The mind behind St. Louis favorites Indo, Sado and Pavilion never seems to run out of ideas. Chef Nick Bognar’s new pop-up, Cowboy Night Market, debuts Aug. 19 at Indo, 1641D Tower Grove Ave.
This weekly grilling series is a preview of the James Beard finalist’s fourth restaurant, Khao Soi Cowboy, which is planned for 2027. The pop-up will run most Wednesdays through October; any deviations will be announced online. Guests can expect an exclusive menu, grilled up on the patio by Bognar himself.
“Grilled Thai food to me is great during the summer,” Bognar said. He’ll be right out on the patio, chatting with guests while grilling made-to-order food.
That food is inspired by Bognar’s recent travels through Thailand. The featured dishes, offered alongside Indo’s full menu, will be available until they sell out every Wednesday.
First up on the menu is som tum watermelon — a papaya salad with fermented fish sauce, peanuts, herbs and crispy onion. The goong pao features head-on prawns, along with pomelo salad, puffed quinoa and seafood naam jim, a Thai dipping sauce. Satay gai comes with marinated chicken high, spicy peanut sauce and an apple and cucumber salad, while the kor moo yang includes marinated pork jowl, sticky rice, crispy fried garlic and spicy Thai sauces. Bognar expects to change and expand the menu as inspiration strikes, and he might even have surprises on the first night’s list.
Both Cowboy Night Market and the upcoming Khao Soi Cowboy are part of Bognar’s effort to embrace a casual night out.
“I want to add to the spontaneous dinner plans,” he said.
During the Cowboy Night Market, the Indo patio will be walk-in only. When it gets busy, guests will be able to join the waitlist. The featured menu also has one of the most accessible price points across all of Bognar’s concepts. Right now, the most expensive menu item is the prawns at $20.
“I haven’t been cooking as much in the restaurant,” Bognar said. “I want to do what I do and make fun food.”