Pad Thai Restaurant: Thai meals below $9

Pad Thai owner George Hanes opened the business in July amid the pandemic. (BEA CABRERA)

Pad Thai located at Springs Plaza in Gualo Rai serves Thai meals from various food choices below $9. Owner George Hanes and his wife, Panapuk, opened the doors of the restaurant last month with the goal of serving Thai dishes with the taste and feel of home-made goodness at reasonable prices.

“We understand that it is not an easy time but we want to be here to serve for the community for the long haul and serve high quality Thai food yet still down to earth that will give you a sense that it is home-made because it was carefully prepared. We made it a point that our dishes be reasonably priced so that even during these times, locals can afford to come in,” George Hanes said.

“My wife is originally from Isaan, Thailand and that province is known for their red spicy chilis that is a part of their dishes…But the food that we serve at the restaurant are tailored for general consumption. We can make it really spicy if requested,” he added.

Pad Thai Restaurant prepares six to seven food choices every day. From 11am to 2pm, they offer “choice menu” where customers can pick viands in three different options and all come with soup and rice. An entrée is $4.50, two entrees go for $4.50, and three entrees go for $8.50.

They also serve a la carte menu that customers can order for take-out or dine-in such as fresh spring rolls, shrimp with basil, spicy chicken, green and red curry, Thai seafood papaya salad, chicken and pork panang, and more. Thai milk tea, green tea milk, and Thai pink milk, which uses fresh dragon fruit, are also available.

Choice menu which they serve from 11am to 2 pm always comes with rice and soup. Dishes are best enjoyed with Panapuk Hanes’ home made sauces. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

“We also do catering, private functions such as corporate or family party in accordance with COVID-19 regulations…We are Level Blue-compliant, our food handlers are licensed by the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. and Bureau of Environmental Health, we have markers on the floor, tables are 6 feet apart, we have hand sanitizers, and ask dine-in customers to sign in,” George Hanes said.

“My wife’s specialties are dishes that people really like such as the coconut chicken soup, pad Thai to name a few. We also like getting local products like fresh fish and my wife makes special tom yum soup out of that,” George Hanes added,

Despite of the pandemic, George Hanes hopes to continue the business and give the community good food without breaking their wallets. “If we can survive and we’re able to open at this time, then we can certainly open in a better economy… we are in a good location here at Springs Plaza where there are government offices and private offices surrounding us and so far we have seen new faces and repeat customers almost every day,” he said.

“We certainly appreciate the business. We appreciate the island because people know we are open through recommendations on Facebook and word of mouth. We are really happy,” George Hanes added.

Pad Thai Restaurant is open from Monday to Friday, 11pm-7pm. For more information, call (670) 233-0011 or look them up on Facebook.

Nam tok pork is one of the staple dishes at Pad Thai. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)