For every chi-chi restaurant we head to, there’s a night of the week we’d rather just order takeout or go somewhere a little less stuffy.
Enter Charm Modern Thai, where owner Desmond Chen (whose family is behind the Thai House, Chilli House, Urban Thai Bistro and Samba Brazilian Steakhouse empire) offers traditional Thai tastes and aromas in a comfortable yet modern urban ambiance.
We slid into a tall, dark wood booth in the crimson-and-gold room and were promptly dazzled by chef Tipnari Kulriwanich’s creations. Born in Chiangmai into two generations of chefs, we loved her Tom Kar Goong ($5.50), a hot and sour soup with coconut milk, lemongrass, and prawns, and her Phoo Nim Tempura ($14), a soft shell crab tempura dish served with fruit salsa and Thai lime soy. The Nam Tok Neau ($12), a grilled beef flank plate mixed with Thai chilli and lime sauce, topped our list, too.
Next, we tucked in traditional Pad Thai ($14) and tried the Gang Kuar Sapparot ($15), a pineapple-braised beef short ribs entrée with fresh pineapple chunks, which was delicious when paired with coconut-steamed jasmine rice ($2.50). And for dessert? Why, a chocolate chilli tort ($4.50), of course.
Savoury, delicious, and so-not-snobby—sounds like our kind of place.
Charm Modern Thai
www.charmmodernthai.com
1269 Hamilton St. (at Drake St.)
604-688-9339
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