Those who adore Thai food are blessed to be in Toronto, where foodies can find some amazing dishes and incredibly creative and traditional settings. From the basics like pad thai, to panang curry, to dishes made of bright fruits and veggies laced with grilled park, TO’s got it all, from upscale to strip-mall type joints.
Here are eight of the best Thai restaurants in Toronto:
Toronto’s royal family of Thai food, Nuit and Jeff Regular, now have three Sukhothai locations, at 274 Parliament, 52 Wellington E and 1142 Dundas W. The curries are creamy and spicy, the ingredients very fresh and the portions, large.
From rich curries to amazing pad thai and their special, golden beef, Khmer Thai at Yonge-St. Clair has perfected the art of Thai food, and at unbelievably fair prices. Most dishes are too much for the average eater to finish, and many are under $10. The atmosphere is lacking, but the food is unreal.
Insanely busy Khao San Road in the Entertainment District is, according to most, the best Thai restaurant in Toronto. They don’t take reservations, so the wait can be a nightmare, but it’s worth it once you get inside. Garlic shrimp, spicy beef salad, green curry, pad thai and green papaya salad are some of the best menu items, but everything’s delicious. As far as dinners in Toronto go, the prices are even reasonable.
The communal seating in Salad King and sparse decor (besides the enormous, multic-oloured lotus flower painted on the seating) give it a cafeteria-like feel, but the food at this Thai staple near Ryerson University make it a winner, especially for students wanting to eat out on a budget. The Islamic noodles aren’t on the menu, but are worth asking for, as well as their panang curry.
Mengrai Thai does upscale Thai food from their restaurant in Corktown. Until recently, Mengrai made amazing Thai food, although the food quality has changed recently. Either way the prices are on the high side.
Another restaurant by the Regulars, Pai, located in the Entertainment District, focuses on cuisine from Northern Thailand. The khao soi is very popular, and all of their sauces are delectable. The setting is casual and the prices are fair.
For lunch or takeout, Thai House Cuisine in the Beaches has some great traditional dishes. It’s a very casual place and the prices are average, as well as the portion sizes.
Another of Chef Nuit’s restaurants, Sabai Sabai near Moss Park mainly does small, sharable plates and cocktails. Try the squash fritters, fried basa, khao soi, the curries and BBQ pork. They have options for vegans.