The food scene in Barrie is welcoming its newest Thai restaurant.
Inspired by the popular street-side restaurants in Bangkok, Rim Thanon — which translates to “roadside” — is committed to providing local foodies with the genuine back-home taste of Thai food.
“We want to emulate the feeling of satisfaction of having Thai food at the side of the streets of Bangkok,” says restaurant owner Kobtham Hop.
In an attempt to replicate the authentic Thai flavour in Barrie, Hop says he doesn’t hold back when it comes to using proper ingredients, such as kaprau, commonly substituted for holy basil in the pad kaprau dish, also known as basil chicken.
"Kaprau, or Thai holy basil, cannot be found in grocery stores in Barrie, and we have to go and get it from Toronto. But we believe that you cannot get the same aroma from any other herb," Hop says.
Anyone walking into Rim Thanon, located at 221 Cundles Rd. E., will find Thai dishes common to Thailand, rather than the westernized dishes that might be more familiar to some fans of Thai food.
“You wouldn't be able to find something like mango chicken or spicy noodle in Thailand. If you order those dishes there, they probably wouldn't know how to make them,” Hop says.
He believes Thai food does not have to be westernized to gain popularity.
“In the old days, Thai restaurants may have had to adapt to local ingredients in order to make the food as close as possible to the original," Hop says. "But there is certainly no need to substitute ingredients anymore as you can find authentic ingredients and sauces used in the original recipes at Asian supermarkets."
With a street-style vibe and a made-to-order menu rooted in traditional Thai food, Hop hopes Rim Thanon will fill a gap in the local community.
“While our dishes are not new for Thai restaurants, especially for those in the GTA, they could be new for the Barrie region," he says.
Rim Thanon is the second restaurant for Hop, who also owns the EAT BKK Thai Kitchen and Bar at Yonge and Steeles in Toronto.
Moving to Barrie, though, was a life-changing decision. Looking for a place to settle down with his wife and 15-month-old son, Hop found the city was the best place both to start a family business and to raise a family.
“House prices in Barrie aren't as high as in the GTA, and the location seems to have decent consumer traffic,” he says.
Hop grew up in Bangkok and came to Canada to undertake a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Toronto. Having food from the street-side food stalls in Thailand is deeply rooted in his memories.
Despite being open for only two months, Rim Thanon has already attracted customers with knowledge of authentic Thai food.
“Most of our regular customers go straight to the distinct Thai dishes on the menu and skip trying our pad Thai, which is a dish that most people would use to judge a Thai restaurant," he says.
Street-style dishes often have a more intense flavour compared to classic Thai dishes, which are usually milder in taste. Pad kaprao, pad kee mao, pad see ewe, and chilli larb flavour chicken wings are among the specialties on the menu.
Hop is particularly optimistic about Thai food in a post-pandemic world.
“The opportunities to increase takeout and delivery customers are still there, since Thai food may not be as easy or familiar for anyone outside of Thailand to cook at home," he says.
Hop believes customers are willing to pay for the best quality of food.
“As long as you care for the taste of the dishes and the freshness of any ingredients, the customers will always return,” Hop adds.
