New Eatery Makes Barclays 1st NBA Arena To Serve Up Thai Food

BROOKLYN, NY — The Barclays Center has become the first arena in the National Basketball Association to serve up Thai food to stadium-goers with the addition of a local restaurant.

Am Thai Barclays, a concession from Chef Boonnum Thongngoen, has opened in the stadium's new food court, which features local restaurants.

Thongngoen, who was also behind popular restaurant iCook Thai Cook in Queens, runs Am Thai Bistro in Kensington.

“Back home in Thailand we serve food at boxing matches, but nothing like this,” she said of the new Barclays concession. “I’m excited to bring real Thai flavors to basketball fans in America.”

The Barclays eatery will feature a playful take on stadium food, including a Panang Meatball Sub, a Thai spin on the famous Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, according to the restaurant.

It will also include Thongngoen's homemade kari pap, a vegetarian version of the Thai classic fried curry puff and a Thai fried chicken known as Admiral Boon’s Chicken.

Thongngoen, who learned to cook from her mother and grandmother in Thailand, has run Am Thai Bistro in Kensington since 2012. Her Queens restaurant received praise from acclaimed food critic Pete Wells before closing in 2019.

The stadium-style menu from the Barclays Center will also be offered on a limited basis at the original Am Thai Bistro, according to the chef.

“Not everybody likes basketball, but I know they’re going to love this sandwich!” she said.

The Brooklyn Market food court is found in the main concourse of the Barclays Center at 620 Atlantic Ave. Find more information on Am Thai's website here.