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Down with the King
Describing yourself as the “king” of anything usually warrants a little skepticism. Michael Jackson, for instance, will never live down calling himself the “King of Pop.” The same can be said for LeBron James’ “King James” moniker in the NBA. Salad King, however, represents a horse of a different colour. The popular Thai restaurant on Yonge and Gould St., one block north of Dundas Square, is neither “salad” nor “king.” Against the literal meaning of the name, the attraction to Salad King is not because of the salads; it’s the chilies.
Each dish at Salad King is placed on the infamous chili scale. For the wimps, the King offers both mild and medium. The real fun begins with the 0-20 rating attributed to nearly every dish; 0 being the most gutless and 20 being for honest, contributing members of society. It goes without saying that the macho Torontoist co-editor goes 15-20 each visit. King me!
The other draw of Salad King, particularly with students from neighbouring Ry-High, is the appeal en masse of the menu. The green curry and mango chicken will satisfy most casual Thai diners, while the Phud Thai and Evil Jungle Prince are popular among King regulars. Try a soft shell cold roll for starters. The mixture of mango and cucumber wrapped in rice paper with sweet and sour dipping sauces is a most refreshing palette cleanser.
Washed down with a glass of cold Thai malt liquor, a meal at Salad King is the perfect way to unwind after a grueling day at the office, or just to enjoy a date with your own king, queen or cutey-pie.
