Bethpage's The Theo Thai Bistro closes
An order of shrimp pad thai at Theo Thai Bistro in Bethpage. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
After five years in business, one of the only halal Thai restaurants on Long Island has closed. The sign has been removed and the windows have been covered at The Theo Thai Bistro in Bethpage. A paper sign taped to the window reads "closed," right underneath a sticker showing the eatery made Newsday's Top 100 Restaurants on Long Island in 2023.
The restaurant was a critics' favorite since it opened in December 2020. Theo Thai also made Newsday's list of top Thai restaurants in 2024. Owners Khoa and Thanida Nguyen could not be reached for comment, but last June the couple opened Bangkok Villa Bistro at 341 Wantagh Ave. in Levittown, which is also halal.
The Theo Thai Bistro had a unique menu of Thai classics drawn from Thanida's upbringing, alongside Vietnamese pho noodle soups that Khoa grew up on in his native city of Ninh Kieu, Vietnam. Their Thai chicken wings had a pleasing crunch during a recent visit. And their fiery pad gra prow was served with slices of chicken instead of the more common ground meat. The menu online for Bangkok Villa Bistro also lists several varieties of pho, as well as curry noodles and udon stir fries.
The small but tastefully decorated restaurant sat in a strip mall at 621 Hicksville Rd. next to the popular dim sum spot The Orient, and the Long Island location of Peri Peri Grill House. On the other side Taste of Chennai has recently moved in. Theo Thai was named after the couple's son, Theo.
Andi Berlin is from Arizona and does not know where she is going. But when she gets there, she’ll find something beautiful and delicious that the world needs to taste.
