About Us

Payathai Restaurant is a family owned and operated restaurant featuring authentic Thai and Japanese cuisine located in Atlantis, Fl.

With over 30 years of experience in the restaurant business, Payathai Restaurant is owned and operated by husband and wife, Jimmy (Tetsuo) Nozaki and Noi (Jaruwan) Nozaki. Jimmy is from Okinawa, Japan and came to America when he was 18 years old.

Noi is from a suburb of Bangkok, Thailand, and she also came to America when she was a teenager. Jimmy and Noi brought authentic dishes from their native countries together to open Payathai Restaurant.

Where it all began

Jimmy and Noi met in West Virginia at a local Thai restaurant where Noi was working. Jimmy fell in love with Noi’s cooking first, and they eventually married and moved to Illinois.

In Chicago, they opened up their first Japanese restaurant, Kikuya. Later they ended up opening two other restaurants, Hinode and Bua Thai, in different locations around Illinois. During this time period, Jimmy and Noi developed their own unique cooking style, stemming from the best Asian dishes and making them even better.

Taking their authentic dishes to Florida

After their long run in the restaurant business, the couple decided to retire in Florida and take it easy. They soon decided that retirement wasn’t for them and that they needed an outlet for their culinary creativity. This is what prompted the opening of Payathai in Atlantis, Florida. Payathai quickly became known for Jimmy’s legendary sushi creations and Noi’s famous Thai curry dishes. Their cuisine is loved by their customers who always return back for more. At Payathai, neighbors become friends and friends become family.

Stop by our restaurant to experience the best authentic tastes of Japan and Thailand! We are conveniently located on the Northwest corner of Lantana and Congress Avenue in Atlantis, just minutes from Lantana, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Greenacres and West Palm Beach.