Pai

What is Pai? While online directory listings occasionally attach the name to Parliament Street in Regent Park, Chef Nuit and Jeff Regular's celebrated Northern Thai institution operates its flagship downtown on Duncan Street and uptown on Yonge. Inspired by the bohemian energy of Pai in Mae Hong Son province, the dining rooms evoke night markets and Thai roadhouses with raw timbers, paper lanterns, and lively communal seating. East-end diners frequently access the menu through Toronto delivery channels, but the physical destination lives in the core.

Pai Menu & What to Order The indisputable star is Chef Nuit's Khao Soi, featuring egg noodles in a rich coconut curry broth garnished with crispy noodles, shallots, pickled mustard greens, and braised chicken or beef. The Pad Gra Prow packs serious holy basil heat over jasmine rice, properly crowned with a crispy fried egg that runs rich into the spiced minced pork. Order the Grabong—crispy deep-fried kabocha squash batons with homemade sweet tamarind dip—alongside a cold Singha or a condensed-milk Thai iced tea. Gluten-free and vegan variations are handled with expert precision and equal flavour.

Know Before You Go If you are planning an in-person sit-down meal, skip Parliament Street and book well ahead via OpenTable for the 18 Duncan Street location, where walk-in waits easily stretch over an hour during dinner peak. East-side residents in Regent Park and Cabbagetown can tap into takeout and delivery platforms during daily service windows. For dine-in downtown, hop the 504 King streetcar or subway to St. Andrew station, with paid underground parking lots available along Simcoe and Mercer streets.