Super fresh and delicious Pad Thai!

The atmosphere is trendy but quaint. It was very quiet for a Saturday at lunch time but it was actually kind of nice since we had a large group and were able to hear everyone talk.

Some of my friends got the Garlic Noodles and they said they had no flavor and were just watery. So stay away from that.

Safe bets are the Pad Thai and the Drunken Noodle. Both are delicious!

Prices were on par with other thai restaurants around the area.

Pros:
- Able to split checks for large groups
- Pad Thai is great
- Not very busy on a Saturday at lunch time, quiet inside.
- Reasonable prices

Cons:
- Two of our dishes came out cold, though they were able to reheat them quickly
- The garlic noodles were extremely flavorless, very sad times

The place is good for groups and kids too.

The food is also good quality and fresh and cheap as it ever was.

For anyone that wants to know my opinion for the place and the rest of the food,   It still applies.  Go ahead.  Don't be shy.  It won't bite.
i assure u ,,,, u are going to like this place much....

The food is fresh and healthy. The staff is so friendly.
The beef panag and spicy fried rice are to die for!

went here last week for lunch with couple of friends. Service was good and attentive. Parking was easy with extra spaces on the under ground level. Onto the food, I had one of the curries with brown rice. Both of my co-workers had noodle dishes, pad Thai and pad see ew?. all were well prepared. They were not busy, but the food didnt arrive at the same time. All in all we had a great lunch.

I'm not in this area very often, but when I am, I will have to come here now for my Thai food cravings!  The layout is large, open and inviting, and the food is reasonably priced, and delicious!

Good service and a fun menu.  Easy parking.  Try it!

Oh man is this place good! I shared 2 dishes with my friend for dinner. The Beef Panang Curry had this beautiful curry sauce and the beef was perfectly cooked and melted in my mouth. I just wished the curry had more veggies in there as well. We also had the Spicy Basil Leaves with Minced Chicken, I want to live in this dish! It was a heavenly blend of ground chicken, basil, chili peppers, onions and bell peppers. Both dishes came with this beautiful red rice, make sure you specify "brown rice" with your order which is actually the red rice. I also recommend getting the Ginger Lemonade soda, it was super tasty! The canteen is very spacious and the service was very sweet, they really know how to take care of you here. AND yes free parking below the building... that rocks!

Finally used my coupon for Summer Canteen and found some great Thai food in this neighborhood. And the food looks as good as the photos. I had the chicken satay, the chicken & broccoli with broad rice noodles, a side of white rice and a Thai iced tea. All were just as good as can be. Even the dipping sauces were noticeably fresh and balanced, I could identify individual spices in detail; it was a revelation of sorts.

The only thing I wasn't wild about is the spare, open seating, which makes for more noise and less feeling of privacy. Great for groups, I imagine.

WOW! I rarely ever give 5* reviews... but this place deserves it!!

The food was great!
We got:
Pad Thai, which was delicious!! The portion was just the right size. (big enough to share) :)
the only thing was that I felt it was a bit too sweet... but still amazing!
the Beef and Noodle and Mango salad, which was amazing! the salad was very fresh! the only complaint was the meat was a bit tough... but it was still very good.

the best thing about this place, besides the really good food, is the amazing service!!

big props to the employees there! they kept bringing me water and shrimp crackers :)
took my very weird order and got everything right. (it's sad how often people mess up your order now-a-days)

if I'm in the area, I will definitely eat here again!

also, the prices are very reasonable...
big salad, and pad thai came out to about $23 if I remember correctly.

This lovely Asian fusion spot is right down the street from my place and now that I've been here, I'm super glad it's within walking distance!  We were seated right away on a Saturday night, and the service was attentive but not overbearing. Overall, the food was very fresh-tasting - nice twists on Asian classics.  

We were four for dinner, so we tried a number of dishes, all of which I'd recommend:
-Summer Rolls
-Crispy Crab and Shrimp on Soy Papers
-Spicy Fried Rice
- Pad Thai
-Spicy Basil Leaves with Minced Chicken

We will definitely be back to sample the rest of the menu.

Nice, clean, 'Summer-y' Thai food.
Solid Pad Thai. Really good. It was clean and fresh and not greasy or heavy at all. Good portion sizes.

This place is great if you're in NoHo and want a fresh lunch spot. I came over while I was waiting for my car to get an oil change at the EZ Lube next door. They have an outside patio for lounging and the inside is pretty low-key and chill.
I'll be back.

Summer canteen continues to deliver.  I've now either eaten at the restaurant or ordered deliver6 times.  Every dish has been delicious.  I've had:
Pho Bo
Kee Maw
BBQ Short Rib on Vermicelli (2X)
Green Curry
Koi Soi

Summer Canteen.  Very good.

