Sister and brother team Boapud Lincoln and Rungsun Suwannaprcha want to bring the taste of authentic Thai food to Downtown Auburn.

"There aren't too many Thai restaurants up here, so we thought this would give us a good opportunity to showcase Thai food and Thai ingredients," Suwannaprcha said this week.

Lincoln arrived in the United States from Thailand about 15 years ago and Suwannaprcha joined her about six years ago. Both have worked at area Thai restaurants for a number of years.

Their Royal Thai Restaurant opened in early March on Lincoln Way.

Lincoln owns the restaurant and Suwannaprcha is the manager. The two worked together on compiling the menu and Lincoln provides expertise to the kitchen staff.

The menu includes a lot of classic Thai dishes, and some have already proven to be a hit with diners, Suwannaprcha said.

"Our most popular dish is Mussman Curry," Suwannaprcha said.

The plate is built around Mussman curry and includes roasted peanuts, potatoes, carrots and coconut milk with a choice of meat.

"It is popular in Thailand, but you don't see it as much here," he said.

According to Wikipedia, Mussman curry, also knowns as Massaman curry, has a strong Indian influence. And unlike other Thai curries, contains many ground dry spices as ingredients including cumin, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.

The appetizer rolls are big sellers, too.

"We make everything fresh as it is ordered," Suwannaprcha said.

The restaurant also caters to vegetarians.

"We can make any dish vegetarian-style — vegetables and tofu, with no meat," he said.

That includes no meat products in the actual preparation — using vegetable-based stocks and vegetable oil, he explained.

From time to time, they plan to add seasonal specialties, such as sweet rice and mango, he said.

Lunch plates are $8.95 to $10.95 and most of the dinner entrees are $9.95 to $12.95.

Downtown business owner Trish Pietrzak stopped by Tuesday evening on her first visit to the eatery.

"I got some feedback from other people who said it was very good," she said. "I'm very excited they're here. This is a treat because before we've gone to Roseville (for Thai food)."

Pietrzak, who owns Great Wall of Yoga, located in the East Wind Yoga building in Downtown Auburn, said she is a big fan of Thai food.

"I like the spicy dishes," she said.

The Lincoln Way location appealed immediately to Suwannaprcha and his sister.

"We were looking in Auburn and Downtown and we saw a good spot here," he said. "We talked to the landlord and he said he was going to remodel."

What they ended up with is a newly painted and remodeled building that they've decorated with Thai art touches.

This is Lincoln and Suwannaprcha's first time to own a restaurant and they're pleased with the welcome they have received in Auburn.

"We've had a very good response," Suwannaprcha said.

Service includes dine-in and take-out. A grand opening is in the planning stages for some time in April.

Gloria Young can be reached at gloriay@goldcountrymedia.com