21-05-2025
Pierce County Thai chain now running waterfront restaurant with new menu
Gig Harbor Thai Cuisine has an expanded menu and a fresh interior look after a change in management.
The waterfront restaurant at 8825 N. Harborview Dr. is keeping its name but is now managed by Chili Thai, a Puyallup-based restaurant chain. It will be the chain's sixth restaurant, along with their locations in Silverdale, Puyallup, University Place and Tacoma, which has two.
The site was a 'great opportunity in the Gig Harbor area,' Chili Thai manager Paul Tunchuleeporn said in a phone call on May 15. The chain had been looking for a spot in Gig Harbor for over a year to help shorten the distance between its Silverdale location and other locations in Pierce County, according to Tunchuleeporn.
He estimated that the menu has more than quadrupled, from about 20-30 items to almost 80, including all of the appetizers, salads and main dishes. There's also a wider selection of beer and wine than before. All six of the Chili Thai locations have the same menu, according to Tunchuleeporn.
Inside, they've changed out some of the kitchen equipment and installed air conditioning. The restaurant lacked air conditioning before and got 'extremely hot in the summers,' Tunchuleeporn said. They've also added booths to seat customers and new decorations.
The transfer in management was finalized around the end of March, and the restaurant closed for a few weeks to make the interior changes. It opened again for business on April 17, Tunchuleeporn said.
While customers might have gotten used to the previous recipes, Tunchuleeporn emphasized the authenticity of Chili Thai's dishes and that they've been in the business for over 20 years. Most of the staff including the head chef are Thai, he said.
'If you're looking for ... authentic Thai food, feel free to visit us,' he said.
Chili Thai was found to have denied employees overtime from 2020 to 2023, but took action to comply with federal laws going forward, The News Tribune reported.
