Discover Thai Paradise at Pattaya

Growing up in Thailand, Maew Voecks got a crash course in cooking from the age of 9 by helping her mother prepare meals for their family, which included 13 siblings.

“I was the only cook!” Voecks recalls. “I used to get so mad at my mom because she made me cook for everybody. I learned a lot when I was young, though, and experienced all the different tastes of authentic Thai food from every region.”

Chef Voecks brings more than a decade of professional culinary experience to the table with each Thai dish served at Pattaya, one of Honolulu’s hidden gems that owner Yuri Senckowski opened last spring. A new kitchen was eventually added in October, and Voecks came aboard to guide the tasty menu while training additional culinary staff.

“The main thing is the atmosphere is more inviting (compared to the old bar that previously resided in the space), and we offer food for lunch and dinner, in addition to the bar and karaoke music,” says Senckowski. “The food is all original Thai recipes that are full of flavor.”

Situated just minutes away from downtown Honolulu in the booming Kakaako district on Queen Street (across the street and mauka from Lex Brodie’s), Pattaya provides an inviting, friendly atmosphere where patrons can partake in authentic, fresh and simple Thai food while enjoying a cold beverage and even rock the karaoke mic if one so chooses.

Pattaya features a host of Thai dishes available for both lunch and dinner as dine-in and takeout options. Crispy Rice Salad ($8.95 lunch, $11.95 dinner) has drawn rave reviews from customers, and includes Thai pork sausage, crispy Jasmine rice, mint, cilantro, dry chilies and peanuts that all converge to create a must-try flavor combination. Papaya Salad ($8.95 lunch, $9.95 dinner) also offers a unique flavor profile, as shredded green papaya adds a slightly tart note to the refreshing dish.

Diners clamor for Pad Thai ($11.95 dinner), a popular stir-fried dish enjoyed in Thailand as a street food at many casual eateries, which incorporates one’s choice of chicken, pork, beef or shrimp atop a bed of rice noodles that soak up all the rich flavors. Evil Curry ($11.95) can be made, as Voecks explains, “as evil as you want it!” with varying levels of heat along with a choice of chicken, pork, beef or shrimp amid the plentiful portion of tasty curry.

Readers are encouraged to take advantage of a special Hot Deals Hawaii offer good for a $20 voucher for just $10. Vouchers are available for purchase now through Thursday, April 10, and upon each visit, customers may redeem one voucher per person. As a reminder: no cash or credit may be returned for the unused balance of a Hot Deal voucher; the deal is not combinable with other offers; and the vouchers expire Oct. 1, 2014.

Pattaya also offers happy hour specials daily from noon to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and 5 to 7 p.m. on weekends. Customers may enjoy their favorite domestic beers for just $2 each, while imported brews are $4 during the happy hour windows.

Pattaya

708 Queen St., Honolulu
597-9121
Lunch: Monday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Dinner: Daily, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. (kitchen closes at midnight)
PattayaHi.com