Thai Hut in Somerville Is Going to Be Closing; Owners May Open a New Restaurant northwest of Boston

It looks like a neighborhood spot for Thai food in Somerville is shutting down, though the people behind it may be opening a new place well outside of the area.

According to a number of sources, including a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Thai Hut on Beacon Street is going to be closing, with a Facebook comment within the Somerville, MA Community Facebook page from real estate agent Apple Tomamichel (who represents both the buyer and seller of the place) saying that "Thai Hut is taking a well-deserved break" while wishing the owners "nothing but success in their next adventure" and mentioning that "The new tenant will also be bringing Asian cuisine to the neighborhood—either a Thai restaurant or a Thai-Vietnamese concept."

There is some chatter that the Thai Hut owners could be opening a new restaurant somewhere northwest of Boston (with Westford being mentioned), though nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

The address for Thai Hut--which remains open for now--is 93 Beacon Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its website can be found at https://www.thaihuts.com/

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Ja Learn to Open in Somerville's Union Square

It looks like a brand new Southeast Asian dining spot is on its way to Somerville.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Ja Learn is planning to open in Union Square, with photos of the storefront indicating that it will be moving into a space on Somerville Avenue on the western edge of the square. The photos hint that this will be a Thai street food place, while an Instagram page for the business indicates that the people behind it have been hosting popups in the Boston area and that they offer Northeast Thai fare including Thai BBQ.

The address for the upcoming Ja Learn in Union Square is 302 Somerville Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/jalearn.boston/

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Thai Amarin in Newton Corner Has Closed

A Thai restaurant just west of Boston has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Thai Amarin in Newton Corner is no longer in operation, with an Instagram reel from itsinnewton confirming this, saying "Who wants to open a restaurant in Newton Corner? @thaiamarin, Newton's longstanding Thai restaurant, has closed." It appears that the Centre Street eatery shuttered in mid-late June, and it isn't known why it closed or what might move into its space at this point in time.

Thai Amarin is not to be confused with another restaurant with a similar name -- Amarin of Thailand, which resides in nearby Newtonville and which moved from Wellesley earlier this year.

The address for the now-closed Thai Amarin in Newton Corner was 287 Centre Street, Newton, MA, 02458.

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Chaba Cafe Is Opening in the Former So Kitchen Space in Brookline

A brand new Thai restaurant is getting ready to open in Brookline, and it is replacing another Thai spot that recently closed.

According to an Instagram post from the business, Chaba Cafe is planning to have a grand opening on Cypress Street on June 13, taking over the space where So Kitchen had previously been. The website for the restaurant mentions that it will offer freshly made Thai crepes, desserts, and drinks while its menus also shows such items as curry puffs, wings, potato balls, fried bananas, and Thai donuts.

The address for Chaba Cafe is 224 Cypress Street, Brookline, MA 02445. Its website can be found at https://chabacafe.com/

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A South East Kitchen Opens in Framingham

A brand new Asian restaurant has debuted west of Boston.

According to Kiat Cormier who posted on the ChewOnThis Facebook group page, A South East Kitchen has debuted in Framingham and is currently going through a soft opening. An opening menu for the dining spot shows a focus on Thai fare, including such items as spring rolls, chicken satay, Thai eggplant, golden shrimp, massaman curry, basil fried rice, drunken noodle, pad see ew, pad thai, green curry noodle, and gai ka pow, along with Thai iced tea and Thai iced coffee.

The address for A South East Kitchen is 855 Worcester Road (Route 9) Suite 1C, Framingham, MA, 01701. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584544907322

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Nakhon Has Replaced Rice Away Thai Express in Brighton

A couple of months ago, it was reported that a Thai restaurant that was known for its buffet had closed, and now we have learned that the people behind it have converted the place into another type of Thai spot.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Nakhon  is now open in Brighton, replacing Rice Away Thai Express on Washington Street. The new restaurant features Southern Thai halal cuisine, as was first mentioned by Boston Magazine (which states that it debuted last month). Some of the items on the menu include curry pancakes, steamed shrimp and chicken dumplings, curry rice and spicy and sour sauce, ground chicken and shrimp in chili paste, fried whole striped bass fish, a spicy and sour beef stew, crab meat in coconut curry, and turmeric chicken soup, crispy, duck, drunken noodle, and squid ink fried rice.

The address for Nakhon is 296 Washington Street, Brighton, MA, 02135. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/nakhonboston

[Earlier Article]
Rice Away Thai Express in Brighton Has Closed

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Tom Yum Yang to Open in Allston

A brand new Thai restaurant is on its way to Allston, and it has an ownership connection to a Cambridge dining spot.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Tom Yum Yang is planning to open on Harvard Avenue about midway between Brighton Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue, with a What Now Boston article saying that the people behind Sugar & Spice in Porter Square are opening the place. The article also mentions that plans for the restaurant have apparently been in the works since at least 2022, but the poster within the Facebook group shows that a sign is now up for the restaurant.

The address for the upcoming Tom Yum Yang is 156 Harvard Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134.

