Thai Restaurants in Australia: The reflection of “Thai-ness” and “Adaptation”

Abstract

       This paper seeks to explain the reflection of Thai-ness through Thai immigrant’s Thai restaurants in Australia. It draws on ethnographic fieldwork in Wollongong, Australia between 2009 and 2010. The study found that the increasing number of Thai immigrants move to Australia after policy of exclusion among Asian’s immigrants including Thai immigrants. This leads to the increasing number of Thai restaurants in Australia. Thai immigrant’s Thai restaurants have the opportunities to present Thai food culture in form of values of Thai ethnicity to turn economy value by adaptation of Thai culture to suit the local context within Australian society.