Located Located in an unassuming strip mall in Los Angeles is a respected and somewhat legendary restaurant called Jitlada. The restaurant had been operating as a Thai spot since 1970. Then in 2006, the space was purchased by a brother and sister team, Jazz Singsanong and Tui Sungkamee. On a whim, Tui printed a takeout menu with the list of southern Thai menu items that the restaurant served and put them in hotels around Hollywood. A foodie found the menu and translated it on a popular Chicago food site into English. This caught the attention of iconic food writer Jonathan Gold from the L.A. Times. He reviewed the restaurant and, in Jazz's own words from his documentary City of Gold, "Jonathan Gold saved my restaurant!" The restaurant has gone on to get many accolades and nods from the Michelin guide, James Beard, Food Network, and several appearances on many news outlets and TV Shows. Unfortunately, Tui Sungkamee passed away in 2007 from lung cancer, but Jazz has kept the restaurant running strong in his honor and is often on the floor talking and joking with customers.
I was, of course, really looking forward to trying this place. It was a weeknight, so we were lucky to not only find parking but also walk right in and grab a table at this spot known for long wait times on busy nights. The space is small but quaint; the furniture seems like it's from the original 1970s incarnation, with the walls adorned with antiques and celebrity visitors. The rumor is that Ryan Gosling likes to eat here more than he does at his own house. So, it makes it a Hollywood hotspot for celeb sightings.
We ordered a couple of entrées: the crispy honey duck and the Food Network's recommended Crying Tiger beef, along with a couple of beers and some white rice. The duck was crispy on the outside and meltingly tender on the inside. They served it covered in their honey sauce, along with two others to dip the savory meat into. It was hands down the best duck I'd ever had at a restaurant. As I type, I drool. Let's just put it that way. The crying tiger beef was good, but a bit chewy. I'm not sure if Food Network tried the duck when they were here, but they missed out. We were full from what we ordered, so we didn't try anything else. However, I learned from my research on this place that we should try more of the southern Thai options on our return visit. It's what they are known for, along with their not-so-secret menu item, the Jazz burger. The Jazz burger is a recipe the chef and owner created for her kids when they expressed embarrassment over bringing Thai food to eat at school. They only make a few orders of this at the restaurant, and usually, if you are a regular, Jazz will whisper to you and say, "We have the Jazz burger today," and the spicy, sweet creation served as a lettuce wrap will be your lucky order for the day.
The flavors, service, and atmosphere did not disappoint. I can't wait to visit again and try some more adventurous offerings. BTW, Jitlada is named after a famous temple in Thailand.
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