Stimulate your taste buds at Ottawa’s tasty Thai restaurants
Thai cuisine is all about elaborately balancing many flavours and aromas to create dishes that truly stimulate your taste buds. Sweet, sour, spicy, bitter and salty hints are often present all in one meal. Go for the classic pad Thai or discover new exotic Thai dishes at these restaurants.
Siam Bistro
1268 Wellington St W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3A5Served in a quaint and relaxing setting with elegant décor, the dishes at Siam Bistro feature the wide-ranging cuisine of Thailand, including yummy salads, curries, seafood, rice and noodles, meat dishes, and the chef’s special recommendations. Owner Montha McGinnis decided to open the restaurant because she wanted to share her passion for great Thai food with residents of Ottawa. She now runs the Hintonburg gem after having taught Thai cooking lessons for over ten years.
Nokham Thai Restaurant
747 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, ON K2A 0G6Showcasing popular Thai soups, Nokham Thai is decked out with traditional Thai art pieces that are almost as impressive as the presentation of the meals themselves. Dishes are served in beautiful chinaware and, if you order right (hint: check out the curries), in hollowed-out coconuts or pineapples. Every dish is as colourful as the next and includes a delicious mix of flavours.
Aiyara Thai Cuisine
1590 Walkley Rd, Ottawa, ON K1V 6P5Chefs at Aiyara honour the Thai tradition of vegetable carving by adding intricate, artistic touches to their dishes. Elephants are another cultural symbol of Thailand featured throughout the decor and incorporated into the meals. Don’t be surprised to find edible elephant sculptures, pineapple plates and coconut bowls served with your meal. Vegetarians will be happy to know there is an entire menu dedicated to veggie options.
Talay Thai
511 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1Z5Thai cuisine is known for incorporating distinctly different taste sensations into each meal and Talay Thai does this brilliantly. The sauces are carefully crafted with loads of spices that make each meal a delightful combination of Thailand’s many flavours. The presentation of the dishes is as elegant as the décor, making the spot a perfect option for a casual date-night dinner.
Royal Thai Restaurant
311 Dalhousie St, Ottawa, ON K1N 7E8Serving Asian fusion and tasty Thai dishes in a spacious ByWard Market restaurant, this spot is all about warmth and friendly service. Choose from an extensive list of spicy Thai salads, stir-fried noodle dishes (like the delicious pad thai with ground peanuts and lime), or curries that are cooked in a special sauce and a mixture of coconut milk, lemongrass, garlic, shallots, dried chilies, shrimp paste and Thai ginger.
Khao Thai Restaurant
103 Murray St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5M5From Bangkok to Ottawa: Honouring the culinary traditions surrounding rice (khao) in Thai cuisine, owner Par Chiturai uses her experience with the restaurant industry in Bangkok and brings her home country’s delicious dishes to the ByWard Market. Order a side dish of aromatic jasmine rice and savour it with a meat or vegetable dish to experience a typical Thai dining experience. Par has even designed the interior using imported art and furniture pieces to make the dining ambiance reflective of her homeland.
Green Papaya Restaurant
256 Preston St, Ottawa, ON K1R 7R5Green Papaya wants to stimulate all your senses with exotic ingredients, rich textures, fresh aromas of cilantro and coriander, colourful presentations, soothing Thai music and a plethora of authentic decorations surrounded by fiery red walls. Test the limits of your taste buds by selecting one of five different spice levels on the menu – and be sure to choose wisely! An aesthetic add: some meals are also embellished with traditional carved vegetables.
Pookie's Thai
7-2280 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON K2B 7G1Specializing in Northeastern Thai “Issan” cooking (characterized by spicy rice dishes similar to those found in neighbouring Laos), this Thai restaurant is all about exotic yet balanced flavours. Chefs Khun Wan and Khun Tuan offer a selection of tempting Thai fare, such a the distinctive regional dish of Pad Ped Talay, a spicy stir-fry of mixed seafood with bamboo shoots, eggplant and sweet basil.
Sweet Basil Restaurant
1585 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1H 7Z3Owner and chef Art Akarapanich brings many years of experience with fine Thai dining – acquired in Bangkok no less – to Sweet Basil Thai. Authentic dishes are served in a charming, dimly lit setting that is decked out with Thai sculptures and paintings. The meals come with a twist; you might notice subtle appearances here and there of ingredients you wouldn’t normally find in Thai cuisine that chef Akarapanich borrows from other Asian cuisines (like an egg served sunny side up over fried rice).
Silver Spoon Thai Cuisine
1775 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON K2A 1C9Thai curry is made of many different spices and comes in a rainbow of colours and varieties. Sample some delicious curries at Silver Spoon along with other Thai specialties like mango or papaya salad. The green curry is a menu highlight and consists of spicy herbs, coconut milk, bamboo shoots, eggplant and vegetables with option to add a meat base.
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