Queen Mother Cafe — Restaurant in Toronto

Great food, great service, great ambiance.

Looks can be deceiving. When we first arrived, the front of the store looked like a bar and the room was quite dark. We made reservations for a patio in the back, and when we got there, it was actually a really nice cute place - definitely not what I was expecting when walking through the restaurant. I also think you need to make reservations in advance because it can get quite busy - we almost wasn’t able to book a table, but luckily we were only 5 minutes away. Anyways, it’s an interesting place for Thai food fusion. I saw lots of people ordering burgers, but we ordered the Asian dishes. We got the spring rolls for appetizers, which was delicious. Whatever that dipping sauce is - it’s really good. We got the pad Thai, the Ping Gai chicken and khao soy. It was definitely lots of food and the portion sizes were a lot bigger than what was shown in the pictures from other reviews. So, our favourite was definitely the Ping Gai chicken - absolutely loved the flavours. It was marinated and then barbecued, so it was the married combination of juicy and crunchy/ charred chicken. It came with a little rice and some greens (mixed green salad). We also enjoyed the pad Thai; it was different than the authentic flavour, but still very delicious. There was shrimp and chicken in it. We got it mild which I personally found to be a little light - might go for the medium next time. The khao soy was good too - tasted like a curry mixed noodle, and less sweet (we had gone to Pai the previous night and found their khao soy to be too sweet over savoury), which is what we were looking for. There was thin egg noodles in the khao soy that was super bouncy and soaked up all the flavours of the curry. We got the medium spicy for the khao soy which I found to be pretty good. Either way, overall the food was great.

Our waiter (I think I overheard her name was Sue?) was super nice and attentive. Service was great. Mood and ambiance was great. Definitely a hidden gem that I would come back to again. Don’t let the front of the store...

i recently visited this restaurant in downtown toronto, and it was a pleasant experience from start to finish. we had a funny start when we got there because the door seemed locked, but the staff spotted us right away and opened it with a smile. once inside, i loved how calm and lowkey the ambiance felt--no flashy colors or decorations, just a warm and welcoming vibe. we even got to choose our own table, so we picked a cozy window seat that gave us a nice view of the busy street.

the staff really stand out for their friendliness. although i can't recall names, my server made a genuine effort to chat with us and see how our day was going. now, onto the food: absolutely phenomenal. i tried the ping gai first, and i'd easily give it a 6/5. it's a large portion of chicken that's not only juicy but also packed with flavor, like it's been marinated for hours. there's not a huge amount of rice, but you get so much chicken that it's more than enough. plus, they provide a little salad on the side and a tangy dipping sauce, which balances everything nicely. for the quality and the portion size, i found it super affordable.

the second dish i had was the khao soi, and i'd rate it a solid 5/5. the noodles were a different experience for sure but i wont complain. the broth was wonderfully rich and creamy, with just the right balance of heat and sweetness. the noodles were cooked perfectly, and the serving size was satisfying. my only minor complaint was the abundance of shallots on top, which can be overpowering if you're not big on onions. still, it was so tasty overall that i'd definitely order it again--maybe i'll just ask for fewer onions next time.

overall, i really appreciate how unpretentious this place is. the staff are warm and attentive, and the food truly delivers. would i come back again? absolutely, 100%. if you're looking for a relaxed spot with outstanding dishes in downtown toronto, this should be high...

I feel so bad writing this review because their service is great (hence 2 stars) but I have to. Seriously do not understand the 5 star reviews for this place. I assume it’s all from Caucasian people who haven’t tried real Sri Lankan & Thai food. I ordered the “spicy” peanut noodle bowl and the batu sambal. Usually for Sri Lankan food (I am Sri Lankan), sambal is supposed to be heavily spiced. This was a super bland, cold eggplant dip with unbuttered naan pieces. No flavour despite the menu claiming it has green chilies and shallot. All we tasted was bland cold mashed eggplant. My first red flag should’ve been their menu calling it “naan bread”. Naan already means bread. Their spicy peanut noodle bowl was neither spicy nor peanut-y. There was no detectable spice at all and the peanut flavour was quite weak. The tofu was rubbery and flavourless. I ate two bites then tried to re-cook it with chili oil. Even that couldn’t save it. My mom ended up eating it because we hate wasting food.

If you want whitewashed Thai/Sri Lankan/Laotian food, go here. If you want real ethnic flavours, go elsewhere. I was expecting so much more, and after spending $54 for one main and two appetizers I was left severely disappointed. All the employees that I saw were Caucasian and so were all the diners, so not sure if that’s why they don’t add much spice. But it’s dishonest to call it Sri Lankan or Thai food and not add the appropriate spices and flavours. There should be a message warning you it’s Canadianized...