Lom Wong
Thai restaurant · Roosevelt ·
Regional Thai specialties: hand-pounded curries, fresh coconut milk
Regional Thai specialties: hand-pounded curries, fresh coconut milk
"Chef Yotaka “Sunny” Martin, who helms a vibrant Northern Thai restaurant in Phoenix, won the James Beard Best Chef: Southwest award. Born in a small village in northern Thailand and raised in Chiang Rai, she learned family recipes and was influenced by seafood traditions of the Indigenous Moklen community. This is her second time being considered for the award since 2023, and the restaurant has earned national recognition, including being named one of Esquire’s best new restaurants in America in 2023." - Nicole Adlman
"Set in a historic bungalow in Roosevelt Row, Sunny and Alex Martin’s charming Thai eatery bears no resemblance to formulaic, Americanized Thai restaurants. Here, Sunny — who grew up in Northern Chiang Rai and borrowed recipes from family members — hand-pounds Thai red chiles to make curry and squeezes her own coconut milk rather than opening a can. The menu, which also features the seafood dishes of Thailand’s Moklen community, is universally wonderful, but don’t miss these: excellent Thai-influenced cocktails; yam mamuang boran (green mango salad with hand-torn shrimp); sai ua (charcoal-grilled sausage); and kaeng phet charinda (coconut beef curry with eggplant). Hot tip: Northern Thai dishes built from family recipes and heirloom ingredients — book a month out to lock in your table." - McConnell Quinn
"Chef Yotaka Martin advanced to the final nominees list for Best Chef: Southwest after many Arizona chefs were cut from that regional category. This is Martin’s second year being nominated, after being named a semifinalist in the same category in 2023." - Rebecca Roland
"You know that friend you’ve been wishing would invite you over for dinner? Lom Wong, with its homey vibe and family recipes, is the restaurant equivalent. Bring a group and get the cold-and-sweet green mango salad along with the fried chicken you can dunk in Thai red chile sauce. Eating on the patio is always nice—it’s heated for chilly days and has misters for when it’s hot. They also have a great wine list, specifically put together to pair with the spicy dishes on their menu. For more Thai cocktails and some barbecued eats, stroll over to Mr. Baan’s Bar & Mookata. The latest concept to debut from the Lom Wong’s team is located in the back alley behind the original restaurant. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - lauren topor
"Yotaka Martin, a Phoenix chef, was named a Best Chef: Southwest semifinalist. The nomination places Martin among a group of Phoenix chefs recognized by the James Beard Foundation for the Southwest region in 2025." - Nicole Adlman
