Owned by Alex and Yotaka Martin, Lom Wong is opening a new restaurant in their backyard at 218 E Portland St, according to Phoenix New Times.
In the same space that was formerly cocktail bar Khla, the forthcoming concept will be called Mr. Baan’s Bar and Mookata, which is Thai-style barbecue. Owner Alex Martin told What Now Phoenix, “Guests can expect to explore another side of the cuisines with us.”
In a post on their Instagram page, they shared the following: “We’re happy to announce our newest concept: Mr. Baan’s Bar and Mookata @mrbaans located behind Lom Wong. When we first moved back to the States, we got doing Mookata, or Thai BBQ pop-ups in Orcas Island, Washington. It was always a concept we wanted to revisit. We’re excited to share another side of the cuisines of Thailand with Phoenix. We’re equally excited for some amazing cocktails by @dustydudz that will showcase more Thai flavors!”
On the Lom Wong website, they share the following statement: “We celebrate the diverse people and cultures of Thailand by cooking the types of food that one would find in villages and small towns across the different regions of the country. Additionally, we tell the stories of the amazing people who honored us teaching us their recipes. We started Lom Wong as a way to remain connected to our collective friends and families across the country. Our mission is to be sincere to the ingredients, techniques and service styles that one would find in the villages and towns that inspired our concept.”
The Martins have a rich history with the culture, and look to share that locally. For example, Yotaka grew up on a farm in San Maket, Chiang Rai where she spent her childhood cooking with her family, and she looks to introduce people to the regional cuisines of her home in Thailand. Alex has both a bachelors in Cultural and Regional Studies from Prescott College and a masters in Southeast Asian Studies from Chulalongkorn University, and spent twelve years living in Thailand.
An exact opening date has not been disclosed yet.
