Natalee Thai — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I don't remember it being this horrible before. Must have been 10 years ago that I dined this place several times. I can tell you that things have changed coming back to try again 10 years later. I was so excited at first. The place is quite busy today on a Wed night. As usual as I remembered it. The tall blond server approached me or did I approached him since he hardly did a thing right the whole night. Perhaps except to take the orders. He wasn't even the one bringing the food out. I hope he doesn't get tip just by verbally taking the order and does nothing else to serve customers. I was seated at the sushi bar since there's no other seat he said. Waited and waited and finally made eye contact so I ordered. I ordered steamed mussels. Ran out they said. That's fine. Thai tea does not take good either being sugary where a proper Thai Ice tea should taste slightly bitter and rich but the bitter taste of tea should always be more than milky taste. This is just plain sugary Thai tea where I did not taste the milk at all. Papaya salad is not authentic and doesn't taste good either. I also ordered Thai BBQ Pork and this is when it went wrong. My server never checked on me once to ask if I needed anything or if everything is ok, he then knocked a glass of water over my meat when I just told him I will box it to go. He then gave me options to take it off the bill or remake it. I agreed he should take it off the bill and nodded no to not remaking it. Came back with the bill and it's still on there. Boxed the marinated meat now water soaked and tossed on the table saying it should be fine. This is marinated meat and having water soaked will not make it fine or flavorful any longer. Did not take the meat off the bill. Said to ask manager and I waited 10 mins with no manager coming by. So he basically ignored me and the issue. I don't know why such establishment would hire or keep a staff as horrible at serving or cannot do his simple job ? And pretty rude to treat customers that way. So I had to get someone else attention and approached the manager myself to have it taken off. Of course no tip for him. I just don't know why restaurants stay open when they don't even want customers or business? Just close the damn restaurant !!! I will not come back to Natalee Thai after coming back overly excited after 10 years and being so disappointed. There are better Thai restaurants. I really think when restaurant are too busy and had good business, they get too comfy and don't care anymore ! Maybe if no one comes anymore and go elsewhere, they will straighten their act together and start caring to treat customers right. I say being exceptional in customers service + great food are already hard to compete with other businesses and restaurants let alone being this poor in food + service ? People are crazy to go here. The manager did apologize and said he will talk to that server but I doubt he will. There's other restaurants that will happily take my money so I will bring my money elsewhere to spend on worthwhile food + service. Thank you very much for one last time of coming back after 10 Years and...

Natalee Thai was good, but not great. We ordered the Natalee appetizer, which allowed us to sample 4 or 5 different types. I loved the chicken satay (chicken grilled on a stick) and the spring rolls had a great crispy outside with a soft inside and that was perfected by the sweet and sour sauce. I thought the cucumber salad was a bit sweet and the fried crab a bit gummy for my taste. My pad Thai dish was too sweet for me, but that may be because I don't eat a lot of high sugar, high salt meals, so my palate was not prepared for such sweetness. The Thai iced tea was delicious and reasonably priced ($4.50) and my husband enjoyed his cocktail (key lime pie martini). His chicken was good, but didn't come with any vegetables and we had to pay extra to get rice with it. One upside was that we didn't have to wait to be seated or for the server to take our order or get our food. Everything was timely. Downsides were that the indoor tables were cheap and rickety and the tile floors echoed the restaurant cacophony and made hearing our 2 person conversation difficult despite being right across from each other. I would consider returning if we could find a quieter corner with more stable tables (in the carpeted section? Or outdoors?) And could find a decent entree (I'd like to try their curry) so we could enjoy more than just the appetizers and drinks. If we had a repeat of our current mixed experience, I'd look for a different Thai restaurant given that LA has so many. Can't say that I'll for sure return to Natalee Thai. If you do go, take my advice and you might have a...

Natalee Thai is one of the better Thai places in Los Angeles. The food never disappoints. We have been there many time and I thought I had reviewed them, but I failed. We have had delivery, take away and most of the time we dine there.

The service is just great. They know the menu well and will help you. They listen when you say mild or spicy and it comes out perfect every time. We have never had a bad dish there. We have never once had bad service. They are fast, but you are not rushed.

Parking is super easy in the lot and it is free.

The prices are very fair for the quality and quantity of food you get. We also have to get a doggy bag, and our take out lasts us for two days. It is so easy to reheat.

There is not a dish we do not like, we have been through the entire menu. Some of out favorites are the California curry which is served spicy, I always get mild and they do that without taking away the flavor. It is tender chicken chunks slow cooked in coconut milk with potatoes and carrots. Their Pad Thai, which is shrimp, chicken, eggs, green onions, bean curd, sweet radish and bean sprouts are quickly wok fried in pad Thai sauce. Served with chopped peanuts, fresh red cabbage, a lime wedge and chili powder on the side. It is great Pad Thai. That is always a must for me. We also love all of their rice dishes. I usually get a combination of fried rice.

Even their hot tea and cold Thai Ice tea are great.

You will love this place. It is also so very pretty, in a wonderful building and it is never too loud. It is...