NaRaYa Thai & Sushi opened late last year in the former Siamese Plate space. The sunken tables are gone, the sink-into couch seating is gone and a sushi bar is in place in back, but Thai is the dominant gene. NaRaYa continues the tradition of offering both Thai and Japanese dishes. The name “Naraya” is well suited for the present incarnation, because it is is the name of both a Thai deity and a Japanese prefecture.  The old sushi space below seems dark, which IMO is no loss since their sushi was mediocre. 

Chicken satay with peanut sauce on the side, found in every Thai restaurant in the West.

Thai basil stir fry of vegetables and tofu.

Chicken curry encircled with steamed broccoli flowerettes.

My husband and I ordered only from the Thai menu, but we saw other diners creating mix-and-match meals from both cuisines. Although I wasn’t knocked out by the food, it was tasty, the service was pleasant and out window table conjured up pleasant memories of my early years in Boulder, when the Siamese Plate ruled. I’m very glad that NaRaYa is in business, and I was happy to see a decent number of diners. The owners, Ratiya Edfors, originally from Chiangmai in northern Thailand, and Pranom Kiatreungwattana, originally from Nonthaburi not for from the Golf of Thailand, both came to the United States as graduate students. Now, these two women are partners in this pleasant Boulder restaurant — Edfors as execuctive chef and “PK”  in charge of the business end.

Price check: On the Thai menu at dinner, appetizers, $4.95-$6.75 (plus $11.75 for a combo platter); soups, $6.55-$8.25; salads, $6.55-$8.75; $9.25-$12.50.