We simply can’t have enough of the satisfying and good-tasting Thai cuisines around Toronto, Scarborough, and Markham.
Thankfully, we have Jatujak on Victoria Park in North York (right at the borderline of Scarborough) and another on Kingston Road in the Scarborough neighborhood to satisfy our cravings.
Jatujak is a family-run restaurant that offers authentic Thai cuisine. The menu features all the classics that we love such as pad Thai, Khao Soi, and tom yum soup. But what sets Jatujak apart is its use of fresh ingredients to give each dish a unique flavour. On top of that, this restaurant has a casual, cozy, and relaxing vibe, perfect for family dinners or catching up with friends.
Despite its location in Scarborough, Jatujak still makes it to the list of the best Thai restaurants that you must try in Toronto.
Here are the multiple restaurant locations you can check out:
1744 Victoria Park Ave, North York, ON M1R 1R4
2386 Kingston Rd, Scarborough, ON M1N 1V2
5651 Steeles Ave East. Unit #7 & 8, Toronto, ON M1V 5P6
Jatujak Thai Restaurant Review
Although not as widely popular as Pai or Khao San Road mainly due to its further location in the suburbs, Jatujak restaurant still hits the spot when it comes to good Thai food. So if you’re ever in the North York or Scarborough area and craving some Thai cuisine, be sure to check out Jatujak!
Because Rui and I used to work in the core downtown area of Toronto, we loved to stop by Pai, Khao San Road, and Sukhothai. These are three top places our ex-coworkers and friends from downtown go to A LOT, and they still do!
But since then, we’ve been going to Jatujak more often because it’s easy to drive to from our place and it hits the spot every time. It’s a restaurant you should definitely consider trying out if you’re bored of other Thai restaurants in the downtown area. We’ve also tried Sala Modern Thai on Danforth which is still considered in Toronto although not in the core.
Another beautiful place we recommend is Lanna in Markham.
The restaurant is considered more spacious compared to others and nice to dine in for a birthday or gathering. It’s a bit far, but one of the best experiences I’ve had. You can see our tasty photos from Lanna in Markham and read our honest review here! Our favourite is their best-selling Pineapple chicken fried rice!
But I know you’re here because you want to know more about Jatujak, so we did a review on them too.
First, here’s a peek at their menu.
Jatujak Menu
You can see all the yummy dishes here. We’ve mainly tried their Pad Thai in all versions, Pineapple Fried Rice, Khao Soi, Green Curry, and their desserts too in the past. Today, we decided to come back to try some more so we can talk about their food on this blog here.
Here’s what we ordered today, and we will continue to add to this list going forward whenever we come back.
Jatujak Chicken Pad Thai
There’s no denying that pad thai is one of the most beloved noodle dishes!
Today, we ordered the chicken pad thai, but their other versions like beef and tofu are always just as delicious. There’s no better, it just depends on which type of protein you’re in the mood for that day. If you’re a vegetarian, we recommend the tofu dish.
What we like about their pad thai is the strong and flavourful sauce they use. We assume it’s probably a mix of tamarind puree paste, sugar, fish sauce, and oyster sauce. Whatever percentage mix they used, it’s just perfect because it’s not too sweet and not too salty. But it does feel A LOT oilier and greaser if you ask for takeout, so we always recommend dining in the restaurant.
The crushed peanuts also give their chicken pad thai the perfect crunch. I’m personally a BIG fan of peanuts because they contain protein, fiber, and some good fats, which are quite healthy for you. I know, coming here for pad thai isn’t healthy, but I had to justify with one ingredient to make this review sound a little more interesting — hah!
One more thing we, or should I say Rui, liked about the pad thai here is their big portion size. It’s definitely bigger than other places like Eat BKK Thai Kitchen, which is also amazing by the way!
We also want to mention that if you enjoy pad thai (and it’s your go-to comfort food) but are always tired of the same old dish, then we recommend a Thai and Vietnamese fusion of the classic pad thai dish at Pho Metro. Although different, it was surprisingly delicious and a good change in taste.
Jatujak Green Curry
The Green Curry with side rice was really delicious!
We loved the fresh minty or basil leaf smell of this dish. Lighter than curry dishes, we enjoyed it and could taste more of the lime leaves. The sauce goes very well with the white rice. If I had the choice, I would prefer whole-grain brown, red, and black rice for a relatively healthier version, but it’s unfortunate restaurants don’t offer that option.
I know you may be wondering whether this was spicy. Nope, it wasn’t spicy at all. It was still a bit sweet because of the coconut milk, but overall it was tasty and a great choice for those who want to enjoy all the flavours in a dish without being overwhelmed by spice.
