Pink Pepper

Some friends and I stumbled upon this place back in 2004 when I was in LA; I'd never had Thai food, and this was a great first time- I don't remember the names of the dishes we had, but the spicy curry seafood dish was my favorite. I'm planning a trip out west and can't wait to go back.

Posted 07/20/09

This was possibly the first Thai food I had when I moved to LA, more than 13 years ago. Since then I have tried many other Thai joints around the city, and I have to say that while a few may come close to being as good, Pink Pepper is my favorite Thai food in the city. I used to go so much that they knew me by name, now there have been some staffing changes and I am unfamiliar to the newer people, plus I live on the other side of town so I go much less often. They do some things exceptionally well, and the rest of the menu is still better than most.

Personal favorites include:

Prik King
Spicy beef salad
Satay
Roasted Chili and cashew nut
Garlic and pepper
Tom yum
Crying tiger
BBQ ribs

ALL are top notch.
Spiciness varies toward the mild side (if you like spicy, don't be concerned about ordering yours "spicy" or "hot." If you really like the heat you should get the chili tray to bring the heat.

Staff has always been friendly to me, no complaints here.

Outstanding, flavorful food
Dine in, take out, or delivery... Pink Pepper rocks

Pros: Taste, ambiance, free parking...

Cons: none

Posted 07/10/09

My friend found a cooked ROLY-POLY (a small INSECT that rolls up into a ball) at the bottom of his spicy noodle dish. When he POLITELY and discretely pointed this out to one of the staff, the person took his dish in back, threw out the roly-poly, and brought the dish back out, now insect-free.

They then tried to convince my friend that what he saw on his plate was in fact a piece of "Thai spice". When my friend asked them to show him the spice in question, the staff brought out random green basil buds and another unidentifiable piece of black gunk. When the manager came out, rather than acknowledging and apologizing for their mistake, he VERY rudely insisted that there was never an insect in the first place.

After being confronted repeatedly, the manager then accused us of trying to get free food, although my boyfriend and I have eaten there frequently and have even ordered delivery to our apartment. I ended up paying for half of our bill, even though I did not finish most of my food out of disgust. A simple apology from the manager would have gone a long way towards me coming back there again. Guess who just lost a regular customer! Worst customer service I have ever had in my life. Eat here at your own risk!

Pros: Great tasting food

Cons: WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER

Posted 03/23/09

I had been to the Pink Pepper about 4 years ago and remember that it was really good food. I was driving from Pasadena back to Santa Monica and tried to find it... after a little bit of navigating I found myself at the restaurant. I was so excited becuase I was really hungry, and so was my 4 year old son and 1 year old daughter. We cook at home a lot so they were really excited for this special treat! I got them out of the car and we walked over to the place... which with a 1 year old takes a bit of effort! When we walked in I was really shocked that they had no high chairs or a booster seat for my daughter. I talked to the waitress and she said that she has been asking her manager for some sort of seat for children for a long time. We tried to sit in a booth, but my daughter wouldn't sit down. She started to climb on the table so thats when I asked the waitress if she had anything for my little girl to sit in. She went into the back to talk to the manager. I saw the guy she was talking to. He walked out a moment later and I asked if him if he was the manager and he said no (which I thought was really strange). I told him that we couldn't eat there becuase it would be too hard with my daughter. So he pulled the menu's out of my hand really rudely. (He didn't even offer us anything to go) If my poor little munchkins weren't so excited to eat there or if I had brought a few more snacks for the car we would have walked out then and there... but we were all so hungry so I asked if we could get something to go. He was so rude and told us to order with a waitress and just walked away.
I'll never eat there again. Really bad customer service and obviously not family friendly.
Just because you have children doesn't mean that you should be treated any differently then anyone else going out for a meal, including having a proper chair to sit in!
The food just didn't taste very good after that whole ordeal!

