Chef Chatayee “Venus” Kapugthong created a runaway success with the seasonal vegan menu at Chatayee Thai, her Midtown Village restaurant. It outsells the rest of her menu and even appeared in the Michelin guide to Center City. Kapugthong’s inspiration came from the many people in Thailand who are not necessarily vegetarian or vegan but regularly eat meatless dishes. Kapugthong sought to bring that spirit to Philadelphia, and she gets joy from introducing American omnivores to vegan dishes and ingredients they’ve never tried before. “My focus is on the older ancient recipes that are very hard to find, even back home in Thailand,” says Kapugthong. Her efforts to explore the depths of Thai spices and herbs are evident in dishes like Kang Rawang Hed—which features seven or eight different types of mushrooms cooked in a curry paste that dates back 200 years. Kapugthong updates the vegan menu seasonally, so look for new dishes to try this spring and summer.

Chatayee Thai
1227 Walnut St.
215.923.8208
chatayeethai.com