Manaao Thai Comfort Food, co-founded by Chef Kanate Ungkasrithongkul and his wife, Anita Lin, is scheduled to open its doors at Irvine Spectrum Center this month. This new establishment marks the couple's second restaurant, following the success of their first location in Tustin, which debuted in 2023. The Irvine restaurant is being presented as a space that is beautiful, cheery, and endearing, aiming to provide a welcoming and distinctive dining experience for local residents and visitors to the Spectrum Center. The expansion brings an acclaimed culinary presence to the city, adding to Irvine's growing retail and dining landscape with global flavors.
A notable feature of the Irvine location's design is the immediate impression it makes upon entry. Guests will be greeted by a "Wall-E" figurine and a collection of framed yellow rubber duckies prominently displayed near the entrance. Chef Ungkasrithongkul explained the personal significance behind these playful elements. He shared that the rubber duckies are a cherished tradition from a previous professional environment, a detail he noted "make me smile." Regarding the "Wall-E" figurine, the chef expressed that it holds a special place for him as the only Disney movie he considers to be "happy from beginning to end." These decorative choices contribute to the restaurant’s intended cheerful and endearing ambiance.
The original Manaao location in Tustin quickly earned significant recognition for its culinary offerings. In a notable commendation, the government of Thailand bestowed its prestigious Thai Select accolade upon the restaurant, affirming its adherence to authentic Thai culinary standards. Further cementing its reputation, the L.A. Times included Manaao’s khao soi noodles in its annual selection of the year’s best dishes. These early achievements and distinctions provided a strong foundation for Chef Ungkasrithongkul and Lin's decision to expand their venture into the Irvine market. The new Irvine Spectrum location thus arrives with established credentials for quality and authenticity, carrying forward the success from its Tustin predecessor.
Chef Ungkasrithongkul's culinary vision for Manaao is to present a more comprehensive and authentic representation of Thai cuisine than what many American diners might typically expect. He observed that many associate Thai food with a limited repertoire, often just "half a dozen dishes such as pad thai." In contrast to this common perception, Manaao’s menu is extensive, featuring 40 distinct dishes. The chef emphasized that these offerings are deeply personal to him, stating they comprise "the food I grew with." His goal is to share these traditional flavors and introduce a broader spectrum of Thai comfort food to a wider audience. This commitment to variety and personal heritage distinguishes Manaao’s menu, aiming to provide an in-depth culinary journey into the rich and diverse traditions of Thai cooking beyond the more commonly known selections.
