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Mai Thai
Categories: Restaurants Thai Food Specialty Food Ethnic Food Thai, Ethnic Food [Edit]
1230 E Brady StMilwaukee, WI 53202
Neighborhoods: Lower East Side, East Village
(414) 810-3386
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 11 pm
Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
36 reviews for Mai Thai
Review Highlights
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36 reviews in English
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Review from Leah D.
Milwaukee, WI
This place is becoming one of my favorite in the area. I have had a few of their dishes and am never disappointed. The decor is cute and the service is always friendly. When we have visitors from out of town that want good, decent priced Thai we always take them here.
They have a lunch special that just can't be beat. For 8.95 you get an appetizer, soup and an entree. The appetizer is not my favorite (not a fan of fried foods), but the soup and entree are always tasty. For a casual sit down lunch I would recommend this place to anyone. -
Review from Marshall S.
Milwaukee, WI
I love Thai food and continually try new places, looking for a new favorite. I always get some sort of curry, which I absolutely love, and keep looking for the best curry around.
The atmosphere of the place is great. Decorated in teal-blue and dark wood, giving it a beachy feel. Compared to other Thai places in town, it definitely has a better atmosphere and has fast, attentive wait staff.
As for the food, I thought that it was just average. The crab rangoon appetizer was good, comparable to other places. My wife and I got the Yellow curry and Massamun Curry. They were both good, but not the best I've had. They seemed to be missing something that I couldn't quite put my finger on. They just weren't as savory as curries at other places. However, the spice level was good and I still ate the entire bowl.
My quest for the best curry continues.... -
Review from Angie O.
My friend introduced me to Mai Thai tonight and I became an instant fan. I love the beautiful decor and atmosphere - you feel like you have escaped the hustle and bustle of Brady Street and stepped into a little island get away. The wait staff is very friendly and efficient, and the food was unbelievably delicious.... by far the best Thai food I have had thus far.
I had the Basil Noodles, which were cooked to perfection and tossed with fresh veggies and chicken. My friend ordered the Pud Thai, equally as good as my dish. Also, the portions are generous. I ordered their version of a pina coloda - it was light and sweet, but not overly sweet.
If you visit Mai Thai you must take a trip to the bathroom. The sink has the coolest water faucet!
I will definitely be visiting this restaurant again in the near future as I cannot wait to try the other dishes :) -
Review from Heather C.
Milwaukee, WI
Went in for the lunch special today. An appetizer, cup of soup and an entree for $8.95.
The place was empty, so I can only assume word of their lunch special hasn't gotten out.
For the appetizer I had Crab Rangoon. They prefectly fried and pretty yummy. 2 came in the order. For Soup I had the Tom Yum which was a broth based chicken soup with mushrooms, lemon grass, lime juice and hot peppers. Again, pretty yummy and it had a little bit of a kick to it. For my main dish I had the Cahwe Nuts Stir Fry. It has Cashews (of course), green peppers, onion, scallions and water chesnuts. It came with a pile of white rice on the side.
The stir fry was nice and light. I got a lever 2 hotness (on a scale of 1-4), which wasn't bad. I may go with the 3 next time!
Definitely try them this place out....and don't miss out on the great lunch special! -
Review from Danielle J.
Milwaukee, WI
I absolutely love eating at Mai Thai! First, the decor is amazing. As you enter off of Brady Street, you really feel transported to a different place. It's very calming and has a great ambiance. *And you must visit the restrooms!*
The drink menu at Mai Thai is not extensive, but it doesn't really need to be. Their Mai Tai cocktails are excellent (they're not quite as perfect as those at The Foundation, but they're really good). I would absolutely recommend their spring & summer rolls as appetizers. Both are delicious and the sauces are perfectly paired. I wasn't terribly impressed with the Thai Lettuce Wraps, however. I've had better.
One of the great things about most Thai restaurants is the selection of vegetarian items on the menu. Mai Thai is no different. And *bonus* their vegetables are really fresh, they're never overcooked, and the sauces don't drown out the vegetabley flavor! My favorite dishes to order are: Pud See Euw, Ginger Stir Fry and Volcano Tofu. My fiancee can handle A LOT of spice, and he loves seafood, so he usually orders the Spicy Seafood Combination, the Green Curry or a Volcano dish.
