I discovered my new favorite thai restaurant last week. It’s called Nakkara. It’s located at 7669 Beverly Blvd, about a block north of The Grove near Fairfax and Beverly.

The decor tries a little too hard, but the staff is friendly and the setting is cozy and minimalist. There’s a bit of a weird new-age music thing going on, but I was digging it. They also project movies on the back wall which is also a bit odd, but frankly, once all the other tables left, I appreciated that they put the Lakers postgame on just for me.

The food is the best Thai i’ve had in LA and in the Valley. The seafood pad thai was a nice twist on an old favorite. The softshell crab curry was also extraordinary. As a fan of duck, I also enjoyed the peking duking wraps as a starter. I also tried the calamari which was fresh and tender, and almost as good as Gladstone’s.

Street parking was easy, but valet is also available for $4.50. The only con to this place is that despite its attempt to be a little more upscale, it doesn’t have a liquor license. So it’s BYOB. But who doesn’t have a bottle of pinot grigio in the trunk of their car anyway

Next time you’re craving some good Thai cuisine, make your way to Nakkara!

www.nakkaraonbeverly.com

I love Sunnin Lebanese Cafe! It’s a small hole-in-the-wall just a few blocks northeast of DUCK. It’s nestled in between Santa Monica Blvd. and Westwood Blvd. They serve outstanding Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine. It’s slap yo grandma in the face fantastic!

It’s basically counter service for kebabs, salads, shwarma, and more! I recommend the chicken shwarma wrap and the fried potatoes appetizer. The salads are all outstanding. I’d avoid their fountain sodas though; they always taste a bit weird… can’t quite put my finger on it.

I’ll be honest: I was a bit of a food snob and avoided this place for the longest time. It looked a bit dingy. But boy was I mistaken. It’s one of the best in LA (though I am partial to the Falafel King by SMC)!

So next time you’re having a craving for a great wrap, be sure to stop by Sunnin’s (www.sunnin.com) and forget about Zanku Chicken!