Building a Taste of Home

Thai House opened in 1991 in Leuven as the city’s first Thai restaurant. That's how it stayed for years, until a decade later they launched their own supermarket with the aim of supplying the restaurant with authentic ingredients. The restaurant eventually closed, but as Thanabat, the owner of Thai House, puts it, they couldn’t stay away for too long.

“We came back with a fresh idea: Thai fast food.” And that’s what they still serve today, right in the same space where the shop is. If you’ve been in Leuven for a while, you probably already know about this place, especially if you are a student. Thai House is a city staple, always busy, both because of its delicious dishes and affordable prices, as well as its fast-paced service.

Authentic Flavors and Ingredients

You will find everything Thai in the store: plenty of ingredients, noodles, and sauces used in Thai cuisine. And the best part is that you can try all these ingredients right there, sitting down to order one of their dishes. The combination of restaurant and supermarket makes the experience especially unique.

Besides their specialties, such as pad thai, curry, or noodle soup, Thanabat says there’s one specific product that customers love especially: “When people see durian here during its season, they get really excited.” For those who might not know, durian is a fruit native to Thailand, as well as of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, known for its spiky exterior and its very strong and distinctive smell. Let’s just say that once you’ve tried it (and smelled it), you don’t forget it.

Sharing Culture Through Food

This special fruit is also one of the things that reminds Thanabat most of home. “Fish sauce and durian. Thai people love them.” Food, in general, is one of the most important parts of Thai House’s owner and his connection to his roots. “Food is my favorite thing to share from my culture. We are proud of our cuisine.” And it is easy to understand why.

There are two celebrations from his home culture that Thanabat wishes more people here in Belgium knew about: the Thai New Year (Songkran), which falls on April 13, just before the heat wave begins, and during which “people splash water on each other in the streets in celebration of Buddha”; and the Loy Krathong festival in December, which honors ancestors “by floating candle-lit baskets on rivers.”

Thanabat is happy to find himself in Leuven, as he believes it is easier to navigate and manage than the capital. “Leuven feels more compact than Brussels. Same charm, but without the drawbacks.”

All in all, what makes the owner of Thai House happiest is continuing to share the food from his home culture with the local and international communities that fill this beloved space in the city every single day.