Descend into the vibrant depths of Mao Mao, a Bushwick gem blending Thai street food and vintage cinema vibes, where bold flavors and eclectic decor promise an unforgettable night out.
"The restaurant is a lot of things: A place where you can sit in movie theater seats hunched over a suitcase acting as a table, eating laab gai sap on a paper plate while various Thai movies play on screen. It’s not a movie theater, per se, in that tables don’t all face toward the screen but the Thai cinema theme makes the atmosphere unlike any other spot in the city — a place for a snack with a beer, rather than a full-blown dinner." - Emma Orlow, Eater Staff
"You’ll realize you’re in for a good time the moment you make your way down the stairs into the subterranean dining room at Mao Mao, a Thai restaurant on Broadway. The combination of twinkly lights, vintage signs, and Thai movie posters will make you want to have your next birthday here. Come with a few friends, work your way through every page of the menu (our favorite dish is the khao mun gai), and plan to linger over Thai beers and tastes of different kinds of ya dong." - neha talreja, hannah albertine, bryan kim, sonal shah, willa moore
"Mao Mao is unlike any other Thai restaurant in New York City. Husband-and-wife owners Jugkrwut Borin and chef Arada Moonroj modeled this bi-level space on some of the most storied movie theaters in Thailand such as the Siam Theatre in Bangkok. Patrons descend a winding staircase for a taste of what the couple describes as “cinema and drinking” food. There are small paper plates of beef larb, Laotian-style papaya salad, and other classic Thai snacks made for pairing with beers, cocktails, and a dozen or so varieties of ya dong, a traditional Thai libation." - Eater Staff
"You’re in for a good time the moment you make your way down the stairs into the subterranean level of Mao Mao, a Thai restaurant in Bushwick. You might even throw your hands up in the air from one of the theater-style seats and start dancing. The combination of twinkly lights, vintage Thai movie posters, and Thai acid rock playing at Ozzfest-level decibels will do that to a person. Come here with a few friends, work your way through something from every page of the menu (we love the khao mun gai), and plan to linger over Thai beers and tastes of different kinds of ya dong, the liquor that Mao Mao specializes in. " - Bryan Kim, Matt Tervooren, Neha Talreja
"At Mao Mao, Thai acid rock plays at Ozzfest-level decibels at all times of day, and the whole place feels like it’s screaming at you through all five senses. Not only can you bring loud people here, you need to. Otherwise, you’re going to feel an awful lot of fish breath on your face every time you lean in to hear someone. Bring those friends who’d not only survive a music festival after age 30, but also thrive in the front row screaming Beyonce lyrics into a stranger’s Instagram story. " - neha talreja
