Thai One On: Torung

One of the few Thai Town restaurants not in a mall, Torung is hard to miss. One of the first things I noticed walking up, was that there were at least six different signs with the name of the restaurant above the entrance!

In fact, one of the unique traits of Torung is the proliferation of signs inside and surrounding the restaurant.

Inside, the ambiance is dark, but warm and comfortable. Inviting leather booths are a sharp contrast to the garish décor – flowery fountains, etched-glass Lotuses and Christmas light flags. The service is fast and, while not necessarily doting, is as friendly as it needs to be.

Despite the several signs warning against bringing in outside drinks, our waitress happily pointed me towards the nearest 7-11 so that I could pick up some beers to drink with our meal.

We began with fried pork dumplings that were absolutely fantastic; lightly crispy, drizzled with sautéed garlic, and further enhanced by the excellent sauce, which was rich and zesty with a subtle plum kick.

A good barometer of any Thai restaurant’s worth is its soup, and again, Torung delivered. Served in a flaming hot-pot, the Tom Yum Kai was delicious, the shrimp succulent and fresh. We always request our food extra-spicy, and – a rarity in this town – the soup did not disappoint, packing a potent punch that had us clutching our beers for salvation.

Several items on the menu are delineated with one or two asterisks. One asterisk meaning “spicy dish for adventure”, and two meaning “very spicy hot dishes”. Since the red curry with chicken was marked with two asterisks (same as the Tom Yum Kai) we were very excited about the prospects. Unfortunately, the red curry with chicken wasn’t that spicy, but it was still really enjoyable; thick and juicy, and accented with bamboo shoots and green chilis.

The sole disappointment of the evening was the beef Pad See Ew. The flat noodles weren’t bad, just very average. We salvaged the bland dish by dousing it with the remaining dumpling sauce.

When all was said and done, three of us ate way too much food, and spent just over ten bucks apiece. For top-notch Thai food in a pleasant atmosphere, at a ridiculously reasonable price, you can’t go wrong with Torung.

Torung
5657 Hollywood Blvd.
(323) 464-2750
Daily 5:00 PM – 3:00 AM
Cash Only
No Smoking
Parking At Mobil Station
No Parking At Pier One