I'd heard about Sum Tum Jinda for a while -- it's Michelin-selected, and I believe one of their Thailand locations actually received a Michelin star (not 100% sure, but that's the reputation). That alone made me curious, and after finally trying it, I get the hype. The place was packed and clearly very busy, but despite that, the servers were genuinely friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better, and ambience was good! Food-wise, everything we ordered was solid: * Pad See Ew was flavorful and well-balanced * Kor Moo Yang was juicy and perfectly grilled * Pad Woonsen Chaong was also delicious and comforting Overall, the flavors really worked for my palate. I personally liked this more than Koh Lipe. I also enjoy Pai -- honestly, I like most Thai spots -- but there's something about Toronto Thai food that just hits different. I've had Thai food in New York, London, and Seoul (and quite a lot of it), and somehow Toronto still does it better Bottom line: very satisfying meal, great energy, and food that lives up to the reputation. I'm glad I finally tried it and would definitely come back. read more

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Have been wanting to try this restaurant since a very long time and finally did it. They have two seating areas the one that's downstairs felt a little congested with too many people in there but we were seated in the next building on the top floor where it was more spacious. The only con was that the washrooms were downstairs so you have to walk out the building to access it again. Our server was super friendly and helped us choose the right items from the menu. We ordered the som tum tod which were hesitant to order coz we don't like papaya but it turned out to be the best dish that night. So so flavourful and very satisfying! We also ordered the pork jowl, minced chicken and garlic chicken with rice and everything was very well done. The mango sticky rice was however not upto the mark coz the mangoes were tart but they did warn us beforehand and we wanted to take that risk. Overall a great dinner at a Michelin recommended place. read more

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I've heard many good things about this Michelin recommended restaurant in Thailand. It's always packed at night so I was glad we walked in during lunch time on a Monday and was able to get a table immediately. After doing some hard scrolling through the online menu, we ordered the: Som Tum Tod - fried papaya salad (mild spicy) Kor Mu Yang - pork jowl Pad Kra Pao - Minced chicken rice (medium spicy) While all 3 dishes were flavourful our favourite dish was the fried papaya salad. The sauce combined with the fresh and fried papaya was refreshing and not oily at all. Our next favourite was the incredibly tender pork jowl with a dipping sauce to enhance the flavour. It was chewy and not fatty. Lastly, the pad kra pao was average as the rice was a bit moist but the minced chicken was flavourful. I would come back to try more of their dishes and I'm glad to have a taste of authentic northeastern Isan cuisine in the heart of Toronto. The fact that the entrance is down a flight of unassuming stairs tucked under a steel staircase adds to the vibe of the place. The menu was a bit hard to navigate read more

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Dishes we got for 2 people: - Pad Woonsen Cha-Om w/ minced chicken - Pad See Ew - Tum Salmon The glass noodle dish was flavourful, not bland. Pad see ew I would say was one of the best pad see ew I have had compared to other restos. The best dish of the three for us both. I was really looking forward to the tum salmon but was disappointed because I thought the salmon would have been softer but it was tougher in terms of texture. Sadly, it did not satisfy my raw salmon craving. This was the first time trying northern Thai food as we would normally go for southern style food. After this experience, we came to the fact that we still enjoy southern Thai food more. read more

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Tasty foods, and got these take out buy one get one deal so its a nice deal to have nice Thai foods in North York

In my humble opinion, this Thai restaurant is at the top of its game in Toronto. The flavours were unique, bold, and authentic - a warning that they certainly do not hold back on the spices! You can't really go wrong with anything on the menu, but their signature is the refreshing and piquant papaya salad, in all its varieties. There's something highly addictive about this dish - I couldn't stop myself from wanting more even as my eyes were tearing from the heat. I've also tried several of their vegan offerings (the separate menu is much appreciated), and have only the highest praise - delicious, filling, and well balanced in textures and taste. Service has always been warm and friendly, but not excessively so. The interior is cozy and comfortable (although it could get crowded), but not extravagant. The food is most definitely the highlight of this restaurant - and rightly so! read more

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Came here on a Sunday evening, and was immediately warmly welcomed by the staff. We easily found seating and ordered the pad see ew. It was really good! Perfectly sweet, the noodles had a great bounce, and the greens were nicely bitter to complement the dish. It was also a generous portion. I think next time I would ask them if they could make it spicy, although I don't know if that's how the dish is traditionally done. The space is also very nicely decorated and homey, if not a bit small. I had a great time, would come back to try more! read more

