San Jose doctor, Los Gatos restaurant settle ‘Dragon Balls’ lawsuit

San Francisco Chronicle · Aldo Toledo · 2026-11-05 00:07 UTC

A San Jose neurologist and a Los Gatos Thai restaurant have agreed to settle a lawsuit over an appetizer the doctor said was so spicy it burned her throat.

A San Jose neurologist and a Los Gatos Thai restaurant have agreed to settle a lawsuit over an appetizer the doctor said was so spicy it burned her throat and nose.

Harjasleen Walia sued Coup de Thai and its owner, Tanatcha Swangchaeng, in 2023. She alleged that after eating the restaurant’s “Dragon Balls” chicken appetizer with a friend in 2021, she suffered chemical burns to her vocal cords, esophagus and the inside of her right nostril, and was left with permanent injuries.

The settlement was first reported by the Mercury News.

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