Thunderbolt

Luke Qian

9 months ago

Ranked 24th among North America’s 50 best bars, Thunderbolt has launched a new cocktail menu whose cover resembles a nostalgic student notebook — filled with “academic” notes that mirror the team’s methodical approach to bartending. Their continued pursuit of technical precision has led not only to more efficient use of water and ingredients but also earned them this year’s Sustainability Award. Below is an overview of the menu highlights and key insights gathered from my conversation with bartender Wes: Temperature Control All stirred cocktails are now pre-batched and stored at –8°C. Since precise chill is the defining feature of stirred drinks, this temperature control minimizes the need for ice, improving both speed and consistency of service. The dilution that would normally come from melted ice is now replaced with more flavorful ingredients. (Examples: P4 Barcelonnette; P5 Loverboy) Canning All highball-style long drinks are pre-carbonated and canned in advance. This ensures a sharper, more powerful fizz than store-bought soda water while also improving speed and enabling takeaway service — much like selling craft beer by the can. (Examples: P1 Hops Don’t Lie; P6 Echo Park Trash Can; P7 Tropipop) Foaming For sour-style cocktails, the team uses methylcellulose, a plant-based foaming agent, to replace egg whites. This avoids any off-flavors or unwanted dilution. The foaming agent is pre-mixed into the cocktail base; before serving, the bartender simply foams it briefly with a blender following a set procedure — eliminating the need for dry and wet shakes. (Example: P4 Barcelonnette) Clarification Milk washing is avoided unless absolutely necessary. Instead, centrifugation is used to clarify drinks while preserving their texture and layers. When milk washing is applied, coconut milk is used to minimize the impact of whey proteins and water on flavor. When using coconut milk, polyphenol-rich ingredients like tea are added to accelerate the clarification proce

Paul Nguyen

11 months ago

This is an unassuming place where you could easily walk past and mistake it for a casual pub, but inside the drinks would be in the top percentile of cocktail bars in the world over. There is cutting edge science and mixology in their prep before they open their doors that enables them to serve super sophisticated combinations of flavours readily when you order. The nuances of flavour can easily are supremely tricky to balance and they do it well. There are combos that are just fun, then there are the ones that make you think hard about what you're drinking with savoury ingredients like either mushroom or bittermelon for example, which I would wholeheartedly ask any discerning drinker to try. Staff are friendly, unpretentious and it's simply amazing how high the quality of drinks are hidden by this laid back packaging.

FilipinoEats

4 months ago

We always love coming here after enjoying a meal at Park’s finest to help settle our digestion. They offer a variety of delicious cocktails to choose from. Parking is street-only, but they do provide valet service for your convenience. It’s a good idea to make a reservation if you’re planning to visit with a larger group, as it’s not really a kid-friendly spot. It’s perfect for a cozy date night. The staff know their cocktails inside and out, and while they do serve beer and wine, I highly recommend trying their signature cocktails for a special treat.

Flo M

2 months ago

Having a gluten intolerance, I am always stoked when a restaurant is GF so when I saw Thunderbolt on IG being raved about by a GF influencer, I knew I had to try. I am so happy a friend and I were out and about and near their location. The atmosphere, service and food was spot on! My friend and I had the fried chicken biscuit and French fries. Portions were good so we actually just shared. We both had the Koji Killer cocktail and it was yummy. Menu is clearly marked for vegan options too. I am excited to take more friends over to Thunderbolt’s in the near future!