Pros: validated parking

Cons: Really bad customer service, not family friendly

Posted 08/17/08

Hands down, the best pad thai I've ever had -- I cannot eat it anywhere else. Their Crying Tiger, chicken curry, and Pad Prik King (spelling?) with beef is delicious. The only problem is sometimes they are slightly inconsistent with regards to how spicy they make the food or how well done the beef is. Such a minor thing though because they are very nice and give NO push back if you want to send a dish back. They deliver too.

Pros: Everything (food, atmosphere, service, parking validation, etc.)

Cons: Slightly inconsistent in cooking, but they don't mind at all if you send it back

Posted 02/12/08

There is a massive apartment building currently under construction across the street from Pink Pepper, and when I saw them break ground nearly a year ago, my first thought was, "Pink Pepper is finally gonna get the business they deserve."

The menu has range, and everything I've had on it is among the best I've had in LA. The decor is classy and hip, rivaling the better known Buddha's Belly. The staff is always friendly and sure to provide quick and pleasant service. All things considered, I'm amazed that this is also among the most inexpensive thai dining in town. It continues to bewilder me, and break my heart, that every time I go, which is quite often, the restaurant is under 50% capacity. I couldn't recommend Pink Pepper enough, for either a evening date an afternoon lunch or just take out.

A personal favorite are the dynamite wings - a very spicy yet tangy thai buffalo wing.

Pros: Best value in town

Cons: Not as busy as it deserves to be

Posted 01/06/08

after discovering this little gem i'll never eat thai anywhere else ever again. their red curry is amazing and you can order it as spicy as you'd like. the pad thai is great (i would have put a dump in mscme's food instead of a toothpick for being a little b:tch) and so are the short ribs. the best ambiance ever, and the best service i've had which has been a total breath of fresh air from all the pr:cks we've dealt with lately in food service. this place should take rambutan's spot in the top ten.

Pros: tasty food, amazing service, validated parking, great location, friendly employees, fantastic ambiance.

Cons: people who complain about this place (because they're wrong).

Posted 12/31/07

I am Thai, and I know my Thai food. And this place IS definitely Thai! My boyfriend and I had a hard time finding it since the sign was pretty small, but this of course, was at night. The service is amazing. Everyone is very genuinely friendly. We ate so much, and it was only the two of us! I generally don't eat out, so we had ordered the typical Thai dishes since I wanted to see how it compares to homecooked meals....and it was pretty close!! The som-tam (papaya salad) was pretty good. We had larb gai (chicken). The portion was a bit smaller than other places, but it was still excellent. The green curry was just excellent. I asked for extra spicy, but it still wasn't spicy enough for me, but it was still very very good. We also ordered Prik Khing Gai (red curry paste stir fried with green beans and chicken)! The green beans were fresh and crisp. There was a good amount of chicken, which was tender and was excellent even by itself! I thought the portions were fair, considering we had to have some of the food packed. It was my first time there, so I'm not sure how busy it gets. We went about an hour before they closed, but there were still several tables. The lighting and set up of the place is really romantic I thought. The reviews already said it, but I'll say it again. Be sure that when you park in the garage, tell them you are there for the restaurant and you will get free parking. I wish I knew that beforehand, since I had to pay like $5. Oh well. But yes, pink pepper is awesome!

Pros: great food and service, pretty romantic

Cons: parking

Posted 12/28/07

I usually order delivery which is almost always under 30 minutes, but has taken longer on weekends or if I place a large order, however the food is always hot and tasty when I get it. MORE CONSISTENT THAN A PIZZA OR BURGER JOINT. I happened to eat in a while ago and had the best experience. The place was busy, but I felt relaxed and enjoyed conversation and amazing food with friends, who were also impressed. This place truly cares about quality and I've never had a problem that the manager or owner didn't immediately take care of. This person known as mscmc is obviously delusional! What restaurant in this day and age in their right mind would serve left over food to someone. That is a big assumption csmc and you obviously don't know there are a lot of other discrete ways for a restaurant to save money!!! I happen to know one of Pink Pepper's vendors who serves many other restaurants, he told me the kitchen was cleaner than any Thai or Chinese restaurant he services. He actually saw the owner throw out an entire batch of BBQ Chicken, because as the owner said "that's not good enough for my customers!" They serve fresh Thai food which is consistently hot and delicious. I will always count on this place to impress out of town friends! Shame on you csmc!

