Since opening Sukhothai in 2008, Nuit and Jeff Regular have owned
or worked with various popular restaurants – all serving good old fashioned
Thai food. At their latest venture, PAI Northern Thai Kitchen, they’re doing
something different: it’s their first time creating a market area that
introduces Toronto to lunch offerings popular in Thailand’s street markets.
After entering PAI, walk towards the back and make a right.
The newly expanded area will lead you to separate dining room with grab-and-go
counter with seating area serving a variety (generally six choices) of dishes
that changes throughout the week.
There could be curry, rice platters, or a
salad … although their salads aren’t some sad leafy green variety. Instead, the
laap gai is a hearty concoction of
flavourful marinated minced chicken combined with roasted rice for substance.
The citrusy dressing still keeps it light, but you don’t be reaching for a
snack in a couple of hours.
If you’re lucky enough to see kanon jeen num ngiaw on the menu, make sure it’s one of the items
you get ($10 for one choice or $12 for a mixture of two). The tomato broth has
just enough heat to leave your tongue tingling but won’t render it numb. Pieces
of pork rib are tender and easily pulls off to enhance the noodles. Grab some
rice if you can as it does wonders to soak up every last ounce of the hearty
soup.
I could do without the slight sweetness that accompanies the
soy based broth in the guay jap but
the hefty pieces of braised pork belly is pure blubbery goodness. The pork and
egg sits atop silky curled noodles that will test your chopstick skills; make
sure you grab a spoon!
Meat lovers will want a box of the Northern platter, which
includes chunks of flavourful lean sausages that incorporates a Thai flair
(could be some lemongrass added into the meat?). Also accompanying the sticky
rice are crispy fried pork and pork rinds as well. Adding a dollop of the thick
green chili relish on the side helps cut through the greasiness, but watch out
it has some spice to it!
After lunch, feel free to peruse the display tables in the
corner hawking a variety of unique Thai fruits, vegetables, spices, and ingredients.
A juicy sweet mango (great for a dessert) or a bottle of their house made chili
oil can help you replicate the Thai taste at home.
The PAI Market couldn’t have arrived at a better time, helping
lunch diners combat the upcoming cold Toronto fall and winter with warm hearty
dishes and heavenly scents emitted from slow cooked food. Just for a brief
moment, that lunch hour, I’ll be transported away from Toronto to a sunny
street market in Thailand.
Disclaimer: The above meal was complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in my mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.
How To Find Them
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 18 Duncan Street
Address: 18 Duncan Street
Website: http://www.paitoronto.com/#main
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Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
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