Pok Pok (117 Columbia St, Brooklyn)

Pok Pok was an incredibly well received Portland import from chef Andy Ricker, bringing arguably the city's best Thai food at the time to the Columbia Street Waterfront District of all places. So many people's first introductions to northern Thai (I had no idea how good I would soon have it in LA), this restaurant was authentic as anything available in the immediate area at the time — delicious, spicy and held to a high enough standard to be awarded a Michelin star.

Eventually profits started to tank and the whole empire crumbled. RIP Pok Pok, your influence was widespread and was definitely at the onset of a broader authentic Thai wave in NYC.