A Small Space With Big Dreams: How an Underdog Thai Restaurant Became Windermere’s Hidden Gem

Feature Story — 1,168 words

Windermere is known for its quiet luxury, manicured neighborhoods, and steady flow of locals and tourists who move between the suburbs and the theme parks. But until recently, there was one thing the community didn’t have: a reliable neighborhood Thai restaurant. When Ittiwat Suntron and business partner Patsawee stepped into a 1,000-square-foot former poke bowl shop, they saw an opportunity no one else did.

“It started as something simple,” Suntron said. “We just wanted a Thai and sushi place close to home. But then we realized the whole area wanted that too.”

What began as a convenience for themselves quickly grew into something much bigger: a small, modern, and approachable Thai-sushi hybrid that has quietly become one of Windermere’s favorite hidden gems.

A Vision Born From a Gap in the Community

Before the restaurant opened, Windermere had zero Thai restaurants within a 10–15-mile radius. For busy families and Disney employees on break, the absence of Thai options was felt daily.

“People in this area didn’t really have Thai food nearby,” Patsawee said. “Most families had to drive pretty far, and we realized that was a gap we could fill.”

According to Suntron, the decision wasn’t about launching another large-scale concept or trying to compete with high-end tourist restaurants. Instead, it was about building a neighborhood spot that was clean, quick, warm, and dependable. The kind of place where a Disney cast member could grab sushi on a lunch break, where locals could swing by for takeout after work, and where tourists could eat well without spending tourist-level prices.

“There are a lot of big restaurants in the Orlando area,” Suntron said. “But here, we wanted something approachable, something comfortable. It doesn’t need to be fancy to be good.”

From Poke to Pad Thai: A Transformation Story

When the founders found the location, it was still set up as a poke bowl shop. The streamlined kitchen and small seating area weren’t optimized for Thai dishes—but the potential was there.

“We walked in and immediately started imagining how it could look,” said Patsawee. “It took a lot of work to change the space, but we knew the community would respond.”

The transformation turned the small, overlooked storefront into a warm, modern dining space. Though compact, the restaurant’s atmosphere felt intentional—clean lines, bright light, and a quiet simplicity that encourages customers to take a breath and enjoy their food.

And then there’s the surprise no one expects until they visit: through the windows, diners can catch views of Magic Kingdom’s nightly fireworks. A tiny piece of Disney magic appears at the end of an ordinary meal.

“That made us smile,” Suntron said. “We didn’t plan it, but customers love it.”

An Underdog With Heart

Although Ittiwat Suntron owns several successful restaurants in Orlando, he still calls this Windermere location his underdog.

“Our other restaurants are bigger and more established,” he said. “This one is different. Small space, small team. But we see a lot of heart in it.”

What many customers don’t realize is that behind this modest neighborhood spot is a restaurateur whose other concepts have earned Michelin recognition and frequent attention on food blogs, local news, and high-traffic social media accounts. Several of his restaurants regularly trend on TikTok and Instagram, often highlighted as “must try” Orlando dining experiences.

“People know our other restaurants really well,” Suntron said. “Those brands already have visibility. Here, we’re building that identity from scratch.”

And perhaps because this restaurant is the underdog, the team pours more care into every part of it—from prepping ingredients early each day for freshness to staying focused on consistency as the area becomes more competitive. Despite challenges like staffing turnover and limited space, the restaurant continues to earn praise for its welcoming service and dependable quality.

“That’s why this place feels personal,” he said. “It feels like home.”

A Space That Feels Like Home

A defining part of the restaurant’s personality is its simplicity. It doesn’t try to reinvent Thai cuisine. It doesn’t aim for upscale dining. Most dishes are crafted with American tastes in mind—bold flavors, generous portions, and affordable prices.

“We want people to walk in and immediately feel at home,” Patsawee said. “That’s what matters to us.”

Many first-time guests come because of positive online reviews describing the restaurant as:

• “A little hidden gem”
  
• “Perfect for takeout”
  
• “Fast, clean, and modern”
  
• “Affordable prices compared to the tourist area”
  

Those reviews became one of the restaurant’s proudest achievements. Suntron still remembers the moment early on when they realized the community had fully embraced them.

“The first three months were way busier than we expected,” he said. “Hearing people say we became their go-to Thai place—that meant a lot.”

The People Behind the Popularity

Though the restaurant’s physical space is small, its presence in the community has grown significantly. But many customers still don’t know that the same team runs several successful Orlando restaurants known for high standards and consistent quality.

“We brought that same experience here,” Suntron said. “Even though we’re small, we take the food seriously.”

Behind the scenes, the team celebrates memories that show how much their impact has grown. Some customers bring in extended family when they visit from out of town. Some take photos of the fireworks during dinner. One couple told the staff they had been waiting years for a Thai place to open nearby.

Those small interactions, Suntron says, are what make the long days worth it.

Looking Ahead: Growth Beyond the Kitchen

While takeout and delivery remain the strongest channels, the team hopes to grow even more within the next year. Their goals include:

• Expanding the dining space to fit more guests comfortably
  
• Increasing social media visibility to reach Windermere and Hamlin residents
  
• Improving employee retention to maintain consistency
  
• Continuing to focus on quality as new sushi competitors open up
  
• Boosting online orders and delivery sales
  

But the heart of the vision remains unchanged: being a trusted local spot people return to again and again.

“We’re proud of what this restaurant has become,” Patsawee said. “It’s small, but it has a big future.”

A Neighborhood Staple in the Making

As Windermere continues to grow, the restaurant has become more than a convenience—it has become part of the community’s rhythm. Lunch breaks, after-school meals, quick takeout nights, weekend family dinners.

The underdog has found its place.

For Suntron, the journey is just beginning.

“We’re not the biggest,” he said. “But we want to be the place people think of first when they’re craving Thai or sushi. If we can keep growing, keep improving, and keep making people feel good when they eat here—that’s success for us.”In a quiet corner of Windermere, inside a small transformed poke bowl shop, a restaurant built on heart, community, and humble beginnings is proving that size doesn’t define success.
Consistency does.
Connection does.
And sometimes, the strongest stories begin with the smallest spaces.