Northern Thai Comes Alive at Cha Bar

If downtown Cincinnati had a spice level, it just got turned up to “hot plate.” At 823 Main Street, where the heartbeat of the city echoes between office towers and streetcar tracks, a new kind of dining experience has quietly—but boldly—made its entrance. Welcome to Cha Bar Bistro, the immersive Northern Thai eatery that isn't just feeding downtown—it’s waking it up.

Let’s start with the obvious: Cha Bar isn’t your average pad Thai joint. Yes, the classics are here, and they’re well-executed, but that’s just the entry point. Cha Bar digs deeper, celebrating the bold, fragrant flavors of Northern Thailand, a culinary region that often gets overlooked in the Western Thai food scene. That means dishes like green curry grilled beef and beef noodle soup—both soul-warming and intensely flavorful—made by chefs who know these dishes not from cookbooks but from lived experience.

The brains and heart behind this operation are Sirakarn Klinhom and Unchasa Thampiyachai, two restaurateurs with serious Thai food bona fides. Klinhom has roots at Cincinnati’s Teak and Khun Ying Thai, while Thampiyachai has helmed kitchens at Nittha Siam Kitchen and Pin Toh Asian. They know what’s been missing from Cincinnati’s food scene—and they brought it downtown.

But Cha Bar doesn’t stop at authenticity. It wants to involve you in the process. The restaurant’s most exciting feature? Interactive hot plate dining. That’s right—you cook at the table. Think Korean BBQ meets Thai street market flair. Whether you’re searing your own meat or stirring a sizzling stir-fry with friends, the hot plate is more than a gimmick—it’s a bridge between diner and dish, an invitation to slow down, connect, and savor.

The menu doesn’t just speak to lunchtime regulars—it sings to early risers and breakfast adventurers, too. Opening at 7:30 AM, Cha Bar makes a case for Thai-style mornings. Offerings like a Thai omelet or the egg drop sandwich with bacon and sausage are a far cry from your basic bagel or overpriced drip coffee. It’s a bold move, and one that’s already catching on among downtown’s commuter crowd.

Currently open Monday through Saturday until 6 PM, the restaurant is eyeing an evening expansion once its liquor license is secured. And when that happens, Cha Bar is likely to evolve into an even more dynamic dinner and drinks destination—an ideal spot for post-work meals, casual date nights, or group outings where the food is just as much a part of the fun as the company.

So, who is Cha Bar Bistro for? In short: anyone who wants more from their meal. Foodies craving authenticity. Office workers tired of cold sandwiches. Social eaters looking for a more interactive night out. Newcomers to Thai cuisine who want a welcoming place to try something beyond the usual. And those who understand that the best meals are the ones that surprise you.

In a city with no shortage of restaurants vying for attention, Cha Bar Bistro stands out by standing firmly in its identity—a fresh, fiery, full-sensory experience with a Northern Thai backbone and Cincinnati soul. It’s not just a place to eat. It’s a place to participate.

And if you haven’t cooked your lunch over a tabletop burner yet, maybe it’s time you did.