Housed in a historical building on Elm Street in downtown Toronto, Bangkok Garden introduced Authentic Thai food and culture to the city over 40 years ago. Acclaimed as one of North America’s premiere Thai restaurants, Bangkok Garden serves authentic, house-made Thai food based on the Thai principle of balancing the five tastes. In addition, our cuisine caters to many dietary restrictions. From spiced stir-fries to fresh rolls and curries, there are several gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options to suit all.
The main dining room is lushly decorated in teak imported from Thailand. A gently flowing river, with a small school of fish and stones collected from the banks of the famous River Kwai in Kanchanaburi province, is guarded by Naga, a 150-year-old solid bronze protective dragon serpent from the home of a prosperous Thai merchant. Several pieces of statuary throughout the restaurant reflect popular Thai mythology. Furnishings and artifacts were chosen or designed specifically for the restaurant and imported, with special permission, from Thailand. This includes the teak temple bells and the hand-painted blue and white porcelain tableware. In October of 2013, a renovation transformed the bar & lounge area into a vibrant space for guests to enjoy a selection of Thai bites paired with exotic cocktails and martinis. The new interior with its bright colours and contemporary ambiance is a wonderful contrast to the warm teak interior of the main dining room.
I was alerted to this restaurant via a promotion with the Royal Thai Government and their ThaiSELECT Certification Program. This is an internationally recognized certification awarded by the Ministry of Commerce of the Royal Thai Government to restaurants and food producers that offer authentic Thai cuisine. Certified establishments use traditional ingredients and cooking methods, ensuring consistent quality and a genuine taste of Thailand across global markets. Each certified restaurant is held to high standards that reflect the rich culinary heritage of Thailand. You can learn more about the Thai SELECT program at www.thaiselect.ca
Bangkok Garden is one of those restaurants. Several in Montreal have received the same distinction, including Siam Centre-Ville and Épicerie Pumpui.
I was joined for lunch by my old friend Anthony, who told me that this place has always been one of his favorites. We started with some drinks: a serenity decaffeinated tea for me and a mango and lime mint fizz for him. He selected from the main menu while I took advantage of the unlimited tasting menu buffet, which included a wonderful noodle bar. The soup was simply fantastic! At the noodle bar, the server allowed me to select exactly what I wanted included, and this was a treat. It was piping hot, containing rice noodles, chicken and some garlic bites. Anthony had a similar soup brought to the table by our server.
For the main course, Anthony went with the Phad See EEW, containing broad rice noodles, vegetables and egg, with chicken added. I am a big fan of buffets and after having my soup, I went back and filled my plate with some spring rolls, chicken drumsticks, chicken fried rice, shrimp and some tasty chicken slices. There are dessert options as well. Our server brought their in-house sriracha hot sauce for us to try. It is imported directly from Thailand.
From Monday to Friday, 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, the buffet is open. The cost is a very reasonable $24 for adults and $15 for kids (under 12).
See my chat with Brian So, a manager https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ld414iLn5R4
Bangkok Garden is located at 18 Elm Street. It is open for lunch and dinner Monday to Friday, from Monday to Friday, from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and 5 pm to 10 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 4 pm to 10 pm. If you require handicapped access, please call ahead and arrangements will be made for you to use a special entrance and be seated at the main level. You can call 416-977-6748 and log on to https://bangkokgarden.ca/