An authentic Thai restaurant – with an added English breakfast offering – has opened on Ramsgate seafront.
Tuk-Tuk Thai Kitchen has taken over the premises which was once the Royal Oak pub on Harbour Parade.
The pub was part of Thorley Taverns’ The Oak Hotel which was sold to isle businessman Dayne Gooding in 2022. Since then the property has been split into separate venues with Ronnies cocktail bar and the Royal Oak Hotel on one side and The Works café bar the other side of the new Tuk-Tuk venture.
The Thai kitchen, which was previously occupied by Scott & Mortensens and then, very briefly, Gates, is now a family venture offering a range of Thai food and drinks.
It has been set up by former sports therapy student Muthita Kraisiridacha with mum Omsoi Laming, dad Mark Laming and partner Joshua Calvin and employs a team of Thai exchange students who are currently studying in the country.
Muthita said: “It is family run. There is me and my mum who is in charge of the kitchen. She has been in the restaurant business about 12 years in London.
“My dad is leaving his (printing company) job to help here and my partner is helping too.
“I was studying sport therapy at university but always had plans to open a restaurant so got a gap year for this.”
Muthita, who lives in Margate, says she had originally planned to go into the sport and physio industry but has now taken a change of direction.
The 23-year-old added: “I have worked in hospitality all my life and always thought I would have a restaurant some day. I don’t think there are lots of proper Thai places here, most cater more to the western palate.”
For this week the restaurant is taking walk-ins only to give the team a chance to settle in and get a feel for the business.
The menu includes an English breakfast but for those who are more curious there is also a Thai breakfast which consists of a crispy omelette with a soft inside and flings such as mushrooms plus sriracha sauce.
Muthita said: “I did think about just doing English food but that wouldn’t really be what I wanted.
“We are doing Thai doughnuts, which are like street food, and I am trying to get that popular here, it’s really good!”
There are also options for Pad Thai, Tom Yum, mango and sticky rise and Thai style mocktails and cocktails such as Boozy Thai Milk Tea – Thai milk tea mixed with Baileys Original and condensed milk. And topped with whipped cream and cinnamon or Mano Colada – a frozen blended mango and white rum drink with a pop of mango boba on top.
Thai and English breakfast is served in the morning until 2pm and then main menu from 2pm until 10pm.
Find Tuk-Tuk Thai Restaurant at 66b Harbour Parade Ramsgate.
