Thai Town is a state of mind. Sure, the east Hollywood neighborhood technically spans Hollywood Boulevard between Western Avenue and Normandie Avenue, which is where they host the annual Songkran (Thai New Year) Festival. However, plenty of other interesting Thai restaurants ring the area. Rodded and Jitlada are technically not in Thai Town, to name just two standouts. Talented culinarian Jack Benchakul, trusted endorffeine coffee bar founder, tipped me off to Prael. This restaurant with a temple-like setting has quietly thrived for nearly a decade next to a Melrose Avenue laundromat.

Prael excels with rice dishes, as evidenced by their spicy crispy rice salad and Shrimp Paste Fried Rice ($8.95). Pleasantly funky fried rice features shrimp paste made with small fermented crustaceans. Each order comes topped with piles of sticky-sweet pork, dime cuts of Chinese-style sausage (lap cheong), salty dried shrimp, fluffy sliced omelet, cucumber, cilantro, sweet-tart julienne green apple, and crunchy raw red onion. Mix the piles together to incorporate all of the different flavors and textures. Squeeze a lime on top for tang, tuck in your napkin, and buckle up. You’re in for a savory treat.

Dose of Vitamin P spotlights my favorite pork dish from the previous week.