Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Food

Photo: Pok Pok's Chinatown Location Gets A Blessing From Local Buddhist Monks

pokpokthaiblessing.jpg
Photo via Pok Pok on Facebook

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Andy Ricker's hotly anticipated Phat Thai restaurant, located in the Far East Plaza in Chinatown, is moving along quite smoothly. If the recent blessing from local Buddhist monks keeps things moving along, the popular Thai chef will open his restaurant before the beginning of the year.

Monks from Wat Phra That Suthep in Chino Hills came over to bless the location, while making offerings of eats from nearby LAX-C — one of our favorite international supermarkets which is essentially the Thai equivalent of Costco.

Amnaj Bholsangngam, who owns and operates the nearby Chimney craft coffee bar in Chinatown, was also in attendance for the ceremony with his, brother, who is one of the managers of LAX-C.

The popular Portland-based restauranteur even got his kitchen space blessed with incense from the monks. But to be honest, we're the ones feeling blessed with the early arrival of our very own outpost of Ricker's restaurants.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today