Where Pakpao Thai's Eddy Thretipthuangsin Eats

The Design District's resident Thai spot, Pakpao, has only been around for four months, but it's already garnering quite a following.

Executive chef and Thailand native Eddy Thretipthuangsin is staying true to his roots by serving up authentic Thai dishes, complete with super-spicy curries and genuinely exotic ingredients.

We recently caught up with Chef Eddy to discuss where he likes to eat in his new home city when he's not busy running the show at Pakpao.

—Caren Rodriguez

Favorite breakfast or brunch place?
My idea of brunch is Asian dim-sum and the best place for that is Kirin Court.

Charleston Place Hotel in Charleston, SC, is one my best all-time favorite places for breakfast and brunch though. They do a fantastic brunch buffet with the works - every station that you can imagine!

Where do you go for a quick lunch?
Hillstone. They have a great menu selection and it's a great option for a nice, quick lunch.

Go-to late night spot?
Meddlesome Moth. They have a really great beer selection and it is right around the corner from Pakpao.

Date night destination?
The Mansion. It's been around for a long time and it's one of those iconic places in Dallas. Chef Bruno's food is always great. You can never go wrong at The Mansion.

Favorite pizza place?
I don't go out for pizza much but Coal Vines is really good. Honestly, I've only been there once when we went for a staff outing. Their margherita pizza is classically good.

Best or favorite burger in Dallas?
LA Burger – it's a typical burger but with kimchee and fried egg which sets it apart. It's the best!

Favorite ethnic food spots?
Block Saigon for their crispy fish.

Also, my go-to market to find Asian ingredients is Hiep Thai Market. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.

Any favorite hidden gems in Dallas?
Nalinh Market. I love their sun-dried crispy fish & spicy beef soup.

Best or favorite dessert in Dallas?
H-Mart is a Korean and Asian supermarket that carries most any Asian ingredients you'd need, but the best part is their amazing bakery! My favorite is the croissant.

Any favorite destination restaurants to hit when you're traveling in other cities?
I love Apotheke in New York City. It's one of my favorite bars of all time. The ambiance is cozy and comfortable, and also has creative cocktails.

Jung Sik in New York City is also excellent. The food is very creative, nice decor and top notch service. It's one of the only Michelin-starred Korean restaurants that I'm aware of.

Charleston, South Carolina. I've never had a bad meal there! Some of my favorites are The Peninsula Grill, High Cotton, FIG and McCrady's.

· More Where Chefs Eat posts [-EDFW-]

[Photo: Joy Zhang]