Crying Thaiger Brings a Taste of Thailand to Downtown Wheeling

When Tanyapong “Tat” Sorat thinks about the food of his childhood, he remembers the sights, sounds, and flavors of Bangkok, Thailand, where street vendors, bustling markets, and family-run eateries are woven into daily life. Today, those memories have found a new home in downtown Wheeling through Crying Thaiger, the city’s newest Thai restaurant located inside Waterfront Hall.

For Sorat, opening Crying Thaiger is the realization of a dream rooted in friendship, culture, and a desire to share a piece of home with the community he now calls his own.

“I grew up in Bangkok and moved to the United States when I was 15,” Sorat said. “I’ve lived in the Wheeling area for many years now, and I’ve always felt there was an opportunity to bring something different to the local restaurant scene.”

The restaurant was born from a reunion, and was years in the making. Sorat partnered with his childhood friend, Puin “Paul” Chuanchaisit. The two grew up together in Bangkok before their lives took them in different directions. While Sorat settled in West Virginia, Chuanchaisit spent years in Los Angeles. After reconnecting, the two began discussing the possibility of opening a restaurant together.

“When the opportunity at Waterfront Hall came up, it felt like the right place and the right time to finally make that dream happen,” Sorat said.

Chuanchaisit serves as Crying Thaiger’s chef partner and has been instrumental in bringing the restaurant to life. From developing the menu and setting up the kitchen to training staff and ensuring authenticity, Sorat credits his longtime friend with helping create an experience that reflects the flavors and traditions they grew up with.

He is equally appreciative of the entire Crying Thaiger team.

“Opening a restaurant takes a lot of people working together,” Sorat said. “We couldn’t have done it without our kitchen and front-of-house staff.”

At its heart, Crying Thaiger aims to introduce the Ohio Valley to authentic Thai cuisine while remaining approachable for first-time diners.

“Thai food is all about balance,” Sorat explained. “You can have salty, sweet, sour, spicy, and savory flavors all working together in the same dish. Sometimes, one bite can hit almost all of those flavors.”

For guests who are new to Thai cuisine, Sorat often recommends Pad Kra Pao with a fried egg; A beloved dish throughout Thailand made with stir-fried meat, holy basil, and bold seasonings.

“It’s such a classic everyday Thai dish,” he said. “It’s simple, comforting, and packed with flavor. It represents the kind of food people actually eat regularly in Thailand.”

While familiar favorites such as Pad Thai are available, Sorat hopes diners will also embrace dishes that may be less well known but are deeply connected to Thai culture. Pad Kra Pao, for example, holds special significance because of its simplicity.

“It isn’t considered a fancy dish in Thailand,” he said. “It’s something people grab for a quick lunch or dinner. We want people to understand that Thai food is more than the dishes they may already know. We want to introduce them to the food Thai people actually grow up eating.”

Since opening, the community’s response has exceeded expectations.

“The response has been incredible and honestly a little overwhelming in the best way,” Sorat said.

The restaurant sold out during its opening weekend and has drawn everyone from curious first-time Thai food diners to travelers and former city residents who say the menu reminds them of meals they enjoyed abroad.

“We’re still a brand-new restaurant and learning every day,” he said. “But seeing the community support us this early has meant a lot.”

Sorat also credits the support of the greater Wheeling business community, particularly Waterfront Hall and its owner, Dan and the Waterfront team, for helping bring the restaurant to life.

“One of my favorite parts of opening has been seeing local business owners support each other rather than feeling like everything has to be a competition,” he said.

As Wheeling’s dining landscape continues to diversify, Sorat hopes Crying Thaiger can contribute to that momentum while giving residents a new culinary experience close to home.

“I think having more independently-owned restaurants with different cultures and backgrounds makes the city more interesting,” he said. “We want to show people they don’t necessarily have to go to Pittsburgh, Columbus, or another big city to experience something different. They can find it right here in Wheeling.”

Looking ahead, diners can expect the menu to evolve. Sorat and Chuanchaisit plan to introduce additional regional Thai specialties and rotating seasonal dishes, including favorites such as Khao Soi. They are also exploring future special events and themed menus once the restaurant becomes more established.

For now, their focus remains on consistently delivering quality food and hospitality.

Reflecting on the journey, Sorat says the most rewarding moments happen when guests enjoy what he and his team have worked so hard to create.

“There were so many months of planning, construction, equipment problems, inspections, menu development, and everything else that comes with opening a restaurant,” he said. “Then you see a packed dining room, someone trying Thai food for the first time, or someone coming back for a second or third visit, and it makes all of that work worth it.”

When asked what makes him most proud, Sorat doesn’t hesitate.

“The thing I’m most proud of about this restaurant is that we built something that represents where I came from while becoming part of the community I now call home.”

And if there is one thing he wants every person in Wheeling to know about Crying Thaiger, it is simple.

“We care,” Sorat said. “We’re a new restaurant and we’re still learning, but everyone on our team cares deeply about the food we’re serving and about giving people a good experience. Crying Thaiger isn’t a chain. It’s very personal to us. Every person who walks through the door and supports us is helping us build something we hope will be in Wheeling for a very long time.”

Crying Thaiger is located inside Waterfront Hall in downtown Wheeling and offers guests an authentic taste of Thailand, served with the warmth and hospitality that inspired its creation. Follow Crying Thaiger and Waterfront Hall on social media for updates, special events, and more!