I got take out for my office from this place. I was pleasantly surprised. Although it was take out, the place was clean, the staff friendly and helpful.  Several of us had the orange chicken lunch. The portion sizes were great, the orange chicken was light and had a nice refreshing citrusy flavor, although I tend to prefer a bit more kick.

Overall, I liked the place and would definitely eat there again

With a hip, contemporary look and Sriracha bottles standing at attention, it sets the foundation for a great experience in my book.

I've both dined in and picked up take-out with prompt service.  Most importantly, I've liked *almost* everything I've ordered there...Beef satay appetizer, Pad Thai noodles, Summer fried rice, Tofu green curry are all great.  And I love their wild brown rice!  

The only bad thing has been the 'not-so-ordinary Orange Chicken'.  It was small bits of dry, overcooked, chewiness in not-so-exciting sauce.  But even that won't keep me from returning....especially with the constant reminder of mango sticky rice on their website...Mmm...

I just have to say one thing....I LOVE THIS PLACE!
Wish they would get their alcohol license soon though!

The brown rice (which is black) is amazing and the Larb Salmon is awesome. In fact just writing about this place makes want to go there.

Enjoy!

Impressed by this place! I eat a LOT of Thai food, and tend to prefer my Krua Thai in North Hollywood and its sister Sanamluang in Hollywood, along with Little Siam in Van Nuys. But for "cool, urban" vibe, this place rocks. Love the decor.

The food has been uniformly excellent in my two meals there. A perfect Spicy Mint Leaf Chicken, beautifully presented, complete with a perfect fried egg gracing the bowl. Rice was PERFECT. Spiciness was perfect.

Second meal there was the Braised Short Ribs with Vermicelli. Best short ribs I've had in years. Falling off the bone and wonderfully tender and flavorful. Gravy was awesome, noodles cooked nicely. I asked for some spiciness, and they gave me a soup spoon with a few tiny slices of Thai peppers (like 6 little slices). Well, those miniscule slices made the whole dish completely sing with a nice fire.

Service was attentive. Place was wonderfully clean. Bathroom was neat. And the patrons were suitable yuppie, NoHo and gorgeous (the women AND the men). Humorously, during my second visit, the patrons were all gay male couples. Go figure, LOL.

My ONLY complaint? Prices are a bit high, reflecting the quality of the ingredients and the rent. I can get the equivalent food in a nice homey place like Little Siam for much less. Lunch for two people, each having one entree and a soda, plus tax and tip....$42?????  I can have that plus soup at Little Siam for $20. Granted, a completely different environment. So I will probably keep Summer Canteen for those times when I'm dressed up a bit or want to take a client.

Still, I applaud them for stepping outside the box and giving us a nice sophisticated experience.

I have only eaten here once, after reading the Yelp reviews.  I thought it was great, I liked the atmosphere and my coconut chicken soup was delicious.  My husband enjoyed his food also.  We'll definitely be going back.

My favorite Thai food in LA, save for Cholada on PCH and Topanga.  As good as any I've had in Thailand.
A must-try is their Mojito.  It has fresh ginger and packs a punch!  (It's non-alcoholic of course)
Pad Thai is always good.  I order it with less sugar/oil.  Thai people loves them some sweetness...
Large tables can accommodate your next dinner party...

Location/Atmosphere: 4 stars - Nice looking place, clean and open.  Located in a small corner strip-mall with free 1 hour parking.

Service: 4.5 stars - Staff was very friendly and attentive.

Food: 3 stars - Good overall, but not amazing or particularly noteworthy.  Coconut waters were very good.  Chicken satay was good but slightly dry.  Pad thai was light (not greasy) but a little lacking in the flavor department.  Same with the orange chicken, light and fresh tasting, but both dishes were missing the robust flavors I prefer in my thai / asian food.

Overall: 3 stars - Food rating wins out here.  Not a bad experience by any means, but I'd probably go elsewhere if I had a thai food craving.

I am addicted to their CHICKEN DRUNKEN NOODLE. It is delish. Large enough to share between 2 HUNGRY adults or save for later. YUM YUM! The space is relaxing to be in - LOVE the decor.

Great food. Nice, decent place. I love their Summer fried rice and Orange chicken as well. Waitress should be a bit more professional, however.

Like I'm sure a lot of yelpers did, I discovered this place as the direct result of a groupon deal. But I have to say, it was excellent, and I've been back since and tried out the rest of the menu on my own dime.

You wouldn't be able to tell what a cool-looking place this is from the outside, but it has a classy restaurant vibe at a very reasonable price. If I had any prospects, I wouldn't be ashamed to take a date there.

Alas, I have been there with friends for lunch and dinner, which are both great.  I personally recommend going for anything on the menu with thai basil, which is just something I happen to love and I think they use it well. But everything is quite good.

Great value for really fantastic and interesting food.

