G’day,

Those in the know, know where to go.

We’re excited to have just launched our latest episode of Mates on Crates, featuring Natapon “Nat” Poonpoem, Owner at Sawasdee Thai Restaurant on Main Street in Vancouver. A Main Street institution celebrating 40 years in the same location, Sawasdee is built for big tables, shared plates, and the kind of generous portions that mean tomorrow’s breakfast is already handled. Expect classic Thai staples, a few sleeper cocktails, and a warm, family-style room that has welcomed generations of regulars. Nat carries the torch of a true family legacy, raised in the restaurant and taught to cook and run the business by his chef parents who immigrated from Thailand and took over in 2006. He is equal parts host, operator, and all-around utility player, stepping wherever the restaurant needs him while keeping the menu true to its roots. It was a pleasure to sit down with Nat to chat 40 years of memories, Thai regional flavour profiles, the sleeper dishes you cannot miss, and all of Nat’s favourite spots.

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Each time we do a Mates on Crates interview, our guests share up to twenty of their favourites with us. For each episode, only a handful of those favourites make it into the final two minute cut. In order to highlight all of our guest’s favourites, we are happy to share the full list of favourites right here.

See the FULL LIST of Nat Poonpoem’s Favourites:

Brunch: Café Medina
BBQ: Chinatown BBQ
Coffee: Trafiq Cafe & Bakery
Cocktail Bar: Good Thief
Date Night: Coast
Dying to Try: Sumibiyaki Arashi
Fried Chicken: Church’s Chicken
Hidden Gem: Kook Korean BBQ
Last Meal That Blew Them Away: Octopus Garden
Pizza: AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza Joint
Seafood: Coast
Sushi: Sushi Hil
Take an Out of Town Guest: Hy’s Steakhouse
Thai: Kin Kao
Vietnamese: Baoguette Vietnamese Bistro
Outside of Vancouver: Kelowna Wineries (Fav: Quails’ Gate Winery)

Thanks for joining us, Nat!

Head to Sawasdee Thai Restaurant, a 40 year Main Street classic known for generous portions, family-style sharing, and a warm room full of regulars. While there, be sure to try the Kuyang barbecue pork jaw with sticky rice and nam jim jaew, plus an ice cold beer or the lychee martini, which are Nat’s favourites.