Som Tum Jinda - Pad see ew - Thai Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I've heard so many good things about this authentic restaurant and wanted to try it for myself as well. We tried one of the papaya salad variations, Thai iced tea, and noodles. Everything was delicious but wildly spicy. I asked for the most mild spice but Thai level spicy was on another level. The iced tea was delicious and a welcome relief. Anyone competitive about their spice tolerance should give this spot a try. Service was friendly and the environment is casual. Nice for a meet up with friends. read more

Som Tum Jinda - Papaya salad, noodles, Thai iced tea - Thai Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Such a great experience! Would recommend Som Tum Jinda! We went as a group of 5 and got a set meal to share and it was quite filling. The food had amazing flavour with varying levels of spice. The servers were lovely and helped explain dishes to us! read more

Som Tum Jinda - Meal set - Thai Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This meal was out of sight!! Absolutely delicious, wonderful service, and great location. 10/10! read more

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Som Tum Jinda is a Michelin recommended Thai restaurant which really deserves the recognition!! We had a group reservation for 7pm on a Friday night, we were 30 mins early but still got seated within 5 mins. The restaurant is split between two buildings, one upstairs (Crying Tiger) and one downstairs (original location). There's also a back patio. Open kitchen Service is pretty quick and I did find that they were a bit too busy for the number of employees, it was hard to flag someone down. The food here is so good! My new favourite Thai in Toronto. We got: Beef Pad See Ew (stir-fried chewy noodles, beef) Beef Panang (creamy red curry and steamed rice) Chicken Pad Woonsen Cha om (glass noodles with omelette, lots of wok hei) Kor Moo Yang (grilled pork neck, reminded me of Chinese Cha shu) Khao Niew Mamuang (mango sticky rice, rice texture was perfect) Every dish was outstanding in my opinion. 5 dishes was more than enough for 3 people and we had to pack to go. Highly recommend! read more

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Food 3/5 Service 3/5 Vibe 2/5 I was really really really excited to try this place as i keep seeing them all over tiktok, but my experience was alright. Not saying its bad, but i wont say its the most WOW thai restaurant i have been in Toronto. All i can say is that Its definietly different from other thai place or thai dishes i have had. Its kinda like chinese x Thailand had a baby (please dont hate me, just my honest review...) Im happy i tried it, but not sure if ill come back tho. (Still giving it 3/5 star so it passes, just not my fav) read more

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3 of us visited Som Tum Jinda (Gerrard St.) last week when my Thai food cravings kicked in -- especially on hot days, I'm always drawn to something refreshing, spicy, and tangy. We weren't too hungry, so We ordered: 1. Grilled pork - pleasantly surprised by its great chew texture and go well with the flavorful sauce 2. Minced pork Pad Woonsen Cha-Om - glass noodles with egg, garlic, and acacia leaves. This one didn't hit the mark for me -- the flavor was too subtle, and it tasted just like what you see in the bowl. Would skip this next time 3. Pad See Eew (beef) - my go-to at many Thai spots. It was decent here: not exceptional, but satisfying enough with tender beef and the comforting balance of egg, soy, and rice noodles We didn't order any salads this time (one of our friends isn't a fan), but I'll definitely be back to try one. The portions in general is smaller than other Thai places on average. I have a feeling their salads will be total flavor bombs . Would love to pair one with sticky rice and try some other dishes next time too -- that combo sounds just right. Let me know if you like this place. read more

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Great spot for Thai food. We came here for dinner on the weekend and it was quite packed, so recommend that you make a reservation. The food is simple and distinctly different than many other Thai places and offer some unique dishes. We had the fried chicken, glass noodles and frog legs with shrimp chips too. read more

