A concert poster for Dylan and The Band circa 1967 and delicious satay chicken skewers are just the lovely beginning to a meal at Santa Monica’s Toi Rockin’ Thai restaurant. The Wilshire hotspot garners attention because of its unique hours and cheap prices.
The location is an offshoot of the original Toi’s which opened on Sunset in 1986 and continues to rise in popularity. Spawned by the success of the original Toi’s the Wilshire location opened in 1994 and is popular with UCLA students and Santa Monica locals alike. It opens at 5 p.m. and does not close until 3 a.m.
Toi’s features Thai foods with an emphasis on health. None of its dishes include the common flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) which has generated health concerns in the past.
Aside from this Toi’s also focuses on vegetable-centric dishes making it a great pick for vegetarians. Almost any dish on the menu is available vegetarian and there are plenty of dishes that already come meatless. These veggie-friendly foods include pot stickers fried tofu appetizers main dishes with snow peas and black mushrooms and the eggplant pumpkin and tofu dish.
But veggies are not the only treat this eclectic joint has to offer. Its décor is unique to say the least with vintage album covers art pieces and portraits plastered to the walls and ceiling. The rock and roll theme carries into the music as well. Gazing around the room patrons are seen grooving to the song playing as they wait for their freshly-made Thai dishes.
For fine ethnic cuisine visitors can generally expect to pay $20 to $25 per meal but this is not the case at Toi’s – like the atmosphere the prices are relaxed. Many of the entrees clock in at just under $10 and the most pricey items on the menu only scrape the ceiling at $16.
Similar to any good Thai restaurant Toi’s Pad Thai is a standard delectable dish and the Rad Nah known in many Thai restaurants as Pad See Yew is another sweet and familiar noodle dish. For the seasoned Thai food eater the curries are spicy and invigorating. For the inexperienced Toi’s offers Thai spaghetti a simple fiery dish that is simply mouth watering.
What is perhaps one of the best-kept secrets of Thai food however may be the Thai iced tea. Unlike an American interpretation of iced tea this tea is similar in taste to Boba Tea but without the balls of tapioca. It is exceptionally good at Toi’s. The sweet creamy tea is sure to tide appetites over until the main dishes arrive. And $3 is a small price to pay for such a large and scrumptious beverage.
With its lengthy hours this is a great place to relax and have a few drinks. Of course Toi’s includes an over-21 menu which includes sake wine and beer. Just make sure to be responsible and note that the restaurant does stop serving liquor at midnight.
But the true treasures on Toi’s menu are the delicately prepared plates that mix a desire for healthy freshly made food with original Thai traditions and recipes. The exquisite richness of the atmosphere is due to the classic rock ambiance inherent in the venue’s history.
Toi’s Rockin’ Thai food is certainly a diamond in the rough among the many lackluster eateries in Los Angeles. Whether for its musical atmosphere or it’s health-conscious and wallet-conscious fare Toi’s is a restaurant that students should check out.