"It’s been a journey for Mae Malai, the street Thai noodle soup sensation that moved from operating outside Silom Supermarket into permanent digs on Hollywood Boulevard in November 2023. Now that owner Malai Data has settled into the space, it’s possible to slurp up her supremely satisfying bowls of boat noodle soup and tom yum noodles any time of day. To take advantage of having a fully outfitted kitchen rather than a makeshift one, Data has added plenty more to her roster of Thai hits, including a pair of pad thai preparations. In addition to the regular version that comes with tofu, chicken, or shrimp, diners can order the pad thai Anusawari, an old-school style with plenty of dried shrimp that’s flavored with sweetened radish and tamarind paste — ingredients popularized during less prosperous times in Thailand. The expanded menu also includes homemade sausages, sticky tamarind-glazed meatballs, wonton soup, and steamed coconut custard for dessert. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor" - Kat Thompson
