The Corner Thai Kitchen: Food from three corners of Thailand

Arleen and Aroy Pudwong are sisters who emigrated from Thailand originally to learn English and American culture.

Arleen met her now husband, married, and decided to open a restaurant with her sister. They started with the King of Thai Restaurant in the Grantville area. After seven years, the sisters decided to add a second restaurant, The Corner Thai Kitchen, on Friars Road in a strip mall that features a variety of international cuisine.

“We serve authentic street food, such as you’d find on the streets of Bangkok. “It’s simple food, not fancy, but with good flavors,” said Arleen.

The menu features food from three corners of Thailand.

“From Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, we have a very popular soup called Khao Soi Noodles. It is a coconut soup with chicken, onions, and topped with Chow Mein-style noodles. Then from eastern Thailand, on the border of Laos, we have Esarn Salat, which is popular with Thai people mostly. It has a pickled fish sauce that’s pretty stinky. In addition, Bangkok, Thai Street food. This is what Americans know as Thai cuisine,” stated Arleen.

“All of our recipes are family recipes and many come from my mother who still lives in Thailand. My cousin, who is our cook, has adapted them to fit an American taste,” added Arleen.

The menu is very extensive with very affordable prices.

Some other unique dishes are Pra Ram Chicken a creamy peanut sauce on a bed of steamed broccoli and cabbage. A stir-fry dish called Pad Prik Gang, with chicken or another meat of choice, stirred with Thai red curry paste, coconut milk, green beans, red and green bell peppers and key lime leaves.

“We have lots of curries. My mom’s Thai curry is one of my favorites,” said Arleen. You could have curry every day of the week if you are a curry lover. Yellow, Red, Mussamum, green, and Panang Curry.

Some other house specialties are Garlic Pork Spare Ribs, Crab Fried Rice, Thai Mango Chicken, and the Vegetarian dish called Buddha Delight with crispy tofu sautéed with mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers and broccoli in a bean sauce.

The Thai Corner Kitchen is open every day except Tuesday from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

If you go for lunch, they offer many lunch specials that include a house salad, egg roll and gyoza. They do a strong take-out business; you can preview their menu at: cornerthaikitchen.com/ .

Call in an order or go in and order. Located at 10450 Friars Road, San Diego, (619) 269-9777.

Photos by Robin Dohrn-Simpson

– Robin Dohrn-Simpson is a local food and travel writer. Reach her at: robindohrnsimpson.com.