Who is Intu-On Kornnawong?
From Thailand to California, respecting seasonal produce through great technique
Chef Intu is from Udon Thani in the Issan region of Thailand. She began her culinary journey at a young age, cooking at home with her family and learning to prepare Thai dishes.
Intu moved to San Francisco to attend the International Culinary Center (Formerly French Culinary Institute). After graduating Intu worked at Michelin starred and Californian cuisine restaurants in San Francisco.
She moved to Los Angeles and began to work for Jeremy Fox at Rustic Canyon, where she learned about seasonal produce and how to respect it through the use of great technique.
In 2017, Intu started to run chef Kris Yenbamroong’s iconic Night + Market restaurants and together they helped take Thai food to new levels of fame and excitement. Intu later connected with chef Pim Techamuanvivit and became Executive Sous Chef of the Michelin starred Kin Khao.
During the pandemic, Intu finally stepped out on her own with a Thai drink and snack pop-up at Birba wine bar in Hayes Valley, San Francisco, where she was met with glowing praise from the Michelin Guide and Food critics from the SF Chronicle.
Intu then moved to Jo’s Modern Thai in Oakland, where she was a partner until 2024. The restaurant has a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
