Foreign Woman Criticised After Refusing to Fully Pay Phuket Restaurant Bill

A foreign woman faced criticism online after refusing to fully pay a restaurant bill in Phuket, claiming that one of the drinks she ordered did not meet her expectations.

The incident took place on May 23 at New Break Taek restaurant in the Chalong area and later spread across Thai social media through shared video footage.

According to reports, the woman visited the restaurant together with her daughter and a Thai woman believed to be a babysitter.

Footage circulating online showed the tourist and her daughter leaving the restaurant after refusing to pay part of an 80-baht charge. The Thai woman later followed them outside.

The incident sparked debate online, particularly among local restaurant operators. Some business owners said they had experienced similar problems involving unpaid bills in Phuket and suggested that restaurants should either request payment in advance or pursue stricter legal action against customers who refuse to settle their bills.

Two employees from the restaurant later spoke to Thai media to explain the situation in more detail.

According to staff, the customer initially ordered shrimp satay and a pineapple smoothie before later requesting a sugar-free strawberry smoothie.

After the food and drinks were served, staff presented a total bill of 455 baht.

Employees said the woman refused to pay the full amount, complaining that the shrimp portions were too small and that the strawberry smoothie tasted different from what she expected.

Restaurant staff reportedly apologised and offered to remake the strawberry smoothie according to her preferences, but the customer declined.

Following further discussion, the woman agreed to pay 375 baht covering the shrimp satay and pineapple smoothie, but continued refusing to pay for the 80-baht strawberry drink before leaving the restaurant.

According to the employees, restaurant policy initially meant they expected to personally cover the unpaid amount themselves.

However, the restaurant owner later reviewed CCTV footage and informed staff they would not be held financially responsible.

The employees also urged other restaurants in Phuket to remain cautious when serving customers, especially foreign tourists.

Staff added that the restaurant has operated for more than 20 years and that this was the first dispute of this kind they had encountered.