Yai Restaurant

Thai-Chinese joint, right next to Natalie's Peruvian. I've been here a few times, and always been pleased.... more

Thai-Chinese joint, right next to Natalie's Peruvian. I've been here a few times, and always been pleased. Some of my recs include: combination... more

This is one of my favorite Thai restaurants outside of Thailand, if not the best in LA! Being a native Thai,.. more

This is one of my favorite Thai restaurants outside of Thailand, if not the best in LA! Being a native Thai, I can truly say that the food serve... more

The last time I have gone in 2002 or so, I'll never forget the horror at Yai Restaurant.\r I have ordered seafood soup, which came in a metal container being boiled underneath.\r The taste was ok so we have almost empty the metal container.\r When I look at my serving bowl to get the last soup from the metal container, I found a oval shaped brown object.\r It was a R*@CH EGGSHELL!!! \r We complained quietly to a lady behind a register so that we wouldn?t disturb the other customers. \r A lady took the shell on a napkin to a kitchen for about 8 mins or so (can you guess what they were doing back in a kitchen? ) and came back. \r She dared show me a swapped shell. It was swapped with a chopped chili. \r We told her that we know how r*@ch eggs look like since we were in a pet industry and asked her where the original eggshell we had given to her. \r Then she started screaming that we just started complaining so that we didn't want to pay for all the food we have ordered, totaling only $30 or so. If I didn?t have $30 to pay, I?d go to a cheap take out place. She made no sense. \r She literally screamed and made it all loud for other customers who were enjoying their dinner. So we through money at her and left. \r We have, of course, contacted HEALTH DEPT for this matter. They have investigated and reported that their kitchen was filthy for a cooking environment. \r If you really want to eat Thai food, do not eat at here. My native Thai friend does not even recommend here at all. There are other good places on Hollywood. more

Looking for real thai food without being overcharged for the tablecloths? Look no further. Yai's stays true... more

Looking for real thai food without being overcharged for the tablecloths? Look no further. Yai's stays true to its Thai roots, without making the f... more

Still reeling from dinner at Yai last night. We were heading to the Greek Theatre, so I Googled ""best Thai restaurants in Thai Town."" Yai consistently came up with excellent reviews, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I was warned about the funky atmosphere, so no problem there. I was even OK with the grime and dirt all over the plastic coated menus, that could easily be wiped off once in awhile. The first dish we ordered was crab rolls, which were neither rolled or had crab in them. They were sort of flat, excessively greasy pancakes made with fake crab. Ugh. Next came the pad Thai--shrimp were OK in there, but again the noodles were a pile of grease.\r BBQ pork is one of my favorite dishes, but not at Yai. It was an unseasoned, dry mess. I thought we could salvage dinner with a nice chicken dish in a spicy garlic sauce. I wasn't sure if we were eating chicken, pigeon, seagull, or some other mystery poultry, but I did try it. Did I mention the rice was good? We tried enough dishes to get an idea of what the food is like, and I was shocked at the abysmal quality of this place.\r I have never been steered wrong by public on-line reviews before. STAY AWAY FROM YAI!! Pros: cheap Cons: BAD food more

I regularly go there and rate the food highly and service as adequate with one MAJOR cave-eat - they cook to-go orders after they serve seat-in customers. Three customers that came way after me were half way through their dishes before my order was ready, and it was NOT large or complex (three entrees and an appetizer). I like their food too much to dump them, but I shall NEVER again place pure to go order either. more

Hey, did you know that they opened a new Yai's on Vermont? That's actually the name, ""Yai's on Vermont"" They totally have better parking since it's in a huge lot next to Rite Aid. However, at first I got lost because I was trying to look for it on Hollywood Blvd. since that is the cross street! But the restuarant itself is on Vermont. The food is still great, I think that they moved the cooks over and the ambiance is WAY better than the one by 7-11. It's still cash only though, but hey, you're across 4 banks so just be prepared. Put it this way, if you want to entertain friends, then go to the new one. It's nicer, BIGGER, and has a better appeal to the NEWBIES. BUT if you don't care and want great food, then definetly go to the OG one. You will not be disappointed. 1627 N. VERMONT and HOLLYWOOD in the FAT BURGER center. Pros: BETTER PARKING Cons: GO FOR DINNER BECAUSE IT'S RELAXFUL more

