Silver Lake: Return to Wat Dong Moon Lek

It’s been a couple of years since I last went to Wat Dong Moon Lek. It’s taken over the space next door and didn’t seem as cute and funky this time around. However, the food is still great. I was happy to try some other items but I still got some noodles!

First we started with crispy morning glory. The lightly battered and fried hollow veggie stems were served with a piquant sauce and shrimp. It probably wasn’t the healthiest starter but it was delicious and made the surrounding tables jealous– and that’s what counts, right?

I know others love, love, love Hainanese chicken. I still don’t quite get it but I’ve been ordering it more lately trying to get a sense of what makes the perfect Hainan chicken dish. I’ve been to almost everyone’s favorite Savoy though I have to say I really liked the Thai style I got from Nong’s Khao Man Gai, a food cart in Portland, OR.

Wat Dong Moon Lek’s had that great broth, a good sauce and moist chicken but I still thought, “this is just plain chicken and rice.” The quest continues.

My friend ordered the rad nah kee mow (crispy noodles with pork, bell pepper and green beans). I didn’t try it but she enjoyed it.

I had in fact ordered a small Hainan chicken and a small bowl of noodles. Who says you can’t have both rice and noodles? I got the beef noodles with tripe, liver and tendon. Of course I did! The soup was complex and I had just enough in that small protein-packed bowl. I did almost wish I had ordered a full bowl. Almost.

Wat Dong Moon Lek

4356 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029  —  (323) 666-5993

© The Minty 2013