KeenoGuy "Work, eat, sleep and .....well you know."

I have to start off by admitting my love for Torung. This is the restaurant that claimed my Thai food virginity some 13 to 14 years back. Thinking back to those days, Torung also helped to foster my love of spicy food overall. That being said, I have never been the type to add spice to my food to attain a certain level of heat. Torung simply has very tasty food, some of which happens to be spicy.

From appetizers, soup, noodles and other stir fried dishes, this place does most everything right.

They open at 5pm and usually close at some ungodly hour, I think around 3am.

One of my few gripes about this restaurant is one than many Asian restaurants are guilty of, they charge you for steamed white rice. Maybe its because I grew up with free rice but this is a tiny thing that irks me. Can you imagine having a lovely green curry without rice? I guess I’ll have to learn to live with this reality.

Let me start by saying that I love Thai food. That being said, I had not eaten at this restaurant until very recently. This restaurant is in a crowded mini mall along with three other Thai restaurants that are not nearly as good as this place. To give you an idea of how good this place is, one of the last times I ate here was with an oversized mob of foodies. I can’t think of a much more unpleasent circumstance. Despite that, the food shines through.

Palm Thai used to be located in a very popular mini mall with several popular Thai restaurants. Since they have relocated several blocks west, the restaurant charges for parking the last time I checked. Considering it is located in the “Thai Town” section of Hollywood where Thai restaurants are plentiful, this is unfortunate.

Even though their most popular spokesperson is “Thai Elvis” that appears during the evening hours. I’ve never seen him. Elvis has left the building, or at least I’m not willing to wait around to see him.

Am I glad that I ate at Phong Dinh? Yes
Would I recommend that you give Phong Dinh a try? Perhaps

If you like Chinese food and have ever wondered what your favorite dishes would be like with exotic proteins than Phong Dinh should be in your crosshairs. To be fair, Phong Dinh as a Chinese restaurant is pretty good. Unfortunately being “pretty good” and being located in the San Gabriel Valley doesn’t help set this restaurant apart from the myriad of Chinese food emporiums. Exotic game to the rescue.

Our meal started off in a mainstream direction with their specialty, the Baked Catfish. This dish is very well prepared and flavorful. The waiter skillfully debones the whole fish carcass at your table, very nice. What you are left with are moist and tasty fillets of catfish.

When it comes to Ground Ostrich, Diced Venison, Kangaroo, Boar and Alligator, I think these exotic meats may just distract you from some pretty well prepared food. But if trying these meats appeals to you and you like Chinese cooking, what better way to celebrate this unique combination.