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walking into pai feels a little like stepping into a northern thai dining room that somehow landed in the middle of downtown toronto. the space is big, atmospheric and full of character, eclectic with exposed brick and rough stone walls, warm wood, strings of lights, and paper lanterns. then there's the wall of framed photographs, with portrait after portrait packed together like a scrapbook of people who have passed through the restaurant over the years. it gives the room a lived in, almost cinematic quality, and you can't help but look around and wonder who has eaten here before you. i arrived as a solo diner and was put on the waitlist, but thankfully only waited about five minutes before being shown to my table. and i was very happy with where they put me. the elevated solo seating gave me a proper little perch overlooking the restaurant, which was considerably nicer than being parked at the bar simply because i was dining alone. as a solo diner, those details matter, and this felt like a thoughtful touch rather than an afterthought. once settled in, i started looking through the menu and immediately spotted something i don't see on a thai menu every day: northern thai laab. that was the moment my decision was basically made. before the food arrived, i ordered the sober sangria, a non alcoholic option made with guava juice, lychee, pineapple chunks, with a splash of ginger ale. it was fruity, bright and refreshing, with enough tropical sweetness to make it feel like a proper drink rather than an afterthought. it also made a nice opening act for the more savoury, aromatic flavours that followed. then came the northern thai laab, made with a house made paste of peppercorn, garlic, shallots, galangal, lemongrass, dried chillies and fennel, with a choice of protein. i went with the pork, which arrived with crispy pork rinds, mint leaves and scallions, alongside sticky rice, cucumber, long green beans and lettuce leaves. this was the kind of dish that made me glad i had spotted it. the flavours were earthy, aromatic and layered, with the galangal coming through clearly alongside the garlic, herbs and dried chillies. the pork was savoury and hearty, while the northern thai spice paste brought that distinctive warmth without overwhelming everything else. the pork rinds added a lovely crispy, salty richness, and the fresh cucumber, long beans and lettuce brought plenty of crunch and freshness to the plate. i especially liked the way everything worked together rather than simply eating the laab on its own. a little sticky rice, some laab, a few herbs and vegetables, tucked into a lettuce leaf, messy in the best possible way, and exactly the sort of meal that encourages you to keep building one more bite. there's also a certain sense of occasion to eating here. pai is recognized by the michelin guide as a northern thai restaurant, and its reputation has clearly travelled well beyond toronto. the walls covered in photographs are a pretty entertaining reminder of that, with plenty of recognizable faces among the collection. it feels less like a restaurant trying to tell you that it's famous and more like a room that has accumulated its own history over time. and clearly, the popularity isn't just photographic evidence. when i was leaving, there was still a lineup of people waiting to get in. pai intentionally keeps a good portion of its seating available for walk ins, so the waitlist system seems to be very much part of the experience. i had arrived after a late start to the day and wasn't particularly hungry, so i honestly wasn't sure how much enthusiasm i would have for a full meal. somehow, the northern thai laab changed that. between the warm, atmospheric room, the thoughtful solo seating, the refreshing sober sangria and a dish that felt distinctive enough to be worth seeking out, this turned into one of those meals that ends up being much more memorable than you expected.
Dearest Vegetarian reader, Overall have been to better Thai places, unfortunately. Got the garlic tofu (basic flavourless tofu with good, but basic, sauce). Panang curry they did well, better with our own added spices on top. Next time would maybe not happen again? Or will go to try Massamun and/or Green curry!
Was really looking forward to trying this spot since I've heard so many good things, but honestly, I was a little disappointed. I've had better Thai food in the city. The Pad Thai was missing some flavour for me, and my friends thought the curry and Khao Soi were just okay. The service was great though! Everyone was really attentive and friendly, which I appreciated.
WOW! This place was exactly what was needed to start our trip in toronto. I heard about this place from locals and was definitely not disappointed! We ordered so much food (*not all pictures because we were insanely hungry & devoured). The entire atmosphere was such a lovely and cozy vibe and our server was the sweetest and most welcoming person. We ordered spring rolls, green curry, panang curry, pad thai, pad see ew, and mango sorbet. Everything was soo delicious but my favorites have to be the pad see ew and the mango sorbet. The mango sorbet had a crunch from the peanuts with a balance of the sweeter flavors. I'd you're ever in the area, i can't recommended it enough!