Pros: Ambience, Consistency of dishes, Friendly staff

Cons: Parking, I'm over it though, just part of LA

Posted 09/02/07

I went here with a friend of mine before we went to go see Wicked. She has been in LA for awhile since she went to USC and all. The place was very cute. We had a private booth for two. The service was fast to the point where they asked us twice if we were ready before we even had a chance to decide anything. The food was really good while the price is just right.

Pros: Great food, nice atmosphere

Cons: no parking

Posted 07/10/07

I came here with about 9 of my friends. The place was a bit hard to find, but once we came inside we loved the decor and the ambiance was wonderful. We made reservations for 10 later in the evening (around 9pm) just because it was Valentine's Day and we wanted to play it safe. We ordered just about everything on the menu because it all sounded so good and we were not dissappointed. It was definitely one of the best Thai places I've ever been to. The service was really slow though, but considering it was Valentine's Day, we figured they've been busy and probably tired from a long day. But then, when we asked if we could get two separate checks to make things better, they told us we couldn't because parties of 6 get an automatic 15% or 18% tip. If we split, it would be 5 and 5 and they wouldn't get the automatic tip. That was insulting because they already assumed we weren't going to tip well. The food took a really long time to come and we ended up being the very last people to leave. So we pay the check, half with cash and half with credit card and left. We were taking pictures outside for a good 10 minutes when our waiter ran out and told us we were short $20! He said he only got 3 $20 bills, but I know there were 4 $20 because I counted it myself. It was all very suspious. But I would still try out the restaurant once more, maybe with a smaller group and on a not so hectic day.

Pros: ambience, food

Cons: service

Posted 03/06/07

We went here for a friend's birthday dinner and everyone loved the decor immediately. We were also very happy with the pad thai, the red curry, the spicy beef dish, and the yellow curry. I had the spicy fried rice and thought it was one of the best thai dishes I've had. My friend also couldn't stop raving about the flat noodle dish she ordered. Definitely a great place to have dinner...and probably for take out, since I saw an endless amount of locals walk in and out with their take out bags. And no, we didn't find gum anywhere.

Pros: Price, Food, Service, Ambience

Cons: none

Posted 11/25/06

The food at Pink Pepper is delicious, although the portions tend to be small (as with most Thai food restaurants). I would suggest sharing several dishes if you are dining with a large group. The atmosphere is nice/open and the menu offers something for everyone. There is parking behind the restaurant in a covered lot althoug it's a little difficult to find -- look for the neon parking sign off of La Brea.

Pros: Good food, casual atmosphere, parking lot

Cons: Located in a busy area of town

Posted 09/24/06

I don't know what happened to those other few reviewers who had bad experiences, but the two times I've been here, I've been amazed by the stellar combination of good food at an affordable price in a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. I've been to other good, cheap Thai restaurants, but the decor certainly gives it an edge. And the food is excellent - great pad thai, good Pink Pepper rolls, and I've never had a problem with the service. Additionally, I've been there on a Friday night, and had no problem with long waits. I definitely will frequent this restaurant - and at $6 or $8 for a decent entree, I can afford to do so!

Posted 07/13/06

I'm not a Thai aficionado, so I can't offer a contextual critique, but I will say that this place offers delicious food at a price to smile about. I took my girlfriend to Pink Pepper last Valentine's and was amazed at the value. The curry is INCREDIBLE, the architecture is quaint, and nothing on the menu will break the bank. Go go go.

