# Hawker Fare: Stories & Recipes from a Refugee Chef's Isan Thai & Lao Roots - Hardcover

by **James Syhabout** (Author), **John Birdsall** (Author)

**From chef James Syhabout of two-Michelin-star restaurant Commis, an Asian-American cookbook like no other--simple recipes for cooking home-style Thai and Lao dishes**

James Syhabout's hugely popular Hawker Fare restaurant in San Francisco is the product of his unique family history and diverse career experience. Born into two distinct but related Asian cultures--from his mother's ancestral village in Isan, Thailand's northeast region, and his father's home in Pakse, Laos--he and his family landed in Oakland in 1981 in a community of other refugees from the Vietnam War. Syhabout at first turned away from the food of his heritage to work in Europe and become a classically trained chef.

After the success of Commis, his fine dining restaurant and the only Michelin-starred eatery in Oakland, Syhabout realized something was missing--and that something was Hawker Fare, and cooking the food of his childhood. The _Hawker Fare_ cookbook immortalizes these widely beloved dishes, which are inspired by the open-air "hawker" markets of Thailand and Laos as well as the fine-dining sensibilities of James's career beginnings. Each chapter opens with stories from Syhabout's roving career, starting with his mother's work as a line cook in Oakland, and moving into the turning point of his culinary life, including his travels as an adult in his parents' homelands.

From building a pantry with sauces and oils, to making staples like sticky rice and padaek, to Syhabout's recipe for instant ramen noodles with poached egg, _Hawker Fare_ explores the many dimensions of this singular chef's cooking and ethos on ingredients, family, and eating well. This cookbook offers a new definition of what it means to be making food in America, in the full and vibrant colors of Thailand, Laos, and California.

### Front Jacket

**Easy & essential Isan Thai & Lao recipes from a refugee chef**

James Syhabout's hugely popular Hawker Fare restaurant in San Francisco is the product of his unique family history, his diverse career experience, and the food of his childhood. _Hawker Fare_ immortalizes the dishes of this celebrated restaurant, which are inspired by the open-air "hawker" markets of Thailand and Laos as well as the fine-dining sensibilities of Syhabout's career beginnings. The book starts with stories from his roving career as a classically trained chef, as well as his travels as an adult in his parents' homelands--his mother's ancestral village in Isan, Thailand's northeast region, and his father's native country of Laos.

From building a pantry with sauces and oils to making staples like sticky rice and padaek, to new takes like Syhabout's recipe for instant ramen noodles with poached egg, _Hawker Fare_ explores the many dimensions of this singular chef's cooking and ethos on ingredients, family, and eating well. This cookbook offers a new definition of what it means to be making food in America, in the full and vibrant colors of Thailand, Laos, and California.

\--_Publishers Weekly_ (starred review)

### Back Jacket

**Easy & essential Isan Thai & Lao recipes from a refugee chef**

James Syhabout's hugely popular Hawker Fare restaurant in San Francisco is the product of his unique family history, his diverse career experience, and the food of his childhood. _Hawker Fare_ immortalizes the dishes of this celebrated restaurant, which are inspired by the open-air "hawker" markets of Thailand and Laos as well as the fine-dining sensibilities of Syhabout's career beginnings. The book starts with stories from his roving career as a classically trained chef, as well as his travels as an adult in his parents' homelands--his mother's ancestral village in Isan, Thailand's northeast region, and his father's native country of Laos.

From building a pantry with sauces and oils to making staples like sticky rice and padaek, to new takes like Syhabout's recipe for instant ramen noodles with poached egg, _Hawker Fare_ explores the many dimensions of this singular chef's cooking and ethos on ingredients, family, and eating well. This cookbook offers a new definition of what it means to be making food in America, in the full and vibrant colors of Thailand, Laos, and California.

**Number of Pages:** 368

**Dimensions:** 1.2 x 9.1 x 7.5 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** January 23, 2018

## Details

- **Price:** 39.99 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 39.99 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Hawker Fare: Stories & Recipes from a Refugee Chef's Isan Thai & Lao Roots - Hardcover

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> Updated: 2026-07-23