From Struggling to Sold-Out: How Twin Lotus Thai Became Sacramento's Jazz Hotspot

Twin Lotus Thai didn’t start as a jazz venue. When Joe Gilman and his wife Kai opened the restaurant in 2022, they had a genuine problem: a struggling business that wasn’t drawing customers. Joe, who has taught jazz at Sacramento State for over 40 years, threw out an idea during a moment of desperation. What if they added live jazz on Saturday nights? The response was overwhelming. Within weeks, 80 people wanted to come to a space that seats 45. That simple pivot turned a failing restaurant into one of Sacramento’s most sought-after dinner experiences.

Today, Twin Lotus hosts jazz performances at least three nights a week, with 90-minute dinner shows booking out weeks in advance. Joe still teaches during the day and pitches in at the restaurant during breaks, while Kai brings authentic Thai cuisine to every plate. The couple has been married for 21 years, and their partnership reflects a genuine synergy: Joe’s passion for music and connection, combined with Kai’s culinary expertise and survival story (she’s a 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami survivor who rebuilt her life in America). What makes the venue special isn’t just the music or the food—it’s the authenticity. This isn’t a corporate concept trying to cash in on a trend. It’s two people who are genuinely skilled at what they do, coming together to create something the community didn’t know it was missing.

If you haven’t experienced Twin Lotus yet, it’s worth making the drive to this hidden gem in Sacramento. The venue represents everything we love about local business: real people, real passion, and real community building. Have you tried Twin Lotus Thai yet? Drop a comment and let us know what you think.