Bangkok: A Bangkok district chief has taken decisive action to ensure restaurants prominently display stickers confirming their acceptance of Thai currency. This move comes in response to online criticism directed at a Chinese restaurant accused of refusing local payment, officials disclosed on Friday.

According to Thai News Agency, Sombat Krueakiratitham, the director of Huai Khwang district, has dispatched environmental and sanitation officials to inspect venues along Pracha Rat Bamphen Road. This commercial area is renowned for its Chinese businesses, and the inspections aim to ensure adherence to financial regulations.

The scrutiny was initiated following complaints that a local Chinese restaurant allegedly refused payment in Thai baht, insisting instead on Chinese yuan. In response, district workers began distributing "Thai Baht Accepted Here" stickers to 79 legally registered restaurants with Chinese co-owners and 13 Chinese supermarkets in the area, aiming to reassure customers of their currency acceptance.

The restaurant at the center of the controversy clarified that the issue stemmed from a communication breakdown during a temporary mobile banking outage. A staff member explained that when the digital transfer system failed, they requested cash from the customer. The 328 baht bill was eventually settled via a Thai bank QR code. The Chinese owner of the restaurant denied ever accepting yuan, asserting that all business revenue is processed through Thai banking channels.

Other shopkeepers in the area noted that although some Chinese tourists occasionally request to pay in yuan, businesses typically refuse such payments due to exchange rate fluctuations. District officials reported that more than 80% of the restaurants in the neighborhood are registered corporate entities, which are subject to routine inspections by the Ministry of Commerce and local government.