Whenever work brings me downtown during the day, I take the opportunity to eat out for lunch. Downtown Toronto is full of great, low-priced lunch options scattered in basement food courts. Kaiju resides in one such food court, underneath a giant Bed Bath & Beyond, the small food court only has occupants for half the space and the seats still look newly installed.

Kaiju was a little hard to find. I got lost and was worried my lunch hour would have to be cut short. A few panicked texts to The Fiance set me back on the right track. Despite the non-descript location, Kaiju had a steady stream of customers while I enjoyed my lunch tray.

Being a food court, service was minimal. The booth was clean and the menu was displayed overhead. I placed my order, credit cards were accepted and was directed to take a seat. I sat near the counter so when my meal was ready, I picked it up myself. For customers that sat farther away, the lady working the counter walked the trays to them, a nice touch.

Kaiju’s menu was straight forward and included a few fusion dishes. I was there for the curry. With each curry order, you basically choose your protein, and it’s served with rice and a salad. I ordered the Chicken Katsu Curry, which came with a scoop of coleslaw. The chicken was beaten thin, lightly battered and very crispy. I did find the meat a little stringy, because of how flattened it was. Kaiju’s curry is homemade and slow cooked for 2 days. The rich, gravy like sauce was delectable. Smooth, thick and the definition of comfort. I would have liked a little more heat, but it was still amazing. There is the option of ordering just rice and curry sauce, so so tempting.

With a tapas style menu developed by Chef Nuit (Khao San Road and Pai Northern), a cozy decor and spiked Thai Iced Tea on the menu, Sabai Sabai had all the ingredients for a great meal. My best friend and I stopped by on a chilly night before catching Hamlet at the Winter Theatre. We didn’t make reservations but arrived as doors opened and were able to get a table.

Atmosphere: Tucked away on Church street, Sabai Sabai was a casual, comfortable restaurant with dim lighting and tightly knit tables. A large bar dominated the front of the restaurant, across a wall of booth seats. There were only a few tables that could accompany big groups and most were reserved.

Service: My one issue was how small the table for two was. At one point, we were trying to fit 3 dishes, a bowl of rice, two drinks, water glasses and plates to eat off of. It was Tetris on hard mode and we already had to finish off our appetizer quickly to make room. Our server was helpful and clearly ran into this challenge regularly as she was prepared by moving the centrepiece and clearing empty dishes with speed. She was also friendly, and knowledgeable of the menu. Each dish arrived quickly with our “mains” together.

Food: If Chef Nuit’s squash fritters are on the menu, I can’t say no to them. Sabai Sabai’s rendition did not disappoint. We started with a plate of the crispy, deep fried goodness while I sipped a Thai Iced Tea. My friend opted for the rum spiked version, Sailor’s Delight, which was a great addition. I would’ve ordered the same, if I wasn’t worried about sleeping through the first act of Hamlet (I still dozed off…a bit).

To share, we ordered Fish Penang Curry, Eggplant Stir Fry and Lao Minced Pork Salad. The curry was rich, grainy and the fish fillets tender. There was more flavour than heat. A few more chilis would have made the curry even better for me. The eggplant stir fry was heavy with Thai basil and each medallion cooked until soft, a tasty vegetarian option. For both these dishes, I only wished there was more. My favourite menu item was the salad, that was served more like a lettuce wrap. The filling was full of fresh herbs, lime juice and just a kick of flavour with each bite. I liked the pairing with the crisp, clean taste of iceberg lettuce, which highlighted the seasoning of the ground pork even more so.

Dessert changes by the week and that night it was an egg custard on sticky rice. I had my heart set on mango sticky rice, so the custard didn’t quite hit the spot. It had a soft, airy, tofu life texture and was lightly sweet. Tasty, but not mango.

Kinnaree Thai in Scarborough has been around for a couple of years offering authentic Northern Thai cuisine. Recently, the restaurant ran a set dinner and I was invited to take part. The 8 course meal was rich in flavour and did not shy away from spice.

