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    Holy Basil

    4.2 (270 reviews)
    PriceyThai
    Open 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

    Holy Basil Reservations

    Order Holy Basil Takeout or Delivery

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    HOLY BASIL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Reviews With Photos - Holy Basil

    Julian R.

    Happened to be able to have a night in so I ordered a couple things because my friend said that this place is amazing... Grandmas Fish: 8.9 / 10 especially with the spicy fish sauce, it was so amazing. I can't lie. I can go back just for this everytime! Chicken Curry: 7.8 / 10 this was good, dark meat is my favorite. Better than average socially with one of the sauces but I should have eaten it without the fish. Beef with Egg: 7 / 10 this is exactly what it is... just good eats, a staple, fried egg was a good edition and the choice of sauce changes the flavor. Nothing crazy but if you wanted beef you got it.

    menu Feb 2026
    Vicky N.

    If I could describe this place, it would be like an American who traveled to Thailand for 2 weeks and wants to make dishes based on what they tasted. One of the dishes was a Thai parmesan salad, which I saw someone eating on the way in. I thought we were next doors to an Italian restaurant. My partner took me here for our anniversary night. The restaurant is tucked away into an almost alley-like structure. We sat along the walls of the building. Service here was stellar! Our server was very patient and thorough in her explanations of the menu and recommendations. The vibes here were very calm and intimate. The menu was very bare and did not have pictures and some dishes only listed the ingredients, and not the way it was prepare (such as stir-fry or boiled or grilled, etc). I felt like it was so hard to make decisions especially as it was our first time. The food was pretty good. Also - please do not go here expecting traditional Thai food. We got the Nam pla (aguachile with bay scallops), the pad kee mao with moo krob (drunken noodles with crispy pork) and the Double R ranch new york steak with Thai basil chimichurri. The steak was alright, it was not the most tender. It's yummy to dip in the aguachile sauce. The aguachile was very tender and abundant in scallops! However, it was on the salty side due to the fish sauce and spices so we requested more lemon. The drunken noodle had great texture and had an addicting umami flavor. It was also a great portion. In total, it was about $110 for a dinner for three dishes, which is expensive in my opinion. I'm glad I gave this place a try.

    Grandmas fish and rice
    Emi G.

    Good lord. I am obsessed with Holy Basil! Came back because I wanted to eat the crispy salad rice again. Was so heartbroken when I found out their menu changes periodically. Heartbreak mended the second the Thai Caesar entered my mouth. Wow. And then the green mussel curry risotto......wow. The best thing I have eaten anywhere in months. The eggplant chicharrones dish I probably would not order again but the Caesar and risotto I would. I wish I could make food like this. Wow.

    Lindsey D.

    One of my favourite Thai restaurants when I'm in LA. I've had my good luck finding parking in the area and it's been good vibes every time I visit. Loved the cabbage salad, crab curry, crab 2 ways, eggplant and squash with holy basil are my regular go-to's. Sometimes it can get loud the restaurant, just adds to the overall ambiance.

    Patricia D.

    We enjoyed our dine-in experience after a long history of only doing take-outs! Chelsea was lovely and added to the fantastic experience! They gave great suggestions from each section of the menu and knew exactly when to check in on us. We started with their cabbage salad, which packed a punch! Second was the fresh tomato salad, my favorite! Can't beat the freshness and umami flavors. Grandma's fish and rice was my second favorite. The crispiness of the fish with the rice is a texture I always enjoy. I loved the shallots and cilantro. It was a tad more humid the day we dined in, but it didn't take away from the great experience! There was free parking available. The ambiance was relaxing with plenty of natural light coming through the alley. I love that they serve select dishes for dine-in only. That was a nice treat! Overall, what a fantastic restaurant! I'm eager for my family and friends to give this place a try!

    Waygu - AH-mazingly tasty chimichurri
    Jon N.

    We had some pretty amazing flavors in the dishes we tried at this super tiny little spot. We had to grab a couple of seats at the little bar area and had great service from the charming Maegan. She made some excellent suggestions and was super patient with us. The pacing was a problem, especially sitting at the bar. After our first bites, we suddenly had ALL of our dishes, two water glasses, two sake glasses, a bottle of water, a carafe of Sake... it was was too crowded and, as much as we loved the flavors, it was annoying. If we come back, I'd only order maybe 2 plates at a time. Decent Sake menu, and some wines offered.

