Satdha Plant-Based Thai Kitchen

This casual strip mall gem in Santa Monica serves some of the most flavorful and unique vegan cuisine on the Westside—a part of town where there’s already plenty of plant-based dining options. You’ll find all the takeout staples here like massaman curry, green papaya salad and various stir-fries, but the more creative dishes like beet-dyed noodles and cashew-“tuna” endive cups are where chef Gunn Pankum really shines. Rather than cater to every diner, the former head of Silver Lake’s Bulan Thai—a longtime meat-free favorite across Los Angeles—serves a curated menu of refined Southeast Asian specialties that just happen to be completely plant-based. Other crowd favorites include the catfish eggplant and the Southern Thai fried chicken (made with lion’s mane mushrooms).