Thailand Plaza Restaurant

 

27

33

anna c.

Pasadena, CA

This place is sweet, for many reasons-- the sumptuous decor, the hunky male model-like waiters (o haaaai, hmm the service isn't bad either), the full bar, the pictures that accompany each dish listing in the menu, sweet-faced Thai dudes performing sappy ballads/jamz onstage, etc. And the food is actually really good. But the best part of all is the motherf*&(*@A parking lot duders! After having circled Thai town for parking for upwards of ONE HOUR at times, this is something that nothing else can beat. So, park at Thailand Plaza -- eat -- walk to Jumbo's afterwards. ;p

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6

34

Marisa G.

Indio, CA

this place is good, but not as good as palms thai just down the street. i think palms thai has a bigger selection & cheaper prices too. i do love the thai market downstairs though. you can find just about any ingredient needed for a thai dish. on weekends they even make homemade soups & desserts on site. yummy!

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Elite '08

28

66

Pichaya N.

Granada Hills, CA

No, the owners don't sing and wait tables here.

The ones who do are the employees.

They used to be popular singers and actors in Thailand.

The ladies were a famous duo back in the 70's-80's.

Great entertainment.

Delicious food. Pad see ew, papaya salad, beef jerky, Toong Tong (literally means golden bags), etc.

Awesome desserts. I like their bua loy (literally means floating lotus), which is rice flour balls in coconut soup.

The singers/waiters are my Hmong friend's favorite part of the restaurant. In her opinion, the 2 younger men are cute. She said she likes going to Thailand Plaza to flirt with them...I'm a good friend, so I don't want to tell her that they don't do girls. As for my gay Filipino friend, he loves going there for the food as well as for the singers/waiters. He knows they're gay, and he likes them that way.

But I hate how they taxed me and my friends TWICE when we went to the Miss Thai Town Pageant.

You can't tax your customers twice. It's illegal.

They taxed our meals. Then our drinks. WTF?!

But the food is the reason why I still went back a couple of times.

And the concerts they had there...Good times.

I went to 3-4 concerts held at Thailand Plaza. They always have famous Thai actors/singers to perform here. At least twice a year, they have someone famous over. It's a great opportunity for the fans to see their favorite actors/actresses/singers and take pictures with them.

The service...not good...for me.

Of course, they're nice to non-Thai customers, especially the farang (white/Caucasian).

I had to deal with some bad attitude a couple of times.

But when my friends and I have some money to waste and want to go karaoke and eat authentic Thai food, we'll go to Thailand Plaza.

*Friday, April 25, 2008
My friends and I went to Thailand Plaza after our long day at Disneyland. A hostess named Dtook was very cordial. She saw that we looked extremely exhausted, so she asked us what we did. LOL. She seated us at one of the tables next to the glass window. My first reaction after I sat in the comfy chair was "Ahhhhh." I needed that after walking and waiting in long lines at the Happiest Place on Earth.

We ordered Silver and Gold Bags (Toong Ngen Toong Tong) as an appetizer. We also ordered Fried Fish Cake with Dragon Ball...Gee, that's such a cool name. Dragon Ball...Z? LOL. It's basically fried fish cake stuffed with fish ball. Lastly, we ordered spicy seafood fried rice and BBQ pork with rice. Everything was delicious. And that wasn't because my friends and I were starving. Really, the food here is always excellent.

For dessert, we had their famous Bua Loy and Kao Niao Piek Lum Yai (sweet rice mixed with longan in coconut milk). Again, we were so happy to have dessert here. I envied my friend for having Bua Loy because my Kao Niao Piek Lum Yai wasn't as good as when I had it during one of the singing contests held there. Next time...there's always next time.

An awesome singer/waiter sang Colors of the Wind while we were waiting for dessert. That just made the whole experience even more wonderful. http://youtube.com/wat...

They're having a concert tomorrow night (Tuesday, April 29, 2008). A famous actor/singer from Thailand is here. His name is Sornram Theppitak. He also participated at the Thai New Year Festival. I used to be a big fan of his, but I grew up and stopped being obsessed with celebrities. =P

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Elite '08

89

215

Andy C.

Carlsbad, CA

I came here yesterday with my friends for the Thai New Year in the area. The food here was wonderful and I was satisfied.

The food here was delicious and their waiters were so nice and they weer trying to do the best with all the people that were here. I just loved everything here and I've been here two different times and they were all so helpful.

Other than all that, the food is delicious. totally try their pad thai!!!!

