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Our Ten Best

Our 10 Best: Thai Restaurants

By Robert Sietsema, Friday, Sep. 11 2009 @ 8:00AM
Comments (22)
Categories: Featured, Sietsema

DSC04441v.jpg
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No doubt it has a beguiling name, but did Thai Pot make our top 10?

It wasn't too long ago that New Yorkers had to hang their heads in shame when we compared our collection of Southeast Asian restaurants with those in Los Angeles. And our experience of the cooking of Thailand's northeastern Isaan region was limited to a papaya salad or two on the city's Siamese menus--which mainly presented an invented 19th-century cuisine sometimes known as Royal Thai.

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The excellence of its pig leg over rice is a bellwether of whether a Thai place will be good or not.

But now all that is behind us. Sripraphai has almost become a household word, and further immigration has led to a slew of small Thai cafes, introducing us to the cuisines of farflung regions. Finally, new arrivants from Bangkok have taught us to love the diverse and modern food of the capital, which increasingly flaunts its Japanese and other international influences.

Here are Our Top 10 Thais, which turn out food from all parts of the country, including colorful curries, pungent and austere salads, and Chinese-influenced noodles. No more need New Yorkers be ashamed of our Thai restaurants, and we'll put our collection up against East Hollywood's any day of the week. As usual, if you don't see your favorite Thai among our choices, please tell us!

Turn the page to see the Runners-up to Our Top 10.

 1  |  2  |  3  |  4  | Next Page >>
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Comments (22)

yum1 says:

I'm surprised that Ayada didn't rank higher!

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 11 2009 @ 10:40AM
rsietsema says:

Top 10 is pretty damn good, yum1! My last meal there was slightly off, could be a fluke. I'll be going again, but my impression was confirmed by my friend Francis, who lives across the street.

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 11 2009 @ 11:03AM
j gold says:

You may put your collection up against East Hollywood's, but afterwards you will weep in shame. For our lowliest noodle shop, the meanest of khanom dens, will grind your meager pad Thai slingers beneath their turmeric-scented heels.

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 11 2009 @ 12:11PM
Robert SietsemaAuthor Profile Page says:

I bow before your superior Thai experience, oh culinary god of the west coast! Now please move back here, along with the greatest of your chefs.

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 11 2009 @ 12:25PM
Robert SietsemaAuthor Profile Page says:

Come to think of it, isn't the greatest of your Thai chefs rolling the bones in Vegas?

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 11 2009 @ 12:26PM
Joe MacBu says:

In spite of the other Thai wonders in LA, it is unfortunate that the Wat Thai vendors went under. What a severe loss for the Thai scene in LA and a culinary blow to the continent.

At least once or twice a year, we can enjoy great home cooked fare at the wat in Elmhurst (for free!). Yet, I still long for the kanom kroks of North Hollywood.

Mr. Gold, please stay in LA. We need someone there to document all the treasures that no one else will. At least not as hyperdeliciously as you do.

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 11 2009 @ 4:37PM
Robert SietsemaAuthor Profile Page says:

Don't worry, Joe, I'm pretty sure he's staying put.

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 11 2009 @ 5:06PM
Sarah DiGregorioAuthor Profile Page says:

Wait, the Wat Thai vendors went under??

Posted On: Saturday, Sep. 12 2009 @ 11:10AM
Joe MacBu says:

The vendors had been shut down a couple of years ago. Something about neighbors complaining about traffic and parking during the weekends. There had been rumors of re-establishing them, but I had assumed that it never happened.

I just checked the Wat Thai listing on Yelp and I'm glad to say that it looks like they are back in business! Though at a much smaller scale with some other modifications.

Perhaps jgold could enlighten us with the details.

Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/wat-thai-of-los-angeles-north-hollywood-2

Posted On: Monday, Sep. 14 2009 @ 2:41PM
cmerry says:

hmm yeah I was hoping you would find one in the East Village, I haven't and we've tried MANY. Mini Thai Cafe is good on SOME days, I order the tofu panang and one day its wonderful then another day just full of red grease and inedible. I wish I knew what days the good chef was working. Oh well.

Posted On: Wednesday, Sep. 16 2009 @ 2:02PM
Robert SietsemaAuthor Profile Page says:

Have you tried S.E.A., cmerry? It's not great, but it sometimes is acceptable. Montien Thai on Third Avenue used to be great, but now it's merely acceptable.

Posted On: Wednesday, Sep. 16 2009 @ 2:05PM
Jeff says:

Nice list, but the formatting is awkward -why? I think the countdown, should go from 10 down to 6 then 5 down to 1 if you were to do it right, as opposed to the current style. I'm just saying.... (the pizza list looked great)

I was big on Ayada, but they are lose points as long as they have no dimmer switch on the lights. Thanks for the recs, I still have a lot to learn.

Posted On: Thursday, Sep. 17 2009 @ 11:53AM
Robert SietsemaAuthor Profile Page says:

Thanks for the suggestion, Jeff. Will do it on tomorrow's list of best french fries.

Posted On: Thursday, Sep. 17 2009 @ 12:16PM
Matt Miller says:

Why not link to your reviews of restaurants in the list?

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 18 2009 @ 11:46PM
Robert SietsemaAuthor Profile Page says:

Good idea, but the reviews are widly uneven, and some are a bit too old or too short. They should all probably be rewritten, but it's just too much work for a blog!

Posted On: Saturday, Sep. 19 2009 @ 12:40AM
ilovemesomethai says:

Why didn't Nusara Thai rank higher!? It's my fave in Elmhurst! I order delivery from them frequently. Great Rad Naa, Pad Thai, Green Curry, Papaya Salad and Crispy Calamari. Always consistent with their dishes and they make it very spicy when requested. Give them another try!

Posted On: Wednesday, Sep. 30 2009 @ 11:15PM
cole says:

I would LOVE to see this as a feature in the magazine. Thanks for the recommendation on Thailand Center Point a few months back. It's way better than Sripraphai has recently been for me.

Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 3 2009 @ 6:50PM
cole says:

Oh, and where is the pig leg in the first photo from?

Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 3 2009 @ 7:00PM
Robert SietsemaAuthor Profile Page says:

Glad you liked it, cole. And the pig leg is from Ayada in Elmhurst.

Posted On: Sunday, Oct. 4 2009 @ 12:11AM
Cole says:

Just got back from Ayada -- it was fantastic.

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 5 2009 @ 12:09AM
Robert SietsemaAuthor Profile Page says:

Glad you liked it--some of the women there worked in a Japanese hotel dining room in Bangkok.

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 5 2009 @ 12:36AM
blah says:

i just came back from san fran and had the most amazing thai at Lers Ros http://www.lersros.com/ that blew my mind and highlighted what i have been missing out on. Fish paste in green curry, stir fry w fresh baby peppercorn and young galangal.. Mmm seems to me that there is some maturing up yet for NYC thai

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 12 2009 @ 2:41AM

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