Disclaimer: All drinks and dishes were provided free of charge by the restaurant. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

That night’s menu consisted of:
3 Appetizers
Shrimp Chips & Peanut Sauce
Mango Salad
Crab Rang Goon
4 Entrees served /w steamed rice
Red Curry Chicken with Pineapples & Lychee
Spicy Chicken
Ginger Tofu Vegetarian Stir Fry
Beef Pad See Ew
& Dessert
Coconut soup and squash

Of the appetizers, my favourite dish was the two kinds of shrimp crackers, followed by the fresh mango salad. This was my first time having the darker cracker variation and they were really tasty, thinner, denser and had more shrimp flavour. Of course the great peanut sauce also contributed to me eating the entire basket. The mango salad was tart, sweet, and had nice amount of fish sauce and cilantro – a solid dish. I liked the filling of the crab rang goon, but the wrapper wasn’t crispy.

Between the four entrees, it was hard to pick a top item. The red curry wins by a hair over the spicy chicken. Both dishes used coconut milk and was full of spice. The red curry didn’t have much heat but was very seasoned, while the spicy chicken was hot. Not armageddon wing hot, but the room started to get warm. This is a great dish for those looking for an authentic Thai dish that doesn’t hold back with the chillies. Every bite was delicious and you get used to the burning. The Ginger Tofu stir fry was also a standard dish and a nice vegetarian option. The Beef Pad See Ew had great wok air and the noodles were chewy and didn’t clump together.

Asian desserts aren’t my favourite and I’m not a huge fan of coconut. Despite that and how full I was, I enjoyed the dessert at Kinnaree Thai. The coconut soup was lightly sweet and the squash was an interesting addition to the glutinous rice ball.

Overall, the food at Kinnaree Thai was satisfying, rustic and felt true to the cuisine. With lunch combos, take-out and delivery options, if you’re nearby with a craving for Thai food, Kinnaree Thai would be a good bet.

Funny enough, the first time I heard of Pai was after eating at Khao San Road in June. I was walking to the TTC station with my friend and we noticed a large store sign, which read Pai, outside stairs that led to a basement restaurant. Fast beat music was playing and we both remarked that the restaurant looked hip and happening. The restaurant had just opened, there was no line yet and I had no idea Pai was the next venture from Chef Nuit.

Atmosphere: Located in the basement of a building on Duncan St., Pai is darkly lit with loud music and tightly packed tables. When I did get a chance to stop by for dinner a month later, the place was already packed at 6pm on a Wednesday. We were lucky to have grabbed the last table before a line formed, snaking up the stairs. Energy was high and diners seemed excited. A small patio was set up outside the restaurant, fully equipped with speakers to carry the music from inside.

Service: While friendly, there were still a few wrinkles with the service to be ironed out. My dining date had ordered a tea when she was first seated (to wait for me, because I was late, oops) and didn’t get it until after I had arrived and we had placed orders. Getting our bill was also a slow process but overall, service was fine for a busy restaurant, not overwhelming or detrimental.

Food: Reading about Pai, I was eager to try something new. I’m not familiar with the subtleties of Thai food as it ranges from region to region and was excited to examine the menu. Thus, while I was happy to see favourites from Chef Nuit’s previous ventures like Khao Soi and my favourite squash fritters, I would have also enjoyed a completely new menu. As is, I couldn’t help myself from ordering a Thai Iced Tea and a plate of Grabong, squash fritters.

The Grabong did not disappoint, and was just as good, if not better than the same dish at Khao San Road. Portions were, again, large and I was full before my main had arrived. I ordered the Gaeng Massaman Nua, a peanut, tamarind curry with braised beef and potatoes. The rich, savoury curry was full of tender chunks of beef and potatoes, served in a heavy clay pot. I chose the “spicy” spice level and while there was heat, it wasn’t taste bud scorching, just an added bonus depth of flavour. It was a comforting and filling dish, the kind I would crave after a long day or in the middle of winter (with the spice turned up more).

