Best Thai Restaurants in Chinatown
2 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Mae Ting's Coconut Cakes
Weekend-only Thai street food stall in the LAX-C parking lot where Mama Mae makes crispy-edged coconut cakes fresh on the griddle right in front of you
Notable Picks
A weekend-only Thai street food stall in the LAX-C parking lot where the draw is watching Mama Mae griddle kanom krok to order—crispy-edged coconut cakes that come off the iron pan hot and custardy. The format is bare-bones (cash-only line, no seating to speak of), but the tight menu of Thai street staples hits well above its price point, making it a reliable Sunday morning detour for anyone comfortable eating standing up in a parking lot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Coconut Cakes (Kanom Krok), BBQ Chicken & Pork Skewers, Papaya Salad (Som Tum)
What Makes it Special: Weekend-only Thai street food stall in the LAX-C parking lot where Mama Mae makes crispy-edged coconut cakes fresh on the griddle right in front of you
Worthy Picks
7.8
A steam-table operation inside a six-acre Thai wholesale warehouse that rotates through 20-plus curries, stir-fries, and stews at prices closer to grocery checkout than restaurant tab. The format rewards the adventurous — larb loaded with red chiles, crispy catfish swimming in red curry, and coconut rice fritters that rotate in and out without warning. It works best as a weekday lunch destination where you load a plate, eat standing or at a folding table, and walk out having spent less than a fast-casual chain.
Must-Try Dishes:
Larb with Red Thai Chiles and Shallots, Crispy Catfish in Red Curry, Pad Thai with Shrimp
What Makes it Special: A cafeteria-style Thai hot bar hidden inside a six-acre wholesale warehouse, serving 20+ rotating curries, stir-fries, and stews from a steam table at grocery-store prices.