On National Small Business Day, we celebrate small businesses and their owners to acknowledge their hard work every day! After a difficult year during the COVID-19 pandemic, many small businesses struggled to survive by either reducing their opening hours, cutting staff, changing their menus, or sadly, closing down altogether.

Thailand Insider would like to take this special day to celebrate Thailand's amazing small businesses, including some that are particularly dear to us in Los Angeles and New York and have served their loyal customers for years. Let's take a look at the small businesses that provide for us every day – from restaurants to markets!

OTUS Thai Kitchen & Coffee in LA

Since 2015, OTUS Thai Kitchen & Coffee has been serving authentic Thai cuisine in West Hollywood. Head chef June Intrachat and her team prepare famous Thai street food dishes that combine Intrachat's childhood memories with traditional Thai cooking.

Guests enjoy the freshest ingredients from local farmers' markets for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including dishes such as Moo Ping, Ba Mee Tom Yum and fresh drinks such as coconut water and Thai iced tea!

Chef June is the owner of OTUS Thai Kitchen & Coffee. Growing up in Northern Thailand, June discovered her passion for cooking as a child, cooking alongside her mother. After arriving in Los Angeles, the local farmers' markets and her love of Thai cuisine inspired her to create one of the best breakfasts in LA: "It's a Joke," her signature rice porridge! Chef June also serves grilled river shrimp from Thailand, cooked over rambutan wood charcoal! Find out more in our monthly issue!

Siam Sunset in LA

Siam Sunset on Sunset Boulevard is a popular neighborhood hangout, known for its rice porridge and variety of Thai dishes. It's a lively place, with customers coming and going, calling out their orders over the background noise of Thai television. Breakfast favorites include Chinese doughnuts, sweet ginger, pork blood soup, and rice porridge. Each bowl of rice porridge is perfectly prepared and pairs beautifully with the fried doughnuts and the sweet ginger with soft tofu.

If you are in the Los Angeles area, visit Siam Sunset and take a look at the menu!

Bhan Kanom Thai

Bhan Kanom Thai, a small shop in the heart of Hollywood, is a confectionery whose flavors are inspired by the love and pride of Thailand. The name is derived from the Thai words "Than" (house) and "Kanom" (sweets/desserts).

Bhan Kanom Thai appreciates the important role of traditional Thai desserts in Thai culture, reflecting a loving, caring, and enjoyable way of life. Dry desserts and snacks are imported to bring a taste of Thailand to the USA, while most fresh desserts are made in-house! Discover traditional Thai desserts on the extensive menu, including Mango Sticky Rice, Kanom Pui Fai, Thong Eak, Ba Bin, and Pandan Custard!

Pata Market

Stepping into the Thai market in Elmhurst feels like being in Thailand itself: authentic Thai snacks, desserts, and groceries line the walls. Locals buy popular Thai specialties here, such as Yum Nam crispy rice, traditional Patongo, and rare herbs like Cha-om, holy basil, a tropical acacia species from Southeast Asia.

In the shop you'll find deliciously refreshing durian, a fruit with a sweet, pudding-like flavor. Pata Market regularly offers new desserts, making every visit a special experience!

Pinto Garden

Seasonal, regional ingredients form the basis of the most popular Bangkok dishes at Pinto Garden, a Thai restaurant in New York City. Since its founding in 2006, Pinto Garden has been a popular West Village gathering place, serving the finest, most authentic Thai cuisine. Chef Yo, founder and head chef of Pinto Garden, offers family-sized portions of Thai delicacies for an authentic dining experience.

In their garden behind the house, bouquets of flowers adorn the walls of a private, partitioned area where guests can enjoy Thai classics, including seasonal vegetable spring rolls, Moo Kem Tod, wild garlic dumplings, plant-based garlic chili, drunken duck, and other exquisite dishes! The menu for summer 2021 can be found here.

Learn more about Thai small businesses from the USA in Thailand!

Now that you know a little more about Thai small businesses, there's so much more to discover and experience in both the USA and Thailand! This list only included a few Thai companies, but you'll find many more in Los Angeles and New York.

In Thai time

The first edition of "On Thai Times" from the Tourism Authority of Thailand explores the many Thai influences in Los Angeles and highlights them for your next trip to Thailand. The photo essay highlights the similarities and differences between Los Angeles and Bangkok and presents a selection of our favorite hidden gems in Thailand. From breathtaking sunrises to local flower markets, there's plenty to discover in our first edition of "On Thai Times"! Read the May issue here and learn all about experiences in Thailand that will satisfy your craving for Thai cuisine!