Nico (sp?) was such a gem and treated us so well on the night my cousin and friends took me out to celebrate my birthday! I have a love/hate that they change their menu because I thought I did my due diligence and studied the menu and precious Yelp reviews to prepare what to order. But then the menu changed but it was fine bc Nico helped steer us to all the good stuff! We ordered a bunch of dishes and ate family style so we could try everything! The stand outs to me were the Pani Puri with the fiery mint water that you pour and lets you control the heat (you eat it in one bite), the Pork Dan Dan Buco Di Creste noodles (we asked not too spicy, we're getting older! Haha ), the Gulf Shrimp Pakora, and the ice cream pie from Lucy Boone! Mister Mao is where the old Dick and Jenny's restaurant used to be across from Rouse's on Tchoupitoulas. It's a little pricey but so worth it for a fancy night out!! And ask for Nico, he's the best!! read more

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I really wanted to love this place. It was recommended to me by two friends that had visited New Orleans and love their experience there. We requested the chef's counter, and we were able to get it no problem on a Tuesday night. As far as the service, the gentleman that initially took our order and was seem to be the primary chef/sous chef of the night was nice but seemed very stressed the entire time. Not particularly personable, but took care of our needs. Another younger gentleman in the kitchen gave us extra goodies to try and was very friendly and helpful. The ambience was cute. Small semi industrial looking with cool music playing in the background. It felt small and intimate. Now for the food. They do warn that there are some spicy dishes on the menu, but in my experience, every single item was spicy. Also, there are many pork issues on the menu so if you are a no pork person, beware that your options are very limited. I love spice, but there needs to be some relief and there just was none to be had. We had the pani puri, the fried chicken, the scallops, the tuna Crudo, and the charred corn. With the exception of the scallops every single dish was very high on the spice scale. The corn in particular was so spicy that none of us could even eat it because it lacked flavor, but had so much spice that our lips were burning with one bite. The pani puri comes with a fire juice that you pour in to adjust the level of spice. In my opinion, they look much cooler than they taste. The scallops were delicious and come with a piece of bread to dip in the sauce. My favorite. Overall, I hate to say it, but I was a bit disappointed. I was really looking forward to this dinner in particular on our trip to New Orleans and it just didn't quite meet the hype for us. read more

Mister Mao - Pani puri. Just ok. - Asian Fusion Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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We came here for gals brunch a few months back. I loved the energy here. The staff, the bartender, the waiter are all quirky and fun. The decor kind of matches that energy. And so does their 'pics of cats' all over the menu. I am a cat person, so that won me over right there. They were running the special for a family style meal for $54 ++. You get to try so much, we decided to get 3 since there were 6 of us. I enjoyed the food more than the cocktails. The coffee cocktail was really not good and possibly my least fav coffee cocktail in the city. I think it needs a revamp. The ingredients are basically hoodoo chicory, it just tasted like all bitter. I didn't order any other drinks after that. I did try the gals drinks and they were all just ok. As for the food, I think the clear winner was the garlic noods. Not only did every slurp theirs up, fighting over it, almost all of us ordered a garlic noodle to go! That was top notch and I still thinking about that today! The dumplings were good, the shrimp was better than the rice dumpling. I enjoyed the ginger salad and fried chicken. It was an interesting fusion of flavors and a very fun atmosphere to be in. I will absolutely be back for the drool worthy garlic noodles. read more

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Recommendations (note- we ordered all the spices and sauces to the side because we have low spice tolerance LOL): The hanger steak was my favorite. It had such a nice smoky flavor and was absolutely delicious. The broken rice was very creamy and delicious. However, the title is misleading because it was more like grits with cheese on top. The Prahok Ktiss was pretty flavorful and authentic, but there weren't enough sesame chips that came with the dish to balance out the spiciness of the paste. We asked our waiter if we could get more chips, which they said they weren't able to do. As an Asian American, I could tell that the chips were an inexpensive snack that you could buy from the grocery store, so I thought it was odd that they couldn't fulfill that request. I loved the pani puri! The presentation was beautiful and the strawberry oddly went well with the dish. Do not recommend: The Kashmiri fried chicken tasted dry. Crab pasta- I forgot the name, but it didn't have much flavor and I didn't taste the crab. Service: friendly and attentive. Overall, the food isn't the most authentic but some of the dishes were unique and tasty. read more

