I got to try Holy Basil recently thanks to the efforts of my friend Tom W., who braved the heat and crowd of Smorgasburg to pick up an enormous spread for a Sunday lunch. He got musubi from Mama Musubi and a couple things from Mano Po, then four banging dishes from the spectacular Holy Basil. Their to-go situation left a little to be desired (paper plates in a plastic bag, which was just about leaking ceviche juice by the time he got to my place), but the food made it without suffering, and once we got everything plated, we had us a feast. I don't see everything we got on Holy Basil's menu, and I wonder if they're trying some new things at their Smorgasburg pop-up. If that's the case, you their spicy shrimp ceviche is a Smorgasburg must. I'm not sure what all was in it, but it was bright and zesty, like an aguachile with Thai flavors. I loved the salmon ceviche, too, which might be the yum dry-aged salmon on their menu, with dry-aged steelhead salmon sashimi, yum sauce, fish sauce, sallots, Chinese celery, bird's eye chili, lime, and palm sugar. This version also had salmon roe, though, which made things even more delicious. The regular menu items we got were just as good. The pad thai goong seems to be their most popular dish, and this was fantastic--pan-fried rice noodle with egg, tamarind fish sauce, fried tofu, bean sprouts, chives, peanuts, and fried Ecuadorian white shrimp. The noodles were boldly flavored with just the right dry/springy texture, and the shrimp were crispy and succulent. I also enjoyed the moo krob, or sun-dried, deep-fried crispy pork belly, served with a house dipping sauce. Everything was super tasty and I hope to get it all again soon. If you're looking for great take-out Thai food, I'd highly recommend tracking down Holy Basil. read more

My mouth is pleasantly on fire ("2 full tsp", if you are wondering). That is exactly what I wanted, though. THIS dish of pad kee mao with pork belly is exactly what I wanted: fragrant with thai basil and garlic, spicy, and wok-blessed with a hint of char/smoke. Would come back at the first available opportunity. read more

Holy Basil - Pad kee mao - Thai Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Will preface with the fact that I came with high expectations, having still not found a Thai place here in LA that's checked off all boxes. Holy Basil is...alright. Not bad, not great. All of the flavors were indeed flavorful, as in full of flavor...but that flavor was mostly just sweet and that goes for all of the dishes we ordered (green curry, gra paw, and pad see ew) and none were really spicy enough. Holy wings smelled and tasted a little gamey but the sweet+salty seasoning helped mask. They were out of beer, had no cold water (literally filled our bottle with warm-hot water from their tap), service was meh, and the entire food hall (empty on a Friday night) had no air flow and was pretty damn toasty (plus side, the heat and the vibes kinda made it feel like we were back dining at an actual street stall in Bangkok). Again, I wouldn't never come back...but I'm also in no hurry. read more

A true hidden gem - one of those you almost don't want to tell anyone about. Holy Basil is located in an unassuming building on Los Angeles Blvd and 7th, without any exterior signs pointing to the restaurant. The epitome of IYKYK, it's hard to discover this place unless you heard through word-of-mouth or have read the 5 star reviews on Yelp. We arrived around 6 pm with a few parties waiting for their order. Right as we entered, we noticed the glass window at their store front read "GOOD FOOD TAKES TIME." We instantly knew this meal was going to be a good one. We ordered the Pad Kee Mao (drunken noodle), Tum Yum Goong, and Gra Pow eggplant. Our order was ready in around 20 minutes - the wait didn't feel too long for us since we were watching the chefs craft the dishes through the window, but definitely call ahead to avoid the wait. We received the food and sat down at the communal tables. There weren't any other parties around us, but it's probably tough to regulate social distancing or proper sanitation protocols here; especially at peak hours. We were first impressed by the quality of the packaging. Each item was in a sturdy container, and the Gra Pow Eggplant came in a two layer package that separated the stir fry from the egg and rice. Pad Kee Mao (drunken noodle) - crispy pork belly with mint leaves, bell peppers and flat noodles. The pork was uniquely crunchy and the noodles had the right amount of salt and heat. Order the dish mild or non-spicy since the noodles have a kick to it! Tum Yum Goong - our favorite order of the night - The traditional flavors of the Tom yum soup with added creamy richness. There were a few shrimp with the head attached in the soup, that added to the depth of the flavors. Gra Pow eggplant - the dish tastes fairly close to the Chinese mapo eggplant, but with a fried egg and purple rice which you can't go wrong with. The rich and flavorful sauce makes you crave the rice. Let me just say, I am so glad we discovered Holy Basil. I don't think I would've ever found it without the suggestion from Yelp! If you're reading this, trust me, you've got to try this place once before you scroll to find a different restaurant. If I haven't convinced you by now, they are offering 10% off when you check in on Yelp - I mean, if that's not a sign what is? read more

