(414) 276-4181
830 North Old World Third Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203
The Story of The King and I
Opening Act
The King and I
Thai Restaurant was founded by Bob and his wife, Marie Phoungphol. After
immigrating from Thailand in the early seventies, the Phoungphols worked
in a number of restaurants to learn the skills they would need to operate
a successful establishment of their own. In the late 1980s, Bob and Marie
decided they it was time to open the doors of their family's restaurant.
To create their vision, Bob and Marie turned to traditional Thai cooking
they had learned from their mothers. Bob often recalled:
"I would help Khun Maa [Mom] select
produce from the markets, prep the items and watch as my mother created
the food I loved. My mother is truly an inspiration"
Original 823 North 2nd Street Location
(1988-2006)
In the summer of 1988 Bob and Marie
established Milwaukee's first Thai restaurant knowing that authentic
ethnic restaurants were a rarity. Bob and Marie also knew it was a big
gamble. "No one really knew about Thai food at the time, it was a new
frontier, especially here in the Midwest," Marie confesses. The King
and I opened to rave reviews, and was awarded 3 and 1/2 stars (out of 4)
by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. To this day, The King and I has
consistently dominated local media awards in categories such as Best Thai,
Best Lunch Buffet, and Reader's Choice, (undoubtedly thanks to loyal
customers!).
'Best of'' awards granted by the
Journal-Sentinel, Milwaukee Magazine, Shepherd Express, Citysearch, AOL
Cityguide, and Onmilwaukee.com are proudly displayed in the award room.
Chef Watana Panyasopa (Left) and Assistant 'Ba
Pang' (right)
About Our Name
The King and I was
named after the famous musical by genre giants Rodgers and Hammerstein
about the court of the great Thai King Mongkut (Rama IV of the Chakri
Dynasty) and a school teacher, Anna Leonowens. Although the musical is
somewhat of a sore subject for most Thais (due to its irreverent portrayal
of the King, who in Thai culture is viewed with deity-like regard), the
Phoungphols chose 'The King and I' because they believed those
Milwaukeeans unfamiliar with Thai culture would certainly identify with
the popular musical. History would prove this a wise decision.
The King and I Movie
Musical
The Real Great King Mongkut (Rama IV)
About The Kingdom of Thailand
Thailand is a
small Constitutional monarchy spanning 513k square miles, and consisting
of 66 million primarily Buddhist people. It is located in the center
of the Indochina peninsula of southeast Asia. Thailand (by many various
names) has existed since 1238 A.D. Although at the time of this writing,
the government is currently in a reorganizing transition, the Thai people,
regardless of ethnicity and religion, highly revere their King, Bhumibhol
Adulyadej (Rama IX of Chakri). The King's role as 'father' of the people
has fostered Thailand's ideals of democracy, egalitarianism, and
technological advance which has contributed greatly to Thailand's economic
prosperity and relatively peaceful existence.
The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand
His Royal Highness,
The Most Revered
Thailand is not
only known throughout the world as a source of great craft such as
elegantly carved wood and spun silk, but also of exotic fruits and of
course, spicy food. The Thai people are known for their pleasant demeanor
and sense of humor, as well as humility and politeness.
Thailand has
been a staunch ally of the United States since liberated from Japanese
occupation during World War II. The alliance certainly paid dividends
during the Vietnam war, where Thailand hosted American forces, and
introducing many GIs to Thai culture and food. Favorite tourist
destinations include Bangkok (Grun Thiep), Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and the
tropical paradise of Phuket (poo-KET)
The time in Bangkok is exactly 12 hours
ahead of US Central time. 
King Bhumibol Adulyadej
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