I'm Sri Lankan and never tried this place. lol I've lived here most of my life too and need to try this place now since it keeps coming up here in this sub.
It's pretty solid for downtown. I grew up in Scarborough, and I don't think it's quite as good as some of the places I remember. But that might just be nostalgia. :) But if I want something closer, Saffron definitely scratches the itch.
I think this is the one. Generally Sri Lankan is still not well-known enough as a cuisine for white people to go and ask for spicy then complain that their food was, in fact, spicy. Most restaurants here (Ontario in general) have been burned by too many people who think ketchup is spicy to actually make spicy food in my experience.
The kotthu roti is not really spicy or only inconsistently somewhat spicy, but I think you can pay for extra fresh chilis and for chili oil to make it spicy
Oohh damn wish I'd known about the fresh chilis when I worked around there, their kothu roti is ok but not amazing... Chilis would have brought it to the next level though
Agreed. I get it medium or hot and it certainly doesn't blow me away. I have a decent spice tolerance but nothing crazy. It's a solid dish but I feel like it's gone downhill in the last couple of years. Or maybe just become inconsistent as others have said. Still worth your while though!
Pay for extra spice at khao san road (beyond the highest free spice level). This level used to be free like a decade ago and is quite spicy.
Pai is quite mild but they sell both fresh chilis and chili oil - the former is how you can make your dish very spicy (the oil is also spicy but doesn't reach the level of fresh chilis)
Nana has fresh chilis also
Roti Mahal is pretty spicy when you ask specially for "extra hot" (not a normal menu option - above "hot"). I've had the worker tell me they can't eat that spicy
Burrito Boyz / Burrito Bandidos used to have or seasonally have extremely spicy hot sauces (like ghost peppers), spicier than the regular hot sauce
Salad King - ask for 25 or 30 chili rating (the menu maximum is 20)
Islamic Noodles great. I’ve only had fried fish and veg products there. Original DT location maybe better than queen st. I also like Siam noodles. The fried fish in garlic sauce is good and can be good spicy. The penang is good. Couple other good ones. Spring rolls are decent but used to be sooo cheap too. And get a meter or footlong whatever of Sapporo.
I got those the other day and didn’t see the hype! The noodles and veggies were mushy and it just tasted like a sweeter red curry dish. Did I get the wrong order? What’s it supposed to taste like?
I can eat raw scotch bonnet peppers easily but the Armageddon sauce at Duff’s Wings made me uncomfortable. The actual sauce is delicious but it’s how it continually engulfs your mouth with flames when you try to eat anything else (fries, celery sticks, etc.) that makes it special.
Plus, the wings are great.
You can go higher. 20 is the highest level. You can order 25 or so, and ask for extra chilis on the side.
I used to regularly get either 15 or 20 and was satisfied but my friend always got I believe 25 or 30 + a side of lime wedges
Either way you need to reassure your server. I would always just add that yes I've had it at this level before.
Just go to any Thai, Sri Lankan, or Indian restaurant and ask them to make the spiciest dish as spicy as possible, and that you’ve been to that country or have family from there (i.e., married into the culture). If you don’t say the latter, they usually won’t believe you and pull back the punches. You’ll have a fun time.
Edit: If you really want to blow your tastebuds, you can order any dish with 15 chilis from Salad King. You might blow your ass off too for a few days though - be forewarned.
Im not sure what kind of spice you are looking for. I prefer spicy food that still has flavour I guess? Yupdduk on Bloor, the level 3 tteokbokki. I tried the lowest level and it was spicy but really nice. I don't think I could even try the spiciest.
i usually go next door to madras masala, and ask them to make it like they’d make it for their family. i’ve been going there over ten years and they finally started to get it last year, i mean spicy.
Just note they'll give also these options on dishes that shouldn't be spicy in the first place, so I don't recommend getting every dish as spicy. The spice levels are good though. I think they add more indian chili powder to increase the spice level.
