Chai Yo Thongpanich, the executive chef of Ricky's Thai locations in both Hillsborough and Skillman, has an outstanding culinary pedigree. He emigrated to the United States from Southeast Asia in 1981 and spent 15 years as an executive chef at a high-end Manhattan restaurant before relocating to a Thai restaurant in Somerville, NJ in 1996. 

Chai subsequently began his professional association with Ricky Chai, the owner of Ricky's Thai, in 2004. Chai has now been associated with Ricky's Thai as executive chef since 2004, serving as executive chef at both the Hillsborough and Skillman locations since that time. 

During Chai's tenure as executive chef at Ricky's Thai, he has not only trained all of the chefs at both Ricky's Thai establishments in Hillsborough and Skillman, he has established his two signature dishes at both restaurants, specifically his unique Honey Puff appetizer and his Tamarind Duck entrée. These unique offerings, as well as many other signature dishes, has enabled Ricky's Thai to be recognized as the best Southeast Asian restaurant from 2014-2019 by New Jersey Monthly Magazine. Chai's culinary expertise has also generated positive reviews from the Montgomery News, Trenton Times, and the Princeton Packet. 

Chai's offerings were on prominent display during the 15th anniversary celebration of the original Ricky's Thai Restaurant in Hillsborough, NJ in October of 2019.