My friend and I ordered the family-style brunch for two while dining here. The brunch package is offered on Saturday and Sunday. For less than $60 we were able to try 6 items. The restaurant definitely lives up to its reputation for being eclectic while serving up global flavors. Some dishes worked, others did not. The restaurant is located near the West Riverside neighborhood, which is not near the French Quarter. I probably wouldn't recommend going out of your way to dine here but if you happen to be nearby and want to try a twist on common Asian dishes then give this place a visit. read more

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I've been meaning to get over here forever! Our server, Ash, was incredible and made the experience so good! They were helpful and patient with us, even though we were a squeeze in between reservations. The place is beautifully decorated, as well! The food was okay, and a bit on the expensive side. I think it's worth a shot to try, but honestly the service was the redeeming factor for me. 5 stars for service alone! The food probably gets a 3 star rating from me, but the menu often rotates and I might give it another shot! read more

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We were eager to try Mister Mao because it was on the 2025 Michelin guide and were keen on trying dishes made by a chef who's a fellow Cambodian. Our order: - Pani Puri ($13.50)- It has a kick to it that was overpowering and made it almost intolerable. The flavor combination was not it. I have had better. - Kahsmiri Fried Chicken ($26)- Standard. It was one of the spicy items but not memorable. - Big Ass Salad ($17)- It really is as big as they say and it was nice to have some greens that we were lacking. It was a little bitter which I'm okay with. Even for the amount, the price isn't justified. - Wood Fired Steak ($38)- Tender and delicious. The only dish we would order again. - Broken Rice ($25)- This was a standard risotto dish and should not be called broken rice. The only commonality is rice and that is it. The name mismatch was so disappointing that it ruined the dish for us. - Parhok Ktiss ($16)- We were most excited for this as we have had this dish growing up. The spice was tamer than what we traditionally have. There wasn't enough of the lettuce or black sesame rice paper to pair with this dish. We ended up with way more of the pork. Service was decent but overall, the dishes were a let-down We did come in having high expectations and were anticipating more Cambodian-themed dishes. Fusion dishes can be a hit or miss and unfortunately, this was a huge miss for us. read more

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Mister Mao's is one of those places that gets it, bold flavors, playful menu, and a vibe that makes the whole experience feel intentional from start to finish. The food was creative without being pretentious, perfectly balanced, and clearly made with care. Every dish felt like a little adventure, and nothing missed. But what really elevated the night was our server, Timie. Timie was knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely engaging, walking us through the menu, offering spot-on recommendations, and making us feel taken care of without ever hovering. That level of service makes a great restaurant unforgettable. From the atmosphere to the execution to the hospitality, Mister Mao's delivers. read more

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The drinks are delicious and strong Love how they combined different cultures and made unique recipes. Very tasty! Good service and tropical Asian decor. Only thing is that it was a little too loud and it took away from the experience a bit. Would be 5 stars if they lowered the volume a tad! read more

PHENOMENAL!!!! I had been wanting to try Mister Mao for YEARS, and boy, was I missing out until now. This restaurant calls themselves a "Tropical Roadhouse", and the menu really is a mixture of almost everything. It's a huge mix of Asian fusion, seafood, Italian, Mediterranean, soul food, and even more. I don't even think words can fully describe how everything tasted, everything was unlike anything I'd ever had. Flavors I didn't even know existed. Every dish was 10/10. The menu is pretty spice-forward, which I loved, but not an overbearing type of spice where you can't taste anything else. Everyone just needs to go here. The food is out of this world. Truly one of the best meals I've had!!! read more

