History

Khao soi originated in northern Thailand among the Tai Yai and Burmese communities along the Mae Hong Son border. The dish reached Toronto in 2014 when chef Nuit Regular and her husband Jeff opened Pai Northern Thai Kitchen on Duncan Street, the first restaurant to serve the Chiang Mai style in Canada. Pai's khao soi has since defined the dish in Toronto, with imitations across King West and Bloor.

Common allergens: Gluten, Eggs, Shellfish

Make it at home

Yield Serves 4Hands-on 30 minTotal 1 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons khao soi curry paste, store-bought or homemade
  • 400ml coconut milk
  • 500ml chicken stock
  • 500g chicken thighs, bone-in
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon palm sugar or brown sugar
  • 400g fresh egg noodles
  • 100g pickled mustard greens, drained
  • 4 shallots, finely sliced
  • Lime wedges
  • Fresh coriander
  • Oil for frying noodles

Method

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy pot. Add curry paste and fry 2 minutes until fragrant.
  2. Pour in half the coconut milk and stir until the oil separates, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add chicken thighs, the remaining coconut milk and chicken stock. Simmer 25 minutes until the chicken is tender.
  4. Stir in fish sauce and palm sugar to taste.
  5. Boil egg noodles for half the package time. Drain.
  6. Fry a handful of the noodles in hot oil until golden and crisp; drain on paper towel.
  7. Ladle the curry over the boiled noodles in bowls. Top with crispy noodles, pickled mustard greens, sliced shallots, coriander and a lime wedge.

Tip from the editors. Pai's curry paste includes turmeric for the deep yellow; substitute 1 tablespoon ground turmeric if your paste runs pale. Save the bone broth for round two.

Where to eat khao soi

Khao soi in Toronto

Pai Northern Thai Kitchen ★ 4.4

Thai$$king-westSun-Wed 11:30-22:00, Thu-Sat 11:30-23:00Until Closes 23:00 Thursday through Saturday

Pai on Duncan runs the kitchen until 23:00 Thursday through Saturday, the khao soi and pad see ew the city's reference late-night Thai after a King West show.

Try: Khao soi, pad see ew

Order: The khao soi with extra crispy noodles.

Tip: Walk-in only after 21:00; the bar takes the late seats first.

18 Duncan Street, Toronto, ON M5H 3G8

Khao San Road ★ 4.4

Thai$$king-westMon-Fri 11:30-14:30, 17:00-22:00; Sat 12:00-15:00, 17:00-22:00; Sun 17:00-22:00

Khao San Road on Charlotte Street has run Bangkok-style street food downtown since 2011, the boat noodles and crispy pad see ew the city standard.

Try: Boat noodles, pad see ew

Order: The beef boat noodles and a side of mango sticky rice.

Tip: Reservation-only at dinner. Lunch walks in. Closed Sunday lunch.

11 Charlotte Street, Toronto, ON M5V 2H5

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