Aliu IsaThere are days when you crave a hearty bowl of noodles, but a heavy broth like in ramen or rich Italian sauces just doesn’t hit the spot. Enter Pad Thai—the perfect mix of savory, tangy, and just a hint of sweetness.
Pad Thai, with its roots in Thailand, typically features rice noodles tossed with egg, tofu, tamarind paste, fish sauce, and a touch of chili, often combined with shrimp or chicken. It’s comfort food with a kick, guaranteed to keep you coming back for more.
If you’re like me—a total Pad Thai aficionado—stick around! I’ll take you to the best spots in Toronto where this noodle dish transforms from ordinary to unforgettable.
Ready for a delicious journey? Let’s dig in!
How much does Pad Thai cost in Toronto?
On average, you can expect to pay around $12 to $20 for a standard Pad Thai serving at most casual Thai spots in Toronto.
Higher-end restaurants or specialty versions with premium ingredients, like jumbo shrimp or seafood, can range from $20 to $30. Many takeout and casual eateries may also offer budget-friendly portions around $10 to $15.
The cost may also vary, depending on the restaurant and quality.
How We Chose the Best Pad Thai Spots in Toronto
1. Thai Room
Thai Room College brings authentic Thai flavours right into Toronto’s Little Italy, creating a warm and welcoming environment for every visitor. Their Pad Thai, a signature noodle dish, captures the essence of traditional Thai cooking with perfect balance in taste.
Chef Mark, with over 25 years of culinary experience, ensures each dish, including Pad Thai, is prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The combination of sweet, salty, sour, and spicy elements makes each bite memorable and satisfying.
The restaurant caters to all dining preferences, offering dine-in, takeout, and fast delivery services. Pad Thai lovers can enjoy their favourite dish whether seated in the cozy dining area or ordering from home.
Attention to detail is evident not only in the food but also in service. Staff provide friendly, empathetic hospitality, making guests feel like part of the Thai Room College family.
Daily and lunch specials provide an opportunity to explore new Pad Thai variations and other Thai dishes. This regular menu refresh keeps the dining experience exciting and encourages repeat visits.
The location in the heart of Little Italy is convenient for locals and visitors alike. Open daily until 2:00 a.m., Thai Room College is ideal for lunch, dinner, or even late-night cravings.
Their Pad Thai is both traditional and creatively adapted, offering a dish that respects Thai roots while delighting modern palates. Every order, whether eaten in-house or delivered, promises consistent quality, freshness, and flavour.
The food is so delicious and generous
“We had a wonderful dinner here. Not too busy during Christmas but the food is so delicious and generous. We love coconut and shrimp soup.”
pham thi hai yen, Google Review
Pad Thai was super flavourful
“I officially have a new favourite Thai restaurant in town. We ordered takeout for pickup and everything came out piping hot. It was still steaming by the time we got home with our order. Portions as you can see were massive (a very welcome surprise – lasting us each two meals). Pad Thai was super flavourful – medium spice level was no joke. Delicious with a squirt of lemon or lime on top if the spice is too much for you. Prices were on par with other Thai take out in the city. Will definitely be back! High ratings here are well deserved.”
Izabela, Google Review
2. PAI
Sparked by an elephant ride that led to meeting her husband, PAI’s Chef Nuit moved from Thailand to Toronto. Her story is just as rich and colorful as the dishes she creates.
Let’s get into her Pad Thai, which we’re addicted to. The red-flame stir-fried rice noodles are tossed in a mouthwatering house-made tamarind palm sugar sauce, creating the perfect blend of sweet, savory, and a touch of spice.
And spice lovers can rejoice since you can pick your heat level—from No Spice all the way up to Thai Spicy. They even offer gluten-free, peanut-free, and vegan options on request.
Dining here is best done family-style so that you can share and sample a variety of dishes—perfect for an intimate family dinner or a fun group gathering.
Just a heads up, though. There’s a fixed gratuity amount added, so plan accordingly.
Hands down the best Thai food I’ve ever had!
“Hands down the best Thai food I’ve ever had! We waited about 45 minutes, but it was definitely worth it. The restaurant was packed, and the food was delicious—especially the Pad Thai, which is a must-try. The food came out quickly, and the service was great.”
Wajd AlZamil, Google Review
Best Thai cuisine restaurant in Toronto
“Simply exquisite. The best Thai cuisine restaurant in Toronto. The moo ping was a delight for the palate, the meat was soft, it melted in the mouth! The “Chef Nuit Pad Thai” dish had a rich combination of texture and flavor that I won’t forget. My husband and I enjoyed it very much. The staff was always very attentive and friendly and helped us a lot with our choice of dishes. Note: Keep in mind that you must make a prior reservation. We will be back soon!”
Lily Powers, Google Review
3. Jatujak
Jatujak is named after the largest outdoor market in Thailand. It’s owned by Chef Aon, who grew up picking fresh vegetables from her family’s farm.
