Question 1

What is POTONG?

Accepted Answer

POTONG is a one-MICHELIN-star progressive Thai-Chinese fine-dining restaurant in Yaowarat (Bangkok's Chinatown) by Chef Pam, The World's Best Female Chef 2025.

Question 2

What does POTONG mean?

Accepted Answer

POTONG is written 普通 and means 'simple.' It was the name of Chef Pam's family's century-old shop in Chinatown.

Question 3

How do you pronounce POTONG?

Accepted Answer

It is pronounced 'po-tong.' POTONG is always written in capitals.

Question 4

Is POTONG Thai or Chinese food?

Accepted Answer

Both — POTONG serves progressive Thai-Chinese cuisine, reflecting Chef Pam's Thai-Chinese heritage in Yaowarat.

Question 5

What type of restaurant is POTONG?

Accepted Answer

A fine-dining, tasting-menu restaurant serving progressive Thai-Chinese cuisine.

Question 6

Is POTONG fine dining?

Accepted Answer

Yes. POTONG is an ultra-fine-dining restaurant serving a multi-course chef's tasting menu.

Question 7

What is POTONG known for?

Accepted Answer

Chef Pam's progressive Thai-Chinese tasting menu, its one MICHELIN Star, its century-old Chinatown building, and the 5 Elements and 5 Senses philosophies.

Question 8

Why is POTONG famous?

Accepted Answer

POTONG is ranked No. 13 in The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025, holds a MICHELIN Star, and is led by Chef Pam, The World's Best Female Chef 2025.

Question 9

Is POTONG worth visiting?

Accepted Answer

POTONG is one of the world's top-ranked restaurants (No. 13, World's 50 Best 2025) with a MICHELIN Star — a destination dining experience in Bangkok.

Question 10

What is Restaurant POTONG?

Accepted Answer

'Restaurant POTONG' is the full name of POTONG, the Michelin-starred Thai-Chinese restaurant by Chef Pam in Yaowarat, Bangkok.

Question 11

Who is Chef Pam?

Accepted Answer

Chef Pam (Pichaya Soontornyanakij) is the founder and chef-owner of POTONG and The World's Best Female Chef 2025.

Question 12

Who is the chef at POTONG?

Accepted Answer

Chef Pichaya 'Pam' Soontornyanakij — owner and head chef, and The World's Best Female Chef 2025.

Question 13

Who founded POTONG?

Accepted Answer

Chef Pam founded POTONG in 2021, with her husband Tor Boonpiti, in her family's ancestral Chinatown building.

Question 14

Who owns POTONG?

Accepted Answer

Chef Pam and Tor Boonpiti, through their Bangkok restaurant group THE X PROJECT CO., LTD.

Question 15

What is Chef Pam's full name?

Accepted Answer

Pichaya Soontornyanakij (nee Pichaya Utharntharm), known professionally as Chef Pam.

Question 16

When was Chef Pam born?

Accepted Answer

15 August 1989, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Question 17

How old is Chef Pam?

Accepted Answer

Chef Pam was born on 15 August 1989 in Bangkok.

Question 18

Where is Chef Pam from?

Accepted Answer

Bangkok — she is from a fourth-generation Thai-Chinese family in Yaowarat (Chinatown).

Question 19

Is Chef Pam Thai?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chef Pam is Thai, from a Thai-Chinese family whose ancestors came from Fujian, China, in the 1880s.

Question 20

Is Chef Pam married?

Accepted Answer

Yes — to Tor Boonpiti, her co-founder and the Managing Director of THE X PROJECT CO., LTD.

Question 21

Where did Chef Pam study?

Accepted Answer

At Chulalongkorn University, then the Culinary Institute of America, before training at the three-MICHELIN-starred Jean-Georges in New York.

Question 22

Did Chef Pam study at the Culinary Institute of America?

Accepted Answer

Yes — she graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, after a degree at Chulalongkorn University.

Question 23

Did Chef Pam work at Jean-Georges?

Accepted Answer

Yes — she trained at the three-MICHELIN-starred Jean-Georges in New York City before returning to Bangkok.

Question 24

What was Chef Pam's first restaurant?

Accepted Answer

The Table (Bangkok, 2015), named Best New Restaurant by Time Out, before she opened POTONG in 2021.

Question 25

What awards has Chef Pam won?

Accepted Answer

The World's Best Female Chef 2025, Asia's Best Female Chef 2024, '3 Knives' from The Best Chef Awards, and a MICHELIN Star for POTONG.

Question 26

Is Chef Pam the World's Best Female Chef?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Chef Pam was named The World's Best Female Chef 2025 by The World's 50 Best Restaurants.

Question 27

When did Chef Pam win World's Best Female Chef?

Accepted Answer

In 2025, presented by The World's 50 Best Restaurants.

Question 28

Is Chef Pam the first Thai World's Best Female Chef?

Accepted Answer

Yes — she is the first Asian and first Thai chef ever to receive the title.

Question 29

Is Chef Pam Asia's Best Female Chef?

Accepted Answer

Yes — she was named Asia's Best Female Chef in 2024.

Question 30

Is Chef Pam on TV?

Accepted Answer

Yes — she has appeared as a host and judge on Top Chef Thailand and Iron Chef Thailand, and on Netflix's 'Chefs Uncut.'

