Renu Nakorn in Norwalk reopening soon

[pharmnerd]

To quell any notion that this popular Thai restaurant shutdown for good, I can confirm that is not the case. The storefront sign is finally up, so should be open very soon, if not already (but the answering machine still states "...will open soon in the same place"). It's in a new strip mall, maybe about 50 yards closer to the intersection of Rosecrans and Shoemaker than the previous location. Not sure what happened to the seedy-ish bar (The Lark?) next door.

I've been without Thai food since it closed down about a year ago (it was a frequent stop on my way home from work), so I'm anxiously awaiting it's re-opening. I ate there for years before I discovered it was such a well-known restaurant among Thai foodies.

[TonyC]

pharmnerd...

There's plenty of good regional Thai in the (562) ... you could've started with Rachada, worked yourself to Can Coon and befriend the family. Of course there was also "Thai Issan" on Pioneer that just shuttered a coupla months ago... They apparently desperately needed the biz:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/thai-issan-no...

Khun Lek Kitchen also has quite a few Issan dishes on their specials menu... It's been so long since I've eaten @ Nakorn that I no longer miss it.

[glutton]

You no longer miss it or you no longer remember it? I would understand a fading memory, but surely you must miss the place. It was (and will be, hopefully) fantastic.

[pharmnerd]

Thanks for the tips.

[djquinnc]

I work in Norwalk and pick up food from Rachada from time to time - nothing like I get in Thai Town, but decent enough. Are there special things off the beaten track that I should order next time I visit?

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Rachada Thai Cuisine
13416 Imperial Hwy, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

[pharmnerd]

OK. I knew the name Rachada rung a bell. I've seen it on the way to the Metrolink station. How does it compare to Renu Nakorn?

[TonyC]

I don't miss Renu Nakorn and I honestly do NOT remember what the stuff tastes like. it's been 3 years for me and there's no pictures to be found in my systems...

Go to Rachada with an open mind and experiment with the menu found here:
http://www.rachadathai.com/files/32148216.pdf
dive straight to the Issan section:
koi soy (Thai beef tartare
)soop nor mai (bamboo shoot salad)
larp koong (shrimp larp)
i don't quite remember, so ask 'em if they actually use sour sausage for their nam kao tod (most restaurants are too cheap/lazy).

The quail was also excellent as was the house made fish cakes.

After Rachada, if you REALLY want to be impressed, hit up Can Coon and try everything in the specials menu. I should really post up an annotated translation soon...

My feeling is Nakorn, while great before hiatus, was never alone in its excellence as far as the 562 is concerned. Afterall, Can Coon has been opened, and stuffing their own sai krok Issan, for ~7 years. Thai Issan was already around forever with a really nice Press Telegram review:
http://www.presstelegram.com/lifestyl...
from last year.

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Cancoon Thai Food
9887 Alondra Blvd, Bellflower, CA 90706