Loved. The space is beautiful and filled with energetic people having a great time with their friends and family. You can't help but smile in anticipation and then smile from how wonderful your meal is. I sat by myself in the back with all the other table for ones for dinner during a weekday. No wait for me because it was just for one. (At around 6pm, a table for two was around 30-35 minutes.) I had the morning glory with crispy pork and the beef larb salad. I had both dishes, fully. It was fabulous. I've already texted friends about this place.
Pai is always consistently delivering with flavourful dishes and an ambiance that fits perfectly! My go-to is always the Green curry with chicken, but also tried the Pad See Ew, Pad Thai, and skewers with sticky rice! Service is ok, but don't expect too much.
Yummy Thai food with fresh ingredients. For two people we got the papaya salad w/dried shrimp, Khao Soi w/shrimp, and pad gra prow w/crispy pork. We ordered medium spicy for the papaya salad and it only had a slight kick. I wished the salad portion was more as it was gone pretty quickly. It comes with shrimp chips, pork rinds, and 2 small bundles of rice noodles. The dried shrimp in the salad was very chewy though, which made it a bit less enjoyable. I ended up picking them all out. We ordered spicy for the pad gra prow but it wasn't spicy at all. I think you can ask for the Thai chilis/ Thai chili fish sauce thing on the side but we decided we were fine with no spicy. Unfortunately the crispy pork was not crispy at all and was also very chewy. Overall it was still delicious! The Khao soi mightve honestly been the least favorite, but it was still good. It is on the sweeter side. The egg noodles were cooked al dente and had a nice chew. Sometimes when I get Khao soi it ends up being too heavy or creamy, but the curry for this one was thinner and easy to eat. The shrimp was the best part - super fresh and bouncy. In the end I thought the portions and quality were good. The service was also super nice, and it was impressive to see our waitress cover so many tables. The restrooms were also clean.
After a busy day of sightseeing, we wanted some yummy food to take back to our hotel and eat in the room. After looking on Yelp, we decided on Pai Northern Thai. The menu had several vegetarian/vegan options plus all other options. I ordered online and it was ready when we got there. I asked for some bowls and cutlery and got some. Everything was packed well and still warm when we got back to our room.
Randomly found this place when searching for Thai food, showed up and it was an hour wait but I knew it was gonna be good when I saw the amount of people waiting and the Michelin Guide sign. so I came back another night at 8pm by myself and got seated right away. Although I was seated in an awkward alcove area that felt like sitting in a crevice behind the wall to the rest of the restaurant. Very odd placement for seats but it worked. I got the pineapple shake and Massman curry and it was so flavorful and delicious!! Highly recommend
My favorite Thai food place in Toronto!! Came on a Saturday night and expected a long line, but they said it was going to be a 30-45 minute wait for a party of 6. We actually got called in around 20 minutes though, which was great. They asked us if we were okay with a shared/communal table, so maybe that's why it was faster, but the shared tables are not bad at all. We ended up getting seated right in front of the TV while a FIFA game was going on, so the vibes were great. The staff were also super friendly and would stop by to watch and chat for bits at a time. Every time I come, I always order the pad thai and the khao soi. The pad thai is amazing and not too sweet or sour. The khao soi was also delicious and the braised beef was so tender. For drinks, I ordered the Thai iced tea, which is a little on the sweeter side, but was great once the ice melted a little bit. Overall great food, great vibes, would definitely come back!!
What an amazing Thai restaurant. Our friend recommended this spot and I didn't realize that it was Michelin guide! There was essentially no wait for a party of three so we sat down immediately. They gave us two 750ml of water in a wine bottle, and were very prompt with their service. Their menu has really good pictures and it was so easy to make our selection. We asked our server Nat for recommendation and her recommendations were top notch! Prik pao Talay: the seafood stir fry was bomb! A tad sweet but such a decent amount of seafood and what a complex flavor profile! 5/5 Crab fried rice: 5/5 spectacular. Great wok hei or the pan fried smell to the rice and each grain was separate. A classic Thai dish done absolutely right and delicious. Kor moo gaeng kua: 5/5 the pork was so freaken good! The cut of pork is pork neck and it was just so juicy and absolutely amazing in the coconut curry. Thai tea: its southern Thai tea, and you can't often find that in most Thai restaurants, so it was spectacular to see it. From the service to the food, I highly recommend this place!
