Get into Anajak Thai Cuisine Los Angeles! 🔥
Anajak Thai Cuisine Los Angeles Reviews
Thai taco Tuesday is delicious! Just be sure to order
Thai taco Tuesday is delicious! Just be sure to order whatever you want when it's your turn to order because they run out of the favorites.
There were four of us in our party, we arrived and were
There were four of us in our party, we arrived and were promptly seated. We ordered the Laab Tots, Pad See Ew, Southern Fried Chicken, the ribs and BBQ pork collar. There isn't anything I wouldn't order again and if asked to pick a favorite, I don't think I could have. Our servers were friendly and did a good job of explaining the menu. The atmosphere is relaxed and cozy. My only complaint would be how loud the music was playing making it difficult to talk with the people on the other side of the table. I am surprised at the number of negative reviews. I went with three other people and we all had a great experience and thoroughly enjoyed the food. I saw that other people commented about the price and the portion size. The chef is a James Beard award winner and the restaurant has won numerous awards, I didn't go with Thai Town expectations.
Average food, overpriced, horribly noisy, one of the most disappointing restaurants I've been to in LA DON'T GO!
Have known Anjak for over 5 years since it was a nice quiet unassuming neighborhood restaurant. 1. Vibe: The noise inside is overpowering with loud music played on top of that. We had to shout to hear each other. I could hardly wait to get out of the restaurant. 2. Food: Nothing special. There is far better quality and more interesting Thai food in LA for less money such as at Jitlada or Ruen Pair. The food arrived almost immediately so it was prepared ahead of time and reheated and it tasted like it. 3. Wine: AT is noted for a great wine list but AT stores its red wine standing up in the middle of the restaurant, so that the corks will dry out and the wine is subjected to fluctuating temperatures, which harms the wine. The wine on the list is overpriced. I collect fine wine and was told that I couldn’t bring any of my wine to the restaurant. Summary: One of the most disappointing dining experiences I’ve had in LA and my foodie companion agreed. I will not be back.
Have known Anjak for over 5 years since it was a nice quiet
Have known Anjak for over 5 years since it was a nice quiet unassuming neighborhood restaurant. 1. Vibe: The noise inside is overpowering with loud music played on top of that. We had to shout to hear each other. I could hardly wait to get out of the restaurant. 2. Food: Nothing special. There is far better quality and more interesting Thai food in LA for less money such as at Jitlada or Ruen Pair. The food arrived almost immediately so it was prepared ahead of time and reheated and it tasted like it. 3. Wine: AT is noted for a great wine list but AT stores its red wine standing up in the middle of the restaurant, so that the corks will dry out and the wine is subjected to fluctuating temperatures, which harms the wine. The wine on the list is overpriced. I collect fine wine and was told that I couldn't bring any of my wine to the restaurant. Summary: One of the most disappointing dining experiences I've had in LA and my foodie companion agreed. I will not be back.
Since it's rated as one of the best restaurants in LA, I
Since it's rated as one of the best restaurants in LA, I had to try it out. It definitely was very good. I would describe it as upscale Thai food in a casual family style setting. The place was adorned with a hodgepodge of their many awards, LA memorabilia, old pictures (including a nice wall picture of the owners family in front of the restaurant), which I think collectively captured the essence of this restaurant. It was quality upscale traditional Thai food served in a causal family style setting of a restaurant deeply rooted in the community. The service was very down to earth and friendly. We got a wide assortment of dishes to try. The staple dishes, pad siew and mango sticky rice were both perfection. The papaya salad was refreshing. The massaman beef was deliciously rich and flavorful. I also really liked the laab tot. The Southern Thai chicken wings were nice and crispy. The BBQ pork chop was just okay for me compared to the other amazing dishes. Overall, a great experience. There is a paid self parking lot adjacent to the building in the back. Or if you have some extra time, you could also find metered street parking.
There is ZERO reason to go here.
The line out the door is beyond me and everyone I personally meet that has been. It was very good years ago, and heard the original owner sold the place or something. The food now is below mediocre and very overpriced. There are so many other amazing Thai places to go to that blow this place out of the park (like "Grandma's Thai" on Fulton/Burbank). The inside of the restaurant is in desperate need of repair, as the old carpet is torn, wallpaper peeling, ancient chairs and dirty tablecloths. Definitely needs a redo.
