From comforting noodle dishes to rich curries and delicately sweet desserts, Thai food offers a balance of bold flavors worth exploring. For Bruins and locals alike, trying Thai food spots around Los Angeles can mean discovering new favorites while also experiencing the warmth and tradition behind each dish.
Whether you are craving something savory, spicy or sweet, these Thai restaurants are worth adding to your list.
Ruen Pair
Address: 5257 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
In the heart of Thai town sits Ruen Pair, an iconic traditional Thai restaurant that has mastered its craft and is known for nailing every dish, whether that be their aromatic curries or their chewy rice noodles that soak up a savory sauce.
For Natasha Mar, a third-year cognitive science and music industry student, the establishment has been the background for sentimental moments since she started eating there at five years old.
After eating there for so many years, she’s perfected her order with her family running back to order the guay sub, stir-fried ground meat with curry powder and an umami soy sauce that envelops the flat rice noodles. Another top pick is simply sautéed morning glory, seasoned with soybean sauce, oyster sauce and garlic to balance the palette.
No matter the culture there is no greater compliment than Mar saying the dish “tastes like my grandmother’s cooking.”
Khun Khao Thai Restaurant
Address: 13550 Roscoe Blvd, Panorama City, CA 91402
The necessary sugary treat to end off a savory meal transcends world borders and oceans. At Khun Khao, that sweet tooth can easily be satisfied with a range of desserts perfect for those who want to take a bite and say a resounding “not too sweet.”
With a soft center and firm outside, eating each drop of Tong Yod represents future gold and wealth. These teardrop shaped chewy desserts are flavored and colored with egg yolks, which provide a bright yellow that shines behind a glass case.
Another favorite, Sankaya Fantong, houses creamy coconut milk, fragrant pandan leaves and earthy kabocha squash, forming an addictive pumpkin custard. The love for pandan and coconut milk continues with Khanom Chua, which is a nine-layer chewy rectangle that gets its distinct texture from tapioca flour. Number nine is seen as a lucky number in Thailand, and each silky layer is individually steamed to create stripes of vibrant white and green.
Third-year biology student, Maliyah Liley has fond memories of the establishment from her childhood, “After going to the Thai temple or picking me up from Thai summer school, my family would get desserts.” Restaurants are not the only way to taste familiar flavors but can immerse you into a memory from your past.
