Jasmine Thai, for years one of the more popular Thai joints in Tampa, recently moved from their former location on Kennedy and Henderson Boulevard to South Westshore Boulevard. Here's hoping they can lift the restaurant curse from this beleagured stripmall where former residents include the defunct Habana Madrid, Black Beans and Zaheem Palace. Jasmine Thai moved because the Kennedy location fell into the dead zone – not enough businesses for a lunch crowd and attracting diners at dinner proved difficult. SoHo Sushi now occupies the space where they used to be.
If you visited any of the former incarnations, Jasmine Thai made startling improvements to the decor, adding windows to dramatically open up the once cramped, dank dining room. The husband and wife team, Nunta Lertpanit and Kent Suksawatnamchok, are pretty proud of the renovations, as they should be since they completed it all themselves. They even built the furniture.
Chef Suksawatnamchok features a similar menu to the former home, with favorites like crispy fried Thai Spring Rolls, Panang Curry Shrimp, spicy Nam Sod and tangy Yum Seafood.
Open for lunch and dinner
Delivery offered within a three-mile radius
3333 S. West Shore Blvd, Tampa
(813) 831-8881
The original Jasmine Thai, located at 3248 N Dale Mabry Hwy. in Carrollwood, has been open for 28 years and family members opened a second location in Brandon a few years back at 1947 W. Lumsden Road.
This article appears in Dec 17-23, 2008.
