PVD Neighbors Phed Phed and Tori Tomo Offer Double-Sided Menus and a Shared Bar

Downtown Providence has no shortage of good meals, but every so often, a place opens that shifts the mood. Phed Phed is that kind of arrival. From the moment you step inside, it feels like you’ve landed somewhere else, not in an over-the-top way, but in the details. Just before the bar, oversized leafy murals stretch across soft peach walls, setting a tropical tone, while woven pendant lights cast a warm glow that softens the room and helps you ease in.

We grab seats at the bar, where glossy green tile wraps around the counter, and shelves of sake and spirits line the back. Drinks slide across, plates pass through, and conversation builds into an easy hum. It’s lively but never overwhelming. The back wall belongs entirely to a mural by RISD alum Buck Hastings, where a vivid tuk-tuk barrels through a rain-slicked city scene, splashed with glossy yellows and greens that catch your eye.

Spend any time eating around Providence and the team behind Phed Phed will sound familiar. Chef X and Kazu Kondo have been shaping the local dining scene since 2008, and here, alongside partner Nick Mazonowicz, they bring that same energy downtown with a concept that feels playful but grounded in strong flavors. The connection to Tori Tomo next door adds to the appeal. The two spaces are linked by an open entryway and a shared double-sided menu, making it easy to move between Thai street food and Japanese comfort. It feels natural and encourages you to order more than planned.

At the suggestion of the bartender, I start with the Phed Phed cocktail. With a chili salt rim, it leans smoky from the mezcal, bright with pineapple and lime, and lifted with a clean hit of lemongrass. It’s balanced, playful, and easy to keep sipping. Our takoyaki starter arrives crisp and golden, giving way to soft, savory centers filled with octopus, topped with mayo, smoked apple BBQ sauce, and delicate bonito flakes that seem to dance with the heat. It disappears quickly.

For mains, my coworker goes for the Pad Thai with tofu, while I land on the house fried rice with beef. It’s clear that the Pad Thai hits all the right notes, tangy, nutty, and just charred enough to keep it interesting. My fried rice leans deeper, with tender beef, Chinese broccoli, scallion, and bursts of tomato layered into every smoky bite. And then there’s the spice. Phed Phed translates to “spicy spicy,” and the kitchen takes that seriously. Not just heat for the sake of it, but a steady build that shows up differently in each dish. By the time the plates are cleared, we’re already talking through what we missed. It’s the kind of place that invites you back, not for one thing, but for the whole experience again.

Phed Phed

71 Washington Street • PhedPhedPVD.com