Newest Thai Restaurant Opens On JFK Boulevard

Syed Shah cuts the ribbon April 4 for the new Thai Palace restaurant on John F. Kennedy Boulevard.

The owners of an East Brunswick-based Thai restaurant are banking on their proven recipe for success working in the township.

Thai Palace opened up at 2 John F. Kennedy Boulevard on April 4, taking over a space most recently occupied by Pan Asian restaurant.

In fact, the new owners have so far kept most of the interior decorations from Pan Asia, but added a few of their own wall hangings.

Owner Syed Qayyum also owns the Thai Palace in East Brunswick, a restaurant that seats about 200 people.

His Franklin location is smaller by more than half – seating is available for about 80 diners – but, he said, will feature the same dishes.

Qayyum said that  Thai Palace is not your ordinary Thai restaurant, even aside from the fact that the owners and chefs are Pakistani.

“We try to do everything fresh, without using fish sauce or shrimp paste and stuff,” he said. “We keep it for all kinds of people. We have a very big vegetarian base. We also do halal, which is different than other Thai restaurants. It’s more healthier as well.”

Qayyum’s father, Syed Shah, is the head chef and also taught his brother and cousin how to cook Thai dishes, he said.

Shah said he learned how to cook Thai 40 years ago simply because he liked the food.

Qayyum said that his philosophy behind the restaurant’s offerings is simple: give people something that they wouldn’t cook for themselves at home.

“I don’t want to eat something that I can cook at home, you want something different,” he said. “There’s no other Halal Thai, we get a lot of Muslim customers who come in, too, so let’s give people something different, which they cannot get elsewhere.”

Among the more popular dishes at the east Brunswick location are Pad Thai noodles, drunken noodles, ocean red snapper, black pepper chicken, ginger chicken and pineapple fried rice, Qayyum said.

Thai Palace will also offer specials on certain days, during which one entree is 50 percent off: Tuesdays are ladies’ nights, Wednesdays are senior nights, and Thursdays are students’ nights.

The restaurant will also offer lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.

Entrees range from $11 to $20.

Thai Palace is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for lunch and 5-9:30 p.m. for dinner; Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for lunch and 5-10 p.m. for dinner; Saturdays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays, noon to 9 p.m.

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