    Cabbage salad
    Jarenn N.

    Holy Basil in Atwater Village is a gem that absolutely delighted my tastebuds and earned 5 stars for amazing food and great service! Came in on a Sunday for an early dinner with no reservation and our party of 2 was seated within 5 minutes--already a win as we were starving! The staff was incredibly welcoming and offered thoughtful recommendations, which we happily followed... and wow, did they deliver. We started with their seafood sampler platter, a vibrant spread of crab claws, shrimp, ceviche, and beef tartare that felt like a celebration of bold flavors and fresh ingredients. The tang and spice of each small dish was different but equally yummy! The spicy cabbage salad was a crunchy, mildly fiery dream, and the pad khee mao with duck? Rich, savory, and perfectly balanced with heat and umami. This is my go-to order at Thai restaurants and so far my favorite place to get it! One standout bite I can't stop thinking about was a delicate crab and uni creation--light, briny, and luxurious (wish I remembered the name!). The vibe here is playful and transportive, with decor that channels the energy of Bangkok's street food scene. Loved the thoughtful touch of outdoor sinks near the single-stall restrooms--practical and considerate as a lot of the food I tended to eat hands on! Parking was free and a breeze in the neighborhood, which made the whole experience even smoother. There is paid street parking too but it can be so busy in Atwater. Holy Basil is the kind of place that makes you want to come back with friends, order everything again, and relive the magic. Already planning my next visit!

    Andreas K.

    Yes, the awards are justified!!! This is an absolute gem but be prepared: your mouth will burn. Cute little place, tight seating with some chairs, often times stools only - but cute. The menu is not excessively long (and great: nothing can be changed bc it should not be changed). The staff guided us through with welcome recommendations. 1 1/2 items per person appears to be enough even though they suggest 2 items per person. The food was a (hot) dream: beautifully presented, phantastic breadth, combinations and variations of flavors, perfectly sync'ed with various textures. Only the lobster was dissatisfying to dissect without appropriate tools. It would be nice if there was a sweet bouquet possible at the end, but there is room for evolution. Will come back even without that ...

    Lobster Tostada
    Elise B.

    We came in for lunch, it was very busy. Everything we shared- it comes out family style. My two favorite dishes were the moo krob and wild shrimp curry. The moo krob is juicy with a super crisp outside- I could eat multiple dishes of this. I love shrimp and curry, so the wild shrimp curry was an immediate hit with me. It has great flavor, big shrimp and a bit of heat. The lobster tostada had good size chunks of lobster and refreshing flavor. The por pia tod are long skinny pork egg rolls. The pad see eww is made with the super thin noodles and pork loin pieces. The Bangkok fried rice is made with jasmine rice and crab. All of the dishes were absolutely delicious and I would order all of them again! Parking- parking lot behind the building or street parking

    Andrew I.

    Was feeling Thai this night and stopped by Holy Basil. Kicked off the night with a white sangria and the house beer. For an appetizer we got the crudo, delicious the star of the night and highly recommend. A great blend of flavors and a good kick, but not overpowering. We got a beef curry, which was flavorful and I was a fan of the curry. The pork noddle dish was a mix, outside of the pork it was delicious. However, the pork itself could have been seasoned more. Our server informed us of the menu and gave great recommendations. Paring available in the back. A solid Thai joint that gives Thai tapas vibes.

    Fanny S.

    Wow, this is the best restaurant I've been to lately! The service is great, and the staff explain each Thai dish really well. Everything we ordered was delicious. The crab curry is a must-try, the flavor is amazing. Just remember to book ahead since it's a small, busy place. Definitely worth a visit! The food I ordered is listed below: * Lhon * Kari Puff * Kao Kapi * Crab 2 Ways * Kanom Jeen * Crispy Rice Salad

    Gra Pow Crispy Pork w/ Thai Basal & Egg
    Linda T.

