TASTE OF THAI SELECT: Bolan Thai Cuisine

 Nestled in the heart of Davisville in Toronto is Bolan Thai Cuisine, a relatively new restaurant that opened in the spring of 2016. Located on Mount Pleasant just south of Eglinton this cozy spot offers a variety of tasty dishes in a relaxed contemporary atmosphere that is clean and comfortable.

Owner Phimonrat Chaidetkamjohn and her partner combined their love of cooking and Thai food with their love of interior design and the industrial aesthetic to create a spot that is uniquely their own. The decor makes creative use of ordinary objects and materials. The food is equally creative, offering beautiful presentations of classics from different parts of Thailand.

Phimonrat started cooking with her mom as a child, but this is her first venture into working as a chef professionally. She and her partner choose Mount Pleasant since they liked the area and wanted to focus on offering a nice dine-in experience for local residents. They already have loyal regulars who keep coming back.

 Veggie Spring Rolls

We started with veggie spring rolls which are a staple in most Thai restaurants. However Bolan served them better than most we've had better than we have had before. The outside was crispy and not at all soggy or greasy. The veggies inside were fresh and crisp, and the light tasting dipping sauce was perfect.

Yellow Curry Fried Rice with Shrimp

Next we tried the yellow curry fried rice which was served with shrimp. Instead of the usual tiny shrimps in with the fried rice, there were huge breaded fried shrimp served on top. They were very crispy and well seasoned. The fried rice itself had fluffy eggs that complemented the texture of the shrimp perfectly. Delicious pieces of tomatoes were a nice touch as well.

Green Curry Chicken

The green curry with chicken was a slightly more spicy dish, but full of lovely anise flavour. The eggplant which accompanied the chicken had a nice texture... too often it's mushy but they got it just right!

Lemongrass Beef

Probably the most spicy offering we tried was the lemongrass beef. It has a sweet yet spicy sauce that had left our mouths with a warm feeling! Unlike most spicy food Thai spice is all about bringing out flavour, and that definitely was the case here. The beef was perfectly cooked and had a nice texture.

Peanut Curry with Tofu

One of my favourite dishes is peanut (Panang) curry, and a test of a good Thai restaurant is how they prepare this dish. It's also considered by many travelers to be one of the world's most delicious foods! The sauce was prepared well with a rich flavour and not very spicy. The veggies were cooked enough to get the lovely peanut flavour but still retained some crunch.

If you're around Mount Pleasant and Eglinton and feeling like a delicious meal in a charming environment than head on over to Bolan Thai Cuisine located at 709 Mount Pleasant Road in Toronto. They are open every day of the week for lunch and dinner. We are also told their Royal Pad Thai is wonderful, and hope we can head back again to give it a try!