Ponce City Market is set to unveil Terminal 26, a vibrant Thai street food restaurant drawing from Thailand’s legendary floating markets.
Terminal 26 Coming To Atlanta in 2026
Slated for a spring 2026 debut on the ground floor of the Central Food Hall, the concept hails from sisters Niki and Tanya Pattharakositkul—Thailand natives who also helm Atlanta’s 26 Thai Kitchen and Bar, Pink Lotus, and Blackjack Bar Tapas, the latter blending craft cocktails with Asian small plates.Open daily for lunch and dinner, Terminal 26 showcases Niki’s expertise in traditional and inventive Thai seafood, honed over a decade in the culinary scene.
Her passion for Thailand’s bold flavors—gleaned from restaurant ventures and global travels—drives a mission to elevate Thai cuisine’s depth and ingenuity.
Here, “street food on water” transforms into a sleek, modern waterfront vibe, capturing the lively pulse of those iconic markets.
The menu brims with irresistible hits: soul-warming Thai Boat Noodles in a spiced, aromatic broth; the Bangkok Oyster Omelette, a textural marvel of crispy-chewy egg and rice flour crowned with succulent oysters and a zesty chili-lime dip.
Standouts also include Crispy Turmeric Fried Chicken (Hat Yai style), raw oysters bathed in nahm jim mignonette, and grilled jumbo river prawns with chili-lime vinaigrette—fusing authentic street grit with refined, ingredient-focused twists. Sweeten the deal with Khanom Krok: warm coconut-rice cakes with caramelized edges, topped seasonally in true street fashion.
Drinks lean into the theme with a robust wine and beer list, plus craft cocktails evoking floating markets—bursting with tropical fruits, chili heat, fresh herbs, and enigmatic layers.
Crafted by Thai architects, the space immerses diners in riverine reverie, mimicking a meal on a drifting boat. A central reflective table simulates a rippling waterway, fishing nets dangle overhead, and cascading water illusions line the walls. Live seafood displays and a chef’s-view window add to the theater.
Born from the sisters’ shared Thai roots, Terminal 26 embodies their enduring love for the homeland. After U.S. college stints—Tanya in engineering at Georgia Tech, Niki with honors in marketing at Georgia State—Niki pursued culinary training in Thailand.
She launched the inaugural 26 Thai in Buckhead’s Lindbergh area in 2016, with Tanya stepping in as co-owner and COO to fuel its growth.
Final Word
Ponce City Market continues to pull in some top eateries for Midtown Atlanta. If you want to check out some other date-night restaurants in Atlanta, these are hard to beat. But Atlanta also has trendy restaurants, pop-ups and time-tested landmarks that continue to draw big crowds.
Metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene continues to grow with no stops on the horizon. Ready to try something new?
