Thai Basil is one of those restaurants that you will always find on lists of “Bengaluru’s hidden gems” or “Chefs’ favourites.” Located in Indiranagar and Koramangala, the restaurant is the closest to authentic Thai food you get before heading to East Asia. In fact, in 2018, when Leena Paratree was in Bengaluru from her native Bangkok and found herself longing for home food, she was pointed here. She did not just enjoy her meal, she also met the owner, Ravi Kanakamedala. Today, the couple is married and co-manages Thai Basil together.

Thai Basil began in 2017 on Indiranagar’s 100 feet road. It was a small place that gained popularity through word of mouth. They even had a smaller outlet on Brigade Road’s Fifth Avenue Mall (the partners have since split and that one is managed by someone else). Bengaluru at that time had a handful of Thai options, that included Chinese restaurants that offered nondescript green and red curries. Ravi, who is originally from Bengaluru, used to travel to Bangkok for business. “I saw an opportunity to bring that food here. I styled it after the small eateries you see on the streets of Bangkok. The menu is also designed with images, just like in Thailand.” In 2018, Leena was working in real estate and came to India as part of an English learning course. “My plan was to just be in India for six months. Then I met my husband. It was destiny,” she smiles.