One of the guiding hands behind Elmhurst’s Michelin-recognized Zaab Zaab is setting sights on the East Village. Co-owner Pei Shan Wei has filed city paperwork to open Lanna Café, a new restaurant planned for 164 1st Ave, with a full food menu spanning both the ground floor and the basement. The filing states that Lanna Café Inc. is seeking a full liquor license, and for now, there is still no opening date on the books.
Paperwork filed with Manhattan Community Board 3
A standardized 30-day notice posted by Manhattan Community Board 3 lays out the early details. The document shows the application was mailed on March 23, 2026, and lists Pei Shan Wei as the corporation's president. The form requests an on-premises license for "Liquor, Wine, Beer & Cider" at the 164 1st Ave address, and includes a business phone number and email for the applicant. A received stamp on the notice is dated March 27, 2026, confirming when CB3 officially logged it.
Zaab Zaab’s pedigree
Zaab Zaab has been flagged by the MICHELIN Guide with a Bib Gourmand and is frequently highlighted for its Isan (northeastern Thai) cooking. Coverage from QNS and other local outlets identifies Pei Shan Wei and chef-owner Bryan Chunton as the partners behind the Elmhurst spot.
What the notice reveals
The application lists Davean Holdings LLC as the building owner and describes the space as encompassing the ground floor and basement of the property, to be operated as a full-kitchen restaurant. The printed principal on the form is Pei Shan Wei, and the signature block carries a date of March 23, 2026, indicating that is when the advance notice was formally submitted. The complete filing is available through the city's CB3 application pages.
Next steps for the application
Under State Liquor Authority rules, the 30-day advance notice period gives the local community board a window to review and comment before the SLA proceeds, according to the New York State Liquor Authority. Local restaurant site What Now first reported the filing and noted it has reached out to Wei for more information. For now, neither the applicant nor the city has announced when Lanna Café might open its doors.
