It was quite a trek to get here. It's in the middle of the west Valley. No easy freeway access…read more There's quite a few businesses in this strip mall. Parking spaces are super tiiiiiiight. I didn't see any ADA parking at all. We were happy with what we got. Pork belly with umami gravy bowl and added 4 pc "eggroll" aka lumpia. It was really 2 lumpia cut in half. I probably should have ordered a full side but it was a perfect amount. Lumpia was super crispy on the outside. Very flavorful without being overly garlicky or seasoned. Came with sweet chili sauce. Chicken longanisa. It said ground chicken so I was expecting crumbled meat. It was formed into a patty. Very tender and delicious. Also served on rice with egg over easy, scallions and pickled vegetable. Since it was our first time here I got the two bun combo with pork belly and angus burger. Pork belly had a little kick in the sauce. The bao bun was a nice compliment so it wasn't too spicy. 2 slices of cucumber also in the bun to help cut the spice. The angus burger had a creamy mayo sauce with sautéed mushrooms and half cooked onions. Not what I expected but definitely would get again. The side of fries were thin, crispy and very well seasoned. There's not a lot of counter service. You order at a machine. I had to wait because I wanted a printed receipt. As far as I could see, only 2 people working. They brought our food to the table and that guy was very nice and cordial as we asked for a few more things. No one was eating there. Saw about 3 people order take out. Plenty of tables and a picnic table for seating. I definitely loved the wall decor and the clock was my favorite! They had Chinese, Korean and Japanese on the wall. I didn't see any Tagalog where I was sitting but I think that's the main Asian influence.

The boys and I were driving around for a bit to see what we wanted for lunch so I pulled over to…read morepull out the nifty Yelp app to see what was close by. We decided on Oi Asian which had great reviews, so why not. First off, let me say that there is plenty of parking, however, the parks are extremely narrow for some reason. It was a struggle to get in and out of the car due to the width of the parks smh. Anyway, once we got inside, there wasn't anyway at the register and after standing there for a while, I noticed the kiosk so unplaced my order there. There were only two cooks in the back. We placed our order and sat down. The place was clean but everything seemed like it was do it yourself. The boys were thirsty and there wasn't an option for water on the kiosk, so I called one of the cooks from the back to pay for a water and he rang me up. It was pretty rough in there. At one point I had to get up and grab my own fork by reaching over the counter. Once our food was ready, one of the cooks brought our food and I wasn't really feeling my meal, which was the dynamite crawfish bowl. I didn't like the sauce it came with. I just picked at the crawfish and left the rest. As for the boys meal, the fried chicken adobo bowl was REALLY good! I ended up eating theirs because my oldest son didn't like it, which was great for me lol. My youngest and I tore that bowl up. Anyway, the verdict is, I may search around for other options but I know that if I can't find anything else I can always grab a chicken adobo bowl but the service was pretty nonexistent. That chicken adobo bowl saved it. OOO 3 out of 5

I had driven by this place for years and somehow never stopped in to eat, so I finally decided it…read morewas time to actually give it a try! I usually get food to go, so it was nice to sit down and experience the restaurant in person. One of the things that caught my attention was their lunch specials. The prices were cheaper than a lot of other places I have been to, and considering the portion sizes, I thought it was a really good value. I always appreciate a lunch special that actually feels like a full meal and not a smaller portion just because it's discounted. I ordered the Thai Iced Tea along with the Pad See Ew lunch special, which came with a salad and some rice. The salad had a Miso Ginger dressing, which had a wonderful flavor. My friend also went with the lunch special and ordered the Orange Chicken. We were both surprised by how filling the meals were! Definitely enough food to leave you satisfied without feeling like you needed to order something else. The restaurant itself is pretty quaint and has a cozy, casual feel. There are a few tables inside, along with some additional seating in the back. The staff was very welcoming and friendly, which made the experience even better. Parking is something to keep in mind. They share a parking lot with a few other businesses, so there is a small lot in the back, but it can fill up. There is also some street parking in front and residential street parking nearby. Overall, I'm glad I finally stopped in. Between the affordable lunch specials, generous portions, friendly service and casual atmosphere, it's definitely a spot I would come back to. I'll truly be back, especially for another lunch special!

I attended an elite event here a few months back. Well they got me back. I loved it then and I…read moreloved it even more the second time. I brought two more people with me and everyone said they will come back again and again. I got the same thing. The Kao Noodle soup with chicken. We dined in and I didn't finish it all. Which was great because I was able to take it home. Then after I finished it. I kept the broth and grilled my own chicken and added it to it. Just a fabulous dish. We also had the chicken pad Thai and a vegan noodle dish. Excellent levels of spice. Excellent service from the staff. I just love this place and honestly I'm not a curry noodle fan, at least I wasn't.

