Wondee Siam Serves Up “Secret” Thai Recipes at its New 9th Avenue Location

A staple of Hell’s Kitchen since 1996, the Thai restaurant Wondee Siam has moved into a new, larger location at the corner of W52nd St and 9th Ave. The owners are planning to keep the original location at 792 9th Ave, just a few doors north, and turn it into a to-go restaurant. 

“Wondee” means “good day” in Thai, and Siam is the former name for Thailand, so together the name translates to “Good Day Thailand.” 

All the tables were filled inside Wondee Siam at 5 pm, when we visited last week. By 5:30 a line of loyal patrons had already formed outside the door. Most of the customers are of Thai descent, which Sudavee Vasboonchoo, one of the restaurant’s co-owners, says is typical of most days. 

“We have been very busy,” Sudavee said. “We have the regular customers from the old restaurant and new customers.” 

The menu, which features classic favorites like Pad Thai (with a secret sauce no less!), has a section translated into Thai, with delicacies catering to New York City’s Thai community. 

One of the most popular dishes ordered by people of Thai descent is papaya salad with raw crab, according to Sudavee. Another specialty, she says, is crispy pork served in Broccoli leaf, which creates a perfect marriage of sweet and savory flavors in the mouth. In past years members of the Thai royal family were frequent visitors. The decor is modern and spacious, with tiled walls and a curved bar.

Pamuan “Danny” Likitsansook and his wife Nicky opened the restaurant, after both previously working in restaurants since they arrived in the United States in 1980. “I got up at six o’clock in the morning and got home at one in the morning,” Danny recalled of his early days working at restaurants, including the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. 

The couple used to operate multiple locations in Hell’s Kitchen that they have since closed. Nicky’s father had a restaurant in Chou Buri, Thailand, and she learned how to cook from him. Danny remembers that at first the family didn’t trust they could run a restaurant. 

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“My family, they were like oh, you don’t know nothing, how are you going to do a restaurant?” he said. Since then, he’s certainly proven them wrong. 

Danny and Nicky now live in New Jersey, where they operate another restaurant in Jersey City called “One Dee Siam”. Next to the door, a poster recounts the restaurant’s history. 

“Right here in Hell’s Kitchen, our journey began with Phimploy ‘Big Mama’ Likitsansook’s dream of bringing authentic Thai flavor to New York,” it reads. “Our evolving menu began with crowd-pleasers and grew to include unique ‘secret Thai’ recipes. These special dishes, once our well-kept secret, are now proudly shared with you. Discover our story in every dish, where traditional Thai cuisine meets the heartfelt passion of Big Mama.” 

The restaurant is a family affair. Nicky and Danny might be in New Jersey now, but Nicky’s sisters work the kitchen in the back of the house. Sudavee, also a Hell’s Kitchen resident, has worked at Wondee Siam for 15 years and recently became a partner. One of her sons works at the shop, and her other son may join in soon. 

“We are very strong on family,” Danny said, smiling.