Could Lotus of Siam Open a Second Location at Downtown Summerlin?

New rumors of a second Lotus of Siam location point to Downtown Summerlin — instead of The Linq — as the next home for the Thai food from James Beard Award-winning chef Saipin Chutima.

While no construction permits point to confirmation of the rumor, the original Lotus location at the Commercial Center plans an imminent estimated $49,896 round of remodeling for the always-packed restaurant, owned and operated by Chutima and her husband Bill since November 1999.

Back in February, rumors pointed to Chutima rounding up investors for a second location at The Linq.

The off-Strip Thai restaurant in the Commercial Center made a splash on the national dining scene after Jonathan Gold called it "the single best Thai restaurant in North America" in Gourmet magazine in August 2000. Since, Chutima won the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest in 2011 in a tie with Tyson Cole, Uchi, Austin, Texas.

The Chutimas abandoned a New York City outpost of the restaurant in 2011 "to protect our morals and values; also, to protect the image of my parents who have worked their hardest for the past 25 years."

Lotus of Siam has been on the Eater 38 since its launch in Las Vegas in 2012.