Went to try this new Thai Restaurant in Wahiawa called 'Malai Thai Kitchen'. They are located in the shopping center where O'Reilly's Auto Parts is located (so if looking at the shopping complex from California Avenue, they are on the extreme left side of the complex).
We went there just about 11 am today (Tuesday) and appeared that we were the only ones that were going to eat inside the restaurant. A little confusing as there was no one to greet us as we entered the restaurant. There were a few construction workers who looked like they were on their lunch break and had ordered their take outs and were awaiting them. We decided to approach the staff that were located at the counter at the rear. She then asked us if we were ordering take out or dine in, we told her dine in. She went on to say we could sit anywhere so we chose the table located adjoining the front window (just to the right as one enters). Tip for them: they need to place a sign just inside the entrance that say 'please wait to be seated' or 'please sit at any vacant table' or 'proceed to the counter for assistance'.
Once seated she gave us the menus from some other tables (not all of the tables had the one piece laminated menu), only a few but they should place at least one (1) menu on each table so it looks consistent. I asked what were the levels of heat spices. She said they were three (3) heat levels: medium, hot and very hot. She specifically said some places have five (5) but they just had three (3) levels. Looking around, I saw seating inside totaled 24 seats with the eight tables. We waited for about15-20 minutes before our entrees started arriving to our table. Our waitress said the kitchen gave it to us all 'medium' (though we had ordered two of the entrees as 'very hot' but was glad when she mentioned that she will provide spice powder on the side if we wanted to make it as 'hot as we wanted'. I asked when the restaurant opened and she said last Friday, March 1st!
We ordered Panang Curry with Chicken, Pad Thai with Beef and Holy Basil Stir Fried with Ground Pork. I ordered sticky rice while my friend ordered a side of jasmine rice. Subtotal (before taxes and tip) came out to $51.98. See my pics for taste results!
I just think the main plate used to put our entrees on are on the 'small side' and should be replaced with 'dinner/larger sized' plates instead of appetizer sized plate as I had to keep pushing my food away from the edges as they would spill over onto the table.
Pricing was slightly less than the Thai restaurant we normally go to at Waipio Shopping Center on their entrees though the prices for jasmine and sticky rice I felt was high. Air conditioning was being worked on so the door was being kept open allowing a few flies inside so we had to swat the flies away with our hands. Felt like the a/c was almost completely fixed and would stay colder if the door was closed shut, BUT the maintenance man then removed his tall ladder and left and I did not see him leave any instructions to the staff. He never returned while we were dining (just a little over an hour long) --- all the while the front door was open allowing the flies inside.
We both felt that they will only improve in their brick and mortar place (as they still have their lunch wagon in Haleiwa according to comments on a FB local foods forum). Service needs to be improved as it seemed we were forgotten after our foods were delivered and we were the only ones dining in until two older women retirees also chose to eat inside the establishment. She finally came when she gave us the check and we asked for two small containers (yay, no fees for them!) It was at this time that I asked why the panang curry was not prominent in its peanut buttery taste. was it due to different regions of Thailand having different interpretations of how much to add? But guess due to being lost in translation and answering my question, she said we could (during the next time) tell the waitress to add more of the 'peanut (buttery) taste', But I was thinking to myself---shouldn't that be done without we as customers asking for it? Shouldn't they do THEIR recipes ?
I understand that at the present they are just starting out in their brick-and-mortar business, so I would rate them at 3.75 stars. Rounded out, it is up to 4 stars.
So yes, we would return again ! And we should in a few months or sooner, to see if their service had improved (and if they replaced the small appetizer plate with a larger plater so that their customers' foods won't spill over its sides). Oh, they should decorate just a little more with Thai decor as again, besides that statue that was facing towards the front window next to us, the interior looked a little barren.
One final tip: if you pay by cash, you will save yourself what appears to be no credit/debit processing fee of 4%. Did not see the two different prices until at home. Perhaps it would be nice if both prices were highlighted in yellow? read more