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    Merlion

    4.1 (378 reviews)
    ModerateThai
    Open 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Merlion Photos

    Business Info

    MERLION ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Merlion

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    Merlion response
    Mel S.

    It's been about five years since my last visit (and let's just say my last review wasn't exactly a favorite). But this time, my daughter and her dad chose this place for our Father's Day dinner, so I went along -- and I'm glad I did. She made a reservation at the bar top, and we were seated promptly. Waters came out right away, drinks were ordered quickly, and the cocktails were excellent. The bartender was attentive, friendly, and provided great service throughout the evening. The food was just as good as I remembered -- flavorful, well-prepared, and presented. I didn't have an issue with the food here my last visit either, and this visit continued that trend. We came on a Saturday and sat in the bar area, which has a more lively, dimly lit atmosphere with music to match. If you're looking for something quieter and more low-key, the dining room might be a better fit. All in all, my visit exceeded expectations and made for a really enjoyable evening. A solid reminder that second impressions can be great ones.

    Merlion Thai Peanut Sauce Curry
    Ann N.

    SUCH a surprising find & hidden gem! I wasn't expecting much, but I really can't wait to come back. - Easy parking. Plenty of lot to park anywhere - Outside, it looks like a casual Galveston beach house on stilts. Inside, it looks like a fun, lowkey bar. Even more inside, is like a boutique fine dining restaurant. Be mindful of dress code. - However, this is the BEST Thai curry I've ever had. I ordered the signature Peanut curry and it was CHEF'S KISS! Portions are generous. We had leftovers to take home. Pad thai was also good, but I'd come back again and again just for that peanut curry. A 2 out of 5 spice was actually pretty hot too. - Service was personable. For my birthday, they had rose petals and little happy birthday confetti near the lamp. They also give you a free Bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes (my favorite), with a candle, which was so sweet and unexpected. 5/5 for everything. I will be coming back!!!

    Jacquelyn V.

    The food was soooo goood and flavorful! we started off with a hot honey (TOO spicy, do listen to waitresses warning) & papaya alcoholic drinks with dragon fire dumplings that had SO much flavor. got the panag curry with lamb chop & the pad med mammu. wok they were packed with flavor! i highly recommend, wish i would have got my waitresses name she was a doll.

    Panang with scallions
    Cierra M.

    Since visiting Merlion for a family member's birthday years ago, this has now been my #1 choice for my own birthday dinner every year for the past 3 years. The staff is excellent and knowledgeable. The food is even better. I always get chicken Pad Thai, and I cant help but have a couple bites of whatever else I can try around me. I've literally never had anything I did not like. This is one of the few places that offers a dairy free dessert and it's probably my favorite dessert dish of all time (mango coconut sticky rice). I'm always excited to come by Merlion because I know I will have a great time and enjoy some of the best food I've ever had.

    Kao Pad
    Tyler N.

    Food: 5 Service: 4 Ambiance: 5 Food- This is the holy grail of Thai food. It's not like most other Thai restaurants, and only features a few staples of Thai cuisine, but absolutely blows you away with all their dishes. Pad Thai has never been my favorite dish, but I always seem to find myself eating it here. The Ahi Tuna is my absolute favorite, and the Kao Pad is one of the best fried rice dishes I've had. Absolutely worth the expensive price tag Service- A fault I've seen in this restaurant is how slow it takes for the food to come out. Now, if this is because the restaurant makes it fresh, I'm all for it. Just be weary of it. The staff is all very accommodating, though, and never miss a beat. Ambiance- This place is not exactly designed kid friendly, but its modern club bar aesthetic is definitely appreciated. The table design is fanciful, and overall provides a playful yet elegant atmosphere. There are few restaurants with food this good. Most expensive dining experiences are just that: experiences where the food quality doesn't match the showmanship (think caviar or hibachi). Merlion is a must-go place, and I couldn't recommend it enough.

    Fantastic Panang Curry with mixed shellfish !!!
    Michael C.

    I ordered the Panang Curry with a shellfish mix. Very delicious, rich, kind of sweet and herby. The gravy held a lot of the excitement and was very good. I requested level 3/5 for some heat without it being too hot to savor the aromas. The scallops were very tender and tasty. The jumbo shrimp had a little bite to them, while the crawfish were just tiny n good. Very generous in amount and about the same price as getting just one shellfish option. I hate both the taste and texture of avocado which it had, but eat them bc of their nutritional benefits last night and 4 times a week in general. The sauce helped improve it. The bamboo shoots were well-cooked and added a tad of crunch. The little bit of cilantro was wonderful in the curry. Great, friendly service. The Panang Curry, Raad Prick Red Curry and Kao Pad (Fried Rice) are my favorites to order here. Great desserts as well, like the chocolate eruption cake to name one. Some guy next to me had the Peanut Curry which looked very good and will try that dish next time.