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I found this place on IG and decided to check it out with a couple of friends. Thai is one my favourite types of food so I am always on the hunt for the next great Thai resto. First off, if you don't live in the area, parking will be an issue although there is street parking on side streets. First glance inside and the place was cutely decorated but small and doesn't take much to get packed. The food was what we here for and that did not dissapoint. We had 5 dishes and they were all delicious and very authentic. There is a reason it was mentioned in the 2024 Michelin guide. Som Tum Tod - Fried Papaya salad was full of flavour and the fried papaya strips made the texture like fried noodles Tom Thai Puu - another papaya salad with drunken crab and chili. Very bright, full of flavour and nice kick of heat in the end. The crab was on the small side so it was and was all shell and not much meat, so you ended up just sucking the juices. Pad woonsen is a glass noodle dish with plenty of egg. Nice texture and supporting role dish. Pad See Eww - rice flat noodle with beef was tasty and had a nice kick of heat s well. To finish we shared the mango sticky rice which was sweet, and had plenty of coconut sauce. One the best I had. Best part everything was reasonably priced, even for being downtown. If you are looking for a good authentic Thai place, I would definately recomment this restaurant. read more

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Reasonable price , good portion. Menu a bit limited but experience was fine overall. Really wanted some Khao soi on a cold day but no luck! read more

Som Tum Jinda - Veggie - Thai Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Tried to go to their downstairs Som Tum Jinda area but was brought upstairs to the Crying Tiger area instead which looked very new and spacious. Our server was nice and we were deciding on a rice dish to which our server recommended either the garlic rice or panang curry which were their 2 most popular rice dishes. We ordered the fried frog legs, pad see ew with beef, panang curry with beef, and pad woonsen cha-om. I liked all of the dishes. My friend said it was a bit sweeter and not as spicy as typical Thai food, however I enjoyed the sweetness and the mild spice level. read more

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Be warned, everything at this restaurant is SPICY (except the panang curry, which was actually kinda sweet). We loved all the flavors. Got the papaya salad with crab (tum mae jeab), lard ped (duck), tom zab (soup with pork ribs), and panang curry. The staff are very friendly and checked in on us quite a bit. I guess they wanted to make sure the spice wasn't killing us on the inside lol. The space is cute and small. Make reservations before you go! read more

Som Tum Jinda - Panang curry - Thai Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I've walked by Som Tum Jinda plenty of times, and after noticing they were on the Michelin Guide, I finally decided to give them a shot. I only did takeout (so I didn't get the full dine-in experience), but from the quick glance I got, the interior looked really cute and welcoming. I had read that they offer a discount for paying cash, but unfortunately, there was no option for that when placing my pickup order online. Their phone line also wasn't working, so I couldn't call to ask. Anyway, onto the food! I got the Pad See Ew with Beef (because sometimes, I'm basic), Pad Woonsen Cha Om and Penang Curry with Chicken. Overall, it was all pretty tasty. The Pad Woonsen was the only thing I found a bit on the bland side, but once I mixed in some sambal, it livened it up. The curry had a generous amount of chicken and plenty of flavor. The portions were decent--not huge, but not the smallest I've seen either. I'd definitely go back to explore more of their menu because they seem to offer a lot of dishes that aren't typically on other Thai restaurant menus. If you're looking for the usual pad Thai or khao soi, you won't find it here, but that's part of what makes Som Tum Jinda interesting. If you have the chance, I'd say it's worth checking out--just maybe bring some cash if you can order in person! read more

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Charming and small restaurant with friendly staff. Extensive list of papaya salads- we got the papaya salad with salted crab and fermented fish sauce. Those who aren't as adventurous definitely should try the tamer versions of the dish. Even though it was wonderfully salty and flavourful, but I couldn't fully enjoy it as there was an unpleasant smell from the bathroom or kitchen that was distracting. The panang curry was amazing, and the pad woosen was unique. Would come back again to try more of their tums! read more

Som Tum Jinda - Tum Mae Jeab - Thai Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This place is cute!!! I love how the venue doesn't have a long queue for a table as well! It's truly a hidden gem that offers authentic northern thai food. We ordered two noodle dishes and a protein dish. My favourite dish is a tie breaker between the glass noodle dish and the pork belly dish. Their Thai ice tea was also rich and flavourful, but on the more expensive side ($7). Tips: Ask for less ice! The venue is located in the basement of a row building on gerrard, steps off church street. Parking is slightly inconvenient on Gerrard, but there is a paid parking on Church Street. It is also just a few minute walk away from the Church street car stop. read more

