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18 Must-Try Pad Thai Dishes in Los Angeles

Authentic Thai? Debatable. Delicious? Definitely.

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No Thai dish is subject to more controversy in the "is it authentic?" debate than pad Thai. Introduced to Thailand during World War II by de facto ruler Plaek Phibunsongkhram as a way to increase the popularity of rice noodles (Thailand remains the second biggest exporter of rice on planet earth, behind India), the stir fried dish meaning "fried Thai style" has become metonymous with Thai cuisine stateside, a representative of the cuisine's interplay between sweet, sour, and savory. Stir-frying is a decidedly Chinese method preparation, but the debate rages on as to whether or not pad Thai, a dish dreamed up in 1939, is authentic in a culinary culture that dates back to at least the 13th century.

Cultural merits of authenticity notwithstanding, there is one issue that is not a matter of debate: pad Thai is one of Thailand's greatest culinary exports stateside, and it's a ubiquitous, if not outright compulsory dish on just about every menu serving Thai food. As to the places that make it exceptionally well? Aside from Hollywood's Thai Town, look out for some surprise geographical outliers. Here are 18 must-try pad Thai dishes in Los Angeles.

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Sticky Rice Two

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After pledging not to serve stir-fried noodle dishes at his original Sticky Rice location, restaurateur Dave Tewasart found a workaround: He simply opened a noodle stand behind Sticky Rice and dubbed it Sticky Rice Two. In addition a fantastic khao soi, Tewasart serves up one of the best pad thais in the city. The springy, thin rice noodles pack a neat balance of sweet and sour, and come spruced up with julienned carrots and a smattering of crushed red pepper.

Krua Thai

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This restaurant just a stone's throw down Coldwater Canyon from the Wat Thai Los Angeles serves up LA Times food critic Jonathan Gold's favorite rendition of pad Thai. It clocks in a bit sweeter than your usual plate of fried noodles, rounded out with giant, plump shrimps.

Ayara Thai Cuisine

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Expats and Thai students studying abroad in L.A. swear by Ayara as being one of the more authentic restaurants in the entire city, and though pad thai largely goes unordered by native Thai folks who tend more toward regional dishes, it actually merits a spot at the table at this Westchester mainstay.

Otus Thai Kitchen & Coffee

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This hip (or as the Thai folks would call it, "'tist") Thai food cafe off La Brea not only serves great brunch dishes, but a mean pad thai, as well. Chock full of meat and with expertly prepared noodles, it's one of the standard-bearers in LA.

Night + Market

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Night + Market WeHo offers a vegan pad Thai with tofu, and in the absence of meat remains an abundance of great sweet-savory tamarind flavor that doesn't really require animal protein to be fully appreciated.

Yai Restaurant

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Yai is definitely a front-runner for pad thai in Hollywood's crowded Thai Town, owing in part to its fantastic noodle preparation that gives nicely separated strands that lend well to mixing and adhere well to the crushed peanuts and additional toppings.

Hoy Ka Noodles

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Diners feet dangle from the high bench at Hoy Ka while they tuck in to a variety of noodle soups, but the pad Thai is no slouch on the menu. Nicely separated noodles and understated tamarind notes nail the street dish with a precision matching their out-of-the-boat soup noodle offerings.

Lacha Somtum

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This papaya salad specialist also serves up a couple different types of pad Thai, including one tossed with crispy pork in addition to a crab-infused variety.

Sapp Coffee Shop

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Is there anything Sapp ISN'T good at? The famed so-called coffee shop is known for its excellent jade noodles and an egg noodle with pork belly that's as authentic as it gets, and the pad Thai isn't an afterthought, either, in case you're the type to go to the same restaurant every time and want to try something different.

Thailand Plaza

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The semi-hidden restaurant above a Thai grocery store incidentally also serves one of celebrity chef Jet Tila's favorite pad thai dishes. If you're coming for dinner, don't be surprised to get some entertainment in the form of a karaoke night.

Pa-Ord Noodle

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Pa-Ord is a specialist in just about any type of noodle, and though the dangerously spicy boat noodles is the main event, the seafood pad thai with green mussels and shrimp is a strong undercard if you're not feeling noodle soups.

Pailin Thai Cuisine

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Pailin is a khao soi specialist (meaning it's probably a better bet to order a Northern Thai dish), but for the curry-and-sausage-averse, there's a more-than-serviceable pad Thai available.

Wat Dong Moon Lek Noodle

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In addition to the traditional pad Thai, Wat Dong Moon Lek Noodle also makes an woon sen pad thai, which replaces the traditional rice noodles with glass noodles. Translation: gluten free pad thai.

Nine & Nine Thai Kitchen

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One of the busiest takeout spots on Colorado happens to serve up one of the better pad Thai dishes in L.A., with mellowed-out acidity and restrained sweetness that lets the tamarind come through.

Ruen Pair Thai Restaurant

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Everyone's favorite late-night Thai restaurant serves up a solid pad thai alongside other favorites. You can order just about any noodle dish you want, but don't skip the omelette with turnip.

Daisy Mint

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Pasadena is home to a surprising abundance of Thai restaurants, and since the change of ownership at Saladang, Daisy Mint appears to be the strongest competitor in the field. The pad thai comes out perfectly cooked to just a bit chewy, while being a little easy on the sweetness and a little heavy-handed on the sourness and acidity.

