Ever since they opened in April, the owners of Baan Thai at Napili Plaza have been slammed with locals who live in the area, craving noodles, curries, rice dishes and soups.
As the story goes, two brothers from Molokai married two sisters from Thailand, and the result is a restaurant with authentic and exotic Thai cuisine combined with local favorites.
"I married my wife, Namfon, nine years ago," says Mark Babayan, "And then one time my brother, Keith, came with me to Thailand, and he met Onchan and they got married."
Article Photos
Sisters Onchan and Namfon Babayan (from left) are originally from Udonthani in Northeast Thailand.
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
Namfon is the chef of the bunch and she was sent to Bangkok to attend international culinary school to take her knowledge of fresh herbs and Thai cooking to the next level.
Baan Thai is located where the smoothie shop used to be next to Boss Frog's and two doors down from Napili Market. Its hours are 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for lunch and dinner.
It's more of a take-out affair, but there are 26 seats inside in air-conditioned comfort with nice paintings of elephants and such; and eight seats outside on the patio area. Popular pupu include chicken and pork satay, Siam wings, fresh summer rolls and calamari. Hot entrees include tom yum soup, shrimp pad Thai, squid salad, Thai green curry, pineapple fried rice, chicken katsu and kalbi ribs. Call 214-6470.
