In a city celebrated for its global culinary influence, few restaurants have shaped the story of Thai cuisine in Los Angeles quite like Emporium Thai. One of the city’s most beloved Southern Thai culinary institutions, Emporium Thai commenced its 26th Anniversary celebration on Monday, March 16th, 2026, marking more than two decades of bringing the bold, vibrant flavors of Southern Thailand to the forefront of L.A.’s dining scene while helping define the evolution of Thai cuisine across the city!
Founded by John and Jane Sungkamee on March 16th, 2000, on Westwood Boulevard, Emporium Thai has grown from a neighborhood eatery into a cornerstone of Los Angeles’ Thai dining scene, earning both a stellar reputation and widespread recognition. The restaurant holds Thai SELECT certification from the Royal Thai Government, has been named among the Top 100 Best Thai Restaurants in the United States, and at the heart of Emporium Thai’s enduring success is the Sungkamee Family, whose story is deeply intertwined with the evolution of Thai cuisine in Los Angeles.
A Family Legacy Rooted in Southern Thai Heritage
Emporium Thai was founded by John Sungkamee, Founder & CEO, and his wife Jane Sungkamee, Co-Founder, CFO, and Corporate Chef in March 2000. Born into a large family in Southern Thailand, John’s earliest culinary inspiration came from his parents, his mother Supis Sungkamee and his father Sutat Sungkamee, whose home cooking instilled a lifelong respect for Thai ingredients, hospitality, and generosity. Growing up with 11 siblings, John developed a deep appreciation for his culture and cuisine. In 1990, his mother won a lottery for a U.S. green card, allowing the family to immigrate to the United States and eventually become U.S. citizens.
John and his family arrived in the U.S. with a singular goal: to bring the depth, regional complexity, and the soul of Thai cuisine to Los Angeles at a world-class level. Working alongside his wife Jane and his sister, Executive Chef Gina Sungkamee, John leads a family-driven philosophy rooted in integrity, generosity, and excellence. Guided by recipes and traditions from their hometown in Southern Thailand, the restaurant began introducing guests to dishes that showcased the region’s vibrant culinary identity. Over time, Emporium Thai became one of Los Angeles’ most respected Thai restaurants earning Thai SELECT Certification from the Royal Thai Government and recognition among the Top 100 Best Thai Restaurants in the United States.
Over the past 26 years, the restaurant has become a gathering place for West Los Angeles locals, visiting chefs, celebrities, and Thai food enthusiasts alike, beloved for their Southern Thai Signature Dishes such as Phuket Wings, Pad Thai Prawn, Crispy Honey Duck, Thai Crab Curry with Jasmine Rice, Drunken Noodles, and the celebrated Thai Crab Omelette. The restaurant’s playful side is also reflected in dishes inspired by celebrity fans, including AKON Salad, BLACKPINK’s Lisa Meatballs, and the now-iconic Cardi B Mango Sticky Rice.
Honeybee Sungkamee, Beverage Director at Emporium Thai Market, brings creativity and cultural flair to every pour. Drawing inspiration from Thai herbs and flavors, she has crafted a lineup of Signature Cocktails that are as inventive as they are balanced, including the Lemongrass Gimlet, Thai-Tea-Ni,and Thai Basil Mojito. Her extensive collection of signature Mocktails has also become a crowd favorite, offering vibrant, flavorful alternatives that capture the essence of Southern Thai cuisine in every sip.
The Jitlada Chapter: A Defining Moment in Thai Cuisine History
The Sungkamee Family’s impact on Los Angeles’ Thai dining scene extends far beyond Westwood. In 2006, John Sungkamee purchased Jitlada in Thai Town in East Hollywood at the suggestion of his brother, Chef Suthiporn “Tui” Sungkamee, recognizing the opportunity to spotlight the bold, intensely spiced flavors of Southern Thailand.