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We only got Tom Yum to go: I know it's a cliché order, but the intensity of spice & flavor was fantastic! I want to come back & order three times the food. The counter service is speedy and friendly. The kitchen is open & the tables are hip/industrial: ambience is sufficient. read more

Holy Basil is a takeout concept serving Thai classics out of Downtown LA. It received much hype during the pandemic, and was wildly popular on social media and with bloggers. As a result, I was extremely excited to check out what everyone was raving about. Thai staples such as the Pad Tahi Goong and Gra Pow Moo Krob were all delicious. I was also able to try the more uncommon Thai Fried rice with air dried beef, which also was satisfying. However, I'm sad to report that it didn't quite live up to all the hype. There are numerous other Thai joints in LA that will blow your mind, and I thought there would be a new addition to that list. Perhaps the takeout-only model attributed to this. If you're in the area, and need to have Thai, then you can't go wrong with Holy Basil. But if you're looking for the best Thai food in LA, you might want to stick to some of the legendary spots. read more

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The food is amazing ! Just make sure you take it Togo, The indoor seating area is filled with very odd people and I don't think there is security to kick anyone out?? I got the shrimp pad Thai, And purple rice(not pictured) Both were amazing I just wish the shrimp came pealed D; My sister got the Tom yum and my friend got the pad see ew and both were yummy ! You just have to make sure you come early because it was my first time I didn't know better and by the time we got there a lot of things were already sold out ;( read more

Los Angeles is absolutely stacked when it comes to Thai food, and while I thought I'd pretty much seen all of the thai highlights, Holy Basil has come along and changed the game. Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? This little window is just the cutest. We've never known Holy Basil during any sort of normal times, but they're super efficient on the to-go front and are just the absolute friendliest when you pick up your order. Star. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? Generous entree portions at Holy Basil sit right at the $13.00 price point, which is perfectly normal when it comes to Thai in LA. Star. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? This was all just so, so so good. From the Pad See Ew to the stellar Thai Fried Rice these dishes were flavorful yet not too heavy as Thai can sometimes be, and they were made even better by the excellent hot sauce. Just stellar. Two Stars. Star 5: Would you be excited to go back? Love the thai at Holy Basil, and love Holy Basil for DTLA. Star. read more

Holy Basil - Pad See Ew: $13.00 - Thai Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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HOLY MOLY, 100% will come back, and I want to eat through their entire menu!!!! Cauliflower salad- This is a great appetizer as well as a wonderful amuse bouche. It's refreshing and slightly acidic to cut grease and balance out the bold flavors from the main dishes. Tom Yum Goong - Their Tom Yum is probably one of the best I have had. It comes with 4-5 giant shrimps and oyster mushrooms. The flavor is strong but not overwhelming. Eggplant and pumpkin rice bowl- This dish is also amazing. It comes with purple rice, and the flavor is less intense but it works well with other dishes we ordered. Pad Kee Mao- If there is a pad kee mao heaven, then it must be at Holy Basil. I mean crispy pork belly?!?! It's amazeballs. The best part is that they didn't use fillers for this dish ( ie, lettuce, excessive amount of bell peppers, etc.) I will order this over and over again!! This is got to be my new favorite Thai place. The kitchen is completely open and clean, service is good, food is fresh and delicious, and price is fair. Definitely a 5 star all around! read more