Another really great thing about Mai Thai is their willingness to customize your order. If you want noodles instead of rice, or would like to add seafood to a vegetarian dish, or you want your spice level a 20 on a scale of 1-4, they're happy to accommodate. The service at Mai Thai is friendly, but professional. Their waitstaff are attentive without being annoying, and I have always found my servers to be personable and willing to offer suggestions or advice.
So why 4 stars and not 5? Well I must say that I don't love their Pud Thai, and I really didn't like the Sweet & Sour dish I ordered once. Additionally, I think their lunch service leaves something to be desired. I don't know if it's because they don't do a lot of lunch business, but when my office ordered, it took a really long time, there were mistakes in the order, and although I ordered something I'd had before, it didn't taste quite the same.
However, if you're looking for a great place to get dinner with some friends or a really perfect date spot, Mai Thai is an excellent choice.Listed in: Best Restaurants in Milwaukee
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Review from Richard O.
Chicago, IL
The food was pretty good. i mean, the vegetables seemed fresh, which is a big part of what "good" means to me. It seemed weirdly Americanized in a way I'm not sure how to explain. Also, it seems weird to me that lunch specials are so uniformly cheaper in Chicago than in Milwaukee. I guess it has to do with volume or something but I don't know...
The one thing I would have changed were the spring rolls. I'd like to have had the option of a non-fried spring roll or fried tofu.
Kudos though for being so vegetarian friendly and for the friendly service! -
Review from Sarah S.
Milwaukee, WI
If I'm ever getting that Thai craving this is my spot. It's slightly on the side of pricy compared to the nearby other Thai/type places but you get what you expect and their spices are just right.
They have a scale of 1-4 that you can add to any dish and I've never gone above a 2. Some days a 2 feels a bit more intense but it's a hurts so good sort of way.
It's a great atmosphere for a couple friends gathering and want to get their thai on, Service has always been very attentive and friendly. Some favorite items have been Pud Se Eww, Cashew Pineapple Curry rice, and pretty much all of their appetizers hit the spot. You should know their happy hour has most of their appetizers half off and they're worth the trip alone.
I hope this becomes your go to place to Thai one on! -
Review from Chad C.
I've been here a couple of times, and it's good - but not great. Something unique about them is that they have 4 different kinds of rolls - spring, summer, autumn, winter. They're all a little different and it's hard not to like a fried spring roll. They have a platter where you can get all four, I believe.
Although the food is good, I'm disappointed in the lack of spice. There really isn't any, and I think that's a big part of The Thai Experience
I'll try it again, but they need to turn up the heat.Listed in: Thai Thai Thai
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Review from May L.
I came here on a recommendation. I would say that the ambiance is nice (mainly in comparison to most Thai restaurants I've visited in the past) - a comfortable casual place. The menu is so so - I like to see a bit more selection. Also when our food came out (taking into account I was with a large group), I would have appreciated it if they could have served us at the same time - at least each table at the same time. Instead 4 out of 6 people were given food at my table and we then waited around 5 minutes before the other people were served and my food had cooled down in temperature a bit.
I ordered red curry with chicken and spice of 3 out of 4 (or maybe it was 4 out of 5? I can't remember the scale). Eep, I love spicy foods, but this was difficult for me to eat. The flavor was good, but it was a lot spicier than I was expecting. I also dislike the server coming to the table to serve me rice during my dinner. I would much rather have rice served in a bowl to the table so I can serve myself.
The prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are average, not super-sized. I would possibly go back, but I have other favorites over this place. -
Review from Liz H.
Milwaukee, WI
Mai Thai has the most flavorful Thai food that I have had in Milwaukee. The Fall rolls are phenomenal, and the Crab Rangoon is the best in the city.
