to bring to the Northland — creative and tasty Thai street food.”

Thai Orchid’s Northland storefront is set to fill about 4,000 square feet of space in the 249-apartment complex, alongside other businesses including Third Street Social, KPOT Korean BBQ and Hot Pot, Andy’s Frozen Custard, T-Shotz, and Dutch Bros. Coffee.

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The new location’s enhanced menu will include favorites from the Mission restaurant, including its Pad Thai, Pad Kee Mao, and various curries, but will feature several new items, as well:

• Braised Beef Khao Soi — Northern Thai braised beef curry with egg noodles, garnished with cilantro, shallots, crispy noodles, and pickled cabbage
• Bistro Filet Fried Rice — Garlic fried rice using beef tallow, bistro filet cut of steak on top, served with tiger cry sauce.
• Thai BBQ Chicken — Juicy grilled chicken thigh served with a side of sticky rice and a small bowl of Isaan spicy “Jeaw” sauce
• Tom Yum Wings — Blazing Thai hot wings with Tom Yum soup flavors
• Honey Garlic Soy Ribs — Juicy and tender ribs glazed with honey garlic soy sauce, served with tomatoes and sliced cucumber

Honey Garlic Soy Ribs: Juicy and tender ribs glazed with honey garlic soy sauce, served with tomatoes and sliced cucumber; photo by Parker Anderson

Braised Beef Khao Soi: Northern Thai braised beef curry with egg noodles, garnished with cilantro, shallots, crispy noodles, and pickled cabbage; photo by Parker Anderson

Pongsakorn Sonlila serves as chef for the new Thai Orchid restaurant, hailing from the Roi-et in the Isaan region of Thailand.

“I want the reaction of the people who try our food to be, ‘Wow!…that’s amazing!’ I want them to be pleasantly surprised by the complexity of Thai flavors and spices that we offer,” Rojjanasrirat said. “I want them to feel like they’re visiting a friend’s house, seeing the staff having fun and feeling like they’re well taken care of.”

Rojjanasrirat is responsible for managing day-to-day operations, as well as overseeing the design of the kitchen and dining room, while his wife, Nuttaphat Stonnisgul — who developed many of the menu items at the Mission location — is set to work alongside Sonlila to develop additional menu items.

The Northland restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner on Wednesdays through Mondays (closed Tuesdays).