I tried the Yum Ma Kruh as an elite perk. It is a grilled egg plant salad with a great amount of spice and flavor. They were very fast at preparing and the salad came out ready to go in minutes! I'll be back to try other things on their menu! read more

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Boughiest takeout I've ever had. And I don't mean the price. This food. Is. QUALITY. You can tell from the very first bite. I've ordered from here twice and can confidently state this one stands out from the pack. Their version of pad thai (Pad Thai Goong)...forget about the bland versions you've had before. This one is simple yet jam-packed full of flavor. Jumbo prawns, or more specifically "Ecuadorian White Shrimp" (head-on) were succulent and balanced well with the rest of the dish. The tiny shrimps embedded throughout took some getting used to, but I know they are what contribute to that robust, special. That reminds me: I really like that they stick to their authentic take, versus the more generic versions you get elsewhere. This past week I ordered again, this time their Pad See Ew, and once again...forget about any version you've had before because felt truly gourmet. Fresh ingredients, not too oily (given this typical noodle dish), and perfectly filling. I've never just rolled out a 5 star take on a restaurant that specializes in takeout/delivery but Holy Basil really deserves a shout out. Also, go to them next time you have a stay-in date and want to impress. Even the way the package the goods reads class. Can't wait to try more off the menu. read more

Maybe my expectations were too high. This place is hidden to cars passing on the street, but a cool place to stop and grab something quick/hot/fresh. Heads up: there's no chicken and shrimp is at a premium so they may sell out quickly. Ordered Pad See Ew with tofu. it's a simple dish with large, flat smoked noodles , Chinese Broccoli, soy sauce (I'm sure there's more to it but that's the basics) would love to have tried something more adventurous. Perhaps next time I'm running through the District I'll stop by read more

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The food is great and I would give it 4 stars if it weren't for how dirty the surrounding area is! It's in the santee alley food court and there are cockroaches everywhere! He trash cans were overfilled. The bathroom was horrendous with no toilet paper. It's just so run down that unless u are ordering to go... then don't bother! The food- so good! But unless I'm ordering Uber eats I would never come back ! I also don't live that close that I would order Thai from here! 1. Tom kha soup with shrimp - they use big quality sized shrimp! Just flavorful and yum! 2. Pad see ew - with pork and was delicious! Big pieces of broccoli too! 3. Eggplant w tofu and pumpkin! Wow the flavors here were superb with ground beef or pork? 4. Chicken wings! A bit salty but so good! 5. Home made thai tea! I hate it when it's too sweet! But this one was perfect! read more

HOLY BASIL BATMAN THIS PLACE IS HOT. I have never in my life seen such a clean resturtant. There are windows all around do you can watch every step each cook makes while preparing your meal. It is a ballet of orchestrated culinary beauty. On the side of the shop you can even get a sneak peek at the refridge. Chef Gordon Ramsay would be so amazed at everything labeled, separated and organized. I had the drunken noodles which were spicy and delicious. I could taste the layers of flavor. My wife had pad tai and I have no idea how it tasted she ate it all before I got a bite, so I guess it was great. Don't let COVID scare you away. This place should not be missed. It is a little hole in the wall located in the garment district. Cool old building used back in the day for manufacturing fabric. I love that LA is repurposing buildings with this type of history. You can feel the energy that once was. We will be back!! read more