As far as I'm concerned, there isn't a bad thing on the menu and the portions are fairly big. The Basil Noodles are astoundingly good, and the Curries are perfectly balanced. But what I can't get enough of is the Pineapple Fried Rice and Volcano Duck. The Pineapple fried rice has spicy curry powder in it and when you bite into a chunk of pineapple, it's the best combo!
Sometimes the place feels a little too dark and there's too much John Mayer on the playlist, but otherwise Mai Thai is the perfect date restaurant or for a girls' night out.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/10/2010
I was very pleased with Mai Thai's lunch specials. The food is well-portioned, though it was… Read more »
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2/10/2010
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Review from David R.
They have a very handsome dining room, all dark wood and blue-aqua paint. They also have a charming young waiter who knows the menu like the back of his hand.
But best of all, what they have is an array of very solid Thai dishes and some great deals. We missed the lunch special but came in for an early dinner, catching "happy hour" in which appetizers are half-price and drinks two-for-one. (Nota bene: an individual can get two drinks for the price of one but two persons cannot each get a drink and pay for only one between them.)
My sister and I shared the spring rolls, which were very spring-y; in fact, they were all lettuce and carrots except for the tofu. I like a little more flavor with my spring rolls, but you can't deny that these things would cool the fieriest dragonbreath. Perhaps we should have had the shrimp rather than tofu. The accompanying sauce flavored them up well though.
I also got a small tom yum soup, which tipped its flavor balance to the chili side, whereas I like a little more lemongrass. Still a good cup of soup though, and my sister proclaimed the crab rangoon a success.
I very much enjoyed my chicken pad thai, the only criticism of which might be that it was somewhat wet. The flavor was very good though, so that's better than the opposite. However, my sister's dish was effing amazing--the spicy basil noodles, savory and peppery, and those divinely soft, flat noodles...oh yes. I kept stealing bites from her plate (including several when she went to the ladies' room--sorry, Amy) and I just could not get enough.
The chances of me coming back here are slim but if anyone ever asked me for a Thai recommendation in Milwaukee, I would stammer out "Mai Thai, Brady Street, spicy basil noodles, don't question it--just go!" -
Review from Ben S.
Milwaukee, WI
So I have been hesitant about writing a review on Mai Thai. My wife and I love Thai food...but we are by no means connoisseurs, so I never know if the food is "authentic". But I gotta say, since we have now been eating here probably every other week (sometimes twice a week), it seems like we enjoy it enough to keep coming back. Having said that I had some Thai food in Denver this past week and it did not compare to Mai Thai, so I feel I can write a review without regret.
I must say we have never eaten in, so I don't know how wait staff is in the restaurant, we always order out. I can say I lost my credit card for a few days, retraced my steps and it was at Mai Thai...waiting for me, no illegal charges, no bullshit. I called them up and they had it...so I ordered some more food : D
We always get the Red Curry with veggies...awesome! The Tom Yum soup with tofu/chicken, The Pud Thai noodles with pork, spicy #2, the summer rolls and crab rangoon...all simply delicious. The wait staff there has tried to convince me to eat in and have the Volcano dish, but we haven't gotten around to it, but they say it is awesome. Also, when I pick up the food the staff is always friendly they talk with me and have warm smiles, especially Amy she's awesome with all the customers....In my experience, if take out is good, you got a good thing going.
Either way, give it a try if you like Thai food....we somehow keep coming back, and love it! -
Review from Erika B.
Milwaukee, WI
Oh, dear, Mai Thai. Apparently you are only good for eating leisurely meals and not for those interested in trying to scarf your aggressively touted "lunch special" (soup, appetizer, entree for under $9) within the time constraints of a one hour time period.
Made the mistake of coming here for lunch and meeting a friend. We sat at the bar. There appeared to be exactly two people on staff: 1 bartender/server, and 1 cook.
They couldn't handle one 2 top, one 3 top and one carry out order without totally camping out in the weeds. These guys were losing it. tears were sprouting in the eyes of the bartender/server, and It was a sad, sad spectacle. Food was crawling out of the kitchen, hungry diners were starting to get cranky, and my friend wondered if he needed to call in to his boss to ensure continued employment.
