Toronto · Thai
Pai Northern Thai Kitchen
Perpetually busy northern Thai kitchen by Nuit Regular on Duncan Street; Michelin Guide recommended for khao soi, curries, and shareable street-food plates.
- Price
- $$
- Opened
- 2014
- Neighborhood
- Entertainment District18 Duncan St, Toronto, ON M5H 3G8
About
Chefs Nuit and Jeff Regular opened Pai in 2014, named for the northern Thai village where they once ran a restaurant. The Toronto Star has credited Pai with revitalizing the city’s Thai dining scene; Michelin recommends the Duncan Street room for an extensive, shareable menu that leans northern Thai. Signature plates include khao soi, kanom jin nam ngiao, and other family and street-food recipes. BlogTO coverage often notes celebrity diners, but the operational reality is a loud subterranean room with limited reservations and long lines. A Yonge and Eglinton sister location extends the brand uptown.
Menu highlights
- Khao soi
- Pad gra prow
- Kanom jin nam ngiao (pork rib and tomato noodle soup)
- Gaeng panang and other curries; kung tawt
Diners say
Reviewers praise bold flavors, fast service once seated, and shareable plates built for groups. Common complaints are long waits, noise, difficulty scoring reservations, and a room that can feel rushed. Diners who love it accept the market energy as part of the deal.
Review synthesis as of 2026-07-28. Synthesis of recurring themes in public Yelp and Google Maps reviews sampled July 2026; not a rating or ranking.