Meet Mina Sudsaard & Sam Rattanopas, NaKorn
Meet Mina Sudsaard & Sam Rattanopas, co-owners of NaKorn, an authentic Thai restaurant located at 1622 Orrington Ave. in Downtown Evanston. Here you will find a menu offering a perfect blend of bold flavors with traditional, old-world recipes in a modern presentation. Their commitment to food and hospitality shines through every time you visit!
KB: Can you share some of the history of your business?
MS: My co-founder, Sam Rattanopas, and I both hail from Bangkok, and, in addition to being business partners, have been best friends since 5th grade. We immigrated to the United States together in 1996. Sam has a professional background in restaurant management with success at many top-named restaurants in Chicago. She manages the front and back of house operations, as well as personnel. I specialize in design and marketing, overseeing concepts and branding efforts for the restaurant. This is our first restaurant – indeed, our first business – together, and we look at it as our shot at the American Dream. Our hand-made décor is meant to be a nostalgic glimpse of the past, reminiscent of the 1970’s Thai shophouses – birdcage light fixtures, hand-assembled abacuses lining the bar, banquettes of custom fabrics imported from London, and a mural of Thailand’s beloved King Rama IX, all contain our blood and sweat (probably literally).
KB: What can folks expect if they come to Nakorn?
MS: If you come to NaKorn, you can expect authentic, high-quality Thai cuisine with bold flavors and fresh ingredients. We offer unique dishes, many featuring seafood, and a full-service bar with specialty drinks and local craft beers. Our cozy dining room provides a warm atmosphere, and we're open for dinner every night and lunch every day except weekends. We are closed on Tuesdays.
KB: How do you set yourself apart from other retail shops?
MS: We take a dish you can find at home and bring it into the restaurant in a different way that no one has ever seen before. The NaKorn menu provides a perfect blend of bold flavors with traditional, old-world recipes in a modern presentation. Using only the finest and freshest ingredients, our chefs have created unique dishes layered with flavors. We feature a full-service bar, with specialty drinks.
KB: How does the Downtown organization support your business?
MS: The Downtown organization has been a huge help for our business. They put on events and promotions that bring people into the area, help with marketing and advertising, and connect us with other local businesses. They also keep the downtown area clean and safe, making it a great place for everyone. But we could really use more promotion to liven things up after COVID and get more people back downtown.
KB: Is there a fun fact you can share?
MS: Our name, NaKorn, means “metropolitan” in Thai and is significant for three reasons: first, we hail from Bangkok, Thailand’s largest and most metropolitan city; second, the mix of traditional ingredients with a contemporary presentation provide an urban approach to Thai cuisine; and third, my father, Khun Sompit Rattanopas, hailed from the southern, coastal Thailand town of NaKorn Srithummaraj, and the restaurant’s name is, in part, a gesture of love and respect for him.
KB: What is your favorite thing about owning a business in Evanston?
MS: My favorite thing about running a business in Evanston is the strong sense of community. The residents here are incredibly supportive of local businesses, and there's a real emphasis on collaboration and mutual growth. We love NaKorn, our friends, family, and outstanding staff. Each day, we enjoy hearing from our customers about how much they love our food. Our customers know our staff, and our staff know our customers, which creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes every day special.
