Phuket restaurant dispute centers on unpaid 80-baht smoothie bill
A foreign customer left a Chalong restaurant without paying an 80-baht charge for a strawberry smoothie after disputing its quality, according to staff and video shared online.
A foreign woman left a restaurant in Chalong without paying the full bill after disputing the quality of a drink, according to employees and footage later shared on Thai social media.
The incident took place on Saturday, May 23, at New Break Taek restaurant in Phuket's Chalong area. Staff said the customer arrived with her daughter and a Thai woman believed to be a babysitter.
According to restaurant employees who later spoke to Thai media, the woman first ordered shrimp satay and a pineapple smoothie, then later asked for a strawberry smoothie without sugar. After the food and drinks were served, staff presented a bill for 455 baht.
The employees said the customer 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. Staff said they apologised and offered to remake the strawberry drink to better suit her preferences, but she declined.
After further discussion, the customer agreed to pay 375 baht for the shrimp satay and pineapple smoothie, but continued to refuse payment for the 80-baht strawberry drink before leaving the restaurant.
Video circulating online showed the woman and her daughter walking out of the restaurant, with the Thai woman following them outside.
The dispute drew criticism online, including from local business operators. Some said similar cases involving unpaid bills had happened before in Phuket. Others said restaurants should consider requesting payment in advance, while some called for stronger legal action against customers who do not settle bills.
The employees said they initially believed they would have to cover the unpaid amount themselves under restaurant policy. However, they said the owner later reviewed CCTV footage and decided they would not be responsible for the 80-baht loss.
Staff added that the restaurant has operated for more than 20 years and that this was the first time they had encountered this kind of dispute.
