Khao San Road reopened last February in a new bigger, brighter 2 storey space and pretty much immediately a line formed outside. The first floor houses Khao San Road and tables are still as popular as ever. Upstairs houses a new bar from the owners, Bang Sue, that’s open later (until 2am) with a great cocktail and beer menu plus snacks. I say snacks but the food menu ranged from Shrimp Chips and Dip to Fried Chicken, all with a Thai inspired twist. It would be easy to enjoy a full meal at Bang Sue and I could see the bar being it’s own draw. The concept reminded me a lot of DaiLo and Lo Pan.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

The atmosphere at Bang Sue was lively and fun with lots of communal tables and a long bar. Cocktails ranged fro $10-$14 and included lots of Asian flair like coconut, chai tea syrup, ginger and chili. There was also a pretty great selection of craft beers. I enjoyed the Morning Glory Daiquiri and a glass of Shilow Beer Snob.

As for food, so good. We started with nibbles of Tom Yum Nuts and 4-Flavour Caramel Corn (sweet, sour, salty, and spicy). Both were strongly spiced and incredibly addictive, perfect accompaniment to cold glass of beer. Next was Bang Sue’s version of chips and dip, fried shrimp chips and a sweet, savoury chili relish. Shrimp chips by themselves are pretty tasty, paired with sweet, spicy relish, even better. Another one of my favourite beer downing dishes that night was the KSR Potato Salad, which reminded me of Hickory Sticks. Julienned potato was deep fried and seasoned with chili, herbs and fish sauce.

Moving on to more tangible fare,we tasted Spring Rolls, Steak Tartare, Chicken Satay, Pandan Chicken, a Pork Jowl dish and Fried Chicken. I really liked the crispy pork jowl, marinated and served with a tangy sauce, so much that I didn’t even get a chance to photograph it. Every dish had a great sauce that completed the dish.

Dessert was a coconut custard cake that I last ate in Laos, bringing back amazing memories with the authentic flavour and texture. At the time I visited, Bang Sue was also offering 3 Thai inspired gelato flavours in collaboration with Millie. If those are still on the menu, I’d highly recommend trying 1 (or all 3) of the flavours.

One year later and over a span of 8 months, I am finally finished blogging about Asia. My 5 week trip was filled with family, new adventures with The Hubby and of course, a lot of food. I’ve loved writing each post, re-living the memories and capturing my memories on paper (digitally). Travelling the world has always been a passion for me and I can’t wait to keep documenting and sharing my experiences.

We spent the last day of our trip exploring Bangkok and enjoying the street food. We had landed the afternoon before and enjoyed dinner at Nahm, ranked #37 on the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Located inside the Como Metropolitan hotel, the restaurant was modern and elegant. Tables were well spaced out providing privacy, perfect for a romantic evening. Although the dining area was dimly lit, a light over each table illuminated the food. Vases filled with large bouquets of fresh flowers decorated the room. Nahm was a completely different experience from Cuisine Wat Damnak, which also felt elegant but secluded and far more relaxed.

Our server was friendly and soft spoken. The Hubby and I decided to order the set menu, which meant choosing one dish from each section of the menu, which also meant a lot of questions for our patient server. Service was impeccable, I don’t think there was even a second when my water glass was less than half empty, this was key considering how spicy our meal turned out to be. In fact when The Maitre D’ stopped by to check on us, I was literally crying from how spicy a dish was. I gushed about how amazing our meal was as the tears kept flowing. He chuckled politely and chatted with use for a few minutes.

Ordering the set menu included a selection of canapes and then we could choose one dish per person from each section of the menu. It felt like the stream of dishes were endless and we were pleasantly full. Some of the dishes, especially the Hot and Sour soup (tears inducing) were deadly spicy. Dinner began 4 canapes featuring seasonal ingredients and strong Thai flavours like basil and lime. One canape had a slice of pineapple that was just ripe, wonderfully sweet and tart. Another was savoury fried pork with bean sprouts served on a delicate fried egg tortilla, a miniature Banh Xeo.

The next 4 courses were served together family style and included two relishes, two curries, two mains and two soups. We shared every dish except the soups, where I ordered the Hot and Sour Mushroom soup while The Hubby choose a coconut milk based one. In hindsight his choice was the smarter one, having a creamy dish to eat in between fiery bites of the curries and relishes. I was blown away by how fragrant each dish, with plenty of fresh herbs and spices. The relishes were sweet and savoury without being overpowering. I only wish I had a higher tolerance for spice. I think that would have made the meal even more enjoyable. As is, The Hubby and I couldn’t finish some of the dishes with our burning lips, tongues, mouths, everythings.

Dessert was a rice pudding with pandan and coconut pancakes like we had in laos. The rice pudding was phenomenal and a tasty salve for my burnt taste buds. Overall, dinner at Nahm was refined with a wide array of dishes and service was exquisite. I do wish the dishes were either more accessible or that we had ordered milder ones.

