Since work has never allowed me to visit Wayla (which opens only for dinner on weekdays and brunch on weekends), as an avid fan of Thai cuisine, I was devastated. However, I was blessed by a deity figure (probably a god of Thai cuisine who acknowledged my desperation) and Little Wayla gracefully stepped into my life. I read about their opening on Wayla's instagram account and immediately made my visit today, which was their second day of operation. I was probably their first customer of the day since I came in just 20 minutes after they opened.
Food:
I got a 3-entree lunchbox with: Soy Sauce Braised Egg and Tofu, Green Curry, and Stir Fried Cuttlefish with white rice. Spot on Thai comfort food! The level of flavors were just right and comforting. I appreciate the fact that the menu offers dishes that you don't usually find in most Thai restaurants. Give me Little Wayla's lunchbox everyday and you'll see the best version of me. The only itsy bitsy tiny complaint that I have is the portion of the rice was a little less than I expected, but the lunchbox at a whole is very filling. Bonus: when a Thai friend explained to me that Little Wayla means "little time", I thought it was brilliant and they did live up to the name, being super quick without compromising the quality.
Service & Atmosphere:
The place is insanely adorable. Vibrant colors and decorations that definitely help with boosting the appetite.
I was greeted by two girls at the cashier, who were friendly and looked joyful. I was surprised that, even though the concept revolves around lunchbox, it wasn't very "to-go friendly". The plastic lid did not fit the compostable container, so they had to tape my lunchbox to prevent leaking (even though it didn't help much), and I ended up having to hold it in my hand the entire time I traveled. Plus, the container absorbed a lot of the saucy goodie from the entrees, which did make me a bit sad. But it's not something that bothered me.
Understandably, there were certainly a few first day's minor hiccups, but it was great overall. For now, sit down at one of their cute tables, immerse yourself in the whimsical vibe, and enjoy their awesome food. You know I'll be there whenever I can. read more