The Mekong | Our Story
Where five cultures share one table
The Mekong is named for the river that winds through the homelands of five Southeast Asian cultures — Hmong, Lao, Thai, Cambodian, and Vietnamese — and that same spirit of connection runs through everything we do in McFarland, Wisconsin.
How The Mekong came to be
Husband-and-wife duo Nengher N. Vang and Choua Her opened The Mekong to serve the McFarland and greater Madison area communities — creating the first Hmong-owned restaurant, bar, and event venue of its kind in south-central Wisconsin. They transformed a former neighborhood bar at 5100 Erling Ave into 10,000 square feet with two banquet halls for up to 350 guests.
A new chapter under Pojtsuab Thoj
On September 1, 2025, The Mekong welcomed new owner Pojtsuab Thoj (TC), who has carried the restaurant, bar, and event venue forward with expanded hours and an enriched menu. The warmth and cultural mission that Vang and Her built into this place from day one remain at its heart.
Five traditions, one kitchen
The menu travels the Mekong River's length — Hmong and Lao sausage with purple sticky rice, Vietnamese beef pho, Thai pad thai, and spring rolls that BRAVA Magazine called exceptional. An Asian-inspired cocktail list and imported beers from across Southeast Asia make The Mekong unlike any other spot in the region.
A place for every celebration
Since opening, The Mekong has hosted weddings, New Year celebrations, fundraisers, corporate meetings, and sold-out concerts — including a Valentine's Party with Luj Yaj that packed the house. If your community has something worth celebrating, this is where you bring it.
Recognized across Wisconsin
The Capital Times, IB Madison, and BRAVA Magazine have all covered The Mekong as a landmark arrival for Southeast Asian culture in the Madison area. We're proud of the recognition — and even prouder of the guests who make this place their own every week.