Craving something fresh and fast? Located in Jackson, Mississippi, Tuk Tuk Boom is serving Thai food and sushi in a fast-casual environment for “life in the fast lane.” From poke bowls to volcano rolls, this menu offers big flavors at reasonable price points. It’s the perfect stop for lunch in the middle of a day of shopping or a low-key dinner date on the plaza just outside the doors.
Tuk Tuk Boom, designed by Ferriss and Company, sits on the exterior of The Plaza in Highland Village. From the parking lot, you can see Tuk Tuk Boom’s tropical pastel murals on the brick exterior, and their super convenient To-Go window. To the right, an open entryway takes you into the plaza, where the restaurant has installed an actual Tuk Tuk, a three wheeled motorized taxi widely used in Thailand, which pops out of the wall into a lush garden bed.
Once you enter the plaza, looking up, you can see the second floor and a high glass roof. The plaza is the best of both indoors and outdoors: protected from rain but allowing for fresh air to flow inside. There’s even a fountain with little waterfall features for a little natural ambience.
The restaurant itself is breezy, bright, and modern. Order at a light blue tiled counter and choose a place to sit either inside or in the plaza. Sit in a booth or in chairs under adorable custom wall art. They have more tables just outside the door, and a super fun window counter that opens into the restaurant lined with sleek modern steel frame stools.
Sadie II Chairs and Hurdle Barstools
As for the menu, it does not disappoint. Start of with an appetizer like spring rolls, edamame, crispy crab wontons. They offer coconut soups, salads, and lettuce wraps for a lighter lunch; or you can grab an full order of Thai food like Pad Thai, fried rice, or Massaman chicken. Then there’s the sushi menu which features all the classic rolls, all fresh and so Instagrammable. You can even enjoy a cocktail, a glass of wine, or a beer at Tuk Tuk Boom!
If you happen to be out and about with children, they’ve got a kid’s menu just for them featuring fried rice, coconut shrimp with edamame, and Thai popcorn chicken with edamame. Want to keep them preoccupied? Try asking them how many Tuk Tuks they can find from their seat. The motif is everywhere, and who doesn’t love a little I Spy game?
Once you’ve had your fill of potstickers, sashimi, and cashew chicken, there’s plenty more to do at Highland Village. Full of art by local artists and one-of-a-kind boutiques as well as a few well known names like Lulu Lemon and Talbots, it’s easy to spend a whole day wandering around this popular destination.
Photography by Andrew Welch