"Anajak has been operating in Sherman Oaks for over four decades, but only recently became our highest-rated restaurant in the city. Why? For starters, you could dine at this family-run Thai spot a hundred times and have a completely different—and incredible—experience each time. Come on Tuesdays for dry-aged fish tacos and collaborations with guest chefs. Show up just about any other night to drink natural wine sourced from a Slovenian commune and eat Southern Thai fried chicken you'll tell your therapist about. Then there’s the omakase—a multi-course, reservation-only experience where outdoor grills shoot twirling embers into the air. There’s no such thing as a dull night at Anajak, so just go whenever you can snag a table the fastest. Aside from early-bird slots at 4pm, Anajak's dinner service is often booked weeks in advance. Getting a seat at the 14-course omakase is even harder. Cancellations happen though, so sign up for notifications or try calling." - brant cox, sylvio martins