I think Anajak has ceased tasting menu. It was like a fun dinner party, but I’m a bigger fan of their Thai Taco Tuesday.
Holbox I have yet to be able to get in for a tasting menu.
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Agree with @boourns. The crab quesataco from the tasting menu was one my favorite bites of 2024.
To some degree your feelings on Holbox depend on how you feel about ingredients like callo de hacha, blood clams, smoked kanpachi etc. Access to them is enough for me and brings me back to Baja. There are times I’ve found the cooked food solid but unremarkable.
I had a really nice meal at Coni a few weeks back but for me they are apples and oranges @PeonyWarrior. I approach Holbox as a raw bar basically.
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Definitely some commonalities in finding these spots overrated. LA has such a good Mexican and Thai scene that it’s easy to go to these spots and be like, woah, that wasn’t that much better (if any better) than [insert other beloved spot here.]
Also, Holbox and Anajak have pretty big menus, and I’ve found my mileage really really varies depending on what I order at both of those spots. For instance, I find the Anajak fried chicken to be downright mediocre. Likewise, I generally don’t really care for the ceviches at Holbox.
But if you’re going to Holbox and not liking, say, the smoked kanpachi taco, and then the shrimp aguachile (with fried shrimp heads), and then some blood clams, and the tostada de jurel it just isn’t for you.
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Yeah, exactly this. I also find going to anajak with just two people to be a waste and I don’t get the chicken.
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Tis the problem with large menus.
I think the ceviches at Holbox are overwhelmingly unbalanced with too much citrus. But I really like their tacos on the ala carte. Their tasting menu is significantly better than the ala carte to me.
At anajak i think their weakest area are the curries, but everything else is a banger to me. Just depends how you order though, i think we changed @PorkyBelly mind after i took him last month.
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On the point about how you order, i didn’t like anajak the first time i went. but i think it was one of your posts on here about anajak that got me to go back and change my order strategy – this time, ordering entirely seafood and veggies. it was fantastic.
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yeah that’s the play (not to take over the holbox thread with anajak ordering). Veggies and seafood there are outstanding. Really no thai restaurants in LA using the same quality produce and seafood.
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A la carte move at holbox for me is always
a tostada (usually tuna or jurel)
Pata de mula/Almeja
Smoked Kanpachi taco
either a fried fish or shrimp taco
If I’m with more than just my wife - sometimes the whole grilled fish is nice for making tacos.
And it works every time.
I avoid the scallop taco and the octo - not enough texture. Agreed on ceviches and cocteles, not my fav. If they brought back the transparent-sea shrimp eventually the shrimp aguachile is worth it for the fried heads.
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ceviches are too tart for me. i like the tacos, shrimp torta, sopa de mariscos and cooked dishes from the tasting menu.
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the counter thing is a good tip
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shh don’t tell anybody.
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Non-peak hours on weekdays in the middle of the week still works. 
Waited maybe 10 minutes at around 3 PMish and some bar seats still available, along with plenty of open tables nearby. No wait after roughly 3:30 PM until I left after 4.
I actually quite like the coctel mixto but maybe that’s just me being basic. I don’t like it with the biscuit/cracker things they give though and much prefer it with chips. Probably better ordered in a duo or group. I always end up having to take half home when dining solo. And they don’t really have a proper container for it, usually just a plastic drink container and cap but it’s not a complete seal (they did offer a plastic bag which was helpful for putting in my backpack - worked great).
I got the almeja reina too for the first time. It comes two ways: roja and verde. The roja is way too similar to the coctel so I’d probably choose only either/or in the future. Came with biscuits/crackers and that worked great with the verde.
For tacos, I got scallop, octopus, and pescado carbon. I don’t remember what my normal order is but all the tacos I got today were very enjoyable for me. Really happy as I always come away finding one of the tacos I order just ok so was surprised everything was great.
I’d probably be like others though that I don’t think I could recommend the experience with the apparent massive weekend lines but I still think the food is great. Given the recent commentary about the a la carte, are there any underrated or less popular suggestions on restaurants in a similar style?
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I was thinking of going Sat for lunch right when they open before going to Festival of Books. Did this a few years ago and got seats right away at the counter. Sounds like it may not be the case anymore. How early before opening would I need to go if I don’t want to wait more than 20 minutes lol
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If you are not online now, you are probably going to miss the Festival.
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With the rain, my plans are all in flux now…
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Anyone know about current wait times and/or tips for reducing wait time?
I was by in early June for lunch. Getting there just around 12p wasn’t too bad on a Wed. Had to wait in line outside by then, but it went quickly. School is out, so during the week should be a lot better. I imagine early weekday evening (midweek) should be better; though I haven’t been in a while. (Conversely, it might be hard to get there by then)
No idea about weekends —
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Thanks for the info! Yeah I was targeting weekend or Friday which I imagine to be a nightmare
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