Restaurant Pichai centers its culinary focus on the vibrant and bold traditions of Thai cuisine, prioritizing the integration of intense aromatics and precise heat levels. The kitchen specializes in authentic grill preparations that highlight the natural qualities of fresh seafood and premium fish cuts. Patrons encounter a direct approach to flavor where fermented seasonings and fresh herbs define each prepared dish. This establishment emphasizes a straightforward engagement with regional Thai cooking methods to deliver complex profiles in every bite. The environment remains dedicated to the delivery of these high-impact ingredients through traditional wood-fired grilling techniques. By maintaining strict standards for ingredient sourcing, the menu ensures that the specific textures and pungent profiles essential to this culinary style remain consistently represented in every portion served.
Pichai offers a creative and bold approach to Thai cuisine, frequently praised for its inventive, flavorful dishes and an impressive selection of natural wines. Many diners find the experience to be a culinary highlight, particularly noting the scallops, grilled pork, and signature Thai tea tiramisu as standout items. While the atmosphere is generally described as vibrant, cool, and cozy, the environment can be noisy and dim, with some guests finding the seating uncomfortable or the service inconsistent depending on the evening. Opinions on the pricing and portion sizes are divided, as some appreciate the quality of the shared plates, while others feel the value is lacking or the food is overly salty. Despite mixed reports regarding hospitality and pacing, many patrons consider it one of the top dining destinations in Montreal and look forward to returning.
Thai food that comes default spicy!!!! Lots of herbs just as I was hoping for. Our group of friends greatly enjoyed our meal from beginning to end! My husband enjoyed the draft beer. The dessert ---- shaved ice!!!! Soft & pillowy, with lots of fruit & flavours! It just melts in your mouth. The dessert can be shared by 4 people ... or 2 if you love dessert like me.
Great food as always. So many flavours. We took the tasting menu, I wasn't impressed by the amount of food for 140$, we got 5 small plates to share only. Wine is expensive too $21 (plus tax & tip), for half a glass. But the service was great & food & ambience excellent as always. Price was the 280$ for two people with one (half) glass of wine each.
The dishes were loaded with playful spicy & subtle flavours & textures, light & fresh but also satisfying like comfort food. I was so full & happy after the corn salad & eggplant salad (which came with a nice portion of sticky rice to soak up the sauce) off the temporary specials menu. I'll be back to try more dishes soon :)
2026: I came back & had the special Galam Plee Pad Gapi (cabbage with oyster mushrooms) & a half portion of the pork collar which comes with sticky rice. Both were very good. The pork is salty but in a good way when you mix it with the rice & & eat the leaf in between bites. Also, maybe I'm just socially compatible with the staff but I think they give the best service in Montreal, maybe a tie or step up from mikado. They make you feel at home !
I came back a week later to have the Tom Som Pla soup (rockfish from Gaspesie, pineapple, tamarind). It was really wholesome but the red chilies are super spicy & they don't serve it with rice so this one I'd recommend ordering a rice to go with it. I think they should just include one tbh but I was lucky enough to be sitting next to someone who let me have some of her's ;)
A few weeks later I returned & treated myself to a mushroom night : 1/2 portion of Hed Nem Tok (grilled Montreal mushroom salad) that came with sticky rice, khanom jeeb tod (fried dumplings with stuffed pork, shrimp, Woodear mushrooms, Jimmy nardello sriracha), & 1/2 portion of the gaeng panang jaay (red curry, maitake mushrooms, celeriac, seasonal greens) that came with jasmine rice. Everything was exquisite & the service amazing as usual 🫠
Came back & had the nam Tok gai tod (lemongrass herb fried chicken that comes with dill & coriander & sticky rice). It was nice. There's a strong spicy salty kick. Similar flavour profile as their other dishes but not one of my favorites honestly. I sat on the terrace for a moment in the sun & it was chill.
Returned to have the pad normai farang & asked to get more of the rest instead of egg. The asparagus was sooo high quality & perfectly cooked. Nice fermented bean & garlic chive flavours
Always a pleasure talking to the staff, especially the manager Paras. She's such a sweetie!!! 🥺
Jun 20, 2026
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10/10 every single time. Favourite restaurant in Montreal & best Thai in the country! so. much. flavour.
Dishes are to share! You won't find your typical pad Thai, pad see eew or green curry on the menu. If you want to try a bunch of things I recommend doing the chef's choice which includes appetizers, mains & dessert. They send out a variety of items from their regular menu & specials, & can also accommodate dietary restrictions. It's plenty of food - you can expect to be walking out with leftovers & a veryyyyy happy tummy. Favourites are the mushroom salad (omg), chickpea tofu, panang curry, massaman curry & Thai tea tiramisu.
Whenever I have anyone in town & want to impress I bring them here! This place is like if a very chic bottle of funky wine had a sabbatical year in Thailand. All the dishes are bursting with flavour, snd the atmosphere is intimate & cozy. The servers are also ++ pleasant & a fun time. I've spent my last two birthdays here with no regrets. Get the fermented pork belly & whatever else they have on special, you won't regret it!
The vibe was really enjoyable here. The music was at a good level, there were so many people making the place lively but just enough that you don't have to wait too long before getting a seat. The service was nice & friendly but sometimes it would take quite a long time before you manage to catch the attention of a waiter. The food itself was enjoyable. We have mixed feelings because we really really enjoyed the flavours of the tapioca dumplings but on the other hand, the papaya salad was not our cup of tea. The dumplings were bursting with good flavours & the lettuce had a nice texture variation from the soft & chewy tapioca. The meat paired well with the vegetable & the flavours were in harmony. On the other hand, we have the papaya salad that had raw green beans that did not taste good & the overall flavour profile was just sour, & in the occasional bites, there would be a very spicy note. It was really not enjoyable to us. But the overall we had a pretty fun time dining here!
Went to Pichai for dinner with a friend, & had a bunch of dishes to share that were all delicious! Loved the Som Tum Thai papaya salad & the Phai Mamuang Tod (pictured here) was flavourful, not too sweet & a delicious way to end the meal! Would recommend ordering a couple things to share ✨
Everything about this restaurant was exceptional, from the food to the vibes to the service. We had:
- Beef tartare (seasoned perfectly & served with sticky rice & endives to make little wraps)
- Papaya salad (so fresh & exactly what you would expect)
- Tom Yum soup, which was one of the specials (high quality, imported seafood all cooked to tender perfection in a savoury broth that warmed us to the core)
- Tiramisu (the Thai tea flavour really shone through & it was delicious, but a tad on the sweet side. Loved the addition of coconut chips on top which added texture).
My only minor issue was the quantity of cilantro on everything, though I know this is a personal preference. The soup was also served in a vessel that was very cool (central flame to keep it warm), but felt a bit impractical for serving the soup since the ladle barely fit inside it.
There was a lovely selection of natural wines to complement the meal.
Overall, really nice ambiance & great flavours, you can tell a lot of love goes into these dishes. Would definitely return!