Spicy BBQ Restaurant

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You're here for the meats, but if you want to get some carbs at Spicy BBQ and you like your noodles heavy on the sauce, the pad thai packs serious flavor and is a welcome — if not brief — relief from all of the fantastic grilled meats at this cash-only hole in the wall.

Chilly Mango

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Initially President Thai 2, Chilly Mango is an offshoot that's a big hit with the locals in Pasadena along with the neighboring students at Caltech. Though pad Thai isn't naturally served spicy, the cooked-in spice works well with the dish here. Ask for it on the spicier side for an interesting take on the dish.

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Sticky Rice Two

After pledging not to serve stir-fried noodle dishes at his original Sticky Rice location, restaurateur Dave Tewasart found a workaround: He simply opened a noodle stand behind Sticky Rice and dubbed it Sticky Rice Two. In addition a fantastic khao soi, Tewasart serves up one of the best pad thais in the city. The springy, thin rice noodles pack a neat balance of sweet and sour, and come spruced up with julienned carrots and a smattering of crushed red pepper.

Krua Thai

This restaurant just a stone's throw down Coldwater Canyon from the Wat Thai Los Angeles serves up LA Times food critic Jonathan Gold's favorite rendition of pad Thai. It clocks in a bit sweeter than your usual plate of fried noodles, rounded out with giant, plump shrimps.

Ayara Thai Cuisine

Expats and Thai students studying abroad in L.A. swear by Ayara as being one of the more authentic restaurants in the entire city, and though pad thai largely goes unordered by native Thai folks who tend more toward regional dishes, it actually merits a spot at the table at this Westchester mainstay.

Otus Thai Kitchen & Coffee

This hip (or as the Thai folks would call it, "'tist") Thai food cafe off La Brea not only serves great brunch dishes, but a mean pad thai, as well. Chock full of meat and with expertly prepared noodles, it's one of the standard-bearers in LA.

Night + Market

Night + Market WeHo offers a vegan pad Thai with tofu, and in the absence of meat remains an abundance of great sweet-savory tamarind flavor that doesn't really require animal protein to be fully appreciated.

Yai Restaurant

Yai is definitely a front-runner for pad thai in Hollywood's crowded Thai Town, owing in part to its fantastic noodle preparation that gives nicely separated strands that lend well to mixing and adhere well to the crushed peanuts and additional toppings.

Hoy Ka Noodles

Diners feet dangle from the high bench at Hoy Ka while they tuck in to a variety of noodle soups, but the pad Thai is no slouch on the menu. Nicely separated noodles and understated tamarind notes nail the street dish with a precision matching their out-of-the-boat soup noodle offerings.

Lacha Somtum

This papaya salad specialist also serves up a couple different types of pad Thai, including one tossed with crispy pork in addition to a crab-infused variety.

Sapp Coffee Shop

Is there anything Sapp ISN'T good at? The famed so-called coffee shop is known for its excellent jade noodles and an egg noodle with pork belly that's as authentic as it gets, and the pad Thai isn't an afterthought, either, in case you're the type to go to the same restaurant every time and want to try something different.

Thailand Plaza

The semi-hidden restaurant above a Thai grocery store incidentally also serves one of celebrity chef Jet Tila's favorite pad thai dishes. If you're coming for dinner, don't be surprised to get some entertainment in the form of a karaoke night.

Pa-Ord Noodle

Pa-Ord is a specialist in just about any type of noodle, and though the dangerously spicy boat noodles is the main event, the seafood pad thai with green mussels and shrimp is a strong undercard if you're not feeling noodle soups.

Pailin Thai Cuisine

Pailin is a khao soi specialist (meaning it's probably a better bet to order a Northern Thai dish), but for the curry-and-sausage-averse, there's a more-than-serviceable pad Thai available.

Wat Dong Moon Lek Noodle

In addition to the traditional pad Thai, Wat Dong Moon Lek Noodle also makes an woon sen pad thai, which replaces the traditional rice noodles with glass noodles. Translation: gluten free pad thai.

Nine & Nine Thai Kitchen

One of the busiest takeout spots on Colorado happens to serve up one of the better pad Thai dishes in L.A., with mellowed-out acidity and restrained sweetness that lets the tamarind come through.

Ruen Pair Thai Restaurant

Everyone's favorite late-night Thai restaurant serves up a solid pad thai alongside other favorites. You can order just about any noodle dish you want, but don't skip the omelette with turnip.

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Daisy Mint

Pasadena is home to a surprising abundance of Thai restaurants, and since the change of ownership at Saladang, Daisy Mint appears to be the strongest competitor in the field. The pad thai comes out perfectly cooked to just a bit chewy, while being a little easy on the sweetness and a little heavy-handed on the sourness and acidity.

Spicy BBQ Restaurant

You're here for the meats, but if you want to get some carbs at Spicy BBQ and you like your noodles heavy on the sauce, the pad thai packs serious flavor and is a welcome — if not brief — relief from all of the fantastic grilled meats at this cash-only hole in the wall.

Chilly Mango

Initially President Thai 2, Chilly Mango is an offshoot that's a big hit with the locals in Pasadena along with the neighboring students at Caltech. Though pad Thai isn't naturally served spicy, the cooked-in spice works well with the dish here. Ask for it on the spicier side for an interesting take on the dish.

Related Maps