Kin Khao Thai Up-n-Smoke Opens at Prime Smoked Meats in Valparaiso

VALPARAISO, Ind., June 9, 2026 — Kin Khao Thai Up-n-Smoke opened Wednesday in a new location in Valparaiso, merging the area's well-known Thai restaurant with Prime Smoked Meats, one of Northwest Indiana's most highly regarded barbecue spots. The combined concept now operates out of the Prime Smoked Meats space at 1610 Lincolnway, bringing both menus together under a single roof for the first time.

The opening marks a significant move for Kin Khao, which launched in 2019 at 1202 Formula Drive and built a devoted following for its authentic Thai cooking before the combined venture took shape. The merged format will carry forward Prime Smoked Meats' full barbecue programme alongside the Thai menu that has drawn loyal customers for years.

Two Beloved Local Restaurants Join Forces

Kin Khao Thai Up-n-Smoke announced the forthcoming merge on its official Facebook page, telling customers it would reopen at the Prime Smoked Meats location and continue both menus. "We will be continuing their menu along with our Thai menu," the post read. "Thank you from full heart."

Prime Smoked Meats had already earned a reputation as a destination barbecue spot in Valparaiso, rated among the best in the area for the quality and simplicity of its smoked meat programme. Pairing that offering with Kin Khao's Thai dishes — including Pad Thai, Spicy Basil, Panang Curry and Crispy Roasted Duck creates a menu with considerable range across two distinct culinary traditions.

For food enthusiasts interested in the Thai culinary traditions at the heart of Kin Khao's menu, BBC Good Food's Thai recipes collection offers context on the flavours and techniques that define authentic Thai cooking.

A Family-Run Restaurant Built on Resilience

Kin Khao Thai & Sushi Bar was founded by Ittaya Kolasa, who grew up in Thailand and was raised on a farm in Miland, and her husband Richard Kolasa, a former journeyman electrician. The couple opened the restaurant in 2019, with Richard initially working two jobs before leaving his trade to focus on the business full-time a transition that coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic brought severe staffing challenges. Ittaya Kolasa continued working in the restaurant until the day she gave birth to twins in 2020 and returned to work a week later. The couple's account of that period drew national attention when Kin Khao was selected to appear on America's Best Restaurants, a media programme that spotlights independently owned restaurants across the country.

"No matter how hard times get and the struggles that come upon us, we find a way to overcome them," Richard Kolasa said in 2024. "Our greatest achievement is overcoming hardships in life and fighting back against them to pursue our passion and love in life and who we are."

A Combined Menu Spanning Two Culinary Traditions

The merged Kin Khao Thai Up-n-Smoke will offer customers the full breadth of both concepts: slow-smoked barbecue from Prime Smoked Meats sitting alongside Thai staples such as curries, noodle dishes and the crispy roasted duck that became a signature at the original Formula Drive location. Comments on the restaurant's Facebook announcement also referenced fan favourites from the previous Up-n-Smoke menu, including sidewinder fries and the house sauce known as Liquid Gold.

The Lincolnway address gives the combined concept a prominent position on one of Valparaiso's main corridors, with greater visibility than the Formula Drive site. Further details on hours and the full menu are available through the Kin Khao Thai Up-n-Smoke Facebook page.

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