My five friends and I came here for lunch on a Thursday around 3:00 PM, and the place was pretty…read moreempty. I always thought that if a restaurant is packed, it means the food is good--but this place proved that idea completely wrong! We shared the molcajete and the queso fundido, and it was more than enough food for all of us. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. Every bite was amazing. If you're debating whether to stop by because it doesn't look busy, don't let that fool you. This place is a hidden gem with incredible food. Definitely a 10/10, and we'll absolutely be back!

I got there and there was only one table with people…read more.... Waiter took about 10 minutes to. Ome to us ...I ordered food and drinks at same time...Drinks took an other 10 minutes to arrived....food took 23 minutes to arrived ....keep in mind there was only one table Aguachiles were so bad....they used bottle lemons ....I know seafood .....my buddy ordered rolls they were dry and with old fish..... So bad service Expensive No flavor And new reataurant...Idk how can they survive...unless they looking for people that don't know anything about good fresh food ...or maybe seafood is not their forty.....I will never go back

So delicious! My daughter and I love the flavorful food here. Everything we've tried has been…read morefresh, tasty, and full of flavor. Definitely a place we enjoy coming back to! Highly recommend!

First time here, and it definitely won't be my last…read more The food was flavorful, freshly made, and hit the spot. My coworkers ordered the Chicken Gangjeong in both the Soy Garlic and Sweet & Spicy flavors. I only had a bite of each, but both were juicy and seemed to be made with dark meat chicken. The Soy Garlic was actually sweeter than the Sweet & Spicy, which caught me off guard, while the Sweet & Spicy had more of a mild heat than an overwhelming kick. I ordered the Grandma Tteokbokki at spice level 2 and added melted cheese and ramen. Those add-ons were absolutely worth it. The cheese made the sauce extra creamy, while the ramen soaked up all of the flavor and turned it into a hearty, comforting meal. Spice level 2 had a nice kick without overpowering the dish, making it easy to enjoy from start to finish. Overall, everything we tried was satisfying, and I'd happily come back to work my way through more of the menu. If you're ordering the tteokbokki, I definitely recommend adding the cheese and ramen--you won't regret it.

Great Thai Boba Tea Ever! Clean beautiful, nice service, easy parking, and love the food!read more

love the service here! very friendly people with great food ! one of my favorite spots!!!read more

Parking is super easy since they have their own dedicated lot debt circles the building. Staff was…read morevery friendly and was greeted immediately upon walking in. One of the best Thai restaurants I've been to in Los Angeles. What makes the food taste better is all the staff were genuinely friendly and eager to be helpful. Nice quiet dining area and doesn't get too loud. Definitely recommend the red curry and coconut soup. Both were rich with flavor with a thicker consistency. I do not like it when going to other restaurants and the soup/curry is watered down. Will be back to try other dishes and bring friends. The menu is a nice touch with pictures of most of the dishes to help you decide.

I have tried several of their plates and they're so good. Easily became one of my favorite Thai…read morespots in the valley. The ambience and lighting in there is warm. They close on the earlier side. Their sticky mango rice, pumpkin curry, crying tiger, ube empanadas are all so yummy! I haven't had a dish yet that I didn't like I'll continue coming back. Also their servers are very sweet :)

FLAVOR 10/10 Service 10/10…read more The most welcoming Thai spot I've been to, we felt like family eating here. The flavors are just perfect, we got the papaya salad and my gosh, the veg! The crisppp...I couldn't choose a favorite, the wings were crispy but not only that! Packed flavor. The TOM KAH SHRIMP soup BOMBBB! Seriously! Thank you BLAI. We will be back again and again.

I really love the soul food. Especially the Shrimp & Grits and the Cajun Seafood Pasta. They're…read moreexcellent. The Étouffée is also really good. I'm not really impressed with the Thai dishes. I wasn't really impressed with the khao soi or panang curry. The staff can be a hit or miss. The woman working was fast, efficient, and helpful. The young man was not. He appeared to just be standing and watching while the woman was clearing all the tables, taking orders, and refilling drinks. Parking can be a struggle. You have to pay or get validated, which is a big turn off. The lot can fill up during rush hours.

This is the first time I went to this locations. It's larger than the NoHo location, but equally as…read morecharming. The service was excellent. We got there just when they opened, but they filled up quickly. Ordered the Happy Hour dumplings, and Pad See Ew, Ko Soi noodles and yellow curry. All were delicious. Portions were also generous and the leftovers tasted just as good the next day. This is my go to Thai spot when I'm in NoHo, now I can add this location as well!

