ABOUT NA NA THAI
Nik and Ashley lived in Bangkok, Thailand for 4 years and had both their children while living in the bustling city. The name, Na Na Thai, comes from the street they lived on - Sukhimvit Soi 4, also known as Soi Na Na. All the while, they were captivated by the intense flavors of the city’s street food. In 2019, Nik and Ashley decided to move closer to family and accepted positions at Acme Hospitality in Santa Barbara. A few years later, while searching for a new home in the Santa Ynez Valley, they met Greg and Daisy Ryan of Companion Hospitality. In June of 2022, they began a series of weekly Na Na Thai pop-ups at Companion’s Bar Le Côte in Los Olivos. Now, with a permanent outpost in Buellton, Nik and Ashley finally get to work together again.
Nik Ramirez
Executive Chef
& Co-Owner
Born in Maui, Nik Ramirez had a passion for cooking and sport from a young age. At 18, the pursuit of a professional soccer career led him to Romania, where he played for FC Petrolul Ploiești. Then he moved into the restaurant industry, where he attended the culinary arts program at Santa Barbara City College and started his career at Santa Barbara’s iconic Wine Cask in 2008.
Nik continued to hone his skills, cooking and staging at 108 in Copenhagen, Gaggan in Bangkok, and a seasonal izakaya restaurant in Japan’s remote Iya Valley. But it was Thailand that felt like home. He lived in Bangkok for four years, and both of his children were born there.
Nik served as chef de cuisine at the Dusit Thani Hotel’s 22 Kitchen & Bar and the Hotel Indigo’s Char Restaurant & Bar. In 2019, Nik decided to move closer to family and accepted a position at Acme Hospitality in Santa Barbara. A few years later, while searching for a new home in the Santa Ynez Valley, he met Greg and Daisy Ryan of Companion Hospitality.
In June of 2022, Nik and his wife Ashley began a series of weekly Na Na Thai pop-ups at Companion’s Bar Le Côte in Los Olivos, CA and a year later in June of 2023, they opened Na Na Thai's own brick and mortar in Buellton, CA serving authentic Thai street food classics in a lively setting.
Ashley Ramirez
General Manager
& Co-Owner
Raised in Westlake and Thousand Oaks, California, Ashley fell in love with hospitality at the early age of 15 and has been in the industry ever since. Initially spending nine years with the Brophy Bros group in Santa Barbara, she became fascinated by the uni divers and fishermen who stopped by each morning to unload the daily catch.
After helping to open On the Alley as General Manager, she left to work at Wine Cask, another local landmark, to expand her experience and knowledge. As luck would have it, six months later, she had the opportunity to move to Bangkok, where she was hired as the Wine Director for Eat Me Restaurant, a San Pellegrino “Asia’s 50 Best” ranked restaurant. During that time, she joined a Sommelier Round Table group, accelerating her wine knowledge and, eventually, earning the role of Beverage Manager and Sommelier for the local InterContinental Hotel, where she stayed for three years. In 2019, she returned to Santa Barbara to become the General Manager of Paradise Cafe (now La Paloma).
Ashley joined the Bell’s team in 2022 where she adapted her fine dining background to the more personable and casual atmosphere of the restaurant. After running Na Na Thai popups at Bar Le Côte, Ashley is now General Manager and co-owner of its brick-and-mortar here in Buellton.
About Companion Hospitality
Each of Companion Hospitality’s restaurants balance an urban, global perspective with a deep appreciation of the unique artisans and abundant produce of California’s Central Coast. Companion Hospitality’s family-run business model, helmed by owners Greg and Daisy Ryan, is deeply rooted in the surrounding community and provides an equitable work environment in which employees can build sustainable careers. By presenting restaurants that are both forward-thinking and timeless, Companion elevates the hospitality offerings of not only the Santa Ynez Valley, but of California destination dining as a whole.
Read more about Companion Hospitality, its restaurants, and the team that makes it all happen on its website.
