Toi on Sunset

Toi is a small, noisy, happening Thai restaurant on the very busy Sunset Boulevard, not too far west of La Brea. We were lucky to find parking at a meter on the street; there aren't a whole lot of other options.

Every inch of space in the restaurant is utilized for tables. New arrivals wait on the sidewalk outside until a table is available. (We couldn't help but wonder what they do when it rains in Southern California.) We were seated quickly at a tiny table along the front window. The atmosphere was an eclectic mix of rock, patrons' conversation, and the classic "Wizard of Oz" playing on several big and small screens scattered throughout the space. Thai food and the winged monkeys of Oz? Funny, but it worked!

After perusing the large, two-sided menu packed with Thai offerings ranging from basic to vegan to really intriguing, we selected chicken satay (six skewers for $8) and an interesting pumpkin/ eggplant/ fried tofu dish ($11) that the menu boasted was delicious. Both items arrived within minutes. The grilled satay was flavorful, yet a tiny bit overcooked, but the accompanying peanut sauce more than compensated. It was wonderfully thick, nutty and spicy ... totally unlike many of the salad-dressing-thin varieties we've experienced elsewhere. One of us actually finished the bowl with our fingers after the chicken was gone.

The pumpkin/eggplant/fried tofu dish was amazing. Large chunks of each main ingredient were mixed with mushrooms, then bound by a deliciously savory, garlicky sauce that was like nothing we'd ever tasted. The brown rice served alongside was actually more of a black rice, so thick and chewy that it retained the shape of the bowl from which it was inverted. The depth of flavors and textures was much more than we expected!

The only drawbacks? The wine we ordered by the glass had obviously been uncorked too long. Service was perfunctory ... fairly prompt and basically courteous, but with no real interest in our dining experience.

Our entire bill was just over $30 ... not at all bad for a nightcap meal for two. The entire menu was equally reasonably priced, with most entrees ranging from $10 to $14. Portion sizes at surrounding tables seemed fairly large.

Hip and satisfying, Toi really delivered.

Posted 09/01/08 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?

This Thai restaurant is a cool place to take your friends. Inside the atmosphere is hip and rock and roll style. Food is good as well. One of my favorite in Hollywood. Price is a little high to be a frequent patron.

Posted 05/17/08 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?

Go for lunch and you get a lot of pretty good food for not very much money. The funky techno style decor makes this an interesting place to have a meal.

Posted 02/15/08 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?

This hits the spot after partying it up on the Sunset Strip. GOOD, really, it is good, food open till 2 am. Service is fast and friendly. It took about 30 seconds to get seated, 5 mins till the waiter came to take the order, and then under mins to get food. Overall great.

PROS: open late
CONS: funky decor

Posted 08/16/06 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?

Toi is my go-to spot for Thai food. Great food & very fun, rock-n-roll atmosphere with late hours if you're looking for a late-night spot to grab some food with friends. Their yellow curry can't be beat!

PROS: GREAT food, fun atmosphere, late hours, deliver
CONS: parking can be tough to find

Posted 08/14/06 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?

This is one of my favorite places to eat in L.A.

The decor is unlike anything you have experienced and the food is fantastic. The crowd is usually a mix of trendy L.A. types and Hollywood locals.

Overall it is a loud and comfortable place. If you want to show someone a "rockin" time, this is a must!

I highly recommend the Special Thai Spaghetti. It's so good, it's on the menu twice! Their Thai tea is also excellent.

WARNING: If you are a Thai food purist, this is NOT the place for you.

PROS: Great food, fun atmosphere
CONS: Parking

Posted 09/17/05 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?

This is one of my favorite spots in Los Angeles. The decor and atmosphere is just plain rockin! A waiter once told me that Quentin Tarantino wrote most of Pulp Fiction here while munching on their delicious pad thai and brown rice. I think that says it all about this place. Can't beat that!

PROS: Great atmosphere, great food, open till 4am
CONS: Hard to find parking sometimes

Posted 03/21/05 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?