Sophia D

7 months ago

The drinks are absolutely worth the top 50 ranking. Chef Jonathan is great and the chicken biscuit is so yummy. The bartender, Tom, was very friendly and gave great service and was very knowledgeable and skilled for all the cocktails

Linda McLoon

7 months ago

Craft cocktail bars come in all styles. Those of us who like craft cocktails can be pretty eclectic in our choices. Thunderbolt is one of those places that is not for everybody. While most of the cocktails are rifts on classics, they are pretty far out there on the experimental formulation department. I will use one as my example. The first cocktail I had was called Liquid Picnic. They describe it as their "signature gin martini"; besides the usual London dry gin and vermouth it has clarified tomato water, rosemary, and black pepper. Did it taste like tomatoes? Only a slight after note. The main taste profile was herbal. As this illustrates, these drink are not for everyone. My husband tried the "fugwaa falsetto". Its main alcohol was shochu and rum. However, it also contained bitter melon, manzanilla, suze, and was dusted with some type of orange powder. It was actually quite lovely and approachable. The bartenders are very knowledgeable and happy to discuss details. They will even give you a taste of one, as many of their cocktails are batched. The only food we had were the fries, but they were nice and crispy. This place is an adventure in cocktails. If you drink vodka and soda, this is not your place.

Annie Adjchavanich

6 months ago

We had a fantastic night at Thunderbolt and couldn’t have picked a better spot to celebrate a birthday. We grabbed seats at the bar, and from the moment we sat down, the experience felt warm, lively, and welcoming. Our bartender, Frank, was outstanding. Even with the bar buzzing, he took the time to chat with us, make thoughtful recommendations, and craft excellent cocktails without ever making us feel rushed. That kind of attentiveness is rare when a place is busy, and it made the night feel special. While we were bummed that Chef Jonathan had the night off (I was genuinely looking forward to seeing him), the food more than held its own. Everything we ordered was flavorful, well-executed, and clearly made with care. The Cheesy Grits were rich and comforting, the Pork & Beans packed depth, and the Drummettes hit that perfect balance of crisp and savory. The Benne Caesar Salad was a standout—bright, fresh, and memorable. Cocktails were equally on point. La Frutera was refreshing and balanced, and both the Fords and Tromba Blanco cocktails were expertly mixed and enjoyable from first sip to last. Another small but appreciated detail: parking was easy. We found street parking just around the corner, which in Los Angeles is no small win. All in all, Thunderbolt delivered a great night—excellent food, strong drinks, and genuinely friendly service. Frank helped turn a busy evening into a relaxed and celebratory experience, and we’ll absolutely be back.

Anthony Cortese Jr.

3 months ago

Whether it’s date night or just a few friends getting together. This place doesn’t disappoint! Only grabbed a few small bites (Caesar & Fried Green Tomatoes), would get the Caesar again for sure. The cocktails are the real deal and what this place is known for. The mixologist knows what they’re doing! Highly recommended trying a drink that you wouldn’t normally order but peaks your interest. Enjoy!

Letty

7 months ago

I spent an evening at Thunderbolt with friends and it was excellent. They have a very extensive cocktail list plus beer and wine too. There was really something for everyone! I was also excited to try their food as they have quite a few gluten free options on the menu. I had the fried green tomatoes and was very impressed! Thanks for the great food, drinks and service!

Varun Mehta

6 months ago

I had been really excited to visit Thunderbolt after hearing all the accolades and attention they'd garnered from institutions like North America's 50 Best, so when I arrived to an unassuming little spot with no host at the door in a neighborhood that I (an LA visitor) didn't really recognize, I thought for a moment I was in the wrong place. That theory was thoroughly debunked. Thunderbolt was wonderfully in between the casual camraderie of a neighborhood bar and the high-level technique and excellence of the famous bars that neighbor it on the 50 Best lists. The drinks that I had were all extremely well balanced, which is not easy when you're also creating experimental techniques like using clarified tomato water for dilution in your martinis. Bartenders Nicki and Frank were so awesome. Nicki especially managed to effortlessly attend to the 12 or so patrons at the bar before Frank clocked in, and somehow still had time to explain the history of Madeira to me and to advise on which drinks would hit the hardest. Nicki's drink "Wood Wide Web" genuinely might be my favorite cocktail I've had in the last 12 months. Must order!! People say it all the time but seriously, the hospitality on display was above and beyond. Reflecting on the care and service and love they had shown me that night made me feel genuinely emotional as I walked into the waiting night. Or maybe that last glass of Madeira hit harder that I thought.