"Menu Says 64,000 Won, Bill Shows 170,000 Won"... Michelin Restaurant Faces Backlash Over Price Hike for Premium Ingredients

Controversy Over Charges Differing From Menu Prices
"Used More Expensive Ingredients Than Listed"
Influencer's Revelation Sparks 'Price Gouging' Allegations

The Michelin one-star restaurant "Raan Jay Fai," considered one of Bangkok's most iconic street food establishments, has become embroiled in controversy after an influencer claimed that the restaurant charged a different price than what was listed on the menu.

The menu at Jay Pie showing a crab meat omelette priced at 1,500 baht. Photo by Bangkok Post

According to the Bangkok Post on August 16 (local time), Peach (PEACHII), a Thailand-born YouTuber based in London, recently posted on her social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that she visited Jay Fai with a foreign friend and ordered a crab meat omelette. She stated that while the menu listed the price as 1,500 baht (about 64,000 won), the bill showed 4,000 baht (about 170,000 won).

A screenshot of a social media post that sparked a price controversy at a Michelin restaurant in Thailand. Influencer Peach X

She commented, "I can understand the higher price if better quality crab meat was used, and the taste was excellent," but added, "The menu clearly stated 1,500 baht, but the bill was 4,000 baht. We did not make any special requests, and the price was increased without prior notice, which is hard to accept." She further pointed out, "If the chef adjusts the ingredients or portion size at their discretion, the price range should be specified from the beginning. The food was satisfying, but the experience left a bad feeling."

This post, uploaded to X on the 15th, quickly went viral, reaching 9 million views within 16 hours. As of the 19th, the post has surpassed 20 million views. Both local and international users have responded with comments such as, "Isn't this price gouging targeting tourists?" and "If premium ingredients are used, customers should be informed in advance."

'Jay Fai' is a long-standing eatery located in a small alley near Maha Chai Road in the Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok. Since receiving one star in the 2018 Bangkok Michelin Guide, it has maintained its star every year. According to the Bangkok Post, the owner is known as the "Queen of Street Food," and a documentary film about her life was recently released.