Simply Thai Bistro first opened in October 2012 on Main Street. Though the location is small and homey, there is more to the restaurant than meets the eye. The restaurant is owned and managed by a family of award-winning Thai chefs. Chef Anuwat Karapakdee and his wife Ratchani opened the business after Anuwat spent time as an executive chef at fine dining establishments.

Anuwat said he wanted more creative freedom in the kitchen and to work with family. When he and his wife opened Simply Thai Bistro, they brought along Ratchani’s brothers and their wives, who are all professional chefs.

“It’s really great to have opened our first restaurant on Main Street and have the family working together,” Ratchani said.

The restaurant offers a menu of traditional, gourmet Thai dishes, such as Pad Thai ($8.95), Khao Soi Chicken ($8.95) and Spicy Thai Beef Salad ($8.95). Anuwat also has weekly specials in which he creates a Thai dish with influences from other Asian cuisines. Depending on how well customers like the dish, it could be added to the menu.

Anuwat said growing up in Thailand, he had a passion for cooking. He began his culinary career in 1989 at the Ambassador Hotel of Bangkok where he worked his way up to an executive chef.  Anuwat went on to receive further training in France, learning French, Japanese, Vietnamese and Mexican cuisines. Then he came to the United States, where he worked at Chow Thai Pacific Rim in Plano, Seasons 52 in Dallas and The Westin Stonebriar Hotel & Gold Club in Frisco.

Ratchani said Simply Thai Bistro on Main Street has flourished in the past five years, so the couple decided to open a second location in May on Legacy Drive. In addition to opening the second restaurant, the Main Street locale expanded the patio area, and there are plans to expand the kitchen and dining room.

Simply Thai Bistro

6842 W. Main St., Ste. 101, Frisco 214-436-4411 4150 Legacy Drive, Ste. 410, Frisco 469-362-6110 www.simplythaibistro.com Hours: Mon.-Sun. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.