A classic restaurant in Lafayette, California, has just changed ownership, completely revamped its interior, and changed up its entire menu.
I stopped by to try it out shortly after the remodel to see what this long-serving restaurant is like now that it’s been updated.
Amarin Thai Cuisine is located on Mount Diablo Blvd., right in the middle of downtown. I’ve lived in the town for years, but I had never stopped in.
It always felt like one of those places that probably had a loyal clientele but didn’t seem to have changed much in many years. Newer restaurants like Barranco, Social Bird, and Horn BBQ and others always drew my attention instead.
Recently, though, Amarin changed owners, closed for a while to renovate, and reopened last month. It appears to be owned now by a new generation of operators who have made some big changes.
The Ambiance
Firstly, the interior is apparently totally revamped. The restaurant has stunning and unique exposed beams, giving the feel of a Southeast Asian temple.
The new owners have chosen to emphasize this even more, adding colorful pendant lights that paint the restaurant interior in beautiful shades of purple and blue.
A shrine with golden statues anchors the back of the restaurant, and the leather booths elevate it above your typical hole-in-the-wall Thai place.
Overall, this restaurant feels very different from the type of uber-casual Thai eatery you might find in a small town.
The owners are clearly trying to go in a more upscale direction. The nice thing is that the prices and actual dishes on the menu aren’t trying to be too hoity-toity.
The Food
The menu features Thai classics, ranging from salads and soups to dishes like yellow curry, drunken noodles, and pad Thai.
I tried the crispy tofu appetizer, which was delicious. This is an easy dish to mess up, despite its simplicity. Tofu that’s too soggy, not hot enough, or served with boring sauce quickly goes from delicious to too plain.
Amarin did a great job executing the dish. The tofu was piping hot, extremely crispy, and came with a sweet dipping sauce with chunks of chopped peanut.
I also tried the drunken noodles and curry. The yellow curry was rich and flavorful, especially paired with a side of jasmine rice.
The drunken noodles had a nice sweetness to them and were perfectly cooked.
One of the true tests of Thai restaurants is whether they can customize the level of spice to the preferences of local palates. At many Thai places, “not spicy” means “as spicy as a typical highly spiced American chili”!
Amarin didn’t fall into this trap. They did a great job making mild dishes genuinely mild, with no pepper flavor at all.
Alongside their food, Amarin serves a full bar menu. They have a nice wine selection, including wine by the glass, as well as creative cocktails integrating Thai and Southeast Asian ingredients.
One of the other changes with Amarin’s update is the launch of a new breakfast service. Interestingly, they’re serving American-style breakfast with things like French toast and pancakes in the mornings.
I like that they’re open for breakfast, but I’d like to see the integration of more Thai flavors alongside the American ones. A fusion cuisine for breakfast feels like it would be really fascinating here—and something that no one else is doing.
Thai ingredients like lemongrass and Thai basil lend themselves to breakfast dishes. And besides, new places like Breakfast Club are already doing American breakfast. This feels like a chance for the restaurant to lean into its uniqueness instead of mirroring other local places.
Amarin offers a happy hour every day from 2:30 to 5, with low-priced appetizers and five-dollar beer.
The service at Amarin is excellent. It appears that the owners themselves are performing the front-of-house functions—greeting guests, tending bar, and waiting tables. That devotion shines through, with drinks delivered before you’ve even finished ordering and extremely friendly service.
Overall, the updated Amarin feels like a great place to go with friends for some drinks and food after work, a great date night spot, or perhaps a place to explore as a new Lafayette breakfast option.
It’s a nice combination of fancy, high-concept interior with delicious, down-to-earth Thai food, friendly service, and a downtown location that can’t be beat.
If you haven’t tried Amarin in a while—or you’re like me and have always driven by the spot without ever stepping inside—it’s time to give them a try.
You can find Amarin’s website at amarinlafayette.com. They’re located at 3555 Mount Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette.
