Charles Koh
Thaiku, a beloved Ballard restaurant which closed December 23 last year due to property dispute, will set up a pop-up restaurant at its sister venue Copper Gate on Thursday, May 31, from 5pm-midnight. Copper Gate is located at 6301 24th Avenue NW in uptown Ballard.
A popular Ballard staple, Thaiku offered regional, home-style Thai cuisine like no other. “I don’t think you’ll find a better pad Thai anywhere in Seattle,” said the Frommer’s 2011 review. Thaiku’s bar Fu Kun Wu— famed for its herb-infused cocktails (voted one of the “Best Bars in America” by Esquire Magazine and billed as “one of the best kept secrets of the Seattle jazz scene”)— was a haven for jazz musicians and jazz lovers alike. Since Fu Kun Wu’s closure, its resident jazz band, the Fu Kun Wu Trio (with proprietor Jon Alberts on the piano, Jeff Johnson on bass and Tad Britton on drums), relocated to Copper Gate where they play every Thursday night from 8-11pm, making the Thaiku pop-up at this venue a natural decision.
“We all miss Thaiku and Fu Kun Wu,” said Jon Alberts, restaurant proprietor and jazz musician. “We’re still actively looking for the right space to reincarnate. For now, let’s see how this goes.”
Some of Thaiku’s original staff will prepare and serve the meal at the pop-up. Several of the popular dishes will be served, along with a couple of Fu Kun Wu’s signature herb-infused cocktails. Menu items will range from $7-$12.
More Thaiku pop-ups at Copper Gate are planned in the future until its reincarnation. Stay-tuned.
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