Best Instagram Worthy Thai Restaurants in Los Angeles
15 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Anajak Thai
LA Times Restaurant of the Year with James Beard recognition and Michelin Bib Gourmand
Essential Picks
#1
Anajak Thai
9.3
James Beard Award-winning Chef Justin Pichetrungsi transformed his family's 44-year-old neighborhood bistro into LA's most acclaimed Thai restaurant. Southern Thai fried chicken with exceptional crunch anchors a menu that pairs bold Bangkok flavors with an award-winning natural wine program featuring rare vintages from the Mosel, Burgundy, and Champagne.
Must-Try Dishes:
Southern Thai Fried Chicken, Dry-Aged Whole Fish with Nam Jim, BBQ Pork Collar with Coriander-Soy Molasses
What Makes it Special: LA Times Restaurant of the Year with James Beard recognition and Michelin Bib Gourmand
Notable Picks
#2
Jitlada
8.9
Since the late 1970s, this Thai Town institution specializes in intensely-spiced Southern Thai cuisine from Nakhon Si Thammarat. Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient Jazz Singsanong serves khua kling phat lung dry beef curry and Taepo chicken curry with fiery authenticity that has made this strip mall spot an LA landmark.
Must-Try Dishes:
Khua Kling Phat Lung (Dry Beef Curry), Taepo Chicken Curry, Crispy Catfish Salad with Green Papaya
What Makes it Special: Michelin-recognized Southern Thai specialties with 45+ years of family recipes
8.7
Chef Kris Yenbamroong's Silver Lake outpost serves boldly-seasoned Northern Thai street food in a bright, casual space opened in 2014. The crispy rice salad balances sweet-tart-spicy notes with textural punch, while pork toro showcases fatty pig neck perfection. Natural wine selection and no-reservation policy create energetic dining atmosphere.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crispy Rice Salad, Pork Toro, Pad See Ew
What Makes it Special: Chef Kris Yenbamroong's acclaimed Thai street food with natural wine focus
8.4
Inside The Goldfish, Sticky Rice’s Highland Park kitchen turns out Thai-style Sticky Rice Wings alongside street food favorites, all backed by $10 cocktail happy hour. Neon-lit decor, a checkered dance floor, arcade games, and regular live music make wings and drinks here feel like a full night out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sticky Rice Wings, Panang Curry Fries, Boat Noodle Soup
What Makes it Special: Thai street-food wings with full bar happy hour, arcade games, and live music under one roof.
8.3
Modern Thai restaurant with a trendy, contemporary design that breaks from traditional aesthetics. Known for generous portions and creative presentations like Thai tea served with popsicles, plus an extensive cocktail program featuring signature drinks like the Tamarind cocktail.
Must-Try Dishes:
Avocado Curry, Crispy Bok Choy, Panang Curry
What Makes it Special: Modern interpretation of Thai classics with creative cocktails and unique presentations
8.3
This modern Thai café blends street food authenticity with local, farmers market ingredients and Intelligentsia coffee. The kai-kata breakfast set with its tangy ground chicken, sweet sausage, and runny eggs has become a cult favorite, while dinner dishes like crispy pork belly green curry and moo ping skewers showcase chef's childhood memories translated into refined preparations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kai-Kata Breakfast Set, Green Curry with Crispy Pork Belly, Moo Ping Grilled Pork Skewers
What Makes it Special: All-day Thai breakfast menu paired with specialty coffee and natural wines
#7
Lacha Somtum
8.2
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Northeastern Thai (Isaan) specialist offering over a dozen varieties of mortar-pounded som tum papaya salad with additions like salted crab and crispy pork belly. Raw shrimp with chile-garlic paste and duck crackling larb bring fiery Isaan authenticity, cooled by creative drinks from their former tea shop days.
Must-Try Dishes:
Papaya Salad (Multiple Varieties), Duck Larb with Cracklings, Shrimp Paste Fried Rice
What Makes it Special: Baskin-Robbins of papaya salad with over a dozen creative variations
8.2
The Thai Thing at the Original Farmers Market is a counter-service operation that cooks far above its footprint, earning Bib Gourmand recognition for focused stir-fries, noodles, and curries. Market regulars rely on it for quick, seriously seasoned Thai plates before or after shopping.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad Thai, Green Curry, Pad See Ew
What Makes it Special: Bib Gourmand–recognized Thai stall delivering restaurant-level cooking inside a historic market.