The food was excellent, but if you're hoping to get out of there in under an hour, I'd think twice about Mai Thai.Listed in: My Neighborhood
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/26/2009
Still stellar on all counts, but I have to add: DO NOT SKIP the crab rangoon, they are the best I've… Read more »
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2/26/2009
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Review from joe s.
Chicago, IL
I really hate those reactionary one-star reviews people post after one bad experience with a restaurant, but I'm writing one anyways.
They are "open till 11" on Friday nights. I walked in at 10:30 with 3 friends. There were three 20-something employees hanging out near the kitchen/bar and they just stared at us like we were from another planet, saying nothing. After about ten seconds of that a girl comes over and goes, "oh, you know, we were actually hoping to close early tonight, but we'll seat you if you want."
What?
No.
If you're closed, tell me you're closed. If you're open, just seat me. This in between business made it extremely awkward, like we were screwing up their night if we decided to stay.
So I say, "no, are you open or not?" and the girl says "it's up to you, I guess we'll seat you if you want" while the rest of the workers just stare at us. Again, making it obvious that if we stay we will receive sighs and eye-rolls from the employees, rude/rushed service and be left to wonder what they're doing to our food.
Bye. The people who work here are retarded and have no place in the service industry. -
Review from Kit V.
Milwaukee, WI
Service? What service?
We knew Saturday night might be busy, so we made a reservation. We arrived on time then waited 10-15 minutes without anyone taking our name. There was not a line. Finally I spoke to the bartender and someone told us they needed to clear a table. That was another 10 minutes. Then we sat there totally ignored for another half hour; no water, no utensils, no water. No one even looked at us. When decided to leave, I politely explained to the der why we leaving. He didn't say a word; just started talking to another employee. In many years of dining out, I've never a similar experience. No one seemed to care at all.
We walked down the street to the Emperor of China and had a good meal with attentive service.
I'd eaten at Mai Thai before and liked the food, but after this debacle I'll never go there again -
Review from Ellie B.
I love the decor and the staff are really nice and attentive. Whenever I go to a Thai place I try the crab rangoon. It was delicious here, paired with a tasty sauce.
I also tried the Volcano Tofu. It's no fault of Mai Thai, but I like the sauce that Thai Palace serves with it better. I also didn't think they put enough on. When it's added to that sizzling cast iron dish, a lot of it gets soaked in or steamed off - I think a lot more sauce is needed than you think.
My husband got the massuman curry and liked it. I tried a bite and I really liked it, too.
The next time I will go, I plan on trying the pud thai.
Overall, while it's not my favorite Thai place in the city, I like that it's not as expensive as other places and you get good food for your money. The decor is also the prettiest I have seen in a Thai place.Listed in: Four Stars, East Side
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Review from Kristina S.
Milwaukee, WI
Had my first experience with Mai Thai tonight and I'm extremely impressed. I went to college in San Diego and really grew to love Thai food, specifically yellow curry and ever since moving to Milwaukee I've had a hard time finding a place that rivals some of the really great and authentic places in San Diego. Mai Thai has completely lived up to my expectations! I can't wait to go back for the great deals they have over the lunch hour as well!!
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Review from Scott O.
I'm giving Mai Thai 2 stars based on about a dozen takeout experiences over the past 6 months. Food is typically good, but prices are a bit high for what you get. My main gripe, and the reason I'm not giving them 4 stars, is that the service and atmosphere have taken a hit on recent visits. The last time I walked in the staff glanced at me and then continued talking with their friends at the bar until I told them I was there to pick up an order. On a prior visit, patrons at the bar, who again seemed to be friendly with the staff, were dropping F bombs all over the place, which totally killed any atmosphere the place had at that moment.
Note to the staff: it's ok if your friends want to hang out at the bar. But set some ground rules for them:
-No loud swearing
-Don't act like degenerates
-When customers walk in, tone it down
One bad service experience can overshadow a dozen good experiences, so my current opinion of Mai Thai is that you're probably better off going elsewhere until their team in the front of the house learns a little professionalism. -
Review from Jon A.
