Makiin

Makiin is dripping in opulence. The Thai restaurant is a sea of deep red with golden accents and a giant bar in the center of the room that’s lit like the Blue Man Group is about to perform. Everything here is extravagant—appetizers arrive at the table on shimmering tiered towers, sizzling yellow curry is poured over braised ribs, and there’s certainly a dish that will arrive in a decadent cloud of smoke. While the presentation draws in most people, it’s the incredible Thai food that makes this Upper Kirby spot, from the start of your meal to the cotton candy dessert. 

Even with all of the spectacle, dishes at Makiin are packed with flavor. The heat from the spices and rich curries can be felt in every spoonful. During dessert, intricate creme brulees and trees made out of rich chocolate and cherry-flavored cotton candy are presented like they’re photoshoot-ready. Still, they’re delicious and get eaten until the last piece of dark chocolate bark is gone. Understated has no place here. Neon boards decorate tables of couples celebrating anniversaries. Makiin keeps folks entertained with live singers packing every riff and run into jazzy renditions of soul divas most evenings. So come here when you want to have a flashy birthday dinner, or when you need to have a cocktail in a glass shaped like a diamond.

photo credit: Sean Rainer/Makiin

photo credit: Sean Rainer/Makiin

photo credit: Sean Rainer/Makiin

photo credit: Sean Rainer/Makiin

Food Rundown

photo credit: Raydon Creative

Chives Cake Sunrise

The gui chai tod is made of soft triangle cutouts of salted chive cakes topped with a small salted quail egg and a dropper full of sriracha sauce. It’s tender with a bit of spice that makes it one of the best appetizers at Makiin.

photo credit: Sean Rainer

Khao Tang Na Tang

We appreciate the khao tang na tang for the power of its crunch. The crispy rice crackers support the dip made with coconut, shrimp floss, and crushed peanuts. Add in a few chili peppers and there’s a sweet-heat dip that will have you fighting for the last rice cracker.

photo credit: Quit Nguyen

Pad Kee Mau

The smell of basil and pepper might hit you before the dish makes it to your table, but that’s the beauty of the pad kee mau. Slices of beef, thick noodles, and slightly sweet roasted vegetables make up this dish and are the best reminder that Makiin isn’t all show.

photo credit: Quit Nguyen

Short Ribs in Curry Hot Stone Khao Soi

Our idea of evening entertainment is watching the curry get poured over thin slices of short ribs. That’s when the crunchy arch of noodles on top of the dish becomes tender to complement the rest of the dish.

photo credit: Quit Nguyen

Dessert

It’s not a trip to Makiin without one of their extravagant desserts. Our favorite is the tree topped with cherry cotton candy and chocolate branches that make us feel like we’re in Willy Wonka’s factory.