Eating Wyoming: From Bangkok To New York To Thermopolis

THERMOPOLIS — The middle of Wyoming is not exactly where a world traveler might expect to find an authentic Thai foodie experience.

But that’s exactly what they’ll find at the tiny Bangkok Thai restaurant at 512 Broadway in downtown Thermopolis.

The restaurant is owned by brothers Tanon “James” Thapphum and Chalow “Rustin” Chuthaphech, who both grew up in Thailand and learned to cook authentic dishes from their own family.

They’ve brought all those skills to bear in a diverse menu that features Thai favorites that Americans love, like pad thai, Massaman curry and drunken noodles.

But they also feature a few surprising dishes as well, like pumpkin curry, avocado curry, spicy basil lamb, spicy basil tofu and crispy fried Bangkok duck.

The bold flavors so characteristic of Thai foods are what really stand out in all of the brothers’ dishes. And the reason those flavors are so bold is that they grow some of their own herbs right on site.

Guests will find mint growing in the front of the restaurant in pots, and there’s also basil and other herbs growing in the back.

The strength of doing that really shines when they deliver a basil Thai dish to the table, stacked up like a leaning tower of Pisa, and showered in fresh, fried basil leaves. It’s one of their most impressive dishes, and the flavors are spot on.

The curry flavors too, are a very popular choice at the restaurant, and they are one of Thapphum’s favorites.

The brothers also grow cantaloupe and pumpkin at their home that they use in the restaurant, but they don’t only source ingredients close to home.

The brothers will drive about six hours into Utah in their quest to source the authentic Thai ingredients they need to create a first-rate dining experience.

Authenticity Is Key

Thapphum told Cowboy State Daily he had a food cart in Thailand, and he was cooking street food long before coming to America. But street food in Thailand is hard work, and doesn’t necessarily make a lot of money.

“Family and friends told me I should come to America,” he said. “You can make money. You can do everything, you can learn everything.”

So Thapphum brought his cooking skills to New York, where he worked with a cousin at a Thai restaurant.

He also went to school while he was there, and trained to be a sushi chef as well.

During that timeframe, though, his uncle had opened a Thai restaurant in Thermopolis.

“He wanted to own a business, and they didn’t have a Thai restaurant here,” Thapphum told Cowboy State Daily.

Thapphum visited his uncle now and then, sometimes helping out at the restaurant. But he always went back to New York.

One day, though, Thapphum’s uncle called to say he’d had a heart attack. He needed help.

So, Thapphum initially came back to Thermopolis just to help out and care for his uncle, who then decided to go home to Thailand, leaving the restaurant in Thapphum’s capable hands.

“He passed away about six months later,” Thapphum told Cowboy State Daily.

That left Thapphum the sole owner of the Bangkok Thai restaurant in Thermopolis.

“I thought about maybe moving, closing and moving, to another town or city, but I don’t want to move any more. I’m tired,” he said. “I like it here, it’s nice, the people are nice.”

Christmas All Year

One thing customers at the Thai restaurant will notice right away is the large Christmas tree in the corner of the dining room, which is all lit up and decorated with Santa Claus figures, teddy bears, and Christmas bells and balls.

There’s a sweet story behind the tree.

“Last time I took it out, my friend came in and asked me where is my Christmas tree?” Thapphum told Cowboy State Daily. “I told him I’m keeping it, storing it in the patio.”

Then the friend, who is a child, demanded to see the tree.

“Take me to see it right now,” Thapphum said the child told him.

After showing his friend the tree, Thapphum decided to put it back out and keep it on display all year.

Now the tree has its very own corner in the restaurant.

“Customers come, taking pictures with it,” Thapphum said, smiling.

And so, it became a fun thing for the restaurant, to have a Christmas spirit all year long.

It’s not the only fun thing at the location though.

Thapphum does most of the order-taking and seating of guests, while his brother Chuthaphech does most of the cooking.

Chuthaphech is a collector of fine and interesting knickknacks, ranging from cuckoo clocks and merry-go-round music boxes, to superhero action figures, which have found a home on various shelves throughout the restaurant.

There’s also a Buddha statue festooned with dollar bills, with dishes that hold an abundance of coins. That’s to bring luck to the restaurant owners and all of its guests, as is the little Hello Kittys that sit waving their arms at customers who come in the shop.

There’s also a portrait of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on one wall. That’s just one of the many things that contribute to the authentic experience at this central Wyoming gem.

Tiny Grocery Store

Along one wall, Thapphum and Chuthaphech stock a number of Asian treats from a variety of countries, not just Thailand.

These range from little sesame cookies to Pia cakes, which have a sweet red bean filling, durian, and a salted egg yolk. They’re a little like Chinese mooncakes, but differ in the type of crust, which is flakier, resembling a puff pastry. The fillings are also creamier, making the pastry a little more tender overall.

Most of the items are things Thapphum and Chuthapech personally like, that they can’t easily get in Thermopolis.

But they also make fun spontaneous gifts.

“Sometimes these are free,” Thapphum said, waving at the candies. “Sometimes if you make a big order, I make free for you.”

Other times, he will give a treat to a child to see them smile.

Or to folks who are admiring a particular item a little too closely. Like the flavored squid he tried to give Cowboy State Daily.

“I just like to bring stuff to the local community,” Thapphum said.

Expanding Soon

Thapphum and his brother Chuthaphech have big plans for the patio next door.

“Because, sometimes we have customers who have a dog,” Thapphum said. “And they cannot come sit inside. So they ask me if it is ok they can sit outside to eat.”

One particular couple comes in fairly often to order takeout, then sits on a bench outside the restaurant so they can eat the meal with their dog.

Thapphum and Chuthaphech plan to refresh the patio next door, which hasn’t been in use other than to provide a little growing space for plants. The brothers are excited about turning it into a dog patio for customers who want to eat with their pooch.

Chuthaphech’s eyes light up when talking about the patio, where he’s envisioning lots more room for plants to grow, as well as more spaces for collections of superhero action figures, cuckoo clocks, and gold fish aquariums.

Thapphum is also planning to renovate the restaurant in a couple of months, now that he’s completed a purchase of the building, so things will soon have a fresher, roomier look.

Chuthaphech will sometimes make cookies and jello to give to friends of the restaurant. The brothers also make a dessert called sticky rice mango, which comes with a delightful coconut-sesame sauce. That uses fresh mangos that the brothers sell from the restaurant.

Sometimes, the mangoes, too, are free from these two brothers who like nothing better than to please their guests with a great dining experience in Thermopolis, Wyoming, the last place anyone would ever think to look for an authentic piece of living, breathing, Thailand.

Finding it feels a bit like discovering the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Renée Jean can be reached at renee@cowboystatedaily.com.