After an interview with Kom Chad Luek on Monday, comments from Jay Fai, the dining darling who made worldwide headlines for her street food Michelin star, led to speculation (including from BK Magazine) that the local legend would be retiring. But, it would appear that she’s not done yet. 

 

“I still have many international commitments, including in France where I need to cook. How could I quit? It’s impossible because I’m still bound by these commitments. I’m still strong, even though I’m 81 this year. I can stand and cook comfortably – about 15 hours a day,” the chef said in response to the comments. 

 

News organizations in Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and more ran pieces on the coming closure of the space in 2025, and the Bangkok Post even opined on the wider problems facing the industry. Jay Fai, however, walked back her previous comments, saying that they were blown out of proportion. 

 

Supinya Junsuta—known as Jay Fai—kicked off the speculation of her retirement in the original interview stating, “I thought about it and I think that I’m not going to continue the business because it’s very difficult.” 

 

While the Asia’s 50 Best Icon Award Winner may indeed close up shop in the near future, she has no plans of doing so at the moment. The original comments, she says, were given at a UN event and only referred to a question about retiring at 80. 

 

“How could I quit? It’s impossible because I’m still bound by these commitments. I’m still strong, even though I’m 81 this year,” she said.