Lunch Like A Local: Lanna Thai Diner In Woburn

WOBURN, MA -- Lanna Thai Diner in Woburn reopened Thursday after the owner's six-week vacation. The fact that his vacation took him to his native Thailand should speak volumes about the authenticity of his restaurant's menu.

Open for lunch and dinner at 901 Main Street in Woburn, Lanna Thai is a retro diner that you'd expect to get eggs, hash and blue plate specials. The building was built in 1952 by the Worcester Lunch Car Company as #834 and is believed to be the only stainless steel diner built by the company that is still standing in Massachusetts. That was enough of a pedigree to get added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

While Lanna Thai has only been there since 2011, there has been a diner at 901 Main Street in Woburn since 1937, when the Worcester Lunch Car Company delivered the first diner to its site. Shipper's Diner operated there until the current structure was delivered in 1952, when the diner changed ownership and became Jack's. From 1975 until Lanna Thai took over the spot, it was Stella's Diner.

But what about the food? The service is friendly and fast -- and it has to be, given the tight confines of the dining room. We had our go-to favorite, the Crazy Noodles, after the six-week closure when the diner opened on Thursday. We challenge you to find a better version of this, or most of the other traditional Thai offerings on the menu, outside of Thailand. It just can't be done.

See Lanna Thai's Website for hours and menus.

Lunch Like A Local is an occasional series exploring unique, one-of-a-kind and locally-owned eateries. To nominate a restaurant, email dave.copeland@patch.com.

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Photo by Dave Copeland/Patch.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).