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    Queen Mother Cafe

    3.7 (328 reviews)
    ModerateAsian Fusion, Thai
    Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Queen Mother Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    QUEEN MOTHER CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Queen Mother Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Gayan P.

    Queen Mother Café has that rare quality of feeling both timeless and personal. From the outside, it blends into Queen Street's rhythm, but inside you step into something more layered--a space with history, character, and just enough quirk to make it memorable. The hidden patio seals the deal, a tucked-away pocket of calm. The menu is eclectic--Sri Lankan dishes sharing space with Thai favorites among others. There's an old-school warmth here, the sense that the café has been woven into the city for decades. And then there's the woman at the helm: gracious, genuine, and clearly the heartbeat of the place. Her presence is the kind of detail that makes you return.

    Khao soy gai
    Ed S.

    Food: Had the Khao Soy Gai and pad Thai. The Khao Soy was warm and full of flavor, perfect for a cold night. The pad Thai was flavorful and filling, but could've used a couple more shrimp. The Mardi Gras cake was fine, but had a slight freezer burn taste. Service: Friendly and efficient. We didn't lack for anything, but we weren't smothered either. Ambiance: Warm and cozy. Noise level wasn't intrusive.

    Khao Soy Gai
    Linda K.

    The restaurant was packed but they found us spots at the bar before we were seated. Dim Sum Quartet and Samosas were the perfect starters. Then we shared the Pad Thai, Ping Gai and Khao Soy Gai - each one more delicious than the next. The fragrances and spices made each dish rich in flavour. The service was excellent. It's now one of our favourite spots for Thai food.

    Pad Thai
    Vanessa I.

    Convenient spot on Queen for fusion-inspired dishes. The pad thai was pretty good and my friend enjoyed the red curry seafood pot. Service is good and the food was served fairly quickly. The interior is cozy and larger than it appears on the outside.

    Putri N.

    i recently visited this restaurant in downtown toronto, and it was a pleasant experience from start to finish. we had a funny start when we got there because the door seemed locked, but the staff spotted us right away and opened it with a smile. once inside, i loved how calm and lowkey the ambiance felt--no flashy colors or decorations, just a warm and welcoming vibe. we even got to choose our own table, so we picked a cozy window seat that gave us a nice view of the busy street. the staff really stand out for their friendliness. although i can't recall names, my server made a genuine effort to chat with us and see how our day was going. now, onto the food: absolutely phenomenal. i tried the ping gai first, and i'd easily give it a 6/5. it's a large portion of chicken that's not only juicy but also packed with flavor, like it's been marinated for hours. there's not a huge amount of rice, but you get so much chicken that it's more than enough. plus, they provide a little salad on the side and a tangy dipping sauce, which balances everything nicely. for the quality and the portion size, i found it super affordable. the second dish i had was the khao soi, and i'd rate it a solid 5/5. the noodles were a different experience for sure but i wont complain. the broth was wonderfully rich and creamy, with just the right balance of heat and sweetness. the noodles were cooked perfectly, and the serving size was satisfying. my only minor complaint was the abundance of shallots on top, which can be overpowering if you're not big on onions. still, it was so tasty overall that i'd definitely order it again--maybe i'll just ask for fewer onions next time. overall, i really appreciate how unpretentious this place is. the staff are warm and attentive, and the food truly delivers. would i come back again? absolutely, 100%. if you're looking for a relaxed spot with outstanding dishes in downtown toronto, this should be high on your list.

    Alaleh P.

    It's a must-try in downtown Toronto; one of the oldest restaurants on Queen Street. They offer Thai and international comfort food. And of course desserts. They also offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. They have a very cute and cozy dining area and a garden patio. The staff are very friendly and helpful. We ordered "Ping Gai", which included grilled chicken, rice, salad and broth; highly recommended. The "Beefeater Burger" was perfectly cooked and seasoned and more than enough for one person. "Chicken & Shrimp Bah Me Hang" was very delicious and had a kick to it. We finished off our delicious meal with "Cappuccino Chiffon Cake".

    Hrishi D.

