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| - I don't even know where to begin. SukhoThai is my absolute favourite restaurant in Toronto, hands down. As a relatively new appreciator of Thai food, I can safely say that the wonderful chefs of SukhoThai had a lot to do with my new-found love of this cuisine. I tell everyone about this place and have yet to hear one negative review about it from anyone I know.
Let's start with the original venue: Sure, the Parliament location is in a neighbourhood that not too many people would like to venture to, but it's still very conveniently located for anyone in the downtown core/any TTC users. Patience is key when you arrive, but believe me, you will be so greatly rewarded for the long-ish wait times. In fact, I often luck out and get a table right away. The key is to avoid peak dining times. Get in either super early or a little later (9ish). I disagree with all the negative posts about the service. I always find the original staff to be very friendly and attentive, even when the restaurant is packed. The food is of course amazing (yum) and sure, the venue is small, but it feels like home.
The new Wellington location: This is even more conveniently located for the downtown folks and I've heard can accommodate around 100 people. I had to try it on the first day it was open and was a little disappointed to see that it was pretty empty. Granted, it was a Monday night, and not everyone is as SukhoThai-obsessed as I am (note: I also went again a few days later and the place was almost packed). The new venue is definitely "swankier" but I do miss the cozy atmosphere of the original restaurant. I'm hoping the Parliament renovations aren't too extensive! I was happy to see the original staff at the new venue, but I must say that I'm not too big of a fan of some of the newer staff, (maybe I'm biased?) some of whom acted as if they had better things to do than wait tables. As a non-drinker, the liquor license doesn't really affect me, but I'm worried that the bar at the new location (kind of lounge-like) might add a bit of pretentiousness to the down-to-earth restaurant I so love. The prices have gone up a bit at the new Wellington location (and will remain the same once the Parliament location reopens) but for the amount of (delicious) food you get, the new prices are still absolutely worth it.
Now the most important part - the food: I think I might have tried almost everything on the menu at some point, but I do have my favourites.
1) The SukhoThai Pad Thai is a must. Our group will always order at least one chicken ST PadThai (medium spice) for the table to share. The tamarind adds a wonderful complexity to a dish that is often done so wrong by other restaurants.
2) Massaman Curry (chicken, medium spice). Sweet, oniony, peanuty deliciousness. That is all.
3) Khao Soi (BEEF, medium spice). There's no other way to go with this but to order beef. You're doing yourself a disservice if you don't order it that way. The meat is so tender and just melts in your mouth. This is such a beautiful dish, with so many textures and flavours that just seem to work together. Tender beef, smooth curry, crunchy and soft noodles. My mouth is so happy when I have this dish.
4) Panang Curry (chicken, medium spice). If you like basil, this is a must. Again, so much flavour in this simple dish. A definite must-try.
5) Appetizers: crunchy (and non-oily) Shrimp Chips (with the best tamarind dip I have ever tried), Garlic Tofu (and I don't even usually like tofu) which melts in your mouth, flavourful Shrimp Fresh Rolls (with a delicious red curry-infused peanut sauce)
6) Dessert: if they have the Cassava Cake, you must try it. It's warm, somewhat spongey (in a good way), and deliciously coconuty. I also just tried the Tapioca in Coconut Milk and that also had a really nice flavour and texture.
So, if you took the time to read this essay, hopefully you're excited to try out this gem of a restaurant. It's definitely a culinary experience you don't want to miss! I'm partial to the unpretentious original venue and staff, but I did still enjoy my experiences at the new location. Make sure you try it!
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