As for Pad Thai, we think their version is among the best in the city, featuring vermicelli noodles perfectly coated in a tangy tamarind sauce. Bean sprouts, chives, and peanuts are served on the side for that added texture.
The spice levels here cater to everyone: “Hot” is death-defying while “medium” offers a milder kick. For those who prefer no heat, go for the “mild” which skips the chilis entirely.
Pair your meal with a refreshing Nom Yen, a chilled green tea with milk, or sip on a Singha beer. House wine by the half-liter and classic cocktails are also on offer.
While we heard about some food quality issues, we haven’t experienced any yet (fingers crossed!).
Best Pad Thai in the city
“Best Pad Thai in the city. super authentic, quick service and plenty of seating in the back. Great lunch specials.”
Tim Wong, Google Review
One of my favorite Thai restaurants in the whole city
“This is one of my favourite Thai restaurants in the whole city. That food is always of top-notch quality. We ordered the spicy beef salad, which has so much meat it was so refreshing. The dish had a lovely fish sauce, sweet salty, sour vinaigrette, which tied all the fresh vegetables and the beef all together. The dish is about $17, but it tasted so so good. One of my favourite dishes for the restaurant. For entrée, we order the classic pad thai with chicken and curry beef noodle khao soi. The portions were huge. The pad Thai was amazing, the noodle has a perfect crunchy chewy texture, covered in the perfectly seasoned tangy sauce. The way that they stirfry the noodle is literally to perfection because you can pick the noodle by someone buy one, but it is still so moist and chewy. The pad Thai has a lot of chicken, vegetables, and tofu as well..”
Anh Nguyen, Google Review
4. Chiang Mai Thai Kitchen
Chiang Mai Thai Kitchen, established in 2018, aims to offer an elevated Thai dining experience. We like that they also give back through charitable initiatives and partnerships that support communities in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
For a touch of decadence, try the seasonal whole lobster Pad Thai. It features tender lobster paired with rice noodles, tamarind sauce, egg, chives, tofu, beansprouts, and toasted peanuts—believe me, it’s as luxurious as it sounds.
If you prefer a bit of a kick, the shrimp Tom Yum Pad Thai combines shrimp, tofu, and tom-yum paste, with eggs, chives, peanuts, beansprouts, and toasted peanuts.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with their traditional chicken Pad Thai, which stays true to classic flavors with rice noodles and tamarind sauce.
We did hear about their inconsistent takeout quality—something to watch out for.
Hands down THE BEST Thai food I’ve ever tasted!
“Run, don’t walk!!! Hands down THE BEST Thai food I’ve ever tasted! The drinks were delicious, and the food was so tasty and fresh with incredible service. I will definitely be visiting again!!”
Pina Ana, Google Review
Chiang Mai is one of my fave Thai spots!
“Chiang Mai is one of my fave Thai spots! If I’m not ordering take out, I’ll be dining in. I ALWAYS order the Pad Ki Maw at its spiciest 🔥🔥 Other dishes that I would recommend are the pad ki maw, pad ki maw 😂, calamari, shrimp rolls & the sweet potato fritters. All of the locations are consistent with their food. Their Junction location offers decent brunch dishes as well!”
Megan V, Google Review
5. Khao San Road
Khao San Road delivers a taste of Bangkok-style street food, thanks to the passion and culinary roots of certified Thai chef, Chef Top. She was inspired by her mother’s love for food while growing up in Thailand’s capital.
We’re crazy about their Bangkok-style Pad Thai. The dish is crafted with rice noodles tossed in tamarind sauce, egg, tofu, bean sprouts, shallots, dried shrimp, and fish sauce, and topped with fresh roasted peanuts and lime.
Another must-try is the Three Flavours Pad Thai, which brings its own unique twist. The addition of dried chili and long-leaf cilantro sets it apart.
Spice enthusiasts will find a scale to test their limits here, ranging from 0 (No Spice) to 11 (Chef Top Spicy).
They’re open for both indoor dining and patio seating. But, seating is limited and reservations aren’t taken, so expect a wait during peak times.
Pad Thai was one of the best I’ve tried in the city!
“Food was fairly priced and delicious. Pad thai was very flavourful, more on the savoury end, one of the best I’ve tried in the city! Seating was quite tight, not the most comfortable. Staff was friendly and food was served fairly quickly. Worth a try if you’re in the area and looking for thai food.”
Cindy Hum, Google Review
My go-to place when I crave Thai Food
“This is my go-to place when I crave Thai Food . I have been visiting this place since 3 years but quality has been consistent. Every dish we tried was bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection with appropriate portion size. The service is top-notch! The staff is friendly, attentive, and goes above and beyond to ensure a memorable dining experience.”
Supriya Chavan, Google Review