Mister Mao - Menu 3/7/26 - Asian Fusion Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I went for the Summer Happy Hour special (pick 3 for $25 from menu list) and I thought it was a great deal! It seems to change often so I definitely want to go back and try more things. All the apps we tried were so unique and flavorful, especially the curry corn dish. Service was amazing, server checked on us a lot and gave great drink recommendations. The decor is so cute too, there truly isn't a bad seat in the house! I can't believe I haven't been here before, but I'll definitely be back. read more

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Super delicious cocktails! We came for happy hour and ended up ordering cocktails off the regular menu since they looked SO unique & delicious. The bartender also did a fantastic job at describing the cocktails (and making me want to order another one.) I got the Uncle Butthead but I can't remember the name of the one my friend ordered - it had sesame and some sort of infused liquor from a tree i think? Either way, SUPER YUMMY and interesting to try. I know the menu changes alot so keep that in mind. I can say anything seems worth trying. I liked everything. I can't wait to come back and try more of their food/drinks! Super cool dining area / bar as well. read more

Mister Mao - Asian Fusion Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I could rave about the service! Jay and Chasity were wonderful and engaging. Jay was super attentive and did a wonderful job explaining the menu. The restaurant was extremely busy, but the staff handled it like pros. The early 2000s music was one of my favorite parts of the evening (even if it didn't match the expected ambiance). The food was okay. Some things were too spicy for my dining partner, but some things were a bit under salted for me. The dessert was great though! I appreciated the family style vibes, but my plate was too small for all the things we ordered. I would go back and try it again. read more

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Excellent food, and such a fun twist on Indian flavors and the menu was creative. Service was excellent and ambiance was beautiful. We loved everything we ate. There was a moment of stale toppings on one of the veg salads, but I think it was just a small oversight. Great experience and the brunch for 2 was filling and worth the price! read more

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This place was very cute. Loved the decor inside. We had a party of 6 and were seated immediately. From the moment you walk in you struggle to hear bc its very loud. To even speak to the person next to you, you have to raise your voice. The service was ok and could use some improvements. We ordered the Tuna and fried chicken for appetizers. Both were very disappointing. The tuna was not fresh and the fried chicken did not taste like chicken and was very salty. We then ordered the scallops, steak, and lump crabmeat pasta, and shrimp. The shrimp, pasta and steak were really good. The shrimp was hands down my favorite. The scallops were not fresh and had ammonia smell. Please be cautious and smell the food first. Overall I will not be back. read more

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We stopped by to grab a few bites, but honestly didn't end up understanding all the hype. I think the staff is absolutely great and the restaurant has a very warm feeling, but the food was not as good. Maybe I'm a bit more biased because I'm North Indian, but the pani puri was just not the right flavors or even close and more importantly, it was so beyond spicy that we could barely eat it. I think especially as a vegetarian, I didn't find very many options at this restaurant which could also influence my rating. read more

Mister Mao - Pani Puri - Asian Fusion Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We found this place on a Reddit thread and we were excited to try it. We had a res and were seated right away. HH was still on, so we ordered the dumplings and drinks from this menu to start - chicken wontons (out of beef) and the sticky eggplant. These were served rather quickly. The wontons were underwhelming and a bit dry, but the sticky eggplant was so flavorful. The eggplant was a bit overcooked and mushy but the flavor made up for it. We also ordered the lechon, ginger salad, sashimi and fried chicken. It took at least another 25 minutes after appetizers, which put a damper on our overall experience. We inquired about it and the server said that a large party was in progress and they were behind. He said it would be another 10-15 minutes, which would have been ridiculous (I think I said, "Really?!?) but luckily the next dish was out in a just a couple of minutes. The lechon kawali was legit and really good, and we are filipino so that's saying a lot. Crunchy and tender in the right places and accompanied by a nice sauce. The sashimi was good but presentation/cut of the fish was a bit sloppy. The fried chicken was spicy and served piping hot but the flavor profile was underwhelming and missing something. It was the most $ and the least fave of everything. Service was good and friendly, but obviously the long wait was not favorable and nothing was offered for the inconvenience - complimentary beverage or nibble to eat while waiting would have been reasonable. We are not local so returning would be unlikely, but if we had the opportunity we would likely skip. It could have definitely been a one off as they have great reviews overall, so take that with a grain of salt. read more

