The buzz: Longing for freedom to experiment with her cooking, Hong Kong-raised chef Anita Tang has left behind her Chinese restaurant on Phuket after four successful years to open a private dining kitchen in an unlikely location.

The vibe: Chef Anita has transformed a unit in the retro Young Place mall into a 16-seat private kitchen and cooking school, decorated in dark grays, bright artworks, bronze lamps and dangling plants. On stepping inside, you're transported away from the mall's mish-mash of Japanese restaurants, karaoke bars and empty units, into a welcoming open kitchen that feels more like dining in someone’s home—it even has its own small courtyard, primed for summer barbecues. From behind a large kitchen island topped with equipment and ingredients, Anita chats freely with guests as she prepares their meals.

The food: Anita's tailored menus are guided by both her guests' preferences and her culinary experience. Her skill for Cantonese and Sichuan cuisines stems from her childhood in Hong Kong, when she developed a love for cooking while preparing daily meals for her family of seven. A more recent six year stint in Bologna, Italy (where she also ran a restaurant), ignited a passion for Italian and European flavors. A tailored, six-course private dinner could cost as little as B1,000, though her menus can run anywhere up to 12 courses, with the price dependent on ingredients. A request for fusion food could result in plump scallops on a bed of asparagus with ginger and carrot puree; Chinese dumplings stuffed with garlicky mushrooms and thyme; or billowing raspberry soufflé with crunchy pistachio. Anita also posts daily set lunch (two courses) and dinner (three courses) menus to her Facebook page, which are available to book at prices as low as B189.

The drink: Due to the venue's proximity to Srinakharinwirot University, alcohol cannot be sold, though you can bring your own without charge. The signature homemade mint lemonade makes a refreshing alternative. 

Why we'd come back: It's clear from the get-go that Anita's passion is making people happy through food and her desire to experiment means you never know what she'll come up with next. The laidback and welcoming atmosphere paired with real home cooking genuinely makes it feel like you're eating at a friend's house. Plus, through May 21, she's offering a special promotion: two-course lunch sets for B119 on Tue-Fri and three-course dinners for B399 (bookings essential).

Credit: Anita Private Chef