I didn't know about Summer Canteen until the article written about it in Westways.  A friend also ripped out the article and brought it over, since they know I love to know about new places to eat.

Being Thai and spending lots of time in Thailand and enjoying Thai food that my Dad has made, I am going to say that I am an expert on what is good as far as Thai food.  Summer Canteen is excellent.

When you go to a Thai restaurant, normally, it would not be a surprise that it is cluttered with pictures of the Thai royal family up on the walls facing the entrance, as well as a good luck statue with an offering to bring in business and luck.  You will also see a B or C grade, then you know, it truly is authentic.  Terrible to say that, but this is the Thai way.

Summer Canteen is fresh, bright, clean and modern.  I loved it, I understood the vibe and clientele the owner is hoping to draw in.  The price is comparable to the Thai Town menu prices but the quality of ingredients is far more fresh and you can really tell in how the food tastes.

I wanted to try everything but we decided on:

Tod Mun Pla (deep fried fish cake)
Tom Kha Kai (coconut chicken soup)
Kai pad grapow (chicken, basil and chili over rice)
Kai yang, som tum, kow neaw (Thai bbq chicken, papaya salad and sticky rice)
Kaow neaw ma mooang (Mango and sweet sticky rice)

Flavor was spot on, everything tasted so good!  FRESH and Tasty!

Iced Green Tea (unsweetened) was refilled 5 times at least!

Food - 5 stars
Ambience - 5 stars (loved the old Thai movie poster)
Service - 5 stars (Ke was an exceptional server)

Parking can also be found underground and I am more than happy that Summer Canteen is only 1.5 miles from our house!

We cannot wait to go back again with friends and family!!!

I had been meaning to try this place for a while. Very modern, fresh look. The experience confirmed my first reaction to the place- great service (we sat outside on the patio facing riverside drive) the prices are bot bad considering what you get. I live for variety....  I ordered the pad Thai lunch set, and my partner ordered the orange chicken on rice lunch set. About ten bucks each ( not including drinks ) they brought our salad out wig our drinks which I makes me a happy camper:) a delicious peanut dressing and light lettuce and veggi mix, the perfect amount too! Then comes our food...
My pad Thai was so filling and flavorful, but her orange chicken was even better!!! It was a flavor of orange I've never experienced in a food (especially for this little bistro place we were at??) it was to die for and we had plenty of left overs! An all around great experience!!

First off, I am very surprised that Summer Canteen didnt get better reviews. My hubby and I are new to this area and when we found this place one random Thursday night, we were pleasantly surprised/delighted! We have been back almost every week!

Food: The curry noodles are a must try (if you like curry)!! My hubby loves the beef panang and pad see u. DELISH! Since we come here almost every week, might as well give you the low down on everything we ate:

Pad Thai: YUM
Leaf-wrapped savory nibbles: Ok
Braised short ribs with vermicelli noodle: Pass this one
Thai Sukiyaki: good
Spicy coconut milk chicken soup: sooo good on a cold day
Spicy fried rice: YUM

Service: 5 stars. I read the other reviews below me who had remarks about the service here, but every time we have gone here, everyone is super nice and attentive. Maybe we are lucky??

Ambiance: 4 stars. Very nice modern decor... however it gets a little cold in there (they have to bring out individual space heaters LOL).

To sum it all up, we love this place and recommend checking this place out! :)

The bad reviews on here are shocking. I'm not sure how many amazing Asian places some of these people have been to that they've decided Summer Canteen is terrible. In LA, we don't have a lot of great options when it comes to great Asian cuisine. There are tons of crappy places to choose from, but Summer Canteen is not one of them.

I've been to this place about 6 or 7 times and the food is consistently great. The flat noodle dishes are amazing and the appetizers are delicious. The thai tea is die for. I haven't really tried other dishes, but everyone I have taken to this place has loved what they ordered.

The vibe is nice and relaxed. The servers (for the most part) are friendly and attentive. There is one waiter (I don't know his name) who isn't necessarily the most talkative and barely smiles, but he's not terrible. He gets the job done.

The prices are pretty average and the portions are generous. The only downside is that they don't serve alcohol. They might attract more customers if they did.

Overall, I love this place!

Service was completely unimpressive.  Portions were small.  Come on, $7.00 for two small summer rolls?   (Better go for the bigger tastier pair of summer rolls at Toluca Gardens down the street for $4.50.)  

The papaya salad was small and spicier than any I've had. No one asked me about the level of spiciness I'd like.  My friend let me try her paht Thai, which was okay, but also pricey.  

I had a Groupon, and I don't think I'd go back because of the indifferent service and high price for what you get.  Sigh.  I was so looking forward to a new Asian place near my work.

From the exterior and the name, I never would have guessed this place was a Thai food place. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to discover that it was and better still, the food is amazing! If you're in the area and looking for some great Thai food, fairly priced and casual dining, Summer Canteen is a must.

