The Pad Thai Stand, a local Thai food concept specializing in regional Pad Thai, is expanding with a new location in San Marcos at 997 W. San Marcos Blvd., #107.
The company’s fourth location is set to move into the former home of Two Hands Corn Dog, according to documents submitted to the City of San Diego. Owner and chef Nattapon “Ranma” Thitathan tells What Now San Diego that he hopes to open the San Marcos location as soon as possible, hopefully by the end of the month.
The Pad Thai Stand was established in 2017 by Chef Ranma, who launched the concept as a tent at Oceanside’s Sunset Market, cooking pad thai in front of customers. The business later opened brick-and-mortar locations in Clairemont Mesa and Pacific Beach, serving four rotating regional pad Thai styles: Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Chai Ya, and the traditional Boran. Each dish features a tamarind sauce and rice noodles, with ingredients and flavors that reflect Thailand’s regional diversity.
Customers at the San Marcos location can expect a similar setup to the Convoy District site, with a take-out-focused model, streamlined ordering, and limited seating. The menu will continue to feature regional variations of pad Thai, offering customizable proteins, spice levels, and vegetarian options. Chef Ranma also plans to offer limited-time specials and add-ons, including fried garlic, preserved radish, and green curry sauces.
Before launching The Pad Thai Stand, Chef Ranma owned a Thai restaurant in Oceanside, where he introduced customers to lesser-known pad thai variations starting in 2008. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in food, marketing, and media, he created the stand to educate and serve San Diegans about the traditional pad Thai he grew up with. He estimates he knows more than 30 types of pad Thai and continues to develop new regional offerings.
