Between the late 17th and 19th centuries, Siam was arguably the strongest country in Asia. And, it later became the most romanticized by Americans, especially after the memoirs of Anna Leonowens was published.

Most people are more familiar with the stage musical and film The King And I. The story deals with the experiences of the British schoolteacher, who is hired as part of the King's drive to modernize his country. There is significant truth to the story.

King Mongkut Rama IV worked diligently to learn everything he could about the West. He had more than 80 foreign advisors to help him modernize the country, adding new roads, canals, bridges, telegraphs, and machine shops (though mostly in the Bangkok area).

Mongkut was a dedicated reformer, even while living as a monk until the last 17 years of his life, and he passed these ideas on to his son Chulalongkorn Rama V. And this progressivism continued, passed from one generation to the next, until World War I. It wasn't until 1939 that Siam was renamed Muang Thai (which we call Thailand), which means "Land of the Free."

How a progressive crossroads country led to the diversified menu at Kung Fu Plaza.

While Thailand was never controlled by a European power because the kings wisely invited all of them into Thailand (ensuring no single country would gain dominance), it was never really an isolationist country. People from all over Asia had migrated there, including Mons, Khmers, Chinese, Malays, Indians, Persians, and Europeans.

And while some people never consider it when they think about Asia, Thailand was surprising adaptive in allowing all visitors to leave a contribution to the culture. They also did it in ways that were unique to the Thai people. They adopted and adapted anything they liked — art, culture, cuisine, dance, and literature — and then made it uniquely Thai.

A few of the most common adoptions and adaptations associated with Thailand include chili peppers (imported by the Portuguese from the New World), Thai Buddhism (imported from India), and various regional cuisines (which are influenced by Laos, Cambodia, Burma, and Malaysia). In fact, the only reason some imported cuisines haven't been adopted nationwide is the extreme regional differences.

"Most people do not know that Thailand had developed its own language, alphabet, arts, and spiritual traditions for more than 800 years despite being one of the countries most open to immigration, especially China," says Alan Wong, general manager of Kung Fu Plaza in Las Vegas. "But even so, the Thai people have both embraced and preserved their regional traditions and heritage."

Wong's family, which also has Chinese ancestors, mostly lived in the the Central Plains area of Thailand. Considered the rice bowl and produce capital of Thailand, it has created one of the most enticing menus in the world. And Kung Fu Plaza has worked hard to preserve that tradition.

"The Central Plains is where my family has collected most of our restaurant's inspiration," says Wong. "And yet our menu is expansive because it includes ancient Chinese recipes, traditional Thai recipes, and a few Asian-American recipes but prepared as people might prepare them in Thailand."

Kung Fu Plaza, which is the oldest and most authentic Chinese and Thai restaurant in Las Vegas, was originally opened in 1973. It is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., 365 days a year and serves the most expansive Chinese and Thai menus in Las Vegas. There are over 800 dishes to choose from.