The upcoming Thai restaurant Bang Chop (180 N. Jefferson St., West Loop, 773-383-8828) will sit only a short distance from its sister restaurant, the Vietnamese spot Saigon Sisters. One of the eponymous sisters, Mary Nguyen Aregoni, says Bang Chop will serve authentic Thai food, with fast-casual service, takeout, and delivery, when it opens in late September.

Amy Gajewski will run the kitchen, preparing a short 12-item menu of dishes such as green papaya salad, pad see ew, and wok-fried rice. The 35-seat, 1,000-square-foot restaurant will serve lunch and dinner daily.

“The name Bang Chop is from a cooking class I attended in Thailand,” says Aregoni, noting that the class was eight years ago. “I was inspired by this woman who taught me how to cook Thai food, using a mortar and pestle and chopping everything. Everything done by hand.” Even with all the other competitors, any restaurant by Saigon Sisters stands a chance of winning the Thai game.