I went here with a friend for dinner and we had a great time! We needed to wait in line to get a table, and waited about 30-45 minutes before it was ready. Luckily, we stopped by a matcha spot nearby, and the table was available by the time we were back. Inside is large but definitely crowded. It has a lot of Thai decor with standing and seated tables. We placed our order and the food came soon after. The food was delicious! I loved the Moo Ping Pork Skewers, they were tender and flavored so well. Juicy and had the perfect bite. I also loved the pad thai, it had good flavor and sauce. My friend enjoyed the Laab Salad and said it was comparable to the one she had in Thailand! We both wanted to also try the Kanom Jeen Nham Ngeaw, and it was a tangy soup due to the tomato. Though it was not our flavor profile, we still liked it. Overall, we both had a great time and would recommend!
2 months ago
1 month ago
walking into pai feels a little like stepping into a northern thai dining room that somehow landed in the middle of downtown toronto. the space is big, atmospheric and full of character, eclectic with exposed brick and rough stone walls, warm wood, strings of lights, and paper lanterns. then there's the wall of framed photographs, with portrait after portrait packed together like a scrapbook of people who have passed through the restaurant over the years. it gives the room a lived in, almost cinematic quality, and you can't help but look around and wonder who has eaten here before you. i arrived as a solo diner and was put on the waitlist, but thankfully only waited about five minutes before being shown to my table. and i was very happy with where they put me. the elevated solo seating gave me a proper little perch overlooking the restaurant, which was considerably nicer than being parked at the bar simply because i was dining alone. as a solo diner, those details matter, and this felt like a thoughtful touch rather than an afterthought. once settled in, i started looking through the menu and immediately spotted something i don't see on a thai menu every day: northern thai laab. that was the moment my decision was basically made. before the food arrived, i ordered the sober sangria, a non alcoholic option made with guava juice, lychee, pineapple chunks, with a splash of ginger ale. it was fruity, bright and refreshing, with enough tropical sweetness to make it feel like a proper drink rather than an afterthought. it also made a nice opening act for the more savoury, aromatic flavours that followed. then came the northern thai laab, made with a house made paste of peppercorn, garlic, shallots, galangal, lemongrass, dried chillies and fennel, with a choice of protein. i went with the pork, which arrived with crispy pork rinds, mint leaves and scallions, alongside sticky rice, cucumber, long green beans and lettuce leaves. this was the kind of dish that made me glad i had spotted it. the flavours were earthy, aromatic and layered, with the galangal coming through clearly alongside the garlic, herbs and dried chillies. the pork was savoury and hearty, while the northern thai spice paste brought that distinctive warmth without overwhelming everything else. the pork rinds added a lovely crispy, salty richness, and the fresh cucumber, long beans and lettuce brought plenty of crunch and freshness to the plate. i especially liked the way everything worked together rather than simply eating the laab on its own. a little sticky rice, some laab, a few herbs and vegetables, tucked into a lettuce leaf, messy in the best possible way, and exactly the sort of meal that encourages you to keep building one more bite. there's also a certain sense of occasion to eating here. pai is recognized by the michelin guide as a northern thai restaurant, and its reputation has clearly travelled well beyond toronto. the walls covered in photographs are a pretty entertaining reminder of that, with plenty of recognizable faces among the collection. it feels less like a restaurant trying to tell you that it's famous and more like a room that has accumulated its own history over time. and clearly, the popularity isn't just photographic evidence. when i was leaving, there was still a lineup of people waiting to get in. pai intentionally keeps a good portion of its seating available for walk ins, so the waitlist system seems to be very much part of the experience. i had arrived after a late start to the day and wasn't particularly hungry, so i honestly wasn't sure how much enthusiasm i would have for a full meal. somehow, the northern thai laab changed that. between the warm, atmospheric room, the thoughtful solo seating, the refreshing sober sangria and a dish that felt distinctive enough to be worth seeking out, this turned into one of those meals that ends up being much more memorable than you expected. read more
