My Thai in Baltimore: Northern Thailand Curries and Housemade Pastes
My Thai is a 40-seat neighborhood restaurant in Canton that focuses on northern Thai cuisine, built around housemade curry pastes and long-braised proteins rather than the coconut-heavy central Thai dishes that dominate most Baltimore Thai menus.
What My Thai Actually Is
This is a casual, counter-service-friendly spot with a small dining area where the kitchen works visible from the front. My Thai opened in 2021 and positions itself as a regional specialist rather than a broad Thai repertoire house. The owner trained in Chiang Mai and draws the curry pastes, flavor profiles, and protein choices from Isan and northern traditions. It sits in a neighborhood where Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants have stronger presence, making it one of the few dedicated northern Thai kitchens in Baltimore proper.
Menu and Pricing
Curries dominate the offer. Khao soi (chicken or pork with crispy noodle topping, turmeric-heavy broth) runs $14. Gaeng hang lay (pork belly and ginger in a dry, earthy curry) is $15. Nam prik ong (roasted tomato and chile paste with pork, served with raw vegetables and sticky rice) costs $12. All main dishes include jasmine rice or sticky rice by default.
Sides and pastes price separately: a $3 sticky rice order or $4 jasmine upgrade. Papaya salad ranges $11 to $13 depending on protein. Tom saap (sour broth with ground meat) is $10. The menu avoids pad thai and panang curry entirely. Larb comes as pork, chicken, or beef at $12 to $14 with a choice of regular or crispy rice. Prices have held stable since opening, though inflation in specialty chili and galangal imports can shift items seasonally; confirm current pricing by phone.
Vegetarian options exist on every section: curry, salad, and soup. No dish is vegan as written (fish sauce appears in broths and pastes), but the kitchen will omit it on request.
How It Compares to Other Baltimore Thai
Charm Thai in Federal Hill offers broader central Thai programming, stronger coconut presence, and similar pricing ($13 to $16 for curries), but with standard pad thai and green curry formats. Choose Charm if you want familiar Thai basics and an established neighborhood bar scene; choose My Thai if you want to taste what a specialist in one region cooks.
Thaicafe in Fells Point runs larger, serves alcohol, and aims at a broader audience with standard curry and noodle categories. My Thai has no liquor license and is quieter and more ingredient-focused. The cooking at My Thai also prioritizes depth over breadth: fewer dishes, longer cooking times on proteins, no shortcuts with pre-made pastes.
Who It Suits and Who It Does Not
My Thai works best for diners interested in regional specificity, willing to order unfamiliar dishes, and comfortable with a smaller menu. The narrow focus means no pad thai or spring rolls for people seeking those dishes elsewhere. Counter service and minimal table space suit lunch trips and quick dinners, not lingering group celebrations. The flavor profile leans earthy, herbal, and mineral-forward (fermented pastes, long-braised meats), not sweet or creamy, so anyone expecting the coconut and sugar profile of standard Thai restaurants will be surprised.
Families with young children may struggle: the menu includes little for picky eaters, and the small space gets loud quickly during peak hours.
What the First Visit Involves
Walk in, order at the counter. Typical wait for food is 8 to 12 minutes. Seating is first-come; peak lunch is 12 to 1 p.m. and peak dinner around 7 to 8 p.m. No reservations. Ask the staff for a recommendation if you have never tried northern Thai: they will steer you toward khao soi or gaeng hang lay as entry points. Rice choice comes with the order. Expect to sit at a small two-top or communal high-top depending on occupancy.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
My Thai is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., closed Mondays. (Confirm hours before visiting, as seasonal staffing changes.) Street parking on the block fills by 6 p.m. on weekends; a municipal lot one block east offers hourly rates. The space is wheelchair accessible. Cash and card both accepted. No alcohol, no BYOB policy currently in place.
My Thai fills a gap in Baltimore's Thai landscape by refusing to offer what every other Thai restaurant already does.
