Tanya and Niki Pattharakositkul plan to open Khao Thai Isan, a Thai tapas restaurant, at The Mitchell in Downtown Atlanta’s Centennial Yards development in 2026. The sisters, who are also behind several other Atlanta-area Thai restaurants including 26 Thai, Pink Lotus, Blackjack Bar Tapas, and the upcoming Terminal 26 at Ponce City Market, will bring their new concept to the $5 billion mixed-use project.
Khao Thai Isan will feature small plates inspired by the bold street food flavors of Thailand’s Isan region. The menu is designed for sharing and will be complemented by Thai-inspired cocktails and beer towers. “In Thailand, when people meet each other, rather than saying ‘hi’ or ‘how are you,’ they say ‘Gin Khao Mai,’ meaning ‘have you eaten yet?’” said Niki Pattharakositkul, Founder of Khao Thai Isan. “We wanted to bring that same sense of welcoming and community to anyone who dines at Khao Thai Isan. The restaurant is our way of saying ‘hello’ to Downtown Atlanta, as this will be our first venture in the area.”
The restaurant will occupy nearly 5,000 square feet on the ground floor of The Mitchell apartment building and include a large outdoor patio meant to reflect the vibrancy of Isan’s street food scene. Interior elements and branding will incorporate motifs from the “kratip,” a traditional sticky rice container from northeastern Thailand.
Khao Thai Isan is scheduled to open ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Its location places it near major attractions such as Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena and within walking distance of Centennial Yards’ Entertainment District. The area is developing into a major destination for dining and live entertainment with tenants like Live Nation and Cosm confirmed for Centennial Yards Company’s project.
