Pai Northern Thai Kitchen

Pai Northern Thai Kitchen is one of Toronto's most beloved restaurants, and it deserves its reputation as a must-visit family dining destination. Founded by chefs Nuit Regular and Jeff Regular, Pai has earned a place in the MICHELIN Guide Canada for its authentic northern Thai cooking that balances bold flavours with genuine accessibility.

The downtown location at 18 Duncan Street occupies a warm, inviting space with exposed brick, wooden beams, and an energy that is lively without being overwhelming for families. The Uptown location at 2335 Yonge Street offers the same menu in a slightly quieter setting that some families prefer.

Pai is built for family-style dining. The menu is designed around shared plates — big portions of curries, noodles, stir-fries, and grilled meats that arrive at the table for everyone to share. For families, this approach is ideal. Kids can sample from multiple dishes, build their own plate with what they like, and engage with the meal socially rather than staring at a single entree.

For kids who are cautious eaters, the Pad Thai is the entry point. Pai's version is perfectly balanced — sweet, sour, and savoury with fresh shrimp, crunchy peanuts, and a lime wedge on the side. No one does not like this Pad Thai.

Chicken Satay with peanut dipping sauce is another safe choice that kids consistently enjoy. For families willing to be more adventurous, the Khao Soi is the signature dish — a rich, coconut-based curry noodle soup with crispy noodles on top that is complex, deeply flavourful, and one of the best single dishes in Toronto. The Waterfall Grilled Pork and Larb Gai are standouts for spice-tolerant older kids.

Mango Sticky Rice for dessert is sweet, creamy, and a perfect ending.

The kitchen is accommodating with spice levels — ask for mild on any dish and they will adjust for children without sacrificing flavour. Service is fast and attentive, which is critical for families dining with young kids who have finite patience.

Practically, reservations are strongly recommended. Pai is consistently one of the busiest restaurants in Toronto, and dinner walk-in waits can exceed 30-60 minutes on weekends. Lunch service is equally excellent and significantly easier to get a table. The restaurant is stroller-accessible and has high chairs available, though in limited supply during peak hours.

At $80-120 CAD for a family of 4 ordering 3-4 shared dishes plus rice, Pai offers exceptional value for the quality level — you are eating MICHELIN Guide food at neighbourhood restaurant prices.