Jay Fai, 81, Bangkok Michelin-starred crab omelette chef, looking to retire in 2025

Jay Fai will soon be putting down her iconic goggles and dimming her flames, as the Bangkok queen of street vendors announced on Oct. 28 that she may retire in 2025.

The 81-year-old cited fatigue from old age and the challenges of maintaining Michelin-starred quality standards and ingredients as her reasons for retiring.

The stall near Phra Tu Phi has maintained its one Michelin star for seven consecutive years.

Though Fai has no plans of passing her business down to her daughter, she said she is willing to share her recipes and teach those interested in learning them.

Rising operation costs and age fatigue

Sorathep Rojpotjanaruch, head of the Restaurant Business Club told Bangkok Post that the planned closure is partially due to rising logistic costs, including an up to 10 per cent increase in the cost of seafood compared to this year's first quarter.

Several vegetables have also increased in price due to natural disasters, such as floods and droughts.

Fai had previously mentioned to local news outlets her plans to retire at 80.

Running the business was taxing as she personally checks the quality of raw ingredients every morning, she said.

She had recently begun gradually scaling back operations, from initially only closing on Sundays to running the restaurant for just four days a week.

Khaosod English reported that Fai's international projects and contracts were also what influenced her decision to retire in 2025.

Instead of running her business, the famous cook will work in other areas of the food industry, including collaborations with Korean food companies.

She recently launched a tom yum-flavoured instant noodles with Korean instant noodle company Nongshim.

Earned a Michelin star in 2018

Fai's restaurant, known for its crab meat omelette, rose to fame after she earned a Michelin star in Bangkok’s first Michelin Guide in 2018.

Other famous dishes include curry powder stir-fried crab, clear tom yum seafood soup with giant prawns, and drunken noodles with seafood.

Described as having lifted the reputation of street food to the international level, celebrities all around the world have come to her little stall to taste her famous food.

These celebrities include Blackpink's Lisa, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, and Alibaba founder Jack Ma.

Top image via @jayfaibangkok/Instagram