Poe Wongpa’s goal was simple: To bring a touch of Thailand to the heart of Auburn.

Less than two months after opening Gor Gai Thai Street Food at 614 E. Main St., in Auburn, Wongpa is already seeing growth at a faster rate than he had ever imagined.

Perhaps that can be attributed to his bold take on the popular cuisine.

“If you’re coming in, you’re going to get it the same way that the street merchant in Thailand cooks it on the side of the road,” he said. “We’re not going to be shy about it.”

After all, Wongpa, 37, strives to be different.

“In life, it’s easier to be the same,” said the native Thai, who was born in Bangkok before moving to the United States at age 12. “I want to be unique.”

That may even mean eschewing family ties – Wongpa’s mother owned a Thai restaurant in Seattle’s Pioneer Square for 13 years, but he did not want to take over. In fact, at the time, he was attending college to go into the banking industry.

“I thought I was going to go into opening my own insurance or investment brokerage,” he said. “Some white-collar job.”

Two weeks before Wongpa left on a vacation to Thailand, the Auburn property came open, and the self-proclaimed foodie decided to take the leap.

“I have the restaurant and real-estate background,” he said. “It kind of fit my style.”

Besides, the Renton resident added, “I feel there’s a lack of (local) culture food.”

The menu, consisting of 34 authentic items, is smaller than many because of the restaurant’s small kitchen.

But, he added, what it lacks in size, it makes up for in flavor.

“I’m just happy to have a best friend who is a chef,” he said of Gor Gai’s chef, Nong. “He’s really picky.”

The signature dish is Gor Gai, a flat noodle with curry sauce and peanut sauce with vegetables. He noted that the Pad Thai deviates from the standard red base by using tamarind.

Wongpa said he envisioned a different setting than that of a traditional Thai restaurant, and maintains Gor Gai is not “luxury Thai.”

“We wanted an open-feeling space where people could sit down and talk for hours; more like a coffee-shop style,” he said. “Some smooth Thai music going, lots of windows.”

In the digital information age, word has gotten out quickly about the 31-seat restaurant that serves its beverages in traditional stainless-steel bowls. Enough that he is thinking about expanding his staff.

But for now, Wongpa is enjoying doing what he loves.

“Feeding people – and seeing people happy.”

Gor Gai Thai Street Food is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday.