Boy, what a difference five years make! I actually foolishly made reservations at a place called Typhoon (yes, LA also has a Typhoon) and not Monsoon. But no sweat, even without a reservation, we were able to be seated right away at a nice booth in the center of the restaurant. The place was only about half full.

I actually liked it this way a lot better. The pace was more relaxed. The service better than when it first opened. It seems to have found it's rhythm. The more relaxed pace fits me better, than that hectic, crazy place of the moment mojo.

Monsoon still is fun. It's a combination of all the great Asian tastes. There is sushi from Japan, bulgogi from Korea, Pad Thai from Thailand, and egg rolls from China. It has a little bit of each Asian country, including Indonesia, The Philippines, and Vietnam as well. The menu is interesting and offers a lot of unique and interesting tastes.

The building reminds of the great food courtyards in Singapore or Bangkok. It has old shutters and balconies around the outside with some awesome Asian chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The whole feel is very exotic. The place is cute without being overdone or too fake. There is also a small patio out front that hugs the 3rd Street Promenade. This was busy, and on a beautiful summer night, this is one of the best places in Santa Monica to do some serious people-watching.

We started out with some sushi that was fresh and very tasty. I had a nice shrimp dish that was served on a sizzling platter. It was outstanding. Each dish at our table was excellent. The service was fast and efficient and very friendly.

Restaurants in LA seem boom and then either disappear or find their place. I think Monsoon may be here to stay. It's a nice place for some great Asian food and perfect for a group of friends who have different tastes. If you have desire for Asian cuisine while in Santa Monica, look no further than Monsoon.