Talesai Carries on Thai Food Legacy in L.A. for Over 33 Years

The iconic Studio City restaurant continues to serve Vilai Talesai's signature dishes while adapting to the next generation's tastes.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Talesai, a beloved Thai restaurant in Los Angeles, has been serving its signature dishes like the Hidden Treasures and mee krob noodles for over three decades. Founded by Vilai Talesai in 1992, the restaurant has evolved to include a more adventurous Night+Market menu under the leadership of Vilai's grandson Kris Yenbamroong, while the original Talesai location in Studio City remains committed to Vilai's traditional Central Thai recipes.

Why it matters

Talesai's longevity in the competitive Los Angeles dining scene is a testament to its ability to balance tradition and innovation, passing down family recipes while also adapting to changing customer tastes. As a multi-generational family business, Talesai represents the enduring appeal of authentic Thai cuisine and the importance of preserving culinary heritage.

The details

Talesai's signature Hidden Treasures dish, featuring shrimp and blue crab in a coconut chile sauce, was invented by Vilai Talesai in the 1980s and has remained on the menu ever since. The restaurant also serves other fan favorites like the sweet and crispy mee krob noodles and the tender coconut milk-marinated filet mignon satay. In 2010, Vilai's grandson Kris Yenbamroong took over the West Hollywood location, introducing a more adventurous Northern Thai-style menu under the Night+Market brand, which eventually overshadowed the original Talesai menu. However, the Studio City location remains dedicated to Vilai's traditional recipes, with Chai and his wife Noi continuing to run the restaurant.

  • Talesai opened its second location on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City in 1992.
  • Vilai Talesai invented the signature Hidden Treasures dish in the mid-1980s.
  • Kris Yenbamroong took over the West Hollywood Talesai location in 2010 after graduating from film school in New York.
  • Talesai has been in business for over 33 years.

The players

Vilai Talesai

The founder of Talesai restaurant, who created the iconic Hidden Treasures dish and other traditional Central Thai recipes.

Chai Talesai

Vilai's son, who continues to run the original Talesai location in Studio City and is committed to preserving his mother's recipes.

Kris Yenbamroong

Vilai's grandson, who took over the West Hollywood Talesai location in 2010 and introduced a more adventurous Northern Thai-style menu under the Night+Market brand.

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What they’re saying

“That was her invention in '84 or '85, and it's been on the menu ever since.”

— Chai Talesai (resy.com)

“The trick is the chile paste. Vilai's recipe adds blue crab stock to the sauce to balance the natural sweetness of the coconut and thicken it.”

— Chai Talesai (resy.com)

“My wife marinates [the skewers] by hand, one by one, in coconut milk. It's very tender.”

— Chai Talesai (resy.com)

What’s next

Chai Talesai is considering whether to pass down Vilai's recipes to his daughter to continue the Talesai legacy, or potentially compile them into a cookbook.

The takeaway

Talesai's enduring success over three decades demonstrates the power of preserving family culinary traditions while also evolving to meet changing customer tastes. The restaurant's ability to balance authenticity and innovation has allowed it to thrive in the competitive Los Angeles dining scene.