Gay List Daily brunch of the month: Malai Kitchen in Dallas

Make sure to Thai one on at Malai.

Vietnamese Burger at Malai Kitchen in Dallas

Crawling out of bed on a Saturday or Sunday might as well be climbing to the top of Mount Everest. In Christian Louboutin platform pumps. With our legs tied together. Carrying a small reindeer – that’s also carrying a smaller reindeer.

It’s true. Mornings are a struggle. That’s why God created snooze buttons and Elephant Strength™ Ambien.

Now we have a new reason to wake up early (noon) for brunch (1 p.m.) thanks to Malai (pronounced muh-LIE) Kitchen in West Village. One bite and we knew we had our Brunch of the Month Pick for September. The Thai-Vietnamese fusion restaurant serves up a mean cocktail and an even meaner array of brunch dishes.

The chefs at Malai must’ve been smoking some pretty potent lemongrass when they came up with their Thai Eggs Benedict. Coconut biscuits are topped with spinach, Thai basil, shrimp and poached eggs, then covered with a Thai chili hollandaise. We now believe in seafood for breakfast. Yes, Virginia, it’s true.

In a big surprise (because we always lean toward egg dishes for brunch) our favorite plate is the towering Vietnamese Burger. A seasoned beef and pork patty is topped with herb salad, a homemade aioli, plenty of Vietnamese-style Banh Mi toppings and served with chili chips and Sriracha ketchup. Nearby Village Burger Bar better watch its back, this brunch-only burger gives theirs a run for the money.

Other hits include a Bangkok Scramble (made with Shiitake mushrooms and curry), a spicy fried rice topped with a perfectly over-easy egg, or Banh Mi French Toast, topped with flambéed bananas and tamarind maple syrup.

And the people-watching from the patio is sublime on what one dining companion called “the less-douchey side” of West Village. So this weekend, make sure to Thai one on at Malai.

Then go home and take a nap.