    If you enjoy the taste of herbs and bold flavors then this would be your spot. I love Thai food, but Holy Basil definitely has a different twist to their food. Located in Atwater Village, parking can be troublesome to find depending on what time and day you go. We were able to find metered street parking. The restaurant itself isn't big at all, and didn't have much seating other than a couple of tables outside and some counter seating indoors with an extra table or two. We chose to sit indoors, and the service was great! We got some recommendations and also found out that the menu changes twice a year. What was ordered: Lobster Tostada: (3.5/5) This is a fresh take on your regular tostadas. It was filled with lobster chunks as well as pieces of mint leaf, fish sauce and cilantro lime sauce. I think i had bigger expectations for this dish, but I think it was lacking a bit in flavor. The mint really overpowers the dish, but i thought it was decent. Grandma's Fish & Rice: (4/5) It's almost like a fish fried rice. They give you a side of fish sauce that you're supposed to pour on the top and then mix. Beware there are a lot of red chili peppers in it. I ate one accidentally and my mouth was on fire. Request for no red chili on it, if spicy isn't your thing. Overall it was a good dish, portion size was kind of small for $24, but glad we tried it. Gra Pow Crispy Pork Belly w/ Thai basil add egg: (5/5) My absolute favorite here. Portion size was good to share and the flavors were packing. The pork belly was the perfect amount of crispy and the Thai basil brought the entire dish together. I highly recommend getting a can of their Thai tea. I've never seen Thai tea in a can, but this is the best Thai tea I've had. It wasn't too sweet and just perfect the way it was. Enjoy!

    Steak
    Bianca T.

    If I could give this a 4.5 I would - everything was incredible and packed with so much flavor. We had the beef tataki, steak, and crab fried rice. The steak was very spicy but had great flavor and each dish was so fresh. I'll definitely be back!

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    8 days ago

    Super small portions at large portion prices, I left hungry and went across the street for a proper meal

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    Page 1 of 7

    Holy Basil Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Holy Basil

    How much is the corkage policy?

    $25 for regular 750 ml bottles. $50 for a magnum

    Didn't I read that the Atwater spot offered unusual breakfast items as well?

    They currently don't open until 11am so I'm not aware of a breakfast menu at this time.

    Can you BYOB?

    Wine yes w/ a corkage fee. No other outside drinks

    Is there seating outside for 4 people? The tables look small....

    No. Currently there are only 3-4 two-top tables outside. And those are only temporary, made of stacked crates with a piece of wood and a tablecloth on top.

    Is there parking?

    Yes! Lot in the back.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Another lovely spot tucked within the Grand Central Market! Reasonably priced for the portion size…read morein my opinion, as I had leftovers! I tried the Pad See Ew with beef, and it was delicious! Slightly sweet, with tender broccoli stems and wide rice noodles that absorbed the myriad of flavors. I will return to try more as the menu has a solid list of items, but for now, the Pad See Ew serves as a solid baseline to the quality of this establishment.

    It was our first time trying Sticky Rice at Grand Central Market. We ordered the following:…read more Moo Ping Sticky Rice ($17) Pad Thai with choice of pork +$2 ($17) Pineapple Fried Rice (Choice of chicken +$1) $17 Pad Siew (Choice of beef $2) $17 Since it was peak weekend hours, it was super busy, and we had to wait a bit for our food, but it was honestly so worth it. The plates looked kind of small at first glance, but the portions actually turned out to be really solid and filling. Moo Ping is Thai grilled pork skewers paired with warm, sticky rice is a classic street food combination. The grilled pork skewers had that perfect char and a super flavorful, sweet-savory marinade. Eating it with a little pinch of the warm sticky rice was amazing, but the meat is so good that you can honestly eat it by itself. Highly recommended for the grilled pork skewers. The Pad Thai, Pineapple Fried Rice, and Pad Siew were all really tasty and had those authentic street-food vibes. If you're going to GCM and craving Thai food, this spot definitely doesn't disappoint. We're already planning to go back next time.

