Kinnara Thai Makes the Leap from California to Las Vegas

Chef Kevin Sukcharoen just opened a Thai fusion restaurant on Maryland Parkway near Sahara Avenue, bringing dishes from his original Kinnara Thai in Van Nuys, California, to Las Vegas.

A roster of curries spanning red curry chicken to Massaman curry beef Peking duck in a red curry sauce make the menu, as well as some of his specialty dishes, such as hung lae curry with ginger and lemongrass in a Northern curry made from tender pork; lotus root curry with a pork rib cutlet in a spicy curry; gaeng tai pla, a Southern-style curry that uses pickled fish bladder and spicy curry mixed with Thai eggplant, bamboo shoot, green bean, pumpkin, and cashew nut; and kua kling with sauteed minced chicken and pork ribs with hot and spicy southern chili paste.

Vegetarian dishes include fried tofu with tamarind sauce, garlic green beans, and Chinese kale in a chili sauce.

Weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the restaurant serves plate dishes with green bean chicken, cashew chicken, spicy hot basil with chicken, beef, or pork, and more, with a salad and rice. Crispy Hainan chicken over rice, kra pow chicken and shrimp, and prik king chicken over rice are served all day.

Fried rice, noodles, marinated barbecue pork ribs, and wok dishes round out the menu.

Sukcharoen moved to Los Angeles after working in restaurants in Bangkok. His mother taught him the skills he needed in the kitchen. Once he landed in Los Angeles, he opened his restaurant Kinnara Thai in Van Nuys, later partnering on Nakkara on Beverly.

Kinnara Thai, 2680 S Maryland Parkway, 702-242-4844. Open Saturdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and until 10:30 p.m. on Fridays.

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