Fine-Dining Thai Restaurant Coming to Buckhead

A Thai eatery in Buckhead is undergoing a makeover.

DeeDee Niyomkul, executive chef and owner of Chai Yo Modern Thai, is transforming the space into a location of Nan Thai Fine Dining.

“This is my way of honoring my parents’ iconic Nan Thai brand,” Niyomkul said in an announcement. “We’ll be introducing some of my mother’s, Chef Nan’s, favorite dishes to our guests in Buckhead.”

Niyomkul is the daughter of Atlanta restaurateurs Nan and the late Charlie Niyomkul. Before opening Chai Yo Modern Thai in 2018, she created Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft in 2009, inspired by her grandmother’s Thai street food.

The flagship location of Nan Thai Fine Dining first opened at 1350 Spring Street more than two decades ago.

“We’re keeping all of the things guests love about our authentic Thai experience, from the food to the service,” DeeDee said. “We’re going to incorporate modern fine dining without the white tablecloths. Nan Thai Buckhead will honor and celebrate our family’s traditions while being more relaxed and adapting to the times.”

Some of the restaurant’s signature dishes, like the crispy whole red snapper with Chef Nan’s three-flavored chili sauce and lamb hung lay (braised lamb in Northern Thai red curry), will be served at the Buckhead restaurant.

“We want to add a bit of Nan into the space with Thai silk and exotic wood from Thailand but with a modern touch, along with a gorgeous private dining room,” DeeDee said of the interior design.

Helmed by bar manager Linda Boualavong, the beverage program at Nan Thai Buckhead will include craft cocktails to complement the Thai flavors of the food.

“The explosion of Asian cuisine over the last five years means guests are craving these flavor profiles,” Boualavong said. “Working with ingredients like Thai basil, lemongrass and pandan for craft cocktails that pair perfectly with DeeDee’s food is fun.”

DeeDee hopes to pay tribute to her father with the new restaurant.

“My dad never met a stranger,” she said. “For over 25 years, he made everyone feel like a member of our family. He was always focused on enlightening guests about Thai cuisine while providing a world-class dining experience. That’s been ingrained in me since I was a kid. My parents’ legacy will live on at Nan Thai Buckhead.”

Nan Thai Buckhead is expected to debut this fall.