Chef Nuit has played a part in all of my favourite Thai restaurants in Toronto. From Sukho Thai to Pai, I’ve lined up for her Khao Soi around town for years. When I heard about a new Thai restaurant opening in Scarborough, with an ex-chef from Khao San Road, I was eager to queue up closer to home.

Atmosphere: Kub Khao was tiny, with 20 seats max. They typically don’t take reservations, but The Hubby somehow managed to reserve a table for 4 at 6:30pm. With the limited seating and most diners visiting to eat a full meal (aka not a fast churn rate), I would recommend visiting during off peak hours only or being prepared to grab take-out. One wall of the eatery was floor to ceiling glass, which meant when we visited at sunset and light streamed in, the seats facing west were blinded. The restaurant itself was cozy and compact with dark wood furniture and accents.

Service: During our visit, there was one hostess seating guests and answering calls, and one server. With the small number of tables, I wouldn’t say the server was over capacity but she was busy. Also, half of the diners seemed familiar with the menu and the rest had lots of questions, which meant some tables needed far more attention than others. Service was on a more “as-needed” basis rather than preemptive. Our server was friendly and efficient, but inconsistent. We weren’t given the option to customize the spice level of any dis, while the table next to us were. A few wrinkles to iron out, but nothing earth shattering.

Food: No meal would be complete without a creamy, rich, Thai iced tea. The drink at Kub Khao was spot on with a good balance between sweetness and the bitter, strong tea. For an appetizer, I ordered the papaya salad, that was refreshing and very spicy. This was the hottest dish of the evening and being first, I was worried about the remainder of the meal. Fortunately, this was the peak.

For mains, we ordered the Chicken Pad Thai, Roasted Duck Curry and Beef Khao Soi, with a side of coconut rice. I really enjoyed the taste of the pad thai, which didn’t have a hint of ketchup. The noodles had a chewy texture, a touch of sweetness and strong nutty flavours. A touch more heat would’ve made the dish even better.

My favourite entree was the Duck Curry, that was savoury, spicy, coconutty and sweet from the lychee. No one fought over the pieces of roast duck, instead we all vied for the whole lychees, soaked in curry. The fruity flavour complimented the heat and spice of the dish perfectly. Another thing I loved about the curry was the strong aroma of basil. A bowl of steamed rice was served with the curry. Our order of coconut rice turned out to be a palm sized mound meant for one person. Although delicious, priced at $2.95, I’m unsure of the value.

The Khao Soi from Kub Khao was rich and packed with rice noodles. Topped with crunchy egg noodles, each spoonful of the curry had a variety of textures and flavour. I did find this dish on the sweet side and again, would’ve liked a touch more heat. Relative to other Khao Soi dishes I’ve tried, this version was comparable.

Overall, I see myself returning to Kub Khao often in the future. While enjoying a sit down meal at the small eatery may be challenging, I’m excited for the take-out and delivery options available.

In June 2015, The Hubby and I traveled for 5 weeks through 8 different countries, exploring historic sites, taking in breathtaking views, and indulging in delicious local cuisines. So delicious and indulgent, that I gained a pound per country, souvenirs that I still carry with me today. The last stop on our journey was 36 packed hours in Bangkok. Landing in the afternoon, I had booked dinner at Nahm our first night. We then had 24 solid hours to tour the city before flying out early the next morning.

To help streamline our time, we booked a private tour guide for the day and joined a food tour that night. I had first read about Bangkok Food Tours on the Tiny Urban Kitchen blog and their Yaowarat Street Food Tour (Chinatown) fit our itinerary perfectly. I also contemplated the Midnight Tour by Tuk Tuk, but was worried about catching our morning flight the next day. If I had more time in Bangkok, I would have definitely tried the full day Floating Market tour. Before deciding to book a tour, I had researched where to go and thought about exploring the city ourselves. However, I was worried about time, finding hidden vendors and possible language barriers. There was also just so many things I wanted to try. By choosing to go with a tour, we were trusting local experts to make our lives easier and we had a great time.

Our tour ran from 6pm-9:30pm and cost ~ $50/person with 7 stops. The tour would take us through Yaowarat, Chinatown, home to many of Bangkok’s famous street foods. Although there was a set itinerary, ours changed right off the bat to accommodate a restaurant closure. I don’t have the names of all spots we hit, but each was unique and tasty. Since Bangkok was the last stop of our South East Asia adventure, we had become familiar with certain ingredients (like pandan and durian) and weren’t as wowed as some of our tour mates. Also, perhaps because we were in Chinatown, many of the flavours were already familiar.