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NOTE: To-go'd on 4/11/21. Yeah, it was good enough for me to sit down and write a review on the same day that I ate it. Order online and do curbside pickup unless you want to make some loops around for parking. Regular spice packs a decent amount of heat, so order mild if you're spice-intolerant. Thai food has achieved universal acceptance across America over the years, clearly evidenced by the fact that you can find Thai restaurants in every metropolitan area of the U.S. The benefit is that more people are exposed to the unique blend of flavors that Thai cuisine has to offer, but the downside is that it's hard to tell which restaurants prepare certain dishes the best. This creates a wide spectrum of expectations based on which versions of dishes that one is exposed to. If you enjoy pad thai at one restaurant, you may or may not enjoy it when its prepared somewhere else - or you might not want to try other places when you're content to hit up the most convenient restaurant. I will admit that I've been guilty of doing this myself for years, never going out of my way to try restaurants that specialize in particular dishes from certain regions of Thailand. Always thinking that the more popular dishes like pad thai or drunken noodles had a ceiling to how good they could be. Well, dear reader, if you find yourself in the same position I was in until recently, lemme tell ya something: Whatever you thought about these "basic" dishes and how they couldn't get any better, throw those expectations out of the window and go try Holy Basil now. I ordered three items: Moo Krob - This is pork belly that's been sun-dried and then deep fried. There are a couple of variations of this - one is where they deep fry strips or chunks of the pork entirely so that there's a big crunch with every bite. Holy Basil's rendition is more akin to pork belly lechon kawali, which is actually roasted. Imagine having tender, clean-tasting, pork that has a satisfying chew that doesn't overstay its welcome. The portions of fat are a welcome addition to the party in your mouth, as each bite coats the lean parts of the meat. The best part is the bit of super crispy skin on the top, though. It's bursting Only downside is that it's a little pricey for what amounts to be maybe 1/4 a pound of meat. Also comes with a side of the amazing Holy Sauce! It contains garlic, makrut (a citrus fruit that is commonly used in Thai cooking - especially the leaves), chili, lime, fish sauce, cilantro, and palm sugar. It tastes mostly like a sweet and sour variation of fish sauce with a slight kick. It's not pungent, so even if you're not normally a fan of fish sauce, give it a try! Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) - Prior to trying the drunken noodles here, I had (incorrectly) assumed that this is the kind of dish that's very difficult to mess up and that it can't be THAT much better here. NOPE! This is by far the best rendition of this dish I have ever had. Every bite was jam-packed with flavor from the combination of basil, oyster sauce, scallions, chili, soy sauce, and whatever else was in that addictive sauce. The noodles were firm enough to provide a bite, but then softly dissolve into your mouth once chewed - perfect. The best part is that there isn't an excess of ingredients, such as a mountain of bean sprouts that other restaurants provide. You get to enjoy each component of the dish in reasonable quantities and the flavors gel together ridiculously well. I ordered my drunken noodles with moo krob in it. Unlike the a la carte order of moo krob, this is thinly slices into small strips, which in theory works well with this type of dish by providing crunch and a bit of savory goodness. Unfortunately, the moo krob is dry and I believe it was overcooked. I'll have to give it another try next time to see if it was just off today. Overall, if you want something that'll fill you up (or if you're hungover), order this. Tom Yum Goong - I know that pad thai is Thailand's national dish, but I've always had a soft spot for Tom Yum. It's a perfect example of the amalgamation of flavors that can be incorporated into one dish - sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. I believe that the shrimp variation is the best choice (if you aren't vegetarian, of course) since the shrimp is left with the head on, which allows the juices to soak into the broth. If you're not familiar with Tom Yum, you'll taste sweetness from the shrimp and fish sauce, sourness from the lime and makrut leaf. There's also roasted chili jam, lemongrass, galangal, scallion, cilantro, and cream (instead of coconut milk? Wasn't sure if I tasted coconut milk in this version). There are also oyster mushrooms thrown in there, which really absorb the flavor of the broth. There's an option to order wild rice with berries, but I had unfortunately neglected it. I'll have to try that next time! read more

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We learned of this place from neighbors who kindly posted that if anyone wanted to order and pay ahead of time, they'd pick up and bring back to our neighborhood (South Pasadena). So nice, right?! First, I want to give a shout out for HB's convenient and green-friendly packaging. Clever, cute and ecological. We had: Tom Kah Kai= nothing but deliciousness, very well seasoned Pad Kee Mao w/ chicken= I mean how much more perfect can rice noodles be?! Loaded with tender sliced white meat. Egg rolls= delicious but, of course not as crispy as they would've been fresh out of the fryer. Wild rice berry= OMG, that purple rice is pure love. Total $37 and worth every single penny. Will definitely return! read more

Ordered on Postmates, they forgot to put the entree in the bag, and they've refused to give me a refund for the $20 it cost, or do anything to try to make it right. Called after the delivery came and they didnt respond. Spent over an hour trying to get Postmates to give me a refund but they refused. Called several times and have been dismissed/ calls not returned. The food is amazing though!!! So, go to the restaurant(s), just NEVER order takeout! read more

So glad this place opened up, it's in my complex and we like their delicious food! If you haven't tried it give them a try!