Went last week after not having Thai for years and was pleasantly surprised. The food was well prepared and the ingredients tasted very fresh. I started with the spring roll, which was very good. I thought they came with peanut sauce, but I didn't pay enough attention to the menu. Even still, the server offered to bring out some peanut sauce if I decided I wanted some. I stuck with the sweet and sour sauce, which was excellent, because it wasn't that thick pink stuff you sometimes see in the little packets of Chinese food.
For an entree, I went the safe route and had the Pud Thai. It was perfectly cooked and combined and the portion was just the right size.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience and I would definitely visit again.
The dining room could use a little more light, but it wasn't a big deal at all. -
Review from sasha b.
Went here to get a few take-away items, and must say, I am not sure if any of it was anything i'd write about, so won't. However, I a'm always happy to see new places and other options in and around the city of Milwaukee.
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Review from Ashe D.
Milwaukee, WI
My favorite thai place! Great atmosphere, great food, reasonable prices, staff is attentive and polite.
I don't know if they do it every weekday for lunch, but on Wednesdays they have a special where you pick from a list of appetizers, soups, and entrees (one from each category) for only $9, plus free hot tea. -
Review from Lucas W.
Milwaukee, WI
So, Thai in Milwaukee is difficult to find on a Sunday as it turns out. We are new to the city and learning our way around, etc. Anyway, we drove down Brady and saw an OPEN sign at My Thai...
The place was completely dead aside from one table. We were looking for take-out so grabbed a seat at the bar to look over the menu. The staff was very nice---bored, but nice.
Opened the menu and ... boom. WTF is with the prices?? This is a Thai place, right? Do they do anything different than any other Thai place? From the looks of it, no, but I need food and I want Thai so I'll pony up the cash and take a chance.
Was it worth it? Not even close. Does that mean the food is bad? No, but it is SO NOT WORTH IT. How does it compare to other Thai that I've had? Mid-grade at best.
Across the street the Mexican place was packed. At My Thai the staff is talking about closing early since it's so dead. Why was no one there? My guess: value matters and people know when they're getting ripped off. At least I do.
Definitely not going back. Excited to try EE-Sane when it's not Sunday. -
Review from Richard N.
Detroit, MI
What a drag. I went here with a friend based on someones recommendation and was very disappointed. We started with a fish cake appetizer, which was kind of tasty (the primary seasoning was kefir lime leaf) although the sauce was way too sweet. Next we had the laab - which in this case was chicken. The rice powder they used had a nice texture (kind of crunchy) but the chicken was dry and the dish lacked the brightness that it should have. Usually laab has a nice lime flavor and this was only salty. Their entrees are all listed in English, so its hard to know what you are ordering if you're used to the Thai names. So, we ordered what we thought was going to be Pad Prik King, but it was something else entirely. It was spicy enough and had a smokeyness that was interesting but it was way too sweet.
The wait staff was nice and attentive though.
I miss you Lers Ros! -
Review from L S.
Milwaukee, WI
I love this place. Great atmosphere with large windows and a great view of Brady Street. We come here every other week and are never disappointed with the food.
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Review from Serena S.
Milwaukee, WI
I am not a Thai connossieur, but I do have a pretty adventurous palate. I've been here twice, and both times was in LOVE with the food. I was comfortable with the prices, too. There's a great selection and the service is outstanding. I highly recommend the roll noodles! The interior is quirky--the cerulean paint is something a little unexpected, but they had an awesome playlist for our dining pleasure. I'm still scratching my head at the truly limited patronage, but maybe that just helped my experience be that much more aweseome. It certainly didn't hurt that ladies drink free from 8-11! Our waiter encouraged us to take advantage by offering continuous service.
Listed in: Dinnah, Baby.
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Review from Meena V.
Somerville, MA
I love this place more every time I go back! It's getting to be one of my favourite places in Milwaukee, and Thai places period. I love the range of spices, and their ability to actually pack a punch if you're ready for it!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/24/2009
Mai Thai, despite its alarmingly cheesy name, is going to be my staple go-to for good Thai in… Read more »
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2/24/2009
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Review from Laura R.
