Emily Southey
Upon moving to Toronto, one of the first things I discovered was how incredible the city’s Thai food is (and after living here for several years, I can now definitively say that TO has better Thai food than anywhere else in Canada). From trendy fusion meals to authentic regional dishes, you can’t go wrong with any of the Thai restaurants below.
Sukhothai
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Sukhothai has quickly risen to become one of the most highly regarded Thai restaurants in all of TO. It has four locations across the city, on Parliament, Dundas West, Wellington, and Front East, and serves up authentic Northern Thai cuisine on the daily. To kick things off, I always opt for the light and refreshing Mango Salad (if I’m with my family, the Crispy Spring Rolls are also a must.) All of their mains are cooked to perfection, but at Sukhothai my personal favourite is the Khao Soi with chicken or the Tom Kha Gai soup (a creamy coconut soup with herbs). Another fav are the Garlic Chicken Nuggets – sure to please all of your friends and family, no matter their age.
Sabai Sabai
Right near Bloor-Yonge Station lies Sabai Sabai Kitchen and Bar, whose speciality is cooking up dishes from Northern Thailand and Laos. First off, I have to say that I love the atmosphere at Sabai Sabai. It is industrial chic at its finest, with exposed brick, festive paper lanterns, and plenty of local artwork. Onto the food! In terms of appetizers, I’m partial to the Crispy Taro Roll and Deep Fried Garlic Shrimp, both are crunchy on the outside yet soft and flavour-packed on the inside. Mains are broken down into small plates and large plates, making this the perfect spot for sharing. The “Laap Lao” or minced pork lettuce wraps, is the national dish of Laos and is simply delicious. The Street Styled Tossed Noodles are also a crowd favourite among my friends, made with rice noodles, peanuts, tamarind sauce, bean sprouts, and chicken. Plus, with an entire menu of vegan dishes, this is a great spot for carnivores and herbivores alike.
Pai
I have been a longtime fan of Pai, a Northern Thai eatery nestled on Duncan Street in the heart of the Entertainment District. Not only is the food absolutely delicious, but the atmosphere can’t be beat. It’s my go-to, whether dining with friends, my partner, or my parents, thanks to the festive and casual vibe throughout. Now onto the food, starting with the the Chef Nuit Pad Thai (truly one of the best pad Thais in Toronto). From the rice noodles cooked to perfection to the crunch from the bean sprouts and the touch of tartness from the fresh lime, you can’t go wrong with this classic dish. My other personal favourite is the Gaeng Masaman, a mild peanut curry with braised beef and potatoes, topped with crispy fried shallots. Also worth mentioning is Pai’s appetizers. For me, their appetizers shine just as much (maybe even more) than their main dishes. First, we have the Papaya Salad. Not your traditional papaya salad, theirs is made with tamarind juice, coconut sugar, pork rinds, shrimp chips, and salted crab. The other must-have app is the Grabong, essentially a mountain of thin butternut squash french fries that have been fried in a red curry paste (don’t forget to dunk them in the sweet garlic tamarind dip!)
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