One of the most recognizable spots on Otets Paisiy Street is getting ready to come back to life. After a period of closure and yet another change of ownership, “Zlatna Krusha” will welcome guests again — this time with a clear new direction: Thai cuisine, while keeping its well-known name.
According to investor Vasil Yakov, the restaurant is currently being refurbished and the plan is to reopen in April. The interior will not be radically transformed — rather refreshed — with more visible changes on the outside. The sign will still read “Zlatna Krusha”, but with a small addition underneath: “Thai cuisine.”
What will change on the menu
The idea is to keep Thai flavors recognizable, but not “too extreme” for a wider audience. Yakov says he is bringing in experience from his restaurant in Frankfurt, where over the years they have found the right balance of Thai ingredients and spices so the cuisine remains aromatic and characteristic, yet more approachable for European tastes.
In the Plovdiv version, the menu will avoid overly exotic dishes and will focus mainly on chicken and beef. The concept is positioned in the mid-range price segment, with main courses expected to cost around €9–13/14.
Who is behind the project
Vasil Yakov is a familiar name in Plovdiv’s restaurant scene and is associated with other venues in the city. He believes that background will help the concept be implemented without unnecessary experimentation — both in terms of cuisine and the overall feel of the place.
Why “Zlatna Krusha” matters to Plovdiv
“Zlatna Krusha” is often described as Plovdiv’s oldest restaurant, dating back to 1929. The building was designed by architect Boyan Chinkov at the request of the then owner Dimitar Kozhukharov.
Over the decades, the place has built up a different kind of history as well — not from textbooks, but from the city’s stories: bohemian crowds, actors dropping by, evenings when people queued for a table, and that special atmosphere that turns a restaurant into more than just an address.
Whether the Thai twist will bring back its former energy remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: when “Zlatna Krusha” stirs, Otets Paisiy Street feels it first.
