LAX-C Thai Food

DETAILS:

• Location: 1100 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

• Hours of Operation: The market is open daily from 8AM to 4PM

  • The outdoor food stand is only open on the weekends.

• Parking: Small free parking lot on site. Free street parking nearby. Please observe posted street signs.

• Cost: Varies by purchase, but to give you a general sense: 1-item combo is $9, 2-item combo is $11, and a 3-item combo is $12.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes to 1 hour.

• MISC:

  • The indoor food stand accepts credit cards.

  • The outdoor food stand is cash-only.

I tend to stay away from food write-ups since there are so many other sites that already do it soo much better, but sometimes I find a place that represents what this site is all about: hidden gems that deserve to be discovered and LAX-C (specifically its food stands) fits that description to a tee. Located on the outskirts of Los Angeles’ Chinatown, LAX-C is a Thai “mega” market that contains a veritable cornucopia of Asian bulk items in the mold of Costco or Smart&Final.

In my humble opinion, the crown jewel of LAX-C is its cafeteria-style food stand tucked away in the corner of the store, directly on your left once you walk through the entrance. Here you’ll find upwards of 20 dishes simmering in front of you (most of which I’ve never heard of before) as well as other prepared foods ready to go that’ll make you think you’ve been transported onto the streets of Thailand.

Some advanced warning - the ordering process can be daunting if you don’t speak Thai since many of the items aren’t labeled in English, if labeled at all. So you’ll have to rely on the ladies behind the counter to describe what each dish is. It’s a fast-moving operation and the line of (mostly) Thai people behind you will give you some annoyed glares if you try to scrutinize each selection, so be prepared to be prompt and adventurous in your choices, but it’s a good opportunity to try new things that you wouldn’t normally be accustomed to. Many of the dishes are a little more “rustic” and “gamier” than what you’d typically find at your favorite Thai restaurant, so that’s something to be mindful of as well. But in my opinion, it only provides more authenticity to the entire experience. As far a seating goes, there’s literally one table inside the market and a handful of tables outside, so you might be eating on the curb or in your car during busier times.

On the weekend, there’s an additional outdoor market that specializes in papaya salad, barbecued skewers, and coconut mini-cakes that are absolutely to die for!

Basic menu to give you a sense of the offerings, but many of the dishes/items rotate regularly.

 

RESOURCES:

• LAX-C website.