Rooster Kitchen, the Thai food truck regular at festivals and markets across Northeast Ohio, is officially leveling up. The operation is taking over the longtime Ohio City Burrito space at 1844 W. 25th St., as that shop prepares to slide a few doors down the block. The move adds another twist to the ever-changing West 25th strip, where homegrown spots keep jockeying for position amid a wave of fresh arrivals.
The brick-and-mortar will be run by June Smith, who launched Rooster Kitchen as a mobile operation in 2023 after nearly a decade living in Bangkok and who originally hails from Narathiwat in southern Thailand. She plans to serve lunch and dinner, and is still deciding whether the new place will lean fast-casual or full-service. Smith also wants to keep the food truck in circulation once the restaurant is up and running. The storefront could open in August if Ohio City Burrito vacates in early July, according to Cleveland Scene.
Where It Came From
Rooster Kitchen started out as a trailer slinging pad thai, hibachi-style noodles and bubble teas at farmers markets, cultural festivals and hospital campuses. Event calendars and vendor listings show the business has been on the move since 2023 and also handles private catering and pop-up gigs, per Roaming Hunger.
Menu And Service
The upcoming storefront menu sticks with street-food staples, including pad thai, chicken basil, “crazy noodle,” pad see ew and hibachi plates. Smith said the kitchen will try to serve both quick weekday lunch crowds and more leisurely dinner diners, as reported by Cleveland Scene.
Neighborhood Context
Ohio City Burrito is set to move roughly 400 feet south into the former Family Dollar space in the Carroll Avenue condo building, which clears the 1844 W. 25th address for Rooster Kitchen. Owners Jeff and Michelle Pizzuli expect to open their larger shop sometime this summer, and the shuffle comes as West 25th continues to blend independent staples with incoming national tenants, according to Cleveland Magazine…