OUR VISION
Inspired by Bangkok's Soi Ari, a neighborhood lined with eclectic cafes and coffee shops each serving their own unique blend of Thai comfort foods and internationally inspired creations. Ari District is a contemporary Thai eatery located in the Dallas Medical District featuring comfort dishes with robust southern Thai flavors. We are here to introduce Bangkok's casual dining experience serving dishes prepared with quality and meaningful ingredients bursting with authentic flavors.
OUR CHEF AND FOUNDER
Not at all new to the restaurant scene, Lilly is religiously dedicated to quality, freshness, and flavors reminiscent of her childhood in all of her delectable creations. Born in a small town called Naratiwas, Thailand, Lilly spent her childhood closely observing her mom meticulously preparing home cooked meals. Lilly brings flavors reminiscent of her childhood with the same level of dedication to every plate she prepares. Her beginnings as a restaurateur began in 1995 with her first restaurant in Plano called Tuppee Tong, named after the traditional Thai golden serving spoon. She later opened a second location in Muncie, Indiana before once again, returning to Dallas. Ari District is her reinvented vision of the Thai dining experience that reflects Thailand's ever evolving food culture.
THAI FOOD CULTURE FUN FACTS
Defining authentic Thai cuisine is unique in itself with influences from all around the world. It is ever transforming with European, Chinese, and American influence. Having experienced Bangkok's food culture and Thailand's small town food highlights, the term street food encapsulates much of Thai food culture. Many restaurateurs run their businesses directly from their homes or carts lining busy streets where seating is often unavailable. These street vendors sell anything from grilled meat skewers to noodles and rice dishes as well as desserts that you see offered at your local Thai restaurants. In Thailand, each vendor is defined by the flavors brought out by staple ingredients and spices used by individual chefs identical to the concept that no two pastries taste the same unless they share the same recipe. Authenticity is the idea that the food reflects the culture with core flavors that do not stray from the traditional.