Wat Dong Moon Lek Reopens, More Space and Noodles

By Lesley Balla

After closing in April for renovations, the Thai noodle house Wat Dong Moon Lek will finally reopen this Sunday, July 29. The popular (and teensy) Silver Lake spot opened in 2009 to much fanfare for chef Billy Jalanugraha's updated Thai noodle classics, like the namesake dish with its porky broth, shumai, beef noodles, rambutan salad, chile beef and delicious desserts. Typical construction issues and city inspections caused the delay - they had hoped to open in June - but fans of spicy green peppercorns in everything will no doubt be happy.

Expanding into an adjacent space, there's now more room - a new counter for ordering and sitting, more tables - and a much more subdued decor. The most obvious and notable change, at least in the photos we've seen on Facebook, is the loss of all the cool chalk drawings and paintings of movie stars, musicians and other idols that covered every inch of the walls. Hopefully they'll make a return. It is much sleeker, though, with wood-paneled walls and a splash of turquoise. There's still no booze license and it's cash only, but that never stopped anyone before (4356 Fountain Ave.; 323-666-5993).