FIRST LOOK: Thai Basil II Opens in Surin’s Spot on The Strip in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Just one month after the beloved midnight sushi hotspot Surin of Thailand announced the permanent closure of their longtime home on the Tuscaloosa Strip, Thai Basil Sushi II has opened for business in the old building.

With Ruan Thai also permanently closed, the new eatery will be the only standalone Thai restaurant in the Druid City, but owner "Nay" Dechachutinan promised that patrons will feel right at home at the restaurant.

Nay told The Thread Tuesday that he moved to the United States from Thailand to attend Auburn University. Once he graduated, he spent years working at various upscale Thai restaurants in the area.

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Nay opened the first Thai Basil Sushi in Trussville, Alabama, focusing on a wide variety of authentic Thai dishes including a hearty sushi menu. He became good friends with Surin's original owners, so when the announcement was made they would close, Thai Basil seemed like just the right thing to fill that hole in Tuscaloosa's heart.

"A lot of the food is going to be similar to Surin. Lots of the same flavor, some different," Nay said. "We loved Surin, and we want to keep a lot of the things familiar."

Thai Basil Sushi II is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 4 to 9 p.m. for dinner Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Find out more by visiting Thai Basil II on Facebook.