Chor Muang, or Royal Flower Dumplings
Kaew Jao Jorm has arrived at 800 Grand Street! Kaew Jao Jorm is a new Thai restaurant on Grand Street focusing on Royal Thai cuisine, inspired by the cuisine served to King Rama V who ruled from 1868 - 1910. Royal Thai cuisine is seldom found in NYC, and some dishes are rare even in Bangkok. Kaew Jao Jorm prides itself on these dishes, offering Royal Thai dishes like its Chor Muang, or Royal Flower dumplings, made with tender rice-based dough that is naturally dyed blue with a sweet-savory chicken and peanut filling. Other dishes include its Run Juan Curry, a Royal Thai coconut milk free curry with beef, lemongrass, shallot, shrimp paste, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves, and basil leaves and elevated versions of Thai classics such as Pad Thai.
Sam, co-owner, wants his customers to feel like “they’re entering into another world” when they step into Kaew Jao Jorm - more specifically, the royal dining hall of the Thai Palace in the late 19th century. Yellow floral chandeliers hang from the ceilings, surrounded by a lime green brick wall on one side and a brown wooden paneled wall on the other. A shrine to King Rama V sits inside one of the walls, with his portrait centered and draped with colorful multi-patterned curtains. All of the art and decor comes from Thailand, and all of the ceramics are handmade.
Co-owner Sam isn’t new to the industry; he’s been working in Thai restaurants for over five years, and owns another location in Westchester. He opened Kaew Jao Jorm to introduce Royal Thai cuisine to the neighborhood, noting that it's much different than what most Thai restaurants offer. He opened on Grand Street because of its proximity to different modes of transportation and its welcoming community. He says he already is starting to get regulars from folks in the neighborhood and feels supported. He loves the challenge of running a restaurant, including all the problem solving it comes with. From ordering kitchen supplies to planning a large backyard structure, Sam finds joy in all of it.
Swing by Kaew Jao Jorm on 800 Grand Street to try their Royal Thai cuisine!
