One of the ironies of the sudden expansion—after more than twenty years of critical acclaim—of Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas’s most beloved Thai restaurant, has been the ongoing closure of the restaurant’s original location on East Sahara Avenue.
In an interview with Las Vegas Weekly published at the beginning of this year, owner Penny Chutima talked about plans for the Sahara Lotus, and for the location on Flamingo Road, which will close next (presumably for renovations as well):
“The Flamingo Road restaurant is set to close when the original Sahara location reopens. We’re aiming for … the first quarter of 2023. It will be great to get Sahara open again, especially since that plaza [Commercial Center] has changed a lot in the last few years.”
Q1 2023 has come and gone, leaving us somewhat unsure of when to expect Lotus of Siam on Sahara. This week, however, What Now found building permit paperwork submitted for Lotus of Siam at 953 E Sahara Ave, Suite A5. The contract valuation listed for the interior work is a considerable $3.5 milion.
That’s not an opening date, but it does look like progress.
What Now reached out to a representative of Lotus of Siam this week to inquire about the details of the upcoming renovation. We’re still awaiting more information.
Founded by Chef Saipin Chutima, Lotus of Siam features “distinct cooking…passed down from generations after generations, from both her grandmothers and her husband’s grandmothers. Her northern style cooking has opened America into the ‘Northern’ world of Thailand, away from the Bangkok style of sweet and tang. The Northern menu consists of hearty herbs and spices, along with Thai style stews and coconut-less curries.”
You can keep up with Lotus of Siam news by following @lotusofsiam on Instagram.