I have to tell you, that i have been a fans of thai cusines and been in thailand and loves the thai authentic taste and this restaurants delivers it. I've goning there for many years, as alway s, got great service and excellent food just like in bankok!!!!! more

Very good - go with a big group so you can order a bunch of different things and try them all. Then fight over who gets to take home the leftovers (very hearty portions). Great cheap eats place. It's in a strip mall so there is absolutely no atmosphere - except that kinda is the atmosphere, which is cool. more

After my friend came back from studying abroad in Thailand, he took us here for an after-bday dinner. \r GOOD SIGN #1: The ""C"" health code grade = authentic Thai food. Note--traditional preparation of many Asian dishes is in direct conflict with the county's health code regarding certain foods (e.g., leaving fish to hang dry without refrigeration). So when you see a C- or B-rated restaurant, don't immediately cross it off your list.\r \r GOOD SIGN #2: Everyone in the restaurant was Asian or a bum-looking college student, like us. \r \r GOOD SIGN #3: Quick, no frills service.\r \r We had the best Thai iced tea (try the coffee Thai iced tea too). We ordered--I wish I could remember the name of it--a sweet-n-sour tasting soup, served in a huge silver bowl. We also ordered sticky rice and then really sticky rice, which is wrapped in plastic and is served in its own little basket. It was chewy and we used it like bread to calm the spiciness in our mouths. To top it off, the food was very inexpensive.\r Pros: authentic thai food, real Thai iced-tea, cheap Cons: parking, go early bc it can get really crowded more

I ordered the Panang chicken curry and have to admit, it was phenominal. However, I'm not a big fan of peas, and there were sure alot of them in there, so I'll have to order it again w/o to really give it a shot. Not the best in the universe, but definitely awesome for the price. The place has a nice sketchy feel to it; the sort of place where you might want to leave your watch in the car. But it was cool and I'll definitely go back! Pros: Great food for the price Cons: Slightly sketchy area more

This review must be paid for in advance. A 9.9 is really silly. The restaurant is dirty, the food is poor quality and the service is sad. A 9.9, if it's not paid for, has to be a misprint. A 6.6, maybe it's upside-down? more

It is true that the food was very good but the place is a bit untidy. I'd rather go to a Thai restaurant with better setting and cleaner environment even though the food is not as good as Yai. Pros: Authentic Thai food Cons: Limited parking space more

The Shrimp with Chili garlic sauce is really good but it's probably the spiciest dish I've ever had in my life. My eyes are still watering. I would definitely ask to get it ""mild."" more

I first learned about Yai in Thailand from a Peruvian woman and a British man who swore it was the ONLY Thai restaurant to dine at in Los Angeles. We tried it, and we've been hooked for years. While there are plenty of other good Thai restaurants in the area, Yai is consistantly good, very fresh and very authentic. Their fried tofu is unique and out of this world. Don't go for the atmosphere, go just for the food! more

This place feels like a Thai cafeteria. The decor isn't the greatest, but you come here for the food anyway. Spicy, delicious and the most authentic Thai food. Lots of northern Isaarn specialities. I recommend the moo yang (grilled pork), som tam (papaya salad) and sticky rice. more

Yai has the most authentic, tasty Thai food I have ever tasted. I have been coming there for more than 10 years now, and very little has changed. The surroundings are ugly, the interior is drab, but the food is always delicious. The food is spicy and authentic, I know because I have traveled to Thailand, and even my Thai friends admit Yai is one of LA's best. Pros: Authentic, Spicy, True hole-in-the-wall Cons: , OK service, No delivery more