Friday Dinner: Pai Northern Thai Kitchen

Last Friday, I finally visited Pai when I dropped by for an early dinner after work.  It was a quick 10 minute walk to the restaurant and we arrived around 5:45PM.  Although it was a bit early for dinner, I am glad we decided to go early as many tables were reserved and a small crowd started to form at the doorway around 6PM.

The entrance to the restaurant is definitely very unique and you probably wouldn't know it's a restaurant if you were just walking by.  Upon opening the door, you see a staircase going down to the basement- the dining area is dimly lit but it is quite spacious.  

Post-Aquarium Lunch: Sabai Sabai

After spending our Monday morning at Ripley's Aquarium in downtown Toronto, we went to Sabai Sabai for an early lunch.  The restaurant is located close to Dundas Station, so it was only a short walk away from where we were.  

The storefront is quite modest and I must admit, I wasn't really sure what to expect on my way into the restaurant.  It was dimly lit and seemed more like a bar than a restaurant.  But I am happy to report that I left the restaurant full and satisfied- or, fully satisfied? 

Thai Mojito ($8)

Dark rum, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, mint, lime, coconut sugar syrup

Casual Friday Lunch: SukhoThai

Last Friday, we visited SukhoThai - the restaurant is a short walk from St. Lawrence Market and very close to the financial district.  For those who work in the area, it is a great place to grab a tasty sit-down lunch on a weekday.  We arrived around 12PM and there was already a small crowd forming at the doorway- be sure to go early or make a reservation!

They have a regular menu and a lunch menu.  The lunch menu features a different menu item each day at a nominal discount.  However, I would not recommend ordering off the lunch menu as the portions are substantially smaller.

Khao Soi ($14)
Yellow noodles in curry gravy w/ chicken or beef

The Khao Soi came in a bowl of what appeared to be curry soup, topped with a ball of fried noodles.  While this dish was extremely tasty, it was also extremely heavy.  The curry gravy was very creamy and the medium spice level added a nice kick.  However, I'm not sure if I would order this dish again as it was just a bit too heavy for my taste.  That being said, you should try it at least once.