What to Eat in Pittsburgh

A new Thai place in Squirrel Hill? Yes please.

 

So far, our favorite Thai place in town is Dancing Crab in the Southside, which we blogged about a long time ago (it was our very first post!). Part of what makes that place special is not only the authentic noodles, but the owner, Lek. One of the things we love most about being food bloggers is that after we try a place anonymously and write about it, we out ourselves to the owners and chefs and get to know them. Seeing Lek is the highlight of going to Dancing Crab.

We love Thai food, and are always looking for a new place. When friends of ours who live in Squirrel Hill told us that they had noticed a new Thai place going in where Naya used to be, we were all ears:

I’ll try any new Thai place, but I have to say that logo really drew me in. First, it features a tuk tuk (rickshaw), but the spelling is different (Took Took), which seemed like a deliberate choice. Second, it’s really well-designed. Mr. Foodie is an industrial designer. When we see a well-composed logo, to us, it says that  the people behind the restaurant have an appreciation for design, and how to use design to communicate their core values. We definitely wanted to learn more. We immediately made plans to go with friend-of-the-blog Deanna. When we loved it, we made plans to go back immediately with friend-of-the-blog Harry so that we could try even more things.

Of course, both times we went, we forgot to photograph the menu in all of our excitement. When you decide what you want you order at the counter, making the place especially easy for kids. They also have high chairs and tables that you can move if you have a big group. Here’s an interior shot to give you a sense:

Both times we visited, the food was spot on. Here’s what we’ve eaten:

Eggplant fritters. Cut super thin, deep fried, served with a sweet dipping sauce. Fantastic.

 

One of my favorite Thai dishes is pork larb. It’s fairly light, spicy, and citrus-y. This version did not disappoint.

Noodle dishes. First, Pad Thai, which in my mind, is one of the litmus tests for a good Thai restaurant. This version was not overly sweet as some Americanized versions can be. Excellent.

When we were dining with Harry, both adults and kiddos inhaled the Pad Thai quickly. I asked the woman at the cash register for a recommendation for another noodle dish to try. She told me that her favorite noodle dish is Pad Kee Mao, which is very spicy. When I told her we would be sharing with the kiddos, she said that when she was a kid, her favorite was Pad See Ew. Sold. Here’s the Pad See Ew with tofu. My 9 month old daughter inhaled it, as did we. Slightly sweet, full of flavor:

Next, the curries, with homemade curry paste. First, the red curry. We’ve gotten this twice, once with pumpkin and chicken, and once with tofu. The dish is full of delicious Thai basil. one of the best red curries I’ve ever had.

The green curry is served with eggplant and winter melon. Outstanding.

You can sop it up with the usual rice, or roti, which they grill to order. It’s flaky and buttery and does the job perfectly:

When you order, they ask you how much spice you want on a scale of 1-10. We love spicy food, and this place really means it when they say spicy. The 2-3 range is satisfying, and at 4 I’m sweating and coughing.

 

Of course, we had to try the desserts, especially because not just one but two contained my favorite starchy plant, taro. We chose the bua loy, which is described as mashed taro in coconut milk. It’s served warm and is the perfect way to end a spicy meal.

Normally, we don’t get too excited about beverages but stay with me here – this Thai Tea Limeade is one of my favorite beverages of all time. It’s exactly what it says it is, and it’s really refreshing. It does the job of cooling down the spicy meal while being a stand-out on its own.

Proud mama note: our kiddos ate everything but the curries (everything else we ordered without spice – still super delicious). I can say without a doubt that Took Took’s noodles are my kiddos’ favorite in town. And all of the staff were very kind to us as we made a huge mess.

 

I had to circle back to learn the story behind this incredible authentic Thai place. After these two anonymous visits, I used the Took Took Facebook page to reach out. Owner and chef Tookta and her sister Wi were kind enough to sit down with me one afternoon to tell me their story, and the story of Took Took.

 

Tookta and Wi both immigrated from Thailand. Wi came first when she was only 16, and Tookta came 5 years ago as an adult. Both were motivated by a desire to learn English. Both had taken English as a class in school, but they wanted to learn from native speakers. Wi settled first in Seattle, where she lived with a cousin and finished high school. Tookta came immediately to Pittsburgh, and Wi followed.

 

Why Pittsburgh? Tookta came for the cold weather. In Bangkok, where they grew up, it’s hot all the time. “You like summer, I like winter” Tookta said, chuckling. “It’s just something interesting.” She had a friend who lived here who assured her that Pittsburgh met her weather criteria.

Tookta always had a passion for cooking. “When I was growing up, my grandma cooked for me, my mom cooked for me, and I learned [to cook] when I was young.” Cooking was also the family business – their mom owned and operated a restaurant. When Tookta and Wi talk about their mom’s restaurant, it’s obvious how much it meant to them. As she got older, Tookta spent her time working at her mom’s restaurant. This was a really meaningful experience, and shaped Tookta’s long-term aspirations.

When she came to Pittsburgh, Tookta knew she wanted to study cooking. She googled cooking schools in Pittsburgh and found the Art Institute’s program, where she eventually earned her Associate’s degree. Wi studied business at Chatham, and is now working towards her Master’s. When asked why they decided to open a restaurant together, Tookta explains: “I would like to share Thai culture… with good Thai food … traditional Thai food.” That’s why the focus of Took Took is traditional, authentic Thai flavors. Wi added, “Our competitive advantage as a Thai person is to open a Thai restaurant.” She adds, “We miss Thai food, we miss Thai flavors.” Her business background is showing in the best way. They are the perfect pair: Tookta can be found in the kitchen, and Wi can be found at the register.

 

The restaurant’s name reflects this vision. A tuk tuk is a rickshaw that provides an easy but speedy mode of transportation in Bangkok’s crowded streets. “That’s why we chose the name Took Took – because it’s Thai street food…meaning it’s easy eating, not complicated,.. fast, easy eating,” Tookta says. The spelling “took” rather than “tuk” is a play on Tookta’s name.

 

Back to the logo that drew us in: it’s Tookta, in a chef’s hat, in a tuk tuk.

When asked how Took Took’s menu compares to their mom’s, they explained that it is the same, with one exception. In Thailand, Pad Thai is “special,” served at Pad Thai-only restaurants. Tookta and Wi decided to include it in their menu at Took Took. Other than that, Took Took is the next incarnation of the family business, straight from Bangkok to Murray Avenue.

Their mom visited recently, and they cooked the entire menu for her. “She liked it,” Wi said proudly.