Rice Thief Looks To Steal The Show in Former Thailand Cafe Space

Rice Thief , a delivery service celebrated for bringing exquisite Korean crab dishes right to New Yorkers’ doorsteps, has recently filed plans to expand its culinary footprint with a sit-down restaurant at 95 2nd Avenue in Ukrainian Village.

This move marks a significant leap from its humble beginnings in the fall of 2022, when Richard Jang , together with his mother, Jong Sook Jang , and his girlfriend, Haiqi Yu , embarked on a journey to cater to the city’s cravings for authentic Korean cuisine.

The delivery business, which quickly made a name for itself with its specialty in soy-marinated crab (ganjang gejang) — a delicacy scarcely found in New York — alongside an array of seafood stews and rice dishes, is setting its sights on a brick-and-mortar establishment.

The new location, which was previously home to Thailand Cafe before its closure in 2020, promises to offer a unique dining experience centered around Rice Thief’s signature dishes.

The announcement comes on the heels of a Kickstarter campaign launched in January 2024, aimed at opening a full-service restaurant in Long Island City, at 39-37 30th Street, cornering 40th Avenue. With plans initially set to welcome diners in March 2024, it remains uncertain whether the 95 2nd Avenue venture will serve as an additional location or replaces the plans for Long Island City.

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