Mekhong Thai Kennebunk — Restaurant in Kennebunk

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS: It has come to my attention that false and damaging statements are being deliberately circulated regarding Mekhong Thai and its new ownership. While I typically refrain from publishing reviews—preferring to keep my experiences private—I feel compelled to address these developments in light of my numerous positive visits to this establishment. Although I am not a local resident, I travel frequently to southern Maine and have dined at Mekhong Thai on many occasions. On a recent visit, my party chose Mekhong Thai for a meal and, after being seated by a courteous female staff member, we placed our order as usual. During our meal, I became aware of a man, dressed in black, who approached several tables. While his connection to the restaurant was unclear, the nature of his comments to fellow diners was deeply troubling. He spoke at length, loudly and repeatedly casting aspersions on the owners and restaurant, with a tone that, according to my husband—a retired criminal defense attorney—bordered on slander. He spoke loud enough that my husband was going to tell him to keep his opinions to himself since he was ruining our meal. What was most concerning was that his remarks seemed less like opinions and more like a targeted attempt to harm the reputation of Mekhong Thai. He addressed acquaintances at nearby tables and spoke audibly enough to disrupt our meal. The phrase “new owners” was repeated frequently, and his statements appeared designed to foster animosity. I was dismayed to witness and hear other guests agreeing to post negative reviews at his request, furthering a campaign that appeared premeditated and mean-spirited. If I didn't see it firsthand, I never would have believed it. Moreover, some of the dishes he disparaged were, in fact, on my own plate at the time and were prepared to a standard I have come to expect from this restaurant. It seemed highly improbable that these individuals could genuinely assess the authenticity or origin of ingredients simply by tasting the dish, especially given their willingness to consume what they had just criticized as “inedible.” Notably, none of these negative reviews mentioned any attempt to discuss concerns directly with the owners, which would be the reasonable course of action for a dissatisfied customer. Minor criticisms, such as the number of shrimp in a spring roll or changes to the preparation of chicken wings, hardly justify the issuance of a one-star review. Such actions suggest ulterior motives rather than genuine disappointment. Online review platforms are intended to provide helpful and honest feedback—not to damage reputations. Upon reading many negative and similarly worded reviews, my husband and I contacted the restaurant directly to speak with the owner. She graciously explained her preparation methods, which bore no resemblance to the negative claims circulating online. She further noted her commitment to maintaining the recipes of the previous owners, who are, in fact, her relatives. To those participating in this campaign, your actions reflect poorly on your character and integrity and need to look up the definition of libel. I urge future readers to exercise skepticism toward negative reviews that do not mention any attempt at direct communication with management. It is clear that there is a coordinated effort to harm Mekhong Thai’s reputation—an endeavor that is both unethical and unfair. Should you ever have questions or concerns about a menu item, I encourage you to address them directly with the owners, as any responsible patron would do. Constructive dialogue is the hallmark of honest feedback, while anonymity and coordinated negativity serve only to undermine trust. To the new owners of Mekhong Thai: on behalf of the many loyal patrons who appreciate your dedication and culinary excellence, I apologize for the actions of those few who seek to diminish your reputation. Thank you for maintaining the traditions of Mekhong Thai. Your commitment is evident in every dish, and I look forward to dining with...

I, for one, have become very suspicious of some of the recent negative posts to this account. I’m starting to agree with some of the other authors that the low ratings are highly suspicious and seem motivated by outside factors. Competitors reviews? My wife and I became very close with the previous owners and felt they were like family. The new owners are no different. They have continued the tradition that our friends carried for so many years. We have eaten at the restaurant three times since the new owners took over and every meal has been wonderful. Nothing compared to what some of these low ratings are claiming. For example, the bird nest dish that was described by a previous author was in no way what we were served. Again, highly suspicious and seem motivated. Shame on you for allowing other factors to be introduced into a review. Stick to the facts and stick to the basics. No one wants to hear your grandstanding. And if you really felt the meal was so bad, does it really arise to the level of a one star or, again, is that based on other factors that you are dealing with. Everyone has an opinion, but not everyone wants to hear it, especially when it’s used to solely try to offend and hurt. Did you try to speak with the owners to see if They could do anything for you? Not one person is claiming they spoke to the owners yet everyone has an issue with how it’s being run. Guess what, we did speak to the new owner and she was wonderfully warm and a kind person. Exactly what we would expect from Mekong. You know what, do the owners a favor and take your bad attitudes and your false reviews and eat elsewhere. They will be better off for it. In case you were wondering, don’t worry, Mekhong will be around for a long time, but hopefully you won’t cross their...

Our family have been loyal customers of this restaurant for over 25 years, and it has always been a family favorite. We’ve enjoyed countless meals here, always appreciating the great food and welcoming atmosphere.

However, our recent visit under the new ownership was disappointing. It’s clear that some changes have been made, and unfortunately, not for the better. Several of our favorite dishes have been removed from the menu, including the fresh pork spring rolls and the black bean sauce dishes — both of which were staples we looked forward to every time.

Even more concerning was the quality of the food. The wings, which we used to order multiple servings of for their one-of-a-kind flavor, now tasted like generic frozen deep-fried wings. The dumplings were also clearly frozen, not fresh like we were used to.

We understand that new ownership may bring change, but replacing fresh, high-quality ingredients with frozen alternatives takes away the charm and quality that made this restaurant so special. It’s a real disappointment to see the menu change so drastically.

Until the menu returns to its previous standard, our family will unfortunately be taking our business elsewhere. We really hope the restaurant can find its way back to the quality we’ve come to love...