Thai Fresh celebrates 9 years of Fine Dining

Searching for a delicious and affordable bite to eat? Look no further than Charlottesville’s own Thai Fresh. With reasonably priced dishes, fantastic customer service, and an exceptional atmosphere, Thai Fresh has become my go-to spot when craving a home-cooked meal. 

Upon entering the restaurant for the first time, I was kindly greeted by the owner, Tom Pramoonjago, and his daughter, Attaya. Having first moved from Thailand to the U.S. in 2007, Tom Pramoonjago started out as a dishwasher. Never having cooked before, he began to study under the head chef at an authentic Thai restaurant. In 2014, Pramoonjago opened his own restaurant, Thai Fresh. 

After graduating high school in Thailand, Attaya moved to the U.S. to help her father run the family business. A full-time student at PVCC, Attaya works at the restaurant every day after school as a waitress. Attaya promptly took my order – spicy Pad Thai ($7). The restaurant’s open floor plan then allowed me to watch as Tom Pramoonjago prepared my meal. In under five minutes, I received my dish, a medley of thin rice noodles sauteed with strips of chicken, egg, bean sprouts, peanuts, and scallions. As a frequent eater of Thai food, I can confidently say that Thai Fresh has perfected their recipe; their variation of Pad Thai is undoubtedly the best I have ever tried. 

On my second visit, over a bowl of steaming fried rice ($7), I conversed with Attaya and her father, asking them about their experience in Charlottesville. 

“The people here are very nice,” said Tom Pramoonjago. Due to the many other Thai restaurants in the area, competition has been a struggle. “We have many regular customers, though,” said Attaya. “Few customers even come every day.”

Thai Fresh is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is closed on Sundays.