Pichai is widely praised for bold, creative Thai flavors and a shareable, neo-Thai concept that shines in dishes like scallops, pork collar, fermented pork belly, tapioca dumplings, and a memorable Thai tea tiramisu. Several reviews highlight standout plates such as papaya salad, tom yum, and the egg dish that became a showstopper, with many diners calling the flavors authentic, lively, and deeply satisfying. Portions are often described as small for the price, though the quality and variety invite tasting across multiple dishes. Service ranges from impeccable and knowledgeable with excellent wine pairings to rushed or inconsistent, with reports of staff miscommunications and, in some cases, a less welcoming atmosphere. The ambiance is noted as vibrant, cozy, and stylish, sometimes loud, occasionally a bit too dark for reading menus. The menu includes weekly specials and a chef tasting option, with vegan and vegetarian choices appreciated by many. Overall, Pichai stands out as a top Montreal Thai option and a memorable dining experience, worth a visit for those seeking bold flavors, while reservations are advised and expectations should account for occasional service inconsistencies.
Best Thai food in Montreal hands down! Every dish is an explosion of flavour. The scallop crudo is so incredibly fresh, it really is a must. Don't forget to try the shaved ice for dessert even if you are full !!!
The food at Pichai is good & I'm a regular, but the service has become way too rushed. We order right away & eat as dishes come out, yet we're made to feel pushed out for the next table. Offering dessert & then dropping the check while we're still eating it is rude. The rushed service makes the experience unpleasant.
Sep 12, 2025
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I enjoy the food here & would've been 5 stars, but it's been a few times now where we were rushed out & it is really unpleasant. The last time I went they asked if they could bring the check immediately after dessert came out, but then they made me pay while we were eating.
Either allocate more time per reservation or simplify the experience. If you're only willing to give 2 hours then I'll just order half of the recommended quantities so I have enough time to eat it without being rushed ;)
Overall the food was good, but a bit pricey. We ordered three dishes & a dessert to share. I also ordered one glass of wine. The bill ended up being 90+ after tax & tip.
I liked the duck heart quite a lot. The pork was a bit salty but okay if you eat it with the sticky rice. It was my first time learning that Thai food can be eaten like BBQ, e.g., wrapping the meat & rice with cabbage. Quite interesting. The fish was good, tasted like it was cooked with Tom Yum Goong Soup. I liked it at the beginning but the whole fish was quite big for two people. In the end, it felt a bit greasy.
The restaurant is quite cute with a small patio outside in the neighborhood. It was a bit rainy & cool the day we went, but it was okay sitting outside with heating on.
I visited Pichai Restaurant for dinner & unfortunately had a very disappointing experience due to the service. Our server, Laura, repeatedly emphasized that we were only allowed a limited number of orders & insisted that we must finish our meal within an hour & a half. She stated multiple times that if we didn't finish by then, we would need to pack up our food & leave to make room for the next customer.
This constant pressure was unnecessary & created a stressful dining environment. I felt rushed & restricted in what I could order-at one point, she even told me I shouldn't order dessert if I wanted to have my initial choice of dishes. Her tone & attitude were dismissive & unwelcoming, which significantly impacted the enjoyment of the evening.
The food may be good, but the service I experienced did not reflect the standards I expect from a quality restaurant. I hope management takes this feedback seriously & addresses how customers are treated, as it left a very negative impression.
Leur cuisine est incroyablement bonne ! On a tout adoré, surtout la Colette avec sauce aux arachides & les dumplings au tapioca. On a beaucoup aimé aussi leur dessert aux bleuets, vraiment une découverte ! Petit point un peu négatif, mon mari disait que le banc était inconfortable, puis on se sentait un peu serrés avec les deux autres tables à côtés. Ils manquent un tout petit peu de espace. Ou peut-être ils devraient prendre moins de tables, je sais pas. Le service bon aussi ! On retournera c'est sûr ! Merci 💚
Jun 1, 2025
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This is my 2nd time to Pichai. Service is impeccable, accommadating. The food is outstanding. The textures, portions, flavours, presentation were as perfect as last year with several different items I had not tried before.
I went with friends & family that love heat.
Luk Shin Plaa Tod fish balls were bursting with flavours. I could have devoured the sweet chillie
Yum Hoi Shen Raw Scallops were like a palate cleanser & was perfectly seasoned.
The Sakoo Sai Moo tapiaco dumplings were fantastic.
Naem Moo Yang had flavour & texture.
Kor Moo Yang was delicious
The sticky rice was perfect with our favourite dish the mushrooms
Then came the insanely delicious Mango: Mango jam, whipped coconut cream, condesnsed milk. Ice shaving of mango burst. Cooling the palate.
We tried two intersting wines, private collection which paired well. Last time we tried cocktails.
Porc is rarely a protein of choice, however they were beautifully prepared.
A never have desserts, however this was worth every bite & light.
Pichai is definately on my top 10 list of favourite Montreal restaurants.
As a Montreal licenced food guide for 33 years, working with visitors I am always looking for special hidden gems. This is definately one.
I will definately back to try more. Highly recommended
RUBY Roy
We went last night & the whole experience was amazing! The food was delicious, reasonably priced & plentiful .We were so stuffed! Got three specials & three mains. I also got the tequila cocktail, We couldn't decide what was out favorite out of everything it was all so yummy! Don't skip the whole fish & shaved ice desserts, they are a vibe!
