Aroi Thai

What is Aroi Thai? Located at 1216 Queen Street East near Leslie, Aroi Thai fills a long-standing gap in Leslieville for refined yet relaxed sit-down Thai dining. Founded by restaurateur Shamikca Chandran alongside a head chef from Northern Thailand, the space trades typical takeout cliches for an airy dining room styled in muted sage, pale wood tones, a curved bar, and subtle brass accents.

Aroi Thai Menu & What to Order The kitchen balances classic Northern Thai comfort with sharp, modern presentation. Start with the betel leaf scallops crowned with roasted coconut, lemongrass, and ginger before digging into the fall-apart short rib khao soi or the slow-simmered beef brisket massaman curry. Vegan and gluten-free diners get dedicated, clearly marked sections on the menu, while the cocktail program impresses with signature drinks like the smoking-cinnamon Sakura Smoke and vibrant Ube Cocorita.

Know Before You Go Weekend dinner slots draw heavy neighbourhood crowds, so booking a table in advance through Snappy is strongly recommended over chancing walk-in waits. The dining room is steps from the 501 Queen streetcar, with metered street parking along Queen East. Note that the kitchen is closed on Mondays and serves straight through from lunch to dinner the rest of the week.