Isaan Station Thai Street Food — Restaurant in Los Angeles

My family and I often had food delivered from Isaan Station but yesterday we decided to dine in and were very disappointed. The food beside the pad thai and drinks were good but the other dishes along with the service was HORRENDOUS. The meats did not taste nor look fresh, much smaller portions than per usual and quality was lacking. Taste wise everything was inconsistent with what we had before (lacking flavor, beef was inedible etc). Although the food was beyond a disappointment and a WASTE OF MONEY, the service took it over the edge. The waitress was RUDE and NOT ATTENTIVE at all, but also extremely DISCRIMINATORY towards us just for being Hispanic. She attended the party that arrived after us before and with much more attentiveness, along with the rest of the customers, whether they came before or after. Her demeanor showed when we would ask for something (which was like once as she only came once) and was quite PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE. Not only that, but when we were leaving she blatantly told us to tip (in a GASLIGHTING MANNER as to make our party look bad). Mind you, we had already left the tip in the basket (which would have been more if we hadn’t been discriminated), but even if we hadn’t (due to the above), it’s not obligatory and tips are for good service. Upon leaving, after she demanded her tip/INSULTED us, I made sure to tell her in a polite manner that service hadn’t been good and to please improve next time, but received no apology or reward, NOTHING. Truly unfortunate that this happened as it was a celebratory dinner and we like to support smaller businesses + BIPOC restaurants....

I wanted to give a shout-out to Isaan Station Thai for giving my group a sensationally spicy, deliciously authentic Thai experience last night. I'm very picky with Thai food, and Isaan hit all the right spicy/sour/fragrant notes. Highlights of the feast (we were with a group of 20) were:

((( Restaurant is Cash Only )))

Isaan sausage, a fried sour and spicy sausage with glutinous rice filling

Blue crab papaya salad: quite spicy, with fermented (raw) blue crab, that I ate with my hands so I could slurp up every creamy morsel

Som Dtum Bhu Pla Rha: fermented fish

Pad Kee Mao: meat, flat noodles, chili, and Thai basil (they didn't cheap out on the Thai basil!!)

Pad Kra Prao Ta-Lay: stir fried seafood with fresh chili and basil (mostly mussels and cockels, it was brightly flavored and sneakily spicy)

Pad Kra Prao: minced meat with veggies and chili peppers

Nahm Dtok Mhu: spicy charcoal grilled pork with onions and mint leaves. Suuuuper good, also so hot my table partners broke out in a sweat

Crying tiger: super spicy grilled beef tenderloin (probably one of the best things there)

Grilled chicken: everyone loved this one, I thought it was fine, but not something I would seek out

Palm Juice: slightly sweet, slightly creamy (non-dairy) this is a great beverage to refresh and cut the spice.

A note on the spice levels:

This is a group of folks that do the super-hot at Howling Rays, so they don't mess around with the spicy. If you are concerned about the spicyness, probably order medium...

I enjoy Thai food very much, and I have tried out many location around L.A. Isaan Station has the best taste of the places I have visited. Everytime I am there, I order the Papaya Salad with crispy pork and the Pad Thai with shrimp, with some steam white rice!!! Delicious. I have also tried some other dishes...and it does not disappoint!! The place is nicely tucked in small shoping center, inside you have a classic Tuk Tuk, some booths for larger groups and more tables on the other side of the restaurant. There is a vibrant flower wall with a neon sign "Isaan Station". The staff is friendly, knowledgeable of the dishes, and very attentive. Prices are moderate (mid - range), but you can expext great quality and taste. Overall a great Thai restaurant nestled in the K Town district. If you are in the area, make sure to check it out. I live in Downey, but dont mind the trip to get some of their delicious food. One things I forgot to mention, not a deal breaker cor me, they do not accept debit or credit cards, you can pay with...