Second time here, this time via pickup. Got the BBQ chicken, pad see ew with shrimp and Tom yum. Great service and great food tonight. Note: Yelp and their website is completely different. Product for BBQ chicken not listed on Yelp but on their actual site for order. Win win, got the BBQ chicken and it's amazing. read more

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When I first tried their "Pad Thai Goong(Shrimp)" My first word is 'Wowwww !' it is a great combination between the noodles, the sauce & the ingredients. Especially the sauce is just so perfect, not too sweet like some other Thai restaurants. I'd say this is The Best New Comer for Pad Thai in California. It's actually one of the best Pad Thai I've ever had in my entire life to be exact! And other recommended items are : Krapao Moo Krob/ Sai Auo : Northern-Thai sausage. They put a lot of herbs in it which make it super tasty & the taste is so unique./Joy's Thai Tea: for a Thai-Tea lover like me, this Thai tea didn't disappoint me at all. read more

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Their newly added seafood menu was PERFECTION. We ordered squid, mussels and oysters. THE SEAFOOD SAUCE WAS THE STAR on its own. Spicy, zesty and wonderful. The pork belly pad Thai, pad grapow, chicken wings and friend chicken backs were also delicious. The ambiance was chill and trendy, just like sitting roadside Thailand! There are assorted drinks that are made in house! I had the oat milk Thai tea. They also offer assorted teas, wine, beer and sake! The service is always quick and friendly! Can't wait to go back! read more

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Very spicy food, good quality. The owner makes her own Thai ice tea, organic and sustainably made. The seatings are a bit simple, but the servers are on top of it. read more

Excellent spot! Pad gra prow - This ground beef and holy basil stir fry is delicious. It's got a garlicky sweet and salty flavor with a tiny kick. I love the nutty and slightly chewy purple rice and especially the aromatic and tiny touch of peppery notes of the holy basil! Pad thai goong - This too is damn tasty. These chewy noodles are packed with sweet, salty, sour, funky, and spicy notes. The flavors are so well balanced! The funk of the tiny dried shrimps that are scattered throughout are especially nice. They remind me a lot more of shrimp paste rather than flavors of Chinese dried shrimp. Lastly, the noodles are slick and moist but not saucy so that's another plus. moo krob - The puffed up and ultra crispy pork skin reminds me a bit of Chinese roast pork(siu yuk). If you're into siu yuk, the fatty pieces are the ones you'll enjoy since the melty fats give a much nicer mouthfeel than the lean meat themselves. As for the accompanying sauce, it's sweet, sour, savory, and spicy with especially big notes of lime and chili. read more

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This pork belly is so good. They have more meat and not a lot of fat. They are good quality pork belly. I really like it. read more

Holy Basil - Thai Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I order take out from this place prooobablyyy every 3 weeks - any less than that and my old knee injury starts acting up. Everything is delicious and even stands up to delivery. Ok best dishes: The chicken wings slap ass, such a great balance of sweet, tangy and a lil hint of Baby Spice. For noodles go with the pad see ew. All you Basic Bettys out there might love ur Pad Thai but repeat after me: Pad. See. Ew. The xo sauce and delicious wok char make these noodles extra special. Delicious curries & fun snacks. And gosh whenever they have the cucumber cold small dish I always swipe right - something abt it is delicious! (But also spicy. So there, you've been warned). Love this place, thank you to all the staff for making it happen! read more

This is literally the worst Thai food I've ever had. The pad see ew was the worst thing I've ever tried. I took a bite and spatted it out. Also it feels like you are eating in a homeless court yard. The bathroom is absolutely disgusting with homeless people walking in n out. read more

