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Jaiwai family enjoying a meal after their shift, from left, Peen Jaiwai, Phan Jaiwai, Tom Emerson, Noon Jaiwai. -
Jaiwai's green curry.
Located in the northeast corner of the Square, Jaiwai Thai Kitchen offers traditional Central Thailand dishes in a small space that’s minimally decorated with a faux hedge wall and neon signs.
“We’re not that fancy. We care more about the taste,” Owner Tom Jaiwai explained.
The winner of three “Best of Georgetown" awards, the restaurant’s menu primarily features dishes including Pad Thai, Pineapple Fried Rice, Papaya Salad and, famously, the Tiger Cry, a steamy plate of grilled steak, white rice and cooked vegetables served with an inexplicably addictive lime vinaigrette.
“We have to keep the recipe a secret,” Mr. Jaiwai said in a hushed voice. “Only family members know what’s in the sauce.”
The sauce is tangy, spicy, sweet and sour all at once, incomparable to any other flavor. If you ask one of the non-familial employees what’s in the sauce, they couldn’t even tell you because it has been kept a secret from them as well.
“If we tell everyone, it’s not going to be secret anymore. It's a special sauce!” Mr. Jaiwai said.
Jaiwai Thai Kitchen’s busiest time is during the winter, when people are craving warm dishes like soup and curry. Their most popular curry is Yellow Curry and their most popular soup is a toss up between the Tom Yum and the Tom Kha, Mr. Jaiwai said.
He opened the restaurant in 2015 and has kept its doors open ever since, with the exception of his summer trips back to Thailand. During these trips, he would post a sign in the window informing customers that the family is in Thailand and the date when they will be back. He said he doesn’t plan to visit Thailand again though for another couple of years
Mr. Jaiwai runs the restaurant with his family and a few trusted employees including his “righthand man” Mack Lackner. Another one of his close employees is Linda, who was hired as a waitress and has since become Mr. Jaiwai’s wife. They are now expecting their first child together.
The Jaiwai family is from North Thailand. The menu only features a couple of more well known North Thailand dishes like the Mango Sticky Rice and Chicken Khao Soi. However, when the restaurant closes from 2:30-4:30 p.m. each day to prepare for dinner, the team enjoys a family dinner of traditional Northern Thailand food that isn’t featured on the menu.