If Not for This Restaurant, I’d Never Step Into This Plaza… 🍛

I only found out about this low-key Thai gem through my Thai friends from San Francisco. Every time they visit LA, they skip all the Michelin-hyped spots and head straight to Mesa Thai Cuisine—so I knew it had to be special. Now, after trying it myself, it’s become my Thai comfort-food headquarters.😊😘 “Mesa” means April in Thai—the month of Songkran, the Thai New Year. Tucked inside a weathered plaza in West Hollywood, this place is easy to miss… but once you go, you’ll keep coming back. The menu is mostly in Thai (with English subtitles), and I spotted Pad Kra Pao Squid Rice—a rare find even in Thailand, inspired by the famous Bangkok spot Phed Mark loved by food YouTuber Mark Wiens. We also ordered the classic Pad Kra Pao Minced Pork Rice, and it was so authentic it almost moved me to tears 😭🍳 The fried egg alone was perfection. Their holy basil stir-fry series is an absolute must-order. Their boat noodles are also legendary among Thai locals—intensely rich and true to street-style flavor (though maybe strong for some palates). I chatted with the owner and wondered why such an incredible spot flies under the radar on social media. He shared that he opened Mesa to cook authentic Thai food for the local Thai community—to taste like home, not to adapt to American tastes. And now that I know, I’ll be back again and again. ❤️ #100RestaurantChallenge #FoodInspo #LADiscovery #LAEats#AuthenticThai #MarkWiensEats #HiddenGemLA #ThaiComfort