Som Tum Jinda - Thai Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This was the best Thai food I've ever had. Also, my first experience with Northeastern Thai. The flavors were a punch in the mouth. The prices are more than fair. The service was fast and friendly. They did a great job of breaking down the differences between dishes, and getting a good understanding of my spice tolerance. It's a hip vibe in the restaurant, so if attached a younger crowd, but by no means would an older person feel out of place. When I'm back in Toronto, this'll be one of my first stops. P.S. The Frog legs are to die for. And the Thai salads come with crab in them. A nice treat. read more

Som Tum Jinda - Frog legs and Papaya salad - Thai Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Som Tum Jinda is one of those spots that truly lives up to the buzz--and the Michelin recommendation. Specializing in northeastern Thai cuisine, this cozy little kitchen delivers big on flavour and authenticity. We ordered the Tum Thai (papaya salad), the chicken Panang curry, the chicken Pad See Ew, and Thai iced tea to round it all out. Everything was spot-on. The Tum Thai was bright, tangy, and spicy with a super fresh crunch. The Panang curry was rich, nutty, and full of flavour, with tender chicken and a generous helping of hot, steamy rice to soak it all up. The Pad See Ew was a standout too.The wide, chewy noodles were perfectly cooked and coated in a savoury soy-based sauce, with just the right amount of char from the wok. Total comfort food. And of course, the Thai iced tea was creamy and refreshing--exactly what you want with a spicy meal. The staff were friendly and welcoming, making us feel right at home despite how busy the place was. And that's the one thing to keep in mind: this place is popular for a reason. Reservations are highly recommended. Otherwise expect to wait at least an hour, especially during peak dinner hours or on weekends. The vibe is casual but lively, with an open kitchen and the kind of energy that tells you you're about to have a great meal. If you're craving real Thai flavours, especially those from Isan cuisine, this is a must-visit. I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu. read more

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Caught up with a good friend here and we both got the panang curry. I got the chicken while he got the beef. The panang curry ($18) was so flavourful - I loved how rich and creamy the curry was. The waiter said that it was mild-medium spicy but I felt it was really mild. It was served with a good portion of rice. I think what would've made this 5/5 was if it was actually more spicy but the restaurant itself is so beautiful and aesthetic. Service was quite fast. read more

Som Tum Jinda - Thai Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I read an article about this restaurant a while back and bookmarked it for a visit in the future. Fast forward many years later, my friend was visiting me and expressed that she was craving Thai food. Our visit was on a Friday evening. We were not sure if we would be able to get in without a reservation, but we decided to try. As soon as we entered, a friendly young man warmly greeted us and asked if we had a reservation. We've let him know that we didn't and inquired about the wait time. Surprisingly, he said there is a table available inside or outside. We decided to dine inside to enjoy the vibe and the funky decor. The decor was fascinating- the explosion of colours, patterns, and sounds of people transported us far away. There wasn't a physical menu- rather, the menu was available by scanning the QR code on the table. My friend chose Woonsen Cha-om (with minced chicken) and I picked Panang chicken curry. When our dishes came out, we could smell the various spices and that made us even more hungry! My friend said that her dish was delicious! I also enjoyed my dish- it was warm and hearty. We also enjoyed the generous portion of our dishes, we felt like queens! We were too full to try the desserts, so we decided to try them next time. Throughout our evening, various staff members checked-in on us to make sure that we were enjoying our dishes, as well as to make sure that we had enough napkins and water. Take your tastebuds on a journey and come here for a visit! read more

Som Tum Jinda - Woonsen Cha-om with minced chicken (top) and Panang chicken curry with rice (bottom) - Thai Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Fantastic Michelin-star, yet surprisingly affordable, Thai restaurant! A very good thing we got a reservation for 4 people on a Tuesday evening because the restaurant quickly became packed as the night went on. All the dishes we tried were amazing, and I honestly don't think you can go wrong with any dish. We also asked the server for recommendations, and they were very knowledgeable and helpful. We ordered: - Tum mae jeab - delightful papaya salad with an explosion of different flavors and textures. We asked for a light spicy level, and the dish was plenty spicy for us! - Tum sua - another great papaya salad with vermicelli noodles. Also plenty spicy for us. I like the first salad (above) better, but this salad was still very good. It was also more filling because of the noodles. - Pad woonsen cha-om (with pork) - very flavorful. Probably my favorite pad wooonsen ever. Everything in this dish was simply perfect. - Kor moo yang (grilled pork jowl) - delicious!! Never had this dish before, and it's now one of my favorites. The meat was sooooo juicy, and the accompanying sauce was light (vinegary something?) and enhanced the heavier savoriness of the meat. - Kai tod - nice crispy chicken wings. The accompanying chili-sweet sauce was good and homemade. - Larb ped - flavorful soft duck meat accompanied by crispy rice "noodle-like" crackers. The crispiness of the noodle crackers complimented the soft meat really well, creating an exciting (and delicious) mouthfeel as you chew. read more