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Thank you to everyone at Mister Mao and to our server named Rage Quit. We had a wonderful time. Food, service, vibes, drinks, everything was thoughtful and sweet. Thanks for y'all's hard work. read more

Mister Mao - pani puri, rage quit, cabbage salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

LOVED. We came here for our Anniversary dinner (they had complimentary champagne waiting for us!), the decor was so fun and cute. It was pricey, but the portions were surprisingly large. Would so quickly come back here with a group. For drinks we got the Crystal Ball, Monkey Paw, and the Miss Peggy, all were super good. Miss Peggy was maybe the least memorable though. Other two were phenomenal! For food we got the Pani Puri to start which was super fun and interesting! For my boyfriend's entree he got the Kashmiri Chile Fried Chicken which was phenomenal!! I got the Lump Crab Gemelle which might be my favorite pasta dish in the city Would be thrilled to come back. read more

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https://blainerestaurantreport.wordpress.com/2023/11/03/mister-mao-new-orleans-la-report-639/ read more

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10/10 yes... GO! This place is so unique and delicious. The best way to visit this spot is with a group of 4-8, so you can share and try all the things on the menu. Their cocktail menu also has something for everyone and does not disappoint -- beautifully crafted drinks and food presentation to match. Service was attentive and kind, had great suggestions, and accommodated all of our dietary restrictions/allergies. read more

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I had my birthday dinner here with 10 people. We were sat 45 minutes late, yet despite that, it was one of my favorite dinners in New Orleans or anywhere else. It may even have been my favorite night of the entire year. The restaurant is in an old Creole cottage, so you feel like you're in someone's home. It's loud. Where we were sat, in the back room, it's particularly loud. Since it was my birthday, I just got up during the meal to make sure I talked with everyone around the table at some point. The service is absolutely impeccable. The only other restaurant where I experienced service on par with this was Paladar. I know there are more formal restaurants in town, but I really enjoy the mixture of casually dressed, hip, relatable service done in an upscale manner, if that makes sense. In other words, the servers are people I would want to go to a dive bar with but they do just as good of a job as a formal service team. My slight annoyance with being sat late was immediately resolved upon tasting my first of several cocktails. In fact, I can say without reservation that this is the best cocktail program I've ever experienced in the city (at a restaurant). Much better than Cure, Paladar, or any others I have tried. I am a cocktail snob, and every cocktail I had here blew me away. It's one of those cocktail menus where you genuinely want to try every single one - and you should. If you come here, be prepared to stay a while. Not only were we sat late, but the meal itself took over 2 hours. It is served family style, and you will likely continue to order more food because it's so delicious. Aside from the cuisine, which skewes toward the Asian continent but is difficult to define, the cocktails and desserts require time to savor. By the end of my birthday meal, I was beyond impressed and deeply satisfied. Thank you to the staff. I wish I could remember my server's name, because she was utterly delightful. Everyone in my group was pleased. Luckily for me, they paid. read more

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A group of us had dinner there last week- loved the decor. We were given a table close to the kitchen and was impressed by how clean and efficient they maintained it. The cocktails were good The food was excellent - loved the Kashmir Chili fried chicken- the spice was just right - The Ginger salad was brilliant- was savory and bursting with flavor. They had a pasta dish with crab for which I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors. Overall a wonderful experience - Can't wait for my next visit to this restaurant read more

Amazing Fusion Indian brunch you will ever eat. Welcoming staff with plenty of space to enjoy on your morning brunch visit to this place.

