Bangkok-based chef Pichaya ‘Pam’ Soontornyanakij, chef-owner of Potong, has been named The World’s Best Female Chef 2025 in the first of several awards announced ahead of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony in June. This recognition follows her previous title as Asia’s Best Female Chef 2024, making her the first Thai and Asian female chef to receive the global award.

Chef Pam has built a reputation both in Thailand and internationally for her innovative approach to Thai cuisine. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, she refined her skills at Jean-Georges in New York before returning to Bangkok, where she co-founded The X Project, a hospitality group known for its diverse dining concepts. Among her notable ventures is The Table, an intimate private dining experience, and Smoked, which blends Texas-style barbecue with Thai flavors. Her group has since expanded to ten restaurants and bars, including TORA Izakaya, Khao Sarn Sek, and Opium Bar, which ranked No.73 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024. She is also preparing to launch RA-U, a modern Thai grill house.

In 2021, Chef Pam opened Potong, a restaurant that reflects her Thai-Chinese heritage. The name, meaning ‘simple,’ honors her family’s long-running Chinese herbal medicine business. Set in a restored historic building, Potong’s menu follows her “five elements and five senses” philosophy, combining traditional influences with contemporary techniques. The restaurant has gained international recognition, rising to No.13 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 and ranking No.57 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024.

Beyond her restaurants, Chef Pam is a well-known television personality, serving as a judge on Top Chef Thailand and other international culinary competitions, including Top Chef Arab World, The World Cook, The Maverick Academy, Iron Chef, and The Restaurant War Thailand. She is also committed to mentoring young chefs through her Women for Women (WFW) Scholarship and Internship Program, which provides opportunities for female chefs in Thailand to gain experience and training in the culinary industry.

William Drew, Director of Content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, stated: “Chef Pam creates exceptional, innovative dishes, weaving cultural stories through food while pushing the boundaries of culinary tradition. Her visionary approach and influential role in the Thai culinary scene make her more than deserving of this recognition on an international level.”

Chef Pam expressed gratitude for the award, saying: “I’m truly honored to be named The World’s Best Female Chef 2025 and humbled to be the first Thai recipient. This recognition is not just for me but for every female chef contributing to Thai cuisine on a global scale. I hope it inspires the next generation of women in the culinary industry to pursue their ambitions.”

The World’s Best Female Chef 2025 award is one of several announcements leading up to The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 ceremony, which will take place at Lingotto Fiere in Turin on June 19. The event will feature #50BestTalks, a thought-leadership forum discussing key issues in the hospitality industry; 50 Best Signature Sessions, collaborative dining events featuring chefs from the list; the Chefs’ Feast, showcasing regional ingredients; and the final awards ceremony and countdown.