Two Thai chefs bring famous family recipes to Toronto with new restaurant
The team behind one of the most popular Thai restaurants in Toronto is about to officially open a new venture serving up a completely unique cuisine.
Pick any talked-about Thai venture in Toronto, and there's a good chance that Patrick Suksaen has something to do with it. From Le Lert and Koh Lipe to Kati and Khem, the restaurateur and his team have the city's Thai food scene on lock.
Evidently, they're not slowing down any time soon, as their latest venture, Lhao Thai-Chinese, soft opened on June 19, 2026.
And, much like how Suksaen brought Michelin-recommended Som Tum Jinda overseas from Thailand, Lhao also has a story that starts in Asia long before it ever made landfall in Toronto.
Helmed by Thai chefs Roj and Jojo, the restaurant's menu is made up of some of the most famous dishes from Bangkok's Chinatown (better known as Yaowarat); recipes that Roj and Jojo themselves developed over a storied 30-year career in Thailand.
A deft blend of Thai and Chinese cuisine, perhaps the duo's (and, now, Lhao's) most famous creation is their "star-rated" roasted duck, a familiar dish akin to Chinese Peking Duck, boosted with Thai flavours and served over rice and drenched in a generous helping of savoury sauce.
That's far from the only standout on the menu at Lhao, though. Fire-kissed and wok-hei forward, the entire menu weaves Chinese spices and ingredients with Thai flavours and cooking philosophies to punchy, flavourful ends. Think salt and chili shrimp, tofu skin rolls filled with pork, fish maw soup and whole fried sea bass.
Toronto has no shortage of exceptional Thai food — Patrick Suksaen has made sure of that, but, when it comes to regional variances, there's really no ceiling for how many the city is willing to receive. Lhao, bringing the flavours of Bangkok Chinatown to Toronto, is just further proof.
Lhao Thai-Chinese is located at 39 Baldwin St.
