The best Thai restaurants in Los Angeles in 2026 are Jitlada for fiery Southern Thai, Night + Market for Thai drinking food, Anajak Thai in Sherman Oaks, and Ruen Pair, Pa Ord Noodle and Sapp Coffee Shop in Thai Town. Holy Basil downtown and Lum-Ka-Naad in Northridge round out the list, and the Wat Thai temple's weekend food stalls are a local favorite.
Los Angeles has the largest Thai community outside Thailand, centered on Thai Town in East Hollywood along Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards. Many of the best places are strip-mall restaurants open late. Ask for heat "Thai spicy" only if you mean it.
Southern Thai cooking with a famously fiery menu.
Jitlada is the best-known Thai restaurant in LA, with a huge menu of Southern Thai dishes, many of them very spicy. The khua kling, the curries and the morning glory salad are favorites.
The walls are covered with photos of famous diners.
Good to know: Ask how spicy each dish is; the heat is real.
5233 1/2 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Loud, fun Thai drinking food and natural wine.
Night + Market Song is Kris Yenbamroong's Silver Lake restaurant, serving bold Thai drinking food such as larb, fried chicken sandwiches and crispy rice salad, with natural wines.
The original Night + Market is on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.
Good to know: Order the crispy rice salad and the larb.
3322 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Family-run Thai with famous Thai Taco Tuesdays.
Anajak Thai is a family restaurant in Sherman Oaks that chef Justin Pichetrungsi turned into one of LA's most talked-about Thai restaurants. Its Thai Taco Tuesday nights and natural wine list draw crowds.
The regular menu covers classic Thai dishes cooked with care.
Good to know: Book ahead for Thai Taco Tuesday.
14704 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
A late-night Thai Town staple for homestyle dishes.
Ruen Pair is a small Thai Town restaurant known for homestyle dishes such as morning glory with garlic, Chinese broccoli with crispy pork and spicy salads.
It has long been a late-night favorite.
Good to know: Cash was traditionally preferred; check before you go.
5257 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Boat noodles and tom yum noodle soups.
Pa Ord Noodle serves Thai noodle soups, especially boat noodles in a dark, rich broth and spicy tom yum noodles.
It is cheap and fast.
Good to know: Order a few small bowls to try different broths.
5301 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Famous for jade noodles and boat noodles.
Sapp Coffee Shop is a small Thai Town diner known for its jade noodles with barbecue pork and duck, and its boat noodle soup.
It is a daytime spot.
Good to know: Go for lunch; it closes in the evening.
5183 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Modern Thai street food in downtown LA.
Holy Basil serves Bangkok-style street food, such as spicy pad kra pao and tom yum shrimp, from a small window in a downtown food court.
There are also locations in Atwater Village and Santa Monica.
Good to know: Order at the counter; seating is limited.
718 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
A huge, authentic Thai menu in the Valley.
Lum-Ka-Naad in Northridge has a very large menu of Thai dishes from across the country, including Northern and Isaan specialties.
It is the go-to Thai restaurant for the west Valley.
Good to know: Ask about the Northern Thai dishes.
8910 Reseda Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324
Weekend Thai street food at a Buddhist temple.
On weekends, the Wat Thai temple in North Hollywood hosts food stalls selling Thai street food, from papaya salad to boat noodles and coconut desserts.
Buy tokens at the booth and go stall to stall.
Good to know: Go at midday on Saturday or Sunday; bring cash for tokens.
8225 Coldwater Canyon Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91605
Thai Town is in East Hollywood, roughly along Hollywood Boulevard between Normandie and Western Avenues. It was the first officially designated Thai Town in the US.
Jitlada, known for Southern Thai curries and a famously spicy menu, is the most celebrated. Night + Market and Anajak Thai are the modern favorites.
The khua kling (dry curry of minced beef), the crispy morning glory salad and the Southern curries. Ask staff how spicy each dish is.
Several, such as Ruen Pair, stay open late into the night. Hours change, so check before going.
On weekends, the Wat Thai temple in North Hollywood hosts food stalls selling Thai street food. Buy tokens and choose from the stalls.