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Favorites Thai – speakeasy communal open-concept dining vibe, with sharable plates and hand-crafted cocktails (Toronto)

Bryen Dunn — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:55:06 +0000

Favorites Thai—often referred to as “Faves”—is a vibrant, contemporary Thai restaurant in Toronto’s Ossington neighbourhood. A collaboration between restaurateurs Jonathan Poon and Monte Wan, the restaurant was conceived as a passion project dedicated to exploring Thai cuisine with depth, respect, and individuality. Since opening, Favorites Thai has earned four MICHELIN Bib Gourmand distinctions. Known for its hidden location, open kitchen, charcoal-driven cooking, and carefully curated beverage program, Favorites Thai offers an elevated yet approachable take on Thai dining in Toronto.

Hidden behind a discreet entrance off Ossington Avenue, the restaurant unfolds through a dark, steel-lined passageway into an open kitchen, where dishes are cooked in woks and over open charcoal flame. Beyond the kitchen, the dining room opens into a warm, striking space inspired by 1980s California Spanish design. The room was designed by a close-knit group of diversely talented collaborators, with lighting by local artist Phillip Aaron Pax. Treating light as a creative discipline rather than a decorative layer, Pax rejected conventional pendant fixtures in favour of a restrained, architectural approach—one that shapes atmosphere, movement, and focus throughout the space. Light is used with intention, from the dining room to transitional areas like the stairwell, where carefully considered illumination supports living elements such as plants and allows the architecture, materials, and energy of the room to take centre stage.

Globally Inspired Cuisine

As East Asia continues to shape travel trends among Canadians, four-time MICHELIN Bib Gourmand –recognized Favorites Thai has recently unveiled a newly refined menu, inspired by head chef Ronnie Xu’s recent travels through the region. Tucked behind Sam James Coffee Bar, the restaurant’s latest update reflects how global travel is increasingly informing Toronto’s most thoughtful kitchens by bringing technique, perspective, and restraint back home.

Rather than reinventing the menu, Xu sharpens Favorites Thai’s contemporary approach by leaning into charcoal cooking, fire-driven technique, and foundational Thai flavours. The refinement strips away excess in favour of clarity and balance, allowing ingredients to take centre stage. A key element of the update is the use of Japanese binchotan charcoal, prized for its exceptionally high, clean heat. Unlike conventional charcoal, binchotan burns without imparting smoke or aroma, sealing in flavour while preserving the natural texture of each ingredient. The result is a more focused expression of Thai cooking—one that prioritizes precision, intention, and restraint.

The new menu marks an evolution for Favorites Thai, continuing the restaurant’s reputation for respectful, modern interpretations of Thai cuisine. Shaped by travel and grounded in tradition, it reflects a broader shift in Toronto’s dining scene, where chefs are translating their experiences abroad into menus that feel both globally informed and distinctly local.

Masterminds

A passion project by longtime friends and collaborators Jonathan Poon (Chantecler, Superpoint, Paris Paris) and Monte Wan (Khao San Road, Satanee Nana, Bang Sue), Favorites Thai was created to explore Thai cuisine beyond the expected. Since opening, the restaurant has become known for its considered point of view: respectful of tradition, yet unafraid to interpret it through a modern lens.

Longstanding guest favourites remain anchors of the menu, including Thai-Style Oysters—East Coast oysters topped with housemade nam jim, chilli jam, and crispy shallots—and the richly composed Duck Curry, featuring a confit duck leg served over a reduced red curry with green beans, asparagus, and aromatic lime leaf. Both dishes have been staples at Favorites Thai for more than three years and continue to define the restaurant’s approach to flavour and balance.

New and evolving dishes reflect Chef Xu’s culinary perspective, shaped by his Shanghai roots and extensive time cooking and travelling throughout Thailand. With deep fluency in Thai, Japanese, and Chinese cuisines, Xu’s cooking is grounded in tradition while allowing room for refinement and personal expression. Across the menu, charcoal grilling—using Japanese binchotan—now plays a more central role, lending depth and clarity to dishes rooted in nam jim, the foundational “mother sauce” of Thai cooking.

Cocktail Creativity

The beverage program evolves in step with the kitchen, anchored by a wine and cocktail list that highlights natural and low-intervention producers, local beers, and thoughtful, seasonally driven cocktails. The by-the-glass wine selection balances the unexpected with the approachable—spanning bright bubbles, aromatic whites, skin-contact wines, chilled reds, and playful styles—curated specifically to complement Thai flavours, spice, and texture. Cocktails draw from classic frameworks, reinterpreted through South and Southeast Asian ingredients and in-season produce, with a new signature cocktail set to debut later this month.