Amazing Thai dishes that is unique and special to the northern area of Thai. They have some intense flavors and textures that I really enjoyed and haven't been able to find elsewhere. An immediate favorite now and can't wait to go back. We had the Kha Kob Tod (frog legs), Tum Mai Jaeb (papaya salad), Nam Tok Kor Moo (pork jowl) and the Nham Khao Tod (crispy rice). Word of warning is they mean it when they go spicy on a dish! But it is always balanced with the right tones of sour or salt so it makes sense for each dish. I loved everything we ordered and we finished absolutely everything in one sitting. read more

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If you're staying at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, I highly recommend visiting Som Tum Jinda. It's just 0.3 miles away from the hotel, which is about a 10-minute walk. Originally, we planned to dine at a different thai restaurant but our plans changed, so we opted out . While scrolling through Google Maps, I stumbled upon this new spot. Since it was walkable distance to our hotel, we decided to give it a try. As a somtum (papaya salad) enthusiast, I was thrilled to discover that the restaurant was named after it. To me, this signaled that the owners were very confident in their dish. As soon as I walked into the restaurant, I was seated immediately and greeted with big smiles. I really liked the interiors, especially the lighting and the paintings. My boyfriend and I ordered papaya salad with salted crab, grilled pork jowl, and pad see eew. Everything tasted phenomenal, and I don't think I'll ever forget my very first bite. It was my first time trying papaya salad with salted crab, and it reminded me of a sweeter version of ganjang gaejang (Korean raw soy sauce crabs). Also, it was my very first time trying the grilled pork jowl. As soon as you put it in your mouth it will melt in your mouth. I don't even think words can do justice to how amazing this dish was--it's just outstanding, and I wish everyone could try it. The servers were very attentive and always kept big smiles on their faces. My only regret is not being able to try more items from the menu, as my time in Toronto was limited and I had other places to visit. I will definitely be back and can't wait to try different dishes! read more

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3.5/5 Came for lunch and ate on the patio of their sister restaurant, Crying Tiger. Service was good and the food was authentic. In my opinion, the two dishes we ordered were a little salty. Mango sticky rice was really good though!! Verdict: think there are better Thai places in the city but it's probably the best Thai spot for papaya salad. read more

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Som Tum Jinda not surprisingly specializes in som tum dishes, which are spicy salads made primarily with papaya. Commonly known in English as papaya salad. The restaurant is run by chef-owner Jinda, who has been cooking som tum since 1974 in her hometown of Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. Som Tum Jinda offers a variety of som tum options, from the classic green papaya salad to more adventurous options. They also serve other Thai dishes, such as curries, stir-fries, noodles, and soups. The restaurant is beautifully decorated to feel cozy and casual. I'd go back! read more

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It was my 1st time in Toronto and I was really craving some authentic Thai (Lao-Isaan) flavors, but knew it was not going to be easy as I scrolled through options on Yelp. When I got to Som Tum Jinda, I intuitively knew this had to be the spot just by looking at their menu items. It's one of those "IFKYK" kinda (Thai) things- and I was NOT disappointed. Being a Michelin rated establishment, I didn't expect it to have the "hole in the wall" kind of look/feel so that was a plus from the get-go. The server was super friendly and the folks in the open kitchen seemed inviting and warm. There seemed to be a good cohesion among the staff, a good team. We ordered the Som Tum Mae Jeab- and I'm salivating as I'm writing this, remembering how my whole body came alive (not just my tastebuds) at the 1st bite! The flavors were ON POINT as if it came fresh out the krok of a seasoned som tum vendor in Thailand. Everything was fresh and the chef(s) really know what they're doing. The beef jerky and sticky rice dovetailed beautifully (always) with the Som Tum. The Pad Woon Sen Cha Om captured the flavor of the wok in the most delightful way, again speaking to the skill of the chef(s). The Lod Chong (one of my favorite Thai desserts) also did not disappoint with the fragrant pandan aroma coming through and what a delightful surprise to find little pieces of melon in it! I've never had it like that before and it was again, lovely. I'm SO glad we went there before we left Tdot, and told my partner that I'm going to be craving these dishes when we get back to LA. And here I am! We have some spots like that here, but I have to say this place is a for-sure gem in Toronto. Thank you for the soul food, smiles and warmth! I'll def be back any time I'm in Toronto. Kop khun maak, ka! Took yang aroy mot luey, ka! read more

