Although inflation has caused the cost of dining out to soar, there are many standout restaurants in the city with quality food at reasonable prices. And when it comes to restaurant recommendations, who better to trust than a chef — and a Michelin chef to boot!

Chef Jonathan Poon, recently awarded Bib Gourmand recognition for his restaurant Favorites Thai BBQ — a vibrant Thai hot spot on the Ossignton strip, recently shared his favourite affordable restaurant in Toronto where two can dine with wine for under $100. Read on to find out which spot he selected.

Chef Jonathan Poon wants to eat at: Nana

“The food is a true expression of Bangkok street food/comfort food,” Poon told us. “Chef Top’s skills are legendary and her authentic papaya salad with fermented raw crab and pla ra is the real — not for the faint of heart.”

Nana

With an abundance of dishes inspired by the street food found within Thailand, Nana’s intimate space is reminiscent of the eateries found on the streets of Bangkok — shared tables and colourful plastic stools in a melodic setting where guests can socialize as they nosh on dishes found across Thailand’s various regions. “Nana” is the part of Bangkok where people meet to dine and socialize, and although many of the dishes at this Queen West eatery are for the more adventurous, either in their flavour profiles, lesser-known ingredients or spice level, there are plenty of options for even the most discerning palates. Pork and crab spring rolls are a favourite to start, and colourful curries are anything but basic. New items are added to the menu each week, like the aromatically brilliant pad prik king made with tender pieces of chicken in a dry red curry paste, infused with the botanical sweetness of wild ginger. 785 Queen St. W.

If you want to know where celebrity chef Ryusuke Nakagawa of Aburi Hana eats cheap, click here, for Rob Rossi of Osteria Guilia click here.  And to find out where chef Masaki Saito gets an affordable meal, click here.