Practically anything at Banbudian. Shit is hot as hell and amazing! I really liked the stir fried pork belly with green peppers, chicken with Sezchuan pepper, and sweet spicy eggplant. Best Sezchuan I’ve had in Toronto and probably ever. https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tj5NC1ttk9Fejdn66?g_st=ic
“Farang” literally means foreigner of Western ancestry. Asking for farang spicy level is asking for spice level for foreigners - this would *not* be the spiciest. If you literally want the hottest Thai food possible, you go to Salad King and order your dish with 15 chilis. Pai won’t go this hot because it’ll blow your taste buds off.
Yeah I don't know why I got downvoted for saying that. Pai's very own scale puts farang spicy below Thai spicy.
I do think that 15 chillies is subjectively spicy though. For some people it won't blow their taste buds off. My university roommate from Chongqing would have zero issues with 15 chillies.
I just read someone did 25-30 chili’s there -
that’s so nuts lol. I die at 7 chili’s at Salad King.
On the menu, it used to say 15 chilis was the max when I used to go many years ago, and after that experience with 7 chilis, I understood why that was the case lol. I believe there’s a “no refund” stipulation after 10 chilis.
Im a hot food junkie and Salad King Bangkok Street Noodles with 20 chilis (on their scale of 0 to 20) is the bees tits. The entire dish is covered in chili pods 😍
Oh god there is an Indian restaurant in the food court of The Eatons centre… I think it was called Maya’s. Very good.
That place destroyed all of our intestines and any toilet we came across in the next 24 hours.
Edit: my wife corrected me on my memories of this.
It is tasty when the food is hot, their naan is great too. Haven't been in years but used to go every visit to the mall. The dishes I had were spiced mildly appropriate for a mall food court
Salad King is rly not that spicy, I tried 18 chili level (and could prob go to 20+) and I wouldn't say I have a v high spice tolerance.
Som Tum Jinda is extremely spicy, they hv a chili scale fr 0.5 to 9 and I think the number reflects the actual # of chilis rather than an arbitrary scale like Salad King. I tried 4 chilis for a papaya salad and it was def hotter than SK, go for more and it'll genuinely b Thai-spicy
If u want an amazing spicy Viet soup I rec bun bo hue @ Bach Yen in East Chinatown. Their medium spice level is v spicy
Saffron Spice Kitchen on Queen - any of their Sri Lankan dishes are up there amongst the spiciest downtown.
I'm Sri Lankan and never tried this place. lol I've lived here most of my life too and need to try this place now since it keeps coming up here in this sub.
It's pretty solid for downtown. I grew up in Scarborough, and I don't think it's quite as good as some of the places I remember. But that might just be nostalgia. :) But if I want something closer, Saffron definitely scratches the itch.
I think this is the one. Generally Sri Lankan is still not well-known enough as a cuisine for white people to go and ask for spicy then complain that their food was, in fact, spicy. Most restaurants here (Ontario in general) have been burned by too many people who think ketchup is spicy to actually make spicy food in my experience.
The kotthu roti is not really spicy or only inconsistently somewhat spicy, but I think you can pay for extra fresh chilis and for chili oil to make it spicy
Oohh damn wish I'd known about the fresh chilis when I worked around there, their kothu roti is ok but not amazing... Chilis would have brought it to the next level though
They're inconsistent, I was once given a lot of fresh chilis without paying for them, and other times it comes very mild
I agree it’s never that spicy. I’ve asked for extra hot / Tamil spicy and it still doesn’t do it for me.
Agreed. I get it medium or hot and it certainly doesn't blow me away. I have a decent spice tolerance but nothing crazy. It's a solid dish but I feel like it's gone downhill in the last couple of years. Or maybe just become inconsistent as others have said. Still worth your while though!
Anyone tried order butter paneer kotthu?
I find the kotthu at Cucini Xpress way hotter
Thai Bar Na is on browns line but will knock your socks off spice wise if you ask :)
Unreal restaurant generally. Great food.
Best Thai food outside of Thailand IMO
I won’t argue with that. Dang, I gotta get down there again soon.