If you want authentic Thai food in Toronto, this is the place to be. It's a bit of a hidden gem close to the university. Food was served hot, great texture and flavours all around. One thing to be mindful of is the spice level can be intense. If you can't handle it, best to ask for mild. Only issue I had was that the waitress missed our order on the papaya salad and when we reminded her, she came back with the full spice, which made the rest of the eating experience not so great. Decorations of the restaurant had a cool casual vibe to it, but seating is a bit small. Good for a date or small group of 4 friends tops. Recommend checking out this place for authentic Thai food. read more

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Highly recommend online booking to avoid waiting for a table as this Michelin recommend Northeastern Thai restaurant is small in size. Som Tum Jinda has a wide variety of papaya salad. I tried som tum tod which is fried papaya salad with peanut, garlic, chili, tomato, dried shrimp and green beans. I never had fried papaya before and the texture contast is very interesting! It kind of taste like banaa chips. Personally, panang curry was the star of the night. Thai tea slush is also not to be missed!!! I just wish the size was a bit larger for the price of $8... read more

I've had this spot on my bucketlist quite recently and wanted to give it a try! The menu stands out a lot from the typical Thai spot here and really reminded me a lot like the vibes of the Thailand street food. This spot (Som Tum Jinda) is one of the newer Thai spots in Toronto known for their papaya salad dish and won Michelin Bib Gourmand. Tum Mae Jeab (Papaya Salad): Delicious and flavourful with reasonable portion sizes. It's definitely more than the usual appetizer. I highly recommend you should get sticky rice as it's easier to eat with it. Warning the spice level was pretty high (as Thai spicy tends to be quite high), so I recommend getting mild. Kor Moo Yang (Pork Jowl): 100% worth getting. The sauce is really what made it extra good. The pork slices were nice to eat - not much fat. It was such a great pairing with the papaya salad. It's definitely one of my new favourites for Thai food in Toronto. I really like the unique menu they have that makes them stand out from the rest of the others. Great Northeastern Thai food was very reminsce during my visit to Chiang Mai. I would totally come back again! read more

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Interesting northeastern Thai spot. I know they have a rep for being really spicy, but they easily accommodate all spice levels. The pork larb and grilled chicken were pretty tasty and well cooked. But the standout was the papaya salad (tum mae jeab) - the papaya was fresh and cut well, and the fish sauce was one of the tastiest I've had in the city. Decor is lively and welcoming. Service is accommodating and attentive. Prices are reasonable. Place is packed but that adds rather than detracts from the energetic vibe. A great Thai spot downtown if you want to try something more than the usual pad thais. read more

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I stopped by here twice, once during the daytime and a second during the evening with a friend. In the daytime, there was plenty of seating however, for the evening, seats were being booked up so I recommend you book a reservation! Food: My favourite dish there for now has to be the panang which I had with beef. It is a flavourful peanut curry. There was the pad woonsen cha-om which I felt neutral about - it is a glass noodle dish. However, I did notice many customers ordered this for their table so it depends on your personal preference. Under the section 'Tum' on their menu, we ordered the Tum Mae Jeab (Pla Ra*) which is a papaya salad with salted crab. Pla ra is cooked fermented fish sauce. The salted crab is mainly there as a vessel that absorbs all the flavours from the fermented fish goodness. As you eat the salad, you can taste the umami from the crab - please note, that there is not meant to be much crab meat. Getting a side of sticky rice which is gluten-free is a must with any main dish! It is fragrant and arrives at your table in a cute woven mini container. Service/atmosphere: The wall art is colourful and gives the restaurant a fun vibe. The wait staff were helpful offering suggestions and sharing the best ways to eat the main dishes. For the future, I would try the pork jowl. read more

