Chariya Khattiyot: From Coffee Roaster to MasterChef Star

Introduction

Chariya Khattiyot is a Thai-born British chef, restaurant owner, coffee roaster and cookbook author. She became widely known after winning MasterChef UK in 2023 with her creative Northern Thai dishes.

Her journey began with simple outdoor cooking in Northern Thailand. It later took her through Japan, the British coffee industry, national television and her own restaurant in Hampshire.

Today, Chariya is recognised for introducing more British diners to the flavours, ingredients and traditions of Northern Thai food.

Chariya Khattiyot Quick Profile

Detail	Verified Information
Full Name	Chariya Khattiyot
Native Name	จริยา ขัตติยศ
Birth Month and Year	August 1982
Age	43 as of June 2026
Origin	Thailand
Nationality	British
Country of Residence	England
Profession	Chef, restaurateur, coffee roaster and author
Famous For	Winning MasterChef UK 2023
Partner	Adam
Restaurant	Khao Soi by Chariya
Cookbook	Lanna: Recipes from Northern Thailand & Beyond
Known Cooking Style	Northern Thai food with modern techniques

Her current nationality, birth month, company appointments and country of residence are recorded in official Companies House records.

Who Is Chariya Khattiyot?

Chariya Khattiyot is the nineteenth amateur cook to win MasterChef UK. She defeated finalists Anurag Aggarwal and Omar Foster after eight weeks of cooking challenges involving 45 contestants.

She entered the programme to show viewers that Thai cuisine contains much more than internationally familiar dishes such as pad Thai and tom yum.

Her food focused strongly on Northern Thailand. She used traditional flavours while adding modern presentation, British ingredients and advanced cooking methods.

This combination helped her stand out during the competition and gave her a clear identity as a chef.

Chariya Khattiyot Age and Date of Birth

Chariya Khattiyot was born in August 1982.

She is 43 years old as of June 2026 and will turn 44 during August 2026. Her complete day of birth has not been published in the official public record used for this profile.

She was 40 when she appeared on and won MasterChef UK in 2023.

Chariya Khattiyot Nationality and Background

Chariya was born in Thailand and grew up in the northern part of the country.

Current UK company filings record her nationality as British and her country of residence as England. Earlier company filings recorded her nationality as Thai, reflecting her country of origin.

Her identity and cooking remain closely connected to Thailand, particularly the culture and food of Chiang Mai and the surrounding northern region.

Early Life in Northern Thailand

Chariya spent much of her childhood with her grandfather in Northern Thailand. Her grandfather worked as a barber and raised her while the family lived with limited financial resources.

Food was an important part of their daily routine. They grew vegetables and herbs, kept a chicken for eggs and bought fresh ingredients from local markets.

Chariya and her grandfather often cooked outside over a fire. He showed her how simple and inexpensive ingredients could be turned into enjoyable meals.

Her mother also helped develop her interest in cooking. Chariya has recalled learning to make omelettes when she was around four years old.

As a child, she pretended to run a restaurant while her grandfather played the role of her customer. These early games later became a real career in food.

Her Grandfather’s Lasting Influence

Chariya regularly credits her grandfather for shaping her attitude towards life and work.

His most important advice was to remain positive and never give up. She carried that message into the MasterChef kitchen, where she faced pressure, strict time limits and unfamiliar challenges.

After winning the competition, she said the result proved that hard work and determination could turn a dream into reality.

Her grandfather’s influence can also be seen in her cooking. She continues to value fresh ingredients, strong flavours and food that creates happiness without unnecessary waste.

Studying in Japan and Moving to Britain

In her early twenties, Chariya moved to Japan to study Japanese.

During her time there, she met Adam, the British man later identified in her official MasterChef profile as her fiancé.

She eventually moved to the United Kingdom and developed a professional career in the coffee industry.

Living in Thailand, Japan and Britain exposed her to different food cultures. This wider experience later helped her combine Asian flavours with modern Western cooking techniques.

Chariya Khattiyot’s Partner

Chariya’s publicly identified partner is Adam.