LA Hot Spot
I spend very little time in the San Fernando Valley, so when I had to come to Sherman Oaks for work, I successfully wrangled a reservation at this LA hot spot, very much loved by LA TImes food critics. It's a small place with indoor seating (better for hot Valley days) and outdoors on the sidewalk (portable tables and chairs) and in the adjacent alley (weekends only). My reservation was at the 4 pm opening time, and the place filled up fast, with lots of regular customers. They play their music at a pretty high volume. I ordered what was popular and what I had read about: 1) Crudo of Japanese Kampachi with palm sugar and lime. Had Thai chilies so was quite spicy for me, but very good 2) Southern-Thai Fried Chicken with 2 sauces. Ordered by pretty much every table. The fry was excellent, light, crispy and not too greasy or heavy. I preferred the sweet-spicy dipping sauce to the more tart one. There was a small dollop of sticky rice topped with fried shallots. 3) Grilled Cabbage with garlic chutney. My server said this would be medium spicy, but I thought it was mild, but quite robust in other aspects. The cabbage seemed to have been boiled, then grilled for a great char. 4) Dungeness Crab Fried Rice. Had a good amount of crab. There was a super-spicy sauce served alongside that I skipped. I would have ordered dessert, specifically the mango sticky rice I had heard about, but alas, "Mom", the dessert maker, was off this day, so there were none to be had. Overall a very good but pricey meal. The restaurant also has a popular Thai Taco Tuesday (no reservations) and an occasional omakase night. I'd definitely come here again if in the area, (and could get a reservation), but would not shlep here from more distant parts of LA.
A little disappointed about this restaurant as my friend
A little disappointed about this restaurant as my friend was raving about it. Nothing that I ordered really had a great taste. Giving 3 stars for a great service though!
I spend very little time in the San Fernando Valley, so
I spend very little time in the San Fernando Valley, so when I had to come to Sherman Oaks for work, I successfully wrangled a reservation at this LA hot spot, very much loved by LA TImes food critics. It's a small place with indoor seating (better for hot Valley days) and outdoors on the sidewalk (portable tables and chairs) and in the adjacent alley (weekends only). My reservation was at the 4 pm opening time, and the place filled up fast, with lots of regular customers. They play their music at a pretty high volume. I ordered what was popular and what I had read about: 1) Crudo of Japanese Kampachi with palm sugar and lime. Had Thai chilies so was quite spicy for me, but very good 2) Southern-Thai Fried Chicken with 2 sauces. Ordered by pretty much every table. The fry was excellent, light, crispy and not too greasy or heavy. I preferred the sweet-spicy dipping sauce to the more tart one. There was a small dollop of sticky rice topped with fried shallots. 3) Grilled Cabbage with garlic chutney. My server said this would be medium spicy, but I thought it was mild, but quite robust in other aspects. The cabbage seemed to have been boiled, then grilled for a great char. 4) Dungeness Crab Fried Rice. Had a good amount of crab. There was a super-spicy sauce served alongside that I skipped. I would have ordered dessert, specifically the mango sticky rice I had heard about, but alas, "Mom", the dessert maker, was off this day, so there were none to be had. Overall a very good but pricey meal. The restaurant also has a popular Thai Taco Tuesday (no reservations) and an occasional omakase night. I'd definitely come here again if in the area, (and could get a reservation), but would not shlep here from more distant parts of LA.
I really wanted to love this place, but it was truly just
I really wanted to love this place, but it was truly just OK. Came in a group of 5 (we had a reservation) and sat outside. They were a little pushy with the wine menu, but we aren't big drinkers so we settled for water and sparkling. We grabbed the crudo, papaya salad, laab tot (the meatballs), fried chicken, haw mok (steamed fish curry custard), the brisket, crab fried rice, and two mango sticky rice orders to share. I believe we also got another appetizer, but I can't remember what it was, haha. Overall.... We liked everything? The crab fried rice had a decent amount of crab but the portion was SO small - and while the haw mok was tasty, it was also... so small. The best item was probably the brisket, which didn't come with a carb (you'll want an order of rice to eat with the sauce). The fried chicken wasn't anything special - it's a good fried chicken - but not what I want when I go to a Thai restaurant. It was all generally OK and tasty enough, but the portion sizes are laughable for "sharable" dishes. At the end of the day, we would not come back or recommend this to our friends. There's superior Thai food out there, and at this price point, you're able to get much better Thai food. Someone else summed this up well in their review, so I'll say it again here: underwhelming and overpriced.
Both wine and food were wonderful.
Service also good. One major problem made the experience very uncomfortable which was the loudest music ever!! We could not have a conversation with people at our table! Ears ringing hours after eating! We were offered a table outside instead but it was too hot and uncomfortably close to fumes on the boulevard.
