Chef Chudaree ‘Tam’ Debhakam, the chef-owner of Baan Tepa in Bangkok, has been named Asia’s Best Female Chef 2025, an award sponsored by Nongshim Shinramyun. Known for her innovative use of Thai ingredients and farm-driven cuisine, Chef Tam has transformed her family home into a unique dining experience that highlights local biodiversity and sustainable practices.
Baan Tepa, which ranked No.42 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2024, offers an immersive dining experience centered on ingredient-driven cooking. Chef Tam’s approach combines locally sourced produce with modern culinary techniques, creating dishes that reflect Thailand’s rich food culture. Her dedication to sustainability extends beyond the kitchen, incorporating waste management, composting, and partnerships with local farmers to promote responsible dining.
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Chef Tam will be honored at the live awards ceremony on 25 March 2025 when Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants returns to Seoul for its second year. The event, hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, will celebrate the achievements of Asia’s top culinary talents.
With formal training from New York’s International Culinary Center and experience at Blue Hill at Stone Barns under Chef Dan Barber, Chef Tam has developed a deep understanding of ingredient-focused cuisine. She has also served as Chef Ambassador for Thai Harvest SOS and worked with the United Nations Environment Programme on sustainability campaigns, emphasizing food waste reduction.
William Drew, Director of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, praised Chef Tam’s impact on the industry: “Chef Tam is a true trailblazer. From spotlighting rare produce and dining traditions to her expertise in farm-driven cuisine, she skillfully highlights the culinary culture of Thailand. At a very young age, she has made a remarkable impact on the global dining scene with Baan Tepa; an unparalleled experience that honors her roots, family, and heritage. She inspires women in gastronomy to follow her lead and is a truly deserving recipient of this award.”
Gouchul Shim, Global Marketing Operation Director at Nongshim Shinramyun, added: “We truly appreciate this opportunity to present the Asia’s Best Female Chef Award 2025, sponsored by Nongshim Shinramyun, to Chef Tam of Baan Tepa. We praise her and her team’s passion for delivering delightful culinary experiences across Asia. Inspired by their dedication, Nongshim Shinramyun will continue to strive even harder to spread the flavors of Korean food, not only throughout Asia but across the world.”
Opened in 2020, Baan Tepa features an open-kitchen dining space, a chef’s table, and an organic culinary garden. The restaurant’s seven-course tasting menu takes diners through Thailand’s diverse flavors with dishes such as Heart of Thailand: Nam Prik—where each bite represents a different region—Dong Dang Noodles, and Anatomy of a River Prawn. The restaurant’s setting, a three-generation family estate, blends history with modern culinary artistry while preserving original architectural elements.
On receiving the Asia’s Best Female Chef 2025 award, Chef Tam expressed gratitude for the recognition: “It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of the entire Baan Tepa team and to acknowledge the incredible support I’ve received from those who have been part of this journey. Hospitality requires unwavering dedication and sacrifice, and this award provides a platform for female leaders while creating role models. My hope is to inspire and support younger generations of female chefs, showing them that they too can build successful careers by being authentic and unafraid to push boundaries.”
The Asia’s Best Female Chef award recognizes outstanding women in gastronomy who have demonstrated exceptional skill, creativity, and leadership in the industry. Previous recipients include Duangporn ‘Bo’ Songvisava from Thailand (2013), Lanshu Chen from Taiwan (2014), Hong Kong’s Vicky Lau (2015), Margarita Forés of the Philippines (2016), May Chow from Hong Kong (2017), Bongkoch ‘Bee’ Satongun (2018) and Garima Arora (2019), both based in Thailand, Korean chef Cho Hee-sook (2020), Shanghai-based DeAille Tam (2021), Japanese chef Natsuko Shoji (2022), Singapore-based Filipina chef Johanne Siy (2023), and Bangkok’s Pichaya ‘Pam’ Soontornyanakij (2024).
With her dedication to sustainability and Thai culinary heritage, Chef Tam continues to shape the future of fine dining in Asia.