******NOTE*******
DO NOT GO ON THAI NEW YEAR FESTIVAL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!

I felt really bad for the servers, because they were understaffed and all the tables were packed to the max yesterday!!!!!

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0

3

Yuki M.

Los Angeles, CA

I love this place!! Staff  there always make us feel very welcome. Kapun ka! Food is excellent. I love their Tom Ka Kai and Green papaya salad.  I suspect they only use fresh ingredients from a market in the same building...

And...yes, you will see your waiters singing and entertaining you from stage!

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Elite '08

296

155

Kaz S.

Santa Monica, CA

I vaguely remember dining here maybe 10 years ago, so it was a bit like deja vu.  How can one forget a Thai restaurant that has a stage with Christmas lights? Not easily. I seriously believe I've seen the Thai Elvis here...

Without repeating everything other yelpers have explained, Yes, the wait staff and the owner take turn taking the stage and singing karaoke in Thai. When the owner guy sang, my dinner companion who is a regular was able to pinpoint a new song in his repertoire and hum (not sing since he doesn't speak Thai) along to most of the rest of his songs.
One waitress sang all the Carpenter songs in Thai.
Must say they were all good singers....especially the middle aged owner guy who was stage ready with gelled hair and an earring in one ear. He had some snazzy choreography that went with each song.
Before he took the stage, he walked around all the tables smiling and checking everything was ok.  After singing (and  emoting) for half an hour, he continued to walk around ...but he took on a rock star persona with a zoolander expression and a slight air of superiority. Funny dude.

Food was good: papaya salad, a great soup, curry with pork-filled squid (?) and rice.  Sorry for not remembering the names, but Thai is a difficult language.
I had Thai iced tea and not a drop of alcohol (since I was in company of a  non-drinking dinner mate).  I can only imagine how trippy the whole experience would have been if I was buzzed.

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13

58

J C.

Los Angeles, CA

Cheesy Christmas lights!!!!!!!!!!  I'm starting to think that these are a sign of a quality establishment.....The food was great, and the chairs are big, comfy, and just about as cheesy as the music and Christmas lights, not in a negative way, but in a way that gives a place character.  The waiter was friendly and helpful, especially important for my non-Asian a$$.  It took us about 30 minutes to realize the music be played was live, and the quality was quite comical, I think he singing in English but I'm still not positive.

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2

28

dave c.

Los Angeles, CA

go for the owner/karoke singer..he sings in english and thai and actually has a sweet melodious voice. the food here is good and the staff is real nice... try the egg rolls, the pad thai and the yellow chicken curry..wash it down with a singha beer and call it a night..

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17

138

Davey G.

Los Angeles, CA

I had a very nice dinner at Thailand Plaza Restaurant. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures or catch a performance, but the food was great and the service was excellent.

Because we were celebrating a friend's birthday, we all ordered family style and got to try various dishes. I can't really remember what they were called, but of the 7 or 8 dishes we had, I would clearly go back and order four again.

One was a sliced BBQ beef plate called something like "tiger beef" that was served with an intense chili sauce. It was like the Thai carne asada!

A soup that had a coconut milk base with lemongrass and mushrooms was rich and sour and creamy -- I could have eaten the entire hot pot.

A stuffed chicken appetizer kinda threw me. I mean, it looked like a quartered whole chicken, complete with wings... except the meat had all been removed, chopped up and mixed with noodles and then stuffed back in. The idea was so crazy to me, but biting into a chicken croquette was one of the highlights of the evening for me.

The papaya salad was a good balance against all the fried and meat dishes.

I'm told that the waiters are often shown on the TV screens because they are/were pop stars in Thailand. I'm not sure how true this is, but the idea of having a Thai pop star serving me dinner really makes planning a return trip that much more likely to actually happen -- especially if they bust out some karaoke tunes in the middle of the cavernous dining room. Seriously, sitting in those throne-like wicker chairs, it'd be like watching a regal court performance. Tee hee.

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2

12

Anne M.

Westwood, CA

The food (and full bar) never fail at Thailand Plaza and the atmosphere is classy for Thai Town - I dig the comfy high-backed wicker chairs.  I'm writing in finally because I  just hosted an event there with about 35 people.  Despite our small size and small budget we got incredible service and a great spread of food.  Everything was ready on time and set up just how we'd requested and they let us pack up the leftovers and take them home.  (Had a 2nd event there with about 100 people in October 07 and they again were very accommodating - the service and food were great).

