Yes, Chef! Chef Ton on Elevating Thai Cuisine and Achieving Milestones

Asia is one food-crazy continent! We take great care to pick restaurants based on culinary vibes, rankings in international gourmand guides, mentions in magazines, Instagramability, and added allure. Yes, Chef! features the region’s chefs' stories of love and labour in kitchens, which has made some of our restaurants the next big thing in Asia.
A pioneer in this field, Chef Thitid "Ton" Tassanakajohn stands at the forefront of a culinary revolution, masterfully championing the use of locally sourced ingredients. As a distinguished chef and restaurateur, he has garnered acclaim for his ability to elevate Thai cuisine through his MICHELIN-starred establishments, Le Du and Nusara, both celebrated in Bangkok.
With an innovative approach that seamlessly marries traditional Thai flavors with modern culinary techniques, Chef Ton crafts dishes that are not only exquisite but also deeply personal, reflecting his profound connection to his heritage. Along with earning Michelin Stars for his restaurants and being featured in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants and the World's 50 Best Restaurants consistently, Chef Ton has appeared on "Top Chef Thailand," "Kitchen War Thailand," and the Netflix series, "Chefs Uncut."

Chef Ton's culinary journey began in a home filled with the warmth of homestyle dishes prepared by his mother and grandmother. This early influence fueled his passion for pursuing a full-time career in his national cuisine. His training years in New York provided him with a foundation in fine dining, where he gained experience at prestigious Three MICHELIN Star restaurants like Eleven Madison Park and Two MICHELIN-starred Jean-Georges. This experience fueled his desire to embark on his culinary journey by establishing his first restaurant, Le Du, in 2013, which served as a flagship for his passion for Modern Thai cuisine, emphasizing local and seasonal ingredients.
Today, Chef Ton is a prominent figure in the modern Thai dining scene. His One-MICHELIN-Star restaurant, Le Du, was ranked No. 30 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2025. Meanwhile, Nusara, which received its One MICHELIN Star in 2026, was ranked No. 6 on Asia’s Best Restaurants list for 2025 and was also named No. 35 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list for 2025.
After the successful launch of his first Malaysian eatery, Sood, Chef Ton opened his second Malaysian venture and 27th outlet with As I Am, which officially opened on Feb. 2, 2026. This new fine dining destination offers a creative interpretation of Thai cuisine, thoughtfully curated as a 12-course tasting menu.
The Beat Asia had the opportunity to speak with Chef Ton as he shared insights into his culinary journey in Thailand, his aspirations for global expansion, and his dedication to elevating Thai cuisine on the international stage.
When did you realize you wanted to become a chef?
I think it was during my second year in college. Then, I got the chance to go to the U.S. during the summer for work and travel. Somehow, I got into a job in the kitchen. That was my first professional experience, [which lasted] around three to four months. That experience made me realize that I truly love working in the kitchen, handling all the ingredients and managing the rush.

What ignited your passion for cooking?
I've always enjoyed cooking. From a young age, it was a hobby of mine. I think growing up and watching my grandfather and grandmother cook for me every day was the highlight of my life, instilling in me a love for cooking from a young age.
However, being raised in a Thai-Chinese family, pursuing a career as a chef wasn’t the first choice in terms of career options. While I loved cooking, I didn't think of becoming a chef because back then, the expectations were to become a doctor, engineer, or banker.
Of course, I was growing up on that path. But I actually graduated in economics. I even worked at an investment bank for a month, but I quickly realized that this was not the life I wanted. That’s why I decided to go to the U.S. and become a chef. I enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America, graduated, and spent five years working in New York.
How did your training and background shape your career?
I learned many invaluable skills throughout my journey. Notably, [my time at] the Culinary Institute of America had a lot of impact. But perhaps the most important was when I worked in several MICHELIN-starred restaurants in New York.
This includes the prestigious Three MICHELIN Star restaurant, Eleven Madison Park, as well as Two MICHELIN Starred establishments like Jean-Georges and The Modern. These experiences have greatly shaped my career and contributed to who I am today. They have been very important in my development as a chef.
What was it like before opening Le Du and winning a MICHELIN Star? Can you share how you handle the pressure of maintaining the star and its impact on the team?
Every chef dreams of earning a MICHELIN star, and we certainly work hard to achieve that goal. When we won our first star eight years ago, we were very happy. However, along with that joy comes the stress of trying to maintain it as well.
Over the years, after having a MICHELIN star, I’ve come to realize that rather than worrying about the stress of keeping the star, we should focus on transforming that stress into motivation for our team to improve. Each year, we strive to challenge ourselves.
I’ve discovered that it’s much more enjoyable and meaningful to work on our self-improvement than to worry about whether we’ll receive the star again. That’s our current approach as a team: continuously striving to improve ourselves.

What is your core cooking philosophy, and how does it translate into your dishes?
My cooking philosophy is rooted in my experience at Le Du, the first restaurant I opened. I strongly believe in cooking locally and championing local ingredients. 13 years ago, [we were] one of the first Thai restaurants that emphasized this philosophy when we opened Le Du, when [back then] local ingredients weren't considered cool.
Today, it has become a trend, but we've believed in and have been following this philosophy for a long time. When it comes to Thai cooking, using Thai ingredients is essential. It has always been my call to source these ingredients correctly and elevate them to compete with imported options. I strongly believe that Thai ingredients are just as good as any ingredients in the world.
What global trends do you observe in Bangkok or within Thailand's dining scene generally?
I believe there is a current trend in the global dining industry wherein people are seeking more casual dining experiences. While traditional fine dining is still prevalent — and will always have its place in human culture — people are getting a bit tired of it.
Fine dining offers a way to enjoy good food, especially when celebrating special occasions, but there's a noticeable desire from diners for more casual, budget-friendly options. I think the food industry will have to adapt by introducing restaurants that focus on delivering this without compromising on quality. [For example,] my restaurant, Lawoi, is a casual, high-quality seafood restaurant.

