Last-minute girls' night and all we knew was... we wanted noodles. We ended up at Malai Kitchen, and I'm so glad we did. This wasn't our first time here, and every visit has been consistently great. The hostess is always so friendly and welcoming, which honestly sets the tone right away. We ordered drinks and an appetizer, and I was fully planning to get my usual pad Thai. But our waitress suggested I switch it up and try the drunken noodles with tofu (I'm vegetarian), and I'm so glad I listened. I got it extra spicy, and it was SO good. Like... I don't even know if I can go back to pad Thai now. One of my favorite things about this place is how many vegetarian options they have - and not just basic ones. Everything is flavorful and feels intentional, not like an afterthought. The whole vibe is kind of Asian fusion, so it's a fun mix of flavors, and everything we've tried has been solid. Great service, great food, and just an overall good experience every time. Definitely a 10/10 for me. read more

Super unaccommodating. Sat - restaurant pretty much empty at 130p, asked for a table for 5 and they would not seat me and my wife. "You need more people" the manager Jonathan told us. SHRUG Ok, dude. FOLLOW UP - The GM approached us, apologized and as a result, I was informed by Jonathan their policy for seating has been changed. What started as a salty experience became 5 star. Props to Malai for professional managment and mature response. BTW: the food quality cannot be faulted. The bar could be a little more meticulous - but they have mastercooks manning the grills in the back. read more

Malai Kitchen - Being forced to wait at the bar. (?) - Vietnamese Near Me - Southlake, Texas

The venue was clean, tidy, modern and inviting. The service, impeccable, accommodating, caring and efficient. The food... well let's just say I grew up eating Vietnamese and Thai food and if I brought my family here, they would wonder why we would be the only Asians eating there. If you've never tried it... you def should... if you grew up eating food from these countries, you'd understand how I feel. read more

Traditionally huge fan of Malai Thai Kitchen. Tried out this location in Southlake with my husband today and everything from level of service, ambiance of the restaurant, and food was very good. The restaurant is also beautifully designed inside and also includes outdoor patio sitting as well. Upon arrival they bring you a bamboo folded sticky rice with sauce on the side which is so good. We also ordered drunken noodles with beef and spicy edamame which were are really good. Our waiter was also very kind. I highly recommend this location. read more

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We stopped in Malai for Valentines day having made a reservation thru YELP, glad we did as the line was long and I cant imagine how long people waited without one. The front of the restaurant is intimate and cozy with soft downlighting and spacing for couples and groups of 4. It also has a view of the kitchen with all the action. Our server, Kaileigh , doubles as one of the bartenders and gave us excellent service throughout our dinner. We started with the Malai sampler which includes Vietnamese Meatballs, Imperial Rolls, Chicken Satay, Ahi Tuna Spring Roll. The sampler was outstanding and had every flavor from sweet to savory to enjoy. For entrees we had the Ban Mi Vietnamese ietnamese baguette, layered with your choice of meat, pickled carrots & daikon, cucumbers, sriracha aioli, and cilantro. Here you get to chose your protein and we chose Tofu . Unfortunately the tofu lacked flavor and missed the mark but the restaurant is SO CUSTOMER FOCUSED the manager fired us a second pulled pork version that was outstanding! Our other entree was the Peanut-Encrusted Ruby Trout , pan-roasted with peanuts and drizzled with lemon-tomato coconut sauce served with green curry rice and citrus street salad - delicious.! No issues and the green curry rice was outrageous The menu is incredibly extensive and I know we"ll return to experience additional Vietnamese tastes. In addition the service is excellent as management is always present and helping rather then in other restaurants where managers walk around but dont expedite, clear, or interact with diners. Malai is a great date night destination foe sure! read more

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Another great lunch; Panang curry with beef tenderloin and Bangkok street fried rice! Both winning dishes! Pro tip: tiramisu to go; best I've had! read more

Malai Kitchen - Panang Curry Bowl with Beef Tenderloin! Delish! - Vietnamese Near Me - Southlake, Texas

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The restaurant is cozy and the staff is always friendly and welcoming. They are good about asking if you have any food allergies. The food is good and fairly priced. The Shrimp Pad Thai is delicious. If you do not like tofu, you can always have that removed. The desert is delicious if you have a sweet tooth. Parking is free however, the shopping center is often crowded. read more

