The Future of Jo’s Modern Thai in Jeopardy After Staff Firings and Leadership Changes

One of Oakland’s most beloved restaurants, Jo’s Modern Thai, has been temporarily closed since October 22nd. At first, the reason for the sudden closing was unknown. Issues surfaced when co-owner Kao Saelee allegedly dismissed the entire front-of-house (FOH) team without consulting his partner, Chef Intu-on Kornnawong.

Chef Intu-on, announced her departure, as of October 20th, citing creative differences with her partner, Kao Saelee. Shortly afterward, an open letter from a group of former employees surfaced online called “The Truth Behind Jo’s Modern Thai“. In the open letter, the employees revealed that the closure involved deeper issues than initially disclosed by the restaurant’s owners.

How Do We Get From Michelin-Rated To Quick Temporary Closure?

Voted one of Oakland’s best restaurants time and time again, Jo’s Modern Thai is a Bay Area favorite. Michelin-rated, Jo’s offers an irresistible mix of innovation and flavor, with high-end, crave-worthy dishes at an approachable price. Things have been going well for Jo’s and Intu-on and Kao were just weeks away from opening their second restaurant, The Peach.

How does a restaurant with such a bright future have such issues and why would Intu-on walk away at such a pivotal moment for the restaurant and partnership? Staff members shared that the first major issue surfaced on October 16, when Kao sent a message staff in Sling (an app for Employer/Employee communication)which allegedly dismissed the entire front-of-house team in what they described in their letter as a “corporate-coded” attempt to “start fresh.” In the message, the staff were told that their last day of service would be on October 27th, giving them only 11 days notice. According to the staff, this decision was made without consulting Intu-on.

The staff said in their letter, “After spending considerable time soliciting feedback from his staff about what improvements were needed and how he could assist, Kao chose instead to terminate everyone and offer to “rehire” them under conditions many could not meet. A corporate strategy to “start fresh” with a new group of employees who would be unaware of the ongoing issues and malpractices within the business.

It also quickly became clear after talking amongst the staff that Kao had sent the message on Oct 16th and implemented these decisions without communicating with his back-of-house staff or consulting with his head chef, Intu-on. As a result, the kitchen staff was also left confused and uncertain about their own shifts, unsure whether the restaurant was closing on the Oct 27th or if only the current FOH employees would be let go if they chose not to reapply.”

A few days later, the temporary closure was announced on Instagram. Kao has spun the reason for the closure a little differently stating that there would be new standards of service and a new vision for the front of house staff. In a statement to SFGATE. “We decided to close Jo’s in order to upgrade various aspects of the restaurant that we felt needed to be adjusted to help us ensure we deliver the high standards of service our customers expect from us. We have offered all staff the opportunity to continue with us under new guidelines that will help us achieve these goals.”

If you read the letter and compare it with the statements from Kao, you can tell there is a lot that is not being said between the lines. An upheaval like this doesn’t happen all of a sudden.

Jo’s Modern Thai at a Crossroads: Why Chef Intu-on Left During a Critical Time

As a regular at Jo’s, I’ve developed a neighborly relationship with co-owners Kao and Intu-on since they first opened just three years ago. I’ve been pretty transparent that Jo’s is my all time favorite restaurant in Oakland. When I saw the partnership dissolve online, I reached out to Kao and Intu-on separately to see if they were OK.

I was able to talk to Intu-on for about an hour today about the closure and the letter published from previous employees. The first thing I asked Chef Intu-on was, “Are you okay?” She said to me, “I’m feeling better day by day.” She’s sad about the departure. Being the head chef at Jo’s was a joy for her and it will hold a special place in her heart.  She’s seeing this all as a huge learning experience for herself. Sure, she’s felt down but has been trying to stay positive through it all. She shared that while she thinks highly of Kao as a person, calling him a “good guy” when we were talking. It was the communication breakdowns that ultimately led to her difficult choice to leave. It’s hard to stay in a partnership when critical decisions that impact the whole restaurant are made without your input.

What’s next for Jo’s Modern Thai and Chef Intu-on?

Intu-on told me over the phone she’s looking forward to a month-long vacation in Thailand coming up. After spending the last few months immersed in recipe development, she hopes to draw on the inspiration she gained while crafting the menu for The Peach. While the last few weeks have had her down at times, Intu-on told me that she is truly “excited for what’s to come” and knows that everything happens for a reason. She has a wealth of opportunities ahead, and I’m truly excited to follow her remarkable career as it unfolds.

According to Intu-on, Jo’s Modern Thai is planning on reopening with new staff in the front and back of the house on November 10th. It’s hard to imagine Jo’s without the face of Jo’s, Chef Intu-on. The menu is her creation and it features recipes adapted from moments within her childhood.

The future remains uncertain for Jo’s as it faces challenges that could impact its ability to thrive without the heart and soul that Intu-on brought to the business. The situation raises concerns about whether the restaurant can navigate this storm ahead. As for the second restaurant, The Peach, the plan is to keep moving forward with its grand opening coming any day now.

Kao Saelee’s commitment to the restaurant’s success remains clear, but the challenges of communication and sustainable planning have created uncertainty. Owning Jo’s has been a lifelong dream come true for him. Kao helped run his family’s restaurant Racha Cafe in Berkeley and grew up in The East Bay (he even went to high school in The Laurel District where Jo’s is today). It’s clear to me that the issues that Jo’s is dealing with are a product of Kao’s lack of a sustainable business plan as they prepared to open a second location. His lack of proper communication with staff and Chef Intu-on contributed to the recent turmoil within the restaurant.

As the restaurant prepares for its next chapter, the community waits with bated breath, hoping that Jo’s can reclaim its place as a cherished Oakland favorite. My greatest hope is that Kao will give Jo’s to Intu-on, as it feels like the right thing to do since the menu is based on her recipes and she has been the face of Jo’s since the beginning. I can’t imagine anyone other than Intu-on overseeing the Jo’s kitchen. Either way, I hope the situation can be resolved. I know I speak for many when I say it would be an absolute tragedy to lose such a beloved restaurant in Oakland.

Editor’s note: I have reached out to Kao for a statement and haven’t heard back.