Bangkok’s Jay Fai restaurant fined over hidden pricing for ‘VVIPs’ after YouTuber complaint
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Michelin-starred chef Jay Fai is a culinary icon in Thailand, known for her meticulous cooking and trademark ski goggles.
ST PHOTO: JOHN TAN
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BANGKOK - Michelin-starred chef Jay Fai was fined 2,000 baht (S$80) after an uproar on social media over a crab omelette she had charged a YouTuber 4,000 baht for, even though the listed price was just 1,500 baht.
This comes after the YouTuber, Peachii, posted on her X account on Aug 15 that she was shocked by the bill after dining at the popular restaurant in Bangkok. She had ordered the dish with a listed price of 1,500 baht and was told only later that the crab meat was premium. She argued she had not been informed or asked in advance if she wanted the premium option.
On Aug 18, Thai Commerce Minister Jatuporn Buruspat announced that he would have the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) investigate why the restaurant charged a customer 4,000 baht for a crab omelette when the listed price was 1,500 baht.
A friend of Peachii, who had dined with her at the restaurant, had attempted to explain the price discrepancy.
Dr Pattarapha Chadit, a regular patron of the eatery helmed by Ms Supinya Junsuta, better known as Jay Fai, explained that the 4,000 baht price was for a special dish Ms Jay Fai would cook with premium crab meat only for “VVIPs” or regular patrons whom she knew well.
It was Dr Pattarapha who had taken Peachii and her friend Martha to dine at the restaurant that day and who had ordered the food for the three diners. Dr Pattarapha explained that Ms Jay Fai recognised her patrons and remembered what kinds of dishes she used to cook for them. Because of this, she cooked the special crab omelette for her without asking.
“I didn’t explain this to my friend, so a misunderstanding occurred,” Dr Pattarapha said. “It was just special cooking for familiar patrons or VVIP customers.”
After Dr Pattarapha came forward with her explanation, Peachii made new posts on X saying she understood the situation.
“The jigsaw puzzle of the 4,000 baht crab omelette is now complete,” she posted.
Peachii explained that she was initially confused because the menu price was 1,500 baht and a waiter had not asked her if she wanted a special option.
To add to the confusion, when they paid the bill, Dr Pattarapha could not explain the price difference as she had always paid without checking the listed prices. Peachii said Dr Pattarapha promised to seek an explanation from Ms Jay Fai and later found out it was a “VVIP price” for a dish she served only to her regular patrons without asking.
Meanwhile, officials from the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, the DIT and the consumer protection police division questioned Ms Jay Fai at her shop on Aug 20.
A DIT officer said the investigators found that the menu listed the crab omelette at 1,500 baht without stating the 4,000 baht option.
As a result, officials fined Ms Jay Fai 2,000 baht for not publicly stating the food prices. The officer added that the restaurant was ordered to add the 4,000 baht option to the menu, and the shop agreed to comply with the DIT’s regulations.
Ms Jay Fai is a culinary icon in Thailand,
Her restaurant received one Michelin star in Bangkok’s inaugural Michelin Guide in 2018 and has maintained it ever since, transforming her from a local legend into a globally recognised chef. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