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Malai Kitchen is located a buzzing location in Southlake. Plenty of shops and restaurants around the areas, great to walk around shop and then grab a bite. We started with Saigon Spritz it was refreshing drink. I had the Icelandic cod in red curry which was fantastic. My friend tried the Penang curry which was great as well. The star of the show was the Mango sticky rice smash. It was delicious and so yummy, not too sweet. Our server was attentive and kind, very patient. Definitely great place was a quite cozy dinner spot read more

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I recently grabbed a to-go order from Malai Kitchen, and overall, it was a solid experience. Everything felt incredibly fresh and well-prepared. * Shrimp Rolls (Summer Rolls): I took advantage of the Buy One Get One deal, and they were fantastic. The rolls themselves were light and fresh, but the dipping sauces really made the dish. Both the peanut sauce and the fish sauce were hits. * Shrimp Chips: These were phenomenal! If you've ever had shrimp crackers from a Chinese takeaway in the UK or Ireland, these will give you an instant hit of nostalgia. They were perfectly crunchy and addictive. The Main Course * Shrimp Pad Thai: This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While the quality was definitely there, it didn't quite hit my "ideal" flavor profile. I ordered it spicy, but it lacked the kick I was expecting. It leaned a little too heavily into the sweet and sour notes for my personal preference. It was still a good meal, just not exactly how I prefer my Pad Thai. Verdict Everything was packaged well and tasted high-quality. If you're looking for fresh Southeast Asian flavors in Southlake, this is a great spot--just maybe ask for extra chili on the side if you really like a burn! read more

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Loved that Malai is in a plaza with different restaurant HH options. We just rolled on in on a weekday and got some appys & drinks. HH 3-6 PM M-F. We got their imperial rolls & Viet meatballs 2/12$ Flavorful, tangy, savory, sweet. Pad see ew had great flavors as well, can't really mess up Thai food and if ya do, you know it's bad. Surprised to find this spot in Southlake, can appreciate the Asian culture with foods like Malai Kitchen. Will definitely be back! read more

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Absolutely loved it!! We went on a Friday evening, and thankfully didn't have to wait to be seated. Our waiter was awesome and I hate I forgot his name to give kudos. We had the rice wrapped in the leaf which was pretty good with the sauce. I had one of the curries with beef, and others got rice dishes, noodles, etc. Everything was really good. The decor is nice and lights are kinda dim... cool atmosphere. We ended the night with the banana dessert which was great as well. We will definitely be back. read more

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I'm part group of close knit Yelpers friends who love to get together for a dining out experience every few months. Our gatherings are not for an official Yelp Elite event, but just close friends getting together to share a meal and get caught up. This time around we decided to dine at Malai Kitchen, a Vietnamese/Thai fusion restaurant in Southlake. The restaurant is upscale with an incredible professional staff. The Southlake location is beautifully decorated, it's a feast for the senses and very inviting. One thing you'll have to deal with, parking can be a challenge, the center where the restaurant is located is extremely busy. We had to park a short distance away. The Saturday evening we arrived, the restaurant was packed. I am certainly glad our group of six had made reservations. Hint, hint, call and make reservations if you're planning on dining at Malai. We were seated immediately and introduced to our capable server, Kennedy. She greeted us warmly and made some menu suggestions highlighting her favorites. My wife and I looked over the speciality cocktail selections. My wife decided on a Lemongrass Fizz and I decided to order a Bourbon Smash. For the table a special appetizer of lump crab meat on lettuce leaves. We also ordered Thai Sticky Chicken Wings to share. We enjoyed the appetizers along with wonderful conversations. Our drinks were beautiful and very delicious. It was time to think about our entrees. There were so many route we could take with the menu selections. My wife decided on the Beef Vietnamese Noodle Soup, a meal within itself, and I ordered the Grilled Texas Redfish over rice and accompanied with salted crispy friend kale. The "star" on the table, in my opinion, was Malai's house made Sriracha sauce. Oh my goodness, it was some of the best sriracha I've ever tasted. And it even gets better, they sell it by the bottle. Right before a guest leaves, they'll fill a bottle of freshly made sriracha sauce. It's reasonably priced at $10 a bottle. Be sure to keep it refrigerated, due to the freshness it's not shelf stable like ordinary srirachas. Everyone in our group throughly enjoyed their entrees. My wife's soup entree very enjoyable and enough to share with the table, well at least a sample. My grilled Texas Redfish was incredible. The fish was grilled and seasoned to perfection. The rice and kale sides provided wonderful balance to the entree. Kennedy checked in with us frequently ensuring our entrees were perfectly prepared and we had everything we needed. Of course we had to end the evening with desserts. We ordered three different deserts so we could all share. Between the three of us we decided on the Mango Sticky Rice Smash, Banana Pot de Crème with white chocolate and the coconut cream pie. OMG, as we sampled the desserts we all had smiles on our faces due to the phenomenal treats. For me, the stellar dessert was the coconut cream pie. What an incredible 2 hour dining experience we had at Malai! Kennedy and staff, thank you for the wonderful time. We'll be back again soon. read more

