A Tel Aviv native might seem like an unlikely candidate to open a Thai restaurant in Studio City, but Eric Waisbard has traveled to Thailand 61 times, loves the food and people, and he had the connections. So he partnered with friend Warawut “Woody” Pongpradit on Khao Soi Thai in Times Square Plaza in August 2016.

The former home of Sinopoli’s Real Itailan Restaurant now features a plant-lined, dog-friendly patio with tile floor, wooden roof and strings of lights. The dining room touts reclaimed wood and corrugated metal walls and blackboard specials.

Two chefs, Oliver Janvitkanr and Jordan Inmarong, tag-teamed on a menu that also strays from commonly seen Thai dishes like pad Thai, crab fried rice and green papaya salad. Those standbys are available, but you’re better off ordering more unique items.

Khao Soi Thai specials include stir-fried crab in curry powder, marinated fried chicken with fried shallots and sweet chile sauce, and roasted duck served over rice with Chinese broccoli, ginger and soybean gravy. Khao Soi Thai also serves house-made Issan-style sausage and fried fish cakes crafted with ground sea bass, red curry paste, green beans and Makrut lime.

Considering the name of the restaurant is Khao Soi Thai, it’s little surprise that their specialty is khao soi, a Northern Thai curry noodle soup. Their version is made with a secret curry paste, house-pressed coconut milk, thatch of fried noodles up top and a choice of protein. Chicken, pork, tofu, beef, shrimp and crab are all options. Each bowl comes with house pickled mustard greens, shallots and roasted chilies to crumble on top of the soup.

To drink, you can get Thai iced coffee and tea, both sweetened with condensed milk, along with bael fruit drink crafted with a seasonal Southeast Asian fruit that delivers “smoky honey” flavors.

Dessert brings sweet exclamation points like mango sticky rice, sweet roti, and fried banana.

12215 Ventura Blvd. #112, Studio City, 818-853-2222