I have to say, our server Connor was pretty epic. Epic enough that we were compelled to write this review. So friendly, so attentive.... And knew the menu inside and out. Ask for his section. Food and ambiance were both great too! read more

idk why its could be a gourment michellin - Honestly wr came here 4 days ago - beef dumpling were too salty no flavour - what A SF garlic noodle with parmesen is too blend and no kick at all - Well - I think my masterchef jury tongue are no approved their foods at all - All leave to you ! service are hmmmmm - read more

Mister Mao - goods menu and taste invisible - Asian Fusion Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Amazing atmosphere, eclectic eats. One of my favorite places to recommend to people when they want something unique! My favorite dish is the Kashmiri Fried Chicken (sooo spicy) but you really can't go wrong with anything on their menu! Also highly recommend sitting in the bar or the chefs counter for peak experience. read more

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One of the best brunches I've had in my travels -- definitely one of the best in NoLa. Such a beautiful tropical vibe, super friendly service, bottomless mimosas, fun cocktails, and delicious food inspired both by local ingredients and by Southeast Asian flavors. I'd absolutely come back here again and again! Table favorites: shrimp dumplings, garlic noodles, kashmiri chile fried chicken. read more

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First time there. Can see why it's survived and thrived. Great staff. Delicious pan Asian cuisine. Fun vibe easy parking

Menu does change quick. Was hoping to get the garlic noodles but wasn't on menu. Hibiscus limeade was super delicious. Great to have a non alcoholic made option. Chile verde was good and spicy. The pork was tender and flavorful. Tuna crudo was good and plated well. The tiny peppers are super hot but still enjoyed. Kashmiri chicken was just ok. I liked the pineapple but the sauce wasn't enough to give any compliment of flavor. The earl grey cake was worst part. Just dry and boring. Not a way I wanted to end the meal. Would give another shot as food was good just wasn't wowed with anything I ordered. read more

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I really enjoyed my time here. The food, drinks and service are great. I think we ordered everything on the menu so I can truthfully say it's all wonderful. The food is spicy and the drinks are strong. Def check it out if you want a cute night and fantastic meal. Also love the goodie bags at the hostess stand! read more

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Yum yum yum!! Tapas-style places are my favorite - they bring out the best in dinner, the shared experience. The Indian influences are evident in every single dish, the spices that jump out of these are unreal & very unique. I can confidently say I've never had Brussels Sprouts done like that ever. And I've had countless, shamelessly. My favorite is split between that and the tuna dish - so fresh (and spicy so fair warning)! Wait time was nothing but would recommend making a reservation ahead of time just for ease. Vibes are perfect for dates night or small girl group dinners! read more

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we went here with friends on nye to have a nice dinner before we went out. the restaurant online said they had a special nye menu but when we got to the restaurant we were given the regular menu. we got there early so happy hour was still going on. the staff informed us that the restaurant brings out items as they are prepared and it's a sharing type of restaurant - a la tapas. the food was flavored well and tasted nice but like tapas was smaller portions and higher price. we got a variety of veggie and non-veggie items including eggplant, risotto, chicken, and crab noodles. standouts were the risotto and the chicken while the eggplant and crab noodles were decent. overall nice place but expect tapas like atmosphere - smaller portions and high prices. read more

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This Asian fusion restaurant is located in a charming and divey building with a cozy barroom and a larger, noisier dining room. I liked the atmosphere and the food, which was reasonably priced by my standards. We went during restaurant week and enjoyed 3 course meals for $40. Of course the drinks and appetizers and other courses for others in our party weren't quite as economical, but I'm not complaining. The cocktails were only OK: Moroccan sidecar, mojito, cosmopolitan, and carnival crush. Service was off a bit. Maybe our waiter was oversubscribed, but it seemed to take forever to order and taste those second cocktails. And, surprise! we contributed an additional 4% of our bill to a "Wellness Fund." We support staff wellness by patronizing the restaurant; management could support it by paying a living wage. read more

This was such a delight!!! We sat at the chefs counter and had a good time talking with the staff as they made us an absolute feast. We ordered 6 dishes - which was too much food!! We had the shrimp dumplings, delicious, beef siu mai, delectable, pani puri, divine, brussels sprout bhaji, dangerous, fried chicken, daaaaaang, and the lechón, darn good. The space is also just a dream for the sense. I loved the decor. This was such a fun and exciting place to spend our anniversary brunch. read more