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    White Elephant

    White Elephant

    4.4
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    Service was fantastic - thank you Plernpit for taking such great care of us…read more The restaurant is very clean and beautifully decorated. Steak Pad See Ew Level 3 Spice, spice level was accurate. Broccoli was fantastic, soft exterior but super crunchy Noodles were very flavorful, but broke apart fairly easily. Not a problem if you dont mind spooning up the bits like me. Shrimp Wonton off Happy Hour Menu Super crunchy, the sweet and spicy sauce was delicious

    Came for a weekday group lunch. When we sat down they only offered us the regular menu. We had to…read moreask for the lunch menu. SMH. The regular menu is quite expensive with the cheapest at $17 for appetizer and salad options and most expensive at a whooping $80. The lunch menu was more affordable but still on the pricey side $21-$32 with add on options. The waitress was taking our orders and what surprised me was with my co-worker ordered the pad see ew and the waitress asked her how spicy she wants it. I was aw shocked. I'm not a Thai food expert but I do know pad see ew is a noodles dish that's offers a sweet soy sauce flavor. Never served spicy. I didn't get to try the dish but when I asked my co worker how it taste she said it was spicy and not sweet at all. I'm not sure that was an authentic pad see ew. I ordered from the lunch menu and got the tumeric chicken, with steamed vegetables and paid extra $7 to substitute for a papaya salad. I asked for #2 spice level but it was not spicy at all. Other co workers said they asked for medium but it was way too spicy. So it looks like their spicy levels are inconsistent. I'm not sure how this restaurant can justify the prices with the quality they are serving. Probably won't be back. Service was mediocre. Didn't offer to refill our waters. Parking is metered parking or paid lot.

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    Thai Food Express

    Thai Food Express

    4.1
    (166 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $

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    We love this place. Pad Seeuw, Pad Thai and Orange Shrimp with Steamed Rice will definitely keep…read moreyou going back ag as in and again. 100,000 stars!

    Photos
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    The view from my seat. The kitchen and counter for ordering and paying are in front of me.
    Pad Thai with tofu. It was yummy. I ordered it without egg.
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    Hoy-Ka Thai Restaurant

    Hoy-Ka Thai Restaurant

    4.3
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    Service was great! Eating early on a Saturday night with my kid made the experience smoother-- easy…read moreseating, quieter, easy free street parking. Moo ping (sweet pork skewers street style) was good but not the best in LA (I like the one at Rosemead/Pas President Thai). Khao soi with chicken drumstick is delicious and filling. Hoy Ka noodles (dry, pork) is nice and a sweet balance to the spicier options I got. Cat fish with chili paste also good but note it is spicy. I love that it comes with generous portion of flash fried basil. You have to order a side of white rice since it only comes à la carte and I wouldn't recommend eating it alone!

    This place is by far my favorite Thai restaurant and that's why it's so disheartening to write this…read morereview. I have written at least 2 glowing reviews of the restaurant in the past and wish this could be one of them, but it's not. Over the last 4-5 days I have tried no less than 2 dozen times to call the restaurant during proper business hours to order food for pick-up as I often do. The phone rang and rang to no avail. I live too far from the restaurant to just pop up and place an order so I rely on calling ahead. I have been a customer of this restaurant for at least the last 9 years and have almost never had the aforementioned experience. Though I do recall not being able to get a call through several times on one or two occasions in the relatively distant past. Today I was finally able to get a call through and began placing my order which includes shrimp. I ALWAYS request the tail (with shells) to be removed from the shrimp as I find it quite difficult to enjoy my meal if I'm constantly having to pick off shells with my hands. It's unsanitary and messy. Removing the tails from 15-20 shrimp prior to adding to an entree or soup should take no more than 60 seconds and that's if one is moving at a glacial pace. However, today I was told that the kitchen was too busy to honor my request. I assured the lady taking my order than I was a loyal customer and make this request will every order I place and it is always honored. She repeated her claim that the kitchen was too busy and refused to do it. I cancelled my order and ended the call. Now I usually order food from the restaurant 4-5 times a month and usually spend about $65 each time not including tip. That is approximately $325 per month of my hard earned money that I give to this restaurant in exchange for great food and service. I am appalled and quite upset that having been a loyal customer for almost a decade and spending as much money there as I do per month that they could at least honor my patronage by simply taking an additional 60 seconds in the kitchen to make my meal more enjoyable. Her refusal to do such a minuscule task has deeply soured my experience with Hoy-Ka not to mention the fact that I could not reach the restaurant for almost a week by phone for no apparent reason. I will not be going back to this restaurant until they rectify this situation.

