Thai Restaurants with Jokey Names

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In DC many of the Thai restaurants have pun names, like Thai-Tanic or Thai-Phoon. I expect that Thai-dal Wave and Thai Me Up, Thai Me Down will be next. The suburban Thai restaurants have sensible, dignified names, like Neisha Thai, Crystal Thai, Bangkok Siam, etc.

My question is, why Thai? Why not Vietnamese or Pakistani or whatever? The only theory I've come up with is that Thai is the new big food, the sushi of the aughts. Like when you're on a first date, and she says, in a calculatedly casual and disinterested way, "oh, I've really been into Thai food lately." It's said in the same tone of voice as "oh, I've been really into Serge Gainsbourg lately," so imagine that.

So Thai food is the thing, and it needs to be made less intimidating for those awkward first dates. Hence the funny names.

― Chris H. (chrisherbert), Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Or, it could be that the word "Thai" is especially suitable for puns.

― Chris H. (chrisherbert), Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the best Thai restaurants I know don't in fact rely on punny names...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, that almost goes without saying.

― Chris H. (chrisherbert), Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

ah phuket

― dave q, Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:43 (twenty-two years ago)

From the Simpsons: YOU THAI NOW

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Not Thai but there's a nasty Chinese place in Portland with a grebt skanky bar called Hung Far Low.

― chester (synkro), Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Thai Me To The Moon

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Thai Me a River

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Thai a Yellow Ribbon...

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

OMG! I once sent a list full of these to the McSweeney's website and was rejected! Shame I don't have that on me; it was chock full of absurd ones, like "Thai One On" and "Black Thai Affair."

It was actually inspired by the fact that Chicago already has "Thai Me Up!"

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh god dave your comment was a billboard for Chino Latino here in mpls (a fucking insufferable "hot zone" restaurant in mpls.) Other super witty ads: "that wasn't chicken" "where's your cat?" "greatest insult to the Japanese since the California roll" (go all the way, timid copywriter: "since the Enola Gay") Eeurgh now it's prom season so the the intersection around it (a busy one) is clogged with fucking LIMOs (incl a WHITE SUV LIMO) and the sidewalk filled with teens in their formalwear (apptly it's cool for boys to do the Don Johnson thing)

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Thursday, 8 May 2003 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

The best Thai restaurant here is called The Siam Cottage. Now there's a lost pun opportunity.

― Mooro (Mooro), Thursday, 8 May 2003 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Thai Mai Shoo

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Thursday, 8 May 2003 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

There is one around called "Bangkok Blues," it I think serves some kind of fusion food and actually has live blues music, so it can't be considered a joke.

― Chris H. (chrisherbert), Thursday, 8 May 2003 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned hates chow fun.

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 8 May 2003 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Shoo Thai Pai

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 8 May 2003 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't get it jess. splain for us dumb folk?

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Thursday, 8 May 2003 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned hates chow fun

You evil, wonderful man.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 8 May 2003 16:30 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.800padutch.com/images/dhavenpie.jpg

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 8 May 2003 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I wanna open a store called "Don't Patronize Me!" and watch how quickly I go bankrupt.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 8 May 2003 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

The only theory I've come up with is that Thai is the new big food, the sushi of the aughts.

*blinks with surprise* DC has had good Thai food for one decade if not two. Yes, the DC area has a lot of selfconsciously hip Thai restaurants, but it's by no means new around here.

― j.lu (j.lu), Thursday, 8 May 2003 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Live Free or Thai

― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 8 May 2003 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

a Bond themed Thai Another Day

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:01 (twenty-two years ago)

(btw, all the Thai places here have pretty straight-up names; Pad Thai, Planet Thai, Bangkok House, etc)

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Thai'er Maker

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

live and let thai

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Thailand/Australian bar with big screen football?

― Mark C (Mark C), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, DC has had Thai for a long time, but it's my impression that the silly ones are new. And Thai is now in vogue, though it's been around forever.

Maybe it's just a regional thing. In college Indian food was the name you dropped to impress people, and sushi still held onto a little bit of hipness. Thai food was cooler than, say, Chinese or Mexican, but it wasn't what people drove 45 minutes to eat.

― Chris H. (chrisherbert), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:17 (twenty-two years ago)

There's actually a Thai restaurant in Chicago called Thai Twee. I'm pretty sure they don't use Hello Kitty plates or play the Field Mice while you dine however.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:18 (twenty-two years ago)

thai a little tenderness

(Vietnamese place in Des Moines: A Dong)

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Diamond, where is Thai Twee?
...

