Family ATAN

Our Story

Before ATAN AHAN opened its St Sampson takeaway shop, our journey began at the Guernsey Fresh Friday Market, where we served mainly noodle soup from a small stall. Week by week, we expanded our menu to five regular dishes and two weekly specials — now three, covering red meat, white meat, and vegan options. From the very beginning, our focus has always been on healthy, fresh ingredients and packaging that’s kinder to the planet.

Many of the herbs and vegetables we use come straight from our own Guernsey garden. We try to stay as authentic to our Southeast Asian roots as possible… with a personal twist. Every dish in our takeaway shop is cooked to order, ensuring it’s as fresh, wholesome, and flavourful as possible.

Over the years, we’ve taken ATAN to countless local events — Guernsey Seafront Sundays, Sark Folk Festival, Sark Summer Festival, Rocquaine Regatta, Harbour Carnival, South Show, West Show, North Show, and many charity events. We’ll continue popping up around the island, especially during the summer months. After eight years at the Fresh Friday Market, we finally folded away our tent in winter 2019 and opened our shop for Friday service — a big step for our little family business.

Tan’s Story

Tan’s passion for cooking began long before ATAN existed. She grew up in a small, remote village where electricity didn’t arrive until she was 12. Gas was rare, markets were far, and transport meant bicycles — or a motorbike if you were posh. Families grew their own herbs, caught their own fish, raised their own chickens, and foraged for whatever nature offered. It was a simple life, but full of flavour.

From as young as eight, Tan helped with everything: washing dishes, picking vegetables, growing herbs, even fishing. Cooking started with gathering ingredients — a job that could take half a day — and fires were made with charcoal that families produced themselves. Her first kitchen job was crushing herbs with a pestle and mortar, a tool every household owned. She didn’t love it at the time (it felt endless!), and she certainly never imagined becoming a chef.

Tan moved to Guernsey in June 2003 and quickly fell in love with island life — but missed the street food flavours of home. With few options available, she decided to create her own. And so, ATAN was born. She also credits her local school for teaching her many of the cooking skills she uses today.

A Family Effort

ATAN has always been a family business.
Paul, Tan’s husband, has been involved from the start and joined full‑time in 2016.

Their son, Mani, began helping when he was about 11 — packing crackers, sweeping floors, handing food to customers, and doing whatever needed doing.

Their daughter, Rasi, has helped since she was tiny too. She’s shy, so you may not see her at the front often, but she’s very much part of the ATAN heart.

Caring for the Environment

We admit it — sometimes we behave like thrifty people. But it’s for a good reason: we hate waste. Growing our own herbs and vegetables means fewer imports, fresher produce, and less environmental impact. It also means you might occasionally find an unusual cut of veg or something you didn’t know was edible — like pumpkin shoots — because we use what we grow.

Vegetable scraps go back into the garden as compost. Food waste feeds our chickens and dog. Even the water used to wash vegetables gets reused to water the plants. We avoid non‑recyclable packaging wherever possible, buying in bulk to reduce waste, and reusing materials in practical ways (like lining bins). Our best cleaning tip: make less mess and stay on top of it.

​A New Chapter: Ki‑Ot

After years of growing ATAN with the community’s support, we’re excited to begin a new adventure: Ki‑Ot, our off‑grid, seasonal alfresco café‑restaurant in the heart of St Peter Port. Ki‑Ot brings together everything we love — sustainability, creativity, tropical minimalism, and the warm, playful energy that defines us.

It’s a space built with intention: self‑sufficient, low‑impact, and full of personality. A place to slow down, enjoy fresh food, and feel like you’ve stepped into a little pocket of Southeast Asia — right here in Guernsey.

Catering & Events

ATAN also caters for outside events, corporate hospitality, and private functions.
To chat about menus and services, contact Tan on 07781 430620 or email [email protected].

Opening Hours

Our opening hours change between winter and summer, so please check ahead before visiting.

Thank You!

We want to thank all our customers — old and new — for your incredible support and kind feedback over the years. Follow us on social media for updates, new dishes, and behind‑the‑scenes stories, and explore our blog for more ATAN goodness.

Best wishes,

ATAN & KI-OT GUERNSEY

January 2026