Maliwan Thai Restaurant — Restaurant in Essex

Absolutely 5 stars.

We were sad to see Joyce's Noodle House disappear, but this was a fantastic place to show up afterwards.

I will first just say that I ordered online and was presented with 5 or 6 spicy options. "No heat" to "add much heat as you can put in there". The first time I tried pad Thai with one mark up from mild. It was pretty hot, but palatable and very good. My wife had a very hard time eating hers that was at the same level. It was confusing, because we are more or less in the same hot zone for what we will tolerate. You could see the hot chili peppers all over her dish though.

The next time we ordered, I stuck with the same level one heat. My wife went with none. She's loved her dish. This time I had a very hard time eating it. SOOOOO hot. Peppers everywhere. We concluded that you either like it super 🔥 or ask for none at all.

After figuring this out, the food is very fresh, great quality, amazing flavors. It seems anything we order is just awesome. Ok, pass on the scallion pancakes. Those just seemed like a good excuse to have soy sauce. This was also take out, so bread items probably lose their original wow factor when put in a container.

I can't remember the name, but the duck dish in coconut milk... Wooowwww. It was like Choo Chee duck. And their peanut chicken satay is off the charts. So so good!

Can't say enough good about this restaurant. I know I talked a lot about the heat, but it was definitely a stumbling block to this place. It's most likely the numerous options to order online (which we love!). Maybe a "lost in translation" of requests for heat levels.

Anyway, most certainly 5 stars. Thank you so much for...

My wife and I recently visited Maliwan Thai Restaurant for the first time, looking to try a new Thai spot in our area. From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed by the friendly staff, who seated us promptly and provided attentive service throughout the evening. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with cozy lighting and simple yet elegant décor, making it the perfect setting for a relaxed meal.

For appetizers, we started with the Crispy Spring Rolls and Satay Chicken Skewers. The spring rolls were light and crunchy, and the sweet and sour sauce was a great complement. The satay chicken skewers, marinated in curry powder, were grilled to perfection, and the peanut sauce added a rich, creamy flavor that we really enjoyed.

For entrées, I chose the Kua Kling (Turmeric Chicken) from the House Specials menu. I opted for the spicy level, and it definitely packed a punch! The dish came with fragrant jasmine rice and steamed vegetables, balancing out the heat. My wife had the Panang Curry with tofu, which was rich and flavorful, with a smooth coconut curry sauce, green beans, bell peppers, and ground peanuts. Both dishes were well-prepared, and the portion sizes were generous, leaving us with plenty of leftovers to take home.

To round off the meal, we both enjoyed Thai Iced Tea, which was perfectly sweet and refreshing, helping to cool down the spice from our dishes.

Overall, the service was excellent, the ambiance was cozy, and the food was flavorful and satisfying. Maliwan Thai Restaurant is definitely a spot we’ll be returning to, whether for a casual night out or for takeout. This restaurant has my...

I've tried Maliwan twice now (take out once and dine-in once) and have been very happy with the quality and service each time. I will say this though, the mild spice is too spicy compared to other Thai restaurants in the area. I usually order mild when I order Thai so, the first time I ordered from Maliwan I ordered mild Pad Sew Ew. It was so spicy I couldn't eat it and I had to go back to the restaurant. The staff were great and replaced the order for me without question. The next time I went we dined in and I asked for very mild Pad Thai. I didn't want to order no spice because I wanted a little bit of heat but I was hoping they could dial it back maybe half a notch. It was still pretty spicy but definitely better and I could handle it. They did tell me that the chili sauce can be ordered on the side so, I will probably try that next time. And before you say I'm just weak when it comes to spicy food, my friend who loves spicy food and usually orders medium or hot tried my dish and agreed it was closer to a medium...