Jitlada - first time visit

I tried Krua Siri on Hollywood Blvd. and it was wonderful... I am in New York right now, but back to LA in mid-May and plan on doing a sampling of many of the places.... Just heard of a place in Garden Grove called Vientiane, and it is Lao/Thai. Sounds amazing and I am eager to give that place a try as well! (I promise to report back....)

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Krua Siri
5103 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

exyalie in Los Angeles Area

Jitlada - first time visit

It's all a question of what "trade-offs" you are willing to make. Some of the dishes at Jitlada are really good and in and of themselves worthy of the trip there. I, however, am not willing to put up with the level of service (I am now reminded of my lengthy and unsuccessful attempt to find our waiter only to discover him later hiding behind the bar playing video games on his cell phone.)

I have never done take-out from there, but would *assume* it might be better. I am just no longer willing to give them my dollars and choose instead places that appreciate my patronage.

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Jitlada
5233 1/2 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

exyalie in Los Angeles Area

Jitlada - first time visit

My experience is that service is bad on a "slow" night and impossible on a busy night. For the sake of your mental health, I would pass the place by and find equally good food at one of the places nearby. I still remember my last horrible Jitlada experience... and the look on the faces of the poor folk at the neighboring table when some of their dishes arrived AFTER they were given their check.

For a decidedly different experience, I would recommend Krua Siri at 5103 Hollywood Blvd. Especially order the Isan dishes, like catfish larb. Not a pretty restaurant but charming in its own right with great food!

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Jitlada
5233 1/2 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Krua Siri
5103 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

exyalie in Los Angeles Area

Looking for Isan/Northeast Thai Food - Thai Town, Perhaps?

Hello from snowy New York City guys!

So I have lived in Bangkok and Isan for many years and need an Isan-food fix badly! When in LA, I have usually gone to Jitlada (not Northeast, I know), but my last experience there was horrible beyond words. (Mediocre food and abominable service....)

Can anyone steer me to a Jitlada-alternative? Thai Town location would be best, but NOT a requirement....

Thanks!

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Jitlada
5233 1/2 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

exyalie in Los Angeles Area

Jitlada - first time visit

Sorry, it's no longer what it was.

We make several pilgrimages to Jitlada each year expecting some of the best Thai food in California. Often, we are pleasantly rewarded. But our most recent visits (including tonight's) have been far from acceptable. While some dishes can be stellar, others are just so-so, but the reason why we will not return is the service. As native New Yorkers, we are well experienced with uneven service. But at Jitlada, it varies from indifferent to surly.

Examples: we waited 15 minutes for our initial order to be taken. The first dish arrived about another 15 minutes later. The second dish a whole half hour after we had completed the first. The third came out soon after but the kitchen forgot to add any flavor to it. The waiterperson never once checked in with us and offered no explanations or apologies.

The worst was yet to come. Our server totally disappeared while we were trying to get the check. After a long, long wait, I went to the counter myself to pay and found him busily texting on his cellphone. But it seems that our experiences was not exceptional. The neighboring table received one of their dishes after they had requested and received their check.

Less than professional service can be OK if the food compensates. Perhaps at one time this was the case here, but unfortunately no longer is.

We will not be returning.

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Jitlada
5233 1/2 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

exyalie in Los Angeles Area

What to Bring Back from Bangkok and Manila???

Hey fellow Hounds.... I am over in Southeast Asia for the entire summer, kind of shuttling between Thailand and the Philippines. Although this has supposed to be a "working" (research) summer, between all of you out there and me, it has really been a food-ing summer, and I am certain everyone can understand why. I have made it a point to eat at least 75% of all my meals on the street (easier in Thailand in general than in the Philippines), and every day has been incredible.

So here is my question to present to you: faced with the reality that I will be coming back home soon, I am trying to fill up my now near empty luggage with foodie items. Those special tastes that are unavailable or difficult to find in New York City. We are blessed with amazing places to find items that are hard-to-find elsewhere in the USA, but I know there are some special things that I should be carrying home (and the the Customs Inspection people will not confiscate!)

My current "battle plan" is to hit as many mom-and-pop grocery stores as I can and just follow my foodie instinct to grab things that "look interesting".

Would anyone like to recommend some items I should make a special hunt for while I am here? I am enjoying the random-assortment method, but live in fear of missing some MUST-GET item!

Thanks so much, for hot hot hot and wet wet wet Bangkok!

exyalie in General Chowhounding Topics