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Rice Away Thai Express in Brighton Has Closed

A Thai restaurant in Boston that was known for its buffet has shut down after being in business for approximately a year and a half.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Rice Away Thai Express in Brighton is no longer in operation, with a Facebook post from the Washington Street eatery saying the following:

Thank you so much for all the love and support you've given us over the years. Every visit and every kind word has meant so much to our team....this is not the end. We're excited to share that a new restaurant is coming soon. Please stay tuned, and we can't wait to welcome you again very soon!

It is not yet known what the new restaurant might be, so stay tuned for updates.

The address for Rice Away Thai Express was 296 Washington Street, Brighton, MA, 02135.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Amarin of Thailand in Wellesley to Return, Opening in a New Location in Newtonville

A popular Thai restaurant that had been in the western suburbs of Boston until closing several months ago is being reborn in a new location west of--and bit closer to--the city.

According to an article from What Now Boston, Amarin of Thailand is planning to reopen after saying farewell to its Wellesley home in July due to its lease expiring, moving into a new space on Walnut Street in Newtonville. The article mentions that the new location of the Thai restaurant will apparently be much like the old location, with a business partner telling What Now Boston earlier that "It's going to be under the same name, you know, same corporation, same website, same everything."

Amarin of Thailand first opened on Grove Street in Wellesley in 1987.

The address for the new location of Amarin of Thailand is 313 Walnut Street, Newtonville, MA, 02460.

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Klin Thai Is Opening in West Roxbury

A brand new Thai restaurant is on its way to a Boston neighborhood, and it will be going into the space where two other Thai restaurants--and at least a couple of other dining spots--had been.

According to an article from Universal Hub, Klin Thai is going to be opening in West Roxbury, moving into the space on Centre Street that had been home to Som Tum Modern Thai Cuisine, and before that, Sticky Rice, the King, and Samia's. The post mentions that Patcharin Jeesom is behind the upcoming eatery, and he is also planning to open another location of Klin Thai in Haverhill as well.

The address for Klin Thai in West Roxbury is 1894 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132.

[October 30 update: Adam Gaffin from Universal Hub mentions that Klin Thai is now open.]

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LeDu Thai Eatery in Newtonville Has Closed

A Thai restaurant that was located a few miles west of Boston has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, LeDu Thai Eatery in Newtonville is no longer in business, with an All Over Newton Facebook post showing a photo of a sign out front saying that "We will always cherish our wonderful memories here in Newton and we will miss this great community." The note also mentions that a new dining spot is apparently moving into the space, though no other details have been given. 

 The website for LeDu Thai Eatery was 313 Walnut Street, Newton, MA, 02460.

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Thaitation in Boston's Fenway Has Closed

A Thai restaurant in Boston has shuttered.

According to a couple of sources, Thaitation in the Fenway is locked up and dark, with a Reddit poster saying that a note out front at the Jersey Street spot indicates it has apparently been seized by the state. Phone calls placed to the restaurant go unanswered and no updates have been given on their website or social media.

Thaitation first opened in 2009, replacing the original location of Brown Sugar Cafe (another location of Brown Sugar Cafe remains open on Commonwealth Avenue by Boston University).

The address for the now-closed Thaitation was 129 Jersey Street, Boston, MA, 02215.

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Chez Siam in Marlborough Has Closed

A longtime Thai restaurant in the MetroWest area has shut down.

According to a source, Chez Siam in Marlborough is no longer in business, with a Community Advocate article indicating that the East Main Street dining spot closed its doors on June 29. Chez Siam first opened in 1986, apparently being only the third Thai restaurant to open in all of Massachusetts and offering both authentic and modern Thai fare.

The address for the now-closed Chez Siam was 280 East Main Street, Marlborough, MA, 01752.

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Bangkok Bar Shi to Open in Melrose

A new Asian restaurant is coming to the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to an article from What Now Boston, Bangkok Bar Shi is going to be opening in Melrose, moving into a space on Main Street in the downtown area. The article mentions that Amy Wiwitted and her husband Adisorn Sakkara--who also run Bangkok Bento in Boston's Back Bay, Sweet Rice in Jamaica Plain, and Thai Saap Rice & Noodles Kitchen in Quincy--are behind the new place, which will offer Thai and Japanese dishes and will have a sushi bar. If all goes as planned, Bangkok Bar Shi will likely open sometime in May.

The address for Bangkok Bar Shi is 462 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176. Its website can be found at https://www.bangkokbarshi.com/

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Kiin Is Opening in East Cambridge

A new Asian restaurant will soon be opening in Cambridge after being in the works for nearly two years.

According to a Bluesky post from @troysch1.bsky.social, Kiin looks like it is close to opening in the former Similans space on First Street in East Cambridge, with an Instagram post from @bostonbudgetplumbing this week seeming to confirm this, saying that "Our team is all smiles as we help @kiinthaisushi make necessary plumbing + gas repairs for their grand opening in Cambridge!" The Instagram page for the restaurant mentions that the restaurant will feature sushi, ramen, and Thai food while also saying that it is affiliated with Chicken & Co in North Cambridge. 

