[5] Tila was born in Los Angeles to Thai Chinese parents who immigrated to the United States separately in 1966.

[8][9] Jet Tila is the chef of the restaurants The Charleston and Pakpao Thai, located in Los Angeles, California,[10] and Dallas, Texas,[11] respectively.

Tila is the restaurant developer of Dragon Tiger Noodle Co. with three locations in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada.

[5] Tila was given a ceremonial title of a "culinary ambassador" for Thailand, appointed by the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles.

[16] He has appeared on television series including Beat Bobby Flay, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, Tournament of Champions, and Guy's Grocery Games.