Mekhong Thai Kennebunk in Kennebunk, Maine

Mekhong Thai is a longtime Kennebunk spot where the kitchen turns out proper curries, fried rice, and noodle dishes cooked to order. The room is small and intimate, the patio a bonus on warm nights. Lunch pricing is solid for the quality you're getting, and the staff knows how to steer you right.

• Drunken noodles that outshine most American Thai spots.
• Crab rangoons hand-rolled with fresh, quality ingredients.
• Lunch specials offer genuine value for the care taken.
• Staff remembers you and makes solid recommendations.

Start with the crab rangoons, which are made with real attention. The drunken noodles are why people make the drive. Get a curry if you want to dial in the heat level to your taste. The fried rice is a solid anchor to any meal. Chicken wings used to be a signature item, so ask what's currently shining in the kitchen.

Compact and intimate, with a small dining room that fills up and feels lively without being loud. The patio offers a quieter option on nice days.

This is the place to come if you want Thai food that tastes like someone knows what they're doing. Service is attentive and friendly. On busy nights the small space gets a little tight, but that's part of its charm.

Regulars praise the freshness and hand-rolled quality of the food, the warm service, and the fact that dishes are made to order. One recent visitor called the drunken noodles "by far the best I've had in the U.S." The team is described as welcoming and happy to see you walk through the door.