World's best female chef to open permanent Perth restaurant at Crown
Thai culinary star Pichaya Soontornyanakij has been confirmed as the permanent tenant for the former Bistro Guillaume space at Crown Perth, with new venues set to open at both Crown Perth and Crown Sydney in 2027.
Known internationally as Chef Pam, Soontornyanakij was named the world's best female chef in 2025, the first chef from Asia to receive the honour in the award's 14-year history. She is the chef and restaurateur behind Bangkok's Michelin-starred Potong, a regular fixture on global top-50 restaurant lists.
Her Perth venue, Khao San Sek, will be modelled on her Bangkok restaurant of the same name on Song Wat Road, with a menu built around Thai cuisine and WA seafood including marron, rock lobster and prawns. Soontornyanakij said the concept would centre on five staple ingredients — rice, chilli, coconut, fish sauce and palm sugar — delivered through bold, shareable dishes.
She said Perth's growing appetite for authentic Asian dining and quality produce made it a strong fit for the concept, and that she was looking forward to introducing local diners to lesser-known elements of Thai cuisine.
Soontornyanakij also pointed to mentoring emerging chefs, particularly women, as a personal priority for the venture.
The announcement follows Crown's recent confirmation that triple Michelin-starred Swedish chef Björn Frantzén will open restaurants in both Sydney and Perth, continuing a run of high-profile international signings for the group.
The former Bistro Guillaume site closed in April and has since hosted a string of pop-ups from chefs including David Thompson and George Calombaris. Its current occupant, Dunsborough restaurant Yarri, wraps up its residency on September 5, ahead of Khao San Sek's opening.
Crown Perth chief executive Brian Pereira welcomed the signing, saying Chef Pam's arrival would strengthen the venue's dining offering and reflect Perth's strong connection to Asian food culture.
Jonathan Jackson, 13th August 2026
