Paitong Thai Cuisine at 8000 NE Glisan Street recently closed its doors permanently after a challenging few years. Bounnam (Nancy) Somvong opened the family-run business in 2006 and dedicated herself to making it a well-reviewed neighborhood destination. The space is currently empty, awaiting a new tenant. However, the restaurant’s exterior signs remain on the building, and the distinctive interior murals are still visible through the windows.

Paitong has anchored the corner retail space at NE 80th Avenue and Glisan Street for sixteen years. For many Montavilla residents, this inviting space provided a reliably tasty meal. At its height of exposure, Paitong appeared on TV when 90 Day Fiancé stars Kyle and Noon Huck dined at the restaurant during an episode. The restaurant owner and chef, Bounnam (Nancy) Somvong, grew up in Laos and Thailand before moving to the United States at age 17. As a lifelong cook and fruit carving artist, this restaurant fulfilled a dream for Somvong.

The pandemic hurt Paitong’s business, just as it has many other restaurants, and in June of 2021, an illness forced the family to limit operating hours. Last year the Somvongs asked for the community’s help through a GoFundMe campaign. On the fundraising page, the owner’s daughter Alyssa Somvong expressed her hesitancy in seeking financial support from the community but explained its importance to her mother. “This has been the hardest thing to ask for, but I want to see my mom return to the restaurant where she belongs.” Although the restaurant continued operation after the GoFundMe campaign, the family ultimately needed to shut down this location.

Montavilla fans of Paitong Thai Cuisine will miss the food and friendly atmosphere created by Bounnam (Nancy) Somvong. The community appreciates the investments made by the Somvong family in the neighborhood and wishes them well in the years ahead.

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