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A quick Google search reveals just how popular Anajak Thai has become in recent years: multiple accolades from some of LA’s most prestigious food publications, a spot on the Los Angeles Times’ “101 Best Restaurants” list, and numerous interviews with head chef and owner Justin Pichetrungsy.
However, in order to understand why Anajak is so beloved by Valley residents and celebrities such as Kiernan Shipka, Chrissy Teigen and Zoey Dutch, one has to dive into the history.
Anajak Thai has been a mainstay in the San Fernando Valley since 1981, a time when the Thai food landscape was very different in LA. Justin, who grew up in the restaurant, pursued an art career and in 2008 he graduated from the Art Center College of Design. Soon after, he became a concept artist and art director at Disney — but he never completely left the restaurant and worked some nights and weekends.
In 2019, his father Rick suffered a stroke. In order to help his mom and carry on his father’s legacy, Justin quit his job at Disney to work at Anajak full-time.
Justin has reimagined the traditional Thai dining experience by introducing innovative dishes and creative approaches to the menu. The restaurant offers Thai Taco Tuesdays, where people will find Thai-Mexican tacos, and the adjacent alley turns into a charming space with dining tables and a string of lights. For the fish dishes and omakase, Justin sources his seafood from The Joint Seafood, a very popular fish market in the Valley.
There’s also an omakase menu from Friday to Sunday starting at 7 PM.
Justin has also crafted an impressive natural wine list that features wines from all over the world. The menu at Anajak includes classic Thai dishes and rotating specials. One of their most famous dishes is the Southern Thai Fried Chicken.
Needless to say, every time you go to Anajak there’s something new and surprising.
The first time I went to Anajak was the week prior to my reservation. I’d only tried their shrimp fried rice as takeout. When I first walked in to place my order, I was inundated by the heavenly smell of fried chicken, which everyone had on their tables. I don’t even like fried chicken that much, but man…that smell. I kept thinking about it all week and I very much looked forward to it.
The spicy shrimp rice was good, but it was too spicy for my taste. Even though the girl at the register told me it wasn’t too spicy, my taste buds couldn’t handle the heat, which made for a less-than-enjoyable dining experience. There are many other things on the menu, but in hindsight, my first meal from Anajak shouldn’t have been the fried rice considering the variety of signature items they have. However, I was in the mood for fried rice and I really wanted to try Anajak…oh well.
Fast-forward to the following Saturday, I was finally able to take in the atmosphere and ambiance of this longstanding establishment. I arrived at 4 PM on the dot. The restaurant was closed, so I had to wait a few minutes before Justin opened the door. Once he did, he checked me in and prepared my table. He was so nice and accommodating. The interior has the feel of a classic, old-school Thai restaurant.
The first thing he showed me once I sat down was the impressive wine selection – there was even an in-house sommelier! I don’t drink so I kindly passed. After a few minutes, I flagged Justin down to let him know that I was ready. My order was, of course, the Southern Thai Fried Chicken and the pad thai with shrimp, which looked incredibly appetizing on the Instagram page.
The food took a while to arrive, but I didn’t mind at all. Since it was still early, I was lucky enough to experience the restaurant before the crowds started coming in. If you can, I suggest making your reservation for as early as 4 PM to avoid the rush.
About twenty minutes in, more people kept showing up and the calmness I experienced in the beginning came to an end. I was beaming with excitement when my food finally came.
Southern Thai Fried Chicken
Incredibly delicious. Perfectly crispy skin with tender meat on the inside. Look at how juicy the meat is! It was so fresh that there was still steam coming out!
WOW. The sticky rice on the side complemented the chicken. Because the chicken was already so good on its own, I didn’t feel the need to dip it in one of the sauces, which is why I didn’t try them. This fried chicken dish comes with two sauces: one sweet and one spicy. So if you want to get the full experience, you should definitely eat it with the sauces!
I ate one chicken drumstick and one chicken breast because I wanted to make room for the pad thai, but I took the rest home and ate it for lunch the next day. Besides Howlin’ Ray’s, Anajak Thai is where you can get the second-best fried chicken in LA.
Pad Thai
The first thing that struck me about Anajak’s pad thai was how well-balanced everything was. The noodles weren’t drenched in sauce, allowing you to taste and appreciate each ingredient. The presentation was very well executed. The egg, the shrimp, the bean sprouts, the crushed peanuts… The complexity of flavors was stellar: nutty, sweet, and savory. I also loved the combination of different textures. I don’t care if I have to drive to the Valley to get this pad thai again. 10/10.
When I was ready to leave, the indoor dining area was at full capacity: middle-aged people, a young couple and a family of five were enjoying their appetizers as I made my way out.
Is this the best Thai restaurant in all of Los Angeles? Thai-food connoisseurs will argue with me if I say it is. The truth is, there are hundreds of Thai restaurants in LA. Picking one would be like picking one taco truck. My total was $47.07. Some people will find this outrageously expensive, but I really liked the experience. I had pad thai again a few weeks later at another Thai restaurant in Hollywood, but it wasn’t as memorable as the one from Anajak! Next time my family is in town, I will definitely take them to Anajak. There was also a special energy in the place. It felt like I was at someone’s house and not at a restaurant. Everyone who walked in was treated like family by Justin and the staff. Anajak offered a unique Thai dining experience unlike any other I’ve had in LA, and I can’t wait to go back.
If you’re thinking of going to Anajak, MAKE a reservation on RESY! Since this place is so popular, I don’t think walk-ins are allowed unless you want to take your order to go, like I did on my first visit.
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 4 PM-9 PM.
Thai Taco Tuesdays are from 6 PM to 9 PM on Tuesdays and it’s first come, first served. Regular indoor dining is Wednesday-Sunday (4 PM – 9 PM).
Thai Taco Tuesday menu on 5/4/22.
