Known for their novel take on drinks to go, Nam Wan Thai Cafe has found a new identity as Lamoon Thai Cafe. Still run by the same team, this new concept will see additions to their food and drinks menus, as well as a different approach to their innovative packaging.
Gone are Nam Wan’s famous “sips in a bag”—at Lamoon, what you’ll find instead are more eco-friendly cups attached with banana tree ropes and bamboo straps crafted by communities in Thailand.
With this rebranding, Joy, Paul, and Manita—the family behind Nam Wan—are expanding their offerings of Thai coffees, drinks, sweets, and food. They’ve also renovated the space to include a new back area where customers can cozy up and stay as long as they want.
“It’s a great place to hang out, get reacquainted with everyone, or even read a book,” says the Lamoon team.
Meaning “smooth” in Thai, “Lamoon” aims to inspire a unified experience of the Thai culture through specialty food and drinks throughout the day, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, plus sweet bites from their bakery.
“We wanted to carry our Thai cuisine knowledge to the cafe with a different vision that people can only experience when they’re here,” says the team.
One of the major focuses of this rebranding was inspired by Joy’s trip back to her hometown of Ubonratchathani, Thailand, where she met with local communities who made banana tree ropes and bamboo straps. Incorporating these artisanal details into Lamoon, the team hopes the new concept will help support communities back home and give their Toronto customers a piece of Thailand with every drink.
Continuing to offer the same popular drinks that Nam Wan’s customers have come to love, at Lamoon, you’ll be able to find a delicious Pandan Latte as well as a range of fruity espresso drinks, like the Coco-presso (fresh coconut water with espresso) and Orange-presso (fresh-squeezed orange juice with espresso).
If you’re feeling mournful about Nam Wan’s “sips in a bag,” the team reassures us they’ll still be making special appearances at events and markets around the city.
Continuing to champion their Thai roots, Lamoon will also be dedicating a section of their store to small gifts imported from Thailand, including Thai tea leaves infused with secret flavours exclusive to the café.
This fuller Thai experience comes complete with a curated playlist featuring the team’s favourite Thai musicians. Bop along to these tunes as you try their new menu items, such as the Ubon Noodle Soup, Laab Burger, and the Tom Yum Fried Rice.
“Every month we will showcase something new on the menu to try,” hints the team. “We can’t wait to share what we have in store!”
Another soon-to-be customer favourite here is Lamoon’s Thai-style Chicken Satay Pizza, made with marinated chicken and house-made peanut sauce on their own special pizza dough.
Completing their new wall-to-wall rebranding of the complete Thai experience, every coffee cup sleeve at Lamoon will teach you a “daily Thai word” to introduce customers to the rich culture, no matter your proficiency.
“If you can’t pronounce our daily Thai words, that’s okay. We will teach you, and we can’t wait for you to use it on your next visit at Lamoon,” says the team.
Feel the team’s infectious friendliness yourself at the new Lamoon Thai Cafe and be sure to plan a visit to their outdoor patio opening in the summer. They’re still located on 713 Gerrard St. East, and are open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
