Maya Bay Thai  – 252 Carlton St., Toronto, ON M5A 2L3
Country: Thailand          
Must-try dish: Hot Lai (Stir-Fried Clams)
Dinner guests: Baby Shamu, Lulu, Pornstar Sam, The Hairdresser & Wine Genie
Seating: Only indoor seating 
The high: Maya Bay carries unique recipes and dishes from other Thai spots in the city. 
The low: The menu is big so it will take a few meals there to get through it. Is this a bad thing though?! 

Thai food is notoriously spicy, even in a mild setting, so those with a sensitive palate should always request low levels of heat. If there are spice boundaries in a group, it’s always a safer bet to opt for mild and get some chili on the side, which was exactly the play at Maya Bay. 

Maya Bay Thai landed on our radar when a friend mentioned that a Thai lady living in Toronto recommended it as her favourite place to eat her country’s national cuisine in the city. With so many Thai food lovers in our circle, it was immediately added to the calendar for dinner. 

This is what ultimately led us to a Monday night meal packed with Thai enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike, looking for the best Toronto has to offer in the realm of Thai delights. With seven hungry bellies at the table, we ordered the first round of dishes promptly and waited with eager anticipation.

First Course
The highlight of the appetizer course, and the meal in general, was the Hot Lai – steamed clams in a spicy, flavorful sauce. The portion is massive, which was perfect for sharing and allowed for each diner to eat as many clams as their hearts desired. If you’re going for one dish, this is it. 

A first for the majority of the table was the Spicy Northern Larb, a chicken dish with small pieces of meat cooked in spices that are an explosion of taste in your mouth. Not surprisingly, it hails from the North of the country, which tends to be more protein focused. You might want rice to counteract the spice, or perhaps you may not at all, but get ready for a ride. 

The Leng Saap is a specimen of beauty, a center-piece for the table – the base is a tangy bone broth with a mountain tender pork still on the bone. As you grab a piece, the meat slowly drops off the bone, and once inside your mouth, it’s juicy and delicious. With the generous portion, you can go back for seconds and maybe even thirds. 

As for the Tom Yum Fried Wings, they were quickly devoured with just the right amount of bite from the Tom Yum seasoning. They are medium sized and breaded, with just the perfect amount for our table. The above appetizers were preferred but these are still worth getting if you want additional dishes in the order.  

The Mango Salad was the first to arrive, and if we’re going to be honest, it didn’t give the best first impression. While it’s tough to get it right with the ripeness of mangoes here, the fruit was simply covered in sweet and sour sauce that reminded us of the one you’d purchase at the grocery store. It was underwhelming. 

Second Course
Picking between all the main dishes was one of the most difficult decisions that Mandrea Bike has ever had to make, but we finally got there with diversification on top of that! 

An obvious choice was the Pad Thai Maya, which apparently tastes exactly like ones of the streets of Bangkok. It was perfectly balanced with a rich brown colour and reasonable spice levels. It’s a classic dish that can be butchered in many restaurants, so when you get the real deal. It’s one of the best dishes on the menu. Whether you’re a pad thai lover or hater, we urge you to taste Maya’s rendition of the recipe.  

Speaking of classics, the Green Thai Curry with Rice is another hit that’s knocked out of the park. The creamy, velvety green broth melts in your mouth – the chicken and vegetables are simply an added bonus. You could drink this, and then grab it for another sip without thinking about it. 

There’s one dish under “Maya’s Specials”, so it was a no-brainer that we had to order the dish from the house. The Chilli & Salt Crispy Pork Belly is pieces of pork over rice, but it’s so much more than that. For some of our group, it was the must-try dish of the night. The meat truly is crispy with the tenderness of the belly, without being too fatty. We understand why it’s Maya’s speciality. 

Even though our order seemed excessive, we had to order the Karee Soft Shell Crab, which comes served over a garlic fried rice. Since it’s soft shell, you can actually eat it in the attempt to get to the real meat. But every bite had a mix of garlic and spices with a hint of heat. It’s heavy on the rice but worth sharing with a group to try something new and unique. Not to mention, it was a contender for the best dish of the night. 

If it wasn’t already obvious, we want to emphasize how wonderful this restaurant is for all types of Thai food lovers. It’s open all the days of the week for lunch and dinner, so there’s really no excuse to miss out! 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)