Circles chef opening Thai taqueria at 429 South St. called Tuk Tuk Real
Chef Alex Boonphaya, the owner of the tasty Thai place Circles at 1516 Tasker St., is planning to open a Thai taco joint at 429 South St.
He’s partnering with his Mexican-born sous chef, Silvestre Rincon, to open Tuk Tuk Real, which will meld the cuisines from both countries. It’s going in the former spot of Paul’s Idaho Fries, a boardwalk-inspired french fry and funnel cake place.
Expect 45 seats for dine in, takeout and delivery for lunch, dinner and late night seven days a week. As for the name, here’s the explanation from a news release:
The name combines Boonphaya’s Thai lineage and Rincon’s Mexican heritage. The Tuk Tuk is Boonphaya’s preferred mode of transportation in Thailand, and the Real represents Rincon’s favorite soccer team: Real Madrid.
If you just can’t wait, you can get a preview July 24 at the Circles in Northern Liberties at a “Knife Fight” between the two cooks to see who is going to be the official executive chef of the new place. It’s $40 a head for six courses.
They’re shooting to open the new place by the middle of next month.
Is there a link anywhere for the “Knife Fight”? Is it just a show up type of event or are reservations necessary?
They didn’t provide one and I couldn’t find a link to the event on their website, so I’d just call them at the restaurant. http://circlesthai.com/
This concept combines two of my favorite cuisines and based on who’s executing it, comes loaded with potential. Truly the best news I’ve heard all day.