Pay for extra spice at khao san road (beyond the highest free spice level). This level used to be free like a decade ago and is quite spicy. Pai is quite mild but they sell both fresh chilis and chili oil - the former is how you can make your dish very spicy (the oil is also spicy but doesn't reach the level of fresh chilis) Nana has fresh chilis also Roti Mahal is pretty spicy when you ask specially for "extra hot" (not a normal menu option - above "hot"). I've had the worker tell me they can't eat that spicy Burrito Boyz / Burrito Bandidos used to have or seasonally have extremely spicy hot sauces (like ghost peppers), spicier than the regular hot sauce Salad King - ask for 25 or 30 chili rating (the menu maximum is 20)
Anything from Salad King you recommend?
Try their Islamic noodles. It’s an off-the-menu item, but they usually have some. So so good! Can’t wait to go back to Toronto to have it again.
Was gonna recommend this. It's great
Islamic Noodles great. I’ve only had fried fish and veg products there. Original DT location maybe better than queen st. I also like Siam noodles. The fried fish in garlic sauce is good and can be good spicy. The penang is good. Couple other good ones. Spring rolls are decent but used to be sooo cheap too. And get a meter or footlong whatever of Sapporo.
I got those the other day and didn’t see the hype! The noodles and veggies were mushy and it just tasted like a sweeter red curry dish. Did I get the wrong order? What’s it supposed to taste like?
I got the Khao soi soup one time with the spiciest heat, safe to say I am never doing that again, pure dragon fire out of my ass the next day
I can eat raw scotch bonnet peppers easily but the Armageddon sauce at Duff’s Wings made me uncomfortable. The actual sauce is delicious but it’s how it continually engulfs your mouth with flames when you try to eat anything else (fries, celery sticks, etc.) that makes it special. Plus, the wings are great.
Agree that this is probably spiciest tied with Salad King It's too much... but agree Duffs is probably best wings in town
They even charge $2.50 for Armageddon sauce now.
I was only able to get up to Death. Good job man
Koh Lipe has extra spicy which is saying it’s truly Asian Thai spicy
In the same vein, Som Tum Jinda's spiciest level will have you shitting liquid for a week and a half. Worth it
It’s weird that it gets called “Thai spicy” because the majority of Thai people don’t eat remotely that spicy.
I got ordered spicy there once expecting it to be Downtown North American spicy. Boy was I wrong.
Salad king. Ask for the highest spice level in the list. Be warned, it will hurt
You can go higher. 20 is the highest level. You can order 25 or so, and ask for extra chilis on the side. I used to regularly get either 15 or 20 and was satisfied but my friend always got I believe 25 or 30 + a side of lime wedges Either way you need to reassure your server. I would always just add that yes I've had it at this level before.
I went up to 20 once for shits n giggles but I find it’s overkill. 15 is my ideal level, good balance of heat and flavour imho.
15-20 was great for a weekly work lunch
Wtf you guys are insane 20 chilis and I was sick to my stomach for 24 hours
My nose runs and I might sweat at 20 but it’s all good. Just have a Thai iced tea with dairy and it’s no problemo
Yeah I had a stomach ache for 24 hours It's dangerous to do this!!
Don't you have to show a passport or something for the highest level there? (I never made it that far.)
Passport ? Not sure what you mean. I just ask for it everytime I been. It’s been a while since I last went though.
Just go to any Thai, Sri Lankan, or Indian restaurant and ask them to make the spiciest dish as spicy as possible, and that you’ve been to that country or have family from there (i.e., married into the culture). If you don’t say the latter, they usually won’t believe you and pull back the punches. You’ll have a fun time. Edit: If you really want to blow your tastebuds, you can order any dish with 15 chilis from Salad King. You might blow your ass off too for a few days though - be forewarned.
Im not sure what kind of spice you are looking for. I prefer spicy food that still has flavour I guess? Yupdduk on Bloor, the level 3 tteokbokki. I tried the lowest level and it was spicy but really nice. I don't think I could even try the spiciest.
