In the first of a series of special awards announced ahead of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, in June, Bangkok-based Pichaya ‘Pam’ Soontornyanakij, chef-owner of Potong, has been named The World’s Best Female Chef 2025.
A culinary expert and celebrated TV personality, Pam is a leading figure in Thai global gastronomy. Following her recognition as Asia’s Best Female Chef 2024, she now makes history as the first-ever Asian and Thai female chef to receive this prestigious global title, further cementing her status as a powerful force on the world culinary stage.
Chef Pichaya Soontornyanakij
Having spent her formative years in Bangkok, Chef Pam sharpened her skills at the Culinary Institute of America before gaining hands-on experience at New York’s renowned Jean-Georges. Back in Thailand, she and her husband co-founded The X Project, a hospitality group driven by a shared passion to create bold, unique dining concepts that continually push boundaries and bring something new to the industry.
One of her first projects was The Table, an intimate private dining experience that garnered both local and regional acclaim. She also owns Smoked, a multi-outlet restaurant in Bangkok that masterfully combines the smoky essence of traditional American Texas BBQ with the Thai reverence for beef.
The group has since expanded to include ten diverse restaurants and bars across the city including TORA Izakaya, Khao Sarn Sek – a contemporary celebration of sacred Thai ingredients – and Opium Bar, an immersive cocktail experience located above Potong, which has earned international acclaim, ranking No.73 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024. Looking ahead, she is preparing to launch RA-U, a reimagined Thai grill house that continues her mission of honouring heritage through modern expression. Returning to her roots, she opened Potong in 2021, a restaurant that celebrates her Thai-Chinese heritage.
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The name, meaning ‘simple,’ pays tribute to her family’s long-established Chinese herbal medicine business. Located in a historic building belonging to her family, which was once a traditional Chinese pharmacy, Potong masterfully blends legacy with cutting-edge culinary artistry.
Guided by Chef Pam’s unique “five elements and five senses” philosophy, Potong offers a one-of-a-kind tasting menu that fuses heritage and cuisine in a way never seen before — an experience possible only within its walls. Rapidly rising as a culinary force in Thailand, Chef Pam has transformed Potong into one of Bangkok’s most celebrated dining destinations. Her visionary approach has earned the restaurant prestigious accolades, soaring to No.13 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 (up from No.35) and securing the No.57 spot on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024.
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Beyond the walls of her acclaimed restaurants, Chef Pam has become a powerful voice in the global culinary world. As the head judge on Top Chef Thailand and a familiar face on international shows like Top Chef Arab World, The World Cook, The Maverick Academy, Iron Chef, and most recently, The Restaurant War Thailand, she continues to shape the conversation around modern gastronomy. Passionate about nurturing future talent, Chef Pam also founded the WFW (Women for Women) Scholarship and Internship Program — a transformative initiative that empowers young female chefs in Thailand through mentorship, hands-on experience, and access to culinary education.
William Drew, Director of Content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, statement
“It is an absolute privilege to announce Chef Pam as the recipient of The World’s Best Female Chef Award 2025. She creates exceptional, innovative dishes, weaving cultural stories through food while pushing the boundaries of culinary tradition. Her visionary approach to gastronomy and her influential role in the Thai culinary scene and beyond makes her more than deserving of this recognition on an international level.”
Chef Pam Statement
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“I’m truly honoured to be named The World’s Best Female Chef 2025 and humbled to be the first Thai to join the remarkable women who have paved the way before me. This award highlights the importance of recognising women’s invaluable contributions to the culinary world. It’s not just for me, but for every other female chef who may contribute to the journey of Thai cuisine on the global stage. Above all, I hope it inspires the next generation of female chefs to pursue their culinary dreams.”