Dearest Vegetarian reader, Overall have been to better Thai places, unfortunately. Got the garlic tofu (basic flavourless tofu with good, but basic, sauce). Panang curry they did well, better with our own added spices on top. Next time would maybe not happen again? Or will go to try Massamun and/or Green curry! read more
1 month ago
Was really looking forward to trying this spot since I've heard so many good things, but honestly, I was a little disappointed. I've had better Thai food in the city. The Pad Thai was missing some flavour for me, and my friends thought the curry and Khao Soi were just okay. The service was great though! Everyone was really attentive and friendly, which I appreciated. read more
WOW! This place was exactly what was needed to start our trip in toronto. I heard about this place from locals and was definitely not disappointed! We ordered so much food (*not all pictures because we were insanely hungry & devoured). The entire atmosphere was such a lovely and cozy vibe and our server was the sweetest and most welcoming person. We ordered spring rolls, green curry, panang curry, pad thai, pad see ew, and mango sorbet. Everything was soo delicious but my favorites have to be the pad see ew and the mango sorbet. The mango sorbet had a crunch from the peanuts with a balance of the sweeter flavors. I'd you're ever in the area, i can't recommended it enough! read more
Loved. The space is beautiful and filled with energetic people having a great time with their friends and family. You can't help but smile in anticipation and then smile from how wonderful your meal is. I sat by myself in the back with all the other table for ones for dinner during a weekday. No wait for me because it was just for one. (At around 6pm, a table for two was around 30-35 minutes.) I had the morning glory with crispy pork and the beef larb salad. I had both dishes, fully. It was fabulous. I've already texted friends about this place. read more
14 hours ago
Pai is always consistently delivering with flavourful dishes and an ambiance that fits perfectly! My go-to is always the Green curry with chicken, but also tried the Pad See Ew, Pad Thai, and skewers with sticky rice! Service is ok, but don't expect too much. read more
Yummy Thai food with fresh ingredients. For two people we got the papaya salad w/dried shrimp, Khao Soi w/shrimp, and pad gra prow w/crispy pork. We ordered medium spicy for the papaya salad and it only had a slight kick. I wished the salad portion was more as it was gone pretty quickly. It comes with shrimp chips, pork rinds, and 2 small bundles of rice noodles. The dried shrimp in the salad was very chewy though, which made it a bit less enjoyable. I ended up picking them all out. We ordered spicy for the pad gra prow but it wasn't spicy at all. I think you can ask for the Thai chilis/ Thai chili fish sauce thing on the side but we decided we were fine with no spicy. Unfortunately the crispy pork was not crispy at all and was also very chewy. Overall it was still delicious! The Khao soi mightve honestly been the least favorite, but it was still good. It is on the sweeter side. The egg noodles were cooked al dente and had a nice chew. Sometimes when I get Khao soi it ends up being too heavy or creamy, but the curry for this one was thinner and easy to eat. The shrimp was the best part - super fresh and bouncy. In the end I thought the portions and quality were good. The service was also super nice, and it was impressive to see our waitress cover so many tables. The restrooms were also clean. read more
After a busy day of sightseeing, we wanted some yummy food to take back to our hotel and eat in the room. After looking on Yelp, we decided on Pai Northern Thai. The menu had several vegetarian/vegan options plus all other options. I ordered online and it was ready when we got there. I asked for some bowls and cutlery and got some. Everything was packed well and still warm when we got back to our room. read more
Randomly found this place when searching for Thai food, showed up and it was an hour wait but I knew it was gonna be good when I saw the amount of people waiting and the Michelin Guide sign. so I came back another night at 8pm by myself and got seated right away. Although I was seated in an awkward alcove area that felt like sitting in a crevice behind the wall to the rest of the restaurant. Very odd placement for seats but it worked. I got the pineapple shake and Massman curry and it was so flavorful and delicious!! Highly recommend read more
My favorite Thai food place in Toronto!! Came on a Saturday night and expected a long line, but they said it was going to be a 30-45 minute wait for a party of 6. We actually got called in around 20 minutes though, which was great. They asked us if we were okay with a shared/communal table, so maybe that's why it was faster, but the shared tables are not bad at all. We ended up getting seated right in front of the TV while a FIFA game was going on, so the vibes were great. The staff were also super friendly and would stop by to watch and chat for bits at a time. Every time I come, I always order the pad thai and the khao soi. The pad thai is amazing and not too sweet or sour. The khao soi was also delicious and the braised beef was so tender. For drinks, I ordered the Thai iced tea, which is a little on the sweeter side, but was great once the ice melted a little bit. Overall great food, great vibes, would definitely come back!! read more