I Just Thai'd in Your Arms Tonight

― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Millions Now Living Will Never Thai

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Thai Kreuzen

― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Thai Nibelungen

― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Thaitus Andronicus

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Thaipe O Negative

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Thai'er Maker

Out on the Thailes

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I Only Have Thai for You

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Lord of the Thai!

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

The hell this thread encompasses makes me want to swear off food.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, shut up and thai.

― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Gypsy starring Thaine Daly

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, God, it really is hell.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

That Concludes The Draw For The Third Round Of The FA Cup, Thais Will Be Played On The 7th, 8th, and 9th Of January

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Thai Diggs

Thai-Bo

― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:57 (twenty-two years ago)

henthai

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd eat there.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

From Seattle:
Phuket
The Thai-Ger Room

― JS Williams (js williams), Thursday, 8 May 2003 18:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Movable Thaipe

― JS Williams (js williams), Thursday, 8 May 2003 18:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 121 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

vancouver too

― rrrobyn, Thursday, 7 August 2008 20:11 (seventeen years ago)

That reads like it's the original Vancouver's new branch store on the other side of town

― nabisco, Thursday, 7 August 2008 20:25 (seventeen years ago)

haha all suburbs should be named like cheesy-clever hollywood movie sequels

― rrrobyn, Thursday, 7 August 2008 20:28 (seventeen years ago)

the funny thing is that pho bich nga is only a few blocks away from burnaby
which is basically vancouver too

― rrrobyn, Thursday, 7 August 2008 20:29 (seventeen years ago)

two years pass...

because i got thai

― the milagro-beanfield war criminal (s1ocki), Wednesday, 22 September 2010 14:17 (fifteen years ago)

thai thai birdie

― just sayin, Wednesday, 22 September 2010 14:22 (fifteen years ago)

yes, siam

― a tenth level which features a single castle (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 22 September 2010 14:23 (fifteen years ago)

Siam I Am

― Aerosol, Wednesday, 22 September 2010 14:29 (fifteen years ago)

Bangkok Farmers' Market

― Mo Tucker Mo Problems (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 22 September 2010 14:41 (fifteen years ago)

Tongue Thaied

― rhythm fixated member (chap), Wednesday, 22 September 2010 14:45 (fifteen years ago)

Chris Peaduck

― jesper olsen twins (NickB), Wednesday, 22 September 2010 14:49 (fifteen years ago)

my thai

― a fucking knitted scarf (another al3x), Wednesday, 22 September 2010 18:51 (fifteen years ago)

there's also a place in baltimore run by a guy who is half thai and half irish and it's called thairish

― a fucking knitted scarf (another al3x), Wednesday, 22 September 2010 18:51 (fifteen years ago)

horrible.

― the milagro-beanfield war criminal (s1ocki), Wednesday, 22 September 2010 18:58 (fifteen years ago)

Pho The Love of Yummy
Pho Better Chews

― Darin, Wednesday, 22 September 2010 19:12 (fifteen years ago)

Thai-Pod

― yookeroo, Wednesday, 22 September 2010 23:21 (fifteen years ago)

Thaime After Thaime

― dayo, Thursday, 23 September 2010 03:40 (fifteen years ago)

Spanish-vietnamese fusion:

Pho Tonto Rapidos

― rammer jammer jan hammer (Hurting 2), Thursday, 23 September 2010 03:56 (fifteen years ago)

Thai Is Never Thai Enough

― dayo, Thursday, 23 September 2010 03:58 (fifteen years ago)

thinkin about opening a restaurant called thai game where we serve green curry deer and panang pheasant and so on

― a fucking knitted scarf (another al3x), Thursday, 23 September 2010 04:39 (fifteen years ago)

Pho The Love of Yummy
Pho Better Chews

there's a combination phở shop/laundromat around the corner from my house called Phở Sure.

― Underground - Parking (2010) (sic), Thursday, 23 September 2010 07:37 (fifteen years ago)

There's a Thai place that gives portions so generous you always wind up taking huge amounts home:

Thai Again Tomorrow

― rammer jammer jan hammer (Hurting 2), Thursday, 23 September 2010 11:23 (fifteen years ago)

there is also thai landing and thai one on

― IRE is the most intelligent open forum on ILX (harbl), Thursday, 23 September 2010 11:31 (fifteen years ago)

There's a posh place that serves only squid based meals.

