Thom Pham

Tom Pham facing felony charges; disavows ownership in Azia

Soon after we heard that restaurateur Thom Pham's Wonderous Azian Kitchen had closed, news is now out that he is facing felony charges for allegedly writing bad checks to A-Z Restaurant Equipment out of Princeton, Minnesota. When questioned by the Star Tribune about the checks and the upcoming Azian ... More >>

Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen abruptly closes

After shutting down its social media accounts and failing to answer phone calls, yesterday rumors started circulating that Thom Pham's troubled downtown restaurant, Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen, was closed. Just hours later, their website confirmed speculations via a simple message from the ow ... More >>

Tom Pham opening new Azia in old Azia location

​Yes, you read that right. Remember the old Azia location at 2550 Nicollet? Well it's about to be the site of a new restaurant that appears to be a revamp of the original, officially to be called Azia Market Bar and Restaurant, according to the Star Tribune.Thom Pham, owner of a handful of Minneap ... More >>

Oscar Night America

Thanh Do receives full liquor license

Thanh Do: Your Lemongrass-tini is waiting​"St. Louis Parks weekends are about to get allot [sic] more fun!" Thom Pham of Thanh Do and the Wondrous Azian Kitchen tweeted on Wednesday. "Big news in store... stay tuned!" The big news is that Thanh Do recently got a full liquor license and full b ... More >>

Asia Bistro to resurrect Nankin's legacy

Minnesota Historical SocietyThe original Nankin restaurant.​After 80 years in business, Minneapolis's storied Nankin Cafe, longtime a center for Minnesota's Chinese community, closed in its City Center location in 1999. Its legacy has lived on in bits and pieces, with some of its furnishings f ... More >>

Blue Ox Coffee coming soon to 38th & Chicago

Coffee comes to 38th/Chicago.​Following the commercial revival happening on South Nicollet Avenue, things are similarly picking up over on Chicago Avenue. Mike Stebnitz, Thom Pham's former business partner, is redeveloping a building at 38th Avenue and giving foodies a reason to stop on histo ... More >>

Mpls St. Paul 2011 Winter Restaurant Week approaches

Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen is a new participant in Restaurant Week this year​By now Restaurant Week might be starting to feel a bit like that song you used to love until the Current started playing it every hour on the hour. The once novel and rare weeklong orgy of cheap meals at hig ... More >>

Thom Pham hosts Oscar nominations this Week in Food

We'll see these guys in hell. ​It's a star-studded Week in Food with Thom Pham hosting an Oscar nomination breakfast at his Wondrous Kitchen and Chino Latino honoring this year's hottest celebrity--the rabbit. Tuesday 1/25 Thom Pham hosts an Oscar-worthy celebration to benefit the Aegis Foundat ... More >>

Caterpillar Lounge gets new digs, new DJs

Photo by Kevin O'Meara for City Pages​Thom Pham's Caterpillar Lounge used to be tucked away on the west corner of the old Azia Restaurant on Eat Street until it closed last fall, but as of this week is reincarnated inside Pham's Azian Kitchen on Fifth Street downtown. Backed by some of the city's ... More >>

Restaurant closings of 2010--some we'll miss, others we won't

May these restaurants Roast In Peace.​This past year saw the closure of many restaurants we'll miss--and others we won't. We've compiled both lists here: Most Regrettable Restaurant Closings of 2010 • Pak Zam Zam We'll miss the chapli kabab, chicken biryani, and the best dal in town. • Th ... More >>

Azian Kitchen, Cosmos & more: Your best bests for dining on Christmas

Kikugawa and Seven are two places you can get your sushi fix on Christmas Day.​We know that most of the world grinds to a well-deserved halt on Christmas Day--shops close, the mail stops, and everyone cuddles up by the fireplace and plays Scrabble while snow gently falls outside and Bing Cros ... More >>

Blue Door Pub may expand to Minneapolis

Might one of St. Paul's best-loved pubs expand across the river?​The northwest corner of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue is getting a makeover--and a Minneapolis outpost of St. Paul's popular Blue Door Pub may be part of it. The former Cedar Lake Ice & Fuel Co. building is being renovated and ... More >>

The Best of Hot Dish: December 6-10

Tools of the "Best of" trade​This week in Hot Dish was full of juicy event drama as well as heartwarming gift lists and restaurants, making it difficult to choose which posts deserve more of our time and attention. We sifted through this week's posts and came up with this roller coaster ride of th ... More >>

Thom Pham's Family Feud--more strange details emerge

Thom Pham's adoptive siblings opened this competing Asian restaurant across the street from Pham's Thanh Do. ​A feud between Twin Cities restaurateur Thom Pham and his adoptive siblings will likely be resolved in the courts next spring. Pham, owner of the recently opened Wondrous Azian Kitche ... More >>

Wok in the Park: the Thanh Do crew, minus Thom Pham

Wok across the street from Thanh Do for more pan-Asian fare.​While Thom Pham has been busy running his new Wondrous Azian Kitchen and thinking about reopening Azia, his original restaurant, Thanh Do, has been quietly humming along in its new St. Louis Park digs--and experiencing some friendly ... More >>

Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen: Will it lift the curse?

