DaiLo

What is DaiLo? Located at 503 College Street along the bustling Little Italy strip, DaiLo is chef Nick Liu’s celebrated modern Chinese brasserie translating Hakka and Cantonese heritage through rigorous French culinary technique. The room features moodily lit modern chinoiserie wallpaper, globe lighting, and plush banquettes, with seating split between a dynamic main-floor dining room and intimate bar counters overlooking the action. Upstairs, the companion cocktail lounge LoPan extends the electric neighbourhood vibe late into the night.

DaiLo Menu & What to Order The sharing-focused menu delivers bold flavours across dishes like the crisp jicama octopus tacos, sweet-and-sour pork hock with jellyfish slaw, and the aromatic truffle Hainanese chicken. Seafood devotees shouldn't skip the whole fried Giggie trout showered with fried aromatics and almonds, while plant-based eaters benefit from a dedicated vegan tasting menu that never feels like an afterthought. If you want the kitchen to steer, the multi-course DaiLo’s Choice tasting menu alongside citrus-forward cocktails remains the definitive order.

Know Before You Go Tables book up weeks in advance on OpenTable for prime dinner hours, though bar seats and upstairs walk-ins at LoPan offer last-minute salvation. Take the 506 Carlton streetcar directly to College and Bathurst to skip the headache of congested neighbourhood street parking. The kitchen serves Tuesday through Sunday from 5:00 p.m., with weekend hours extending until 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.