Heads up! This is neither bad nor good- but you should know- the Pad Thai recipe has changed…read more Now granted, Pad Thai is known as the dish that will guarantee vary from place to place cause it's street food, right? But there is a key variable- it can either be the browner version or the redder version (Pad Thai fans know what I mean). Anajak (if you're an LA local) is the 'browner' version for context. Authentic Central Thai Pad Thai is actually light golden brown, not red. The natural brown color comes from the caramelization of palm sugar combined with tamarind pulp and fish sauce. Many restaurants- especially in Western countries- use ketchup and paprika and a chili paste as a shortcut to add both sweetness, tang, and bright red color. I can't say that's specifically what happened here- but the grainy grit of the sauce plus the color and sweetness was not the best. Rustic Spoon used to serve the browner version- you'll see it in the photos listed above from as recently as a year ago. I visited recently and discovered they've switched to the redder version. I'm not a fan personally- flavor, texture, etc. But if you love it- that's good news for you- but if you a fan of RS, they changed the recipe about 3 months ago. I switched my order to a Pad See Ew after noticing - and they were gracious and kind about it (which is why I didn't go hard in my stars review)- however the Pad See Ew wasn't flavorful, and lacked Wok Hei, it gave bland rice noodle, steam broccoli and a separately fried (unseasoned egg) thrown together quickly in a wok- no curation of flavors at all. Sigh. I'm not inclined to be a complainer at all, and don't fancy myself a tough customer at all- and compliment as highly and loudly as I critique... But in the age of inflation and local businesses struggling- I am happy to financially support- and just hope they're happy to meet me in the middle with a good meal, made with care and attention. That wasn't the case here. There are a lot of options for Thai in the Valley- I'll have to go elsewhere.

Food delish. Service fast enough. TVs always playing sports…read more Kickin kasian was my introduction to a seafood boil and I 100% choose them over the boiling crab. Here's why: they have peeled shrimp!! You can get naked shrimp in the bag and boiling crab only offers the big ol shrimp with the legs and face omg I can't. Shout out kickin.

Updated review... it's been a while since we came here the first time. Friends were having a…read morebirthday so we had to give it another try. Got here around 5:30 pm on a Friday. We lucked out and got the last booth before the dinner rush. The place looked exactly like it did last time we came. Staff was still friendly. They don't accept cash, only cards/tap to pay. Their menu looked different. Wish I had taken a photo. You have an option to build your own boil by choosing your protein, sauce, spice level and add in's. They still don't allow you to mix garlic butter and lemon pepper sauces. You're forced to get the Kickin mix which includes Cajun even if you're not a fan of that flavor. They also have a kids menu with 2 choices, appetizers and family combos. Always intimidating ordering from a menu that doesn't disclose the pricing up front. That's the weirdest thing. Even restaurants in Beverly Hills have pricing on their menus. We got the family feast which feeds up to 4 people and had a combo of crab, mussels, shrimp, sausage, rice, potato and corn which was about $107. (Side note, they charge 50 cents for a pair of gloves and they do not provide you with a little towelette to wipe before or after your meal) This I have to admit was a pretty good deal considering it's a good amount of seafood. They serve it to you in a large metal bowl. We asked for mild since we had toddlers, but because of the Cajun in the sauce (that they force you to get if you want garlic butter and lemon pepper flavor) it was more of a medium, and the kids could not tolerate the heat. Which wasn't a bad thing since that meant more for us grown ups. Ordered them a side of truffle fries which was not too bad actually. We also ordered some of their specialty drinks which come in huge cups. We tried asking for two small empty cups so the kids could share our drinks, but they refused to provide that to us. According to the waiter, it's the restaurant policy that they can only provide water cups, but we have to figure out what to do with the water inside. (Insert face palm emoji) Also they do not provide buckets for your shells so we weren't sure what to do with all that water but drink it. The cups are thin paper cups to pair perfectly with those gross paper straws. By the time we finished the water the cups were pretty mushy already. Needless to say we couldn't finish all our food so we asked for it to go, reluctantly as we hoped they weren't going to try and charge us for those to go bags as well. Pro's: they brought the food out quickly. The food tasted freshly cooked. Con's: don't know where to begin. Parking lot sucks since it's shared with multiple other businesses. There is no place for you to sit and wait outside the restaurant. You'll need to stand outside by the parking lot and pray you don't get side swiped by some crazy driver. Menu has hidden pricing. They charge 50 cents for gloves and do not provide wipes for after your meal. They don't provide a bucket/container to place your seafood shells so it gets mixed in with your other food on the table. Can't even ask for an empty cup for kids. They don't let you customize your sauces your way. Sad to say after all this time my review for this place is still a solid 2 stars.

Came here just for David. The hottest waiter I've ever had #patrickswayze food was good too.read more

In today's restaurant market, there are many Japanese restaurants that are good and occasionally…read moreyou find one that is fantastic. How does one determine that a Japanese restaurant is fantastic? First you start with the ambience, then you start with a selection of the menu, then you look at the presentation of each plate and dish and the creative reiteration of that dish. At Taisho which is located in the heart of the Valley in Sherman Oaks, is a wonderful restaurant with great creativity and presentation and ambience... And it hits all the marks of a truly wonderful Japanese restaurant. This restaurant is so good that even living in Orange County, what desires to go back into the valley, which is quite a jaunt. We occasionally go to the valley for family and friends and events... And from now on, we will be stopping by this wonderful Japanese restaurant. I'm going to post some pictures and let the pictures speak for themselves. If you're ever in the valley, you gotta make this one of your stops.