The couple met while she was studying in Japan. Her official MasterChef profile described them as engaged and living together in England.

Chariya has also said that they enjoy playing computer games and watching science-fiction, action and fantasy films together.

She generally keeps her personal relationship outside the centre of her public career.

Coffee Career Before MasterChef

After arriving in Britain, Chariya worked for a national coffee-shop chain for seven years.

She progressed to the position of district manager, gaining experience in staff leadership, customer service and business operations.

She later created Coffee Cherry Limited and became a master coffee roaster. The company was incorporated in April 2016 and remains listed as active.

Her coffee business gave her valuable experience before she moved into professional cooking. She already understood ingredients, flavour development and the daily demands of running a food-related company.

Winning MasterChef UK in 2023

Chariya entered the nineteenth series of MasterChef UK as a coffee roaster rather than a professionally trained restaurant chef.

She competed against 44 other amateur cooks and reached the final with Anurag Aggarwal and Omar Foster.

For her final menu, she prepared dishes that showed the complexity of Thai food. Her main course was a Northern Thai khantoke sharing platter with Wagyu beef, lamb, scallops, jackfruit, curry sauce and sticky rice.

Her dessert combined strawberries, vanilla, pistachio and Thai basil in a modern presentation.

The judges praised the strength of her flavours, her creativity and the emotional connection between her food and childhood memories.

She was announced as the winner on 1 June 2023, becoming the first Thai contestant to win MasterChef UK.

Across the international MasterChef franchise, chefs and television personalities have used the programme to introduce regional food traditions to wider audiences. The late Jock Zonfrillo also became known for connecting television cooking with cultural food knowledge.

Chariya Khattiyot’s Cooking Style

Chariya’s cooking is mainly inspired by Northern Thailand.

She aims to balance sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavours while also adding different textures. Crispy noodles, soft meat, fresh herbs, rich sauces and sharp pickles may appear in the same dish.

She describes cooking as a form of art. Before preparing a new creation, she may picture the finished plate in her mind or draw how she wants it to look.

Rather than simply copying existing recipes, she tests ingredients and makes changes until the taste and appearance feel right.

Her style often combines Southeast Asian flavours with Western products and techniques. She also prefers to use locally available British ingredients where possible.

British chefs are often judged not only by restaurant customers but also by television viewers and professional critics. Food writers such as Giles Coren have helped make restaurants, chefs and dining culture major subjects in British media.

Khao Soi by Chariya Restaurant

After winning MasterChef, Chariya achieved her long-term goal of opening a restaurant.

Khao Soi by Chariya is located in Alton, Hampshire. The restaurant focuses on Northern Thai cooking and takes its name from khao soi, a coconut curry noodle dish strongly associated with Chiang Mai.

Khao soi normally combines a creamy curry broth, soft noodles, crispy noodles, fresh herbs, lime, pickled vegetables and meat or another protein.

Chariya has described it as one of her favourite foods and uses a version connected to her mother’s recipe.

Her restaurant allows her to present dishes that are less familiar to many British diners while keeping the main flavours connected to Northern Thai traditions.

The Food Standards Agency lists Khao Soi by Chariya as a restaurant, café or canteen in Alton. Its public record includes an inspection dated 16 April 2026, showing that the business remained operational during 2026.

Restaurant Events and Cookery Demonstrations

Chariya has expanded the restaurant beyond its fixed location.

Her management profile states that she has taken Khao Soi by Chariya to food festivals across the United Kingdom. She also appears at live events and gives cooking demonstrations.

These appearances allow her to teach audiences about Thai ingredients, preparation methods and flavour combinations.

Her public work is not limited to serving meals. It also supports her wider goal of increasing knowledge of regional Thai food in Britain.

Chariya Khattiyot’s Cookbook

Chariya published her first cookbook, Lanna: Recipes from Northern Thailand & Beyond, in September 2025.

The name Lanna refers to the historic northern region of Thailand and reflects the cultural roots of many recipes in the book.

The cookbook includes Northern Thai curries and dishes influenced by the central, eastern and southern parts of the country.