    Visited for XMas lunch with co-workers. I highly recommend it! Everything is properly seasoned, healthy, and freshly prepared. The pad Thai and curry was both very flavourful. For the price you're paying, you get a huge portion compared to other restaurants.

    Khao Soy Hai
    Celton M.

    After walking down Queen a west recently, having walked down Queen West since I was a kid, it's disappointing to see the gentrification and condos replacing old buildings. I was surprised that I had never been into Queen Mother, and it nice to see some old establishments are still kicking. While the food didn't feel like the best Thai food I've ever had, the ambience and servers made up for in hospitality and character. I would definitely go back for a cozy meal in our harsh city.

    Pad Thai
    Janice R.

    Good food and great customer service. I recently visited Queen Mother Cafe and my experience was pleasant. The ambiance is great, we sat on the patio and the actual restaurant is very large and spacious. We ordered the pad Thai and the seafood hotpot curry which were both flavourful. Great spot for lunch or dinner!

    chicken samosa
    Tiffany W.

    Came here for lunch after having this spot on my list for ages. Their menu is very intriguing with classic western fare like burgers and salads but has lots of SE Asian items including Laotian dishes thanks to the long time Laotian chef. I tried the spicy chicken samosas and the ping gai. The samosas were hot and freshly fried, served with a fresh cucumber raita. I wish the filling had more body and spice since the raita really mellowed out the flavours. The ping gai was what I was most curious about and it was marinated in a beautiful green marinade with fresh notes of coriander. My personal preference would be to have a more allicin garlicky punch. The dipping sauce it's served with is excellent. My only objective complaint is that one end of my chicken was burnt which I wish they had removed (see pic). My friends spicy peanut noodle bowl had overcooked broken up noodles but good flavours. Portions are great. Staff are friendly and the location is buzzing with energy. They accept reservations.

    khao soy gai
    Jason M.

    Came here for a colleague's farewell party. The vibe is cozy and there's more room at each booth due to the floor plan nature. So I've got a friend who's actually laotian and I've also eaten my fair share of thai food. This menu is very fusion-y (if you can call it that?) There's thai dishes, laotian dishes, italian dishes, sri lankan dishes and then BURGERS all of a sudden?? LOL. Anyways, service was great at the start when all of us arrived. Once the waitress got us our drinks and took our orders, it took like a good 45min to an hour for the food to finally come out. We saw folks around us who ordered after us, getting their food first which was disappointing. The waitress also came around once in a blue moon but she was magically super nice and attentive once we asked for the tab. Food-wise, I can't say it tasted bad. The chicken in the ping gai was actually super tender and moist. The khao soy gai was made w/ the wrong noodles (I'm not a stickler for authenticity but these noodles were strange for the soup base that was used). It's traditionally a thai dish. I took a picture and sent it to my laotian friend who also confirmed that the wrong noodles were being used. Aside from that, the portion size was quite big. Drinks were quite tasty and interesting, although at equal price point I'd much rather go to King Taps or Craft Beer Market. TL;DR: Fusion food (that's avg), expensive pricing, satisfactory drinks, mediocre service. Would I return on my own? Probably not, unless someone else chose it.

    I got their dinner special of the week, Hahnchen Schnitzel!
    Angeline T.

    It's official, I'm in love with @queenmothercafe  Didn't know what to expect my first time here, I went in with really low expectations & to my surprise I LOVED it. I got their dinner special of the week, Hahnchen Schnitzel , a little dry but love the breading on it. Their potatoes are my Fav! Whatever spices they put on it, you're doing the right thing also the amount of veggies on their dish, please continue Then I got their famous dish, Ping Gai. Damn this grilled chicken is softer than my heart, I LOVE every bite of it. 6 FAT slices of chicken, who am I to say no to that?! For apps, we got the Calamari, I have to say this might be one of the best in Toronto Anyways, love the vibe. Pretty busy on the weekdays so y'know it's good. Will come back again 5 stars for me

    Khao soy
    Karen K.

