This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
The first thing you notice at Jai Thai at lunchtime is just how busy it is. Most of the small restaurant’s six tables are full, as are nearly all of the twelve spots at the bar in front of the sushi conveyer belt (which trundles gorgeous plates of sushi past each diner). Three chefs work in full view behind the bar, miraculously missing each other each time they turn around with a plate of food. Two waitresses see to the customers in a friendly and efficient manner.
Jai Thai is a relative newcomer to the Longmont restaurant scene. Chinn Sunti and her husband, Eddie, opened the restaurant at 2055 Ken Pratt Boulevard in March of 2017 and probably haven’t sat down to rest since.
Jai Thai offers a large and varied menu with Japanese as well as Thai dishes. There are also chef’s specials and daily lunch specials. Their lunch specials are only $6.99. For an additional dollar, you may add miso soup and an egg roll (unfortunately there are no gluten-free substitutes for the egg roll). The sushi that passes along the conveyer belt is clearly labeled and priced by the color of the plate; a handy reference display of colored plates with prices hangs on the wall above the conveyer belt.
I tried Thursday's daily lunch special, Panang Curry. It came with a choice of white, brown, or coconut rice and a spice range of 1-5. I like heat, but not too much, and asked for a 2. The heat was perfect. The curry was creamy and flavorful while the vegetables retained their crispness. The tofu had a satisfying texture. They keep wasabi and ginger on the tables (perfect for those of us with wasabi/ginger addictions who prefer not to continually ask for more, please).
I went back again on a Tuesday to try their Green Curry. It was equally satisfying, the best of comfort food. The Green Curry was more delicate and creamier than the Panang. I went a little overboard with the wasabi. I am sure that not only my sinuses, but also the top of my head, lit up. Invigorating, to say the least!
Jai Thai's décor is clean, neat, modern, cheerful, and homey all at the same time. In short, it is exactly the sort of hole-in-the-wall kind of place that one would find, and cherish, in a much larger urban setting.
A couple of lovely Thai puppets hang on the west wall, while on the east wall a wicker heart nestles inside a heart of leaves. Above them hangs a sign that says, “All because two people fell in love.”
Sunti explains that she and her husband met and fell in love in Seattle. Deciding to leave Seattle, they chose Windsor, CO, later moving to Ft. Collins (where they owned Simply Thai), and then to Longmont where they have now settled with their two young children. Sunti says that “everything we do, we do together, we do because we’re together,” and that’s why the quote is on the wall.
The Suntis’ plates are indeed as full as their love for one another. In addition to Jai Thai, they own two other Thai restaurants in Colorado: Bai Tong in Loveland and Talay Thai in Steamboat Springs. When asked what Sunti would like her customers to know about their restaurants, she said that "they are very proud of serving authentic Thai cuisine."
Jai Thai (303-776-8089) is open Tuesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. They are located at 2055 Ken Pratt Boulevard (near the intersection of Hover and Ken Pratt). They offer both delivery and take-out. Because the food is made to order, they are able to accommodate food allergies and they offer a wide assortment of gluten-free and vegan options on the menu. Children are welcome.
Would I take my child? Yes. The varied menu, the entertainment value of the sushi conveyer belt, and the opportunity to try melon soda make it a thumbs up for the wee crowd.
As far as I can tell, Jai Thai offers one of the best lunch deals in Longmont and would make a great spot for date night. Sadly, closing at 9 pm, it won’t work for dinner after a movie or a late night bowl of noodles. Nor is it the best place to take a large group (although you may try calling ahead and see what’s possible). While I was there, a party of seven came in and had to be seated in a row along the conveyer belt.
The last question is always, Would I go back? The answer: Absolutely.
Around the Table is an exploration and celebration of food and food culture in Longmont, CO. Where do we, as Longmontonians, enjoy eating? What are the traditions and foods that we bring to the table? Where do we get our food and how do we enjoy preparing it? What challenges do we face when feeding ourselves and our families? How do we celebrate with friends and family Around the Table? If you want us to review a specific restaurant in Longmont, send us an email to [email protected].
