How Does Talésai Make Money?

DESPITE BEING FROM THE SAME SMALL TOWN in Thailand’s Northern Lopburi Province, Noi and Chai Yenbamroong met later in life while working at a bank in Bangkok. By then, both had attended graduate school in the United States, and so when Chai’s eldest brother needed help opening a Studio City location of his popular West Hollywood restaurant Talésai, the newlyweds happily agreed to pick up their lives, cross the ocean, and join the venture.

Noi took on the role of chef, cooking recipes developed by her mother-in-law and making trips back home to train under prolific Thai cookbook author Srisamorn Kongpun. Chai handled the front of house operations, and hired a team of staff to support the influx of customers, many of whom worked in entertainment at the nearby Radford Studio Center lot. 

Now, after more than 30 years in business and one pandemic, Talésai looks different. The West Hollywood location has been taken over by Night+Market, owned and operated by Noi and Chai’s nephew Kris Yenbamroong. The Studio City location has retained its identity, but undergone other changes.