Hello Yelpers! I hope y'all good. I wanted to share my thoughts on Holy Basil which I tried through Off the Menu and I'm so happy we did. We tried the noodles with Tiger Shrimp...Holy Basil! So good! The noodles were cooked perfectly, firm and chewy and not greasy. The shrimp were jumbo and also flavorful. Nice dish all around. Thank you Holy Basil. Quick note: -street parking read more

Holy Basil - The counter - Thai Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Through Off the Menu, I was able to get their Pad Thai for free. I also ordered the Thai Tea and Egg Rolls. The Pad Thai was tasty, except a bit spicy for me. Didn't realize it was spicy but it was still yummy. Just sweating a little bit lol. The egg rolls were unfortunately over fried / stale. It was so crunchy I thought it was eating a stale potato chip. It was $6 for little subpar rolls. Eh probably wouldn't order that again. The Thai Tea was good...came in a can. Probably wouldn't come back bc I'm not in the area. read more

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casual spot with good ingredients. Window service it is a go to spot in DTLA. Dinner vibe is like bangkok read more

I ordered the drunken noodles and Tom yum soup with mushroom - both mild. The drunken noodles was very flavorful and came with crispy pork. The tom yum soup was also very flavorful and rich. Portions are a little on the smaller side but both were very delicious! read more

Holy Basil - Thai Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My dining experience at this authentic Thai restaurant in Los Angeles was nothing short of exceptional. As someone who has lived in Thailand for over two years, I have developed a deep appreciation for authentic Thai cuisine, and this restaurant truly captured the essence of those flavors! I recommend the wild shrimp agua chili and grandma's fish and rice! So yummy!! read more

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Patron beware! They are FREQUENTLY closed during regular business hours. They basically close down whenever they want. So call ahead to confirm that they're actually working. Food is pretty good. Service and prices not so much. Can't wait for that day when A.I. will make folks who don't love to work hard . . . obsolete. read more

I adore holy basil. Food is amazing always. Staff is super friendly. But the food is to die for.

The best Thai food in DTLA, no I mean in California. The favor is authentic and unique and not the same as another Thai restaurant in LA. I love shrimp fried rice, pad Thai and curry. read more

This my first time at this location and I can say the staff is friendly the food is good. The service is fast and the menu is limited to just a few plates. The reason that I did not give them a five star rating is the portions are smaller than anticipated, the pricing is good if they offered slightly bigger portions. The beverage selection is also very limited. We had to go to the snack shop to get our drinks. Over all I would comeback. read more

Delicious!!! The Tom Yum dish was my favorite WOW. The oyster mushrooms had such a great flavor and it was so unexpected. Ordered takeout and had a pleasant experience. read more

We tried a variety of dishes while in DTLA for ring shopping in the jewelry district, which is just a few blocks away. We tried the chicken wings, the Pad Thai noodles dishes (Pad See Ew & Pad Kee Mao), the BBQ Pork and the Thai fried rice. The food and the portions are excellent and one won't go hungry. Honestly, it was hard not giving Holy Basil a "5-Star" review, however, for reasons that they can't completely control, the disgusting sidewalks of DTLA, the less than average dining area, and having to place your order on a mobile device where the WiFi was not great, I'm giving it an overall 4-Star rating. A definite must try if you live locally and want a great dinner delivered to your apartment. read more

Serving size is tiny, flavor is underwhelming, and prices are high. The curry is watery, the meat is near to none, the beef in the grapow is dry and bland, and if I should "always add an egg" maybe you should just include it for $17. Not what I'd go for if I was me 40 minutes ago. read more

Pad see ew noodle with pork loin was incredibly flavorful. Moo krob with crispy pork belly was solid as well, but beware because the mild was VERY spicy - almost too spicy to eat! Look forward to trying more on the menu. read more

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We ordered a few different things and every item was great. Great flavors, spices, temperature, presentation, and price. Very detailed preparation and fresh ingredients. I'll be back here very soon read more

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