Great Thai restaurant in LA area

[Mescalito 19]

I know, I know; the category says "...in and around Pattaya.." but I couldn't think of any other place to post this. I've found some decent Thai restaurants in the Los Angeles area over the years, but none that really wowed me and made me feel like I was eating in Thailand. Let's face it: most of the more popular places tweak the recipes a bit for western tastes. There are some good places in the Thai Town/Melrose area, but those of us in the Long Beach/Orange County area are pretty much SOL.

 

Until now.

 

A new place opened up a few months ago that I went to for the first time last night and it was great. It's called Tom Yung Goong, and it's on Pacific Coast Highway about 2 blocks south of Cherry Avenue in Long Beach. True, that part of PCH isn't exactly the best neighborhood, but the restaurant itself is nicely laid-out and impeccably clean and neat. Best of all, the food is the closest I've found to what it's like in LOS. I spent some time -- OK, a lot of time -- talking with the 21 y.o. daughter of the family who owns it, as she's a hostess/waitress there. She told me that in order to make the dishes as authentic as possible they import many of their ingredients from Thailand. The food was great and, as you might expect, very inexpensive.

[zaphodbeeblebrox 0]

please delete - double posted

Edited August 27, 2007 by zaphodbeeblebrox

[zaphodbeeblebrox 0]

A new place opened up a few months ago that I went to for the first time last night and it was great. It's called Tom Yung Goong, and it's on Pacific Coast Highway about 2 blocks south of Cherry Avenue in Long Beach. True, that part of PCH isn't exactly the best neighborhood, but the restaurant itself is nicely laid-out and impeccably clean and neat. Best of all, the food is the closest I've found to what it's like in LOS. I spent some time -- OK, a lot of time -- talking with the 21 y.o. daughter of the family who owns it, as she's a hostess/waitress there. She told me that in order to make the dishes as authentic as possible they import many of their ingredients from Thailand. The food was great and, as you might expect, very inexpensive.

 

Thanks for the info. The best Thai I have had in L.A. is Vim at 8th and Vermont, which predates the designation of "Thai Town" and is about 2-3 miles west of Thai Town. It's also a terrible location, but great food. I think Vim opened a branch in Thai Town recently, but I haven't been there. Saladang in Pasadena is a close second to Vim, but more expensive/fancy.

 

If I ever see another soccer game at Home Depot Stadium in Carson, I will check out Tom Yung Goong, which is close by.

 

BTW: I think the best Thai restaurant in the U.S. is Keo's in Honolulu. Keo has a cookbook out, and has created some pretty innovative dishes, like "Evil Jungle Prince".

 

 

From Zagat 2007 restaurant review:

For the “best Thai food outside of Bangkok”, this “gorgeous, tropical”, “low-key” spot (“colorful orchids abound”) features “authentic” cooking by chef Keo Sananikone (Mekong Thai); with “excellent” service and “great prices for Waikiki”, it’s a “must” for many.

[csm 4]

Mescalito are you in SoCal again, how long will you be in the area, how about we get together for some Thai food at this new place. PM me if interested.

 

Scott

[The Mook 105]

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo...ome-middleright

an article highlighting 2 L.A. area restaurants specializing in regional Thai cuisine

[lajimmy 0]

Maybe someone from LA has seen Thai Elvis?

 

I don't know which restaurant he's in, but would like to find out.

[eltib 54]

What was great when I moved here is that I found I had a Thai restaurant right around the corner from me. It's name was Royal Bangkok Thai Cuisine. It has now closed because the owner couldn't afford the rent no longer.

Very Inexpensive and damn good.

 

A place that was near my old job was known as Khor Bua, it has since closed down because they had 2 competing Thai restaurants nearby. It was very inexpensive, just in a bad location near the BNSF railroad tracks. We know those pesky trains tend to cut into lunch hours.. I told the owner he should have opened his restaurant in Ontario where they live, and far away from any railroad tracks.

 

The last place I ate was in Corona CA on 6th street. They are right across the street from the Corona Civic Center. The name is Bangkok Bay. Good food, and cheap too.

 

If you can get a Thai meal for less than $10 including drink and tip, it is a very good deal. All 3 I've mentioned are or were examples.

 

She told me that in order to make the dishes as authentic as possible they import many of their ingredients from Thailand. The food was great and, as you might expect, very inexpensive.

 

 

That's bullshit. It's imported through Thai Town in downtown L.A. Every Thai restaurant I've ate at, tells me that's where they shop for their restaurant.

Edited September 23, 2007 by eltib