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Bird’s Eye Thai is bringing a grab-and-go take on Thai cuisine to Tysons Galleria, giving shoppers an alternative to a full sit-down meal.

The eatery opened Dec. 6 in the mall’s third-floor food court, replacing Empanadas de Mendoza, which recently relocated. Executive chef Porntipa Pattanamekar said the restaurant received positive feedback as holiday crowds boosted mall traffic.

Bird’s Eye Thai is the fifth concept from Pattana Restaurant Group, founded in 2005 by Pattanamekar and longtime friend Parasak Chokesatean, the company’s CEO. The pair also operates Tiki Thai in Reston.

The concept began as a kiosk at Water Park in Arlington’s Crystal City neighborhood. Pattanamekar said National Landing developer JBG Smith approached the group about two years earlier with a proposal to bring Tiki Thai to the park.

Kitchen equipment limitations made the full restaurant concept impractical, so the team devised a more casual format built around Thai food that customers could carry while walking through the park.

That pop-up launched in August 2024 and performed well enough to attract Tysons Galleria owner and manager Brookfield Properties, which invited the restaurant group to open a second location at the mall.

The Tysons menu includes drunken noodles, pad Thai, curry rice and other Thai dishes served in bowls with chicken or tofu. Customers can add two spring rolls and a soda or bottled water for $3.

Pattanamekar said the streamlined menu offers a faster option than a formal restaurant, where orders can take 30 to 45 minutes during busy periods. The goal is to pair convenience with the bold flavors associated with Thai cooking.

Bird’s Eye Thai uses only halal chicken and tofu in an effort to serve a wider range of customers, including the region’s substantial Muslim population.

The original Arlington kiosk is expected to become part of a future Tiki Thai restaurant, which could open as soon as the fall.

Bird’s Eye Thai arrives as Tysons Galleria’s food court continues rebuilding after struggling during the pandemic under former food hall operator Urbanspace. The third-floor dining area now includes Andy’s Pizza, Shotted, Rabbit Taco, Char’d and handmade pasta concept Scolapasta.