1 month ago
What an amazing Thai restaurant. Our friend recommended this spot and I didn't realize that it was Michelin guide! There was essentially no wait for a party of three so we sat down immediately. They gave us two 750ml of water in a wine bottle, and were very prompt with their service. Their menu has really good pictures and it was so easy to make our selection. We asked our server Nat for recommendation and her recommendations were top notch! Prik pao Talay: the seafood stir fry was bomb! A tad sweet but such a decent amount of seafood and what a complex flavor profile! 5/5 Crab fried rice: 5/5 spectacular. Great wok hei or the pan fried smell to the rice and each grain was separate. A classic Thai dish done absolutely right and delicious. Kor moo gaeng kua: 5/5 the pork was so freaken good! The cut of pork is pork neck and it was just so juicy and absolutely amazing in the coconut curry. Thai tea: its southern Thai tea, and you can't often find that in most Thai restaurants, so it was spectacular to see it. From the service to the food, I highly recommend this place! read more
I went here with a friend for dinner and we had a great time! We needed to wait in line to get a table, and waited about 30-45 minutes before it was ready. Luckily, we stopped by a matcha spot nearby, and the table was available by the time we were back. Inside is large but definitely crowded. It has a lot of Thai decor with standing and seated tables. We placed our order and the food came soon after. The food was delicious! I loved the Moo Ping Pork Skewers, they were tender and flavored so well. Juicy and had the perfect bite. I also loved the pad thai, it had good flavor and sauce. My friend enjoyed the Laab Salad and said it was comparable to the one she had in Thailand! We both wanted to also try the Kanom Jeen Nham Ngeaw, and it was a tangy soup due to the tomato. Though it was not our flavor profile, we still liked it. Overall, we both had a great time and would recommend! read more
Im back!!!! This place just keeps me amazed with every dish. Unbelievably delicious, you have tobfind your way here if ever in the vicinity of an hour or so. Today I started with a 1L of Sapporo. Then to warm up my appetite, a starter Shrimp Tom Yum. Followed by the AMAZING Plah Nua 'Beef Salad'. Finished my dinner with the Chicken Gaeng Massaman 'Massaman Curry' made with Tamarind curry, coconut milk, potatoes, pearl white onions. Every experience has been incredible. The staff all are wonderful, polite, attentive and the playlist tonight was making my dining experience even better. The staff rocks! Until next time, might be Wednesday... we'll see. read more
4 months ago
THE BIG: Northern Thai restaurant int he heart of downtown Toronto! Underground restaurant that is super thai vibey. Street parking available and first come first serve. THE BLACK AND WHITE: I came here with a co-worker after a days of work and we ended up at Pai. The wait wasn't too long, it only took about 30 minutes and the place was packed! For food, we got the pad thai, pad gra pow, and the papaya salad. All were super delicious and definitely reminded me of when I was in Chiang Mai. The flavors were all there! I don't think you could go wrong with any of the items on the menu. It is quite expansive. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Ultimately, the damage done was about $130 for the three dishes and a bottle of sauvignon blanc. Delicious food and i'll definitely be back to have more items. read more
One of the best Thai food hands down. The place was packed and there was a line to get seated. We didn't have a reservation and had about a 30 mins wait on a Friday night. We eventually got seated at the bar in the back dining area. This place was a lot bigger than it looks. We decided to share a drink and got their Kardi Party Rum Punch. It was a large pitcher and we were able to get a couple drinks each out of it. For food, we ordered their Grabong "Squash Fritters" which were delicious. It was a huge appetizer and the sauce was great to dip the crispy fritters in. For our main, we got Shrimp Pad Thai and Tofu & Veggies Pad See Ew. Both were equally just as good. All the flavors were great and nothing was over seasoned; it was all just perfect. The bartenders were really friendly and personal. We had such a great experience and would love to come back next time we're in town! read more
