My Favorite Thai Spot Just Opened in Santa Monica 🫶🏼

My go‑to Thai restaurant in LA — Holy Basil — finally has a new location in Santa Monica! Tried their winter menu last week, and the quality is still rock‑solid.💕 The appetizer setup in Santa Monica matches the Atwater Village original — they really know how to play with herbs and spices. This time, the marinated raw shrimp came with fresh bitter melon cubes — slightly bitter and crunchy, unexpectedly delicious. My favorite of the night was the vegetarian stir‑fried noodles. Freshly fried egg noodles soaked in a rich vegetable‑tofu gravy — light yet flavorful.💕😍 Once the noodles soften, the texture reminds me of Cantonese Yi Mein — chewy and so satisfying. I could easily finish the whole plate myself.😁😁 The most creative surprise was the tom yum risotto with crayfish — every bite packed sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and umami layers. Didn’t fully win me over at first, but it grew on me bite after bite. Sadly, the Thai‑style crab stir‑fry sold out too early — next time!👌👍 The same winter menu launches this week at Atwater Village too — go check it out!❤️ 📍 Santa Monica: 2828 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404 📍 Atwater Village: 3170 Glendale Blvd., Unit C, Los Angeles, CA 90039 #HiddenGem #RestaurantRecommendation #SantaMonica #LALife