BY ASIM RAO
Pru Thai, located right across from Avalon in Alpharetta, has quickly become one of our favorite family dinner spots. The moment you walk in, you’re greeted with warm, cozy interiors thoughtfully decorated — stylish yet homey, with a calming vibe. One of the first things you notice is the incredible aroma drifting in from the open kitchen — it instantly makes you hungry!
The restaurant opened in late 2024 and is helmed by Chef Ong Satangmongkol, formerly executive chef at Atlanta’s acclaimed Nahm Thai Cuisine. Pru Thai’s menu is designed to showcase authentic Thai flavors with a modern, elevated twist — balancing familiar comfort dishes like pad Thai and drunken noodles with refined chef’s specials such as herbal broth with short ribs and grilled Loup de Mer. The space itself has been completely transformed from its former life (locals still talk about how unrecognizable it is compared to previous tenants), with warm wood tones and thoughtful décor creating a cozy, upscale vibe.
Although there was outdoor seating available, we opted to sit inside thanks to the Georgia summer heat. As for the food — it was fantastic. We ordered several of our family favorites: drunken noodles (which accidentally became a favorite years ago when my son ordered it by mistake), rich and creamy coconut curry, comforting massaman curry with a lovely blend of Indian and Thai flavors, flavorful boat noodle soup in a massive portion, and tasty pineapple fried rice. Every single dish was packed with flavor, generously portioned, and beautifully plated.
Pru Thai’s menu also offers a variety of curries (Panang, Green, Chu Chee, Massaman), stir-fries, and rice dishes priced reasonably for the quality — with portions large enough for sharing. Starters like spring rolls, satay, and green papaya salad set the stage for hearty mains, while desserts like mango sticky rice and honey toast with vanilla ice cream make for a sweet ending (if you still have room!).
The only letdown for us was the fish wrapped in banana leaf — as a family of seafood lovers, we had high hopes, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for us. That said, the rest of the meal was so good we quickly got over it.
The service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing, and prices were reasonable for the quality and portion sizes. In fact, the portions were so large we didn’t have any room left for dessert.
If you’re in the area and craving authentic Thai food, definitely check out Pru Thai (reservations recommended). Great food, great vibe, excellent service — you’ll probably be planning your next visit before you even leave.
