Chef Wedchayan “Deau” Arpapornnopparat debuted a $28 Kao Kaeang lunch this summer across all locations of his Thai restaurant Holy Basil, offering diners a bento-style meal inspired by Thailand’s popular curry shops. The menu addition accompanies a relocation of the original Downtown Los Angeles spot to the Arts District as the business expands its footprint following openings in Atwater Village in January 2024 and Santa Monica in November 2025.
Expanding Bangkok Street Food Culture in Southern California
The Kao Kaeang lunch provides a traditional street food experience where guests choose one wok-fired dish, one curry, and one cold vegetable. These items come accompanied by chili fish sauce, chive cakes, vegetable soup, and organic jasmine rice. Chef Deau stated that the ongoing updates aim to “push the boundaries of what Bangkok cuisine is.” The expansion follows a rapid rise for the restaurant, which started as a pop-up in August 2020 before opening a take-out only walk-up window in DTLA in early 2021.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chef Deau and partner Tongkamal “Joy” Yuon opened a kitchen simply to serve food they wanted to eat. The business quickly earned recognition, capturing Eater LA’s Best New Food Stall award for 2021, earning a spot on The Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants in the City list, and securing a designation for Chef Deau as one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs.
Did You Know? Chef Deau was born in Bangkok in a Chinese Thai household where holy basil, or Gra Pow, was not prominently used in family cooking because he was too young for spicy food, yet he now positions Holy Basil to serve as “everyday food” for customers just as it is for many Thai people.
Operational Growth and Team Development
According to Chef Deau, his team operates with a two-fold daily mission: showcasing what Thai cuisine can offer prospective customers and making the profession a sustainable career for staff members. Many kitchen employees started with little to no experience before working alongside other professionals. “Over the years, we’ve learned how to execute smarter, how to learn from our failures and appreciate everything we have today,” Chef Deau said.
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Future Outlook for Holy Basil
Chef Deau noted that the restaurant grows continuously, stating that the exact destination remains unmapped while every day brings improvements over the last. Diners may see additional creative plating and ingredient explorations as the business maintains its focus on craftsmanship and intentional execution.
Details on lunch dishes, restaurant locations, and chef accolades
What is included in the Kao Kaeang lunch at Holy Basil?
The $28 lunch allows guests to choose one wok-fired dish, one curry, and one cold vegetable, served with chili fish sauce, chive cakes, vegetable soup, and organic jasmine rice.
Where are the Holy Basil restaurant locations?
Holy Basil operates locations in the Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles, Atwater Village, and Santa Monica.
What accolades has Chef Wedchayan Arpapornnopparat received?
Chef Deau received Eater LA’s Best New Food Stall award for 2021, a spot on The Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants in the City list, and a Food & Wine Best New Chefs designation.
What are your thoughts on combining traditional street food concepts with bento-style dining formats?
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