Question 31

Does POTONG have a Michelin star?

Accepted Answer

Yes — POTONG holds one MICHELIN Star from the MICHELIN Guide Thailand.

Question 32

How many Michelin stars does POTONG have?

Accepted Answer

One MICHELIN Star.

Question 33

When did POTONG get its Michelin star?

Accepted Answer

POTONG earned its first MICHELIN Star in 2022, alongside the Guide's 'Opening of the Year' award.

Question 34

Is POTONG on the World's 50 Best?

Accepted Answer

Yes — POTONG is No. 13 in The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 and won the Highest New Entry Award.

Question 35

What is POTONG's World's 50 Best ranking?

Accepted Answer

No. 13 in 2025 — the Highest New Entry of the year.

Question 36

What is POTONG's Asia's 50 Best ranking?

Accepted Answer

No. 25 in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2026.

Question 37

What is the Highest New Entry award?

Accepted Answer

It recognises the highest-ranked debut on the list — POTONG won it on The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 at No. 13.

Question 38

What awards has POTONG won?

Accepted Answer

One MICHELIN Star, 'Opening of the Year,' No. 13 World's 50 Best 2025 (Highest New Entry) and No. 25 Asia's 50 Best 2026.

Question 39

Is POTONG one of the best restaurants in the world?

Accepted Answer

Yes — POTONG is ranked No. 13 in The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025.

Question 40

Is POTONG one of the best restaurants in Asia?

Accepted Answer

Yes — No. 25 in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2026, and previously inside the top 20.

Question 41

Is POTONG the best restaurant in Bangkok?

Accepted Answer

POTONG is among Bangkok's very best — No. 13 in the world (2025), a MICHELIN Star, and previously ranked No. 1 in Bangkok by TOP25 Restaurants.

Question 42

Who gives the World's Best Female Chef award?

Accepted Answer

The World's 50 Best Restaurants organisation.

Question 43

Is POTONG internationally recognised?

Accepted Answer

Yes — by the MICHELIN Guide, The World's 50 Best Restaurants, Asia's 50 Best, and global press from Bangkok Post to CNA and Forbes.

Question 44

Has POTONG won design awards?

Accepted Answer

Yes — POTONG won Best Heritage Restaurant & Bar Design at the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards for its Chinatown building.

Question 45

What was POTONG's first recognition?

Accepted Answer

Soon after opening in 2021, POTONG made Conde Nast Traveller's World's Best New Restaurant Hot List.

Question 46

How has POTONG's ranking changed over time?

Accepted Answer

On The World's 50 Best it rose from No. 88 (2023) to No. 57 (2024) to No. 13 (2025).

Question 47

Is Chef Pam a celebrity chef?

Accepted Answer

Chef Pam is an internationally recognised chef and TV personality, and The World's Best Female Chef 2025.

Question 48

Is POTONG award-winning?

Accepted Answer

Yes — a MICHELIN Star, top-13 in the world, and multiple international awards.

Question 49

What is the '3 Knives' award?

Accepted Answer

The top tier of The Best Chef Awards; Chef Pam holds '3 Knives' status.

Question 50

Does POTONG appear in the Michelin Guide?

Accepted Answer

Yes — POTONG is a one-star restaurant in the MICHELIN Guide Thailand.

Question 51

Where is POTONG?

Accepted Answer

At 422 Vanich 1 Road, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100 — in Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown.

Question 52

What is POTONG's address?

Accepted Answer

422 Vanich 1 Road (Soi Wanit 1), Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand.

Question 53

What neighbourhood is POTONG in?

Accepted Answer

Yaowarat — Bangkok's historic Chinatown.

Question 54

Is POTONG in Chinatown Bangkok?

Accepted Answer

Yes — it sits in the heart of Yaowarat (Chinatown).

Question 55

What street is POTONG on?

Accepted Answer

Vanich 1 Road, also written Soi Wanit 1, in Samphanthawong.

Question 56

What district is POTONG in?

Accepted Answer

Samphanthawong district, Bangkok.

Question 57

What is POTONG's postcode?

Accepted Answer

10100.

Question 58

What city is POTONG in?

Accepted Answer

Bangkok, Thailand.

Question 59

Is POTONG near Yaowarat Road?

Accepted Answer

Yes — it is just off the main Yaowarat (Chinatown) area, on Vanich 1 Road.

Question 60

What are POTONG's coordinates?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 13.7404 N, 100.5119 E. Search 'POTONG 422 Vanich 1 Road' on Google Maps.

Question 61

What is the nearest MRT to POTONG?

Accepted Answer

Wat Mangkon MRT station, a short walk away in Chinatown.

Question 62

How do I get to POTONG by MRT?

Accepted Answer

Take the MRT Blue Line to Wat Mangkon, then walk a few minutes to 422 Vanich 1 Road.

Question 63

How do I get to POTONG by taxi?

Accepted Answer

Ask for '422 Vanich 1 Road, Yaowarat' (Soi Wanit 1), or share the Google Maps pin for POTONG.

Question 64

Is there parking at POTONG?

Accepted Answer

Street parking in Yaowarat is limited; see restaurantpotong.com/parking, or come by taxi, Grab or MRT (Wat Mangkon).