LA Thai Food Heaven｜Raw Seafood｜Lacha Somtum

📍 Lacha Somtum 5171 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027 Went with my Thai roommate’s brother — a true hidden gem! 🦐 Naked Shrimp (Thai-style raw marinated shrimp) Not jumping like drunken shrimp, but incredibly fresh and bouncy. Tossed with lemongrass, mint, and Thai chili sauce — super aromatic! 🐷 Holy Basil Leaves and Fresh Chili (Pad Kra Pao) The fish sauce tasted house-made — umami bomb! Minced Thai chili and pork combo had my Thai roommate devouring multiple bowls of rice. 🥗 Papaya Salad with Blue Crab Dark-colored from fish sauce marinade. We ordered max spice — seemed mild at first, then hit like a firestorm a minute later 🌶️🔥. Highly recommend eating with sticky rice — so fragrant! Comes with raw marinated blue crab — jelly-like texture you can slurp straight from the shell. Freshness rivals Korean ganjang gejang — tear-worthy! 🐟 Fish and Anchovy Curry Rich anchovy flavor shines through — packed with bamboo shoots, long beans, and eggplant. Served with Thai dried rice noodles — a taste of home for this Seattle refugee! ⚠️ Not for the spice-sensitive — this might be the spiciest Thai food I’ve had in North America. Pair with a Mudslide drink (iced Ovaltine with cream) to cool down. #LAEats #LAThaiFood #RawMarinated #StudyAbroadLife #SpicyFood