The image of a man in a tank top and chef’s hat skillfully wielding a knife and spatula over a roadside stove is the distinctive picture of “Chef Maew,” or Chalermporn Khatnet. A former luxury hotel chef, he has transformed into a small roadside made-to-order food vendor in Selaphum District, Roi Et Province. Though his shop is just a simple roadside stall, the flavors and experience behind his cooking are undoubtedly exceptional.
From dishwasher to luxury hotel chef, then back home—Chef Maew was born in At Samat District, Roi Et Province, but spent more than 30 years pursuing a career in the restaurant industry in southern Thailand.
He started at the bottom as a dishwasher in a kitchen, learning skills by observation and memorizing techniques from skilled chefs. Gradually, he advanced to assistant chef and then became a chef at a luxury hotel in Phuket, holding that position for seven years. However, when faced with the COVID-19 crisis and his wife’s parents falling ill, he decided to leave his job in the tourist city and return to Isan to settle and care for his family in his wife’s hometown of Selaphum District.
Serving premium-quality delicious food at affordable prices, Chef Maew used his culinary skills passed down through his bloodline to open a made-to-order roadside food stall with permission from the Selaphum Municipality. The menu offers not only common dishes like stir-fried basil but also a full range of Thai, Southern, and Italian dishes starting at just 40 baht.
The must-try dishes customers order include spicy shrimp basil rice, pineapple fried rice, zesty seafood soup (Po Taek), spicy stir-fried wild boar, and chili paste spaghetti. Chef Maew whispered that ordering these five dishes at a luxury hotel would cost at least 2,000 baht, but at his stall, customers can enjoy a full table of food for less than 400 baht.
In an era of rising prices for goods and fuel, many might wonder how he can sustain selling at these prices. Chef Maew shared with a smile, “I just want to do what I love, to make sure people aren’t disappointed and can enjoy delicious food. That’s enough happiness for me. I don’t focus on high profits—just enough to get by and have customers come back.” Importantly, Chef Maew intentionally uses local ingredients, including pesticide-free vegetables, chicken, pork, and beef from local farmers, to help distribute income within the community. This approach allows him to earn a monthly income in the tens of thousands of baht, and most valuably, to have time to warmly care for his family.
Those who want to taste 5-star quality flavors at down-to-earth prices can visit “Chef Maew’s Made-to-Order Food Stall,” located opposite Ming Muang Temple, Klang Subdistrict, Selaphum District, Roi Et Province. The restaurant is open daily from 08:00 to 20:00. It guarantees delicious food worth returning for.