It is designed for both experienced cooks and beginners who want to understand the balance of Thai flavours.

According to the official publisher’s page, the book was published by Ryland Peters & Small, contains 176 pages and carries the ISBN 978-1-78879-714-6.

Britain has a strong tradition of television cooks turning their ideas into successful books. Public interest in food-writing families can also be seen through profiles such as Bruno Paul Diamond, the son of cookbook author and presenter Nigella Lawson.

Food publishing has also been influenced by families connected with catering and hospitality. The story of Vanessa Salmon includes links to the J. Lyons food business and the early family background of Nigella Lawson.

Business Companies and Leadership

Chariya is connected with two active British companies.

Coffee Cherry Limited was incorporated in April 2016, while Chariya’s Kitchen Limited was incorporated shortly after her MasterChef victory in June 2023.

She is listed as an active director of both companies.

Her business journey shows a clear progression. She moved from managing coffee shops to roasting coffee, competing on television, opening a restaurant and publishing a cookbook.

This experience has helped her build a career that combines creativity with practical business management.

Hobbies and Interests

Chariya enjoys computer games and has described gaming as a way to relax.

She also likes playing table tennis and watching science-fiction, action and fantasy films.

Fresh-food markets remain one of her favourite places. They remind her of childhood shopping trips in Thailand and give her ideas for new recipes.

Her creative interests extend beyond cooking because she sometimes draws dishes before preparing them.

Major Achievements

Chariya Khattiyot’s most important achievements include:

1. Winning MasterChef UK in 2023.
2. Becoming the first Thai winner of the British competition.
3. Building a career as a master coffee roaster.
4. Establishing Coffee Cherry Limited.
5. Creating Chariya’s Kitchen Limited.
6. Opening Khao Soi by Chariya in Hampshire.
7. Taking her restaurant concept to British food festivals.
8. Publishing Lanna in 2025.
9. Promoting Northern Thai cuisine through television and live demonstrations.

Chariya Khattiyot Career Timeline

1982

Chariya was born in August 1982 and grew up in Northern Thailand.

Early 2000s

She moved to Japan to study Japanese and met Adam.

After Moving to Britain

She spent seven years working for a national coffee-shop chain and progressed to district manager.

2016

Coffee Cherry Limited was incorporated.

2018

Her speciality coffee shop and roasting business became established in Alton.

2023

She won MasterChef UK and formed Chariya’s Kitchen Limited.

2024

She developed Khao Soi by Chariya in Alton and expanded her professional restaurant work.

2025

She published her first cookbook, Lanna: Recipes from Northern Thailand & Beyond.

2026

She continues working as a chef, restaurant owner, food-event guest, demonstrator and cookbook author.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Chariya Khattiyot?

She is a Thai-born British chef, restaurant owner, coffee roaster and MasterChef UK winner.

How old is Chariya Khattiyot?

She is 43 years old as of June 2026.

When was Chariya Khattiyot born?

She was born in August 1982.

What is Chariya Khattiyot’s nationality?

Current official company records list her nationality as British, while she was born in Thailand.

Who is Chariya Khattiyot’s partner?

Her publicly identified partner is Adam, whom she met while studying in Japan.

Which year did Chariya Khattiyot win MasterChef?

She won MasterChef UK in 2023.

What is Chariya Khattiyot’s restaurant called?

Her restaurant is called Khao Soi by Chariya and is based in Alton, Hampshire.

What is Chariya Khattiyot’s cookbook?

Her first cookbook is Lanna: Recipes from Northern Thailand & Beyond.

Conclusion

Chariya Khattiyot turned childhood memories of outdoor cooking in Northern Thailand into a successful British food career.

Before entering MasterChef, she had already developed leadership and flavour skills through years in the coffee industry. Winning the competition gave her the opportunity to move fully into professional cooking.

She has since opened Khao Soi by Chariya, appeared at food festivals and published a cookbook celebrating Thai cuisine.

Her story is built around hard work, cultural pride and the lesson passed down by her grandfather: never give up.