"Merai is the newest project from the award-winning team behind Thai restaurant Mahaniyom (which is just down the road from Merai). Instead of doubling down on the Thai dishes of their childhoods for their second act, the ownership team sat back and reimagined a classic dive bar with their fun-loving spin on it. A menu of experimental cocktails and house-carbonated highballs is paired with Thai-rooted dive bar fare like hot dogs with fat kra pao sausages tucked into toasty brioche buns, crispy taro fries with a sweet chili peanut sauce, and more." - Erika Adams, Eater Staff