Pie Crust, a Stratford cafe turned Thai restaurant, is drawing queues and social media attention a year after the owner's son returned to help run the family business. The cafe, which still looks like a traditional greasy spoon from the outside, has become a London favourite for Thai food.
A Family Legacy Since 1984
Suchin and Sujin moved to London from Thailand in the 1970s without plans to open a restaurant. Suchin later decided to run his own cafe to provide for his family, having grown fond of greasy spoon cafes and full English breakfasts while living in London. He bought the cafe in 1984, and the family lived above it.
His son Gazza told MyLondon: "He always said, people got to eat. He found this cafe and bought it in 1984. The entire family moved here, and we lived above the cafe. It became our home, our business and livelihoods. The couple who ran it before us helped teach my parents how to make a full English and how to make their tea and coffee."
From Full English to Thai Food
Pie Crust was run by Gazza's mum, Sujin, now 75, and his two aunties. The family started adding Thai food to the lunch menu in the 1980s, eventually opening in the evenings. After COVID, the restaurant became Thai-food only as the customer base in Stratford changed.
Gazza said: "Those blue-collar workers who came in early doors for a full English started to come in less. Instead, we were getting young professionals who worked in the city and would come back in the evening, wanting Thai food. When COVID hit, Thai food eventually became our staple."
Returning to Save the Business
Gazza, who worked in the civil service, returned to help after his mum and aunties considered closing. He said: "I've got my own family, and I was comfortable in my previous job, but I knew in the back of my head, if I didn't come back and help the business and it closed, I'd have regretted it for the rest of my life."
One year on, Pie Crust has gained attention on social media. The restaurant was featured in the Evening Standard as one of London's top 10 ethnic restaurants in the 1990s. The new popularity has brought challenges, including more grocery runs, a new fridge for extra stock, and some "TLC" for the cafe.
Community and Challenges Ahead
Gazza noted the increased business has led to queues outside the door again. He said: "We stick together as a family, and we cover each other's backs. It's nice to see the love and appreciation we get from the community."
He also acknowledged the pressures of running a small family business, including the impact of the minimum wage increase. He said: "I'm conscious of how things could go, but I'm going to try to keep going for as long as I can. I know it won't last forever, but I'm going to enjoy our time in the sunshine, our time with customers, and their happiness with our service and food."
Pie Crust is located at 273 High St, London E15 2TF, and is open between 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm.
