Charles Koh
All the true things must change and only that which changes remains true. -Carl Jung
After closing its doors nearly a year ago, Thaiku— a beloved Thai restaurant formerly located on Ballard Avenue— will reincarnate on Phinney Ridge, with the location to be unveiled as the opening gets closer. The opening date is planned for early 2013.
A selection of Thaiku’s favorite dishes will be offered, in addition to a more specific genre of authentic Thai cuisine based on original family recipes. The bar will offer the herb-infused cocktails from Fu Kun Wu, Thaiku’s former resident bar, along with new Thai-inspired libations.
General manager Unchalee “O” Ayucharoen says, “Our family of staff continues the commitment to the authentic culinary and cultural traditions of Thailand while our restaurant evolves. We are humbled to offer this unique culinary experience to our loyal customers and new friends in our new home.”
“We’re excited for what’s ahead for Thaiku,” Ayucharoen adds. “We’re ready to get back to work.”
More details will follow as the opening approaches. For updates, visit Thaiku’s website at http://thaiku.com and follow us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/thaikuballard.
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Background:
Thaiku, a popular Ballard staple, closed its doors on December 23 last year due to a property dispute after nearly a decade of existence at its old location. Resilient as a restaurant can be, Thaiku was a reincarnation of proprietor Jon Alberts’s Fremont Noodle House, which operated from 1995 until it was forced to relocate in 2001. On May 31st of this year, Thaiku set up a very successful pop-up restaurant at its sister venue Copper Gate, which proved that the restaurant maintains a strong following and was greatly missed.
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 Thaiku and Fu Kun Wu’s closure, its resident jazz band, The Fu Kun Wu Trio, relocated to Copper Gate, where they’ve been playing every Thursday night from 8-11pm.
Credit: Courtesy of Thaiku.
