Today we’d like to introduce you to Niki Pattharakositkul.
Hi Niki, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Bangkok, Thailand, and I’m the founder and CEO of 26 Hospitality Group. I’ve always loved eating and exploring different foods, and I’ve always been very open-minded when it comes to flavors and cultures.
I originally came to the U.S. for school, but after graduating I decided to stay. Once I realized I wanted to open a restaurant, I went back to Thailand to attend culinary school. I also worked in the front of the house at restaurants to gain experience and better understand the industry. Cooking has always helped me relax — it’s something that calms me and relieves stress.
I opened my first restaurant in 2016 when I was 26 years old, which is where the name came from. It started with our first location in Buckhead, and opening a restaurant had always been my dream.
Fast forward about ten years, and today we have grown to nine locations of 26 Thai Kitchen & Bar. Along the way we also launched Pink Lotus Thai and Blackjack Bar Tapas, bringing the total to 11 restaurants under our group.
We’re continuing to grow with new concepts coming soon, including Terminal 26, Khao Thai Isan, Pink Lotus Alpharetta, and 26 Thai at Medley.
At the end of the day, my goal has always been simple — to share the food I love and the flavors that remind me of home.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The restaurant industry is tough, and there are always challenges. In the beginning, I had to learn everything on my own — operations, finances, building a team, and managing people. As the business grew, new challenges came with it. Managing multiple locations is very different from running just one restaurant, so you have to trust your team, build strong systems, and keep every location consistent.
The pandemic was especially difficult for the entire industry. Like many restaurants, we had to adapt quickly and make tough decisions. During that time, we partnered with local hospitals and launched a campaign where people could donate meals. With the support of our regular guests and community, we used those donations to cook and deliver food to doctors, nurses, and other frontline workers.
Looking back, those challenges really shaped us. They made our team stronger and reminded me how important community support is in this industry.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about 26 Hospitality Group?
26 Hospitality Group is a collection of restaurant concepts inspired by Thai culture, each with its own personality. I first started with 26 Thai Kitchen & Bar, which has grown to nine locations across Atlanta. Over time we also created Pink Lotus Thai, a more chef-driven concept inspired by the four regions of Thailand, and Blackjack Bar Tapas, a cocktail-focused bar with Asian-inspired small plates.
We’re continuing to grow with new concepts like Terminal 26, an elevated dining concept inspired by Thailand’s floating markets, and Khao Thai Isan, which focuses specifically on the Isan region known for bold and vibrant flavors.
Overall, all of our concepts are Thai-inspired. Some dishes are very traditional, while others have a more modern or fusion approach. My goal has always been to introduce people to Thai food beyond the dishes they already know while staying true to the flavors and traditions I grew up with. At the end of the day, everything we create is inspired by memories of the food I loved when I was living in Thailand.
What are your plans for the future?
Right now I’m really focused on growing the group in a thoughtful way. We have a few exciting concepts coming up, including Terminal 26, which is inspired by the floating markets in Thailand, and Khao Thai Isan, which will highlight the bold flavors from the Isan region. We’re also opening Pink Lotus in Alpharetta and another 26 Thai location at Medley.
Beyond just opening more restaurants, I’m also focused on continuing to refine each concept and making sure every location delivers a great experience. As we grow, building strong teams and systems becomes even more important.
I’m excited about the future and continuing to introduce people to different sides of Thai cuisine. There are still so many regional dishes and stories from Thailand that I’d love to share.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.26hospitalitygroup.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/26thai/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/blackjackbartapas/
Image Credits
Andrew Thomas
