Wait. A million elephants?

That’s what ล้านช้าง (Lan Xang) means. It was the name of the old Lao kingdom, and now it’s the name of our little kitchen on Howard Avenue.

We’re a family from Thailand and Laos who came to Canada in the 1970s. Brenda and Tony (Mae and Por to us) started cooking the food they grew up with; today their son Phil and daughter-in-law Payee run the kitchen alongside them. Peanut curry, basil stir-fry, fresh vermicelli, tidy little sushi rolls, and a pot of pho that has been simmering in this family for a very long time.

Nothing fancy. Just honest, affordable food, cooked by people who are happy to see you.

N10 · the house favourite

Peanut Curry Noodle

Rice noodles tossed with broccoli, carrot and snap peas in our peanut curry sauce: creamy, nutty and gently warm. Have it with shrimp, chicken, tofu or beef.

If someone told you to try the peanut curry, this is the plate they meant.

Order a plate

The people

Who’s in the kitchen

Two generations, one kitchen, and a lot of shared recipes.

Phil

Kitchen · second generation

[What Phil cooks, what he changed, what he’d never change.]

Brenda Mae

Co-founder · Mom

[A few warm lines about Brenda: where she grew up, the dish she’s proudest of, what regulars call her.]

Tony Por

Co-founder · Dad

[A few lines about Tony: the move to Canada in the 1970s, how the restaurant started, his station in the kitchen.]

Payee

Front of house & kitchen

[How Payee joined the family business, her favourite thing on the menu.]