Here are the stops we made that night:
Canton House – Thai style dim sum featuring pandan noodle dumplings and pandan leave siu mai.
Kan Kee Nam Toua Thong – Famous tea stand serving sweet chrysanthemum tea and an incredibly bitter herbal drink. The herbal tea is popular in the summer as it’s “cool” and help balance out the “hot” in a person. I had one sip, but could not handle any more. The Hubby has had experience with Eastern herbal medicine and had a few more sips than me. I much prefered the floral chrysanthemum tea.
Noodle Stall – Stir fried noodles with chicken and Yu Choy. A simple dish but amazing, especially the gravy. Standing on a stool over a hot wok, the owner fries up noodles to order. This is the only dish the shop sold and it was the only one needed.
Dragon’s Beard Stall – Along the way to our next stop, we walked by a sand making fresh Dragon’s beard candy. A few of our tour mates were fascinated by the long strands of candy and our guide picked up a pack for everyone to taste.
L&R Seafood – This was a famous seafood food shop that has spawned many competitors in the neighbourhood (like R&L Seafood). We tried a curry shrimp, stir fried water spinach and scallops. The seafood tasted sweet, fresh and was seasoned with strong flavours. I would’ve loved to try more dishes.
Black Pepper Soup Stall – Rolled rice noodles in a peppery pork broth and topped with roast pork. I really enjoyed the strong, spicy broth and the chewy texture of the noodles.
Tong Yong – The last two stops were both sweet ones, starting first with a bowl of tong yuan, glutinous rice balls. Filled with black sesame or peanut and served in a sweet ginger broth, tong yuan is one of my favourite Asian desserts.
Tipparot Ice Cream – (Not Pictured) The evening ended with scoops of rich, creamy, durian ice cream

1. Kwan Dim Sum

Rating/Price: 5.0 $$
Why? Elevated dim sum, lovely service, elegant interior, dishes perfect for sharing
Must Order: Shrimp Dumplings, Rice Roll
Good For? First dates, midtown location, refined Chinese food

 

2. La Carnita

Rating/Price: 4.5 $$
Why? Well priced, delicious tacos, cozy seating
Must Order: In Cod We Trust, Dessert
Good For? Casual date, dinner before another activity

 

3. The Good Son

Rating/Price: 5.0 $$$
Why? Intimate dining area, great tasting menu, good cocktails
Must Order: Charcuterie and Cheese Board, Seasonal Cocktails
Good For? Special occasions, trying to impress, foodies

 

4. Koyoi

Rating/Price: 4.5 $$
Why? Good food, located downtown, hidden gem
Must Order: Sashimi Salad, Beef Tataki
Good For? Casual date, pitchers of beer

 

5. Oyster Boy

Rating/Price: 4.5 $$$
Why? Fresh oysters, intimate seating, amazing pasta
Must Order: Oysters, Papperdelle Pasta
Good For? Seafood lovers, special occasions

 

6. Pizzeria Libretto

Rating/Price: 4.5 $$
Why? Delicious pizzas, also available for take away
Must Order: Duck Confit Pizza, Calamari
Good For? Casual date, pizza lovers

 

7. Sake Bar Kushi

Rating/Price: 4.5 $$$
Why? Intimate booths, traditional izakaya decor, many menu choices, perfect for sharing
Must Order: Ebi Mayo, Yakitori
Good For? Izakaya experience without the yelling, midtown location

 

8. Pai Northern Kitchen

Rating/Price: 4.0 $$
Why? Takes reservations, best Thai food in the city
Must Order: Squash Fritters, Papaya Salad
Good For? Casual date, dinner before going out

 

9. Bestellen

Rating/Price: 4.5 $$$
Why? Intimate seating, good wine list, wonderful service, great steak without breaking the bank
Must Order: Dry Aged Steak
Good For? Foodies, special occasions

 

Honourable Mentions:

• DaiLo – 4.0 $$$
• Fonda Lola – 4.5 $$
• Sabai Sabai – 4.0 $$
• Porzia – 5.0 $$$
• Enoteca Sociale 4.0 $$$

Still TBE (To be Eaten):

• R&D
• Lee
• Furlough
• Dandylion
• Bar Raval
• Buca

Did I miss your favourite restaurant? Let me know in the comments. Last Updated: 10/02/2015  

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.

1.0 Sansotei Ramen

Rating/Price: 5.0 $
Why? Great ramen, well priced, downtown location, lots of repeat visits
Must Order: Tonkotsu Ramen
Good For? Quick meals, small groups

 

2.0 Farmhouse Tavern

Rating/Price: 5.0 $$
Why? Complex menu, comfort food, savoury rich and delicious
Must Order: Mother and Child Reunion, Hangover Poutine
Good For? Brunch, relaxed meal, any sized group

 

3.0 Sukho Thai

Rating/Price: 5.0 $$
Why? Started my love for Chef Nuit's Thai cooking
Must Order: Pad Thai, Penang Curry
Good For? Big groups, casual dinner, pre-going out dinner, special celebration

 

4.0 The Burger's Priest

Rating/Price: 5.0 $
Why? Made me appreciate a good burger
Must Order: The Priest (always order The Option)
Good For? Burgers, quick lunch, grab and go

 

Honorable Mentions:

• The Whippoorwill Restaurant – 4.5 $
• Shanghai Dim Sum – 4.5 $$
• Fin Izakaya – 4.5 $$
• JaBistro 5.0 $$$$

Did I miss your favourite restaurant? Let me know in the comments.

Last Updated: 11/27/2014

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.