By Linwood Outlaw III -- Daily Staff Writer

WINCHESTER — From Panang curry to Thai barbecue chicken, if you have a craving for authentic Thai cuisine, look no further than the Loudoun Street Mall.

Thai Winchester Restaurant, at 24 S. Loudoun St., is the newest eatery in the downtown area. After having its grand opening a little more than a month ago, business already appears to be booming, said Michael Kitt, a consultant with the family-owned restaurant.

"We've been very pleased [with business so far]. We've done very little advertising, but word of mouth has gotten around. We're actually the only authentic Thai restaurant in Winchester," Kitt said. "We've opened during what we're told is the slow season, and we have been very busy. ... We have been literally packed Friday and Saturday nights."

The restaurant's owner and manager, Paranee Hopple, is of Thai ancestry. She said she is looking forward to making the restaurant a big hit in the area.

Hopple said she originally wanted to open a Thai restaurant in Winchester three years ago, but opted to open one in Culpeper instead.

"They wanted to basically duplicate [in Winchester] what they did in Culpeper. And they not only duplicated it, but improved upon it, I think," Kitt said.

When the opportunity to open a restaurant in the city presented itself again, Hopple couldn't resist.

"We love the location, the size of the building. ... We have heard a lot of good things [about the restaurant] from the people in Winchester," Hopple said. "We feel like we have a big family [at our restaurant] in Culpeper and hopefully we can build a big family in Winchester."

Kitt agreed that the restaurant's location is ideal.

"The Old Town walking mall, I think, is becoming the culinary center for Winchester," he said.

Hopple's mother, Thipphawan, who owned and operated her own restaurant in Thailand for five years before moving to the United States 20 years ago, is Thai Winchester's chef. Hopple's brother, Aek, is also a cook at the restaurant.

Thai Winchester offers 95 different types of appetizers, salads, soups, entrees and desserts, along with authentic Thai drinks. A popular dish among customers, Hopple said, is Pad Thai, a Thai national noodle dish made of thin rice noodles stir-fried with bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, scallions and eggs.

One of the more popular desserts at the restaurant, Kitt said, is the homemade coconut ice cream with authentic Thai jackfruit.

Another premier dish on the menu is Thai Rama, made with a choice of chicken, beef or pork sautéed with light yellow curry surrounded by broccoli and baby corn topped with red onions and peanut sauce.

Thai Papaya Salad and Pad See Ew, wide rice noodles stir-fried with broccoli and egg with a Thai soy sauce, also stands out on the menu.

Thai Winchester's atmosphere is of traditional Thai decor. Much of the artwork and tables in the restaurant were imported straight from Thailand.

Thai food is known for its use of herbs and spices. Many consider Thai dishes to be healthy, as they typically include herbs with various therapeutic benefits. Though it is widely craved in the United States, Thai food is also popular in Western countries such as New Zealand and Australia.

Kitt said Thai Winchester not only gives customers a chance to "taste the authentic Thai food, but also to learn about the philosophy behind Thai food because we always are talking about it to our customers."

"The Thai food is based on balances of taste. So you have your sweet, your sour, your bitter, your salty," Kitt said. "Many people think Thai food is very spicy. And although it can be, it's not all spicy. Plus, every dish is made to the customer's specification. Each dish can be made as mild or as spicy as a customer wants."

Customers at Thai Winchester are asked to specify the degree of hotness for their food selections as either American Hot, Mexican Hot or Thai Hot.

Kitt said Hopple's family-owned businesses in Winchester and Culpeper have inspired him to broaden his knowledge of Thai culture.

"Personally, I think it's fantastic because in addition to embracing Thai food, I've embraced a lot of the Thai culture. It encouraged me to start traveling to Thailand," Kitt said. "I've traveled there a number of times now. ... I've actually also started learning the Thai language."

As the weather gets warmer, Thai Winchester will open its patio dining area, which Hopple and Kitt think will help attract more business for the establishment.

The restaurant, which also has a bar area, brings a much-needed new experience to the town, Kitt said.

"It gives people a chance to learn new foods and people that have traveled in Southeast Asia, specifically to Thailand, they get a chance to relive some of the tastes that they learned to enjoy over there," he said.

Thai Winchester is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant also offers carryout and free delivery.