Warm welcome greeting and best table granted to our party
Warm welcome greeting and best table granted to our party of 4 dining alfresco in LA is so choice in perfect weather. Last night was amazing. We got about 10 dishes to share with 4 people and 2 bottles of delicious white wine. May was our server and gave us great suggestions based on dietary restriction and likes. Vinnious was our sommelier and had us pointed to a great wine to match our dishes well. This was like a Michelin Experience as we got to see lot of dishes come out and ask questions about them. We had a great time, got pleasantly stuffed, licked out plates and glasses clean.
It is worth a try
We ordered 5 dishes 1 was good the fish, black sea bream, then the fried chicken with the spicy sauce, and bok choy with cauliflower and patty pan were great but the crudo yellowtail was incredible. What I wouldn’t order again are the pork ribs. Was tough and not falling off the bone at all. I think my dog would have had a hard time chewing them. Maybe try a different pork purveyor if cooking more doesn’t work. BTW I am french trained chef from FCI in nyc. I gave 4 stars for the 4 good dishes I would go back but would never order the pork ribs again. Service is great atmosphere is ok nothing special.
Good food good mood
The staff was very polite and food was good. The food was served in time and the price was also good as per the ambience. Highly recommended place.
I haven't been to this restaurant since they won the James
I haven't been to this restaurant since they won the James Beard award. The food has always been amazing but it is now about 10 levels up. A tiny restaurant on Ventura Blvd which is truthfully not good for a group more than 6-they have expanded their menu to other worldly levels. Even Roscoe's is going to have to take a second seat to their fried chicken. The sauce on the crudo was so amazing they put it in a bowl afterwards so you could splash it on everything else...mine went on the fried chicken. I also highly recommend the shrimp with green curry--so flavorful I wanted a spoon to eat the curry by itself. And, service was top notch! I haven't been to a fully staffed restaurant in LA since COVID. From water to wine to the food we never waited more than 2 minutes for assistance. Plus, a little secret, the art on the walls is leftover from his dad was chef and was actually painted by his family--enjoy every stroke in the paint because family is what this place is all about. Bravo!
So we went to check out to hype and I can describe it
So we went to check out to hype and I can describe it perfectly in only 2 words: sugar rush! Almost every dish servers is overly sweet. Way too much sugar. The fried chicken was good but the dipping sauce was crazy sweet. The cabbage was great but the sauce was crazy sweet. The crispy veggie rolls were great but the dipping sauces was crazy sweet as well. Guess what i think about the sticky rice mango desert...?
WOW! My boyfriend and I have been wanting to try Anajak
WOW! My boyfriend and I have been wanting to try Anajak for quite some time. We were able to snag an 8:30PM res for Saturday night. The hostess was warm and friendly when we arrived and as we waited for our table. We were seated just shortly after 8:30PM. Inside, there is loud hip hop playing with lots of great conversations happening at every table. It was just the right amount of noise, as we could still enjoy conversation and hear our waitress. Our waitress, Mae, was incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. She walked us through the menu, advised us on what drinks/dishes to get, and continued to check us on throughout the night to see if we needed more or less food. At the end of the night, she shared more about the process of making the mango sticky rice and "Mom" in the back preparing the dish. It was lovely to see her passion and hear more about fhe food. In total, we ordered 4 dishes plus dessert. - Fried Chicken: This was the best fried chicken we have ever had. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. It came with sauces that complemented the chicken perfectly. - Pork Sticky Ribs: Like the fried chicken, these were incredibly fresh. The smell when they hit the table was otherworldly. Smokey from the grill yet fruity from the pineapple glaze. Delightful! - Crab Fried Rice: We like crab but don't loveeeee crab. We still got this dish because it's something Anajak is known for. It did not disappoint! The crab was shredded and evenly dispersed throughout the rice, which was perfectly savory and light. Highly recommend you try this! - Pad Siew: Our waitress said we had to get a noodle dish, since Anajak does them very well. We opted for Pad Siew and it was the best Pad Siew we've ever had. Again, the food was piping hot as it hit our table. The noodles were sweet and tangy and had bright veggies throughout. - Mango Sticky Rice: This was our favorite dish of the night. The mango itself is quite literally creamy. It melts in your mouth and pairs perfectly with the sugary, creamy, coconut-y sticky rice. Please order this when you come, it will be a glorious experience. Lastly, the service as Anajak was impeccable. Our waters were always being refilled, we were given fresh plates for the main courses, and our napkins were folded when we got up. These little details may not matter to everyone, but we really appreciated the attention to detail. Overall, Anajak created an atmosphere and experience that is singular, with dishes that are down right delicious. What a treat!!