One complaint from my end is those smelly bamboo shoots that the original recipe calls for. Growing up, I never really liked this type of vegetable, but it’s tolerable as long as they don’t overflood the bowl, which they didn’t.
Rui loved this dish more than the pad thai, but I preferred the pad thai because I just love this classic noodle dish. I mean, who doesn’t love pad thai?
Don’t get me wrong though. The green curry is absolutely delish and if you’re a fan of authentic Thai cuisine, you’ll definitely enjoy this dish here.
Food: 4/5
We’ve been here many times in the past and we still continue to come back whenever we want to treat ourselves to some delicious comfort foods. Thai cuisines like Jatujak always come to the rescue when you’re having a serious craving or want to give yourself a break from healthy eating.
The food here is pretty authentic and we love most of their dishes including the dessert menu. We also want to try their other dishes like the tom yum soup and stir-fry like beef noodles next time!
Again, we don’t recommend takeout because it never tastes the same. We ordered takeout from Jatujak a couple of times during Covid lockdown times and the taste was very off. It was pretty much day and night, so I just want to warn you.
Rui gives the food at this restaurant a 4.3 but I personally give it a 3.7 only because they are more on the oily side (but it’s not deadly). I think it could just be my personal preference since I don’t tend to like oily or greasy food.
I generally prefer Lanna or BKK. However, I have to admit the pad thai at Lanna’s was a little too salty, not greasy, the last time I had it. And I personally like BKK more because their food is lighter and sits better in the stomach.
I never enjoyed Sukhothai, especially their pad Thai (the beef is horrible there), but everybody in Toronto, including Rui, loves it. I don’t know why people like that restaurant so much? *Shrugs*
From what I recall, I really loved the pad thai dishes from Pai and Khao San Road. Those two restaurants are literally one of the top places I recommend going for Thai food whenever you’re in the downtown Toronto area.
Despite what I just said, the pad thai dishes at Jatujak are still really delicious and I believe the majority of you will love them.
In the end, we both agreed to average our food rating to 4 for Jatujak.
Service: 3.7/5
The servers at Jatujak are soft and friendly. They are very attentive and will take care of you throughout your meal.
They are also fast at coming to you whenever you have any questions. For example, when you need an extra fork, plate, or more napkins.
They’re not exceptional friendly but they are definitely above average!
Price: $$
The food price at Jatujak is very comparable to other Thai restaurants except Lanna’s is slightly higher because it’s a different environment.
If you’re looking for some quick Thai food and not overly expensive, Jatujak is a great choice. Just mind you that ordering drinks, appetizers, and desserts do add up. When you keep your meal simple to one dish and water, then it’s more affordable.
Rui and I rarely order drinks because we try to avoid any unnecessary and additional sugar and calories whenever we dine out. We just don’t crave it since we’re so used to drinking warm water or tea, so having that sort of lifestyle can help you save money on drinks. If we do crave the occasional sugary drinks, we would usually indulge in boba, lattes, or iced coffee from these specialty or cute cafes in Toronto or the best bubble tea shops.
Now, if really want to treat yourself to a drink at Jatujak, we recommend the Thai Iced Tea from the drinks menu. We’ve tried this a few times in the past. From what I can recall, it’s really refreshing and goes nicely with any meal you order. Given how sweet the drink is, you may want to ask them to reduce the sweetness level if you’re not a fan of too much sugar.
By the way, if you’re looking for an easy and delicious Thai Iced Tea recipe to make at home, we’ve got a super delicious one here for you.
In the end, the bill came out to be $37.18 after tax but before tips. We paid a total of $43.87 including tax and tips for two people without drinks and desserts. It’s not exactly the most budget-friendly when you’re busy and looking for a quick meal, but it’s a reasonable price for two to dine in nowadays.
Ambiance: 3.9/5
The restaurant is nice and cozy. It looks way better inside compared to what you see on the outside. We also love the dim environment because it feels more relaxing and intimate.
The background music is pretty good too. They play a mix of popular songs from the past and present, so there’s definitely something for everyone.
Overall, Jatujak is a good Thai restaurant to hit up in Scarborough or North York when you’re planning a date, gathering, or quick dine-in.
Overall Jatujak Restaurant Rating: 4/5
We give this restaurant an overall rating of 4 out of 5 given the taste of food, price, environment, and service.
If you’re ever in the Scarborough or North York area, make sure to check out Jatujak Thai Restaurant! And if you have any other great Thai places to recommend, let us know in the comments below!
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