Our Philosophy
At PAYAKK, our culinary journey is deeply rooted in the lifelong philosophy of Chef Tobb—shaped by over 30 years of experience, starting in a family kitchen in Phichit, a small town in the lower northern region of Thailand. From those early days to formal training at top culinary schools in Thailand and Japan, Chef Tobb has remained committed to a core belief: that food should be sustainable, health-conscious, and creatively inspired by local ingredients.
This philosophy lives on at PAYAKK. We honor Thai culinary traditions while reimagining them for today’s world—sharing the stories and flavors of Thailand with the Bay Area and beyond. Our approach is guided by a deep respect for the environment, a passion for ingredient integrity, and a desire to create meaningful cultural dialogue through food.
Chef Tobb believes that every dish has the power to connect East and West—and that true sustainability begins with mindful choices in the kitchen. At PAYAKK, every plate is a step toward that vision.
Valentine TAsting menu
For the first time, Payakk presents
a tasting menu experience
that tells a story of love through Thai cuisine,
crafted by the four chefs of Payakk:
Chef Tobb
Chef Dew
Chef Touch
Chef Fon
This journey unfolds through a season Thais call
Khao Mai Pla Mun—
a time of abundance, freshness, and new beginnings.
At Payakk, rice becomes the narrative thread,
woven through a 9-course tasting menu,
each course expressing a different interpretation of this fleeting season.
The experience is completed with a wine pairing
designed to move in harmony with each course and the story it tells.
Dates: February 13–15, 2025
Seatings: Two seatings per day
• 5:00–7:00 PM
• 7:00–9:00 PM
Price:
• $140 per person
• $220 per couple
Limited seats available.
Eat Together
Experience the soul of Thailand through every bite — where each dish tells a story of heritage, passion, and flavor at PAYAKK Dine-in
Resevation
2026-Chef Show case
The Heart of Southern Thailand
Southern Thailand has always felt familiar to me.
Not because I grew up there—but because it moves like the Bay Area.
Narrow land, open seas. Mountains holding the coast in place. Ports that invite people in, and never let culture stand still.
The South of Thailand is a place shaped by movement.
By trade routes, by migration, by negotiation.
Hokkien Chinese techniques found a home here.
Malay and Islamic traditions crossed borders quietly, through kitchens and family tables.
Over time, food became a shared language—layered, adaptive, and deeply intentional.
For this Chef Showcase, I wanted to cook from that place of convergence.
Some dishes come from social rituals—food meant to be shared, debated, eaten together.
Others carry political undertones—not loudly, but honestly.
Because in Southern Thailand, food has always been more than flavor.
It reflects power, belief, resistance, and belonging.
This season is not about recreating Southern Thai cuisine exactly as it was.
It’s about honoring how it was formed—and letting it continue to evolve, here in the Bay Area.
Come for a dish.
Stay for the story.
— Chef Tobb
Team Payakk
We are a team of individuals from many different places and experiences, yet we share one unifying passion: creating Thai cuisine with joy, care, and creativity.
Every day at Payakk is an adventure. We explore the possibilities of local ingredients in the Bay Area, asking ourselves how they can best be used in traditional Thai dishes. Our curiosity doesn’t stop at cooking techniques—we study the history, geography, and climate that shape Thai flavors, the social connections each dish evokes, and even the chemical reactions that give food its unique taste and aroma.
Every recipe we touch becomes a canvas, every ingredient a brushstroke. We experiment, learn, and refine, not just to make food, but to craft an experience. Our dedication isn’t about simply running a restaurant—it’s about celebrating Thai cuisine in its fullest form, sharing the stories, traditions, and emotions behind each dish.
When you walk through the doors of our small restaurant, we hope you feel the passion we put into every meal. We want each bite to be more than just food; we want it to be an experience, a memory, and a journey into the heart of Thai culture. At Payakk, our joy comes from seeing our guests savor these moments, and from knowing that every dish carries a piece of our story, our dedication, and our love for Thai cuisine.
