Our Story: From Bangkok to Melbourne
🇹🇭 The Roots: Bang Pho Market
Our story began over fifty years ago at the bustling Bang Pho Market in Bangkok, Thailand. It was there that Ying’s mother established her first Thai market stalls. Growing up in the heat of the market, Ying spent years learning the secrets of authentic Thai cooking from her mother and the local cooks.
In those days, cooking wasn't just a career—it was our family's survival through the demanding, day-to-day life of crowded Bangkok. But more than that, it sparked a lifelong passion. The kitchen became a place of true happiness.
🇦🇺 The Move: The Iconic Orange Building on Victoria St
In 1995, we made the life-changing decision to move the family to Melbourne. The very next year, destiny called us back to the kitchen, and we opened a humble little shop called Ying Thai on Victoria Street.
For nearly twenty years, we served Melbourne’s finest authentic curries, fish cakes, and traditional stir-fries out of our unforgettable, bright orange building on the corner of Hoddle Street and Victoria Street. If you loved Thai food in Melbourne back then, chances are you shared a meal with us under that orange roof!
🐯🐰 The Evolution: Becoming Thaiger Rabbit
In 2015, it was time for a fresh chapter. We moved the restaurant 500 meters down the road and decided to shake things up with a fun, funky new look and a bold new name: Thaiger Rabbit.
Many friends told us we were crazy to change the name after nineteen years of success as Ying Thai, but it was time to step boldly into the future!
The name Thaiger Rabbit brings together two sides of our culinary soul:
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The Tiger: Bold, brave, and strong—representing our fiery spices and intense, unapologetic Thai flavors.
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The Rabbit: Gentle, kind, and soft—representing the delicate balance, comfort, and care we put into every dish.
🌶 The Secret is Still the Same
Names and locations might change, but our soul never will. At the end of the day, it’s not about the sign on the door—it’s about the food on the plate. We still cook using the exact same authentic recipes passed down from our mother and grandmother.
Welcome to Thaiger Rabbit (by Ying Thai). We can't wait to feed you.
