Merai

"A Lao pop-up hosting a family cookout-style feast at Merai in Brookline." - Erika Adams

"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

"A venue known for its Hojicha, a smoky whiskey highball with tea, honey, and Topo Chico." - Erika Adams

"From the same talented team behind Thai showstopper Mahaniyom (more on that below), Merai is a Thai-rooted dive bar that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Case in point: Some of the top menu items are the hot dog — made with kra pao sausage and salted egg yolk mayo — and the chicken rice, which is literally garlic rice stuffed inside chicken wings. This all works very nicely to soak up drinks like the Wonka’s Ticket, with whiskey, brown butter coconut, coffee, and pandan, and the Silky Way, with rum, whey, sesame, and fig." - Erika Adams, C. Shardae Jobson

"From the same award-winning team behind Thai showstopper Mahaniyom (located just down the street), Merai is a more laid-back option with fun drinks and an equally fun food menu to match. The chicken rice (a.k.a garlic rice stuffed chicken wings) and the hot dog (a.k.a. krapow in sausage form, drizzled with salted egg yolk aioli and served in a toasty brioche bun) are must-orders. Open until 1 a.m. nightly." - Eater Staff