Mali Restaurant — Restaurant in Atlanta

Yummy in my Tummy! Never been to Mali so wanted to try someone place new and I am glad I did! Surprisingly crowded on a Sunday evening!!

We started off with the Yin & Yang which sounds much more interesting on the menu then on the table. They were good but the ricotta cheese was minimal so it felt like we were eating fried wontons. I ordered the Tom Kha Soup with Shrimp. I am a big fan of this soup and it was delicious! The soup had mushrooms, cilantro and two nicely cooked shrimp. Soup was great to have considering it was cold in there. We sat upstairs closer to the back windows and it was cold!! Another party had all their coats on as well! So be prepared as it gets colder in Atlanta.

For an entrée I decided to try something new so I got the Massaman Chicken. The flavor was delicious!!! There were several pieces of chicken and on first site I thought the portion was small, but after eating it all it was just enough. My only thing is this whole white meat chicken. Sure it's cheaper to use but can it be juicy? Sure the dish has sauce and plenty of it but nothing can really help white meat chicken but cooking it correctly. So to make it awesome I would need juicier chicken, otherwise it was a win for me.

We also ordered the Famous Seafood Noodle and it was very good. The portions of shrimp and scallops were great! The only thing is my niece tried to get it with glass noodles and they wanted to up charge $3. For some noodles? That's like up charging for rice. Oh wait they did that to. I got white rice but my nephew wanted brown and that was an up charged. Really? Up charge for shrimp sure, but rice and noodles? Errr, not really a fan of that.

Overall the customer service was excellent, the food was good and I would go back. Looking at what others ordered everything is presented really nice and looks good! They have a full bar with draft beers, wine and sake and a sushi bar. I would say this is a nice well rounded...

In addition to Armando's exceptional service, I also want to highlight the incredible recommendations he provided at Mai Kitchen. As I was perusing the menu, Armando took the time to explain the different flavors and options available, which greatly enhanced my dining experience.

Armando's expertise in pairing flavors with various dishes was remarkable. He provided insightful suggestions on which options would complement specific menu items, taking into consideration my personal preferences. His knowledge and passion for the flavors truly shone through as he described the ingredients and techniques used to create each unique taste.

I must say, the recommendations at Mai Kitchen were an absolute delight. Whether it was the tangy and spicy options or the savory and aromatic ones, each one added an extra layer of deliciousness to the already delectable dishes. Armando's guidance in selecting the perfect flavors for each dish truly elevated the taste and allowed me to experience a symphony of flavors.

Moreover, Armando made sure that I had an ample supply of my preferred options throughout the meal. He attentively ensured that my table was well-stocked, ensuring that I never ran out. His attention to detail and commitment to providing an exceptional dining experience were evident in his thoughtful gestures.

I cannot stress enough how Armando's expertise in flavor recommendations enhanced my dining experience at Mai Kitchen. His suggestions were spot-on, and I found myself savoring every bite with the perfect combination of flavors. If you visit Mai Kitchen, I highly recommend seeking Armando's guidance on the available options – he will undoubtedly elevate your meal to...

We just got Pad Thai with chicken, Pad Kee Mao with chicken, and Larb Chicken. My go to tester for Thai food is the Larb Chicken and it was probably the best Larb I’ve had in Atlanta. The chicken is minced wonderfully, and there is not too much onion. Spicier than one would expect, but at least it wasn’t sweet which is the worst flavor for that dish. It was a funky, tangy, spicy, delicious dish. The only thing I would nitpick is that it could have been a little more tangy/sour, but the level was fine. The Pad Thai though definitely needed to be more tangy. They give you a lime half but you really need two halves, or to put more on by default. The dish is set up nicely so the sprouts stay fresh/crunchy and the peanuts are on the side so you can grab as much as you want. The Pad Kee Mao was excellent. Every ingredient was cooked just right, nothing was mushy. What a treat to eat a tarty mushroom. The only nitpick with this one is that I LOVE basil and would have liked more. The peppers (green) in this dish also pack a good bit of heat, but it’s milder than the larb. I got pick up and ate at home so can’t say much about the interior, but the pickup was very fast, the place has a 99 health inspection score, and (I have to point this out) the street that Mali is on is insanely clean; like meticulously clean. Price wise, this is not insane but it is above the middle ground price-wise. I do think you get what you pay for though and I hope the rest of their menu is as good as what I tried. BONUS points for not using styrofoam, which is greatly appreciated. No photos because I was very hungry and dug right in. Passed the Larb test with...