Eatsburgh Episode 2: Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery

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Eatsburgh

Episode 2: Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery


In Eatsburgh's Episode 2, we present Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery!

Located in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kiin has a vibrant atmosphere with the walls of the restaurant covered in multicolor murals with imagery relating to Lao and Thai culture.

We interviewed Kiin's chef, Nor Nareedokmai

Food at Kiin: 
During a trip to Laos, Nor learned about Lao cooking and noticed striking similarities between Lao and Thai cuisine. Nor's trip inspired him to become involved with the Lao Food Movement in Pittsburgh, to educate the community about Lao food and culture. It also inspired him to integrate Lao food into his restaurant's menu. 
For Nor, cooking is not just a passion, but also a way to connect with the community and share his love for Thai and Lao food and culture with others. One of Nor's favorite aspects of owning a restaurant is that it allows him to connect with the community through food. 



About the name Kiin: 
"Now we have Thai and Lao culture and food, I try to find something commonly used between two countries. So we come up with kiin, kiin means eat... both countries use the same vocabulary. So when Lao people say "eat", they say 'kiin', and same thing with Thai people."




Experience at Kiin: 
As customers enter Kiin from the street, they walk up an indoor stairwell with colorful street-art style murals depicting a dragon and Thai writing covering the white-tiled walls. The restaurant itself is especially warm and inviting, with multicolored walls, tables and chairs. The left side of the restaurant also has an entire wall covered in windows that look down onto the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. The atmosphere is busy, and the customers, which include college students, families, and other Pittsburgh residents or visitors, order a variety of traditional Thai and Lao dishes from the menu. 

"We want to be part of the neighborhood, that's all, that's what we emphasize. Everything we do, we try to considering neighborhood as part of our business. So we bring something different just to be part of community, and showing how much we care about the community and everything we do."


"Food business is passion. I love cooking, I love serving food to people and enjoy seeing them enjoy the food. It will always be a part of my life."


More at Kiin:
Nor and others at Kiin, as well as Chef Seng, are closely involved in the Lao Food Movement, which aims to preserve Lao culture and cuisine, as well as educate non-Lao individuals about the gastronomy of Laos. For more info on the Lao Food Movement, visit www.laofoodmovement.org

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