In early June, the team behind the beloved Krob Krua Thai restaurant launched a new food‑cart venture called Lucky Thai in Eugene’s Friendly neighborhood. Co‑owner Jeffry Hardinger said the move from a brick‑and‑mortar location on Pearl Street to a mobile cart gives the crew a better work‑life balance and reduces overhead, allowing them to lower menu prices by up to 35 percent.
Old‑school ordering, modern flavors
Lucky Thai operates without food‑ordering apps or a heavy social‑media presence. Customers order by phone or walk up to the cart, where they receive a paper menu and a personal greeting. “We’re kind of running it like 1999, man,” Hardinger explained, noting the emphasis on human contact.
Signature dishes include the ba mee moo dang ($16), a wood‑smoked red pork noodle bowl with bok choy and a punchy broth, and classic pad thai ($15). The menu is organized like a restaurant’s, with sections for appetizers, soups, salads, and main courses that span noodles, stir‑fries, fried rice, and curries. Vegetarian and protein options range from tofu and vegetables to chicken, ground pork, steak and shrimp.
From farm to cart
The trio—Jeffry, his wife Varalux “Luck” Hardinger, and close friend Sujitra “Pat” Baker—handle most preparation themselves. They smoke pork on site, hand‑wrap dumplings, and source fresh noodles from a Portland supplier. Jeffry also grows herbs and produce in a greenhouse west of Eugene, supplementing the cart’s small garden of mint, tomatoes and chilies.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s McDonald’s or La Bernardin,” Hardinger said. “It’s got to be fresh. Are you making it all the time? Are you moving through it? And then: Are you making it from scratch?”
Seating and atmosphere
While the cart itself is mobile, a covered seating area with picnic tables, benches, lights and hanging flowers sits just off the trailer. A raised garden adds a touch of Thai street‑market ambiance, echoing the indoor‑outdoor dining style Hardring experienced in Thailand.
Background and community response
Jeffry Hardring, a Lane Community College culinary graduate, has cooked for three decades in Eugene and New York, including a stint at Long Tan in Brooklyn where he met his wife and Baker. Many Krob Krua regulars have followed the team to Lucky Thai, appreciating the continuity of flavor despite the change in venue.
Lucky Thai is located at 2777 Friendly St., Eugene, and is open Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