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What a great discovery! I met a friend for lunch who recommended Malai Kitchen and wow am I glad he did! From the Ginger Tea to the complimentary sticky rice to the pineapple shrimp I ordered, I could not have been more pleased! Everything about this place was good -- solidly good! The food, the service and the ambience. Service felt very welcoming, properly attentive and calming. What a delight. read more

We finally tried this place after driving past it a few times. its located in the REI plaza near by all the other restaurants. When you first get seated, they will bring out a small rice dish with a small dipping sauce... this is similar to other places bringing out bread while you wait for your meal. We ended up getting a small soup, sampler, and a Thai Chicken and Waffle off the brunch menu. Malai Favorites Sampler 17 a tasting of the 4 most common "to-share" items, intended for 2 people Vietnamese Meatballs, Imperial Rolls, Chicken Satay, Ahi Tuna Spring Roll Thai Chicken and Waffle 16 crisp coconut-pandan waffle, stacked with lemongrass marinated and breaded chicken strips, tamarind caramel syrup and sliced red chili chicken is glazed with condensed and coconut milk, served with fresh fruit (melon) Out of all the items, i enjoyed the thai chicken and waffles. The chicken was extremely juicy, and the waffles were fluffy. I wish the pandan flavor was a bit stronger, but it was still a nice touch. The service was excellent. Bathroom were clean. They also have a brewery onsite. I really enjoyed the music they were playing... Chill edm... if you're a fan of lane 8 and elderbrook, you'll enjoy the background ambient sounds paying. read more

Epic Asian, very consistent. Try the salmon, rice and Thai tea. ................,.............................,. read more

Had a great experience here. My daughter has celiac so we have to adhere to a strict gluten free diet so I was so happy to see how knowledgeable the staff is with allergies! They were so great at pointing out what items my daughter could safely eat and she got a big variety! We got chicken satays, Vietnamese meatballs, spring rolls (not for my celiac daughter), panang curry, pad thai and mango sticky rice! Everything was delicious I would say the only thing we didn't care for was that the mango sticky rice was a bunch of chopped up mango (and the mango wasn't very sweet it was sour) and it was like mango and rice soup served in a coconut. I was hoping for a mound of sticky rice with mango slices on top which is the way I have traditionally seen this dessert. read more

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After years of having this place book marked we finally had lunch here. The place is super cute! Love all the decor and the homage to Vietnamese and Thai cuisine! This is a place I would take my coworkers if they haven't tried south East Asian food before. I consider it an intro to SE Asian cuisine! All the appetizers are good and can't go wrong with the noodle dishes. The congee failed on me and I was a little under the weather so really wanted some good comfort food. I spoke with the manager and addressed my concerns. read more

Dropped in while visiting Dallas for work, and I'm really glad I did. The pad kee mao was outstanding! Bold, smoky, just the right amount of heat. Easily one of the best I've had in recent memory. Waitress said they make the noodles fresh every morning. No wonder! I also went for the appetizer sampler, which sounded better on paper than it landed. Not bad, just a little forgettable next to the main. That said, the crab dip and papaya salad, both flavorful enough that I'd order them again as a meal on their own. The space is polished but not pretentious, and service was attentive without hovering. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth a stop. read more

