Thai Pop Now Open in Downtown Rochester

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Thai Pop, the restaurant that started as a pop-up, is now open on the corner of Broadway and Historic 3rd Street in Downtown Rochester.

Thai-born Chef Annie Balow has transformed the restaurant to "instantly transport you out of town..." The bar remains a big part of the space but in a much brighter, fun way. They're also serving craft cocktails.

In their press release, Shari Mukherjee, Rochester resident and contestant on Master Chef season10, said, "Annie is truly an inspiration and I’m not kidding when I say one of the best chefs locally! Whenever I’ve had her food, I’ve always been blown away by flavor—and impressed by how well balanced everything is.”

Chef Annie Radio Interview From 2019

Would you like to get to know Chef Balow better? Click play to hear an interview she did in 2019 as she first started work on a brick-and-mortar location with Tessa Leung (who you may know as the SXSE Brewing Co. in Pine Island. Just click play.

Curious about the menu? Here's a small sample...

They're taking reservations (via OpenTable), walk ins are welcome.

Thai Pop took over the space previously occupied by Nellie's On Third (and Grand Rounds before that). For some time, TP had been operating out of the Down Under space below their current location.

According to YELP, the Top 4 Rochester, Minnesota, Thai Restaurants Are...

1. Pho Chau

1014 Broadway Ave N, Rochester, MN

2. Mango Thai

318 S Broadway , Rochester, MN

3. Asia Fusion

2711 Commerce Dr NW, Rochester, MN

4. Pho Tai, Rochester, MN

1726 37th St NW

Will Thai Pop soon be added to the list? We'll keep checking and let you know.

As always, if you have a comment, complaint, or concern about something I wrote here, please let me know: james.rabe@townsquaremedia.com

Now Let's Fill Another Restaurant Space

It is great news Thai Pop moved right into the old bank building on the corner of Broadway and Historic 3rd Street...there's nothing sadder than a great location losing a business, and then not replacing it.

Such is the case with the old Chuck E. Cheez location next to Trader Joes behind the Apache Mall along 16h. Here are some ideas that've been thrown around to fill that big empty space.