The top rated Thai restaurant and the Michelin stars is well deserved! The wait can be long! For 2 people it was 30-40 min wait, not including waiting in line to sign in. Do not take reservations for small groups. Ordered Spring Rolls, Pad See Ew, and Pad Thai. All dishes were really good. Spring rolls had more mushroom taste, but lightly fried. Pad See Ew had great flavor, not too oily or salty, and had great quality of beef. Chicken pad Thai had balances sweet, sour, and savory notes. Portions were generous, but expect to pay over $25 per plate. Mango Sticky rice good not great, since mango was super ripe to add sweetness. Plenty of coconut "sauce" to flavor the rice. Spring Rolls 4/5 Pad See Ew 5/5 Pad Thai 5/5 Mango Sticky Rice 4/5 read more
Food 5/5 Service 4/5 Ambiance 4/5 Food: I've heard so much about how great the food is here. I came here for a corporate dinner & I wasn't disappointed. We had spring rolls & garlic chicken as appetizers. Everyone ordered their own main. I ordered the Beef Pad Thai with some modifications for my food allergies & preferences. The pad thai was really delicious & filling! Well, maybe because I had the appetizers too. LOL. In any case I enjoyed my food & couldn't finish it all. So I took the rest home in a small container. We didn't have any dessert because we were full! Service: I came early to make sure we didn't lose our table & was seated right away. I ordered appetizers so when everyone came they would have something to eat while the main dishes were being cooked. The main dishes actually came pretty fast after we ordered them. Our waitstaff were two different ladies & they were very nice & efficient. Ambiance: The decor is very kitschy. There were paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. And the door to the bathroom is a rustic wooden door. The tables are basic & chairs all had different colours. I don't mind the decor but it's very casual so not the best for a corporate dinner if you want something fancy. Also the music was quite loud. So it was hard to have a conversation. I like the food here & it's in a convenient spot. It's just really loud & casual. Also there isn't much space between the tables so if the restaurant is full it could feel squishy! I would come back here again to try some different dishes. read more
7 days ago
Delicious food that keeps you coming back for more. The Entertainment District location is very busy, so expect to be waiting outside for a bit if you didn't add yourself to the waitlist early or have a reservation in advance. read more
2 months ago
I ordered from the Duncan Street location via DoorDash to my hotel and was not disappointed. I ordered the Moo Ping skewers, Chef Nuit's Pad Thai, and some spring rolls. All were very good. I would eat again, preferably in person if I find myself back in the area. read more
Started off with the shrimp chips, which were incredibly crispy and flavorful, the portion was generous and great for sharing. For the main course, the beef pad see ew arrived piping hot; although it was a little on the saltier side, the flavor was amazing, and I loved the chili oil on the side. The highlight of the meal was the mango sticky rice. They nailed the mango-to-rice ratio, which is something many places that have this dessert struggle with. Service was super attentive and friendly throughout the evening. read more
5 months ago
We were referred to try this spot, and this spot did not disappoint! This place is poppin' so I recommend to make sure you put in a reservation! Ambiance is soooo many things and it really fit the vibe. Despite this location being very busy, our waiter served as very attentively and we got our food a reasonable time. I got the Pad Gra Prow w/ ground beef and it was very delicious! I would highly recommend this spot! read more
6 months ago
Pai was highly recommended by a friend and it has the cutest date night vibes. My hubby said that he could see us coming there more often for date nights if we were in the area. Lanterns were hung up all over the restaurant and it was quite spacious considering how tiny it looked on the outside. We ordered the Pad Thai, the minced pork rice dish and two guava juices. Everything was very tasty. We ordered our dishes mild, just because we can't handle spice too well. The service was exceptional too! We waited maybe 25 minutes on a Sunday night to be seated. Our waiter was extremely friendly, asking us about our day, told us about some recs and answered all of our questions. We will definitely have to visit again when we're back in Toronto! read more
