Chumita “Sai” Huntress (Image: Juan Jocom/CHS)

The best Pad Thai in Seattle? (Image: Juan Jocom/CHS)

By Juan Jocom

What started as a side hustle providing Thai food, treats, and drinks at street fairs and events is now a fully realized business in the Central District. Kanom Sai Cafe is now serving “Asian fusion sweet and savory” creations hoped to evoke comfort and belongingness just south of 23rd and Union.

For many immigrants, finding a way to translate home away from home in a foreign place can be a challenge. Many have different ways of searching for this feeling, but for Chumita “Sai” Huntress, home is found through food.

“It’s like a snack or treat that’s made by me,” Huntress said. Kanom means “to serve,” she says.

Huntress immigrated to the United States 15 years ago from Thailand. She took matters into her own hands after being disappointed at not being able to find Thai food in the States that fully satisfied her longing for a taste of home.

“I started cooking for myself and then I made too much. Then I started giving it to my friends and then they started buying it from me.”

This side hustle grew from there. She started renting out a commissary kitchen and participated in local farmers markets in Bothell and Kenmore. She still takes personal orders, but said that she’s now unable to provide services like personal deliveries due to the demands of the new cafe.

“I’m the solo owner here, but right now I have people helping me. Mostly it’s my friends. Like people from the Thai community.” She was open about how she is still learning a lot of things, and was very thankful to the Thai community for their willingness to support her along the way.

Kanom Sai is not a typical cafe. Walking in feels like you just walked into one of your friend’s home, and that’s exactly what Huntress wanted. “When I go to a place for coffee. I want to feel comfortable. I want the owner to cook for me. I want them to make it right for me.”

The location has a good track record. Raised Doughnuts started there before moving across the street to its brand new home in the new Midtown Square development in 2022.

(Image: Juan Jocom/CHS)

Huntress hopes to translate Thai hospitality to her neighborhood community, “I think in Thailand, food is really, really important, that if you visit a family even if they’re poor… They’re going to serve you the best that they can offer you.”

This hospitality is something that you can taste through the food offerings in Kanom Sai Cafe, from the sweet yet savory Curry Puffs to the arguably best Pad Thai in Seattle, Huntress promises to deliver Thai food to the people of Central District as authentic as possible.

Huntress ultimately decided to open up her business in the Central District as she thought her tastes match the personality of the neighborhood.

“I didn’t expect this much that people are going to be this nice to me,” she says. “I have never lived in Seattle. I have to be honest. My family were so worried about what the neighborhood looks like, but from day one until now, people have been super nice to me here.”

The business has been open for a month, however, there have already been plenty of challenges Huntress has faced during the process. From getting all the required licenses in Seattle to getting scammed by contractors.

“I lack the experience to deal with contractors. So it took me six months,” Huntress said of her long and challenging opening. “They saw me as that Asian girl who does everything. I got scammed from the company that did the job for me. I had to use like four different companies to finish,” she said.

Now Huntress just wants to focus on cultivating her menu, and has expressed no desire of competing with other Thai joints as she says what she offers is different from the rest.

“I just want people to know that I’m already here and open and try my food. I’m a bit confident that they’re gonna like something,” she said.

Huntress encourages customers to ask questions and talk with her about the food she creates. “Come see and talk to me. I can tell you a lot of stories,” she says. “Every food and drink here has a story.”

Kanom Sai Cafe is open daily 11 AM to 7 PM at 1101 23rd Ave. Learn more at kanomsai.com.

CORRECTION: CHS spelled Kanom incorrectly throughout when this story was first published. It has been updated. Sorry for the error.

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