New Thai BBQ Spot Opens in Little Italy with Indian and Regional Flavours
Naari Thai BBQ, a new Thai BBQ restaurant, opened on April 9 in Little Italy.
As a result, the restaurant brings together Thai barbecue with Indian and regional flavours in a simple, approachable way.
In particular, the menu focuses on fire cooking, shared plates, and fresh ingredients like chili, coconut, and herbs. Overall, this opening adds to the growing mix of global food in the area, as more restaurants move beyond traditional Italian menus and introduce new styles of dining.
Little Italy Is Changing
Naari sits at 501 College Street in Little Italy, a neighborhood long known for Italian food. Now, more restaurants are opening with cuisines from different parts of the world. Naari joins this shift by bringing a new style of cooking to the street.
The kitchen is led by Nagu Kandan, who learned to cook by observing food preparation at home. He later spent time in Southern Thailand, where he studied how meals are prepared over open fire and in street stalls. These experiences now shape the menu at Naari.
At the restaurant, chefs cook with fire and wok. For example, they grill many dishes over open flames. Meanwhile, they prepare other dishes quickly in a wok to preserve clear, bold flavours. Overall, Thai food forms the base, while the kitchen adds Indian and regional influences in a simple, balanced way.
What You Can Eat
The menu is made so people can try many things in one meal. It starts with small plates and moves to bigger dishes that can be shared. Each dish brings together flavours from different regions.
Here are some items you may see:
- Small bites with coconut and herbs
- Grilled chicken satay and steak
- Rice and noodle dishes like pad Thai
- Curries with coconut and spice
- Plates made for sharing
Some dishes mix styles in a simple way. A grilled dish may use Thai methods but include Indian spices. A curry may taste Thai but also carry deeper flavours from nearby regions.
Tasting Menu and Drinks
Naari also has a tasting menu where the kitchen selects the dishes. This helps guests understand how the food is built from start to finish. It is a simple way to try different flavours in one meal.
Drinks are made to match the food. Some include tamarind, mango, and honey.
Key Details
- Name: Naari Thai BBQ
- Address: 501 College Street, Toronto
- Opening: Now open
- Food Style: Thai BBQ with Indian and regional flavours
- Cooking Style: Fire grilling and wok cooking
- Menu: À la carte and tasting menu
- Reservations are available via OpenTable
Little Italy is seeing new kinds of food. Naari Thai BBQ is one of them. It brings together ideas from different places in a simple way. The food stays easy to understand, while the flavours come from many regions. This shows how the area is changing and how new restaurants are shaping the local food scene.
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