A Chinese social media influencer living in Thailand has sparked online debate after questioning whether a restaurant in Bangkok was operating legally following claims that it accepted only Chinese yuan and WeChat Pay instead of Thai payment methods.
The influencer, Wang Bingyang, 28, better known online as Bing, shared his experience in a TikTok video posted on May 25 through his account, @jaideebingandfriend.
The video quickly gained traction among Thai social media users and attracted attention from local media outlets.
In the post, Bing claimed that the restaurant, located in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district, did not accept Thailand’s QR payment system and allegedly operated without a Thai bank account.
“A Chinese restaurant is operating in Thailand but does not have a Thai bank account and accepts only Chinese cash and WeChat payments. Is this legal?” he wrote in the caption.
According to Bing, he attempted to pay for his meal using a Thai QR code payment service but was informed by staff that the restaurant did not accept the method because it lacked a local bank account.
He further alleged that the restaurant accepted only Chinese currency and Chinese digital payment platforms.
Bing claimed staff members asked whether he was Chinese before informing him of the payment restrictions. As a result, he said he was forced to pay in yuan, which ultimately cost him around 50 baht more due to currency conversion differences.
The influencer questioned whether the business was complying with Thai regulations and urged foreign-owned businesses operating in Thailand to follow local laws.
“I felt they may have assumed I wouldn’t know Thailand’s regulations because I’m Chinese,” he said in the video.
The allegations triggered widespread discussion online, with several users sharing their own experiences involving the restaurant.
One Thai social media user claimed the establishment frequently kept its front entrance locked and required customers to notify staff before entering or leaving the premises.
Others called on authorities to investigate not only the restaurant but also other businesses in the Huai Khwang area to determine whether they were operating legally.
Some commenters noted that parts of the district have increasingly become known for a growing concentration of Chinese-owned businesses.
Following the viral claims, local media outlet Workpoint News visited Huai Khwang to speak with operators of nearby restaurants.
According to the report, staff from several businesses stated that they accepted Thai baht and Thailand’s QR payment system without issue. They also said Chinese customers commonly paid using Thai cash and local digital payment methods.
However, the restaurant at the centre of the controversy reportedly declined to comment when approached by the media.
As the allegations continue to circulate online, calls are growing for relevant authorities to verify whether the restaurant’s payment practices and business operations comply with Thai regulations.
