Bangkok Grill Orem: How Chef Chay Built Utah County's Most Beloved Thai Restaurant Over Two Decades

The scent hits you first — that unmistakable perfume of lemongrass and coconut milk simmering together, galangal root releasing its earthy citrus notes into a pot of Tom Ka Gai. It's 11:15 on a Tuesday morning at Bangkok Grill in Orem, and the lunch rush is already building. A group of construction workers in dusty boots slides into one of those distinctive low cushion seats along the wall. A young couple studying what looks like grad school textbooks barely looks up from their laptops when their server sets down steaming bowls of soup. And in the kitchen, Chef Chay — the heart and soul of this operation for nearly twenty years — is doing what he's done almost every day since 2005: making the best Thai food in Utah County.

One first-timer put it simply: "Hands down best Thai restaurant in Utah!" And you know what? After two decades of serving this community, that's not hyperbole. It's just fact.

The Story Behind Utah County's Thai Food Legacy: Chef Chay's Two-Decade Journey

Here's the thing about Bangkok Grill that most people don't know: this isn't some corporate Thai chain or a side project. Chef Chay, who was the longtime chef before becoming owner, has been perfecting these recipes since the Bush administration. Established in 2005, Bangkok Grill has outlasted food trends, survived economic downturns, and even relocated to its current spot at 934 N State Street in Orem — same owner, same dedication to authentic Thai cuisine.

The restaurant reopened at its current location in February 2017 after closing briefly, proving that Utah County simply couldn't go without their fix of Chay's cooking. As one regular describes it: "Bangkok Grill is what I love about Utah; first generation Americans trying to offer their authentic cuisine. Well, in this case it closed for a year and moved but the son reopened." That family commitment — that's what makes this place different.

Chay and his family aren't just running a restaurant. They're preserving culinary traditions, adapting authentic Thai recipes for Utah palates without dumbing them down, and creating a space where you can customize your spice level from one star (a gentle kick) all the way to five stars (extreme heat that'll make you question your life choices, in the best way). This is home-style Thai cooking done right, where the recipes have been refined over thousands of services, where the cook knows exactly how long to fry that Moo Tod pork to get the crackling just right.

The Bangkok Grill Experience: Where Authentic Thai Curries Meet Utah County Hospitality

Walking into Bangkok Grill Orem feels like stepping into a different world — and I mean that literally. The seating is an unusual configuration of cushions and benches that gives you the feeling you're somehow not in Orem anymore. Those low cushioned seats on the right side of the dining room? They're not just Instagram-worthy; they create this communal vibe where you're eating closer to the ground, more relaxed, more connected to the food experience.

But let's talk about what really matters: the food.

The Tom Ka Gai soup is legendary here. First-time diners rave: "We ordered the Tom Ka Gai soup which was out of this world. Honestly it was so good!!" This isn't your watered-down coconut soup. This is the real deal — chicken, mushrooms, baby carrots, onions, and tomatoes swimming in a galangal-infused coconut broth that's both creamy and bright, garnished with fresh cilantro. One regular claims it's "some of the best in the valley," and after you've tried it, you'll understand why people order a second bowl.

The Yellow Pumpkin Curry is their secret weapon. Most Thai restaurants in Utah County stick to the standard green, red, and massaman curries. Bangkok Grill does those brilliantly, sure, but their yellow pumpkin curry with kabocha squash is what sets them apart. One reviewer called it their "personal favorite," saying "the chunks of pumpkin really took this curry to the next level." The sweetness of the kabocha pumpkin plays perfectly against the yellow curry's turmeric-forward spice, creating this comforting, almost fall-in-New-England vibe that somehow works in the middle of Utah County.

Multiple reviewers specifically mention that "the yellow pumpkin curry" and "Panang curry" are "outstanding" with "flavors that are bright and just pop!"

The Moo Tod Kra-Tiem might be the most underrated dish on the menu. This is battered and deep-fried pork smothered in savory garlic sauce, served over a bed of lettuce and shredded carrots. As one enthusiast describes: "My husband loves the MooTodd for it is crispy on the outside with sauce over top." The technique here is everything — you need that perfect contrast between the shattering crust and the tender pork inside, and Bangkok Grill nails it every time.

The Pineapple Fried Rice surprises skeptics. Even doubters admit: "My niece who lived in Thailand loves the Waterfall beef and pineapple fried rice... didn't think I would like it but did." Jasmine rice stir-fried with curry powder, eggs, onions, cashews, and fresh pineapple chunks, garnished with cilantro — it's sweet, savory, nutty, and somehow exactly what you want when you're craving something different.

