Terra Thai reopens with new grab-and-go items

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

After a month-long revamp, Terra Thai reopened earlier this month at 518 E. Sixth St., between Avenues A and B. 

I stopped by last week and met with co-owner Karuna Wiwattanakantang, who runs the small restaurant with her husband, Norawat Margsiri.

Terra Thai has a new grab-and-go concept. Two display fridges in the front of the shop have signage indicating what is available for take-out when you drop by. There is no menu, delivery, or online ordering, although that might change. 

"I am trying to make it easier for the kitchen," Karuna tells me.

Karuna says they have "created special food, something that can surprise you" and "new, special dishes," like today's salmon with basil sauce over rice, served with a poached egg side and a broccoli salad, all for $13. 

Karuna says they've stopped carrying less popular dishes and added some new ones, like empanadas and basil salmon. 

She also plans to sell a Thai cooking set for at-home chefs, where you buy the kit and add your own choice of protein, and prepare it in your kitchen.

"People here like to cook," she explains. And she's happy to create "affordable food for the neighborhood."

There's no seating in the newly renovated space, and the wall of plants is still there.

Is there a favorite dish on the old menu you miss? You can try calling the restaurant and asking to have it prepared, but Karuna warns it may take a while, and she may or may not have the ingredients. 

She encourages people to drop by, see what's fresh and ready to go...and pick up their food to take away.

"I feel indebted to the East Village neighborhood very much," she says. 

I ask Norawat what he thinks of the changes, and he points to Karuna and smiles, "You have to ask her. She's the boss."

Terra Thai is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. You can follow them on Instagram here.

They previously operated Terra Thai in Boulder, Colo., for six years before deciding to move to NYC and signing a lease — weeks before the pandemic PAUSE of March 2020. They opened in May 2020.