More Thai Food
Uptown Dallas Thai restaurant curries new location in the great north
An Uptown Dallas Thai restaurant that loves the late nights is opening a second location. CrushCraft Thai will spin off a baby brother at The Star in Frisco, with an opening date of August 22.
CrushCraft was founded in 2013 by Jack Nuchkasem, a former hospitality executive with experience at hotels such as the Omni, Renaissance, and Sheraton, in partnership with chef Paul Singhapong, as a fast-casual concept with a menu that's refined yet approachable and affordable. Entrees range from $7-$10, along with cocktails and local beer.
The current chef is Kay Ridgway, who completed culinary training at the Art Institute of Dallas and began working as a line cook at the Uptown CrushCraft location. She moved her way up and is now executive chef and partner.
CrushCraft Thai offers a fresh, made-from-scratch daily menu using ingredients in a creative way. Traditional dishes include kra pao – ground pork, jasmine rice, basil, bell pepper, onion, and fried egg.
There are coconut milk-based curries, wok-fired noodle dishes, and salads such as the "skinny b*tch" with wok-seared cashews, crispy tofu, red quinoa, kale, and red cabbage in Thai peanut vinaigrette.
"We take a handmade approach to our cooking and create Thai food with a twist," Ridgway says. "We feel as though some of the traditional techniques and methods to make great Thai food, while admittedly not the most efficient, are somewhat of a lost art that we feel is vital to our menu."
They take the same approach in cocktails such as the refreshing Strawberry Smash with Tito's vodka, St. Germaine, muddled basil & strawberries, and lime juice, poured over basil-strawberry infused ice cubes.
Designed by Jones Baker, who also designed the original in Dallas, the Frisco location has a patio and a vibrant open-air market feel.
"I like our format of casually coming in and out without having to go through the formal dining experience," Ridgway says. "Great food should be accessible to everyone, and I think this is such a big part of the culture we bring with CrushCraft. We really just want to be a part of the neighborhood and be the go-to place for simply great Thai food."
