THAI STREET FOOD COUP
A YOUNG couple new to the city has opened a Thai cafe and restaurant in Central Village offering authentic dishes and desserts sure to delight people in Townsville.
Phranakorn is being operated by Kotchakron “Bambi” Vorachatvittaya with the help of her husband, Theeranon “Thee” Phadungsap, who is a gunner in the army.
They have taken a lease on a 296sq m cafe site in Holborn opposite BCC Cinemas and have come to the city from Melbourne and previously the Gold Coast where Thee’s family has operated a Thai restaurant for many years.
“My wife and I have been involved in many Thai restaurants since 2009 and we are really looking forward to seeing people coming into Phranakorn and enjoying our authentic Thai street food,” Thee said.
They are offering dine-in and takeaway for authentic soups, curries, stir fry and share plates including spring rolls, chicken satay and curry puffs.
Sweets such as Foi Thong made with eggs boiled in sugar syrup and Pandan cake flavoured with pandanus leaves are some of their specialities.
Thee said they were thrilled to join the food offer in Central Village.
“Central Village was our top pick as it is not far from the CBD or the beach. It feels like a community with the existing tenants and surrounding apartments, which is why it is the perfect location for our Thai restaurant. We are excited to see people come in and have a nice casual dinner with family,” he said.
Colliers executive Shaun Mclaren said the tenancy came with an existing fit-out requiring minimal work for them to open and the area had good access with ample parking. Mr Mclaren said Phranakorn would complement the cuisines already available in Central village including Australian, Japanese, Korean and Mexican foods. “It’s a great mix,” Mr Mclaren said.
The managing director of property owners Honeycombes Property Group, Peter Honeycombe, said they were excited to see the activity and authentic Thai food Phranakorn had brought to Central Village. “Central Village is the only precinct in Townsville that of
fers entertainment, dining, fitness, beauty and, convenient parking all in one place,” Mr Honeycombe said.
He said all of the tenancies now were occupied.