Dao's Cafe

Tasty authentic Lao food that was freshly prepared by Chef Dao! Looking forward to going back and trying the soup noodles and sausage dishes when they’re back on the menu. Happy to have this addition to the neighbourhood.

I came to Lao Food Co.after seeing it on Instagram. We came right at the opening for weekend brunch, and there was no waiting on the weekend. There are four tables with four seats each. Reservations accepted. We ordered tapioca pearl dumplings, crispy fried rice, coffee, and soy milk with grass jelly. The tapioca pearl dumplings filled with chicken, radish and peanuts came in five and were really delicious. The coconut crispy rice was made with crispy rice, cured pork, herbs and peanuts. We loved the texture and taste of the dish - it was very refreshing with the lettuce wrap, and combined with the house-made chilli sauce, elevated it. After these two dishes, we were full and took some coconut crispy rice home. Service was quick and friendly. Chef Dao came out to speak to us after our meal, and we could see the passion and love they put into each dish. Amazing Laos food is popping up in Toronto, and this is one of those spots. Lao Food Co also offers a monthly supper club, which is a three-course prixe fixe meal - which we plan on going to in the future. The restaurant is only open on weekends. Overall, we are excited to try this neighbourhood gem and would encourage others to try delicious Laotian food at Lao Food Co. Accessibility: two steps to the restaurant, no automatic door opener, sizeable individual washroom. Neighbourhood street parking, and some public transportation options.

Finally had the chance to try out Dao’s tasting menu :) Everything was made from scratch and freshly served. Though all were incredibly tasty, we especially enjoyed the pearl dumplings, spring rolls, sausage and crispy rice. We are truly inspired by the chef’s passion for Lao cuisine and will definitely be back to try other items on the menu. Highly recommend to check out this hidden gem!

I had the opportunity to come here for the first time during their brunch hours. It's a nice little restaurant and the food is delicious as well! I really enjoyed their pearl dumplings appetizer. The skin was chewy and the filling was very tasty. I had the pleasure of speaking with the owner/chef and he mentioned he is looking to expanding his restaurant hours so I'll definitely come back in the future to try other dishes!

This is, by far, the best meal I have had out in a restaurant in a long, long time. Everything was soo fresh, and it looked bigger than it was. We were able to finish the Dumplings, which were sweet, and when you added the hot chili piece to the next bite, it was amazing. The flavors were spot on. For our mains we got the Laap and the crispy rice dish, which was soo good We ended up eating the rest instead of taking a little bit home. We still had room for the coconut pancakes and Mango with sticky rice, and they were amazing as well. We left feeling satisfied and not stuffed or hungry again. You have to eat in the restaurant to really enjoy the food and you should.

This restaurant is a hidden gem! I’m surprised more people don’t know about it. The food and service were absolutely incredible! We had the chance to speak with the owner, who shared his inspiring story and the reason behind opening this restaurant. His passion for Lao cuisine was evident—he wants to preserve and share it because it’s not widely represented. Highly recommend!

Thanks Dao for an awesome Mother’s Day lunch, and for teaching us a bit about Laotian cuisine and history! Big portion sizes, fresh flavours, and all made to order. We’ll be back for one of your family style dinners soon

Amazing hidden gem in Toronto. Dao is super passionate about bringing his family's cooking to the table and introducing Torontonians to Lao food, and you can really tell he puts a lot of thought and care into each dish. The restaurant is only open from 11-3 on weekends, and you can either walk-in or make reservations online. It is a pretty small space, so I would make reservations just in case. We tried everything on the menu: pearl tapioca dumplings, papaya salad, coconut crispy rice (naem khao), chicken larb, sausage meal, and the mango sticky rice. The herbs and ingredients were very fresh, and the portion sizes were super filling. Highly recommend the coconut crispy rice - my family and I couldn't stop talking about it! We also tried their pineapple limonade which was refreshing (and helped to put out the spice haha) Dao was very hospitable, and towards the end of the lunch rush, he even came out to chat with all the customers. Apparently the menu changes as well, so I'm looking forward to coming back to try out some more Lao dishes!