Silk Thai Restaurant | Our Story
TK and Fern
TK brings 20 years of restaurant experience and a lifelong connection to Thai food rooted in his father's palm sugar trade. His wife Fern, an expert in Northern Thai cuisine, is the heart he credits behind Silk's success.
Born from a love of Thai food and community
Silk Thai opened in 2018 when TK Chin and Fern Chong set out to bring authentic, regionally rooted Thai cooking to Charlottesville — carrying forward a legacy built over two decades on Fontaine Avenue.
The legacy behind the restaurant
Before Silk Thai, this space was home to Thai 99 — run by TK's uncle Eddy for 17 years and a 14-time Best of Charlottesville winner. When Eddy was ready to step away, he passed the restaurant to TK, trusting him to carry that reputation forward.
Northern and Eastern Thai cuisine
The menu focuses on regional Thai cooking rarely found elsewhere in the city — Kao Soi with thick curry broth and wheat noodles, Traditional Kua Kling, and Silk Crispy Duck. Ingredients come from local farms, and seasonal specials keep things fresh.
A neighborhood spot near UVA
Tucked into a cozy building on Fontaine Avenue, Silk Thai draws students, faculty, and families who return again and again — drawn by the food and the warmth TK describes as spreading the good vibes of Thai culture.
As Featured in C-VILLE Weekly
C-VILLE Weekly stopped by to talk with owner TK Chin about keeping things authentic, from the warm, antique-filled dining room to head chef Pepsi's heartfelt cooking. Read the full story.