    First time trying Queen Mother Cafe, and we had a great time. It's a low key spot with a spacious outdoor patio and friendly servers! I love spots like these where you can find a selection of food, drinks and an easy going atmosphere. Fun fact, the cafe has been open since 1978 and we found that out at the end of our receipts, making it part of the Toronto culture! I liked the variety on the menu, we tried the Khao soy and the chicken/potato samosas both of which were really good. The noodles for the Khao soy was a little different from the traditional thicker noodles im use to, it was more ramen style, but it was still good, and the curry very flavorful - my friend actually took the carrots on the side of the samosas to finish the curry with. There was enough filling in the samosas (not just crust) and it went well with the dip. I'm really glad we came and we'll definitely be back for more!

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    555 Boat Noodles

    555 Boat Noodles

    4.3(50 reviews)
    1.5 kmDowntown Core

    Located inside a cute Thai market and ended up being one of my favorite meals. We came on a Friday…read morenight and it wasn't too busy, so we were seated right away. The restaurant has a lot of smaller tables, making it feel cozy, and the service was super friendly. I ordered the dry boat noodles with egg noodles and they were so good. The side of broth was absolutely amazing and honestly one of the best parts of the meal. Rich, flavorful, and so comforting. I kept alternating between bites of noodles and sips of broth. There was chili oil on the table, and I definitely got a little carried away. It was seriously spicy, but somehow I couldn't stop eating. My mouth was on fire, but every bite made me want another. Even after leaving, I kept thinking about those noodles. I also liked that there are several noodle options to choose from depending on what texture you're craving. Between the delicious food, great broth, and kind service, this is definitely a spot I'd come back to again.

    When this place first opened up, I saw lots of videos about it on social media. After that, my…read morefriend tried it and raved about it very much and so we went. The noodle soups caught my attention so I got tom yum seafood noodles. Happy with the amount of seafood there was in the bowl. I was so surprised at how rich the broth was like wow. It got to the point where I was slurping and choked a few times that left my throat burning a bit haha. I like that they offer two sizes and condiments on the side as well. Service was higher than standard. I like the other things this restaurant offers by the entrance. I also got a Thai inhaler stick there and it works like a charm.

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    555 Boat Noodles
    555 Boat Noodles - Coconut Custard

    Coconut Custard

    555 Boat Noodles

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    Lao Lao Bar - Mango with pandan sticky rice

    Lao Lao Bar

    4.3(165 reviews)
    1.7 kmDowntown Core

    I'm definitely coming back here!…read more We ordered the Tapioca dumplings, the beef messemen curry, and the mango and purple sticky rice. Wow! It was all so tasty. The tapioca dumplings are unlike anything I've tasted before. They serve it with a side of lettuce, mint and peanuts. I liked the dumplings better without the sides they served! The lettuce and other add ons dim the flavors of the dumplings. So I prefer just eating the dumplings straight on. The Messemen curry was so flavorful and the beef was so tender! I'm a big fan. If you're a fan of Thai curries then you'll definitely like this! The Mango purple sticky rice dessert was also really tasty! It had a tasty coconut sorbet and it all went really well together. Service was good, food came out quickly, vibes were good. No complaints here!

    Having visited Lao Lao before, I had the perfect excuse to return: catching up with dear friends I…read morehadn't seen in quite some time. Unfortunately, the day took an unexpected turn when I had to go to the hospital, and for a while I thought I wouldn't make it at all. As a testament to both the kindness of my friends and the exceptional staff at Lao Lao, they were able to accommodate us even though I arrived nearly two hours late on a busy Saturday evening. Originally, our table was only reserved until 8:00 p.m.--the exact time I finally arrived. Thankfully, with the help of our incredible server, Savanna N., everything worked out. Her professionalism, warmth, and willingness to help truly made the evening possible. More than anything, I hoped the wait would be worthwhile for my friends, who were visiting for the first time. I'm happy to say they absolutely loved it--especially the outstanding hospitality and customer service. A huge thank you to Savanna and the entire team for making us feel so welcome. As for the food, every dish was delicious. Nothing disappointed. The papaya salad was such a hit that we ordered it twice. The Beef Massaman Curry, Crispy Lao Spiced Chips, Banana Leaf Steamed Fish, and the seasonal Vermicelli Noodle in Chicken Coconut Red Curry were all exceptional. Although it had been about a year since my last visit, I was delighted to see that Lao Lao remains consistently excellent in its food, quality, and service. Bravo!