I'd highly recommend them for events - just call and ask for PJ, she'll totally set you up.  If you're non-Thai speaking, don't sweat it when they answer the phone in Thai, most the staff speaks English.  Oh, and they validate parking in their lot too - a major plus for this part of town!

Have yet to experience the evening entertainment but sounds like it'd be a good precursor to a night at KT's or Stone Bar down the street!

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Elite '08

111

591

Dave H.

Philadelphia, PA

Server (Laney) was pleasant and helpful - food was OUTSTANDING, tangy, and spicy to boot. See photographs for what I ordered. In fact, print out the pictures and tell them to make those dishes for you. Ate here in the afternoon (there were no performances) and since there weren't many folks around, everything was quick and we noticed how spacious the place was.

Next time I'm in LA, I'm coming back! :-D

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Elite '08

25

276

Jen K.

Costa Mesa, CA

Since they split Thailand Plaza grocery and Jinda Thai review section, here's my old review.

AKA Jinda Thai. Well, I have yet to go to Wat Thai to go eat and compare. But I love Thailand Plaza. Food is quite tasty. Usually get their Thai Toast (get it with shrimp since it tastes a whole lot better than with just pork) and crab fried rice.  Their desserts are also yummy.

The decor is a mix of cheesy lounge, high school stage mix with Thai artwork. Very chill. Can't get any better when you see you waiter serve you food and the next minute go on stage to sing. The singers sing in Thai, English and Chinese.

Only downside is their restrooms need to be maintained better, I mean I like presents and all but not these kinds.

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54

62

ART L.

Northridge, CA

I used to go to the Palms before they moved, but now they have stupid valet, they won't let you park your own car!  Lame.  I rarely even let my friends drive my car, why would I let some stranger drive it.  

What's different about this Thai restaurant?  Hello..... anyone, anyone, Bueller...... No one mentioned that besides the entertainment, this place is very gay friendly... all the waiters are very nice...  =P

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4

78

Anthony K.

San Francisco, CA

Wow.   I have one word for Thailand Plaza.  "Weird".  Great Thai food, a little pricey (but not crazy).  The food here is almost as good as in Bangkok.  The weird part is the stage acts.  The first time I went here they were hosting the Ms. Thaitown Pageant.  

We sat at the end of the runway and marveled at the electric piano accompanied lounge acts.  Last Friday I went again and was treated to more of the same.  The place is worth it for the food, the "entertainment" is just an added plus.  Go.  You won't be sorry.

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Elite '08

16

97

Al C.

Pasadena, CA

Thailand Plaza Restaurant, above the Grocery store, has excellent Thai food.  It's strength lies in its very expansive menu, with many regional specialties.

The real treat is that this is one of the places in Thai Town where Thai Elvis performs. I had my 30th b-day party here and it was a real hoot.  

Please note:  ignore what the previous review said about Red Corner.  I went there recently and it was terrible, much worse than all the Thai Restaurants around it.

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Elite '08

116

341

Jenn T.

Los Angeles, CA

This is an unsuspecting restaurant with great curry (delicious food all around) and the indoor outdoor cushioned patio furniture makes for a fun & kitschy dining experience.

I thought they had karaoke there at first...but the broken English version of bubblegum pop favorites originally by the likes of Lindsey Lohan and Phil Collins are apparently covers by waitstaff who are up and comers in the Thai underground American Idol community (it is Hollywood after all).

Eating at the Thailand Plaza Restaurant is like walking on set to some scene in Rush Hour 5 where you never really know just what may come up. Good dive-y place to hang out and people watch.

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Elite '08

84

311

Caleb B.

Los Angeles, CA

The downstairs Market and the upstairs Restaurant are two very different places.  Read the Thailand Plaza reviews for the market --

Upstairs you will find a one-of-a-kind experience that can only thrive in Los Angeles despite being very Thai.  The waiters take turns stepping onto the dark stage and singing covers of American oldies, Thai favorites and the occasional "Happy Birthday" to unseen celebrators -- dinner theater of sorts without a cover charge.

The chairs are big and comfy.  The food is pretty good (not as good as Red Corner Asia) and the drinks are strong.  It's truly a fun combination makes me come back regularly.  It's also a great to take friends from out of town.  Perfect for groups.

_C$

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2

31

Winnie Y.

Los Angeles, CA

This is my favorite Thai restaurant in LA.  The waiters are very friendly, and the food is so damn good.  It's also very inexpensive! This is probably the restaurant that I go most frequently. It's also a good place to chill. Highly recommend!!!

(I love their Pad See Ew)

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