Holy Basil Atwater Village

Tucked away in a narrow Atwater Village alleyway, Holy Basil has carved out its own little corner of Thai food excellence. This second location from the team behind the beloved DTLA spot takes everything that made the original special and amplifies it. The space is intimate to say the least—just eight seats at a stainless steel counter right next to the open kitchen where woks clatter and sizzle. It’s tight, it’s lively, and it’s absolutely worth any minor inconvenience.

The cooking here strikes a perfect balance between refined technique and playful experimentation. You might encounter delicate soft shell crabs swimming in salted egg brown butter one night, then crispy wonton “nachos” drizzled with Kewpie mayo the next. Even classics get clever upgrades—the papaya salad comes with crispy fish croutons, and the satay features smoky grilled mushrooms instead of the expected meat. The menu rotates frequently, so dishes you fall in love with might disappear by your next visit, replaced by something equally exciting.

Holy Basil works beautifully for solo diners looking for a leisurely lunch, but dinner is when the kitchen really shines. That’s when the more ambitious specials come out, and you can snag a reservation to avoid the walk-in wait. The lack of a liquor license means you’ll be sipping Thai iced tea instead of wine, but the food is so engaging you won’t miss it. For something stronger afterward, the natural wine bar across the street makes a perfect nightcap destination.

This is the kind of restaurant that embraces its quirks rather than apologizing for them. The cramped quarters, the ever-changing menu, the alleyway entrance—they’re all part of what makes dining here feel like discovering a secret. Come hungry, come curious, and prepare to have your expectations of Thai food completely reimagined.