My dinner companion had the Gaeng Sam Kung, a spicy and sour curry with vegetables, papaya and shrimp. This dish was very refreshing, had a strong sour flavour, which I really enjoyed and was a lighter curry. The texture of the curry soup was like broth and clear. I would love to try this dish myself next time and it was a more fitting summer choice.

I’m looking forward to my next visit and exploring the rest of the menu.

Last month, I finally braved the line at Khao San Road for dinner. I was catching up with a vegetarian friend and I loved that their vegan menu closely resembled their regular one. The restaurant opens at 5pm for dinner, we arrived at 5:30pm and there was already a line outside.

Atmosphere: While not loud, the noise level inside Khao San Road was boisterous. My friend and I were lucky to get a table for two as many of the tables were being shared between groups of diners. Lighting inside was dim but I liked the open store front that streamed in fresh air and sunlight. The feel was casual and relaxed.

Service: Our server was efficient and professional. She didn’t smile but as she took our order she advised us to forgo the egg noodle topping on the Khao Soi to make the dish vegan. When the Fresh Rolls arrived, I was super impressed with the tasty chicken substitute. Turns out, that was the non-vegetarian version of the dish (oops). Our server noticed right away, exchanged the dish and took it off of our bill.

Food: We started our meal with two Thai Iced Teas. The drinks were rich, creamy, made with condensed milk and served in a tall glass. Really a must order. For starters, we ordered the fresh rolls and squash fritters . To be honest, the non vegetarian version of the fresh rolls (pictured) were a lot tastier. Both used thin rice wrapper and fresh vegetables, but I liked the savoury richness of the chicken sausage. The vegetarian version replaces the sausage with more lettuce, no meat substitute. Either way, the chlli tamarind sauce was a great dipping sauce, tangy, sweet and a hint of spice.

The squash fritters were amazing. To start, I was awed by the portion size and then each crispy bite was like heaven. The squash was wonderfully sweet, the batter crispy and another great dipping sauce. I would’ve been happy with this dish alone as dinner and was pretty full before our entrees even arrived. Basically, this is another must order dish.

We ordered two mains to split between the two of us and ended up taking 80% of them home. I chose the Three Flavours Pad Thai and my friend picked the Vegan Khao Soi. The pad thai had heat, but it was so good that I kept eating and eventually my tongue and lips adjusted to being on fire. The texture of the noodle was great, sticky but not stuck together and fully incorporated with the other ingredients. Flavours were strong and rich. I could really taste the tamarind. Compared to the pad thai I had at Sukho Thai, I preferred this plate more. Similarly, the Khao Soi curry had powerful flavours. The tofu pieces were plentiful and I loved the thick, even consistency of the curry. Without the crispy egg noodles, we didn’t have any carbs to soak up the curry. I would’ve loved a bowl of rice alongside to soak up the golden goodness.

Located on the first floor of an industrial like building in Richmond Hill, Green Lemon Grass is one of those restaurants that you’ll only find by word of mouth. The building has sign naming it “Richlane Mall” and the first floor is occupied with restaurants that are a step above food court with private dining areas and store fronts.

This was my second visit to Lemon Grass and the food is consistent. The BF and I split a small House Special Pho and a Curry Goat Brisket Roti. While ordering the pho the server asked if we’d like our bean sprouts cooked or raw, which was nice to have a choice. The pho arrived piping hot with the rare beef still pink and fresh. A minute in the broth and the beef was perfect. Toppings also included tripe, beef balls and tendon. The broth itself was tasty but not as savoury and a bit flat compared to Pho Dau Bo’s. I was still pretty full from a late lunch that day so only had a few bites of the curry. What I did taste was rich with just a touch of spice. The curry also wasn’t overly salty and the roti held up to generous scoops of sauce. The goat brisket was lean and tender. There is a reason we keep ordering this dish. I might be in the minority but I loved that they had potatoes in the curry. My taste buds enjoy a good piece of curried potato or carrot as much as any protein. I was expecting to be thirsty after the meal and was pleasantly surprised.

