Oy's Thai Cuisine Becoming Big Hit In New Lenox

NEW LENOX, IL - Wednesday marked the official grand opening celebration for Oy's Thai Cuisine, the first Thai restaurant to open in Will County's fastest growing community. When Oy's opened its doors for business on Thursday at 11 a.m., a handful of hungry people were already waiting to get in. People like New Lenox resident Sheila Johnson. She ordered the $7.99 fried rice with chicken lunch special.

"Oh, this is definitely good!" she told New Lenox Patch. "I'll definitely be back."

As for her Thai iced tea?

"This is awesome," Johnson remarked.

Oy's had a soft opening last week. Wednesday was its grand opening.

On Thursday, Patch interviewed the owners of the new restaurant at 1880 E. Lincoln Highway. It's in the commercial strip plaza directly across from Lincoln-Way Central High School. Oy's is owned and operated by New Lenox residents Bryan and Oy Hunsaker, whose children have gone through the Lincoln-Way schools. For their grand opening, "we had real steady business all day," Brian Hunsaker told Patch. "It's going well. It's hitting our sales expectations in a good way.

"The challenge is to keep a consistent quality product going. We're trying hard to do that."

Oy's actually opened for business last week with a soft opening that featured a limited menu.

Their primary customer base is from New Lenox, Mokena, Frankfort and Joliet, Bryan Hunsaker said. However, one of their first customers drove in from Seneca. "We're on her commute," he said. "We've had a few people from Naperville, but our core will be the heart of Lincoln-Way here."

Oy Hunsaker has cooked Thai cuisine for years.

Wondering what's on the menu at Oy's?

You can order entrees, curry dishes, noodle dishes, fried rice dishes, appetizers, soups and salads.

The following selections have been popular with their first-time customers:

• Oy's Famous Pad Thai
• Drunken Noodles
• Red Curry
• Panang Curry
• Oy's Famous Egg Roll Salad
• Tom Yum, a famous Thai soup
• Egg Rolls
• Fresh Spring Rolls, plain or with shrimp

A total of 100 egg rolls were given away at Wednesday's grand opening.

So why did the Hunsakers open a Thai restaurant in New Lenox?

"We live three miles from here, and we didn't want to drive far," Bryan Hunsaker said. "We just liked the idea of providing for our neighbors. We know a lot of people here. It's great seeing all your friends."

New Lenox Patch wanted to know what's been the most popular menu item.

"Nine out of ten people will tell you Pad Thai," he said. "She puts on a special sauce that's different from other places. People seem to like it."

The owners of Oy's are also New Lenox residents.

Bryan Hunsaker wants to provide customers with the same dining experience as if they were guests at the couple's home. "We want them to have the same quality of foods and hospitality in a warm inviting environment," he said.

Oy's is open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. The restaurant seats about 30 customers and handles its share of carryout orders.

The menu is also posted online at its website here.

Images taken by John Ferak, New Lenox Patch Editor