Pai - Northern Thai Kitchen

Pai is a special place if you want to be transported to the south east Asia on a whim, and walk into a love story. It's always been consistent, beautiful, delicious, and romantic. What else do we want from a restaurant, and honestly what else do we want out of life, for real though? I have been visiting this place for quite a few years. In fact, I went on a taste-test spree to try all Thai places in the downtown Toronto area - and Pai was the bestest.

Last week we went to visit Pai once again - and truthfully it makes me so happy simply thinking about going there. First off when you walk into a small (almost unmarked) door way, there's immediately a lineup (most days) down the stairs. No matter, the wait is not that long as the restaurant is actually huge and has many rooms. As you take in the crowd, look to your right, and here is where the love story begins: A picture wall detailing how the owner/chefs met. Can anything be sweeter than this? They brought Pai from Thailand to Toronto!

Once you give your name to the host, you are free to wait by the side, where the bar is. Get a drink, relax, and let the tropical wave wash over your senses. On the coldest nights of Toronto in January, Pai provides a quick get-away to the sandy beaches and closer to the equator. Coconut water tastes better there, fishbowl drinks taste better, and beer tastes better.

Usually in 15-20 minutes we are able to score some seats. There are a lot of space, if you don't mind the bar or sharing a table - it's quite fast. While the front room is great, and they have this secret, private party room too so if you want to host a birthday party - that's the place you would get. My favorite seats are around the back, where there are umbrellas, food stalls, wooden tables and colorful cushions are.

Favorite foods:
1) KUNG TAWT/Garlic shrimp: I thought this was coconut shrimp but they are apparently garlic shrimps. oh, my gawd they are massive, served with tamarind spicy sauce for dipping. These are just like when I got them in Thailand on the beach stalls with my toes in the sand. Phenomenal dish. Oh if you are wondering what else I have there, well it's a pint of Unibroue Saison - it was on draft, so don't mind if I do.


2) Pad Cha Hett: it's stir fried king mushrooms, snow peas, carrots, on top of rice berries. the flavor is really good and it's a vegan dish. Rice berries really just tasted like rices, a bit rougher on texture and they are purple. More fun with this colored rice rather than white rice ofcourse.

3) Khao Soi: with curried soup base, noodles, chucks of chicken or beef, and fried egg noodles on top. The Khao soi here has to be one of Pai's best things on the menu. Creamy, saucy, spicy (since I like spice) - It's just perfect. My favorite is with beef piece. They give generous amount of meat and cooked to perfect tenderness. and you also get some pickles, lime and hot sauce (if it's no spicy enough) to go with this dish. You have to try this out.


There are a lot of other things on the menu aside than what I recommended. I just told you my favorite ones. To see their whole list of curries and pad thai's too, check out the full menu on their website: http://www.paitoronto.com/

Bonus note: 1) For 12$ you can get a huge personal pitcher (1 liter) of sapporo on selective nights - so if you are really thirsty it's not a bad deal. 2) For a friend's birthday - we went another time with 20 people. At that point, you don't even get to order, everything is served family style. Food just continue to come out and fill the table. You would get a bite of everything, from squash fritters (those are so addictive), to different types of curries whether you like green panang or masaman curry. and oh, many sticky rice ofcourse. 3) There is also a "market" type of set up during week day day-time - I have yet to check that out.

Pai is one of my favorite things in the city. But don't take my word for it, you just need to see for yourself. Actually maybe we'll even run into each other there, really soon.