Bobby

Growing up in Burlington, Vermont, my family has always been part of the local food scene. For nearly two decades, we ran Bangkok Bistro, one of the first Thai restaurants on Church Street with an extensive cocktail menu. After 10 successful years, we faced a sudden rent increase and had to close our doors. Watching my parents and the community feel the loss of our restaurant was heartbreaking, and it inspired me to leave Burlington for a while to gain new experiences and knowledge to eventually bring Bangkok Bistro back.

Years later, my father called me about a new opportunity: a tucked-away spot perfect for creating something special, not a tourist trap but a “diamond in the rough.” In November 2021, with my parents retiring, my wife and I decided to take over the family business, incorporating our own styles to reimagine it as BKK IN THE ALLEY.

With my background in traditional Thai cooking, trained by my father, I’ve worked to modernize our dishes, updating their presentation while keeping the flavors authentic. My wife, an award-winning mixologist, created a cocktail program featuring exotic Thai ingredients to perfectly pair with our food. We’ve transformed the concept into tapas-style dishes with fine-dining presentation and a nightlife-inspired ambiance, creating a fresh energy for our customers.

For us, BKK is more than a business—it’s our baby. We’ve poured our sweat and tears into its buildout, hoping to show that Burlington has more to offer than maple syrup and farm-to-table dining. Nothing makes me happier than hearing a customer say, “We didn’t think Burlington had anything like this, and we’re so glad we found you!” It’s moments like these that remind us why we’re so passionate about what we do.