Baan Yai Means “Grandmother's House”
And it's run exactly like one — loud, warm, and always feeding someone.
A Home Kitchen That Never Really Stopped Cooking
Long before Baan Yai had a name, it had a kitchen in Bangkok where Sunee cooked for whoever showed up — neighbors, nephews, the occasional stray cat. Her curry pastes were never written down; they lived in her hands. When her grandchildren moved to San Diego for school, the one thing they refused to leave behind was that recipe box.
Now that recipe box has its own kitchen in San Diego — and Sunee still tastes every batch of curry paste before it goes out.
The House Rules
Rooted in one home kitchen, made for everyone who pulls up a seat — five things we won't compromise on.
Flavorful & Fresh
Every paste, sauce and marinade is made that morning. Nothing sits.
Rooted
Every dish traces back to Sunee's own recipe box, unchanged since Bangkok.
Comfort
Slow cooking, hand-pounded pastes — food that feels like home.
Communal
Student discounts, campus events, and a seat at the table for everyone.
Warm & Inviting
If Grandma Sunee wouldn't say it to your face, we don't say it either.