Earl Ninsom

Honored to be part of @opentableforrestaurants 2026 Ambassador Council. OT = OG. I’ve always believed this industry grows when we share—ideas, mistakes, small wins, all of it. A lot of what I’ve built came from learning alongside others, so being in a room with operators who are pushing their craft and their communities forward means a lot. Still learning. Still adapting. Not settling. Excited for what’s next. #opentableambassador

Broth simmered slowly. Charcoal, time, and quiet heat. . A Northern Thai table, in the Lanna tradition— funky, flavor-forward, meant for sharing, for kids and grown-ups alike. . OK Chicken & Khao Soi is open. Dinner 5–10pm Wednesday–Sunday for the winter. . @okchickenandkhaosoi . 📸 @christinedong with @quevin_food assisted

We’re back with @pdxfoodfinds for Part 2 of our James Beard series. Today we’e visiting the upscale Thai restaurant @langbaanpdx who won outstanding restaurant at the 2024 James Beard awards. Stay tuned for more of this series and don’t forget to check out the @james_beard_public_market coming in 2026! #portland #portlandoregon #travelportland #pdxeats #pdxfoodfinds #shoplocal #langbaan #earlninsom #jamesbeard #jamesbeardawards

Thrilled to be accepted a Cinema Unbound Award from @PAM_CUT and the @PortlandArtMuseum alongside some amazing fellow honoree artists this year on 5/30. The annual #CinemaUnboundAwards celebrate multidisciplinary artists, and this year’s honorees’re @sarahsquirm , @marcobrambillastudio , @carsonellis & @dullandwitlessboy Learn more → pam.to/2025-CUA #CUA2025 #CinemaUnboundAwards

Thank you @goldhouseco @bingchen for a night to remember. Meeting several Asian Pacific Impactful Leaders is something I never dreamed to be a part of. Truly Grateful. . Great seeing fellow Thai (Super stars) @woodytalk and @taymettt last night. ❤️🇹🇭🇺🇸 . Thanks @kuyalord_la @cheflordmaynard for a great dinner. . #goldhouseco #a100

Thank you so much for this incredible honor As a member of the Asian Pacific community and someone who works in the culinary field, I’ve always believed that food is a powerful way to tell our stories — to preserve our roots, challenge perceptions, and bring people together. This recognition isn’t just about me — it’s about every cook, every mentor, every family recipe that helped shape our journey. I’m proud to represent our culture and to help make space for more voices at the table. Thank you for including me, seeing our work, and for celebrating the power of heritage @goldhouseco Learn more about this year’s A100 including Nobel Prize Winner, Global Business Leaders, Award Winners from An Academy & Grammy, Olympic Champions, Professional Athletes, NY Times Best Selling Authors etc at goldhouse.org/a100 🇹🇭 🇹🇭 🇹🇭 #A100 #GoldExcellence! 📸 @christinedong

We cannot contain our excitement because our dear friend Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, is coming back to cook with us on May 18th! Nok is the chef behind the jaw-dropping Philadelphia restaurant, Kalaya. She will be parting with Chef Earl Ninsom, Chef Pui Kitsanaruk and our sweet little team to create a 5-course meal in celebration of Noks’ new cookbook, “Kalaya’s Southern Thai Kitchen”. Everyone who dines with us that night will receive a signed copy of her book— it’s going to be so much fun. Reservations drop Sunday, April 27th at 12 PM via our website. These reservations went FAST last year. We really hope to see you there. Below, you can learn a little more about Chef Nok. Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon is a 2025 TIME100 honoree, James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef, restaurateur and author of Kalaya’s Southern Thai Kitchen. A flight attendant from Trang, Thailand, Nok entered her second act at age 50 by opening Kalaya, one of the country’s highest-regarded Thai restaurants, named after Nok’s mother. Opened in April 2019 as a small BYOB in South Philadelphia, Kalaya was named one of Esquire’s and Food & Wine’s “Best New Restaurants” and was a James Beard Foundation Award nominee for “Best New Restaurant” in 2020. In November 2022, Kalaya relocated to Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood with a larger footprint and bar program. Nok’s notoriously impeccable style has been featured in New York Magazine and Philadelphia Style Magazine; she was also named one of the “Most Influential Philadelphians” by Philadelphia Magazine in 2023 and 2024.  Nok’s TV appearances include the Philadelphia episode of Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil in 2021, and in 2024 a dedicated Season 7 episode on Netflix’s Emmy-nominated Chef’s Table. 📸: @persicophoto

Reservation for April goes live at noon for @langbaanpdx link in bio. . This menu inspired by Thai street food. @highfiveselections wine pairing for this one is also very fun. . 📸 @plasticities_

@thaancharcoal is bringing @holybasil_la to Langbaan! We will be hosting chef Deau, Wedchayan Arpapornnopparat, 2024 Food & Wine Best New Chef from Holy Basil DTLA’s on Sunday, March 23rd. The current menu is inspired by Thai street food— it is fitting to have a fellow Thai chef friend navigate this style with us. @de.au is changing the game in LA so we cannot wait for you to get to know him. This menu is $165 PP + grat with optional wine pairing. We will have seats available at 5:30/8:15 PM. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate some allergies and dietary restrictions for this event. Additional information for the evening will be included in the reservation confirmation email via Tock. For any questions, please call/text at (971) 344-2564 or email us at [email protected]. Reservations open TOMORROW, Monday March 10th at 12 PM. We can’t wait to spend this special evening with you, thank you! . . . . . #events #langbaanpdx #portland #oregon #popup #thaancharcoal

March and April’s ‘25 menu @langbaanpdx inspired by Thai street food. . One of the most fun menu in a while, the team is doing such a good job creating this upcoming one. Reservation on my bio via @exploretock or link on our website 👉🏻 . Come join us ❤️ . 📸 @christinedong

Got this in the mail today. Truly grateful for our team past and present @langbaanpdx Thanks again @beardfoundation

One of my favorite meals this year ☝🏼 Yo, the cypher at @eempdx in Portland—Texas barbecue colliding with Thai 🇹🇭 soul—provides a flavor combination that doesn’t exist anywhere else. Picture this: chopped barbecue fried rice, smoky brisket woven into every grain, and that smoked pork kaphrao—pork belly and Thai basil dancing with heat. It’s a symphony of spice and smoke, hitting every taste bud with precision. The jungle curry? It transported me to a place thick with humidity, lemongrass in the air—a dish that lingers in your memory long after the meal is over. Huge shout to @nomnom_nori , our Portland Sherpa, for leading us to Eem (which means “satiated” in Thai) and introducing us to @earlpdx . Our convo offered valuable insights: • Portland’s food scene thrives on its ability to take risks, supported by a community open to new experiences. • Take care of the team behind the scenes, the ones prepping the ingredients that make everything possible. • Simplicity in the kitchen is key, keeping the process simple to a few steps. • Thai food, with its vast range, deserves a spotlight for its true depth and variety. A lot to take away, both on the plate and beyond. 💭 Aight, peace and blessings 🤜🏼🤛🏼