8.1
Chef Sara Thongchoet's whimsical Asian fusion spot combines traditional Thai with Chinese influences in a stunning floral courtyard setting. Since 2021, this LGBTQ-supportive establishment has drawn crowds for its Instagram-worthy purple dishes and creative brunch offerings alongside authentic curries.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crab Fried Rice, Five Spice Chicken Wings, Tom Yum Lobster Pasta
What Makes it Special: Magical purple noodles that change color tableside
8.1
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Quick Bites Champions
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Authentic Thai street food meets Echo Park cool since 2013. The khao soi delivers bold, rich curry broth with crispy noodles, while the crying tiger skirt steak pairs perfectly with sticky rice and spicy jeaw sauce. Colorful open-air setting with sidewalk and patio seating creates a vibrant neighborhood hangout.
Must-Try Dishes:
Khao Soi, Crying Tiger Steak, Fish Sauce Wings
What Makes it Special: Street food authenticity with creative cocktails at Spirit House bar
#11
Cobi's
8
Chef Tin Vuong's Southeast Asian and African fusion menu leans into high-impact dishes—rendang, curry puffs, branzino—served in a moody, design-forward room on Main Street with a soul and reggae soundtrack that sets the energy level. It draws couples and adventurous eaters who want bold, globally inflected cooking without the stiffness of fine dining. Expect a lively room better suited to a fun night out than a hushed conversation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Butter Chicken, Curry Puffs, Short Rib
What Makes it Special: Southeast Asian and African-inspired dishes from chef Tin Vuong, served in a moody, design-forward Main Street space
Worthy Picks
7.9
Vibes:
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Northern Thai and Isaan cooking served inside a maximalist fantasy of floral installations, neon-pink accents, and a life-sized horse sculpture—the kind of space built for group celebrations that need a backdrop. The Hat Yai Fried Chicken with yellow curry dip and roti delivers on technique, though the premium pricing runs noticeably higher than neighborhood Thai standards. Works best when you're treating the sprawling patio and photogenic plates as part of the experience, not just the meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Yellow Curry, Pad See Ew, Panang Curry
What Makes it Special: Northern Thai and Isaan specialties served in a sprawling indoor-outdoor space with striking floral installations
7.9
Thai Town's first all-vegan restaurant blending traditional Thai dishes with creative international fusion. Quality-obsessed owners deliver surprisingly convincing plant-based versions of orange chicken, duck curry, and Thai favorites using fresh vegetables, homemade vegan sauces, and sophisticated mock meats that satisfy omnivores and vegans alike.
Must-Try Dishes:
Plant-Based Orange Chicken, Duck Curry, LA Burger with Caramelized Onions
What Makes it Special: First all-vegan Thai restaurant in Thai Town with convincing mock meats
#14
Thai District
7.9
Northern Thai specialist in downtown Long Beach where the kao soi and hung lay pork curry represent the regional focus. Chefs with backgrounds from the old Frenchy's Restaurant bring French technique to Thai flavors. The pineapple curry with black grapes surprised reviewers who expected standard fare; the menu accommodates vegetarians and allergy concerns. Parking near downtown Long Beach requires extra buffer time.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kao Soi, Hung Lay Pork Curry, Panang Curry
What Makes it Special: Northern Thai specialist in downtown Long Beach with photogenic plating
7.7
Spelling Thai Bistro is a stylish La Brea café-bistro that brings Thai flavors into brunch plates, rice dishes, and noodle staples alongside strong coffee and tea. It feels more like an all-day hang than a traditional Thai restaurant, drawing neighborhood regulars for leisurely meals and photo-friendly plating.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spelling Chicken & Waffles, Pad See Ew with Chicken, Thai Iced Tea
What Makes it Special: Thai-influenced brunch and bistro plates served in a bright, café-style space.