Thai celebrity restaurants
When I was studying at Mahidol, my go-to spot for shabu with friends after class was this little restaurant along the canal. It was simple and homey, but I was surprised to learn that it’s actually owned by one of Thailand’s most popular singers!
While Thais can be quite critical of their food, some Thai celebrity restaurants have withstood the harsh test of local criticism thus far.
Here are 7 of those Thai celebrity restaurants that pleasantly surprised me.
1. Lakehouse Café & Restaurant – owned by Thailand’s “most beautiful transgender woman”
Image credit: Lakehouse Café & Restaurant via Facebook
There’s nothing quite like a huge outing for seafood by the water. Lakehouse Café & Restaurant is the quintessential Thai-style seafood restaurant that makes it a top choice for any Thai to celebrate their paycheck.
The food and service are worth exactly what you pay for – good quality that serves to only elevate, and not detract, from the company you’re with.
You might be surprised to learn that this restaurant in the outskirts of Bangkok is actually owned by a person dubbed as Thailand’s “most beautiful transgender woman.” Treechada Petcharat (ตรีชฎา เพชรรัตน์), more commonly known by her nickname Poyd (ปอย), is an actress and model best known for being crowned Miss International Queen and Miss Tiffany in 2004.
Not only is she a great actress on the screen, but also a pretty fantastic businesswoman as well.
Address: 428 71 Kanchanaphisek Rd, Dok Mai, Prawet, Bangkok 10250
Opening hours: 12pm-12am, Daily
Contact: +66 9 1173 4336 | Google Maps
2. Misstar Cafe by Davika – dessert cafe from Thailand’s most followed female celeb
Image credit: Misstarbydavika via Facebook
Misstar Cafe is a pretty great spot to relax with its garden and European architecture vibes. So you might be surprised to learn that it’s owned by the heroine of Thai’s highest grossing movie Pee Mak, Davika Hoorne (ดาวิกา โฮร์เน่).
If you’ve been in Thailand for the past few years, then you have no doubt seen her face plastered across various physical advertisements as well as Youtube ads.
Her cafe certainly brings the famous actress no shame. While the cake and dessert selection is limited, what you will find there is excellent. Their offerings are certainly good enough to draw many Thai couples to pick this as their little private wedding venue.
Address: 89 Sukhaphiban 5 Road, Ao Ngoen, Sai Mai, Bangkok 10220
Opening hours: 10am-6pm, closed Mondays
Contact: +66 9 2663 3636 | Google Maps
3. My Milk Class (ร้านนมประจำชั้น) – school-themed cafe owned by the actress from Crazy Thing Called Love
Image credit: @sun.donkun via Instagram
Most cafes in Thailand go for the trendy, lofty, western vibe. Few go for nostalgia, and even fewer try to get you to relive your primary school years.
My Milk Class (ร้านนมประจำชั้น), however, gets the details of a primary school classroom right down to the little scratches on the wooden tables we’d make when we were bored. The cafe’s name is a reminder for the milk shop we’d have in school. And they serve the snacks we’d love to have back then. Nothing super fancy or intricate. Just good quality milk, shaved ice with syrup, and sweet toast.
And the surprising celebrity that owns this cafe? One of Thailand’s most famous actresses – Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul (พิมพ์ชนก ลือวิเศษไพบูลย์), who is more commonly known as Baifern (ใบเฟิร์น). She’s starred in many films, but she is perhaps best known for her breakout performance as Nam in the hit Crazy Little Thing Called Love (สิ่งเล็กเล็ก ที่เรียกว่า…รัก).
Address: 1/179 Venice di Iris Shopping Plaza, Watcharapol Rd., Tha Raeng, Bang Khen, Bangkok 10230
Opening hours: 12pm-9pm, closed Thursdays
Contact: +66 6 3348 3882 | Google Maps
4. Phed Mark – Pad Krapao specialist restaurant by famous food youtuber Mark Weins
Image credit: @t3htopramen via Instagram
Phed Mark specialises in Thailand’s unofficial national dish – pad krapao. While this shop isn’t as gaudy and doesn’t pop off the page as much as the others, it focuses on delivering a truly authentic krapao that is as spicy as you want it.
