Taste of Thai Express, Inc.

What Taste of Thai Express, Inc. does

Taste of Thai Express, Inc. operates a single-location Thai restaurant at 209 S. Meadow St. in Ithaca, New York, founded in 2003 and owned by Ying Balakula. The business serves the Ithaca and Finger Lakes community through four integrated channels: dine-in service at the physical storefront (open seven days a week, 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM with last seating at 8:45 PM), carry-out, third-party-enabled delivery with a $14 minimum, and full-service catering for events ranging from 20 to 200 guests with on-site cooking capability and dietary accommodation. Menu offerings include signature dishes such as Pad Thai, Tom Kha Soup, Cashew Chicken, Thai Fried Rice, and Yum Nua, with ingredients sourced from local farms and interior furnishings hand-crafted by local artisans.

The underlying operating technology is a Toasttab-powered online ordering and points-based loyalty platform, supplemented by a Doteasy-hosted marketing website and a points-based rewards program. There are no proprietary software assets, AI/ML systems, patents, or trademarks disclosed; the technology footprint is standard for an independent restaurant business. Distribution is direct-to-consumer, with catering as a higher-value enterprise-style channel and gift cards as an ancillary retail product.

Revenue is generated through unit-pricing, pay-as-you-go transactions across dine-in, carry-out, delivery, catering, lunch specials (11:00 AM to 3:00 PM), and gift cards. There is no subscription, licensing, or contracted recurring revenue model. The restaurant employs approximately 40 staff members and operates as a privately held, founder-owned business with no disclosed external investment, parent company, or subsidiaries. Customer mix is diversified across local community diners, lunch seekers, and event catering clients, with no concentration in any single named account, though the entire revenue base is exposed to the Ithaca, NY geographic market.

Name

Taste of Thai Express, Inc.

Legal name

Taste of Thai Express, Inc.

Website

https://tasteofthaiexpress.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Taste of Thai Express, Inc. is a single-location Thai restaurant in Ithaca, New York, founded in 2003, serving dine-in, carry-out, delivery, and catering for 20 to 200 guests to local community members and event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Thai Restaurant

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants (THAFACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Asian Fast Casual (Pan-Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean) (THAFABAE), All-Day Dining Restaurants (THAFACAJ)

Keywords

• Thai restaurant dining
• Authentic Thai cuisine
• Food catering services
• Carry-out delivery
• Event catering meals

Headquarters

HQ city

Ithaca

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Service: On-premises dining service at Ithaca, NY location. Open 7 days a week with last seating at 8:45 PM daily.
2. Carry-out and Delivery: Off-premises food service including carry-out orders and delivery with minimum order of $14.
3. Catering Services: Full-service catering from intimate gatherings of 20 to events for 200. Offers on-site cooking capability. Accommodates dietary restrictions. Orders require 24-hour advance notice.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Taste of Thai Express is a single-location Thai restaurant in Ithaca, NY offering dine-in service, carry-out, delivery (with a $14 order minimum), lunch specials served 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and full-service catering for events ranging from 20 to 200 guests with on-site cooking available. The restaurant serves authentic Thai dishes such as Pad Thai, Tom Kha Soup, Cashew Chicken, and Thai Fried Rice, with ingredients sourced from local farms. Gift cards are also available for purchase.

Product overview

Taste of Thai Express is a single-location Thai restaurant established in 2003, owned and operated by Ying Balakula. The company offers a unified dining experience combining dine-in, carry-out, catering, and delivery services. The core offering includes authentic Thai cuisine featuring signature dishes like Pad Thai, Tom Kha Soup, Cashew Chicken, and Thai Fried Rice, sourced from local farms. Additional services include a Lunch Special program (11am-3pm), a Toasttab-powered rewards/loyalty program, gift cards, and flexible catering services for events of 20-200 guests. The restaurant employs approximately 40 staff members and operates 7 days a week.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dine-In Restaurant Service

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Local FarmsminorOthersSourcing produce items from local farms in the Ithaca community. Part of the restaurant's commitment to fresh ingredients and community support.
• The Advocacy CenterminorOthersCharitable local organization supported by Taste of Thai Express as part of community outreach.
• Taste of the NationminorOthersCharitable organization supported by Taste of Thai Express for food-related community causes.
• Cancer ResourceminorOthersCharitable organization supported by Taste of Thai Express as part of community health initiatives.
• American Cancer SocietyminorOthersMajor cancer research and support organization supported through Taste of Thai Express community contributions.
• YMCAminorOthersLocal YMCA branch supported through charitable contributions from Taste of Thai Express.
• Cornell Cooperative ExtensionminorOthersAgricultural and community development organization supported by Taste of Thai Express.
• 4-H Duck RaceminorOthersLocal youth organization event supported through charitable contributions.
• Southside Community CenterminorOthersLocal community center supported by Taste of Thai Express community outreach.
• CinemapolisminorOthersLocal movie theater in Ithaca supported through Taste of Thai Express community partnerships.
• Local CraftspeopleminorOthersLocal artisans who hand-crafted interior furnishings including tables, chairs, and counters for the restaurant.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/taste-of-thai-express-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Taste of Thai Express, Inc.