Merriewood Restaurant Payakk Brings Royal Thai Cuisine to Oakland Hills

Chef Nattaporn Pinpech and her husband Yong Pinpech, the owners behind Emeryville's Secrets of Tiger, are receiving acclaim for Payakk, their upscale dining room in Oakland's Merriewood neighborhood. The restaurant explores classical Royal Thai gastronomy, blending ancient palace recipes with modern cooking methods and fresh Northern California ingredients.

Payakk's seasonal menu highlights dishes rarely encountered at typical neighborhood eateries, including complex curries made with fresh pastes pounded in-house, delicate savory bites, and carefully balanced spice profiles. The kitchen pays particular attention to technique and balance, contrasting sweet, sour, savory, and spicy elements across each course.

The hills dining room offers a calm setting away from central commercial corridors, giving local diners a quiet spot for neighborhood gatherings and special occasions. For the chef, the establishment serves as an avenue to showcase the breadth and historical depth of Thai cooking to East Bay food lovers.