Malai Kitchen - Vietnamese Near Me - Southlake, Texas

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I really liked the environment. It was cozy and felt homey. The food was very good! Loved the shrimp spring rolls we got! Our server was very helpful with the menu and was friendly. read more

Malai Kitchen - Banh Mi Vietnamese Sandwich- Vietnamese Meatballs - Vietnamese Near Me - Southlake, Texas

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Great menu. Good food. Decent service. Well staffed. Don't go in the daytime unless you want to see how filthy dirty the floors, seating and the kitchen is. Suggested to the daytime manager to do a deep clean over 2-3 nights, after hours clean up and return this sweet spot for Thai food to its original glory. Come-on! Cleanliness is a choice and NOT an option. read more

The vibe was amazing and food was delicious! I loved how cozy and intimate the dining was in the booths with a lit candle! The server was extremely nice and we were seated right away! I got the fried rice and love how you can choose your spice level! I got a level 2 and it was the perfect amount read more

Malai Kitchen - Red Curry Icelandic Cod - Vietnamese Near Me - Southlake, Texas

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We go here every Sunday and try something different! Today it was Duck Tamarind and Lemongrass beef!! Awesome! read more

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Spring rolls to go.... I popped in for a quick lunch to go. The spring rolls are different than I've had before. Colorful and interesting mix of veggies with shrimp. Would be great to bring to a party. Lady taking my order was nice. Inside was nicely decorated, will have to return for another item or 2 to try soon. read more

Malai Kitchen - Vietnamese Near Me - Southlake, Texas

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We have recently started dining at Malai and we've been very pleased thus far. The service is good and the food is amazing. I have to avoid gluten, so I'm thankful to have access to a restaurant that takes dietary restrictions so seriously and are warm and welcoming about it as well. read more

The ahi tuna tartare is so so good (and gluten free) -- really refreshing with tons of umami. It's sushi grade ahi tuna all diced up and tossed with tons of delicious stuff like lime, chilis, shallots, lemongrass, cilantro, mint, thai basil, green onion, and cucumber.. served with bright green lettuce, sliced avocado, and some kind of delicious dipping sauce. If you like tuna you must order this! The curry here is also really top notch and flavorful. I love the iron pot green curry that's served with chicken, eggplant, bell peppers, and carrots. Yum. The fried rice is fantastic and can be made gluten free as well. And all the portions are big, I think most dishes easily serve 2 people or makes for the best-ever leftovers! read more

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Great menu with many delicious dishes. The service was excellent. Prices are reasonable. I would definitely recommend the Malai Kitchen to my friends. read more

Love this place! Great food, great service, great ambience! Make sure you get served by either Jack or Kelly! They are so welcoming, kind and attentive! Very lovely people! My mom and I really enjoy coming here after a long day of shopping. Every time is an exceptional experience. 10/10!!!!! read more

Can't believe I have been going here for so long without leaving a review! The Good: * Where do I begin - the service is amazing. Kelly and her team are free to serve their customers well and it shows. Everyone is always happy to serve. We often bring friends, family, and important clients for a meal because we know that they will co-host my guests as if I was in my own home. Amazing team! * The food is amazing. They make so many things from scratch. Their curries, chili pastes, even their beers are all made in-house! MUST TRY: Panang Curry with Steak, Pad Thai with Shredded Pork, Imperial Rolls, Sea Bass. Their Peach Wheat is a fanatic in-house beer that I get almost every time. * Restaurant is always clean. * Parking is relatively easy. It is what it is: * If you ever sit outside, be aware that plants in the plaza attract bees. The Bad: * I've never had a bad experience here. The only thing that would come close to a negative thing is that I rolled the dice and tried a special that I didn't like, but that's preference. The Verdict: * This is one of the few non-national chains in Southlake that has their act together. Their ambiance, food, and service is consistent every time. Price is reasonable for what you get. If you love Thai food, you need to check this place out! read more

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Food and service are always on point. Love every time I've visited. I love how accommodating they are to my allergies.

