New Thai Restaurant Opens In Ross
The Red Orchid Restaurant is family-owned and family-run.
Photos
Lovers of Thai cuisine in Ross and West View have a new, local restaurant to indulge their desire for those traditional, spicy dishes.
The Red Orchid restaurant at 5439 Babcock Blvd. has been open for several weekends and is hosting its grand opening today.
Sisters Panchiwan Tangkea and Keson Kaplanek are the owners, but it is truly a family-run business, with nieces, nephews, and even Panichwan and Keson's mother lending a hand.
Panichiwan came to the United States about 10 years ago after she married an American. Keson and the rest of her family stayed behind in Thailand until the tsunami of 2004 wiped out Keson's restaurant business.
It took a while, but Panichiwan finally convinced Keson to come to America.
"I said, 'Why don't you come here, I don't have any family here, this would be nice for me, and then you can start working at Thai restaurants here,' and she said, okay," she said.
But the transition took time for Keson, who worked at Bangkok Balcony in Squirrel Hill and Nicky's Thai Kitchen on the North Side before opening up her own restaurant.
"The restaurant business is totally different here—all of the rules, all of the regulations," said Panichiwan. "In Thailand, if you are ready and your restaurant is decorated, you simply open the doors."
Both sisters quickly recognized the lack of authentic Thai cuisine in the North Hills.
"North Hills is a growing area (with) a lot of middle and upper-middle class families and young professionals, and because Cranberry is so nearby, the whole area is growing," Panichwan said.
"We have all old family recipes, and a lot of the ingredients we make here. I live in Butler, and I buy a lot of our produce at farm markets there."
Red Orchid offers take-out, delivery within three miles and dine-in service in a modest-sized dining room.
"We didn't want too a big a space. We wanted it to feel very comfy, where we can provide lots of personal service," Panichiwan said.
And it appears to be working.
"We've been open for two weekends and already are getting repeat customers," she said.
For more information about the Red Orchid, call 412-837-2527 or check out their website at ThaiRedOrchid.com.
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In This article
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Ross Township Administration
1000 Ross Municipal Rd, Pittsburgh, PA -
West View Borough Municipal Building
441 Perry Hwy, West View, PA
Stephanie Davis
8:34 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Great news and very close to our house!!
GroverJames
10:28 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
I can't wait to try this!
Scott Palermo
12:12 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
The food is OK compared to other Thai restaurants. However, their portions are very small.
Jeffrey J Carpenter
7:57 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Finally a Thai restaurant in the North Hills!
Conrad
5:34 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
What happened to that meat market that was supposed to open on McKnight a few months ago?
Richard Cook
7:23 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
It's open. Mr. Butcher is located at 7777 McKnight Road.
Lauren Zahn
6:59 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
We ordered the Tom Ka Gai, panang curry, and the thai drunken chicken. Their service was fast, the portions were perfectly sized, and the food was hot and delicious. Hooray for Thai food in the North Hills! Hooray for The Red Orchid!
Woody
9:48 am on Monday, September 10, 2012
Much needed, finally an authentic Thai restaurant in the North Hills! We went there this past weekend and tried it, and found it much to our liking. We had the pad see eew, pad thai, and panang curry, all of which was great (we had the lunch special, which was $7.50 -- very reasonable). Pad see eew was particularly good. There is a complaint about portion size in one of the comments above; I didn't have a problem with the portion size, and I would also add that a soup or salad is included with every lunch special. Guess that depends on the individual. The place was very clean and the server was pleasant, attentive, and appreciative. Decor was pleasant and inviting but not overdone. Interior space/seating is limited... a really nice little place.
If you want great food, pleasant and accomodating service with an appreciative staff, and good value, give this place a try. If you like paying for frivolous bells and whistles in a Thai restaurant, or you want to impress your date with expensive lighting effects, place settings, upscale bar, interior decorating, fancy cocktails masquerading under the guise of "atmosphere" (all an expense passed on to the consumer), pricey menu at the expense of quality authentic Thai food, and unappreciative service, then this place is not for you, and you'd be better off with the other option in Wexford.
Richard Cook
7:26 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Buzz, thanks for the thoughtful review. You ever think about reviewing other restaurants/businesses in the North Hills. You'd make a great blogger on Patch. Just sayin'.
--Richard Cook
Woody
8:57 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Thank you, Richard; that's very kind of you! I'll give it a try from time to time and will come back with some more.
I'd also like to compliment you for not only the quality of your articles, but also your selection of subject matter on Patch... stuff that's interesting, timely, and relevant. Although I also am intrigued with the non-timely (i.e., historical) stuff about our area, too.
Richard Cook
9:01 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Thanks for your kind words about the site. I've reached out to the historical society about doing some blogging, also.. hopefully they will consider it.
Woody
12:16 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Please keep us on Patch posted if you do blog on about local history or pre-history/archaeology, Richard. Or, alternatively, just post it here on Patch!
Mara Addison
9:31 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Could someone please give me a landmark that the restaurant is near? What part of Babcock? Thanks!
Richard Cook
10:17 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
It's very near the intersection of Babcock at 3 degree Road. It's in the same strip mall as Pizza Labella. Here's a link to a google map of the location. http://goo.gl/maps/UBF2F