A Thai and Sushi Restaurant Is Expanding From Charlestown to Jamaica Plain

Charlestown-based Thai and sushi restaurant Sweet Rice, which opened in April 2016, is expanding to Jamaica Plain, replacing Wonder Spice Cafe (697 Centre St.), which serves Cambodian and Thai food.

Sweet Rice owner Pichai Chairatthanawanit told Eater via email that an August 22 licensing board hearing went well but that “the result is postponed until I meet with a few neighborhood associations in JP in mid September.” The Sweet Rice team began to make plans to expand in early 2017, Chairatthanawanit said, with sights set on South Boston, Back Bay, or Jamaica Plain.

“I lived in JP for a few years and love the energy, diversity, and great sense of community JP has to offer — that’s the reason why we chose JP as our second location,” Chairatthanawanit told Eater. “When we found out that Wonder Spice was for sale, we were so excited as the location and the size are exactly what we were looking for.”

Chairatthanawanit says that the JP location realistically won’t be ready to open until the end of the year, and that it will offer the same cuisine as the Charlestown location — an extensive mix of Thai food as well as sushi and some other Japanese options.

Eater has reached out to Wonder Spice Cafe to learn about a potential closing timeline and the decision to sell. This story will be updated if new information becomes available.

• Wonder Spice Cafe in Jamaica Plain May Be Replaced by Sweet Rice [BRT]
• Licensing Board Hearing Agenda — 8/22/18 [Boston.gov]