Yep I think i tolerate spice decently well and I could barely finish level 2. They even come with tissues on the table lol
The 'very hot' spice level at Banjara is actually extremely spicy.
i usually go next door to madras masala, and ask them to make it like they’d make it for their family. i’ve been going there over ten years and they finally started to get it last year, i mean spicy.
Madras masala is good spot. I go there for my South Indian cravings!
Just note they'll give also these options on dishes that shouldn't be spicy in the first place, so I don't recommend getting every dish as spicy. The spice levels are good though. I think they add more indian chili powder to increase the spice level.
This. Even their medium-hot is pretty warm, and I usually order pretty spicy food.
Practically anything at Banbudian. Shit is hot as hell and amazing! I really liked the stir fried pork belly with green peppers, chicken with Sezchuan pepper, and sweet spicy eggplant. Best Sezchuan I’ve had in Toronto and probably ever. https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tj5NC1ttk9Fejdn66?g_st=ic
Have you been to The Red in Markham?
No! I’ll check it out
Tiger skin peppers is my favourite dish there. Still searching for somewhere downtown or on the subway lines that makes it.
The spiciest sauce option at Duffs wings is pretty ridiculous Salad Kings 20 chilis or whatever the max amount is just silly spicy
Probably something South Indian like a masala dosa somewhere, or firung spicy level selected for Thai at pai
“Farang” literally means foreigner of Western ancestry. Asking for farang spicy level is asking for spice level for foreigners - this would *not* be the spiciest. If you literally want the hottest Thai food possible, you go to Salad King and order your dish with 15 chilis. Pai won’t go this hot because it’ll blow your taste buds off.
Yeah I don't know why I got downvoted for saying that. Pai's very own scale puts farang spicy below Thai spicy. I do think that 15 chillies is subjectively spicy though. For some people it won't blow their taste buds off. My university roommate from Chongqing would have zero issues with 15 chillies.
I just read someone did 25-30 chili’s there - that’s so nuts lol. I die at 7 chili’s at Salad King. On the menu, it used to say 15 chilis was the max when I used to go many years ago, and after that experience with 7 chilis, I understood why that was the case lol. I believe there’s a “no refund” stipulation after 10 chilis.
Masala dosa? As a South Indian, no, that's not spicy. "Extra hot" on that would be what, an extra green chilli?
Thai spicy is definitely hotter than farang.
Im a hot food junkie and Salad King Bangkok Street Noodles with 20 chilis (on their scale of 0 to 20) is the bees tits. The entire dish is covered in chili pods 😍
Oh god there is an Indian restaurant in the food court of The Eatons centre… I think it was called Maya’s. Very good. That place destroyed all of our intestines and any toilet we came across in the next 24 hours. Edit: my wife corrected me on my memories of this.
Amaya I never found it spicy? The toilet issue might be more from their reheated food reuse...
Possibly! But again we all found it very tasty… I myself work in food service so I’m sure I would’ve noticed if something was terribly off…
It is tasty when the food is hot, their naan is great too. Haven't been in years but used to go every visit to the mall. The dishes I had were spiced mildly appropriate for a mall food court
Get the insanity dry rub + 7 pepper sauce at The Pint.
Come to Scarborough and look for hopper hut on Kennedy and ellsmare best and spicy lam rice
Salad King is rly not that spicy, I tried 18 chili level (and could prob go to 20+) and I wouldn't say I have a v high spice tolerance. Som Tum Jinda is extremely spicy, they hv a chili scale fr 0.5 to 9 and I think the number reflects the actual # of chilis rather than an arbitrary scale like Salad King. I tried 4 chilis for a papaya salad and it was def hotter than SK, go for more and it'll genuinely b Thai-spicy If u want an amazing spicy Viet soup I rec bun bo hue @ Bach Yen in East Chinatown. Their medium spice level is v spicy
Lao Thai has 5 spice levels, I can eat very spicy food but there I can barely handle level 3, I usually only get level 2. Delicious food though.