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    Free Valet parking in rush hour between 5PM - 9PM. Valet will be in the front of restaurant on Sunset Blvd.
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    Au Lac

    Au Lac

    4.3
    (1.3k reviews)
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    Locally owned & operated
    10 years in business

    Twelve years ago, I fell in love with Au Lac and wrote a glowing review. Living on LA's Westside, I…read morerarely make it to Downtown, so today was my first visit back since then. I can't believe it's been 12 years--and I'm so happy to say it was every bit as incredible as I remembered. My friend and I came for lunch. I ordered the vegetable pho, and she had the curry rice. Both dishes were absolutely delicious--fresh, flavorful, comforting, and beautifully prepared. Honestly, I wish we had more time because we had another appointment downtown. I would have loved to try more dishes and definitely dessert! Our server was wonderful--friendly, attentive, and incredibly professional. He checked on us at just the right moments without ever feeling intrusive. The service was as impressive as the food. The restaurant has such a warm, relaxing atmosphere. I especially loved the beautiful ceramic water cups with bird designs--they were so unique and charming. Even the water tasted wonderful! I'm thrilled that Au Lac is still thriving after all these years. If anything, the food tasted even better than I remembered. I certainly won't wait another 12 years before coming back. In fact, I was so impressed that I convinced my husband to come with me next Saturday for dinner! I've tried many vegan restaurants over the years, and Au Lac remains my absolute favorite. My favorite on the Westside is Variable Café, but if you're willing to drive a little farther, Au Lac is on another level. I can't recommend this restaurant highly enough. Whether you're vegan or not, this place is truly outstanding. Five stars without hesitation!

    I came to Au Lac again to celebrate my bday with a friend before a show at the Music Center. Au Lac…read moredoesn't take reservations. My friend had the tofu, house salad. She said the house salad was better the last time she came bc the lettuce was different. She recalled it was Romaine lettuce last time. This time it was a green salad. I had the lemongrass fish which was made of soybean. It was a little too dry and rubbery for me. I kept putting it in my soup with rice to make it taste better, but ran out of soup. I won't be ordering this dish again. I took half home, cut up the soybean fish and added it to a stew. I didn't mention to my server that it was my bday, but was disappointed that he didn't even offer like regular servers do, "Would you like to see the dessert menu?" I didn't tell him it was my bday nor did I ask for the dessert menu bc I wasn't the one paying the bill. Not that I needed dessert, but it would've been nice to have been asked. When I mentioned this to another server who came by to clear our table that our server didn't even ask if we wanted dessert and that the restaurant doesn't seem to want to push its desserts, he quickly brought us a dessert menu, but my friend was already paying our bill - too late! It would've been nice to be asked earlier. I even had candles in my bag just in case we got dessert. Anyway, this server said he'll tell our server about not offering dessert. The next day I came back with another friend after a Music Center event. My server from the day before recognized me. This time he asked us at the start before we ordered or after we had just ordered whether we'd like to see the dessert menu. Huh? Ask at the END not start of a meal! Instead of embarrassing him, I told him, "No, thanks. My bday was yesterday." On this second day, my friend and I shared a Chinoise salad (delicious and refreshing!) and paella (not like a paella, a little too wet and granular for our taste, but healthy - a living food dish). We had mint and lemon water for both meals. $12 parking in the adjacent structure. Free parking passes at the Music Center if you're a season ticket holder or good luck with finding street parking. I'd still continue to occasionally patronize this restaurant when I have Music Center events bc I want to support veganism, the restaurant; however, I was disappointed with some of the food and waitstaff this weekend. I'd suggest that the waitstaff go thru customer training on when/what/how to talk to customers. Incentive from the website: join the rewards plan - 300 points for 30% off the bill and 100 points for a free dessert! I'm aiming for the free dessert!!

