Something Delicious

ASHEBORO — Ben Chanthadara wants everyone who enters his restaurant to feel a part of the family.

He opened his new Thai/Asian eatery on Oct. 15 at the former Something Different location at 1512 GH Zoo Parkway. The business is open Tuesday-Friday for lunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. for dinner. Then on Saturdays and Sundays, meals are served from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Chanthadara, 54, is a native of Laos in Southeast Asia and came to America when he was 17. He worked at a number of restaurants in Knoxville, Tenn., and Charleston, SC, as well as in the North Carolina cities of Cary, Boone, West Jefferson and Charlotte.

A brother-in-law was working at Bamboo Garden in Asheboro, and Chanthadara moved here in 1989 and worked at Emperor Garden in Greensboro.

“I’ve had a passion for cooking since I was a little boy and watched my mom in the kitchen cook from scratch,” he said. “She would cook a meal and pass it on to neighbors working in the rice field. We had to walk to get around and our houses were not locked. We looked out for each other and had respect for elders. Now, we don’t even know our neighbor. I would love to go back to that time.”

Since he can’t go back in time, Chanthadara is working to create the same atmosphere at Something Different. But, as soon as a new sign arrives, the name will change to Something Delicious.

With his early interest in cooking, he read cookbooks in international cuisine. He worked in Chinese restaurants for 26 years, starting out by waiting on tables and eventually learning from several chefs.

“I wanted my own business,” Chanthadara said. “I’ve learned under different chefs, now I craft my own restaurant. We’re new in town but I consider it my hometown.”

Something Delicious now has four working in the kitchen and three in the dining room, including Chanthadara’s wife, Mani.

“I always love to work in the kitchen,” he said. “I love what I do. I do the cooking but I have backup.”

He said his specialty is the drunken noodle, a Thai dish of stir-fried ingredients that include chicken, wide noodles, chili, broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, onions and basil. But his menu boasts more than 100 items for lunch and dinner. Takeouts are also available by calling 336-521-4119. It’s hoped to have DoorDash and Uber Eats soon for delivery. 

Something Delicious can be found on Facebook, Google and Yelp.

Chanthadara hopes to use the culture he grew up in as his guiding principles.

“In my culture we try to take care of each other through thick and thin,” he said. “You never forget where you come from. If I can provide for the Asheboro community, I definitely will give back to a good charity — St. Jude’s Children's Hospital. If you can give back, why not?”

Memories, for Chanthadara, are more important than material goods. So he’s hoping to make many new friends among his clientele. 

“Memories are important so I want to know people and learn about each other's cultures,” he said. “We’re all human beings. This is family for us and everybody who walks in is our family.

“Memories go a long way,” he said. “I don’t need much so you give along the way. All my life I want to reach out for someone who needs help more than I do.

“When I’m no longer in the picture, I hope someone will remember me. My parents taught me, ‘Lead by example,’ and ‘Give it back when you have something.’ ”