WIN Hospitality plans to bring one of its popular Asian fusion restaurants to Ardmore this fall.
The Blue Elephant will open at 66 E. Lancaster Ave., marking a full-circle moment for the restaurant group. The restaurant will occupy part of the space currently home to Mikado Thai Pepper, the group’s first restaurant, which has operated for 35 years.
“Thai Pepper was the first restaurant my parents opened. Right next door to it was Mikado. Eventually, we combined them. We are renovating the Thai Pepper side to be the Blue Elephant Ardmore. We’re still preserving the legacy my parents started but guiding a new chapter,” Co-CEO Pearl Somboonsong told Whatnow Philadelphia.
Founded in 1991 by husband-and-wife duo Dr. Win and Sutida Somboonsong, WIN Hospitality is now led by siblings Pearl and Paul Somboonsong. The group’s portfolio includes Mikado Thai Pepper, Teikoku, Maison Lotus, Jade Rabbit, Azie, Mama San and two additional Blue Elephant locations in Pottstown and Wayne.
The new Ardmore location will accommodate 70 to 80 guests, offering the signature Blue Elephant atmosphere with a unique touch.
“Any Blue Elephant pays homage to the foundation of the building, catering to the space. Then, we add the Blue Elephant flair to it—lots of greenery, the velvet, the navy blue seats, the brass touches and the elephants,” Somboonsong said.
The menu will feature Blue Elephant classics alongside specials exclusive to Ardmore.
Highlights include spicy Thai basil stir-fry with bell peppers, chili peppers, onion and white rice; Chilean sea bass with saffron-orange cream and grilled asparagus; sautéed garlic spinach and mushrooms; and salmon teriyaki with wok-sautéed broccoli and white rice.
With Mikado Thai Pepper next door, the team can accommodate menu requests under certain circumstances.
“Each restaurant has its own unique identity, but I view them as friends. If Blue Elephant is all booked up and you really want a pasta dish and you can get a seat at Mikado, we’ll figure it out. We’re all about hospitality and the experience,” she said.
Somboonsong looks forward to building on her parents’ vision in Ardmore.
“I’m most excited about inviting people into the space. I think it’s a fun refresh. Ardmore has also been booming. The community has new families and new people joining. We very much see Blue Elephant as signaling that welcoming mode of change,” she said.
The Blue Elephant plans to open in November. Visit the website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates.