(Dined 09/08/2025 MO @ 4:00pm): My oh my... Pai's kitchen was cooking up some awesome northern Thai food! I was in town for the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and as I explored the cuisine landscape, unanimously, Pai Northern Thai Kitchen came highly recommended. I loved Thai food, but my favorite region was undoubtedly the northern region of Chang Main and Chang Rai with its spicy flavors. Founded by couple Jeff and Nuit, this Michelin-starred restaurant was the first known one I've dined at. Would this northern Thai eatery originally from Pai, Thailand be my kitchen of choice!? PURCHASE Sapporo Breweries Sapporo Premium Beer Pale Lager Beer Stein Draft ($13.00CAD SU/MO Special): Rich amber color, malty sweet aroma, low body, light malty sweet flavor, clean smooth finish, and light malty sweet aftertaste. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=456&select=iNRDEi3QSHPm1bErgHHkDA Starter Tom Yum Soup w/Shrimp ($10.00CAD): An abundance of green onions, lemongrass, mushrooms, shallots, shrimp, and tomatoes, this sour and spicy soup set the tone for the rest of the meal. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=456&select=2F7fqkDsWL4HVFrU_jVHIg Chef Nuit's Pad Thai w/Chicken ($23.50CAD): A large portion filled with a ton of beansprouts, chives, egg, tofu, and stir-fried rice noodles, I chose "thai spicy", and I felt it! This huge dish bursted with every Thai flavor you could think of, and I stuffed myself nearly into a food coma. It was so good! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=456&select=dmbwv-2hUFptRjVC_cjauQ Unibroue Autre Chose Hazy NEIPA Beer 16floz Draft ($9.95CAD SU/MO Special): Golden amber color, floral fruity hoppy tropical aroma, low body, earthy fruity hoppy flavor, drying finish, and earthy fruity hoppy tropical aftertaste. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=456&select=EEQmJVG7irdzFi8iH9dvIQ Sai Ua Northern Thai Sausage ($16.00CAD): Savory pork sausage, thick cucumber slices, and a pouch of sticky rice, this dish stuck to my ribs in a good way. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=456&select=pnxnzg4oe-BRG3qWdsyNgA SERVICE The place was packed, but since I was by myself, they easily found me a seat at the back bar. I settled in, received a glass of water, perused the menu, and eventually placed my order. My beer arrived quickly while the rest of my meal systematically arrived so I wasn't cluttered with too many dishes. I was occasionally checked on, but I was in a very happy place. As the place continued to get crowded, I never felt pressured to finish up. The entire staff was efficient, friendly, and helpful - amazing! PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance): I was constantly in the area all day throughout the entire 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, so I simply walked. Otherwise, there were spots along the many main and surrounding streets, some nearby structures, numerous public transportation options, and rideshares - 'nuff said! ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A deep, large cavernous brick and wood bunker-like restaurant that slinked along into multiple bars and rooms with an odd assortment of colorful flags, framed pictures, hung lanterns, and various memorabilia, with a plethora of both short and long wooden tables. Minimal natural lighting came through the front doors and windows as well as the back bar windows https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=456&select=eqguFUeQ9UQO8Bg-f0KNIw while random electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were no TVs while awesome rock music played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=456&select=qxfu2T85HMT0JiD1swsIUA ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL Pai Northern Thai Kitchen was nothing short of spectacular and I wished I made an effort to eat there again before I left Toronto. Top to bottom from the incredible food, the affordable prices, and on-point service, I honestly couldn't ask for more! For my first known Michelin-starred eating experience, this was an unforgettable moment. Plus, I always preferred to support small mom & pop businesses. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $82.00CAD BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STAR read more
PAI had been on both my coworker's and my "Want to Go" lists, so we knew we had to try it while we were in town for a work trip. We couldn't find a same-day reservation that worked for us, so we decided to try our luck with a walk-in. It was snowing quite a bit, so we assumed it wouldn't be too busy. Wrong. PAI is clearly a popular option for diners no matter the weather. Luckily, since there were only two of us, we were seated at the bar after only a short wait, and tbh we preferred it there. The corner bar area felt a bit quieter than the packed tables in the centre, and it gave us a chance to chat with the bartender/server and get some recommendations. We shared the mango slaw, pad thai with chicken, and a beef curry - and everything was delicious, flavourful, and generously portioned (not to mention aesthetic too), so we had lots of leftovers to take away. (We would've loved to try dessert too, but we were stuffed!) Between the, fast and friendly service (despite how busy it was), and the convenient downtown location, PAI lived up to the hype and I'd happily return. read more
4 months ago