    Photos
    Lao Lao Bar - Main dining room

    Main dining room

    Lao Lao Bar - Green Papaya fritters. Must order.

    Green Papaya fritters. Must order.

    Lao Lao Bar - Cocktail and glass of Cabernet Sauvignon

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    Cocktail and glass of Cabernet Sauvignon

    Koh Lipe - Pad thai

    Koh Lipe

    4.1(394 reviews)
    0.7 kmDowntown Core
    $$

    A bit on the pricier end, but the food was great so I can't complain!…read more The gai lan with pork belly was my favorite! It was garlicky and the pork belly was still crispy. I would probably try the tofu option next time though as the pork belly was a bit too heavy/fatty for me. Not pictured, but we also got a lychee lime juice which was refreshing and not too sweet. It had a very natural and not artificial lychee flavor which stood out to me. Our server was also super friendly and attentive. He was quick to collect our food ordef and it also came out in a timely manner. He also checked in on us regularly. We had a reservation so we did not have an issue with the wait. If you're in a time crunch I would definitely consider making a res.

    Went here for a quick lunch yesterday, and as always, this place is cute and delicious! Hadn't…read morebeen in awhile, grateful to return! Sat on the patio since the sun was shining and good moods all around! We got there juuuuuust before the lunchtime crowd started. It does get busy, small line ups at time. We kept it simple and ordered Pad See Ew and a chicken curry (spicy) The Pad See Ew was order with tofu and it was yummy. The noodles were the perfect chewy, the sauce was an instant love of umami goodness The chicken curry was flavourful and spicy and trust, there were lots of chicken in it. Service was quick and friendly, the food - fabulous, the atmosphere was fun. Can see why several years awards a Michelin star.

    Photos
    Koh Lipe - Hanging fish in the interior.

    Hanging fish in the interior.

    Koh Lipe - Luok Jhim  (Steamed Shrimp, Mussels, Squid & Fish with Chili Lime Saucehttps://www.instagram.com/the.wanderin.foodie/)

    Luok Jhim (Steamed Shrimp, Mussels, Squid & Fish with Chili Lime Saucehttps://www.instagram.com/the.wanderin.foodie/)

    Koh Lipe

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    Som Tum Jinda - Tum Mae Jeab

    Som Tum Jinda

    4.3(91 reviews)
    1.4 kmDowntown Core

    So busy on a Thursday! Not a big place but filled with people. Their known for their papaya salads…read moreand get ready for some heat! Lol Food is good here. But when it gets busy, service is lacking.

    We made a reservation for a weekday lunch. The restaurant was busy but not packed…read more I definitely recommend ordering to share rather than eating only one of something. I found the dishes to be quite heavy-handed on the seasoning (borderline too salty), so the variety helps. Panang Curry - very flavorful, slightly sweet, and very savory. Had a nice kick to it! Som Tum Tod (fried papaya salad) - ordered it because it was their signature but I thought it was too salty and crunchy. And I got kind of tired of the fried aspect of it. Wished I ordered the fresh papaya salad instead. The heat and garlic is nice though. Decently sized portion so you can share it with the whole table. Pad Woonsen Cha-Om (Minced Pork & glass noodle, egg, garlic and acacia leaves) - my first time trying this dish! It was really good! It kind of filled the role of "fried rice" to me, mellowing out all of the stronger flavours of the other dishes. Still quite flavourful on its own too. Felt like a Thai-spin on the Korean dish, Japchae. Kai Yang (grilled chicken) - oh my gosh the sauce this chicken comes with is TO DIE FOR. I want to buy it or learn how to make it. It's so fragrant, fresh, spicy, aromatic, and just the right amount of fishy and acidic. We were very full sharing these 4 dishes between 3 people. For the fact that this is Michelin Bib Gourmand, I think it is well-priced and a great place to try!

    Photos
    Som Tum Jinda - Interior

    Interior

    Som Tum Jinda - Fried frog legs

    Fried frog legs

    Som Tum Jinda - Mango mojito

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    Mango mojito

    Queen Mother Cafe - asianfusion - Updated September 2026

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