Anajak Thai.
.. where do I start? First of all I travel the whole country for work and something I have noticed is service has declined hard, not at Anajak Thai. Jose supported our server Alan like a champ. Alan was always around when we needed him and incredibly attentive to our needs. Ian our sommelier was the best. I didn't have the slightest clue how to pare wine with Thai food and somehow he knew exactly what I wanted and made it happen with an accuracy I have never seen before. The food... my God. The ribs and the pork collar were mind blowing. The tenderness of the meat combined with the crispy outer layer was heavenly. I've never met an eggplant that I wanted more of, here I couldn't get enough, and to finish it off the drunken noodles were damn good, spicy enough to make me respect the hell out of it but not so hot that I couldn't enjoy it. My only complaint, add dessert, I would have bought anything any of my servers recommended.
Anajak wasn't necessarily the transcendent, life-changing
Anajak wasn't necessarily the transcendent, life-changing experience that its reputation would predict, but its reputation isn't under its control. I've had it on my bookmark list since it was a tiny place in an alley, and sadly wasn't able to visit until now (sadly because I honestly prefer tiny places in alleys to the white-tableclothed venue this is now). Of the four dishes we ordered (green beans prik king, masaman brisket, haw mok, and Dungeness crab fried rice), the dish that absolutely wowed me was the one I never would have thought to order: the brisket. I just don't care about beef. But the sauce was a mole-esque flavor adventure with a ton of hidden corners and surprises, and the beef amplified it in a way that the sweet potato just didn't. The dungeness crab fried rice was generously seeded with claw-and-arm-sized hunks of crab and was absolutely perfectly spiced. Haw mok was a bit too coconut milk heavy for me, but I enjoyed how strongly basilly it also was, in addition to the surprise fiery tiny pepper heat that showed up in some bites but not others. The texture sure is weird, a fish-flan, and you're not sure whether to spoon it over rice or not. Prik king beans were actually better eaten the next day after their flavor had settled in! Overall a great experience with some out-of-the-park winners. I'm not sure it's qualitatively that much better than some Thai places in the valley and in Thai town that do it for 1/3 or 1/4 the price, but if you need your Thai with side of date night vibe, or you are looking for those specific creative dishes that only Anajak offers, then it makes a lot of sense to come here.
A friend wanted to try Anajak Thai on one of their Taco
A friend wanted to try Anajak Thai on one of their Taco Tuesday nights. They don't take reservations. Although, I think they might if you know someone or you are someone they deem worthy to get one. I witnessed a group get out of a black SUV and speak to a staff member with an iPad and they were taken immediately. They did not stand in line for the restaurant to open (at 6pm) like the rest of us. When we arrived, there was no line at 5pm. When we went back at 5:30pm, there were 10 people ahead of us. A 5 top, a single and a 4 top. The single and the 4 top in front of us, along with ourselves, were questioning our decision to wait in the line and was it going to be worth the effort? At 6pm, the security guard is informed he can let the first group inside the restaurant to place their order. The rest of us remained outside in line until it was our turn. The line didn't move quickly because once customers got inside, they ordered with an employee who entered each menu item into the handheld device. A couple of staff members walked the line and took orders for wine by the bottle (only). They informed customers that wine by the glass would only be available if they had any bottles opened. Customers wouldn't know that until they got inside to place their food order. Not sure what time we actually were directed to go inside to place our order, but it was pushing 6:30pm or a little after. The ordering process isn't efficient. Upon ordering, and we were able to order two glasses of wine they had opened, we were given paper plates, packaged plastic cutlery, order number and a bottle of Aqua Panna (still water) and plastic cups for it. We went back outside and the next group was motioned to go in and start their ordering process. We were a party of 2 and were informed we would be sitting at communal tables. We opted to join the party of 1 that was in line ahead of us. Food came out quickly. The dishes we ordered, pad Thai, noodles supreme and mango sticky rice, were all hot and fresh tasting. Small portions. We shared the dishes and should have ordered another dish to feel fully satiated. Staff cleared plates the minute you put your fork down. I thought the line might still be out front and they needed the tables, but we left just after 8pm and there was no line. Overall, the experience was a one and done for me.
What a gem I have been missing.