That’s because this joint was started by a group of foodies that couldn’t agree on where they could find the best krapao in Thailand. So they started their own shop to be that best place. One of those friends is the popular food Youtuber Mark Weins who needs no introduction if you’re a foreign fan of Thai food.
Mark is known for his motto “If it’s not spicy, I’m not eating it (Mai Phet Mai Gin, ไม่เผ็ดไม่กิน).” His shop more than lives up to this spicy standard.
Address: 300 Sukhumvit Rd, Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
Opening hours: 10am-7.15pm, Daily
Contact: +66 8 3893 8989 | Google Maps
5. Caturday Cat Cafe – cats with famous Thai horror movie director
Image credit: Caturday cat cafe via Facebook
I love watching and playing with cats, but not the hassle that comes with having one at home. If you share this dilemma with me, then a visit to Caturday Cat Cafe is in order.
It’s one of the most well-received cat cafes in Bangkok and for a measly entry ticket fee of ฿200, which can be exchanged for various treats and drinks inside, you get to see plenty of breeds of cats. If you’re seated away from where the cats are, the staff will even bring one over.
For how cute this cafe is, you’d be surprised to learn that it’s owned by a Thai movie director famous for gruesome horror movies like Famous for Body (บอดี้ ศพ19) and 4bia. So while he certainly brings the scares on screen, he’s pretty good with fluffy cuddles too.
Address: 10400, 89/70 Phaya Thai Rd, Thanon Phetchaburi, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400
Opening hours: 12pm-8pm on weekdays, 11am-8pm on weekends; closed Mondays
Contact: +66 2656 5247 | Google Maps
6. Gotoku – turn from heartbreak songs to shabu love with this shop by Boy Peacemaker
Image credit: Gotoku by Shabu King via Facebook
When I was a student at Mahidol University, Gotoku was my go-to for shabu whenever my classmates and I wanted to celebrate passing our exams. While it’s certainly not as cheap as certain street side options, it is an affordable midrange option for when you want to spend a little bit more for higher quality meats and soups.
Only after graduating did I find out that my regular shabu joint is actually owned by famous singer Boy Peacemaker. His songs are often melancholic and are about heartbreak, so it turns out that I not only enjoyed his food during uni but also his music.
Address: 59 Moo 2, Sala Thammasop, Thawi Watthana, Bangkok 10170
Opening hours: 11am-10pm, Daily
Contact: +66 6 1396 9784 | Google Maps
7. PQRS – cute cafe with a private chef’s table owned by runner-ups of MasterChef Thailand
Image credit: @tco_bkk via Instagram
I’ve saved the most expensive option for last. PQRS is a cozy and cute cafe in the trendy area of Thong Lo. While the cute vibes are great, the true standout is their food.
The dishes we recommend include their Signature Tofu Miso Sesame Salad and Mushroom and Asparagus Pesto. The signature salad has a unique Japanese-inspired dressing of their own creation which imparts a one-of-a-kind flavour to the salad. Their Mushroom and Asparagus Pesto, on the other hand, is a vegetarian pasta dish where each element is handmade straight from the pasta. That way, they can get it to become coated perfectly in their pesto sauce making every bite a fragrant flavour delight.
That’s because the owners behind PQRS are former MasterChef Thailand season 3 contestants Quest and Paope. If you want, they even have a Chef’s Table that’ll serve you a course meal. You can find out more on their Instagram here.
Address: 53 2 Thong Lo 19 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Opening hours: 10am-8pm, closed Mondays
Contact: +66 9 5252 2626 | Google Maps
Thai celebrity restaurants worth visiting
Many Thai celebrity-owned restaurants and cafes often fizzle out and close down after a few years. But these Thai celebrity restaurants ones haven’t. They’ve stood the test of Thai customers who demand for both great taste and quantity.
So if you’re ever wondering about how multi-talented some of our celebrities are, put these spots on your to-do list!
For other things to add to your to-do list in November 2023, try our guide for things to do in Bangkok. Also in November is the Naga Fireball Festival which you can find out more about here.
Cover images adapted from: @t3htopramen via Instagram, Caturday cat cafe via Facebook, @sun.donkun via Instagram, and Misstarbydavika via Facebook