Favorites Thai remains a destination for those in the know, offering consistently executed food, warm hospitality, and an intimate dining experience equally suited to date nights and group dinners. Favorites Thai is open Tuesday through Saturday from 6:00 PM until late. Reservations are available via OpenTable HERE.

The post Favorites Thai – speakeasy communal open-concept dining vibe, with sharable plates and hand-crafted cocktails (Toronto) appeared first on PinkPlayMags.

Valentine’s Date and Dine Options in Toronto

Bryen Dunn — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:30:52 +0000

This Valentine’s Day, celebrate with some of Toronto’s most compelling dining destinations—including award-winning and MICHELIN-recognized restaurants—each offering thoughtfully crafted menus and elevated experiences designed for the occasion. From refined tasting menus and seasonal pairings to intimate, ingredient-driven dinners, Minami Toronto, Miku Toronto, Radici, No Vacancy, Lyla, Antler, Aburi Tora, and Favorites Thai invite guests to mark the holiday through exceptional food, thoughtful beverage programs, and warm hospitality. Whether planning an intimate dinner for two or a special evening out, each restaurant offers a distinct approach to celebrating Valentine’s Day in Toronto.

Minami Toronto invites guests to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Toronto with an elegant five-course tasting menu created by Head Chef Nao Akutagawa and MICHELIN-starred Executive Pastry Chef Aiko Uchigoshi. Available from February 13 to 15 at Minami Restaurant starting at 4:00 pm, the experience is priced at $110 per person plus tax and gratuity and is designed for a relaxed and romantic evening. The menu highlights contemporary Japanese cuisine, including a surf and turf main featuring Japanese Wagyu and Alaskan scallops. Guests can enhance the experience with an optional four-course wine pairing or a featured Valentine’s cocktail, crafted to complement each course. Whether planning an intimate date night or a special celebration, Minami offers a sophisticated setting where contemporary Japanese cuisine, artful presentation, and warm hospitality come together. Minami’s Valentine’s Day experience is a memorable way to mark the occasion and share an evening centered around exceptional food and connection.Guests can book this romantic evening HERE.

Minami

IG. @minamitoronto

225 King St. W

Miku Toronto will celebrate Valentine’s Day with two special experiences, inviting guests to spend the day and evening indulging in contemporary Japanese cooking and floral artistry. Earlier in the day, Miku Toronto will host a Valentine’s Day Ikebana Luncheon featuring acclaimed Ikebana artist Aya Sugino, priced at $150 per person plus tax and gratuity, with the Valentine’s featured cocktail, Love is in the Air, also available. In the evening, the restaurant will present a seven-course Valentine’s Day tasting menu by Chef de Cuisine Michael Acero and MICHELIN-starred Executive Pastry Chef Aiko Uchigoshi at $180 per person plus tax and gratuity, accompanied by live music and an optional wine and sake pairing available for an additional $55. The Valentine’s featured cocktail, Love is in the Air, will also be available for $17. Together, the experiences offer couples the option to celebrate with a creative daytime luncheon, a romantic evening tasting menu, or both. The Valentine’s Day tasting menu unfolds over seven courses, beginning with seafood-driven dishes and concluding with an Oishii Strawberry shortcake layered with Valrhona Dulcey glacé and pistachio crumble by Executive Pastry Chef Aiko Uchigoshi. The Valentine’s Day Ikebana Luncheon includes a guided one-hour Ikebana session with Aya Sugino, with all materials provided, including vase, flowers, and floral décor, followed by an Ikebana-inspired sushi set curated by Chef de Cuisine Michael Acero. Guests can reserve a spot for the Valentine’s Day Ikebana Luncheon HERE, and reserve a spot for the Valentine’s Day tasting menu HERE.

Miku

IG. @mikutoronto

10 Bay St.

Radici Project will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a seasonal multi-course tasting menu designed to highlight the creativity of the kitchen and the best of the season’s bounty. Priced at $200 per guest plus tax and gratuity, the Valentine’s Day experience invites guests to celebrate love through a thoughtfully composed dining journey. Guests can enhance the experience with an optional seasonal wine and sake pairing for $70, or a non alcoholic pairing featuring house-made juices and crafted zero-proof cocktails for $50. Set in Radici’s intimate dining room, the evening will unfold with soft music in the background and artistic Ikebana floral arrangements throughout the space, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere that mirrors the beauty and creativity of the dishes being served. Guests can reserve a spot HERE.