I have heard about this restaurant for a fee years and been carrying the name on my bookmarks. On a Sunday afternoon we walked in and although they didn't have tables available the sat us, thanks to the friendly hostess. Attentiveness of the staff and our server was outstanding. The food was top notch quality. We ordered 3 dishes. The gulf shrimp with green curry sauce was absolutely our favorite dish. We also tried their pad thai which was made to perfection. The only thing that we were not impressed was the super expensive friend chicken dish. Although for a fried chicken it was fantastic, crispy and not greasy but it was not something different and not sure what was thai about it. It is absolutely over priced at $36. We will definitely be back to try more of their authentic dishes. Although the selection of music was good but the music was a bit too loud. The interior needs a big time remodeling of at least fresh paint and the ugly old dirty carpet needs to be replaced. Fantastic job you guys and we will be back soon with friends.
Our friends touted this to be their favorite Thai
Our friends touted this to be their favorite Thai restaurant in the LA area and insisted that we try this place. Reservations come out a month before and they are usually snatched up fast. The only table we were able to get was on valentines day. Seating is quite cramped in the restaurant, it almost felt like we were eating in Italy or some European country with how tight it was in there. It was also very interesting how it felt more upscale. They even had a wine connoisseur. The dishes are on the smaller side, the 4 of us ordered 6 dishes. While the food was good, I didn't find it amazing or worth the title of best Thai food in LA. Perhaps it was because omi had set my expectation too high. Or that I expected hearty portions from typical Thai restaurant. I did like that the pad Thai and pad see ew had very good wok hey, which is usually hard to achieve. I think this is a good date spot (despite music was a bit loud too) if you wanted Thai food. But we had driven an hour to get here and it honestly just wasn't worth the drive or the price.
TTT (Thai Taco Tuesday) was a blast! This outdoor foodie
TTT (Thai Taco Tuesday) was a blast! This outdoor foodie activity is an event you don't want to miss. No reservations so we waited for about an hour for a party of two. Smaller groups the better since the outdoor seating is limited. They offer wine by the glass as you wait with an extensive wine menu. Each party then gets to decide few small dish items to share from a special menu that fuses Thai and Mexican dishes, loved the creativity. Sticking with the TTT theme we started with the striped bass fish tacos masienda chili lime - small but mighty flavors. Next the shrimp pad siew came out hot and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. I'm a sucker for the noodles. My favorite dish from the night was the BBQ pork collar and porridge ginger scallion. The pork collar was very tender. Pro tip add some lime and soy sauce, delicious! Don't forget to leave some room for the mango sticky rice, a classic Thai dessert. The sticky rice came out warm with sliced refreshing mango slices, my crave has finally been satisfied. A little on the pricier side but still a fun event to try. The service was excellent.
Food was good and well seasoned but overpriced for what
Food was good and well seasoned but overpriced for what it's worth. A nice experience but probably would not opt to return. Portion sizes for the curry and pad see ew were small I prefer the food from the Wat Thai temple stalls - plenty of flavor and a lot cheaper The music inside was too loud, which made it hard to carry a conversation. The tables are placed closely together as well.
Maybe tonight was an off night? For the high, high price
Maybe tonight was an off night? For the high, high price bordering on the absurd and the amount of hype, my experience was mediocre at best. I came on Thai Taco Tuesday and ordered the fish taco, the fried chicken and the drunken noodles. All were fine, but definitely did not justify their respective high price tags. And the service was not in keeping with how expensive this place is, either. It wasn't terrible, but just...ok. Kind of mediocre, actually. Our server just didn't seem to have been trained enough. Lastly, what is up with the loud music? And why is it even freaking louder in the bathroom? I probably should have turned on my heel and left the minute I noticed that I had to scream at the hosts in order to be heard over the music and the other diners forced to scream, if the prices on the butcher paper menu on the wall hadn't already given me enough pause. I won't be coming back.
Doesn't live up to the hype
Bad service, very loud music couldn’t hear my daughter talk , hot chili smoke inside the restaurant makes your eyes hurt. Food not bad not good.