Working largely behind the scenes while still employed in the corporate world, John helped shape the restaurant’s original menu and operations while h named his brother the owner and Chef Tui led the kitchen and his sister, Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong, supported the restaurant’s daily operations. In 2007, Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold famously “rediscovered” the new Jitlada Southern Thai Cuisine, championing its fiery Southern Thai cuisine and helping catapult it to international acclaim.
Following Chef Tui’s passing, Chef Jazz Singsanong took the helm, continuing the family’s culinary legacy alongside Chef Sugar Sungkamee, Chef Tui’s daughter. Today, Jitlada remains one of Los Angeles’ most celebrated Thai restaurants, earning recognition from the Michelin Guide in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, and honors from the James Beard Foundation, where Chef Jazz Singsanong was named a Semifinalist for Best Chef: California in 2022 and 2023.
A New Era: Introducing Emporium Thai Market
As Emporium Thai celebrates its 26th anniversary, the Sungkamee Family has simultaneously launched a bold new chapter. In January 2026, they opened Emporium Thai Market, a lively modern Thai house on Los Angeles’ iconic Sawtelle Boulevard, where Southern Thai heritage meets contemporary culinary vision, striking design, and an elevated full-bar experience. The concept blends elevated regional cooking with an energetic bar program and a vibrant dining environment, reflecting Los Angeles’ evolving food culture. Executive Chef Gina Sungkamee, a graduate of Bangkok’s prestigious Saowabha Vocational University, leads the kitchen alongside John and Jane’s son, Chef de Cuisine Chris Sungkamee, presenting a menu that is both nostalgic and forward-looking, rooted in tradition and elevated through refined execution.
The restaurant’s Beverage Program, led by Beverage Director Honeybee Sungkamee, features an expansive full bar inspired by Thai herbs and flavors, with Signature Cocktails including the Galanga Sunrise, Lemongrass Lavender Margarita, Coconut Espresso Martini, and Dragon Fruit Martini, alongside natural wines, and an eclectic draft beer selection. Designed by TOLO Architecture, the dramatic interior showcases soaring ceilings, a luminous skylight, warm wood and brass finishes, and a striking elephant mural inspired by Thai art and storytelling. The result is a dining experience that bridges tradition and modernity, one that honors the family’s Southern Thai heritage while reflecting the dynamic evolution of Thai cuisine in Los Angeles.
Celebrating 26 Years and Looking Ahead
For Founders John and Jane Sungkamee, Emporium Thai’s 26th Anniversary is both a moment of reflection and glimpse into the future. For more than two decades, the Sungkamee Family has played a defining role in shaping the narrative of Thai cuisine in Los Angeles, from introducing the depth of Southern Thai cooking to helping inspire one of the city’s most iconic Thai restaurants. With the opening of Emporium Thai Market, that story continues to evolve.
Emporium Thai 26th Anniversary Celebration
To commemorate this milestone, Emporium Thai will be offering a Two-Course Prix-Fixe Lunch Menu ($26 per person) and a Two-Course Prix-Fixe Dinner Menu ($36 per person), available through Sunday, March 29, 2026, alongside celebratory specials highlighting the restaurant’s most beloved Southern Thai signature dishes.
Through economic shifts, industry challenges, and the global pandemic, Emporium Thai has proven to be more than a restaurant, it has remained a vibrant anchor in Los Angeles’ culinary landscape, fueled by loyal guests and the Sungkamee Family’s unwavering commitment to quality, authenticity, and hospitality. Today, the restaurant’s mission remains as bold and clear as it was in 2000: to honor Southern Thai culinary traditions while pushing their cuisine forward with creativity, heart, and soul.
Masters of Taste Premier Outdoor Luxury Food and Beverage Festival
And if you can’t make it to Emporium Thai before March 29, 2026 be sure to catch them at the Rose Bowl on April 19, 2026 where they’ll be serving at one of my FAVORITE food festivals, the Masters of Taste! Emporium Thai will be one of over 100 top culinary masters featured at the premier outdoor luxury food and beverage festival which benefits Union Station Homeless Services.
Emporium Thai is open Mondays – Sundays, 11:00 am to 11:00 pm; 1275 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024; 310.478.2838
