One of the newest Southeast Asian eateries in the Oldest City is Ayara, located in the Uptown San Marco district. Owners Suthinan “Ton” Chanbana and wife “Noodle” are both professional chefs. They chose the name Ayara (elephant), as it is the national symbol of Thailand and elephants are regarded as a harbinger of good luck. 2019 brought many blessings to the couple: they welcomed a baby daughter in September and opened Ayara on December 30. “We love that even though St. Augustine is a small town, people from all over the world come here.” says Ton. “I believe the most important thing is life is sharing. The best part of having our own restaurant is being able to share one of the best parts of our culture with guests and serve them like family."