Nous avions placé la barre haute pour le Pichai, mais notre expérience a malheureusement commencé sur une note décevante dès notre arrivée dans l'établissement. L'accueil a été très froid : on ne nous salue pas, on nous demande le nom de la réservation & on nous dépose le menu à la table sans contact visuel. Nous avons ensuite demandé 5 plats & une bouteille de vin. Ces derniers étaient satisfaisants, mais sans plus. Le rapport qualité-prix n'est cependant pas au rendez-vous, sauf pour les pétoncles. Le service est efficace, mais on a l'impression qu'il faut manger & partir rapidement. Après une heure passée dans cet endroit, nous avons commencé à nous sentir mal à l'aise & avons décidé de partir avec ce qu'il restait de notre bouteille de vin pour aller manger un dessert ailleurs. Lorsque nous sommes partis, l'hôte, le regard fixé sur son téléphone, ne nous a même pas accordé un regard ni adressé une parole, contrairement à ce qui est habituellement attendu dans un restaurant. Quand les personnes prennent le temps de se poser dans un restaurant pour une heure & y dépenser 250$, saluer & remercier les clients à la sortie est la moindre des choses. Cela donne l'impression qu'on a voulu vite prendre l'argent du client pour s'en débarrasser ensuite. Ce n'est pas digne de votre établissement. Difficile de ne pas comparer avec Pumpui, où l'accueil est beaucoup plus chaleureux bien que cela soit un comptoir & qu'on y reste généralement beaucoup moins longtemps. Il semble que Le Pichai tire profit du même enthousiasme qu'auparavant, grâce à la réputation justifiée d'excellence des services fournis. Cependant, il est préoccupant de constater une nette baisse de la qualité. L'endroit est à éviter, dans les circonstances actuelles. En espérant que les propriétaires corrigent rapidement la façon dont on traite la clientèle.
Excellent tasting menu at 70$. Unique flavors with fresh & seasonal ingredients. Not your typical thai restaurants. Glad we got to try 10 different plates. Desserts were surprisingly the highlight! Very accommodating for dietary restrictions/preference & allergies. A must try!!!
Jul 12, 2024
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Pichai offers impeccable & joyful service with dishes that will transport you to new parts of the world. The crabs had an incredible flavor that I still cannot forget. Our server guided us through a wine list that offers an array of value & perspectives. Our Italian white wine steeled us for the love & spices inside the 5 dishes we enjoyed. This place feels like family. I am jealous of folks who are able to enjoy Pichai's plates more often. A must visit. I had to get a shirt! Please get dessert!
Small menu, but honestly, they make up for it in taste, authenticity, & service. It was our first time here, & we were blown away by how much care they put into the food. Each ingredients were really fresh, & they integrated well on the plate. I was skeptical by the whole fried fish, growing up in southeast Asia. But it was crispy, not greasy, the way it's meant to be. Two of us shared 4 plates, including dessert, & went home happy & full.
Belle ambiance à l'intérieur, service impeccable, vaste sélection de vins &, surtout, nourriture exquise. Par contre, si vous êtes amateurs de desserts, la sélection est limitée. À deux, pour trois plats assez consistants & un dessert partagés avec une bouteille de vin, nous avons payé 125$ par personne (tout inclus).
I loved the experience! All dishes were super good & tasted authentic. The portions were generous & the prices were fair. We were 5 people, we ordered 6 dishes & 3 desserts & it was more than enough. I truly recommend !!
Feb 9, 2024
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Went here during my weeklong stay in Montreal for my honeymoon. Of all the places we went to, we were most disappointed by Pichai. We asked our waiter to order us whatever was good; to kind of "build a tasting menu" off of things already on the menu. Unfortunately, it's hard to tell if the waiter had totally wrong taste for us, or if the food quality just isn't great across the board, but we were really underwhelmed by what was presented. The first couple of dishes that came out were all'cold' dishes, like a cold chicken & a mango salad. It's hard to critique food sometimes, but across the board, the flavors were just... not hitting right. Nothing tasted great or even good to us - except the dessert. The shredded ice with peaches was amazing. I know we came right at opening, so perhaps the kitchen wasn't in the swing of it yet. We both love Thai food & were so excited about this place, but it ended up being the sore thumb of the trip. Now when we reminisce about the honeymoon we always remind each other, "do you remember how sad we were about Pichai?". In a way, it was an experience we won't forget. There are many great reviews, we wish we were one of them! :(
Casual setting with great food! We ordered the Chicken dish, Vegan Papaya Salad, Fried Eggs with Tamarind, Vegan Panang & Lamb. We enjoyed all the dishes & ordered the Thai Tiramisu as a dessert. Didn't know a Thai version of Tiramisu existed- Glad we ordered because it was perfect amount of sweet & texture for us! We ordered the one cocktail (with Tequila) they were serving & a mocktail version of it- Was okay. Their service is good & so quick. Loved the hospitality!
Really great taste! & the service was perfect! Tiramisu was my favorite dessert ever! The fried banana was also great rich taste. We will MUST try all desserts!
Menu varié avec quelques options végétariennes à combiner pour un bon tasting. Nous avons pris un plat aux œufs marinés, des tofus aux poischiches & le curry rouge végétarien. Le service est impeccable & ils ont une petite terrasse très agréable. Shaved ice dessert était la star avec une saveur pêche avec une belle crème.