And here's what separates Bangkok Grill from other Thai restaurants in Orem: the portions are generous enough that you'll "have enough to take food home to make a fairly good-sized lunch the next day," and most dishes are priced under $10, making this some of the most affordable authentic Thai food you'll find anywhere.

Bangkok Grill's Place in Utah County's Growing Food Scene

Bangkok Grill isn't just serving food; they're anchoring Orem's evolving culinary landscape. With locations in both Orem and Springville, they're bringing authentic Thai cuisine to communities that might otherwise never experience real galangal, fish sauce, or holy basil prepared traditionally.

The restaurant runs lunch specials Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 3:30 PM that include your choice of jasmine or brown rice, an entree, and a soup — basically everything you need to fuel through an afternoon at Utah Valley University or a construction site off State Street. One satisfied customer notes: "I got the lunch special and it was worth every penny! The lunch option is a great way to try a variety of different dishes!"

But what really cements Bangkok Grill's reputation is the service. Customers consistently praise the staff as "amazing, fast friendly, great at anticipating your needs." Even when the restaurant is packed, servers work "hard with a smile on their face" and help guide first-timers through the menu. This is the kind of place where servers bring you extra peppers at the table if you want to kick up the heat, where they check on you without hovering, where they treat regulars like family and newcomers like future regulars.

The family-owned nature of Bangkok Grill matters in Utah County's dining culture. This isn't a corporate franchise with standardized recipes shipped from a test kitchen in Phoenix. Chay and his family are cooking here, serving here, building relationships with customers who've been coming since 2005. As one reviewer beautifully summarizes: "This is a 5 star family restaurant... good solid home style Thai food."

Planning Your Visit to Bangkok Grill Orem

Address: 934 N State St, Orem, UT 84057 (also a Springville location available)

Hours:

• Monday-Friday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
• Saturday: 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• Sunday: Closed

Lunch Special Hours: Monday-Friday, 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM

What to Order:

• First-timers: Start with the Chicken Satay appetizer (marinated in coconut milk and Thai herbs, served with peanut sauce), then get the Tom Ka Gai soup and Yellow Pumpkin Curry
• Spice lovers: Try the Pad Gaprow (minced meat with bell peppers, onions, holy basil, and chili paste, topped with a sunny-side-up egg) at 4-5 star heat level
• The cautious: Stick with 1-2 star spice levels and order the Massaman Curry (peanut-based with potatoes, onions, carrots, and cashews)
• Adventurous eaters: Go for the Nam Tok (Beef Waterfall) salad or the Moo Tod Kra-Tiem

Pro Tips:

• Parking is easy — a genuine rarity for popular Orem restaurants
• The cushion seating fills up fast during lunch rush; arrive before 11:30 AM or after 1:00 PM
• Vegetarian and vegan options available throughout the menu
• They take credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
• Delivery and takeout available through DoorDash and direct ordering

Phone: (801) 434-8424

Website: bangkokgrillorem.com

Why Bangkok Grill Matters to Utah's Food Story

In a state where food culture often gets reduced to funeral potatoes and fry sauce (both delicious, no shade), places like Bangkok Grill expand what it means to eat well in Utah. They prove that authentic international cuisine can thrive here, that Utah County diners are sophisticated enough to appreciate real Thai flavors, that you don't need to live in a coastal city to experience world-class cooking.

Chef Chay's twenty-year commitment to Bangkok Grill represents something bigger than just one restaurant's success. It's about immigrant families enriching American food culture. It's about preservation of culinary traditions. It's about showing up every single day to make Tom Ka Gai soup and yellow pumpkin curry for people who've come to depend on it.

As one devoted customer puts it: "I think it is the best Thai food in Utah Valley."

Come see if you agree. Order the lunch special, sit on those cushions, ask for 3-star spice, and taste what two decades of dedication tastes like. Just be warned: once you've had Chef Chay's Tom Ka Gai, every other coconut soup will feel like a pale imitation.

Bangkok Grill isn't just the best Thai food in Utah County. It's proof that great restaurants are built on decades of showing up, cooking with integrity, and treating every customer like they matter. And in Orem, Utah — where authentic international cuisine was once hard to find — that's something worth celebrating.

Find Bangkok Grill on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated on specials and seasonal menu additions.