Sugar & Spice: A Thriving Thai Culinary Legacy
Family roots and ambitious expansion plans driving growth and expansion in Greater Boston
When Penjan Janburiwong moved from Thailand to Boston in the mid-1990s, she brought more than just family recipes—she brought family values that are being passed down to fuel her culinary legacy. In 1995, she opened her first restaurant, Sweet Chili in Arlington. That was just the beginning.
By 2001, she launched Spice & Rice in Cambridge, after nearly 30 years in business, Penjan runs a growing restaurant group with her daughter, Nisa Amy Kridaratikorn.
Nisa, a Boston native, grew up in her mother’s kitchens. After earning a degree from the University of Texas at Austin and working in corporate advertising, she pivoted to food. Culinary school and a stint at NYC’s two-Michelin-star Jean-Georges restaurant sharpened her skills. Now back home, Nisa is the group’s Chief Operating Officer, helping lead its ambitious growth.
Their next big move – Tom Yum Yang, a Thai Fried Chicken Bar opening Spring 2025 at 156 Harvard Ave in Allston—supported by the City of Boston’s SPACE Grant. Also on the horizon: Sugar & Spice To-Go at 1945 Massachusetts Ave, designed to handle overflow demand from their original kitchen.
But growth hasn’t come at the cost of values. During the pandemic, Sugar & Spice served over 8,000 free meals in local communities and donated food to Mount Auburn Hospital.
They’ve also given back locally—supporting events like the Creighton Street Block Party, donating to Harvard and MIT student groups, and contributing to the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence. In 2023 and 2024, they gave over $3,000 in support, including personal donations from Penjan and Nisa.
Nisa also serves on the board of New England Justice for Our Neighbors (NEJFON), a nonprofit offering free legal help to immigrants in Massachusetts.
Sugar & Spice utilized two rounds of Paycheck Protection Program covid relief funding to retain employees during the crisis and completed the SBA’s THRIVE Emerging Leaders Program in 2024 to allow Amy to work on expanding the business.
Since 2020, Sugar & Spice has added 33 new staff and as Penjan transitions leadership to Nisa, the mission remains the same: serve authentic Thai cuisine and use their platform to uplift the community.
The mother-daughter duo was named the 2025 Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Business of the Year for Massachusetts and New England.
From one family’s kitchen, Sugar & Spice isn’t just feeding people—it’s building something bigger.