One of the main reason we visited Los Angeles with our kids from our last vacation was mainly for my craving of Thai food. Yup! You heard that right. I just want to gorge myself with Thai food in Thai Town.
From the picture above, you might think that I took that picture in Bangkok from our trip to Thailand. But nope, that picture was from Thai Town in Los Angeles.
Thai Plaza and Silom Market is a main Thai shopping market with everything from food to household items. The store is packed full of Thai products and other Asian products you can think of. We didn’t spend a long time there because I know I can’t buy anything so why torture myself.
Thai Town in Los Angeles is a six-blocks stretch along Hollywood Blvd between Western and Normandie. You can tell that it’s Thai Town because you will be greeted by the Thai Shrine that is filled with colorful garlands, candles and lotus flowers.
The places we couldn’t miss in the visit to Thai Town are the Thai restaurants. The food in Los Angeles reminds me of home. No gimmick, nothing fancy, taste just like home. My brother who lived in LA for a couple years recommended me to Ruen Pair and I wasn’t disappointed.
Sorry there is no picture from Ruen Pair. I was just too busy eating!
After a big meal, we walked across the parking lot to another must-stop for me. Baan Kanom Thai is a perfect place to help sooth your mouth from spicy Thai food. This place has almost every types of Thai dessert that I have been dreaming and thinking about.
That’s one thing I love about visiting little ethnic town in major city like China Town or Thai Town here. It won’t give you the same experience as visiting those countries but I think it will give you a little glimpse. The signs are all with Thai letter and people is speaking Thai all around you.
So if you are looking for good Thai food in Los Angeles, head to Thai town and you won’t be disappointed. There are many more great restaurants in the area. But with our limited time, we could only eat so much in a day.
If you live in LA, please leave a comment for other great restaurants to share with us.
Check out other travelers Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.
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I’m totally there next time we visit L.A.! Thanks for the great info.
Your welcome! Enjoy Thai food for me. :)
Oh, yum!! I’ve only been to the Thai Temple in North Hollywood where food vendors set up outside the temple every Sundays. I never knew there was a Thai Town. We’ll be in LA for the 4th of July weekend and Thai Town is on my list!
I think this might be the only Thai town in the US. LA probably has the largest Thai population there. Oh.. I’m so jealous just thinking about the food you will get to eat. :)
There is a great little stretch of Asian restaurants in West Los Angeles on Sawtelle Blvd. just north of Olympic Blvd. (no Thai, tho). My hubby (who’s Chinese) says Little Hong Kong Cafe dishes always remind him of a home cooked meal. We love it so much we had our rehearsal dinner there! :)
Ah!! I’m so jealous of the choices you have in LA for all the Asian restaurants. :)
I have never been to LA but just seeing this post and realizing it has such a cool Thai town has moved it up on my list of places to visit. We really, really miss Thai food. Don’t get me wrong, the Italian food we are having is fantastic but this post has me craving all of those unique Thai tastes. thanks for sharing this.
I know what you mean.. If it’s for not Thai Town, I might not go to LA just yet with my kids. :) Nothing wrong with LA. We did have fun in our visit.. :)
I live near LA and had no idea we even had a Thai Town! I am so excited! Okay- what should we order? What desserts should I get? I am all ears! Totally bookmarking this post for future explorations to the north! Thanks for the introduction!
Oh.. It’s too hard to tell what to order because I tend to order almost everything of the menu. I try to stick to dishes that I can’t normally get from typical Thai restaurant. No Pad Thai for me! :) Another tip will be go with a group of friends so you can eat family-style and share several dishes. That’s how we eat in Thailand most of the time.
For dessert, I have a soft spot for Tong Yip, Foi Tong and Tong Yod. These are Golden Egg York in various shapes. It’s Thai dessert with the influence from Portuguese. So good but yet so bad for your waistline. ;)
we have been already to LA; pity we didn’t know about Thai Town before as we love Thai food. We stumbled upon instead China Town, Little Tokyo and “Mexican Town”, on Olvera Street, but have to said they didn’t have that wow factor.
Oh! I wish I have more time so I can explore those parts of LA too. Well, I think Thai Town doesn’t have any wow factor either. It’s nothing like China Town in NYC or Chicago. Thinking.. a bit not too shiny stripe mall.. But we just go for food. :)
Ooooo…. the pics from Baan Kanom has gotten me HUNGRY!!! I do miss the Thai/Lao dessert b/c you normally can’t order them at most Thai restaurants.
Right now, I am in Krabi, Thailand and in next vacation I will be try to visit Los Angeles, Thai Restaurants. Thanks for sharing nice information.
After reading all page I conclude that this place should visit for entertainment. I like the photos and the work. I never eat Thai food in my life. But let me tell you that I like the fast food with lots of joy. I was told by somebody that this place is paradise to visit. This place is unique then other places as the cultures, food, style of living, the structure of building.
Hi, Thanks for the nice informative and a very beautiful picture….
I think it is really very beautiful place to enjoyment there living style, food and the most important there culture is really very amazing… i love this place and Thai foods…
Good job…. Keep it up…