Thai Basil — Restaurant in Richmond Hill

My husband and I came here for lunch. I trolled their IG account for ideas on what to order. They had many dishes we wanted to try but we had to be conscious about our budget. We ended up ordering: Lunch special “Khao Soi” Northern Thai Curry Noodle Beef Brisket (comes with a soup & spring roll) Crispy Pork Belly with Tung Choi Roti

Total before tips = $55

Had we not been there on a budget, I’d also would have like to try their: Thai Iced Tea & Thai Green Iced Tea (FYI - they have a 50% off special on right now, by 4/18/2024, but we couldn’t take advantage as we had a $10 off coupon for our whole meal. Couldn’t combine offers, which is totally understandable) Signature Shrimp Cakes Kai Yang Grilled Chicken Mango Sticky Rice

Restaurant had a nice decor. Food was very good and really tasty. Presentation of our meals was lovely. We really enjoyed everything. Service was friendly as well, especially when we had a bit of a communication misunderstanding about their special promos going on. They have a BOGO on their Bangkok Pad Thai as take-out with a minimum order of $20 (by May 10, 2024). We thought our $55 meal (or more like $45 after coupon) would have qualified but the $20 take-out was based on a $20 minimum TAKE-OUT order and not dine-in. Oh well… I was actually looking forward to try this dish and not cook this weekend. 😂 Our server was also not initially aware of this condition until he put the order in and was then told otherwise by someone at the back. In my mind, I’m not too sure what the difference is between a minimum $20 take-out order vs $20 dine-in. We met the minimum dollar amount ($45 after discount) and also left a tip because we dined-in. I left a 5 star rating because a 4-star would not have seemed fair for what we got & were serviced. However, if I could, it would have been more of a 4.5 star because of this inflexibility/their inability to accommodate, especially since we don’t often get take-out...

A Culinary Escape to Thailand in Richmond Hill

Nestled in the heart of Richmond Hill, this unassuming Thai gem offers a genuine taste of Thailand that makes you feel transported the moment you step inside. The décor beautifully evokes the ambiance of Thailand, setting the stage for a memorable evening with friends.

We sampled a variety of dishes, starting with the Tom Yum Soup, which delivered a delightful harmony of sourness and spice. The tangy broth had just the right amount of chili kick, showcasing the kitchen’s finesse with traditional Thai flavors.

The Pad Thai was a revelation. Unlike any I’ve tasted before, it struck an impeccable balance of flavors, with a medley of textures that left a lasting impression. It was clear that the chef took great care in crafting each element of this dish.

Moving on to the Sweet and Sour Chicken, while the sauce was a classic, we found it slightly too tangy and lacking in savoriness. However, it still brought a familiar taste that complemented the rest of the meal.

The Pork Belly with Vegetables was the one slight disappointment of the evening. The portion of pork belly was notably smaller than expected, especially compared to the enticing images on the menu. Yet, the flavor was outstanding, with tender pork belly pieces mingling beautifully with the fresh vegetables.

For dessert, we indulged in the Mango Sticky Rice. The mango, with its subtle sourness, paired wonderfully with the sweet, creamy sticky rice, making for a balanced and refreshing end to the meal.

The overall experience was authentic and satisfying, although the service timing could use a bit of improvement. Our mango sticky rice dessert arrived 20 minutes after ordering, despite being requested alongside our main dishes. Nevertheless, the reasonable prices, friendly staff, and the delicious food more than made up for this minor hiccup. We’ll certainly be back to savor more of this hidden gem’s delightful...

UPDATE: The damage caused was far more extensive than we initially thought. The repair costs are now extremely high, and this entire situation could have been avoided with basic responsibility and awareness. Despite offering to pay for the damage, they did not honour their verbal agreement.

Yes, the food was good and our server was friendly — but none of that matters when you're dealing with this level of dangerous negligence. After we finished dining, we witnessed one of the restaurant’s staff — a server — recklessly reverse her large Mercedes G-Wagon straight into my cousin’s parked truck. She admitted that she didn’t use her mirrors. She didn’t check behind her. She didn’t even seem to realize her vehicle didn’t have a backup camera. She just backed up blindly in a busy parking lot.

This wasn’t a simple mistake. This was careless, irresponsible, and downright dangerous. What if it had been a person walking behind the vehicle instead of a truck? This is a serious safety hazard, and it's clear the staff member had zero regard for her surroundings or the damage she could cause.

We’re now stuck with major vehicle damage and a massive repair bill — all because of the reckless actions of someone who should never be operating a vehicle so carelessly, especially in a public, customer-filled space.

To the owners and management: You are responsible for who you employ and how they conduct themselves on your property. Incidents like this aren’t just accidents — they are preventable with proper oversight and accountability.

To the public: Be extremely cautious if you visit this location. Watch your vehicle, your children, and yourselves. If this is how casually your staff behaves behind the wheel, it raises serious questions about how seriously safety is taken at this...