I was meeting with a friend and she suggested we do dinner at Malai Kitchen. I had never been there before but was excited to try. It seemed like an Asian Indian fusion restaurant with various dishes and many of them were vegetarian friendly so that was nice!! I got the vegetable pot green curry with extra veggies and no tofu. I chose medium spice and thought it was the perfect amount. I also got the sugar cane drink and thought it was super unique. For desert we got the chocolate roti. It was on a stick and had the choice to be dipped in ice cream or jam. Definitely never tried anything like it before. It had a very chocolatey comforting taste, not what you would think roti would be like, but I liked it! I would definitely go here again and would recommend it to others as well. The food was good and the service was nice! read more

Malai Kitchen - House Pressed Sugarcane Juice - Vietnamese Near Me - Southlake, Texas

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The food was terrible. Not authentic. Not depth in flavor. Not tasty at all. Even in places where it's not authentic, it might at least taste okay. We ordered a coconut soup, green curry, drunken noodles, pad thai, papaya salad. The green curry was green... but no flavor, so many veggies and not enough chicken. It came with a small serving of rice. We were doing family style and they charged us for 2 servings of rice. I would review each individually but honestly we were so disappointed within minutes we all agreed, we will never return. The service was so so.. they were so eager to remove our plates. We had 4 adults and 2 littles and they charged us 20% gratuity. Did I say we will never return again?! Yep. One of the more expensive meals we've had that were so flavorless.. would have enjoyed McDonald's more. read more

I could've sworn that I have written a review for this restaurant before, but I guess I haven't - so I will go ahead and put in my experiences from the 7-10 times that I've been there. What really keeps me coming back is the appetizer sampler and the peach ginger detox free iced tea - it's so good and you get free refills so you can't beat that. I haven't even bought a canister of it from the restaurant because it is a local company that makes the tea and they sell it there, so I really like it haha. The appetizer sampler includes a good amount for the price, especially considering that you're getting that variety - and I'm a person who always wants to have variety in trying a new place. I will say that I have never really been blown away by any entrées. They're decent, but nothing compelling me to order it again *with the exception of* they used to do this flat noodle dish as a lunch special I think, and now they don't do it anymore. That would be the only thing I would (and did) order twice. For entrees, I've tried the lemongrass chicken and green curry with chicken - both were fine but nothing that stood out to me as a must order. For me, that's the appetizer sampler. I love the "meatballs." The happy hour prices for the appetizer stuff isn't bad since you can get one item from the list for $7 or two for &12 I believe. Also, one time someone ordered the sticky rice, dessert, and then left even though they had paid for it, so the waiter brought it to our table and that was very good! I honestly wouldn't have considered ordering it beca I don't like mangoes, but it surprised me! I like the free sticky rice appetizer with eggplant dipping sauce - I usually ask for a second (still free, which is a plus). However, where they really get a ding in my review is their wines & cocktails - happy hour prices for alcohol are disappointing, the amount of wine I got for $8 was laughable. AND that wine? $8 a bottle. A huge waste of my money. I know alcohol prices get raised at restaurants, I get that, but I am simply not *happy* with going to somewhere that proclaims to have a happy hour that seems like a rip off. And $9 for a mule still felt like more than I want to spend. This is why I rarely drink at restaurants unless they have a very good HH - this may be Southlake, but not everyone has Southlake money. I do have to consider if something is worth the money or not. The appetizer sampler *is* because it would simply be too much work and too many ingredients to prepare the exact same thing at home, certainly not for less. I would actually recommend trying their beers at HH or a beer flight because that's a special microbrew they have which you can't find anywhere else. I guess restaurants have to make a profit off alcohol... but at the same time, I can practically go across the street to Postino on M or T nights and gets a giant thing of bruschetta and bottle of wine for $25. I know it's a different cuisine, but it's hard to not compare. I know several places I can get a bigger glass of wine for less, or cocktail for less. I'll keep coming back for the appetizer sampler, try some other entrees. But they're not as impressive to me as they once were. read more

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Everything about my experience here was wonderful from the waitress to the food. I stopped by here around 1PM on a Friday without a reservation and was seated right away. The ambiance was inviting and the colors of the decor are warm and welcoming. The waitress was really kind and answered any questions we had as it was our first time. I ordered the spicy basil chicken with the detox ginger peach green tea. The portion sizes are big and the prices are comparable to what you'll see in Southlake. We'll definitely be returning sometime soon! The only downside is the parking in the area can be hard to find depending on the time of day. read more

