BYU NewsNet - Authentic food entices diners to Thai Ruby

Twenty-five years ago, Chanchai and Wanida Chaichanachot, the founders and owners of Thai Ruby, brought their family to Provo from Thailand. Because they are LDS, Utah’s familial environment appealed to them.

Sixteen years after arriving in Provo, the Chaichanachots opened a charming restaurant tucked away on Condo Row.

When Thai Ruby opened in December of 2000, the Chaichanachots were the original cooks and kitchen staff.

“I have liked to cook since I was a child,” Wanida Chaichanachot said through translator Weston Hawkins, a server at the restaurant. “My mom and dad taught me when I was young.”

Now Chanchai still specializes in cooking noodles, while Wanida manages the restaurant. Their children, a daughter nicknamed “A” and a son nicknamed “Oh,” help out in the kitchen.

“A” graduated from Utah Valley University in finance. Chaichanachot said her daughter originally did not want to work in the restaurant following her degree. When the restaurant became popular, “A” came back because the family needed help. She now helps with the cooking.

“Oh” is also a graduate from Utah Valley University in business and helps oversee things in the restaurant. He came back to help because it was hard to find help from Thailand and the restaurant needed workers.

Hawkins said because the family works together in the kitchen, the food is made very fast. The family has the recipes memorized so they can customize dishes easily.

Adam Briles, one of the original servers for the restaurant, said he prefers to work in the kitchen rather than out serving the customers. He has learned cooking techniques from the family and likes to spend time in the kitchen when the restaurant is not busy.

Hawkins said the laid back atmosphere is one of the best attributes of the restaurant. As a worker, he is able to have flexible shifts. As a customer, he said the management is very efficient in preparing the food.

“Even with the dinner rush, the management is super relaxed,” Hawkins said. “I joke around with customers that we just got their food out of the microwave because it came out so fast.”

Hawkins’ favorite Thai Ruby dish is the Pad Thai. He said it is a dish anyone could eat because it can be made mild or spicy. He also recommends the Gaeng Ped Gai Yang (House special Curry), which is a red curry with chicken, pineapples and other fruity bursts.

Hawkins said the sticky rice and mango dessert is a customer favorite.

“Sometimes people come in just for the dessert,” Hawkins said. “Right now mangos are in season so it’s the perfect time to eat it.”

Because of the moderately-priced menu, Thai Ruby is a favorite of BYU professors for lunch and students for dates.

“There is one professor who comes in every day,” Hawkins said. “It’s a great place for professors to have business lunches because it’s close to campus and the food is good.”

Thai Ruby, located at 744 E. 820 North just south of BYU’s campus by Condo Row, is open six days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.