Black Thai.

― Mark G, Thursday, 23 September 2010 11:32 (fifteen years ago)

There's a Thai place that gives portions so generous you always wind up taking huge amounts home:

Thai Again Tomorrow

― rammer jammer jan hammer (Hurting 2), Thursday, September 23, 2010 7:23 AM (2 hours ago) Bookmark

thai another day

― the milagro-beanfield war criminal (s1ocki), Thursday, 23 September 2010 14:18 (fifteen years ago)

Is Thairish still around? Owner is not in fact half-Irish -- he told me he made up the name and then came up with the story.

― Three Word Username, Thursday, 23 September 2010 14:59 (fifteen years ago)

oh its such a good name, great idea

― glengarry glen "ross from friends" (s1ocki), Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:01 (fifteen years ago)

There are at least two places called "Old School Thai" in London.

― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:01 (fifteen years ago)

colombian neck thai

― glengarry glen "ross from friends" (s1ocki), Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:02 (fifteen years ago)

Australian/Thai fusion; Thai Me Kangaroo Down Sport

― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:42 (fifteen years ago)

Star Wars themed: Thai Fighter

― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:42 (fifteen years ago)

Potentially racist question.

Speaking broadly, is there more joking around in Thai culture than other Asian cultures? Because not only are the names of Thai restuarants jokier than their Chinese, Koran, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Nepalese ounterparts in my area, but the proprietors of these establishments are also much jokier than their counterparts.

― Excluding Skits and Such (Eazy), Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:48 (fifteen years ago)

(er, Korean, not Koran)

― Excluding Skits and Such (Eazy), Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:49 (fifteen years ago)

Dude you have no Koran.

― Fartbritz Sootzveti (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:50 (fifteen years ago)

gah xp

― Fartbritz Sootzveti (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:50 (fifteen years ago)

Hahaha, "Dude, You Have No Korean" would be a good one.

― rammer jammer jan hammer (Hurting 2), Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:53 (fifteen years ago)

Don't Taze Me Pho

― rammer jammer jan hammer (Hurting 2), Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:53 (fifteen years ago)

Pho Q

― ledge, Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:54 (fifteen years ago)

What would you name your Vietnamese restaurant?

― Aerosol, Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:56 (fifteen years ago)

Suggest Banh

― a black white asian pine ghost who is fake (Telephone thing), Thursday, 23 September 2010 16:41 (fifteen years ago)

...And I see that joke was made like five times on the earlier thread. Captain Fucking Obvious for the win!

― a black white asian pine ghost who is fake (Telephone thing), Thursday, 23 September 2010 16:43 (fifteen years ago)

Is Thairish still around? Owner is not in fact half-Irish -- he told me he made up the name and then came up with the story.

― Three Word Username, Thursday, September 23, 2010 10:59 AM (7 hours ago)

it is around but no one goes there

― IRE is the most intelligent open forum on ILX (harbl), Thursday, 23 September 2010 22:52 (fifteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/2610198845_b6b0820d2e.jpg

^ this is some kind of genius imo

― Harrison Buttwhistle (NickB), Friday, 15 October 2010 11:15 (fifteen years ago)

there is, or was, a chinese place I used to see signs for sometimes called "Hard Wok Buffet", which I liked because it was right on the borderline where you can't be 100% sure it's supposed to be a pun

― rmde and dangerous (bernard snowy), Friday, 15 October 2010 11:47 (fifteen years ago)

used to be a "Beau Thai" in Clapham, iirc. Multilingual wordplay.

― bham, Friday, 15 October 2010 12:30 (fifteen years ago)

one year passes...

colombian neck thai

― glengarry glen "ross from friends" (s1ocki), Thursday, September 23, 2010 11:02 AM (2 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

― Author ~ Coach ~ Goddess (s1ocki), Thursday, 4 October 2012 14:45 (thirteen years ago)

slow day eh slocks

― Nhex, Thursday, 4 October 2012 14:53 (thirteen years ago)

I'm on a train

― Author ~ Coach ~ Goddess (s1ocki), Thursday, 4 October 2012 14:57 (thirteen years ago)

I'm Kurt Cobain

― Author ~ Coach ~ Goddess (s1ocki), Thursday, 4 October 2012 14:57 (thirteen years ago)

thairish is awesome, best pad thai. i witnessed the chef turn away some tourists one day like he was the soup nazi.

― (╯︵╰,) RIP (am0n), Thursday, 4 October 2012 15:41 (thirteen years ago)

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