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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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

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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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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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

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

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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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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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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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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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

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

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

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

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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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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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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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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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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We made a reservation for the chef's table, not knowing what to expect, and were so pleasantly surprised with the view of the kitchen and the treats that were shared with us along our dining experience. The staff are incredible and so knowledgeable about the food that is being served. It is evident that the kitchen is creative and brings in ingredients that are fresh and in season. We enjoyed the pani puri, a new shrimp dish, and the broken rice risotto, along with samples of other menu items. Not only was the service fantastic, but the food was one of a kind. 1000/10, will come back every visit we make to the city. read more

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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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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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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The food was ok, the employees were disinterested, stressed, and unavailable. Chaotic. The place was cute but expected more hospitality and professionalism given recent good press. Hope they can get it together. read more

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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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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We went for the San Francisco garlic noodles but we stayed for all the delicious dim sum.. we went during restaurant week so we tried several things and everything was delicious. You can't go wrong with the garlic butter noodles, but I really enjoyed the shrimp dumplings, the chicken and rice dumplings and the pork lumpia. The service was good. We had large group of 7 so we were not seated in the main dining room. We were seated the little side room by the entrance. This area of the restaurant was hot! We were all sweating by the end of the meal so I would definitely sit in the main room next time which is decorated so cute! read more

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bomb.com. Do the youth still say that? While eating at Brennan's we sat next to this couple whom we starting chatting it up with. They highly recommended this place and I'm glad they did so. The cocktails were amazing and kuddos for the cat swimming in my drink. It was my wife's birthday and they brought us champagne which is a nice touch. We ordered too much food but I'm glad we did. The garlic noodles I will punch a child for, the lumpia was super flavorful, and the chicken was super crispy. Will def come back to order the other half of the menu I didn't get to this trip. read more

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

Mister Mao did it again! We went for my birthday brunch and if you mention someone in your group is having a birthday everyone working knows there's a birthday at your table. Definitely felt the love! We had 4 of us so we picked a variety of dishes. I started out with It's Giving Thanks cocktail which was delicious and came with some toasted mini marshmallows. For food we ordered: corn grits (get the grits!!), sticky eggplant, San Francisco Garlic Noodles, Kashmiri chili fried chicken, pani puri, crispy chicken dumplings, lechon kawali, and strawberry crunch cake. It was the perfect amount of food for 4 people. New stand outs for me were the dumplings, the garlic noodles, and the corn grits. We cleared every plate except we had 2 pieces of the pork belly left but it was so rich and we needed room for dessert! I got a Life's a Drag cocktail which is super cute and comes with an ashtray and a candy cigarette. It's very very smoky from the mezcal so if you're not a fan of mezcal it's front and center in this cocktail and I was here for it. I love the playlist, the vibe and the decor. Can't wait to go back!! read more

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I'd go 4.5 if I could, because my nitpicks might not bother others. Service - excellent! Cocktails - excellent. Kebbeh - tender and flavorful. The Kashmir chicken is the only thing I'd not nit much, but just a little. Well-fried and crispy, the heat was about two notches below where I'd be bothered. But, there was a little tendon or silver skin I had to cut through and I would have liked a little more of the cooling sauce. How's that for picayune? read more

From beginning to end our experience was fantastic! As soon as my husband and I walked in I was wrapped up in this chic space. There is color everywhere and it seems that every inch of the decor has been well thought out. We were welcomed warmly and were shown to our spots. We were lucky enough to reserve seats at the chef's counter, which was quite a treat. The menu is unique - both the food and cocktails. We went with the following dishes and drinks: Lechon Kawali - if you're a pork belly fan, go for it. The pork was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Make sure you get some sauce with each bite. Delicious! Octopussy - I'm an octopus lover and this dish was fantastic. Chesapeake Scallops - tasty! Gulf Tuna Crudo - so fresh! If spicy isn't your thing but you're sharing with someone who likes it hot, just ask for the sauce on the side. I enjoyed my cooled down version but my better half loved his fiery tuna. Uncle Butthead - This cocktail was complex and seemed well thought out. Flavors were smoky, sweet, sour, and bitter, and they all worked together. Also - this one is potent folks. Miss Peggy - much more my speed. Im a sucker for elderflower and this pretty, pink concoction didn't disappoint. It was sweet and refreshing and if it was a piece of clothing, it would be a frilly, pink, chiffon babydoll nightie from the 50's. You know, the kind you'd wear with marabou slippers while you talk on your corded phone while lounging in bed. I can't say enough good things about the staff. Everyone was friendly and made us feel like they had been looking forward to our visit. Impeccable service. I can't wait to return. read more

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This review is for Thanksgiving service. My husband and I sat at the chef's table. We've eaten here before and always love the food. The food was good on Thanksgiving (lacking in some areas) but 3 star rating is mainly for the service and more so the lack of food safety when handling ready to eat food. We watched the younger Latino and/or Asian girl with the two ponytails and the older black lady EXCESSIVELY touch ready to eat food that did not need to be handled without either utensils or gloves. The younger girl would wipe the counter (to clean it) with her hand then pick up the same garnish and we reuse on people's food. The older lady touched her face and then proceeded to touch cake. She was literally squeezing the slices of cake so hard while cutting that her finger tip and nail would go into the top icing of the cake. When the younger girl took over the slicing of cake, she would cut slightly into the pieces then use both her hands to pry apart the pieces. She seemed to have no kitchen training and should've really been a hostess or waitress. They both were continually rubbing their legs and clothes and then touching the food. They were using their hands to handle the fruit (Strawberry and orange slices) that went on all of the dishes when they could've easily used serving utensils. I only saw one older gentleman wearing gloves and seeming to consciously try not to touch things before touching people's food. I even saw the young girl grab ice cream off the scooper then drop it on someone's plate. The chef should really train them on how to handle food as this was disgusting and ruined the experience of the food. My husband's a trained chef and has worked in restaurants around the nation and world. There are ways not to handle ready to eat food with your hands. The handling of the cake by the older black lady caused us to have the waiter change our desert options. Not sure if this is the new thing for restaurants but it's disgusting and highly dangerous. We enjoy eating out to get ideas and try new things but this is our last time eating at this restaurant. read more

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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MM still slays! Tried a couple of the chuck wagon offerings and they were delicious. I thought the street corn would be in a bowl, but it wasn't too messy to eat. Shrimp dumplings were great, lumpia was excellent, and the Pani puri was awesome as always. Sat at the bar and service was attentive. read more

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MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN NEW ORLEANS and they don't serve typical Nola cuisine and I'm HAPPY about that!!!!! Thank God for Sophia Uong and her AMAZING staff at Mister Mao! I'm celebrating my birthday there this Saturday & I can't wait!!!! I'm vegan/vegetarian and they know how to do it beautifully here!!!!! The vibe & energy is always on point here. Love the music & all the staff here are my favorites!!!! Love everyone here at Mister Mao. Will support this restaurant always!!!! read more

I decided to try this place on a whim because I was celebrating. Since I am by myself, I sat at the bar and enjoyed the service. I tried 3 drinks: the Shiso drink I came for, a spicy tequila drink with Tabasco, and coquito. All were great. I tried the shrimp dumplings which I cannot rave more about. They're clearly made in house with substantial flavor and dough. There are other items to try on the menu that I will update this review with when I do. Tucked in west riverside, I'm so glad I'm one of the first to discover this hot new place. read more

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