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    2.7 mi
    $$

    i love mangos. i love rice. and i love spiking my blood sugar. this is why thai food is my favorite…read morecuisine. yet i've got my whole panang curry, pad see ew, and tom yum obsessions WITHOUT EVER TRYING MANGO STICKY RICH. granted, i'm always WAY TOO FULL to order dessert. they do NOT skimp on portions at thai restaurants the hospitality is unreal. but this is unacceptable some mango is my fav fruit. i got an ube mango sticky rice at a food festival one time, but it was cold and pretty standard... that was my only impression of it. NOW FLASH BACK TO HERE. i to echo park only seeking dessert and my friend SHOVED ME over to this tiny cute little establishment. little did i know my upcoming flavor explosion. the sticky rice was WARM, coconutty, sweet and absolutely melted in your mouth while still holding firm, not necessarily mushy. i almost shed a tear. it was STEAMING. and the condensed milk drizzled on top went above and beyond... it was definitely coconut that added just another level of tropical warmth ugh. and those MANGOS??? GIRL ITS APRIL, NOT SUMMER??? yet they were the sweetest, softest, most decadent mangos on planet earth. with that bit of mint, every bite had me in ecstasy... and a food coma. THIS is mango sticky rice. and i WILL be back. also, tell me why i just sat down next to Ian from Smosh. that man's been loving thai food since youtube's inception... and obviously he has impeccable taste *fangirls*

    Disclaimer: I come from a very heavily Asian populated area so I am used to distinct and pungent…read moreflavors. That tastes and feels the most authentic to my palate. Came here for a quick bite before a walk around the lake with a friend I haven't seen in a couple years. I loved our server and overall experience here I appreciated. In terms of food, the panang curry was more watery than I had expected. It had a lot of nice vegetables and a big serving of rice on the side. I thought the flavors were there but it could have definitely been turned up a little more, but wasn't bad for something quick. My friend got the satay and this was more my style. I love a good char and meat on a stick and this satisfied my craving.

    Photos
    Bar area.
    Bar area.
    Sticky Rice Echo Park
    Exterior

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    Exterior
    Ruen Pair

    Ruen Pair

    4.0
    (2.3k reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$
    Established in 1996
    Family-owned & operated

    My friends and I came here right after watching a show at the Pantages Theater. We were so…read morefortunate to walk into a good number of empty tables so we didn't have to wait. However, as we were wrapping our dinner, all the tables were filled and we felt a bit of a push to hurry up to pay and leave. The waiter didn't say anything to push us to leave, but when you see them giving you the bill before you could finish your food or ask for it, you feel a bit pressured to eat faster. The three of us opted for family style and ordered four entrees and a side of white rice to share. We ordered the stir fried crispy catfish, the sautéed morning glory, the shrimp salad, and the pad kee mao with chicken. The total came out to be about $33.28 per person including tax and 20% tip. I think that's very reasonably priced. We also did not have to wait long at all for our food, which we were so pleasantly surprised. This is definitely a place to go if you want good Thai food and have a short meal break. We ordered and finished our food in less than an hour. We parked a few blocks away in the neighborhood. The parking situation in that plaza was a nightmare. There were cars honking and almost hitting the cars in the front or in the back. I don't live anywhere near Hollywood, but if I do come to see a show at the Pantages Theater in the future, I'll make sure to swing by again.

    I initially tried this restaurant almost 5 years ago and the food here is just as solid. In this…read morevisit, I came with a group of 5 and our experience here was pretty good. To share, we had the following dishes: -Tom Yum Shrimp Soup: Spicy and sour in a good way. The shrimps were also juicy. -Papaya Salad: Crisp and fresh. -Pad Thai w/ Chicken: Solid and not too sweet. The noodles were cooked well. -Roasted Duck Over Rice: Good, but nothing mind-blowing. I would've loved more of a roasted feel and flavor. -Pad Prik King: A good amount of meat and flavor was good. -Sauteed Morning Glory: Honestly my favorite dish here. I loved the crisp veggies and flavor. -Beef Jerky: Surprisingly not bad. An elevated beef jerky. Everything was solid, but I've had better versions of each dish elsewhere. Nothing stands out, but this is a good standard for Thai food. The service here was really good and attentive. I appreciate the servers taking on all the requests hurled at them from the people in my group. They also helped with a water spillage. Parking can be tough since the area is popular. It's valet parking only in the lot in front of the restaurant, but you can also find some free spots around the area if you don't mind walking.

    Photos
    Pad Thai and papaya salad - excellent!
    Pad Thai and papaya salad - excellent!
    Ruen Pair
    Papaya Salad with Crab

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    Papaya Salad with Crab

    Holy Basil - thai - Updated July 2026

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