A dispute between a foreign tourist and a restaurant owner in Phuket has attracted widespread attention online after the customer allegedly refused to pay for a meal, claiming to have found a strand of hair in a bowl of Tom Yum soup. Get today's headlines by email The incident was shared by the Phuket Times Facebook page, which said it took place at a made-to-order restaurant in Rawai, Mueang district, Phuket. According to the post, the tourist complained after finishing the meal and refused to settle the bill, alleging the hair had been found in the soup. The page quoted the restaurant owner as claiming the customer may have pulled out his own hair and placed it in the bowl. She said the strand appeared to have a white root attached, leading her to question whether it had been freshly removed. The owner, who has operated the restaurant for more than 10 years, said she had never experienced a similar complaint. She explained that she always wears a hair covering while preparing food and checks every dish before it is served. According to the owner, the customer, believed to be Russian, ordered several dishes including rice, Tom Yum Goong and other menu items. She said there were no problems during the meal until he called her over after eating and pointed to the hair in the soup. She said she asked the customer about the apparent hair root, at which point he appeared to hesitate. However, she claimed he continued to insist that the restaurant was responsible and ultimately refused to pay for the food. The Facebook post prompted numerous comments from social media users, with some calling for police to investigate, others suggesting restaurants install CCTV cameras to provide evidence in similar disputes, and several criticising the alleged behaviour if the owner’s account proves accurate. The restaurant owner said the incident had left her feeling disheartened, particularly at a time when the economy and tourism remain sluggish and business is already difficult. She urged other restaurant operators to remain vigilant, saying she never expected to encounter such a situation herself. ThaiRath reported that at present, the allegations are based solely on the restaurant owner’s account and video footage shared on social media. There has been no confirmation that a police complaint has been filed, and no response has been reported from the tourist accused in the incident. Picture courtesy of Phuket Times Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now ThaiRath 8 July 2026
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