CHERN

When Nail Saengin and Garfield Pachnoi opened Chalong in Chapel Hill in early 2024, their southern Thai-inspired restaurant quickly won over the local community, encouraging them to open a second venue, CHERN, just one suburb over in Kenmore in 2025. Located Wongabel Street in a space formerly occupied by Chaya Asian Restaurant, CHERN expands beyond Chalong’s Thai roots to embrace a playful fusion of Southeast and East Asian cuisines, reflecting Garfield’s cooking background in modern Asian fusion and the couple’s shared culinary passions. The 50-seat eatery offers a vibrant menu featuring dishes like crispy prawn toast bao buns, sticky tamarind pork belly, char kway teow with tiger prawns and coral trout coconut salad, complemented by a curated drinks list including Australian and French wines, a matcha-infused IPA, signature cocktails and non-alcoholic options. With its jewel-green exterior and welcoming interiors conceived by Clui Design, and a name that means ‘welcoming’ in Thai, CHERN is designed as a relaxed, family-friendly space that embodies community warmth and adds fresh energy to Kenmore’s dining scene.