Pai Northern Thai Kitchen

Chef Nuit Regular and her husband, Jeff, brought the flavours of their original Northern Thai restaurant to a subterranean space on Duncan Street. It’s a loud, high-energy room that leans into a mod-bohemian aesthetic with exposed brick and string lights, intentionally mimicking the chaotic pulse of a Thai street market. While it sits right in the middle of the Entertainment District, it manages to feel like a distinct, unpretentious staple of the city’s dining scene rather than just another tourist trap.

Expect a full house regardless of the day, so book a table well in advance unless you want to spend your evening waiting on the sidewalk. The menu is deep, but the Khao Soi and the Pad Thai are the reliable standards for a reason. You can dial your spice level from zero to Thai spicy, though be warned that the kitchen doesn't mess around with the upper end of that scale. It is not the place for a quiet conversation or a romantic date, but it hits the mark if you’re looking for a fast-paced meal with a lot of volume.