My mom has always been my biggest inspiration. Since I was little, she was involved with food, selling fish soup, noodles, and rice with her family. After I finished school and came to visit her in the U.S., I watched her cooking pad thai in a big pan, so strong and so full of love. I thought, "One day I want to be like her." That’s where everything started.
When I opened my restaurant, I wanted the name to mean something. I chose "Bangkok Pinto" because “pinto” is a traditional Thai lunchbox that every household used to have. My mom said, “Who’s going to know what 'pinto' means?” and I told her, “It’s my job to share that story with my customers.” In Thailand, the pinto is used to bring food to the temple on weekends, to sit together, to share breakfast after a ceremony. It’s more than a container: it represents home, togetherness, and care. That’s exactly what I wanted my restaurant to feel like.
I love talking with people when they come in. I ask how they are, how their day is going. Sometimes a customer says, “I wasn’t feeling good today, but I came here to feel better.” When I hear that, my heart feels full. It reminds me that this is about more than food. People can buy food anywhere, but they can’t buy connection.
Even when customers move away, they come back to visit. Some send cards, bring me small gifts from their travels, or stop by just to say hello. Those moments are so precious to me. I don’t see them as just customers. They are like family.
Bangkok Pinto might not be in the busiest area, but people come here intentionally. That means I always do my best to make the food good and the feeling warm. I want every person who walks in to feel like they’ve entered another world filled with kindness, energy, and love. That’s what keeps me going every single day.
When I opened my restaurant, I wanted the name to mean something. I chose "Bangkok Pinto" because “pinto” is a traditional Thai lunchbox that every household used to have. My mom said, “Who’s going to know what 'pinto' means?” and I told her, “It’s my job to share that story with my customers.” In Thailand, the pinto is used to bring food to the temple on weekends, to sit together, to share breakfast after a ceremony. It’s more than a container: it represents home, togetherness, and care. That’s exactly what I wanted my restaurant to feel like.
I love talking with people when they come in. I ask how they are, how their day is going. Sometimes a customer says, “I wasn’t feeling good today, but I came here to feel better.” When I hear that, my heart feels full. It reminds me that this is about more than food. People can buy food anywhere, but they can’t buy connection.
Even when customers move away, they come back to visit. Some send cards, bring me small gifts from their travels, or stop by just to say hello. Those moments are so precious to me. I don’t see them as just customers. They are like family.
Bangkok Pinto might not be in the busiest area, but people come here intentionally. That means I always do my best to make the food good and the feeling warm. I want every person who walks in to feel like they’ve entered another world filled with kindness, energy, and love. That’s what keeps me going every single day.