Milwaukee, WI
No delivery available.
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Review from James C.
Austin, TX
Not the best Thai place int he city but good enough if you don't mind slightly disappointing Thai food. There are a few gems on the menu (the Tom Yum Gai, is the best I've ever had) but overall there are just to many other better Thai places within a 5-10 minute walk to really recommend going here.
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Review from jamie s.
Milwaukee, WI
I visited for the first time last week Thursday. I caught the happy hour, and it was cheap + good! I don't typically eat Thai food, so I had to do some real researching on the menu, which has everything! I chose the Thai beef salad with extra bean sprouts on top. I chose spice level 4 out of 5, and it was perfect. Very good rolls and the service was great as well. The menu items were reasonable priced, and as I mentioned, the happy hour 1/2 priced apps were terrific, and CHEAP! The interior is nice too, and check out the rehabbed tin ceiling, it is beautiful.
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Review from Jill K.
Austin, TX
Best thing about this place is the decor and the fact that you can get a spice tray with your meal. Overall the food is very Americanized and boring. I've been here a handful of times, and I've been hoping it would get better. The last time I went there I had the stir fry Baby Corn & Veggies and it was horrific. The sauce tasted like soy sauce meets chicken broth, almost like gravy. The Thai Iced Tea probably came out of a packet. It was syrupy, thick and sickly sweet. The Red Curry is the only main dish I can eat there. It's good, but nothing overly special. The Tom Yum soup is very good, one of the best I've had, but that's the only redeeming quality. This place is on the same level as Thai Kitchen, an Americanized boring attempt at Thai food.
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Review from Dustin U.
Milwaukee, WI
Great Thai food. Super awesome lunch specials.
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Review from Jim F.
Milwaukee, WI
This place is great. We had the red curry w/ tofu and the garlic stir fry. The curry was the best I've had in Milwaukee. The decor is beautiful and the service was excellent. They really need to update the exterior look of the place to match the inside. I hope everyone in search of yummy food supports this new local place!
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Review from Spero L.
Milwaukee, WI
When it comes to Thai in Milwaukee, don't be fooled by this place's trendy locale and upscale yuppie panache. In my two visits to Mai Thai, I couldn't help but feel royally screwed on my way out the door.
If you order a cup of soup, be prepared to have it served just shy of 2/3s full and consisting of salty broth, 2 tofu cubes and 1 straw mushroom. Your dinner/curry/stir fry will more than likely NOT include all of the ingredients mentioned on the menu, and it will certainly be loaded with the cheap filler. The finer things? - the nuts, the fresh vegetables, the reason you wanted it in the first place - well you might get some broccoli scraps and a cashew, but only if you're lucky.
Finally, unlike all the other Thai joints in town, don't expect your food to come in any reasonable amount of time and don't expect to be taking home any leftovers. Even though you paid King and I prices, you probably won't have any.
With all of the Thai spots to choose from in the area, there is literally no reason to pick this one. -
Review from Patrick M.
Washington, DC
Yum, yum, yum! I hit up Mai Thai on a weekday afternoon for their lunch special. I don't remember the exact deal, but I think it was $10.00 for an app & entree. I don't remember exactly what I ordered, but I remember it tasting darn good!
The service was very friendly and attentive. I loved azure colored walls - it made me feel like I was in Thailand!
I would definitely recommend this place for a cheap, quick lunch on the lower East Side. -
Review from Kevin L.
San Francisco, CA
Best Pad (Pud) Thai I've had. Roasted chiles make the dish spicy, yet incredibly flavorful. Soups are all tops, as well as the lettuce wraps. Atmosphers is casual, perfectly lit, a good "date" place as well as lunch. The lunch special (10 with tip) is the perfect amount of food, and includes soup, a roll, and an entree.
Wait staff is fast, polite, and has a deep knowledge of the menu.
Well done! -
Review from Hope E.
Cedarburg, WI
affordable & yummy! some of the best thai food i've had. service was good. ambiance was fine. should go if you're looking for a new restaurant to try.
