Acclaimed Lexington chef announces her first restaurant is closing. Here’s why
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chef Samantha Fore to close Tuk Tuk Snack Shop after low traffic and costs.
- Owner cites national diner decline, rising food costs and tariffs as drivers.
- Last service Nov. 15, 2025; Fore invites patrons to farewell events and future work.
A high-profile Lexington restaurant that opened with a splash in 2023 is closing.
Owner and chef Samantha Fore announced on social media that her Tuk Tuk Snack Shop, located at 124 Malabu Drive Suite 110, will be closing after just over two years. It was her first brick-and-mortar restaurant.
The last day of service is Nov. 15, 2025, so fans still have time to grab a rice bowl or fried chicken sandwich.
Fore did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“This isn’t a decision I’ve made lightly or hastily, as I made it six months ago,” Fore wrote online. “I told myself that if I didn’t see a dramatic traffic shift by October, it was time to wind down this chapter.”
While family obligations and other career opportunities played a role in her decision, Fore said, much of it was economic and national trends.
“The shift I have seen in my travels nationwide is fewer diners out and smaller tickets. Locally, the drop has been jarring and puzzling for more than just us,” Fore wrote. “I do not see this situation improving any time soon. When you combine that with escalating food costs, tariffs and policy decisions beyond our control, as a sole owner, it feels like a good time to go out on a high note.”
Fore, who was a 2023 James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: Southeast, opened her restaurant in September 2023 after building a following through pop-ups and gaining national recognition for her fusion of Sri Lankan and Southern cuisine.
Her curry tomato pie appeared on the cover of “Food & Wine” magazine and she cooked for “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi when the show came to Lexington. Fore also made appearances on “Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street” and traveled around the country cooking in Michelin-starred and James Beard-recognized kitchens.
In her closure announcement, Fore invited patrons to “come join us as we celebrate over the next month ... We are so grateful for all we’ve been able to do thanks to all of you, and we are excited for the next chapter — I am eager for all that is ahead, and will still be on the road regularly cooking and learning from the best in the country.”
Tuk Tuk Snack Shop
Where: 124 Malabu Drive, Suite 110
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Last day of service is Nov. 15, 2025.
Online: tuktuksnackshop.com
This story was originally published October 13, 2025 at 10:07 AM.
