Cuopom: Authenticity key ingredient at Tina Thai in Lewiston

Tina Danger of Lewiston poses Monday behind a spread of handmade Thai dishes at Tina Thai. Anna Gouveia/Sun Journal

For six days a week, Tina Danger of Lewiston works tirelessly in her one-woman kitchen in Lewiston to deliver handmade, fresh and traditional Thai flavor at great prices to her customers.

Freshly prepared Lemongrass Noodle Soup is served at Tina Thai in Lewiston. Anna Gouveia/Sun Journal

Since opening Tina Thai in February 2020, only one month before strict lockdowns were imposed due to the emergence of COVID-19, Danger spends her mornings prepping food for an 11 a.m. opening and spends the day taking customer orders, preparing authentic Thai dishes from scratch, and operating the register until the kitchen closes after 9 p.m.

Behind the infectious smile that greets guests is a fierce, hardworking businesswoman.

Freshly prepared Khoa Soy is served at Tina Thai in Lewiston. Anna Gouveia/Sun Journal

Danger got her start in the food industry in Thailand at age 11 when she began learning the trade under her mother, to whom Danger attributes all of her cooking knowledge. After moving to the United States more than 20 years ago, Danger helped many Thai restaurants in the Boston area set up their commercial kitchens. In addition to running Tina Thai full time, Danger currently owns two other restaurants located in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and in Hampton, New Hampshire.

Danger also serves as a mentor to newly immigrated families. She provides guidance about how to open commercial restaurants and continues to work with families as they launch their own businesses.

Tina Danger of Lewiston prepares Pad Thai at Tina Thai on Monday. Anna Gouveia/Sun Journal

At Tina Thai, Danger ensures that her dishes retain an authentic, true-to-Thailand flavor that she thinks can be difficult to find in other American Thai restaurants. She said she believes in the importance of using only quality ingredients and imports ingredients directly from Thailand.

Danger also offers a variety of plates that are not easy to find at other restaurants.

Dew Yound, a frequent customer said she drives an hour from Saco to order the Dry Noodles, which she raves are the best in the area.

If you are coming in to eat, Danger cautions that wait times can be on the longer side for large groups.

Tina Thai is open six days a week and offers limited dine-in options in addition to carry-out options. It is located at 64 Sabattus Street in Lewiston.