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The first time I heard about Anajak was last year. A quick Google search proved the immense popularity this place has received in the last two years: multiple accolades by the most prestigious LA food publications, a spot on the “101 Best Restaurants” list by the LA times and many other interviews with Justin Pichetrungsy, the head chef and owner.
But in order to understand why Anajak is so beloved by Valley residents and celebrities such as Kiernan Shipka, Chrissy Teigen and Zoe Dutch, one has to dive into the history.
Anajak Thai has been a mainstay in the San Fernando Valley since 1981, a time where 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 and later became a concept artist and art director at Disney. However, he never completely left the restaurant and worked some nights and weekends.
In 2019, his father Rick suffered a stroke. Justin quit his job at Disney to work at Anajak full-time and continue to carry his father’s legacy.
Justin has completely turned around the concept of Thai food by bringing innovative approaches to the menu. The restaurant offers Thai Taco Tuesdays, where people will find Thai-Mexican tacos, and the adjacent dining alley turns into a big party. For the fish dishes and omakase, Justin uses fish from The Joint Seafood, a very popular fish market in the Valley.
There’s also omakase from Friday to Sunday starting at 7 PM.
Justin also crafted an impressive natural wine list that features wines from all over the world. Anajak’s menu, which features traditional Thai dishes and specials, changes regularly. Their most famous menu item that drifts from the traditional Thai food you’ll find in any restaurant is their famous 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 only had their shrimp rice for 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, 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 my eating experience a not so great one. 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. But I was in the mood for fried rice and I really wanted to try Anajak…oh well.
Fast-forward to the following Saturday, I finally got to sit down to take in the atmosphere and ambiance of the place. 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 inside is very old-school, classic Thai restaurant.
The first thing he showed me once I sat down was the impressive wine selection – there was even a sommelier on the house! 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 did take a while, but I didn’t mind at all. It was too early so I was lucky I got to experience the restaurant before people started coming in, which is why if you can, I would suggest you book your reservation as early as 4PM to avoid waiting.
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. It was so perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside — definitely a must-have! Look at how juicy the meat is! There was still steam coming out!
It was so fresh and delicious and to this day, I’m still thinking about it. WOW. The sticky rice on the side complimented the chicken perfectly. 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. The dish comes with two sauces: one sweet one spicy. If you want to get the full experience, 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.
Pad Thai
The first thing that struck me about Anajak’s Pad Thai was how well balanced everything was. The noodles were not soaked in sauce and you could 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 amalgamation 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 its full capacity: middle-aged people, a young couple and a family of 5 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. 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 that obnoxiously expensive for Thai food, 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. When I was inside, 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. Eating at Anajak was a different experience than I had ever had eating at any other restaurant in LA and I look forward to reliving it again.
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 time.
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.
