Thai fine dining - there has never been anything like it in Germany before. With "WELA", Düsseldorf has now been enriched by precisely this extraordinary facet. The couple behind the concept are Wirun and Nicha Lawang, both born in Thailand, who are also responsible for the service. He is a trained hotel manager, she ran "Sila Thai", one of the best Thai restaurants in the city, together with her aunt. Instead of continuing to run it after their aunt retired, the Lawangs decided to sell it and chose an ambitious, financially risky path for themselves. This quickly becomes clear when you see the perfectionism with which their restaurant is designed: fine carpeting, designer chairs from Italy, custom-made porcelain, stylish wood paneling and a large-format mural by a Thai artist as a visual highlight. This sets the bar very high for the gastronomic delights. But there is no sign of disappointed expectations. On the contrary: it's hard to find a place where the taste and aesthetics of the dishes are so inspiring. One example: the beef tartare with puffed tapioca, chili pepper and salmon caviar, served under a glass bell jar with smoke from dried coconut flakes that have been set on fire. The Lawangs sought out their two chefs in Thailand; both have worked in top restaurants there. Considering that the majority of the products are imported from Thailand, prices of 129 euros for five courses and 158 euros for eight courses, all of which are also available as vegetarian options, are surprisingly affordable. Although there is no classic wine pairing, the well-stocked menu makes it easy to find the right one.