Tom Yum Koong Restaurant offers Hasbrouck Heights A Taste of Thai

The borough now has a new cuisine to add to the list. The opening of Tom Yum Koong at 305 Boulevard last month marked the first restaurant in town to offer fresh, authentic Thai dishes that help answer the question, what’s for dinner?

Husband and wife owners Jeff and Ann Sukonthorn came from Thailand and opened their flagship restaurant, also called Tom Yum Koogn, in Cliffside Park, NJ. Since they opened the doors five years ago the restaurant, and Thai cuisine, has become quite popular so the Sukonthorns decided to open another location.

“People said it is a nice neighborhood,” said Ann when asked why the couple decided on Hasbrouck Heights. She added that there was also no Thai restaurant in the area. Like their restaurant in Cliffside Park, the Hasbrouck Heights location is also BYOB.

Tom Yum Koong’s signature dishes include kang ped ped yang, a chef’s special that features  sliced boneless crispy duck in red curry with pineapple, tomato, bell pepper and basil, and grilled jumbo shrimp, topped with red curry and served with sauteed vegetables.

For people trying Thai cuisine for the first time, Ann suggests chicken satay and pad Thai. Satya, grilled chicken served with peanut sauce, is a basic and tasty appetizer. Pad Thai, a simple noodle dish that is stir fried with bean sprouts, scallions, egg, and ground peanut, is a Thai classic that is universally loved. Ann said, “They are simple and delicious.”

The smartly renovated space provides a welcoming environment to those who chose to dine in, but Ann Sukonthorn says that a large portion of their business comes from take out. She said that they are doing well and invites everyone to stop in and try their food, especially the duck curry.