Meet the Thai master of Japanese cuisine

Eat & Drink

US-trained Chaichat Noprapa’s Bangkok restaurant gathers widespread plaudits

At Bangkok’s Fillets, Thai chef Chaichat “Randy” Noprapa fuses Japanese craftsmanship with his own inventive flair. (All photos courtesy of Fillets)

JOHN KRICH

November 16, 2025 08:13 JST

BANGKOK — Thailand is home to an astonishing 5,916 Japanese restaurants, according to a survey released in January by the Japanese External Trade Organization. But which is the best? Surprisingly, the answer for many is Fillets, a Bangkok restaurant run by Chaichat “Randy” Noprapa, a Thai chef who was raised and trained largely in the U.S.