Interesting menu, fast and polite service, excellent food. The parking is a bit tight in the lot underneath the building, but that's the only bad thing I have to say. I have been here several times and have always had a great experience.

Excellent! I LOVE Thai food and even though this is a fusion restaurant they have many dishes with the flavors I look for plus new ones to try. The menu has great variety. The coconut soup is amazing - best I've had. Get the brown rice, they use the dark kind I've only had in Thai restaurants - it's a little sweet and great flavor and better for you as well. They offer everything with vegetable/tofu so a great place for veggies. The meat items are all lean and good cuts, nothing gristly or fatty. Very modern industrial decor. We'll definitely be back often.

They took over the old "City Wok" space and made it all cute. Decor is very charming. They have these rad Thai movie poster inspired art pieces on the walls. The girl who I usually see working is always really nice and welcoming with a big smile on her face.

First time I came to dine in with a friend. The water carafe is a nice touch. I had the Tom Kha Kai soup with unmilled brown rice and thai iced tea. We shared one of the appetizers - can't remember the name of it but it was on lettuce leaves.

Second time I ordered to go. I got the soup and rice again because that's my favorite comfort thai food dish and crab cake for appetizers. Although the crab cake was tasty, there were only 4 pieces inside. They were a tad greasy for my liking also. But still good. This time my soup didn't come with the type of mushrooms it usually is made with. It just had sliced regular white mushrooms. This took away from the flavor, and they shiested me on the chicken meat.

I'm going to give them a little slack, though because I think this place has potential. I like it so I will support it so they can stay and continue to serve up their num nums. It looks like they are a little slow unfortunately, since the food is enjoyable. I do admit, it's on the pricey side and they don't serve giant portions if that's what you like. They are more what I would consider a gourmet thai cafe-ish type place and not your run of the mill hole in the wall thai restaurant joints.

If you live in the area, like Thai food and haven't stopped in to give it a whirl..I'd recommend you check 'em out. I'm on my way to becoming a regular.

Excellent thai, nice modern joint.  Great lunch spot.  Add booze and move it to Hollywood & I'd be there for dinner too.

I've been coming here since they opened their doors many months ago. The food is exceptionally clean, good service, with fantastic ambience. Come check it out it's worth a try....

Food quality:  4 stars
Food Presentation: 4 stars
Restaurant atmosphere: 3 stars
Price: 3 stars
waiter: 3 stars

Well, I have to admit, I was not looking forward to dinner here. I had checked out the menu on-line and it didn't look all that friendly to us Veggie types. Lots of meat. Hmmm...

I have to say, I was wrong. Yup. That's right! I admit I was wrong!! Let's make a note of the time and date, since this doesn't happen very often, lol.

Lets start with decor. Very simple, sleek, lots of brushed aluminum and black. They seem to have knocked out at least one wall since Star Wok left and the place seems twice as big. Very open and spacious. It exudes a very chill and relaxed vibe. Dare I say...Zen?

We managed to somehow score two waiters, and between them we were taken care of quickly and efficiently. Our friends chose this restaurant and I love our friends, so I decided to give it a try. Why not? Perhaps this really is a Veggie Dumpling Soup kind of night.

I started with a hot Green Tea. Which came out in its own French Press made with whole leaf loose tea. It was really enough for the whole table to share. It was awesome. Then I looked at the menu. I was having trouble deciding what to order, and our friend suggested the coconut soup. Being Veggie (or Pescatarian, rather) I do not each chicken, which was listed on the menu, but when asked, the waiters informed us that they could do all Veggies instead! Totally awesome. Spicy Coconut Veggie soup here I come!!

And when I looked back down at the menu, I saw in VERY small letters that all the entrees could have Veggies and/or Tofu substituted for the meat in each dish. What? Awesome! One bowl of Yellow Curry Noodles and Veggies too please!!!

I was about 1/4 done with my Spicy Coconut Veggie Soup when the Yellow Curry arrived. The soup was definitely spicy, but very good and lip tingling. It was the first time I've ever had a coconut soup so I wasn't sure what to expect, but it had a nice strong lemon or lime kick to it as well. Very aromatic and zingy. I was in love until my Yellow Curry arrived. Then I had eyes for nothing else.

I huge bowl of Yellow curry and vegetables, with cooked flat noodles soaking up the savory goodness of the curry whilst I ate. And crispy noodles on top. I had a food-gasm. It was that good. Savory and aromatic, with just enough spice to let you know it was there, but not slap you in the face. Lovely, delicious and beautiful presentation.

When we were done eating, we stayed and chatted for probably another 30 minutes and never felt like we were being chased out or anyone wanted us to leave. Great place, great food, great atmosphere. Definitely worth checking out. I know I'll be back!