What excites you most about your work? What challenges do you face?
The most exciting part of my job is creating new dishes and developing a fresh menu with my team. This is definitely a highlight for me. Every time we work together and taste the new dishes and flavors we try to create, it brings me a sense of excitement. Even after cooking for 20 years, the thrill of preparing new dishes still excites me, especially when we serve them in a restaurant.
I believe that one of the biggest challenges in this industry is building a strong team behind every restaurant. I always believe that a chef's work is never a one-man job; it’s always a team effort in the kitchen and in the restaurant. Therefore, creating and maintaining a talented group of individuals is important. We strive to build an environment where talent can grow and express itself creatively within the restaurant.
What is your go-to comfort food?
My go-to comfort food is street food, particularly Pork Tom Yum Noodles, which is my favorite dish. My go-to spot for noodles is Rung Rueang Tung Pork Noodle in Sukhumvit 26.
What's a dish you enjoy cooking at home for yourself or your family?
To be honest, I don’t usually cook at home. Since I work in restaurants and spend a lot of time in the kitchen, I prefer to relax and enjoy my time at home instead of cooking. But at home, I eat very simple, clean-flavored dishes, like stir-fried vegetables and omelettes. Sometimes, my wife does the cooking.
What is the most memorable meal you've ever had, and where did it take place?
The most memorable meal for me has to be at Noma, a Three MICHELIN Star restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark. I’ve been there three times. It’s not just one particular dish that stands out; their creations are always unique. The flavors, presentation, and concepts they offer are unlike anything else. Noma will always have a special place in my memories.

During the recent MICHELIN Star Ceremony 2026, Le Du retained its One MICHELIN Star while Nusara was awarded One MICHELIN Star. How do you think this will impact Nusara in 2026?
We are very happy because we've been working hard for a long time. Earning a MICHELIN star is a promise I made to my grandma, and after five years, we finally achieved it.
It takes a lot of work and effort, but just like any restaurant, we strive to improve, and we're pushing even more to get maybe our second star. We try to have a better menu and enhance the experience for the guests — that’s our aim for 2026. So I think we can expect even a better version of Nusara this year.
Last year, you opened a new venture in Malaysia called SOOD by Chef Ton, which was recognized as MICHELIN Selected 2026. What's your inspiration behind SOOD?
I often visit Malaysia, particularly Penang, where SOOD is located. It’s a place that I always go to very often and where I have a lot of friends. I believed that opening a restaurant in Malaysia would be a great start for my new venture abroad. I think Thai food should be as authentic as it is in Thailand, no matter where it's served in the world.
That's why I'm excited to expand outside of Thailand; I don't believe that Thai dishes need to be altered to cater to local tastes, such as adjusting the spice level or sweetness. Instead, I feel Thai cuisine should be represented well everywhere. My goal is to set a new standard and maybe a new trend for the global Thai dining scene.

Could you share the why you decided to open your newest venture, 'As I Am,' in KL?
As I Am is located in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I consider it one of the most exciting cities in Asia, especially when compared to Bangkok. Kuala Lumpur is emerging as a food destination, which is why I decided to open As I Am. I believe the city is ready for this type of culinary experience, offering an authentic Thai fine dining experience.
How do you ensure exceptional quality while successfully managing restaurants in various countries?
I believe it all comes down to trusting people and having a reliable team in each of our restaurants.
Having spent 13 years in the restaurant industry, I’ve had the privilege of working with many talented chefs. All these chefs who once worked under my guidance are now growing in their own right. Whether I am considering a new dining venture in Thailand or exploring opportunities internationally, I always rely on the people I trust. That’s how we control the quality of things, and it also allows room for the younger generation to grow. That is very important to me.

How do you approach the use of local ingredients and sustainable practices across your ventures?
We usually strive to use 100% local ingredients at restaurants like Le Du and Nusara.
We work with all the small farmers and fishermen because I believe those who provide our food and ingredients should be treated well and enjoy a good quality of life. It’s essential and very important to me to fairly compensate farmers and laborers for their work.
While having a successful restaurant is essential, fostering a local tie with farmers and fishermen to help improve their living conditions is equally important. We have created a lot of networks that helped in supporting family businesses and can provide for their families and live a good life that I'm very proud of.
How important is seasonality to you, and how do you source your ingredients?
That is very important for us at Le Du. Many people assume that Thailand has no seasons and is always hot.
We are fortunate to have a wide variety of ingredients and the ability to grow almost everything here. If you look closely, you'll see that Thailand has beautiful seasons that bring forth exceptional products each month. I think our menu reflects this seasonal abundance as well. That's why, especially at Le Du, we change our menu frequently. We focus on what can be best grown in Thailand and present that on our plates for our customers.
After all your successful ventures, do you have any plans for further expansion?
I hope to open a few more restaurants in Bangkok this year. We are also planning to expand some locations in Phuket Town, which will be another significant project for us in Southern Thailand.
Also, we might have one more international location, but that is not confirmed yet. I also hope we can establish one Thai restaurant outside of Asia this year.

For more updates on Chef Ton, you can follow him on Instagram or check out his website. For updates and to learn more about his restaurants, you can visit their website or social media page: Le Du, Nusara, Sood, As I Am, Lahnyai, Samut, ThepNakorn, and Baan.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Enjoyed this article? Check out our previous Yes Chef! profiles here.
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