Jitlada Restaurant — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Honestly, incredibly disappointed.

I'm going to start off by saying that I am a huge fan of Thai food, and I live within walking distance of this restaurant and have visited most places in Thai Town. I knew how famous it was, from all the write ups in the LA Times, Jonathan Gold's reviews, etc.etc. so I had high expectations going in. I want to be real with you guys, I was stunned at how little the restaurant matches its reputation.

1. first thing you should know is that there is no parking in the area. Obviously it's Thai Town, so parking is scarce, but expect to spend a half hour looking for a spot.

2. there is no waiting area to wait for your party to be called, and they don't take reservations. You have to sign your name up on a list outside, and stand outside in the parking lot to get in. They will not seat you if your entire party isn't there, so if your party is waiting for someone and they call your name, they cross you of the list and someone else will get called up.

3. they won't let you read a menu in line, and they don't have one posted outside. I heard a woman ask if she could see a menu and a server walked past and said "no" without looking at her.

4. once you are actually seated, service is incredibly slow. We were waiting a half hour before we even had our order taken. Two of us didn't get food until everyone else's food had been completely finished, and then they forgot my entree. We were there over an hour and a half and asked for my entree twice, and it never came. They attempted to charge me for the entree that never came (after a server told us it had been forgotten) until we talked to a manager.

5. the food itself. Not that spicy, not that flavorful. Just really salty and bland and generic tasting. Kind of tasted like mall Thai food. I ordered tofu duck and there was hardly any duck, no peppers, and the sauce was too salty. We also had the jungle spicy lamb, which had good lamb and decent spice, but again the sauce was way too salty. The issan pork didn't have that funky sour punch that I love with issan pork, and no garlic slices so that was a miss. Yellow curry was unremarkable. The only thing that I thought was pretty noteworthy was the fried whole snapper. That was great. This is not the spicy Thai food I was expecting. I guess it's like, "white person spicy" but I've had ramen spicier than this. Does not live up to the reputation for intense flavor. Everything else was ho hum and pretty overpriced for what you got.

I wanted to love this place. I wanted to experience the jitlada that I had heard so much about from friends and the glowing food blog write ups. But it really didn't deliver. It seems like it's pretty much coasting on its reputation at this point, and if you're not into super spicy food I guess this would be ok. But I feel like it was really a miss for me.

Edit: forgot to add. There are no paper towels on the women's restroom and the blow dryer...

Lord, how do I start this review off?? So it was my birthday weekend here in LA so thai food was on my list for this day. I had 3 options so I decided on this restaurant. We arrived and it was hella packed! no parking, filled inside, and line outside of people waiting for their name to be called. So naturally, your thinking like omg I made an amazing choice and I'm about to inhale all this food right?! I went inside to go use the bathroom and I ran into the owner and I said omg aren't you the owner of this restaurant you were on jeannie mai youtube channel!? Jeannie mai had posted a video back in 2020 of her favorite thai restaurant in LA and it so happened that it was this one! So we waited outside for like 15 mins and we went inside to our table. The menu is huge with too many options. Honestly we were all overwhelmed and asked the waiter to tell us what she recommended and we went with almost all of them.

First we had appetizers, which were the crying tiger and the crispy duck rolls. Lord have mercy, the crying tiger was dry and so was the crispy duck rolls. I even asked the waiter why these 2 were so dry and she said its crispy and thats how it is and also you might be used to the slices of steak at other restaurants. Im thinking inside my head like there is a difference between crispy and dry. Like im not stupid -.-

Ok now onto the dishes. The BBQ squid came first then the green chicken curry, followed by the crab meat noodles and lastly was the morning glory.

Lord here we go. The BBQ squid was sweet, the green chicken curry was not bad but I asked for a not so spicy curry and this one was like burning my mouth spicy. The crab meat noodles were sweet as well. Then the morning glory was also sweet. We were all sitting there eating and saying did the chef confused the jar of salt with the jar of sugar?!?! Every single dish of the appetizers and dishes were all so damn sweet! Then it started to all make sense. The people that were dining there was mainly white people, a touch of indian and a touch of asians. Im like oh this is "one of those spots". Where its hella busy but the food doesn't taste good at all. My total for the bill was $144.21 and I even tipped 20% because its rude to not tip but it was not worth $172 at all!!

My suggestion to Mama Jazz would be to sit down with your whole team. Close the doors either before work or after work. Cook these dishes normally how you would with the normal chef that you use. Sit down all together at the table and EAT IT! There is no way every single person that is working there doesn't taste the sugar! Its like eating diabetes! Please fix this!

In the end, just don't bother going here is all I'm going...

Jitlada Thai Restaurant in Hollywood, CA, stands as a culinary gem, revered by food enthusiasts as the epitome of Southern Thai cuisine. Its reputation precedes it, with many dubbing it the best Southern Thai restaurant in America, and for good reason.

From the moment you step inside, you're transported to a vibrant culinary journey. The ambiance is warm and inviting, setting the stage for the feast that awaits. The walls adorned with Thai artwork add to the authenticity of the experience.

But it's the food that steals the show. Jitlada's menu is a treasure trove of flavors, boasting an extensive array of dishes that showcase the bold and complex flavors of Southern Thai cuisine. Each dish is a masterpiece, meticulously crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients and an expert balance of spices and herbs.

The restaurant's signature dishes like the fiery Dynamite Spicy Challenge or the rich and aromatic Panang Curry never fail to impress, leaving taste buds tingling with delight. And for those with adventurous palates, the off-menu specials offer a glimpse into the true depth and diversity of Thai cuisine.

But what truly sets Jitlada apart is its unwavering commitment to authenticity and quality. The chefs here take pride in preserving traditional recipes passed down through generations, ensuring that every dish stays true to its roots.

The service at Jitlada is as exceptional as the food. The staff is attentive and knowledgeable, always ready to offer recommendations or accommodate special requests. Their passion for Thai cuisine shines through in every interaction, adding to the overall dining experience.

In conclusion, Jitlada Thai Restaurant in Hollywood, CA, is more than just a dining destination – it's a culinary institution. With its unparalleled flavors, warm hospitality, and commitment to authenticity, it has rightfully earned its place as the best Southern Thai restaurant in America, setting the bar high for Thai cuisine lovers everywhere. This place is also wined and dined by hollywood...