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As a vegetarian with onion allergy, there was very little I could eat because most was prepped ahead of time. What there was, was extremely small and underwhelming in taste. Oh, and the "Asian" food on the menu is a hint of what it should be. The name is extremely misleading. I have no idea how they were anywhere near consideration for a Bib Gourmand. read more

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We had a great experience stopping by here after it being on the to do list a while. Great atmosphere blasting some 90's music had the whole kitchen dancing. Staff had great recommendations. We sat at the chefs table and they brought us extra goodies. This is some of the best food I've had in a good while. Wood fired puppy drum was amazing got to see it cooking on the wood stove as we sat there. Scallops were also good melt in your mouth and very flavorful. The fried chicken had one hell of a spice kick, but the pineapple balanced it nicely making it a complex delicious flavor profile. Every cocktail I had was perfect. Will definitely be coming back. read more

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Went to Mister Mao on a recommendation and was blown away by how good it was. The inside had beautiful jungle themed decor, nice ambient lighting, and the service was really kind and personable (shoutout to the waiter who complimented the vibe of our table). We fortunately came during Happy Hour and had some lovely $9 cocktails and fries beef wontons. Though I forgot the name of the cocktails they were sweet yet well-balanced and satisfied everyone at the table, and the wontons came hot and well-seasoned inside. For food we all split lechon kawali, crying tiger hangar steak, kashmiri fried chicken and blue crab chili verde pasta. All the dishes were well-executed, beautifully presented unique and a pleasure to eat. The kashmiri chicken was really one of kind in its spicing, and the outside was perfectly crisp and the inside still juicy and tender. The hangar steak was also nicely tender and was balanced well with the shishitos and sweet potatoes. The lechon was also well done and the acidity of the pickled onions balanced the richness of the pork. Overall this restaurant exceeded my expectations and will absolutely be a must-visit when I am back in NOLA. read more

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How incredibly gorgeous is this restaurant? I sat there in awe the entire time, admiring every inch of the space with its cool tropical vibes, chandeliers, an entire wall taken up with a beautiful tiger mural. Even the "powder room" is glorious, with the same artist painting birds and foliage directly on its walls. I love the bar area too. It's a more cozy space, kind of like the coolest enclosed garden patio. I'm smitten with the decor. The acoustics, however... it's just too loud for me in there. Admittedly, I've always been sensitive to noisy places. My husband agreed the noise level was extreme, though, and we had to shout at each other across the table. Not ideal for a date. Definitely fine for groups because you won't be disrupting the peace, so there's that! Some places are just more boisterous, I suppose, but a little soundproofing could go a long way. I absolutely loved our server. We first had a visit to our table from a friendly guy who filled our water and chatted about the menu. It was a hospitable touch. I have to say service is on point here, even on a very very busy night. Our waiter kindly went over what was vegan or could be made vegan on the menu and I ordered the cauliflower, the Brussels and the Pani Puri (aka potato pockets of bliss because they are such a lovely little surprise and unlike anything I've eaten before). What I loved about all of the little dishes was that they needed no spice nor salt enhancement. Delicate plates of goodness. And that saucer full of green magic for the Pani Puri? I could have drank it. I'm not sure Mister Mao would be a regular dining destination for me, personally (I needed at least one more vegan option with a little more heft if I am hungry), but I would love to return for drinks and snacks and to soak in the beautiful atmosphere. I think I would need to arrive early or super late, though, because the acoustics are not my jam. read more

Lechon Kawali and the Brussels Sprouts Bhaji under drinking snacks are a MUST! So good! Shrimp Dumplings had my mouth dancing with flavors! The sauce used was amazing! Shrimp egg rolls and sautéed mushrooms from their off the cart menu were nice touches to this sharable dinner. Of course don't forget your cocktails from a full bar. High 5's to the chef! read more

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