To go to dinner at Payakk is to embark on a bit of an adventure. The journey takes you winding into the Oakland Hills, roads flanked by redwoods, all the way up to the whimsically named Merriewood neighborhood.
I was a little confused when Google Maps steered me down a residential road instead of toward Montclair Village, the area’s walkable commercial district. As I turned down Thornhill Drive, I found an elementary school, a dry cleaner, a 7-Eleven and a handful of other small local businesses, but no sign of Payakk. And then, finally, I spotted it: a squat gray stucco building on the corner with no clear signs, festooned with a mural of bright orange persimmons.
Nattaporn Pinpech, who also goes by Chef Tobb, opened Payakk in September 2025 — her second restaurant after Thai street food restaurant Secrets of Tiger in Emeryville. She chose the Merriewood location specifically for its tucked-away feel.
“I want to be the hidden gem,” Pinpech said. “I don’t want the people to just stop by. I want to be the destination.”…