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Came here for weeknight dinner. The resto is right by Ryerson so a bit of a younger crowd here. They have seasonal specials and a very generous menu of meat, veggie, and rice / noodle dishes plus dessert and drinks. True to their name, they have a whole page of just papaya salad options. Overall the flavours are super unique and portions are decent. Our favourites were the panang curry and the minced chicken glass noodle. I would say be ready for your jacket, clothes and hair to smell like a steamy Thai resto for the next 2 days. Might catch a few glimpses of fire from the open kitchen as well! read more

Som Tum Jinda - Thai Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The papaya salad here was really good. The flavours were really strong and intense. However, if you don't like fishy flavours then it may not be your dish! I also ordered the stir fried pork jowl and stir-fried noodles. It tasted a lot like home cooking. These two dishes were fine. The service was okay. It was extremely cold in this restaurant so we did not order any drinks. The decor was pretty interesting, they had nice bags hanging on the walls and what looks like zodiac lanterns on the ceilings. I can't remember the last time this happened, but my friend and I had to drink so much water and eat so many mints after eating here because we were so thirsty. We drank water throughout the meal but wow it was clearly not enough. I would say come here for the papaya salad, but every thing else we got was just okay if not a little bit forgettable. I really had to dig through my photos to remember what I had here besides the salad. read more

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As a Thai native, this is my absolute favourite Thai restaurant in the GTA. I love northern Thai food and Som Tum in particular and this place is very authentic. The Som Tum (papaya salad) is made here with kapi which is fermented fish / shrimp paste which many other restaurants do not use. I absolutely loved the salmon som tum which had slices of fresh salmon in it. Super flavourful and reminded me of my moms cooking. Next up is the pork jowl which I also absolutely loved. Not many of the popular Thai restaurants serve pork jowl but this place does! Our party of 5 ordered 5 dishes and 1 dessert and were stuffed after. Honourable mentions: Pad Woon Sen was delicious and mango sticky rice was also good. I don't know what it is about mango sticky rice dishes at many popular restaurants now but they are making it too fancy ( cough cough koh Lipe with a fake mango with mango inside.) a good mango sticky rice is not too sweet with mango and sticky rice that isn't completely doused in sauce. Som Tum Jinda does it well. A side note is that Plearn Cafe is also part of the same family as Som Tum Jinda so you can order drinks from there and they will bring it over. I tried the Taronto (taro) and marshmallow drink which was very yummy ( but keep in mind it's very sweet). Their Thai iced tea is also a hit in my eyes. Made just right in my palette but also very sweet. I've recommended this restaurant to all my friends and will continue to do so. The waitstaff are nice and service is efficient. Thé restaurant cannot be said to be fancy looking and it is in a basement which may not be "it" for everyone. However it is nicely decorated with Thai culture and is cute. All in all come for the food, drinks and mango sticky rice! read more

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Michelin bib gourmand back in Thailand, we are lucky to have one of their locations here in Toronto. Made a reservation couple of days in advance, advisable as we noticed how quickly spots filled up. We were impressed! Here are our thoughts below. Thai iced tea: A bit on the sweeter end. I let the ice dilute it down a bit. Pad Woonsen Cha-om (minced pork or minced chicken) [Glass noodle, egg, garlic, acacia leaves]: Really good! Very good "wok hey". Kor Moo Yang [Grilled pork jowl]: Hands down my favorite dish. Loveee pork jowl, very juicy and soft. Tum Thai (image) [papaya, peanut, garlic, chilli, tomato, dried shrimp, green bean]: Pretty refreshing! There were different iterations of this dish, and would be open to try the other kinds. Kaeng Om (Pla Ra*) (Chicken) [mushroom, pumpkin, zucchini, dill, chilli, lemongrass, acacia leaves, cabbage]: Not a huge soup guy but this was very unique! Would order again. Lod Chong [Pandan jelly (rice flour), melon in sweet coconut milk]: I am not a huge pandan fan, I would most likely not order again, but those who do love Pandan, I can see the appeal for this dish. Overall Kel rating: 5/5 The good: Decently priced, great food! The decent: Spacing can be limited, advised to reserve The ugly: With all the dishes that we had, the table can be a bit tight! Just an fyi read more

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