I have a soft spot for ethnic restaurants, especially when the owners are people who have come to Canada to make a better life for themselves and feed us the foods of their native country — I’m speaking specifically, in this post, about Million Thai, a new restaurant on 118 Avenue.
If I can’t go to Thailand, then by all means, let Thai people feed me here.
Edmonton’s 118 Avenue is a veritable buffet that offers not only Thai, but African, Portuguese, Italian, Jamaican, Ukrainian, and a host of other nations’ foods as well. Aesthetically speaking, most of them lack Restaurant Decor Package #1 (espresso-coloured furniture, dark brown pleather banquettes and chrome lighting fixtures with halogen bulbs), but what they lack in looks, they more than make up for it in what they’re woking, baking, jerking, simmering, and stir frying in their tiny, overheated kitchens, just for you.
Million Thai is run by a husband and wife team who came to Canada because internet research revealed that “Canadians are the happiest people in the world.” When Gap, the wife, told me their reason for coming here, it made me, well, happy. Eating their food made me even happier.
The food they cook is lovely. Everything is homemade, from the sauces to the sausages. They take great pride in their made-from-scratch food and even though us North Americans might sigh that it takes five minutes to be seated and receive water, the wait is worth it. Gap’s sister is the server and she, alone, is in charge of serving customers in the restaurant— and on the phone (for take out orders)— bringing out the food, mixing and refilling drinks, and explaining to customers the unfamiliar ingredients of the dishes on the menu. Be patient. These people are working hard.
Most dishes are in the $11 – $15 range. Here’s what we ordered:
Million Thai Platter: satay chicken, sausages, coconut shrimp, spring rolls, money bags, homemade sauces.
Som Tum (Papaya Salad) with Prawns
Ginger Milk Tea
Pad Thai
Drunken Rice
Deep Fried Ice Cream
If you’re having a hard time choosing items, consider the house recommendations:
For more details on my experience at Million Thai (4109 – 118 Avenue), click on the CBC Edmonton AM review here.