One of the best restaurants in LA
LA Time’s 2022 Best Restaurant of the Year and James Beard award recipient - with those kind of accolades, of course I needed to try. Made a reservation a month out online and had dinner at 6pm on a Saturday with my dad. We ate outside in the alley and I liked the outdoor seating because it was a bit loud and cramped inside (although if that’s the vibe you’re going for, it’s not bad). My dad had the wine flight, which on that day was $60 (its market price) and the theme was Gamay. The som did a great job of explaining the backgrounds of the wines and our waitress Pam was so nice. I had a Thai iced tea (not listed on the menu) and they give you water to serve yourself with at the table. We got the pork ribs for our app; although it wasn’t as tender as I thought it would be, the sauce was really tasty. I appreciated the wet wipe they gave us to use after eating it. The southern Thai fried chicken was my favorite dish - it comes in 5 pieces and some sticky rice with a sweet chili sauce and a vinegar sauce. The rice flour batter was crispy and the chicken was juicy. My dad found the drunken noodles to be the best, as there was nice flavor and the right amount of spice. We were deciding between this and noodles supreme, but ultimately the drunken noodles are spicy whereas the noodles supreme are just primarily made with eggs and onions. Service was on top of everything and it was cool being in the alley (it was a little cramped inside). Bathrooms are available inside and are single occupant. Credit cards accepted. Metered street parking.
Spectacular Experience
Perfection in the Culinary Wasteland we call the San Fernando Valley. Have waited 50 years for a creative unique experience like this and finally Anajak has nailed it. We loved everything about the restaurant. Huge shout out to Som Michael who paired every dish perfectly. He added a whole wonderful dimension to the meal. The Fried chicken is over the top amazing. So is the Thai huge prawns. Even the bok choi was uniquely wonderful with the best mushrooms you could ever have. We decided to venture out with the rice with egg and beef and which was delightful. We finished with fantastic sweet mango and sticky rice and Tokaji wine recommended by the staff which was another incredible adventure. Every member of the team was helpful and friendly from the host to the busboys and servers. We no longer need to fly to NYC to have a fun creative inventive culinary night out thanks to Anajak Thai!
Anajak Thai is worth the hype
Southern Fried Thai Chicken is a must. This place is everything the reviews say it is. Delicious food, easy atmosphere!
Massive disappointment, mediocre food at best
The hype over this restaurant is unbelievable and puzzling, to put it mildly. We had a reservation for three and were only seated 25 minutes later. The restaurant is packed tightly and the seating is not entirely comfortable. We have been eating Thai food in LA for 30 years, and have also traveled in Thailand. There were three of you and we ordered five dishes. Their so-called signature dish, Southern-style fried chicken, is just like any other fried chicken: one of the two sauces accompanying it was a commercial sweet and spicy sauce that we have used at home for years. The sticky rice and mango for dessert was nondescript: the coconut flavor was barely discernible and typically it comes with roasted sesame seeds, but this one didn't. The asparagus was good but the serving was abysmally small--much less than what you would get even at a highly priced nouvelle California cuisine restaurant. The only dish that we had which I would say was very unusual and well-prepared was the Haw Mok, a steamed fish curry custard. Nearly everything is substantially over-priced: they say that wine by the glass is $18, but we were charged $23 for one such glass and wines by the glass are not listed on the menu by name. We ordered one steamed rice and got two and were charged for two. On the whole, a disappointing experience--all the more so given the outsized reputation of the restaurant.
Food: we ordered the fried chicken, the crudo and the
Food: we ordered the fried chicken, the crudo and the drunken noodles. The chicken was cooked to perfection, but lacked flavor. Unfortunately, we got a hair in our order as well. We ordered a the crudo as well which was good. The drunken noodles were oily and lacked flavor. Service: very poor. We were late for our reservation so the hostess seated us but told us they needed the table within an hour. Totally understandable though she was not very friendly in communicating this. As we had our meal we were being very mindful of the time. When it came time for dessert the waitress took our order for mango sticky rice. She came back a few minutes later and told us they could only serve it to go. I asked why. She told me the kitchen is only doing mango sticky rice orders to go. I've never heard of such a thing and suspect they were trying yo get us off the table early. Especially since the hostess was staring at us on and off for a while. Ambiance: cozy ambience. Ultimately my rating reflects mediocre food, and very poor service, given how hard it was to get a reservation.
This place got my attention for restaurant of the year
This place got my attention for restaurant of the year according to the LA times. Do they really know about food? well perhaps. I use to think a great restaurant was all about the food but in LA no sir it is not. Just hate when you sit on the sidewalk of any "upscale" restaurant. Service was great and attentive. Fried Chicken was crunchy, well cooked and juicy. The star of the dish was that spectacular, spicy, rich and hearty green curry. Every vegetable was cook to perfection of course pairing it with some rice. Great food, too small and crowded but the fine selection of wine makes this a unique Thai restaurant.
Still coming weekly.
Still the best thai in LA. What an amazing business - ownership and staff are as friendly as can be and the food is out of this world. We feel so lucky to be so close to this gem!
Took a month to get a reservation for this place.
