By The Straits Times | Created at 2025-03-10 11:48:59 | Updated at 2025-03-10 15:08:19
3 hours ago
A gang of Chinese diners has been causing trouble for restaurant owners in eastern Thailand, with their latest target a pork barbecue restaurant where they fled without paying their bill.
Mr Yuthanan Panphrom, who owns the barbecue restaurant in the Bo Win area of Chonburi’s Si Racha district, told reporters that the four Chinese men came to his restaurant in the evening of March 8.
The first three arrived at around 7.30pm local time, before they were joined 30 minutes later by a fourth man who came in a white car. The group enjoyed their meal until 8.27pm before making their escape.
The restaurant staff presented to them a bill for 1,082 baht (S$43), but the group crumpled it up and dropped it under the table while the staff members were busy, said Mr Yuthanan.
After being reminded by the staff to settle their payment, the men said they would pay later - only to flee the restaurant moments later in their vehicle.
Mr Yuthanan said while he has encountered customers who mistakenly left without paying, they would usually reach out to the restaurant after seeing its social media posts on their blunder. But this group showed no intention of paying, he added.
Mr Yuthanan pointed out that other restaurant owners in the area have encountered similar dine-and-dash cases. As he urged fellow business operators to remain cautious when dealing with Chinese customers, he emphasised however that many Chinese patrons are honest.
The restaurant owner said he will file a complaint with the police to take legal action against the gang. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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