The owner of a traditional noodle shop shares his impressions and favorite dishes. Princess Bajrakitiyabha. She enjoys these meals every time she visits Phitsanulok.
On 14 June 2026 GMT+7, a reporter in Phitsanulok province visited the traditional noodle shop (Minister’s Noodles) on Wisutkasat Road, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Phitsanulok province. This is the restaurant where Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendirathepdayawadi, Princess Rajasarinisiri Patcharamahawachararatchathida, has dined every time she visits Phitsanulok, whether officially or privately.
Mr. Surasak Nuchpho, 67, owner of the traditional noodle shop (Minister’s Noodles), said that in 2010, the senior reception staff of Phitsanulok province contacted his shop to coordinate the Princess’s visit. Princess Bajrakitiyabha was to have lunch at his restaurant. The reception team inspected the shop’s interior and arranged the setting to honor the Princess appropriately. They felt the shop’s own tables and chairs were unsuitable, so they removed them and replaced them with the province’s official furniture designed to welcome VIPs—a beautiful Louis Roman-style table and chairs. The room was also decorated with flowers to suitably honor the Princess.
On the day of the visit, upon entering the restaurant and seeing the decoration, the Princess remarked, "Is this a special setup just to welcome me?" She then told her attendants that next time she visits privately, she would go on her own without having the shop changed. She said she came because she wanted to see how her people live—their food, their way of life. She wanted to see the truth. As a civil servant, she did not want to cause any trouble to the people wherever she went.
The owner felt deeply honored by the Princess’s down-to-earth manner. He and his family were anxious, worried they might not properly honor her or might do something inappropriate. After the Princess finished her meal, she asked the attendants to invite the owner and his family to meet her closely. At that moment, he felt nervous about how to speak with her, feeling intimidated.
Once inside the room, the Princess told them to speak with her in normal everyday language. She asked about the business, how the cooking was going, their wellbeing, and about their children’s education and whether they had enough to live on. She showed great concern for her people. This left a strong impression. That day, the food was not only from the restaurant; nearby shops, upon learning of the Princess’s visit, brought a large variety of sweet and savory foods to offer. The Princess sampled a little of everything.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha has visited the restaurant twice to dine, and on several occasions, she has had attendants order food to be packed to take back to eat on the airplane or at the royal palace in Bangkok. Her favorite dishes are traditional tom yum noodle soup and dry tom yum noodles. Each time, she requested the food be very spicy—about a heaping teaspoon of chili.
On one occasion, after the Princess finished her meal and invited the family to meet her, the owner’s wife, Mrs. Prapai Nuchpho, 65, showed the Princess a childhood photo of herself and asked if she recognized who it was. The Princess immediately said it was a photo of herself but had never seen that picture before. Mrs. Prapai explained she had taken the photo with her personal camera while working with senior officials. She then asked permission for the Princess to autograph the photo, which would bring good fortune to their family and business.
Additionally, in 2006, Thanpuying Ploypailin Jensen and Thanpuying Sirikittya (Mai) Jensen also visited to eat noodles at the restaurant. Both ladies were very friendly and approachable as well.