Service was minimal since we knew what we wanted to order. Our food arrived hot from the kitchen, pho first, followed with the bowl of curry and plate of roti. Utensils, sauces and small rice bowls are set up on each table so you’re pretty self-sufficient once the food arrives. I asked for an empty bigger bowl to split the pho and that was provided. Note that there is an additional charge of $0.50 per take out container.

Ever since my blog post about ramen in Toronto, the BF and I have been craving a good bowl of noodles. Two weeks ago, we were actually out of the door and almost at the subway before I remembered Sansotei was closed on Sundays. So last weekend we headed over to Niwatei in J-Town, which was on the way before starting our weekend errands.

Atmosphere: It seems like Niwatei has moved recently from their own store to a shared location with Green Grotto Cafe. The space feels very incomplete with a half painted wall mural and there’s little to differentiate the two restaurants. Many patrons walked through “Niwatei” to find a table for Green Grotto Cafe. Tables were set up at the entrance selling pretty bowls, teapots and plates. It felt like a mix between a high school cafeteria and food court with table service. One of the walls is lined with hand drawn art featuring Niwatei’s animal mascots in various scenes.

Service: Our server let us chose any empty table, set out menus (the cutest menus ever) once we were seated and took good care of us throughout the meal. My water was consistently refilled, each course arrived quickly and was cleared before the next. I liked how she brought out two spoons for the BF and I to share dessert without me even asking.

Food: Looking at the menu, the ramen set options for $12.80 were a great deal. The sets are available only at dinner or on weekends and includes a bowl of ramen, a choice of a side dish and a dessert. Since both the BF and I were craving tonkotsu ramen, we decided to order one bowl and one set to taste the side and dessert. Out of the options, I chose the mini curry rice and chiffon cake. The plate of mini curry was ok, my favourite part was the chewy, pillowy, sweet sushi rice that was used. The curry was on the runnier side with small pieces of onion and carrots. It was good but wasn’t anything that couldn’t be achieved at home with cubes of Japanese curry seasoning.

Our bowls of noodles arrived piping hot and looked promising. Starting with the standard toppings, the egg was soft boiled but not marinated. I liked the fish cakes, scallions and pickled ginger but there was no bamboo. Corn and seaweed can be added at an additional charge. The two slices of chashu were buttery soft and well flavoured. The only downside was that there were only two small slices. The noodles had a great chewiness and curl, great for slurping. For me, the star of the ramen was the broth. The milky soup was rich and savoury, full of pork flavour but not salty. I drank every drop in the bowl, enjoyed each spoonful and didn’t have to guzzel water through the afternoon.

By this point my ramen craving had been well satiated and I had forgotten that there was still dessert to come. The arrival of the plate of chiffon cake and whipped cream was a happy surprise. The cake was airy, fluffy and lightly sweet, a great way to end the meal. If it’s available, I would recommend the cake over the standard ice cream choices.

The BF’s family discovered Restoran Malaysia about two years ago and have since added them to their regular restaurant catalogue.

Atmosphere: The interior of the restaurant featured  beautiful dark wood in both their furniture and decor. There were many rectangular tables that could easily be rearranged to fit  parties of all sizes. Colourful paintings were on display between the wood cabinets that lined the walls in the dining area. The space felt warm and also refined.

Service: Service on our visit was fairly standard. There were only a few servers working the floor that night, so it was necessary to get their attention if something was needed. Once they waved down, service was friendly albeit rushed. Each dish came out quickly and arrived with serving utensils.

Food: We ordered the Singapore Laksa, a lamb curry, fish penang curry, basil eggplant with chicken, pad thai and a side of roti. Each dish was shared tapas style. This is always my preferred method of dining, I am greedy and want to try everything. The portions were quite large, especially for the pad thai and there was a good amount of food for all the diners.