Eventually, I got a reservation for Saturday at 4pm , which is when they open. They put a lot into making the experience unique. When you walk in you are surrounded by wine bottles and they have someone on the staff who talks you through the wine list to make it approachable. One of my favorite dishes was the papaya salad, but beware it was a bit spicy!
Lived near this place for years, been driving by it nearly
Lived near this place for years, been driving by it nearly every day and have only recently had a chance to try it. It's hard to miss even though it's a small restaurant with about a dozen or so tables because it ALWAYS has a line out front and every table full. Intriguing right? I've had plenty of thai food in my life and have never seen a similar spot so busy all the time.So one day, my fiancé decide on a little date night and Anajak Thai is mentioned, so we head over there. Once again, it's packed. On a Wednesday night. Undeterred we ask the host how long the wait will be for 2 and he chuckles and says, we're booked tonight, definitely try to make a reservation online. I don't think I've been to a place like that before. One that could literally not squeeze us in. But it honestly just made it that much more appealing.In my research after snagging a reservation that someone had given up (since all other available times were full), I found out that it not only has won awards but it's also on the Michelin Guide. Talk about fancy!Now, skipping forward to our reservation. We arrive promptly 15 minutes before the scheduled time. We're seated at an indoor window seat and given a menu. The way it's set up for ordering is that the dishes come out in a specific order depending on the section it's displayed on the menu and everything is said to be "family style" even if it's a somewhat small family. We pick 4 courses for the two of us: Papaya Salad, Chicken Satay, Massaman Curry, and Pad Thai and it was a good amount.My favorite dish was the curry hands down. The meat was so tender, I've never had anything like it. I could literally eat a gallon of it if I had the chance.The papaya salad was definitely a shocker. I'm thinking it'd be a sweet, refreshing appetizer, but in reality it was pretty spicy! I was surprised by it, because it doesn't mention a spie level on the menu but the flavor was actually really good. I'm happy to have split the plate, though, because if I had to eat it all, I'd definitely need a couple more glasses of water!Overall, this spot deserves the hype it's getting. It's a beautiful date or celebratory, intimate dinner spot that I'm honored to have in my suburban stomping grounds.------------Big shoutout to the sommelier that night! He was so helpful and nice, cracking jokes and making us feel comfortable even if we may have seemed like ducks out of water!
honestly great food.
The place is a little small and loud but the wine is amazing and the food is incredible. The pad Thai was just to die for. The fried chicken tasted like they dipped it in a curry and then battered it and fried it.... I can't express this enough..It was so freaking good like so good like really good. I took a star away because I don't like the fact that they change the menu all the time. I am a creature of habit and I like eating the same thing if I find something I like. I would be upset to go to this place only to find out that they don't have the chicken because the waitlist is LONG. all in all good wine good food amazing staff. Definitely recommend it.
Impossible to get a reservation BUT WELL WORTH IT.
Our party of six ordered a variety of dishes, probably 10 in all. Everything was incredibly flavorful. The meatballs were a crowd favorite, but the dish I can't forget is the scallops! The sauce that came with the dish was so deep with flavor I wanted more to take home. I wanted to get a whole bowl of rice to just dump in the sauce and eat myself into a coma. The Panang curry was equally splendid. I would definitely recommend Anajak and plan on going back as much as possible.
My party of 4 had a reservation for 8:30pm Sunday night.
We unfortunately didn't get seated until 9:20pm. Double unfortunate..the restaurant sold out of a few options.. I guess this might be expected being the last reservation of the evening and the venue closing at 9pm? Noted!Nonetheless, the staff were really great about the delay, they offered us a half pour of wine while we waited. During our meal the server was great! They took our drink and food orders right away. We ordered the Thai Fried Chicken which was terrific, Drunken noodles, Panang Curry and Cauliflower which were all 10's in my opinion. Lastly we had the off menu Crab which was also very flavorful. As far as the ambiance, this is a small quaint restaurant, they maximize space by utilizing the front of the restaurant for tables with heaters. White table cloths so it makes for a good experience either way.Parking: Street, meteredValue: I'd recommend and I'd go back!
