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Lungo isn’t your typical Thai restaurant – the decor is edgy and bold, with a zebra print motif and neon lighting, and the menu features a mix of traditional Thai dishes and modern fusion takes.
Located in a Mountain View strip mall, it’s the latest project from the former owner of Menlo Park’s Farmhouse Thai, Somjed Wartrakchit. Lungo means “cool uncle” in Thai, a reference to the three owners, who say that while they are middle-aged, they’re still cool. During the day, Lungo offers fusion brunch options, and for dinner, expect more traditional Thai flavors.
Menlo Park resident Waratrakchit grew up in Thailand, with his father a fisherman and mother a skilled home cook. He graduated culinary school and worked at Kitchen Story in San Francisco, where he met his current business partners Kantapat Samutharusk and Thai Pingkalavan, both of whom also grew up in Thailand. In 2020, Waratrakchit opened Farmhouse Thai in Menlo Park. After four and half years, he decided to sell his share of the business and start a new venture.
Lungo soft-opened April 25 and has a grand opening planned for June 5 with a mayoral ribbon cutting and passed bites.
Lungo Benedict with chili paste Hollandaise and grill pork jowl at Lungo Thai Eatery in Mountain View ($25). Courtesy Lungo Thai Eatery. 
Classic Benedict featuring toasted English muffins topped with Canadian bacon, poached eggs, and creamy Hollandaise sauce at Lungo Thai Eatery in Mountain View ($22). Courtesy Lungo Thai Eatery.
Brunch is offered daily. Classic American breakfast offerings include two eggs any style served with potato medley, bâtard and your choice of breakfast meat ($16). Traditional Thai dishes, including various curries and pad Thai, are also available ($22-$26). Also expect modern fusion options, including eggs Benedict with grilled pork jowl and chili paste Hollandaise sauce, or a version with chicken satay, peanut sauce and homemade pickles ($24-$25).
For dinner, Samutharusk’s favorite dish is the lamb shank massaman, featuring slow-braised lamb shank in fragrant herbs, cinnamon, cashews and rainbow potatoes, served with roti ($32).
“The massaman curry sauce is rich and creamy from the nuts,” he said. “You can dip the roti in the massaman curry, have the texture of the crispy medley potato, and the lamb shank is so soft and tender.”
For Pingkalavan, who also owns R-HaaN Thai in Fremont, the som tum gai yan is not to be skipped ($33). The dish features grilled half chicken, papaya salad and sticky rice.
“That reminds me when I was young in Thailand, I had that all the time,” he said. “Grilled chicken, really crispy on the skin, still juicy inside, and clear the palette with the papaya salad, so it has all the flavors, like sour, saltiness, sweetness, all mixed together. And then we have sticky rice, so it’s a complete meal.”
The beverage program is still being developed and is expected to be completed by the grand opening. Lungo will use beans from Equator Coffee for drip coffee and espresso-based beverages. One specialty drink will be the coconut cream latte, which is fully vegan. For alcoholic beverages, Lungo is in the process of obtaining a beer and wine license and plans to offer low-ABV cocktails made with vermouth and sake, including a low-proof espresso martini. Beer options will likely be Chang, a popular Thai lager, as well as an IPA and hefeweizen.
Located in the former space of Vons Chicken, Lungo’s interior design nods to the abundance of seafood on the menu, with a blue wall and flat-screen TV playing underwater scenes. Lungo’s mascot is a zebra, and zebra print motifs are scattered throughout the space, including black-and-white striped banquette seating, zebra print behind the bar and even a giant mural of a zebra wearing sunglasses and a suit near the bathrooms. Tables are set with floral-patterned plates.
The interior of Lungo Thai Eatery in Mountain View. Photo by Adrienne Mitchel. 
Bonsai decorate the front entrance of Lungo Thai Eatery in Mountain View. Photo by Adrienne Mitchel. 
A mural of a zebra wearing sunglasses and a suit decorated the wall near the bathrooms at Lungo Thai Eatery in Mountain View. Photo by Adrienne Mitchel.
The three business partners are excited for Lungo’s official opening and look forward to introducing themselves to the Mountain View community.
“I worked in the industry for over 14 years, from the dishwasher to the manager, and now I become the owner of the restaurant,” Samutharusk said. “Make them full and happy. That’s pretty much my goal of Lungo for me.”
Lungo Thai Eatery, 137 E. El Camino Real, Mountain View; 650-386-5716. Open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30-9 p.m., Friday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30-10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
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