Jitlada Thai

[1newyorkguy]

Has anyone been? In LA, there is a top notch, legit thai place by the same name (though sometimes uneven). I recently read online about Jitlada here..I don't think they are connected, but apparently it does have a connection to Montri's, which I heard was a great Thai spot here that closed.

[jcolvin]

It is indeed Montri's reborn. Same owner, I think same chef, same great personal service from Pam, same excellent Thai food. The Tom Yum is as good as it was in Montri's and they have some of the same specials (prawn aroy-D for instance). Same great "house" hot sauce for banging the heat up a notch if you need to.

[jcolvin]

oh oh oh! I've been devastated since Montri's closed. Best Tom Yum I've had anywhere, nowhere else has really hit the spot in the same way. If she's got the same chef (or even same recipe) I'll be a happy man. Must go check it out, stat...

[grayelf]

I thought I'd posted on Jitlada but couldn't find it. I've been for lunch four times and dinner twice. Everything I've tried has been as good or better than any other Thai restaurant I've been to in Vancouver. Prices may be a buck or two higher for certain things but I chalk that up to the use of better ingredients and am happy to pay it. The owner is indeed quite delightful, the room is nice to look at (can be a bit chilly on the odd really cold day we get) and the location can't be beat for me. There is even a decent wine list. She is thinking of doing catering and I'm hoping to use her for work functions.

[kinnickinnik]

I'm very pleased to read the good reviews! I'd wondered about the place but despite it being so close to home, have yet to get in there.

[eatrustic]

So is it Montri himself? If it's the previous owner it must be him? Good news if true.

He keeps selling and going back to Thailand only to return to Vancouver. Last I heard he was doing some impromptu dinners in private locations.
Old Bob has a run for his money if that's the case.

[Sam Salmon]

No the owner is a woman-definitely not Montri.

[grayelf]

Here's the scoop on Pam: http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/01...

And Ms Stainsby is right, the banana fritters are worth the calories :-).

[eatrustic]

Ok, sounds like the woman who bought the place from him then.
What space did they take over for this location? Looks like it's right beside Memphis.

[LotusRapper]

Yes, it's the old space that was CRU.

Remember they closed last summer ?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/852738

[Sam Salmon]

Yes I've been meaning to put up a mention of Jitlada.

It's a wonderful little place that somehow seems bigger inside than it is-maybe something to do with the exquisite yet low key decoration-very Thai.

The service is very warm again low key and truly friendly-the owner is like so many Thai people is a very charming individual.

The food is stellar I haven't been for dinner yet but lunches are delicious.

http://www.jitlada.ca/

[LotusRapper]

Apparently it's owned by the previous owner of Montri's (after Mr. Rattanaraj sold).

[1newyorkguy]

just saw the menu...16 for curry plus 2 for rice. SMH = shaking my head.

[vandan]

Am in Bangkok right now, I think I paid about $1.60 for roughly the same this afternoon ( rice included ) :)

[kati3]

Wow that's pretty steep.

[LotusRapper]

Looks high, but many of those$16 curries are seafood. We recently dined at U & I Thai, and the seafood dishes were maybe a buck or two less, but most mains were in the low to mid- teens.

The Thai House's dinner prices are in the same range as Jitlada's actually, and they're the "McThai" in Greater Vancouver.

Maybe the upcoming scrapping of the HST will help soften the blow for eating out prices, even if a tiny bit.

'Cept for real hole-in-walls, I think most local Thai restos prices are now easily above $10 mark for dinner dishes.

[Sam Salmon]

Yes that's what I've paid @ both Bob Likes Thai & Bangkok City Cafe.

And speaking of Thai HITW-prices are creeping up @ Thai Basil on Thurlow as well.

[1newyorkguy]

The Jitlada in Los Angeles, which is the real deal, charges 8.50 for their curry. Aree Thai here in Vancouver, charges 10. And no, the Jitlada in question here in Vancouver, is charging 16 for chicken, pork, or vegetable curry..not seafood (according to their menu).

[fmed]

The location must be expensive to rent - Broadway and Granville...same area that gave Vij a running start.

[LotusRapper]

I ate at Vij's when he was running it out of where Bawan's is now., circa 1996. A shoebox-sized space it is. Mind you he was quite a bit slimmer himself too ;-) I vividly recall his dinner entrees were $8-10, and he liked taking half a papadum and stand it upright in the middle of an entree plate, neatly dividing the protein and the rice & veggies.

[peter.v]

Aree Thai as far as I know is closed. When I walked by last week, their signage was gone and significant renos were being undertaken. No news of what will be in there after.

Comparing food prices between here and LA is futile. They're just so much closer to prolific agricultural lands (and rent is surely lower).

[fmed]

Plus: LA has the largest Thai population outside of Thailand. 80,000 Thais live there. (Compared to less than 2,000 here).

[1newyorkguy]

How was U & I by the way? How does it compare to the rest here?

[betterthanbourdain]

Been there once. Wouldn't return. Thought the flavours a little dumb down. Too sweet and lacked freshness in taste ingredients.