Popular restaurateur boldly closes Azia to embark on new challenge

Twin Cities' best suburban restaurants

Nick VlcekSzechuan at Tian Jin: Worth a trip to the suburbs.​This week's Dish features Travail Kitchen and Amusements, whose unique, gourmet gastropub fare makes it worth the drive to Robbinsdale from elsewhere in the metro. If you live in Minneapolis or St. Paul, here are four more foodstuf ... More >>

Chris Kallal's secret life

Twincy co-owner and former Metromix reporter charged with identity theft

Wondrous Azian Kitchen--take the tour

Now open. See the slideshow.​With the closing of the beloved Azia and A21 Anemone Sushi on Eat Street, Thom Pham takes on a new endeavor of epic proportions. Renovating the space that last housed Zake, Wondrous Azian Kitchen is bright, spacious, colorful, and fun. With a sign out front that ... More >>

Wondrous Azian Kitchen's Brazerac--a dreamy drink of the week

A cocktail born in a dream.​Brazerac$8 Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen 533 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 612.338.1479 It's not everyday that someone gets to live one of their dreams. But that's just what happened to bartender Brad Smith, the mastermind behind the cocktail menu at Wondrous Azian K ... More >>

Dim sum hits downtown Minneapolis

Kate N.G. Sommers​ I must admit I am not the authority when it comes to dim sum. My first experience was a mere six weeks ago while visiting San Francisco, and while it was delicious, I have a kryptonite: I'm deathly allergic to shellfish. This doesn't make ordering mysterious foods particula ... More >>

Wok in the Park now open in old ThanhDo location

Want to take a Wok in the Park?​Wok in the Park opens today for lunch and dinner in the St. Louis Park space that ThanhDo once occupied. Sisters Charis, Grace, and Hannah Johnson hope their emphasis on casual elegance and hospitality will charm the old TD patrons as well as bring in fresh faces. ... More >>

Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen now open

www.wonderousmpls.comStep right up and get your dim sum!​The bright, Vegas-style sign at 6th and Hennepin is all aglow: Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen is open. The deep red color scheme and antique artifacts suggest a throwback to mid-century Chinese-American restaurants like Minneapolis's ... More >>

Top 5 worst restaurant names

Wondering if this was a good restaurant name...​In honor of Thom Pham's recent naming troubles with his new Wondrous Azian Kitchen (formerly "Wanderers Wondrous Azian Kitchen"), we decided to look into the worst-named restaurants, past and present, in the Twin Cities. Add your suggestions in the c ... More >>

Azia farewell party this Sunday

​We drank, we dined, we danced at Azia Restaurant and Caterpillar Lounge over the years. This Sunday will mark the last day that the popular Eat Street bar will be open. You can help drink them out of business at their farewell party, complete with open bar.

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon August '10

It's been a busy month in restaurant news...​ OPEN Olive's, Marine on St. Croix Travail Kitchen and Amusements, Robbinsdale Surdyk's Flights, MSP Airport Heartland (move to Lowertown), St. Paul Simple Sandwich, Minneapolis Moe's Burger Heaven, St. Paul Patisserie 46, Minneapolis

Wanderers Wonderous Azian Kitchen: a first look at a work in progress

If you haven't heard all the hustle and bustle yet, Azia Restaurant and A25 Anemoni Sushi bar are scheduled to close later this month. But fear not: Thom Pham, owner and executive chef, is taking his food from Eat Street to downtown. Thom Pham​

Minneapolis's 5 most jinxed restaurant locations

In honor of Thom Pham's announcement that he'll be opening a new restaurant, Wanderers, at 555 Hennepin Ave.--a space notorious for its quick turnover of restaurant operators--Hot Dish decided to take a look at the Top 5 Jinxed Restaurant Locations. Will Thom Pham have better luck in this downtow ... More >>

Wanderers by Thom Pham coming soon, Azia likely to close

Will Thom Pham succeed where others have failed? (Photo by erin.kkr)​Thom Pham unveiled his new downtown Minneapolis restaurant venture today, called Wanderers Wondrous Azian Kitchen, at 555 Hennepin Avenue. At the same time, he said his Eat Street restaurant Azia will "probably" close in the near ... More >>

A25 Sushi & Sake Bar preview

The newly redesigned A25 Sushi and Sake Bar (formally Anemoni) packs in plenty of energy and an inviting atmosphere.

New restaurant roundup

Catch up on recent openings and closings, plus what's coming soon...

Bradstreet Crafthouse recreates cocktail culture

Sample signature drinks from the '20s made with original ingredients

New restaurant rundown for 2009

Cheap after-work eats aplenty at Azia, Saffron, Pop!!, and more

Get more bang for your buck at some of the city's best happy hours

Dragon Festival

A hate crime?