WOW!!! I was visiting Toronto and a coworker told me I couldn't miss this spot so I made it a point to visit and honestly I would come back. Phenomenal food! I love Thai food but there were options on the menu I had never heard of. There were flavors I tasted I've never had before. Amazing! Make sure to make a reservation read more
22 days ago
The food was really good and all very unique! Good to try a lot of different dishes when you're there read more
4 months ago
Sooooo good. Go here, but have reservations or go earlier, it gets crowded. Food had amazing flavor, staff were working hard, but friendly and the vibe is super positive. I got the chicken pad thai and the pad cha hett, flavor and portions were amazing. read more
9 months ago
Burst of flavors, colors, and Asian street-food vibe but with a sophisticated twist. Pad Gra Prow, better known as the humble 'basil chicken rice' is the best here. Can't emphasize it enough. I would wait 30 mins again for a plate of Pad Gra Prow with the perfectly fried egg with a runny yolk. It is one of the best you can get in GTA. Go without any prior notions of authentic Tom Yum Soup and Khao Soi and you will be more than happy. A touch too much tamarind, a bit too much sweet? All is well when the weather is freezing cold, and you have waited 30 mins to be seated. read more
2 months ago
Amazing food with thought out presentations and rounded flavors. Cannot reccommend enough! read more
This Thai spot was a good start to the trip. It was good, but was it the best Thai I ever had? No. I guess I had really high expectations. We had a variety of dishes, the pad Thai, the fried rice, the Khao Soi, the braised beef soup. The only really unique dish was the braised beef soup. I never had this before and it was good. The service was a bit spotty I think it was because we came at a weird time, late lunch/early dinner. read more
Came in for a late lunch and the wait was still roughly 45 minutes. We waited at the bar and had drinks! The wait was definitely worth it! We loved the beef satay and then pad thai. It's definitely feeling like elevated Thai food. Would make a reservation when possible read more
I remember going back in the day when it was the new talk in town, but not wowed out of this world - thought the food was normal good but not phenomenal - this was about 10-15 years ago or something. But over time I just kept consistently hearing this place on top of everyone's lists, having high ravings, etc; that I was curious to go back again and really give it a go and try even more stuff. I had some friends come from out of town and we decided to hit this place up; it was a Friday evening I believe - and the lineup was long, waited about 30 min in line, only to have to still put our name on the waiting list; so we walked around until we got called, about 20 min late. I was surprised with how huge it was inside, in the back - like a huge underground tavern. Decor is fun and festive. Still I was afraid of being disappointed from overhype and also from the general principle that usually when establishments blow up and expand more, the food quality worsens as they cater to huger crowds. Let me tell you that they did NOT disappoint! Despite it feeling a bit like a huge tavern/cafeteria down there - every single dish that we ordered was stupendous!! Attention to detail, savoury ingredients, presentable; not overly sweet like other typical Thai places. Really delicious and I definitely want to come back! And because the food is delicious, I didn't see the huge cafeteria/tavern atmosphere negatively anymore (huge places tend to give me a bad impression due to tendency to have not as high quality food), but rather, fun. read more
2 months ago
Pai Thai exceeded my expectations. The fried rice was outstanding full of flavor, perfectly cooked, and one of the best I've had. Every dish we tried was fresh, delicious, and packed with authentic taste. If you're looking for great Thai food in a beautiful setting, this place is definitely worth a visit. Friendly staff Highly recommended! read more
10 days ago
In town for TIFF we decided to try out Pai which seemed popular and is Michelin recognized. Very busy especially because of TIFF but service was still efficient. We started with the mango salad, which was a perfect blend of sweet and tangy flavors. For our mains we got the Pad Gra Pow with ground pork. Highly recommend it, nice smokiness with a a slight kick. The pad see ew with chicken was ok, nothing special. The restaurant has a very interesting classic pop theme, very interesting to explore when you are waiting for your food or table. read more
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More info about Pai Northern Thai Kitchen
18 Duncan Street
Toronto, ON M5H 3G8
Canada
Entertainment District, Downtown Core, Waterfront Communities-The Island
Directions
(416) 901-4724
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.paitoronto.com/
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Pai Northern Thai Kitchen - thai - Updated September 2026
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