New Lao-Thai Spot From Mekong Co-Owner to Open in Leucadia

Coast Thai-Way will bring seafood-forward Lao and Thai dishes to North Coast Highway 101 this summer.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:03am

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A high-contrast, silkscreen-style grid of a single seafood dish, such as a bowl of khao soi noodles, rendered in a bold, neon color palette that captures the casual, coastal vibe of the new restaurant.A vibrant, pop art-inspired celebration of the seafood-forward Lao and Thai dishes that will headline the menu at the new Coast Thai-Way restaurant in Leucadia.San Diego Today

Coast Thai-Way, a new Lao-Thai restaurant from Stella Bayphouthongkham, co-owner of Mekong Cuisine Lao & Thai, is slated to open in Leucadia, California by early summer 2026. The restaurant will offer a menu balancing comfort-food classics like pad thai and curries with deeper cuts from the Lao culinary tradition, such as nam khao tod and khao soi, plus a Thai beef noodle soup. The kitchen will use non-GMO avocado seed oil, organic produce, pasture-raised chicken, and grass-fed beef, with a heavy focus on seafood.

Why it matters

The opening of Coast Thai-Way represents an expansion of Lao culinary traditions in the San Diego area, where the Lao American community has been active in preserving language, dance, and food culture since the 1970s. The new restaurant aims to introduce more locals to Lao dishes in a laid-back beachside setting.

The details

Coast Thai-Way will take over the Shatto Building space on North Coast Highway 101 that most recently housed the second iteration of A Little Moore Café. The new restaurant will be the second venture for Stella Bayphouthongkham, who is also a co-owner of Mekong Cuisine Lao & Thai on Convoy Street. Coast Thai-Way is planning soft openings from Wednesday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., closed on Tuesdays.

  • Coast Thai-Way is slated to open in Leucadia by early summer 2026.
  • Soft openings for the restaurant are scheduled to run Wednesday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., closed on Tuesdays.

The players

Stella Bayphouthongkham

The co-owner of Mekong Cuisine Lao & Thai, who is opening the new Lao-Thai restaurant Coast Thai-Way in Leucadia.

Mekong Cuisine Lao & Thai

The existing Lao and Thai restaurant on Convoy Street in San Diego, co-owned by Stella Bayphouthongkham.

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What they’re saying

“Bayphouthongkham told San Diego Magazine she hopes Coast Thai-Way will introduce more locals to Lao dishes, pairing them with natural wines and matcha in a laid-back beachside setting.”

— Stella Bayphouthongkham, Co-owner, Coast Thai-Way

What’s next

Coast Thai-Way is scheduled to open with soft openings in early summer 2026, operating Wednesday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., closed on Tuesdays.

The takeaway

The opening of Coast Thai-Way in Leucadia represents an expansion of Lao culinary traditions in the San Diego area, where the Lao American community has worked to preserve its cultural heritage. The new restaurant aims to introduce more locals to Lao dishes in a casual, beachside setting.