The laksa was creamy and so full in flavour. The noodles were thick and had a thick chewy texture. I’m unsure if I could finish an entire bowl myself with the rich soup but I would definitely try to and it is a must order to share. Of the two curries, the lamb edged slightly higher than the fish with a more gamey flavour and more heat. Also, the fish penang curry from Sukho Thai was still on my mind and had set the bar high. The eggplant dish was okay, it was a nice “vegetable” to round out the meal with lots of basil cooked into the dish and to garnish. The pad thai was also just okay, the noodles were cooked well and not stuck together but a little more heat would have added to the flavour.

Located in the First Markham place, Lemon Tree’s a classic “hole in the wall” restaurant offering authentic Thai and Malaysian fare. A permanent daily special menu is handwritten on the whiteboard, all under $10 and served with a cold drink.

On this visit, we ordered spring rolls to share, the fish panang curry pot, Kway Teow (Malaysian style fried rice noodles) and a side of roti. I liked how thin the skin of the spring rolls were and not greasy. The panang was rich and creamy with tender pieces of fried fish fillet. The dish is heavy. Eggplant and potatoes were cooked in with the curry and soaked up the flavour. I loved the soft potato wedges, almost more than the fish itself.

This was our first time ordering the rice noodles and were pleasantly surprised. The noodles had great “wok air” , a fragrant smokey flavour that can only be achieved using open fire and a wok. The noodles didn’t stick together and still had a firm texture. It was a dish we’d be happy to order again. Lemon Tree is a great option for a well priced meal and to leave well fed.

The location is not suitable for large groups. We had 16 people in total and were split between 3 tables. The max capacity of the restaurant is around 20-25 seats and fills up during meal times.

Sukho Thai was the venue of choice for a friend’s goodbye dinner last month. It fit our needs of having great food, being able to accommodate a large group and be reasonably priced.

Atmosphere: We went to Sukho Thai’s new location on Wellington and the interior was decorated beautifully with a great bar and plenty of dark wood. The elephant motif carried throughout the restaurant on the walls and in the frosted glass behind the bar. With the dark woods, intimate lighting and music the restaurant felt more on the dressed up side of casual or stop by before a night out dinner.

Service: Being a large group, everyone trickled in at different times and it took at least 30 minutes for our entire party to be seated. During this time, we were in no way rushed and our server was quick to check up on us and take drink orders as each new person was seated. Two servers took our food orders together and all of our entrees arrived within 5 minutes of each other. We were easily able to get split bills and everything was correct the first try. Really it was great night and great friendly service.

Food: My first time at a Thai restaurant, I always order the pad thai. Second visit, if the pad thai passes is almost always a curry or soup. Since the BF was willing to share, I got to try both that night.

My mom used to make shrimp chips at home when I was little but stopped and I rarely see it on restaurant menus in Toronto. So that dish was a must. I was surprised by the giant portion size. There were a good 20-30 chips and we passed it around our entire table. The chips were airy, not greasy and the sauce was amazing, they really were addictive and a great side dish to drink with.

The BF and I ordered the chicken pad thai and the fish panang curry to split. I liked the pad thai and I love that the tamarind sauce is homemade and no ketchup is used in the dish. The noodles were a great texture. I would’ve liked more bean sprouts and a spicier dish overall. A wedge of lemon would also have been a nice option to have. It was ok. I’d like to try the special “northern style” pad thai next time as it sounds to have more of a kick.

We both loved the panang and fought over each bite. Portions were on the smaller side but we could’ve eaten an entire pot so this may have been biased. The pieces of fish were tender, moist and wasn’t overpowered by the curry, which wasn’t too thick and full of flavour. Our friends across the table ordered the green curry of which I stole a few bites and also really liked. My preference was still our panang. Both curries were mild spice and a bit more heat would’ve only added to the flavours for me.