Many may know David Rasavong and Anna Nguyen for Banzai Japanese Bar & Kitchen in the Tower District and Love & Thai in southeast Fresno. Now, the husband-and-wife team have partnered with Rasavong’s cousin and his wife to open a new Thai restaurant with a modern twist in northeast Fresno.

Satay Thai Kitchen and Bar opened about a month ago at the southwest corner of Chestnut and Shepherd Avenues, Rasavong said. A grand opening will be held May 8 with a ribbon-cutting for the public and an invite-only dinner following.

“We’re taking a lot of the traditional flavors, familiar flavors, but we’re adding a modern take on it, we’re trying to have a little bit of fun with it,” Rasavong said. “The same thing with our cocktails — we have a cocktail and beverage program that’s going to highlight some of the traditional flavors but also adding some new ones that people aren’t used to.”

Traditional Thai Dishes With a Touch of Modernity at Satay

Satay will have all the familiar staples for Thai cuisine, Rasavong said. That means drunken noodles, and red, green, yellow, and panang curries at all different spice levels.

Of course, they have spring rolls.

“Our spring rolls are very fresh and have been extremely popular,” Rasavong said. “They’re hand-wrapped rolls served with fresh shrimp.”

What’s different though, is the team wanted to incorporate some different takes on traditional dishes.

For example, the butter-seared scallops come with a drizzle of truffle oil. Some of the entrees get topped with a togarashi string chili, adding a little bit of a kick.

“That’s not common at all, but we try to marry these flavors into familiar Thai dishes so that they still get the familiarity of the traditional item, but we’re giving them a unique additional layer of flavor,” Rasavong said.

Rasavong Was Raised in the Restaurant Business. He Once Vowed to Stay Away

Satay makes three restaurants for Rasavong and Nguyen, but the first for Rasavong’s cousin, Tito Thepkysone, and his cousin’s wife, Sophorn So. Rasavong said he likes working with them and didn’t rule out another restaurant with them in the future.

Rasavong and Nguyen were among the founders of Lincoln Pub and Grill in the Tower District. In 2021, they opened Banzai Sushi next door to Lincoln. In 2023, they opened Love & Thai at Chestnut and Butler avenues. Love & Thai rebranded from Tasty Thai after racist, unfounded claims accused them of serving dog in their food.

Rasavong said he was born into the restaurant business. His parents had a restaurant near San Francisco’s Chinatown in the North Beach District.

He said he often helped out at the restaurant.

“I grew up in the industry, vowed that I would never want to do it once I became an adult and here I am, now with my own restaurant,” Rasavong said. “The universe works in funny ways.”

For now, Satay is open 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Rasavong said. Eventually, they plan to be open more than five days and add lunch, he said.