Here are my picks for the top Thai restaurants in Toronto by neighbourhood.
See also: The Best Thai Restaurants in Toronto
ANNEX
The street style pad thai at Real Thailand on Bloor is respectable, but there's so much more worthwhile stuff to try. Not sure where to start? Hit up the lunch buffet for a thorough sampling.
AVENUE & LAWRENCE
Thai One On has locations across the city but really shines in this neighbourhood. Primarily operating as a takeout and delivery joint, count on this place for generous portions of lemongrass soup and red curry chicken.
BAYVIEW & LEASIDE
Satay skewers, cold rolls, oodles of noodles, and rich curries are all on the menu at Satay on the Road.
BEACHES
Fill up on steaming bowls of tom yum soup, slurp up the pad thai, and smother an order of rice in curry at Thai House Cuisine on Queen East.
BLOOR WEST VILLAGE
Peppery sauteed shrimp (goong haw) and rich golden curries (kang leung kai) are among the many favourites at Simply Thai. Be sure to save room for dessert because sticky rice with fresh mango is on the menu.
Crank up the spice level as you like at Khao San Road where signature dishes include pad gra prao and golden curried khao soi.
CHURCH & WELLESLEY
Just Thai is an offshoot of The Friendly Thai with a menu that lists a range of popular dishes like basil beef and tofu goreng. Now if only they'd stay true to their name and lose the pan-Asian menu items like the General Tao chicken.
THE DANFORTH
The Family Thai is a local favourite for Thai and Malay dishes. The keang khtao wan nuer, a green curry beef and eggplant dish, is a must.
DON MILLS
Linda Modern Thai enjoys Thai Select status, meaning that it upholds authentic traditions of Thai cuisine while offering outstanding service in a great atmosphere. That doesn't mean Linda doesn't know how to have fun in the kitchen, though: just look at the Thai soft tacos loaded with chicken, puffed rice, tom yum sauce, and sour cream.
The Sukhothai at this location boasts ample seating and a totally date-worthy atmosphere. Aside from the usual lineup of pad thai and curries find highlights on the menu including nua gra teaum, a stir-fry of beef served with fried egg, cucumbers and rice.
EAST YORK
At lunch hour it's hard to beat the value of Eathai's $6 pad thai special. At any other time of day, try the basil chicken with rice topped with a fried egg or the tangy papaya salad garnished with pork crackling.
EGLINTON WEST
Fresh herbs and an interplay of sour, sweet, salty, bitter and spicy flavours are what Royal Elephant prides itself on. The pad woon sen is a perfect example featuring stir-fried bean noodles paired with a choice of protein, egg, mushroom and vegetables.
ETOBICOKE
Nimman on Lake Shore does a top notch pad thai. Go traditional or opt for the pad thai hor kai , an authentic stir-fry of rice vermicelli with sliced chicken, jumbo prawns, eggs, bean sprouts, and sour turnip, all tossed in tamarind sauce, crab oil, and coconut milk.
FINANCIAL DISTRICT
Sukhothai on Wellington offers the same delicious dishes you know and love from the other locations, but in a sophisticated setting. Find a well-heeled clientele populating tables at lunch slurping up the "Sukh'ed up" version of pad thai.
KING EAST
Chef Sasi is the acclaimed mastermind behind Mengrai Thai, and her renowned dishes include a red curry chicken with lychee along with braised curry lamb, and curried pumpkin soup.
KING WEST
Coco Rice offers an expansive menu that covers wok-fried specialties, noodles, soups, and curries. There's even an abundance of rice styles (coconut, jasmine, sticky, or brown) as well as a dedicated vegan menu.
Baan Thai is a neighbourhood gem run by a Thai family. Dishes like the som tum, a spicy green papaya salad with dried shrimp and chilis, and the Thai omelet with rice are not to be missed.
JUNCTION TRIANGLE
While Thai Lime does brisk business in takeout and delivery orders, it's not a bad spot to sit back with a Singha and couple cold rice paper rolls. Family sized combos offer excellent value and four can dine on spring rolls, mango salad, pad thai, basil beef, ginger chicken, and mixed veg for less than $50.
LIBERTY VILLAGE
Thai Room must be doing something right, as the local chain continues to expand throughout the GTA and has recently landed in this condo-heavy neighbourhood. Dine in to enjoy the contemporary setting and popular dishes like curry pad thai and ginger chicken.
Soi Thai brings a taste of Thailand's vibrant marketplaces to Little Italy. You won't find pad thai or curry on the menu, but look forward to skewered meats, Thai-style ceviches, and cold grilled pork salads spiked with chilis.
REGENT PARK
The original Sukhothai serves up Northern Thai-influenced dishes for eat in or takeout. When ordering dishes like guaytiaw (noodle soup), expect complex flavours and some serious sweat-inducing heat.
RONCESVALLES
Thai Chef Cuisine is an excellent source to get your fill of deep-fried tofu with taro, hot and sour soup, and pad woon sen, glass noodle with shrimp, chicken, wood mushrooms and egg.
ROSEDALE
Sawasdee serves up regional dishes from northern Thailand including house specialties like the soya sauce flavoured pad see ew and creamy coconut curry, khao soi.
SCARBOROUGH
Jatujak is named after Bangkok's largest weekend market and deals in Thai street foods. Try the gaeng karee, a golden curry with potatoes and deep fried onions cooked to order with a choice of protein over steamed jasmine rice.
ST. CLAIR WEST
The guay tiew (noodle soups) at Thai Noodle on Vaughan Rd. are the real deal. The menu bills aromatic broths loaded with combinations of crispy BBQ pork, sprouts, and blood cake, or fishballs, ground peanuts, and wontons.
Nana is a Thai canteen that channels the boisterous street food culture of Bangkok. Try the boat noodle soup thickened with beef blood and crowned with meatballs, both braised and sliced thin.
YONGE & DUNDAS
Thai comfort foods served tapas-style are the speciality of Sabai Sabai. The menu boasts bar foods like squash fritters, stir fried morning glory, and pork rib noodle soup, plus lesser-known dishes like fish curry custard.
YONGE & EGLINTON
Start with the crispy fried rolls and tangy mango salad at Sorn Thai before moving on to a standard assortment of curries, stir-fries and noodle dishes.
YONGE & LAWRENCE
Solve weekday dinner dielemas with takeout from Joy Thai. Should you choose to dine in, expect a no frills kind of atmosphere that'll nevertheless satisfy cravings for curry and pad thai in a pinch.
YORKVILLE
Bua Thai on Avenue Road is a solid spot for fish sauce-laced fare. Skip the usual suspects and opt for a whole fish preparation or the pad khee mao, a basil scented broad noodle stir fry.
What did I miss? Disagree with my selections in the comments.
Lead photo from Nana
by Liora Ipsum via blogTO
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