Jitlada

Jitlada is a Southern Thai restaurant on West Sunset Boulevard in the Thai Town district of Los Angeles, California. It sits in a modest strip mall, and the plain setting contrasts with a reputation as one of the leading Thai restaurants in the United States, achieved through a menu that goes well beyond the familiar dishes of central Thai restaurants. The kitchen is devoted to the food of Southern Thailand, which is known for intense heat, turmeric, fermented flavours and seafood. Regional dishes include kua kling, a dry-fried minced meat curry that is very spicy, and gaeng tai pla, a fermented fish curry. The crying tiger beef, a grilled beef dish with a sharp chile dipping sauce, and the mussaman curry are more familiar and widely ordered, and the fried soft-shell crab curry is another favourite. Heat is a defining feature of the cuisine, and the kitchen can be asked to moderate it, though the spicier versions are traditional. The beverage list is modest, with Thai iced tea and a few beers, and many diners bring a strong appetite for rice and cooling drinks. The dining room is casual, bright and crowded, with brightly coloured decor, and the noise level is moderate to high. Dress is casual. Reservations are accepted by phone and are advisable for groups and weekend evenings; walk-ins are common. Prices are moderate, and a meal with shared dishes typically costs about 20 to 40 US dollars per person. Thai Town, designated by the city, has other Thai restaurants, markets and bakeries along Hollywood Boulevard nearby. Parking is in the shared lot, which can fill at peak times.