Toh: We both had experience working in design at Design Lab [a local design company]. However, when we first founded our company we didn’t only want to design restaurants. We’re a small interior company, so we can’t compete with the big guns like A49. But we’ve been lucky to have had really good clients, like Too Fast Too Sleep and Wine Republic, for whom we’ve overseen both their design and branding. The latter was a real challenge because all previous six restaurants in the same location had failed. We decided to break all the rules and tear the space down and start all over again.

Toh: Design isn’t everything. People always think good design equals good sales. This is completely false. Design accounts for only 30 percent. The other 70 percent is who you are: is your food is delicious? Is the seating suitable? Do you have good service? People might want to take a picture when you first open, but that doesn’t assure repeat visits. 

Him: There are so many restaurants opening, but the ones who survive have a good balance between quality food and service along with quality design. 

Toh: You can’t succeed with the old methods anymore. People are willing to travel wherever others say is good. Things like Michelin stars make going to a restaurant like a mission nowadays. People now have such high expectations it’s a challenge to live up to them.

Him: I look at this question from the perspective of someone who wants to be a restaurant owner. They’ve scoured Pinterest for pretty restaurants they like. The food is another matter. The cooking schools here don’t offer much variety. And graduates want to open their restaurant right away without learning the ropes in a reputed kitchen first. The outcome are places full of carbonara and duck confit. 

Toh: People are looking beyond design to develop a good story. Say you hashtag “Thai food” in your Instagram, that’s boring. But if you specifically describe yourself as redefining the story of kanom krok, that will attract people. There’s so much room to be creative. 

Toh: I love Thonglor, where our company is based. It’s the cream of the crop when it comes to food trends. Thonglor people may be rich, but they don’t always have expensive taste. There are people who drive Lamborghinis who will hop out in their shorts to sip a coffee at The Commons. They’ll try anything once. 

Him: Sure, Thonglor and Ekkamai are trendy, but there are tons of old-school eats like guay jub, beef noodles and tam sang like our beloved Jay Nong.