Radici Project

IG. @radici_project

588 College St.

From February 13-15, No Vacancy invites guests to celebrate Valentine’s —or Galentine’s— with a limited lineup of exclusive, themed cocktails crafted for the occasion. Set within its signature candlelit atmosphere, the bar will offer an intimate backdrop for evening gatherings, date nights, and celebratory toasts alike.

A destination for couples, friends, and groups celebrating any occasion, the experience highlights the venue’s late-night atmosphere while introducing limited-time Valentine’s cocktail features available throughout the weekend. Reservations are recommended and can be made HERE.

No Vacancy

IG. @novacancyto

74 Ossington Ave

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Lyla with a four-chapter Prix Fixe Dinner designed for sharing. On February 13-15, guests are invited to settle in at Lyla for a $119 per person, family-style menu that moves from a Petit Plateau of oysters, hamachi and scallop ceviche to crowd-pleasing mains like linguine all’aragosta and Canadian prime striploin, finishing with Fraisier, a bright, strawberry-forward dessert with passionfruit, vanilla sponge, and a silky ganache. For those looking to elevate the evening, guests can add a $69 beverage pairing or a $49 caviar tin alongside the first course.
Guests can reserve this showstopping dinner via OpenTable HERE.

Lyla

IG. @lylatoronto

60 Sudbury St

Antler nvites guests to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Toronto with a thoughtfully composed five-course tasting menu available Saturday, February 14, 2026. Offered exclusively for one night, the experience is priced at $129 per person plus tax and gratuity, with an optional $65 wine pairing designed to complement each course. Available from 3:00 pm to 9:45 pm, the menu reflects Antler’s distinctly Canadian approach, highlighting carefully sourced ingredients and refined technique.Whether planning an intimate Valentine’s dinner or a special celebration, Antler offers a warm, refined setting to mark the occasion through seasonally driven dishes and thoughtful hospitality. Reservations are now available HERE.

Antler

IG. @antlerkitchenbar

1454 Dundas St. W

Ficoa invites guests to celebrate Valentine’s weekend in Toronto with a special dining experience available Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14. Throughout the weekend, Ficoa will exclusively offer its signature tasting menu ($120 per person) alongside a dedicated Valentine’s Day menu priced at $95 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity. An optional cocktail pairing is available for $75 to complement the menu. Seating times are offered at 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, creating multiple opportunities to enjoy the experience. Whether planning a romantic evening or a celebratory night out, Ficoa’s Valentine’s weekend offering highlights the restaurant’s bold, contemporary approach to Neo-Latin cuisine, pairing vibrant flavours with thoughtful hospitality in an intimate setting. Reservations are available at the link HERE.

Ficoa

IG. @ficoa.to

585 College St

Aburi Toria is located inside Yorkdale Shopping Centre, is featuring a Valentine-inspired feature menu called Be My Love, created by Young Son, that celebrates romance through refined Japanese flavours and playful touches of sweetness. Available from February 11–28, this limited-time offering highlights delicate seafood, vibrant seasonal ingredients, and elegant desserts — each dish thoughtfully designed for sharing, indulgence, and moments worth savouring. From the luxurious Truffle Lobster Nigiri to the visually striking Aburi Hotate Sashimi with strawberry shiso salsa, alongside heart-themed cocktails and classic wagashi, every item balances sophistication with a subtle nod to Valentine’s Day. Whether for date nights, celebrations, or simply treating yourself, Be My Love Features invites guests to experience love at first bite. No reservations are needed to dine here.

Aburi Tora

IG. @aburitoratoronto

612B-3401 Dufferin Street

For those planning a Valentine’s dinner for a more intimate and chef-driven approach, Favorites Thai will offer a 6-course prix fixe experience priced at $110 per person–exclusive of tax and gratuity– on February 14. Guests have the option to add beverage pairings for an additional $50 per person. Led by head chef Ronnie Xu, the four-time MICHELIN Bib Gourmand–recognized restaurant recently introduced a refined menu shaped by his travels through East Asia, emphasizing charcoal cooking, fire-driven technique, and balanced Thai flavours. Guests can expect signature Thai flavour profiles alongside evolving dishes that highlight Japanese binchotan charcoal grilling and foundational elements such as nam jim, delivering bold yet precise flavours in a warm, energetic setting suited for date nights or small gatherings. Reservations are available on Opentable HERE.

Favorites Thai

IG. @myfavethai

141 Ossington Ave

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