London, United Kingdom, April 24, 2025 / TOP25 RESTAURANTS / As the first in a series of special awards presented ahead of the S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna-sponsored World's 50 Best Restaurants awards, Bangkok-based Pichaya "Pam" Soontornyanakij, chef and owner of Potong restaurant, has been named "World's Best Female Chef 2025." A culinary expert and celebrated television personality, Pam is a leading figure in Thai gastronomy worldwide. Having already been named "Asia's Best Female Chef 2024," she now makes history as the first Asian and Thai female chef to receive this prestigious global title, further cementing her status as an influential figure in the international culinary scene.

● Pichaya “Pam” Soontornyanakij is a globally recognized talent in Thailand and the international culinary scene. ● Chef Pam was previously named Asia's Best Female Chef in the “Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2024” list. ● Her restaurant Potong ranked 13th in the “Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2025” list and 57th in “The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2024.” ● Her restaurant Potong achieved first place and was ranked number 1 in the “TOP25 Restaurants Bangkok 2024.”

After spending her formative years in Bangkok, chef Pam honed her skills at the Culinary Institute of America before gaining practical experience at the renowned New York restaurant Jean-Georges. Returning to Thailand, she and her husband founded The X Project, a culinary group driven by their shared passion for creating bold and unique gastronomic concepts that continually break new ground and enrich the industry.

One of her first projects was "The Table," an exclusive private dining experience that garnered significant acclaim both locally and regionally. She also owns "Smoked," a multi-location restaurant chain in Bangkok that masterfully blends the smoky essence of traditional American Texas BBQ with the Thai appreciation for beef. The group has since expanded to include ten different restaurants and bars across the city, including TORA Izakaya, Khao Sarn Sek—a modern homage to traditional Thai ingredients—and the Opium Bar, an exceptional cocktail bar overlooking the Potong, which has garnered international acclaim and ranked 73rd on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024 list. Looking ahead, she is preparing to open RA-U, a reimagined Thai barbecue restaurant that continues her mission of honoring cultural heritage through modern interpretation.

Returning to her roots, she opened the restaurant Potong in 2021, celebrating her Thai-Chinese heritage. The name, which means "simple," is a tribute to her family's long-standing Chinese herbal medicine business. Located in a historic building owned by her family, which was once a traditional Chinese pharmacy, Potong masterfully blends tradition with cutting-edge culinary art.

The unique tasting menu is based on the philosophy of chef Pam, which is based on the “five elements and five senses” and offers guests the rare opportunity to experience tradition and culinary art as a unity – something that has never existed before and is only possible in this place.

Pam, who has quickly become one of Thailand's most influential chefs, has established Potong as one of Bangkok's most prestigious gastronomic destinations and received prestigious awards, including 13th place in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2025 – an increase from 35th place the previous year – and 57th place in the World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2024.

In addition to her restaurants, chef Pam is a chief judge on "Top Chef Thailand" and continues to enjoy international recognition through her judging roles on global cooking shows such as "Top Chef Arab World," "The World Cook," "The Maverick Academy," "Iron Chef," and most recently, "The Restaurant War Thailand," where she has established herself as a leading figure in modern gastronomy. With a strong commitment to fostering the next generation of chefs, she founded the WFW (Women for Women) scholarship and internship program, a platform that empowers young female chefs in Thailand through mentoring, career opportunities, and access to culinary education.

William Drew, Content Director of "The World's 50 Best Restaurants," says: "It is a great honor for us to announce chef Pam as the recipient of the World's Best Female Chef Award 2025. She creates exceptional, innovative dishes, weaving cultural stories into food and pushing the boundaries of culinary traditions. Her visionary approach to gastronomy and her influential role in the Thai culinary scene and beyond make this an internationally acclaimed award."

Chef Pam says: “I am deeply honored to have been named the world’s best female chef of 2025 and overwhelmed to be the first Thai woman to join the ranks of the remarkable women who paved the way for me. This award underscores the importance of recognizing the invaluable contribution women make to the culinary world. It is not just for me, but for every female chef who can help make Thai cuisine internationally known. Above all, I hope it inspires the next generation of female chefs to pursue their culinary dreams.”

The "World's Best Female Chef 2025" award is the first of several accolades to be announced leading up to the "World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025" awards ceremony, which takes place on Thursday evening, June 19, at the Lingotto Fiere in Turin. This year's program includes a series of key events that form the foundation of the "50 Best Restaurants" celebrations: the "50BestTalks" forum, where leading figures will discuss the most important issues facing the gastronomy industry today; the "50 Best Signature Sessions" series, featuring joint culinary events for the public, where top chefs from the "50 Best Restaurants" collaborate with renowned local talent to create exclusive culinary experiences; a chefs' feast showcasing the region's finest ingredients and cooking techniques; and the awards ceremony and countdown itself.

50 Best works with the consulting firm Deloitte as its official, independent evaluation partner to ensure the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of the "World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025". Further information on the "World's 50 Best Restaurants" voting process can be found here.

About The World's 50 Best Restaurants: Since 2002, The World's 50 Best Restaurants has reflected the diversity of the international culinary scene. The annual list of the world's most prestigious restaurants offers an overview of some of the best destinations for unique dining experiences, while also serving as a benchmark and trendsetter for global gastronomy. The 50 Best family also includes Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants, North America's 50 Best Restaurants, The World's 50 Best Hotels, The World's 50 Best Bars, Asia's 50 Best Bars, North America's 50 Best Bars, 50 Best Discovery, and the 50BestTalks event series. All of these initiatives are led by William Reed. “50 Best” aims to bring together stakeholders in the gastronomy industry to promote collaboration, inclusion, diversity and discovery, and to initiate positive change.

About Piedmont and Turin: Located in northwestern Italy, Piedmont is a region surrounded by the Alps, rich in natural beauty, art, and culture. A center of innovation and creativity, it is the cradle of the Italian automotive industry and home to numerous products and icons bearing the "Made in Italy" label. The vibrant capital, Turin, has evolved by combining its industrial heritage with research, technology, education, and the arts. In 2014, it was recognized as a "Creative City for Design."

With its unique history and picturesque landscape of lakes, hills, and mountains, Piedmont is a perfect destination any time of year. Home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Savoy Residences, it is also a paradise for food lovers from around the world. Among other things, it offers white Alba truffles, artisanal cheeses, and 19 DOCG and 41 DOC wines, which can be enjoyed in trattorias, cafés, and renowned restaurants.

About S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna: S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna are the main partners of the "World's 50 Best Restaurants." They are among the leading natural mineral waters in fine dining. Together, they interpret the Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of excellence, enjoyment, and well-being.