Early Owl Cafe
“We knew we could do well in a Thai restaurant, but we wanted something more challenging,” explains Maneerut Chitratonn, one of the owners of Early Owl. Opened in May 2024, Early Owl has quickly made its mark on Salt Lake City’s brunch scene. The restaurant offers a fabulous menu full of vibrant, healthy dishes, with eggs taking center stage.
The four owners - Maneerut, Apinan Sriboran, Tylor Khamsoi, and Krit Lawakorh - met while working at Maneerut’s aunt’s restaurant. “We realized we made a great team,” Maneerut recalls. Their shared experience, combined with their desire to step out of their comfort zone, motivated them to open Early Owl, a departure from the traditional Thai food they are accustomed to preparing.
Maneerut credits a trip to New York for sparking the idea behind Early Owl. “When I came back, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I loved the breakfast places there. They felt healthy, light, and fresh - not heavy, but still flavorful. I wanted to bring something like that to Salt Lake.” That inspiration led them to consult a relative in Thailand, who had opened a café similar to what they were envisioning. Some of the team decided to travel to Thailand to learn new techniques. They returned armed with both knowledge and ingredients, which would help shape their own vision.
This new venture allowed the four friends to branch out and build something of their own, beyond their previous experiences - a place where they could experiment with brunch, combining American classics with fun twists inspired by their travels. “We didn’t want to just do bacon, eggs, and toast. We wanted to bring something a little fancier, something different to Utah,” the owners share.
The result is a selection of brunch dishes that combine American classics with international twists. Standout offerings include Kai Jeow, a Thai omelette, a salmon scramble, and Shakshouka - a mix of tomatoes, onions, peppers, and fried onions topped with an egg and cheese, served in a hot pan with sourdough toast. Other popular options are the Philly Beef Sandwich, Saucy Avo (avocado with hollandaise sauce, bacon, and salsa), and a variety of smoothies. “We aim to make our food as healthy as possible,” Maneerut emphasizes, highlighting their commitment to fresh ingredients.
Maneerut’s journey into the restaurant business began humbly. “I didn’t know how to cook. I started at the bottom - as a dishwasher - and learned kitchen skills from there,” she recalls. But as she learned, she was always observing. “I recognized the problems - how to make food well - and knew that I had to love what I was doing to be successful.” Maneerut owned her own restaurant here in SLC - Thai Kitchen from 2014-2020. With tears in her eyes, she said that she sold it. Her passion for doing things right, however, translated well to Early Owl and today it defines the team's approach to food. “When we cook for our customers, we are cooking because we want to eat it ourselves.”
On weekends, Early Owl is buzzing with both locals and out-of-towners, some of whom come straight from the airport. “We’ve had people walk in with luggage, just here for brunch,” Maneerut says with a laugh. The restaurant’s warm and cozy atmosphere makes it a welcoming space for everyone - from locals looking for a relaxing meal to travelers seeking out one of Salt Lake’s best brunch spots.
The team is already thinking about the future. “If it keeps going well, we’d love to open another location,” they say, noting the success they have already seen just a few months after opening. With business booming, Early Owl’s owners are excited about what lies ahead, but for now, they are focused on serving their creative and fresh brunch offerings to a growing fanbase. “When we cook, we want it to be good enough to motivate people to want to go out."