Pros: Affordable, parking

Cons: Service was iffy

Posted 06/28/06

I visited Pink Pepper on a Sat. night with four other people. We placed our order and after receiving our food, I tasted my brother's Pad Thai. I decided to get an order also.
Shortly the waitress brought my Pad Thai and I immediately noticed the order was half
the size of my brother's serving and asked her why. She said no that was the usual portion. I had a couple of bites and took the remainder home.

At home I decided to eat some of the Pad Thai, and after spooning some into a bowl,
I noticed a USED TOOTHPICK in the Pad Thai.

I knew immediately this was another customers food. I had been served someones
left over food !!!!!!!! This explained the small portion size. They had eaten half of
their food!!!!!

Cons: Dispicable food

Posted 03/20/06

Hands down the best Thai food I've had outside of Thailand. The garlic lover's chicken is my favorite, with the Crying Tiger a close second. Great value, amazing food.

Posted 10/21/05

The first time I had the Pad Thai I wondered what the fuss was about this place. It was less than average. I've since had the curry chicken and continue to order it. The chicken is sometimes a little dry but the curry more than makes up for it in flavor and spice. Expect to wait a while even on slow nights though.

Pros: Flavorful and spciy

Cons: Long waits

Posted 10/17/05

First, the decor was welcoming and stylish for a small restaurant. The service was prompt and friendly. The food was flavorful and truely Thai. We had the Shrimp Pineapple Paradise, Chicken Asian Eggplant with Black Bean Sause, two Mojitos and for dessert Sticky Rice with Mangos. Excellent if you want to go against conventional desserts. All of this for a very reasonable price. Definenatly will revisit Pink Pepper in the future. Highly Recommended!!!!

Pros: Food, Service, Price

Cons: Parking

Posted 08/27/05

the place looks pretty cute, the food is decent, not the best i've had. they have different curries, if you're into that. the pad thai isn't bad. the service is on the slow side.

Posted 08/11/05

I went with a large group of friends. I decided to get a cup of soup for myself. The waitress misunderstood me and brought a pot instead of just a cup. When I told her it was a mistake, she literally SCREAMED at me and called me a liar. Later, all of the entrees were brought out but one of my friends' Pad Thai dinner was missing, even though someone else had ordered the same thing and gotten it on time. The rest of us finished eating and still the Pad Thai hadn't arrived so my friend simply cancelled her order. Then they had the nerve to add on a 15% gratuity, fought us when we said we were only going to leave 10%. The food was good, but I would not recommend going there unless you like psychotic servers.

Posted 07/26/05

A small salad and chicken teriyaki plate for $8 from their lunch specials menu makes Pink Pepper a good spot for a weekday lunch. The option of ordering brown rice was a nice, health-conscious plus. At 1:30pm it was pleasantly uncrowded both inside and out, which makes this an ideal spot for meeting up with friends over a meal or simply reading the trades. Street parking and traffic in this neighborhood can be a bit trying, so arrive a bit early if you're not using the parking lot (which, as others have noted, was hard to find).

Pros: patio seating, uncrowded, unpretentious

Cons: scarce street parking

Posted 06/26/05

Amazing that this place doesn't have a line out on the sidewalk. I love the coconut shrimp and chicken satay. Pad Thai beats all of Thai restaurants in LA. Soups are hot fresh and everything is made to order, and quickly served if you're in a hurry for a movie or something. I was so shocked to see the new remodeled place, it's clean and gorgeous!

Pros: Quality , Price

Cons: Hard to find

Posted 04/25/05

I have been going to Pink Pepper for years. The pad thai, yellow curry and thai iced-tea are the best I have had while in LA. The portions are generous and the food is served quickly. The restaurant validates for parking but the garage can be confusing to find if you have not been there before - call ahead to get directions to the garage.

Pros: Delicious food, Fast service, Great ambience

Posted 11/23/03

I used to work across the street from Pink Pepper and it was always packaged. Lunch specials were an easy way to pick my meal. Food was generously proportioned, fresh, and tasty. The curries were great!

Pros: Good Thai Food, Good Lunch Specials, Available For Takeout

Cons: On The Small Side

Posted 10/15/03