Outstanding Thai with design in mind
5267 Hollywood Blvd. (in Thai Town)
Phone: 323-466-6722 | map | website

Say you're in Thai Town past midnight with a credit card about you; you haven't the cash for Sanamluang, you're tired of the Thai Elvis at Palms, and the entertainment at Thai Patio is too light on the transvestitism. You want something awesome. Red Corner Asia is where you want to head.

RCA is elegantly approachable, poised in its greens and yellows and backlighting and Thai love songs overhead. Its menu as well as its interior is cleanly designed. Delightfully friendly and attractive waitstaff in apple-green aprons gesture you to a table.

Try something besides the Thai iced tea: a cold chrysanthemum drink, butterscotch in color and honeyed in flavor, highly refreshing without the aftertang of hibiscus or the syrup of soda. Agonize over the appetizers. For now we only know the joy of the Golden Shrimp Balls, deep-fried until airy and smooth like tofu, with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.

The list of entrees goes on and on, but you'll have to settle for something since the waitstaff-smiles are firmly in place and awaiting your pleasure. There are staples like Red Curry (chicken, beef, pork, or tofu), easy on the bell peppers and perfectly red-speckled orange. The RCA Noodles are thick rice noodles with minced pork, shrimp and tofu, and rad little curled-up slices of pork sausage, which is a quick way to my list of favorites. Whatever spice level you like, ask for it one lighter than you think you want, on pain of watering eyes.

To impress your friends, get the Yum Crispy Catfish. It's difficult to believe this is fish and not a crispy noodle appetizer, shredded and deep-fried into a tangy latticework; it rests on a spicy apple salad, the apple wedges sliced like a pile of pale green french fries for contrast.

Red Corner Asia is open until 2 in the morning, and there is, joy of joys, a parking lot, albeit valet.

Many prayerful bows with hands pressed together to our dear friend Andrew, who took us here to this new favorite place.