Dined at 4pm on a Sunday since reservations are difficult
Dined at 4pm on a Sunday since reservations are difficult to come by during normal dinner hours. Hospitality was great from the hostess, somm, and our server. I love the homey feel inside as they blast some early 2000s R&B (lots of Mariah Carey which I love). I found myself filled with nostalgia as their dining ware resembles my grandmother's..Now let's talk about the food:Papaya Salad captures the essence of Thai cuisine. The freshness of shredded papaya, acidity of the dressing, and HEAT from the Thai chilies. I can eat this everyday as someone who loves spicy food. The Laab Tot had a unique profile I've never tasted before. I couldn't put my finger on the herb? or veg? incorporated in this pork meatball. The satisfaction of cutting into this with my fork was awesome; crispy exterior & wildly juicy interior.Southern-Thai Fried Chicken: crunch AF, I recommend to order more rice to satisfy the chicken to rice ratioBeef Panang: loved the presentation with the herbs & stream of something white? I'll guess coconut milk? It was very tender & the sauce I can douse in any starch possible. Drunken Noodles: definitely better than other drunken noodles I've had. The blistered tomatoes were delicious & added some sweetness to this mildly spicy dish. I also noticed the noodles had a delightful chew on them; unlike most rice noodle dishes that can get pretty firm when cooked or left out for a while.Would love to come back for TTT & Omakase. Would love to know how to successfully book a res for these! Lmk!
Bustling ambiance, service is on point, and the food is
Bustling ambiance, service is on point, and the food is incredible. Great music and all around vibe. Definitely worth it!
Had the Omakase for 2, at $195/person.
Will get to the punchline in that while the food and overall dining experience was very enjoyable, it is slightly pricey for the food itself. Was just hoping for maybe a bit more substance or perhaps seafood? We added the supplemental Thai fried chicken and that was super solid. Food was well prepared, service was great, and the sommelier knew his stuff. We didn't go with the wine pairing but did go with a nice bottle per his recommendation, and it was amazing. Unexpected late 90's hip hop/soul playing in the background which added unique personality to the ambiance - Thai food and hip hop, win win. A lot of credit to this legacy thai restaurant and I love the fact that Chef Justin is constantly reinventing and allowing Thai flavors to shine, in both modern and traditional ways. I can totally see how this place got the LA Times ROY.. what a great feat and well deserved! Try the omakase for a special occasion or if u have some extra $$ to spend, otherwise consider checking this place out for dinner.
Chef Justin's Anajak Thai, in partnership with his wine
Chef Justin's Anajak Thai, in partnership with his wine team, has taken the LA dining scene by storm, making it one of the most ambitious and talked-about dining destinations in the city. Their unique combination of exceptional food and wine has set them apart as the "Dead Poet Society" of pioneer culinary adventurers, and I find their pride in breaking the mold truly admirable. Here's to the free thinkers!While their current food and wine pairings are already exceptional, I believe there is still room for them to push the boundaries and explore more pairings from the same terroir. Additionally, I can't help but imagine how exciting it would be if they brought a talented pastry chef on board to complete their already exceptional idea.Overall, Chef Justin's Anajak Thai has truly raised the bar for what a dining experience can be, and I'm excited to see how they continue to innovate and inspire other culinary adventurers in the future.
Disappointing and not worth the reputation
Mediocre food, poor service. We arrived and we’re told to wait until the rest of the party turns up. The table was ready, but we basically stood in the corridor. Food was OK, but nothing special. Toilets mucky. Empty boxes scattered all over the restaurant. There’s no way this is an award winning restaurant in LA. Overall, over priced and disappointing.
Connect with users posting reservations for Anajak Thai Cuisine Los Angeles
AppointmentTrader is a community-driven platform where users can exchange their reservations or leverage their personal relationships with Anajak Thai Cuisine Los Angeles. Buyers can make informed decisions using automated seller ratings, which reflect past transactions and reliability.
Each posting on AppointmentTrader shows you which user submitted it and along with that provides a trackrecord of that user which indicates how much experience
the user has and how many percent of their transactions resulted in them issuing a refund.
If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Anajak Thai Cuisine Los Angeles at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Anajak Thai Cuisine Los Angeles page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* BraveCloth47, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* BraveCloth47 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to BraveCloth47 for any questions Peter may have as BraveCloth47 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* BraveCloth47 now uses their connections at Anajak Thai Cuisine Los Angeles to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If BraveCloth47 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, BraveCloth47 receives the $200 reward which is credited to BraveCloth47's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Anajak Thai Cuisine Los Angeles!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.

Los Angeles's Best Restaurants that are most frequently booked by customers of Anajak Thai Cuisine Los Angeles
2 transactions from users who transacted at Anajak Thai Cuisine Los Angeles
1 transaction from users who transacted at Anajak Thai Cuisine Los Angeles
1 transaction from users who transacted at Anajak Thai Cuisine Los Angeles