    Suara 's Fried Rice
    Natasha K.

    Giving honest review here.. the food amongst all things were very flavorful. The appetizers that our large party shared were good. Corn cakes were nothing special though just a hush puppy with corn inside. I ordered the Fried Rice with scallops shrimp and it was absolutely delicious. The only negative take away was the prices for the food. My bill for 2 glasses of wine fried rice and corn cakes was over $100. I wasn't happy with that and the added gratuity. The service took alittle longer than we expected. Our reservation was set for 6:30... food arrived around 8:30, and after the bills were all paid we finally left around 10:15.

    Mango sticky rice

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    Brooke V.

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    1 year ago

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    Brooke V.

    Thank you so much.... We appreciate your business.

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    10 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Food and service was fantastic this weekend! My husband and I love this place and will continue to come, especially for special occasions.

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    Brooke V.

    Thank you so much for your business. We appreciate it!!

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    Brooke V.

    Thank you so much for your review. We appreciate your business .

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

    This is my most favorite place to have date night. The food is amazing and the drinks are even better.

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    9 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    Brooke V.

    Thank you so much.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Merlion Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Merlion

    Do you all do anything for a milestone birthday if requested?? We made reservations and were told no, but we had a birthday there a few years ago and had a very nice birthday surprise. Thank you.

    I'm not sure whom you spoke with. We put rose petals, confetti & you get a nothing bundt cake and a bottle of sparkling to take home. If guest is over 21.

    Hello, Are any of your meats halal?…

    No not at this time.

    Are kids allowed?

    Yes they are just asked to remain seated and quit. We don't want to have a server fun into them if they are running around.

    What is the dresses code?

    Business casual. No hats, cut offs or tank tops in dining room. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

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    Thprsrv

    Thprsrv

    4.8(5 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Let's be very clear: THIS IS A NATIVE AMERICAN and THAI NATIVE CUISINE!!! It's not a fusion but it…read moreis a collaboration of two talented Chefs in their own right and the experience is just simply MAGICAL!! We have the mad genius, Chef David Skinner from Eculent and the ambitious Chef Jabthong "G" Benchawan Painter from Street to Kitchen. Both chefs forging a path from their native ancestry--passed down from generation to generation to bring forth today of exquisite dishes. You are invited to a place where the fireflies fly but to the most trained eye we believe in fairytales. The atmosphere was just simply enchanting and this is an honest and true story--as I hugged Chef Skinner to thank him for such an incredible experience the pearls around my neck broke...I guess you can say I was just so ecstatic that they just popped off my chest! Lollll!! I almost don't want to share photos of the special room because you should be surprised as it's part of the enchanting experience. The magic of the trees, the lights, even the turf carpet! So many tiny little details in the decor just makes this place charming and whimsical. The photo's honestly doesn't do it justice. I'll be happy to share photos of some of the food presented for our dinner and forgive me if I don't remember most of the names. But I promise you the flavors, the texture and the presentation will tantalize your tastebuds and it will leave you wondering if it was all a dream!! MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY!! Take your lady, bring your man...don't wait for any special occasion!! Allow the event itself be that special occasion for you. You will fall in love with both chefs on how they're willing to share their stories and their love of food. bon appétit

    My wife and I dined here on a Thursday evening, and were sat somewhat awkwardly across from a group…read moreof three women dining together. We were the only people in the restaurant. The experience was --- interesting. As is common with tasting menu restaurants, there was a story to go with each dish presented. Also as common with this sort of thing, some dishes were better than others, and many were just okay. At $150 per person, it was on the expensive side, and I question whether it was worth that. Perhaps $100 would have been appropriate. A wine/cocktail option was offered for something like an additional $125, but everyone declined. We were filled to excess by the food, and found it difficult to imagine having space for drinks on top of that. An interesting experience, but we are unlikely to return at this price point. I think that I have decided that tasting menus just aren't my cup of tea, and I really prefer to go to a place where I can select exactly what I want.

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    Thprsrv
    Thprsrv
    Thprsrv

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    Merlion - thai - Updated May 2026

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