A new Thai restaurant is bringing authentic flavors and a taste of home to Northampton County, going beyond classic dishes like Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles.
Bell Thai Kitchen, owned by chef Paul Rojrattana, is located at 2716 Community Dr. Rojrattana told Whatnow Philadelphia his mother helped him choose the location, drawn to its “peaceful and quiet” surroundings.
The chef, who studied culinary arts at Northampton Community College, also operates two other restaurants with his brother-in-law. La Kang Thai French offers an upscale, fine-dining fusion experience inspired by his early work in American restaurants, while La Kang Thai Noodles & Seafood transports guests to Thailand’s vibrant street food scene.
Bell Thai Kitchen takes a more personal approach, centered around his mother’s cooking.
“My mom came to stay with us for a year. My mom’s always cooking. When I would come home from work, she always had food on the table. It was real Thai comfort food, and I want to make that for the community,” he said.
The menu highlights crispy pork belly with prik khing curry, green beans, makrut lime and Thai basil; crab fat fried rice, made with fat extracted from the meat to mimic a curry paste; and classic Thai staples with a twist.
“Thai restaurants always have Pad Thai, but our Pad Thai is different. We don’t put any paprika in it. We just use pure tamarind, palm sugar and fish sauce,” Rojrattana said.
Rojrattana recently won The Great Allentown Fair’s Iron Chef contest, and guests may see some sneak peeks from the competition make their way onto the menu this winter.
“We have a project we want to do at Bell Thai Kitchen, a chef tasting menu with 10 courses. That might have some of the stuff I made on stage—it gave me creativity to play with food in a different way,” he said.
The interior features an intimate 15-seat dining space with a modern Thai aesthetic, accented by shades of green. During the warmer months, guests can also dine on the outdoor patio, which accommodates 20 to 25 people.
This is Rojrattana’s first solo concept, and he is proud to showcase a new side of Thai cuisine to the area.
“It’s just me. I want to show expression through food. What most people think about when they go to a Thai restaurant is Pad Thai. I want to give people another side, the way I grew up eating. I’m excited to share that,” he said.
Bell Thai Kitchen is officially open. The restaurant will operate Monday through Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. and remain closed on Sundays.
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