Thai Basil & Sushi curries favor in Trussville

When Nay Dechachutinan and his wife, Noi, opened Thai Basil & Sushi, a small storefront on Main Street in Trussville last year, his goal was to serve his tasty version of Thai food.

His goal was not to become the most popular Trussville restaurant, but the dishes have drawn people from around the area to give it a try and come back for more.

Thai cooking emphasizes lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components and a spicy edge. Although Thai food was traditionally eaten with the hand, it is now enjoyed using a fork and spoon. 

Not even nine months since its opening, Thai Basil & Sushi continues to bring spice to the Trussville community. Hot, salty, sweet and sour flavors are included in dishes like Thai Noodle, Pad Thai Chicken and Shrimp and, of course, spring rolls. 

With its exotic mixture of flavors and styles, this snug little Thai haven has quickly gained a reputation for the vibrant flavors — hallmarks of Thai and Japanese dishes — while presenting a colorful dining experience.

The Dechachutinans, who are Hoover residents, attribute the restaurant’s continued success to Trussville’s patrons. Before opening Thai Basil & Sushi, the Dechachutinans looked outside their community, which already had a heavy population of similar tastes, and searched for a new market.

“There aren’t many Thai restaurants in the area,” Nay Dechachutinan said. “We discovered Trussville, which is known as a tight-knit district, similar to Mountain Brook, that shares a community of families, friends and  neighbors. It was clear that Trussville was the right place to go.”

The restaurant has gained momentum in Trussville, something Dechachutinan did not expect. 

“Our restaurant is successful because we came to the right community,” Dechachutinan said. “Trussville has been very supportive and welcoming. Once the doors opened, the customer response was strong.”

Dechachutinan said customers continued to come by even while the restaurant’s air conditioning was broken.

“Even though we were without air conditioning, our customers still came in to eat, waving fans in hand, wearing a friendly smile.”

The Dechachutinans opened Thai Basil & Sushi in October on Main Street, in the building that formerly housed Micelis Italian Food. The menu has Thai favorites including spicy beef salad, mango sticky rice, Thai iced tea and a large sushi selection. More upscale entrees include three-flavored deep-fried catfish and spicy mix seafood. 

Nay Dechachutinan said meals can be made to order for children who are not Thai food-friendly. Some of his younger customers have even warmed up to the spicy dishes.

“We always encourage our customers to come in and try new dishes,” Dechachutinan said. “Our customers fall in love with a dish and sometimes stick with the same dish. I like to make recommendations of entrees that are similar in taste.”

The restaurant offers table service with lunch specials under $10 and dinner specials under $20, as well as take-out orders through Trussville-To-Go.

Thai Basil & Sushi is open Monday through Friday for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 4:30 to 9 p.m. For reservations or to see their menu, visit thaibasilandsushi.com.