3 Best Restaurants in Ontario, Canada

Named for a street in Bangkok bursting with nightlife and excellent street eats, Khao San Road lives up to its moniker. The squash fritters are a head-turning crispy delight that you'll want to order when you see them show up at another table. For heartier dishes, try for the khao soi, a dish of egg noodles in a rich coconut milk sauce, or try the warming massaman, a tamarind-infused curry with peanuts, potatoes, and deep-fried shallots.

Chef Nuit Regular, Toronto's powerhouse Thai restauranteur, invites diners to a rare taste of Baan Lao cuisine, a seven-course tasting menu of specialties that have been served over centuries to the Thai royal family (and there's a vegan version as well). Don't expect fiery curries but rather a sophisticated and textural experience of imaginative dishes fit for a regal palate. An à la carte menu is available but most diners opt for the main event. Dishes ramp up from bite-sized flower-shaped dumplings to substantial fusions like five-spice–infused braised beef short ribs, or coconut milk-coated charcoal-grilled sablefish steak topped with carved coconut flowers and basil leaves on a red curry custard puree. The playful cocktail menu features Thai-infused ingredients, and you'll want to try more than one.

The longtime favorite for students and shoppers seeking an affordable meal occupies a second-floor dining room above Yonge Street. The menu features a wide range of curries and stir-fries, with favorites including classic pad Thai and Islamic noodles—a secret menu item made with coconut Panang curry sauce poured over a generous platter of noodles and vegetables.