Malai Kitchen - Spicy Basil Chicken - Vietnamese Near Me - Southlake, Texas

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We came in looking for a romantic booth and a warm soup, but ended up with one of the best dining experiences my fiancé and I have had in a while. Our server, Noelle, knew absolutely everything we needed to make an informed choice. Their two happy hour wines were both fabulous choices. We went with the red, a Tempranillo. The green curry, drunken noodles, and Thai coconut soup rocked our worlds. The soup, especially. We ordered a side of roti (A MUST) and ended up getting a second! Their Malai blend hot tea was a comforting way to end a perfect meal. read more

Malai Kitchen - Vietnamese Near Me - Southlake, Texas

This is the first time i've been to this Malai location, i really loved the vibes at golden hour the entire restaurant is beautifully designed and decorated. 3/4 of us got the peanut crusted ruby trout..it was amazing!!! always a favorite read more

Malai Kitchen - Peanut Encrusted Ruby Trout Jungle Curry Hot Pot with Shrimp Thai Iced Tea - Vietnamese Near Me - Southlake, Texas

This place is always a miss, never a hit for me! Is it just me or does every dish have a burnt taste to it? I continue to come back because the staff is so nice and attentive. I can't help to entertain my friends when they are looking for a Thai place they enjoy, but this one just sits at a 3 star until further notice. read more

Malai Kitchen - Drunken Noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - Southlake, Texas

This was my second time here and it only got better. This time I ordered the Arctic Char with veggies and brown rice. The cook was perfect! Succulent with crispy skin. The brown rice was full of flavor and moist. I was so hungry that I didn't get a picture. But my wife convinced me to get dessert which we had the mango sticky rice and the coconut cream pie. I'm not a dessert person more on the savory side! I would just come for dessert. That coconut cream pie was the best dessert I've had hands down. I will say you may want to share as it is pretty rich! I did also love the mango sticky rice which came out warm. Very surprising! This is a must try people!!! read more

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Outstanding Southeastern Asian cuisine. Highly recommended! The service and food quality is always outstanding. We frequent this restaurant and have always had a memorable experience. Want a nice date night restaurant? Malai is an exceptional choice. The ambiance is classy with artwork from Thailand and Vietnam. It can get a bit noisy when it's peak hours. Parking is at a premium. I recommend you put this restaurant on your short list. It's excellent. read more

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I had high expectations for Malai based on the reviews, but our meal left much to be desired! Ambiance - the interior is beautiful and spacious! Very modern with lots of wood/earthy accents. Service - our server was friendly, but we did feel a bit rushed. They also rarely checked in with us and did not bring us clean plates in between courses as promised. At the beginning of the meal, they dropped off some sticky rice with a green sauce and never explained what it was. Food - Drink: Sugar Cane Juice - perfectly sweet and very refreshing! Apps: Vegetable Spring Rolls, Vegetable Samosas, Shishito Peppers - the spring rolls were fresh and the samosas had a nice savory taste. The shishito peppers were under fried, as the coating often slipped off the pepper. Mains: Basil Vegetable Fried Rice, Panang Curry, Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles - every item lacked any sort of flavor or spice (we asked for medium spicy). The noodle dishes tasted like regular boiled noodles with barely any sauce and the Panang had a sour/odd taste that was unenjoyable. Nobody at our table of 6 liked a single main that we ordered. TL;DR - the interior is beautiful, but it does not match the quality of food. The majority of items we ordered were incredibly bland and flavorless. I'd give this spot a skip! read more

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My daughter was in the mood for some pho, so decided to try Malai Kitchen. The ambiance is warm and inviting. Very stylish dining room and semi-open kitchen. The staff is friendly and attentive, they even tolerated one of terrible dad jokes. The food was delicious, We started with some samosas and Thai tea. My wife had the Monday lunch special chicken and fried rice, she was pleased with her selection. My daughter order the beef pho, she was also please with her selection. I had the Bangkok street rice which was delicious, I ordered medium heat and it did not disappoint. I finished off with a Thai PA. Had I known they were brewing their own beer I would have tried this place sooner! Will definitely be back. read more

Malai Kitchen - Samosas - Vietnamese Near Me - Southlake, Texas

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