The address for Kiin is 145 First Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142. Its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/kiinthaisushi/

[April 30 update: A new post from @troysch1.bsky.social indicates that Kiin is now open in East Cambridge.]

[Earlier Article]
Kiin Thai Plans to Open in the Former Similans Space in East Cambridge

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Bok Bok Thai Chicken & Rice Is Opening in the Former Master Pies Artisan Pizza Space in Arlington Heights

A new dining spot is opening in the northwest suburbs of Boston, taking over the space where a pizza spot had been.

According to a poster within The Arlington List Facebook group page, Bok Bok Thai Chicken & Rice is opening in Arlington Heights, moving into the former Master Pies Artisan Pizza space on Mass. Ave. Master Pies was under the same ownership as the adjacent Ginger Exchange Express, and it appears that Bok Bok Thai Chicken & Rice is under the same ownership as well which would indicate that this may simply be a concept change, though we are still trying to confirm this.

Ginger Exchange Express and Master Pies Artisan Pizza first opened in the summer of 2021 in the space where Great Wok had once been; other locations of Ginger Exchange can be found in Boston's Mission Hill and in Watertown.

The address for Bok Bok Thai Chicken & Rice (and Ginger Exchange Express) is 1181 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02476.

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Phat Thaiger Is Opening in Malden

The people behind a couple of Thai restaurants just north of Boston will soon be opening a third spot nearby.

According to an article from Boston Magazine, Phat Thaiger is planning to open in Malden, moving into a space on Eastern Avenue near Crying Thaiger on Ferry Street and Thaiger Den on Pleasant Street. The former is a Thai spot that opened in 2017 and the latter is a more upscale Thai restaurant that opened last year, and the new eatery will be a Thai and Japanese izakaya that features such options as pad kee mow with yakisoba noodles, pad thai with udon noodles, Hokkaido scallops with curry custard, yellowtail crudo with ponzu sauce, hot pot with Japanese and Thai influences, and yakitori-style skewers with Thai spices and marinades, while drinks will include martinis, sake, and more.

If all goes as planned, Phat Thaiger will open later this month.

The address for Phat Thaiger is 166 Eastern Avenue, Malden, MA, 02148.

[April 25 update: According to its social media along with a new article from Boston Magazine, Phat Thaiger is now open.]

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Black Ruby Opens in the Former Chalawan Asian Eatery Space in Cambridge's Porter Square

A new restaurant that offers Thai-inspired burgers, pasta dishes, and more has opened in Cambridge, moving into the space where a Southeast Asian eatery had been until closing last fall.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Black Ruby is now open in Porter Square, taking over the former Chalawan Asian Eatery space on Massachusetts Avenue. The menu for the new dining spot, which is run by Monson Theerapanont and Pam Kamolnithi (Theerapanont runs Sweet Rice in Charlestown while Kamolnithi previously cooked there), includes such items as a crispy basil beef burger, a spicy larb pork burger, spaghetti with basil sausages, rigatoni with grilled ribeye and green curry sauce, and spaghetti with tomato puree, chili paste, and pork rinds, along with such dishes as calamari, pork dumplings, fish and chips with mango tartar, and more.

Chalawan first opened in 2019, featuring mostly Thai and Vietnamese fare.

The address for Black Ruby is 1790 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02140. Its website can be found at https://www.blackrubycambridge.com/

[Earlier Article]
Chalawan in Cambridge Is Closing

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Fighting Fish Thai Cuisine Is Opening in Everett

A new Thai restaurant is on its way to an industrial area just north of Boston.

According to a source, Fighting Fish Thai Cuisine is planning to open in Everett, moving into the space on Beacham Street by the Chelsea line that had been home to Taqueria Y Pupuseria La Cueva. The website and Facebook page for the eatery both say "coming soon" while the menu offers such items as Thai larb, spicy bamboo shoot salad, rice soup, golden bags, chicken satay, Thai crying tiger, stewed beef/pork noodle soup, drunken noodle, jungle curry, spicy eggplant stir fry, and crispy duck.

The address for Fighting Fish Thai Cuisine is 241 Beacham Street (Unit A), Everett, MA, 02149. Its website can be found at https://www.fightingfishthaicuisine.com/

[May 1 update: According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Fighting Fish Thai Cuisine is now open.]

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Lemon Thai in Wellesley Has Closed

A Thai restaurant in the western suburbs of Boston has shut down.

According to a Facebook post from Kiat Cormier of the ChewOnThis group page, Lemon Thai in Wellesley is no longer in business, with a Swellesley Report article saying that the lease for the Washington Street eatery was not renewed and closed at the end of the year with the owner planning to retire. Lemon Thai first opened in 2002, offering such items as beef satay, spring rolls, shumai, tofu soup, Tom Yum noodle soup, pad Thai, veggie fried rice, mango curry, grilled salmon with ginger, tamarind duck, and beef macadamia. 

The address for the now-closed Lemon Thai was 555 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA, 02482.

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