- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Daio Japanese Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
45 Carlton StToronto, ON M5B 2H9
Neighbourhoods: Church-Wellesley Village, Downtown Core
(416) 260-2116
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
12 reviews for Daio Japanese Restaurant
12 reviews in English
-
Review from Leeor J.
9/17/2011
I was really impressed with this place. After I came back from Japan last year, I haven't eaten much sushi in Toronto. I was disappointed by all the places I used to go, so I took a break. The fish just wasn't fresh enough and I felt like they all seemed to work really hard to mask that by their various sauces.
Before I went to Japan, I thought all the sauces and dressings were an innovative break from tradition. After my trip, I realized that it had nothing to do with tradition. When you have really fresh high quality fish, you don't want to mask or detract from its delicate flavour and texture. It's a waste. Accompaniment should be minimal and complementary. Basically, there's really no place for sauce on a good piece of fish.
I tried this place last night. If has renewed my faith that you can get high quality fish of variety in Toronto. It's not the cheapest, but as Anthony Bourdain says, "cheap" and "sushi" don't go in the same sentence. Good fish just isn't cheap.
I had a variety of sashimi and a few appetizers. For appetizers, we had the deep fried oysters (I had to try these) and some home-made gyoza's. Both pretty good.
They had just flown in some uni (sea urchin) from boston that morning, so I had to try that. If you've ever had sea urchin that wasn't super fresh, you probably think its disgusting. To put it mildly, it tastes like ass when it isn't fresh. When it's fresh, it has a very subtle sweet flavour and a really nice texture. It was good here! The salmon was the freshest i've had in Toronto. Unfortunately, they were out of mackerel but I was really surprised they even had it on their menu. I've never seen mackerel in sashimi form outside of Japan until now. The scallop sashimi was also quite good. And the smoked white tuna was very nice.
This is a family run joint where only one of the servers isn't part of the immediate family. Service was excellent. Their daughter was our server and she was extremely good. Explained everything on the menu and told us all about what came in when and from where.
I will be back. -
Review from Steph L.
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Finally! Fresh sashimi in the Yonge and College area!
I was having a hard time finding a Japanese restaurant that I liked in the neighborhood (other than Guu, which isn't open for lunch, Solo sushi is a bit farther away).
There are plenty of super cheap sushi options on Yonge... but you get what you pay for.
I've walked by this place many times and I wish I had discovered it sooner.
It's a small restaurant with simple wood decor and comfortable seating. They even have private booths available! I found the restaurant cozy and instantly likeable. It was oddly quiet for lunchtime, which is a shame!
I was greeted by a friendly hostess dressed in a Japanese outfit. We chatted about the lunch specials and sushi. They told me that they only served fresh fish and that I wouldn't be disappointed...And I certainly wasn't.
I ordered the Chirashi lunch ($15).
It's not cheap, but it's worth it.
If you are looking for an authentic Japanese lunch in the area, this is the place! Daio definitely exceeded my expectations and I'll be back! -
Review from Darren L.
Scarborough, ON
5/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
The atmosphere is very authentic and the staff is very friendly and courteous. I ordered the lunch "Kyoto" and it was very good. Love the teriyaki sause as well as the tempura sause. The sushi was a bit basic but the rest of the bento box more than made up for it.
-
Review from Maheen M.
11/18/2011
Based on Yelp reviews, my SO and I decided to bring his mom to Daio for an authentic Japanese dining experience. To our surprise, they were not busy on Wednesday night we were there. We were a bit perplexed considering they are located close to the Yonge/College area.
We were told by the server that Diao is known for their unagi (bbq eel), so we had to order it! When we got our sushi unagi, we were blown away by the portion size but they were a bit pricey ($8 for 2 sushi pieces). They were WORTH the price, so good and fresh. I love the sauce. We ended up ordering a second round. The rest of our meal was delicious. The spicy salmon was fresh as was the fried soft shell cake roll.
For the three of us, the bill was just under $100. It is a bit on the pricey end but the quality is worth it.
Drop by Diao for their great unagi, one of the best in the city! -
Review from David B.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 3/25/2012
Pricey! But good. The spicy salmon portions are large and delicious. The special daio roll (salmon and bbq eel) was decent. I'd just go here for the spicy salmon.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/15/2011
The sushi is really good, definitely the best in the area. The spicy salmon was especially good. But… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jessica P.
2/15/2012
Great udon. I really enjoyed my lunch here and the semi-private booths provide an excellent space to prep for a meeting.
-
Review from Chris E.
Toronto, ON
10/29/2009
It seems that 30 Helens agree. Yes, Daio is excellent, more traditional than yer regular raw fishery. Order a cooked fish and that's what you get - head and tail attached. Fermented bean curd? Yes, with the consistency of a fresh booger. But YUMMERS! An acquired taste to be sure. I've acquired it. "Quiet" is the right word, and one of the best things about this place. Just off the busy and way-too-loud Yonge Street drag, it's an oasis. Breathe. Ooouuuummmmmmmmm. Try the pickles on the side. CRUNCHY!
I especially like the busy sidewalk tables during the summer. There's something satisfying about eating expensive raw fish on the street.
Oyasuminasai!Listed in: Restaurants
-
Review from Jason S.
Toronto, ON
9/13/2011
It's located right off Yonge St. on Carlton. The interior is not so fancy schmancy but it's easy on the eyes. Sushi seemed fresh. Everything is well executed and I think it's not one of those average Japanese restaurants in Toronto.
-
Review from Amy S.
Toronto, ON
11/21/2009
My brother and I decided to try this place based on this site. We were not disappointed. What a great meal!
The gintara(?) or black cod is fantastic. The decor is traditional.
A little bit pricey, but we did have two large Sapporo's.
I will definitely be going back, recommending to friends, and highly recommend here. -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
1/11/2009
This is probably the best Japanese food in the area, which explains why meals cost more than the 6-buck fast-food meal deal. The cost isn't knock-me-down ridiculous, but it is higher and does a good job turning away the students in the area.
This place is Japanese-run, at least from the last time I went -- with that comes a kimono-wearing chick with a fine delicacy that you don't see everywhere. It's also reflected in the atmosphere, too; in fact, outside of rush hour, it's so freakishly delicate and quiet here that it drives me a little batty. BE VEWWY VEWWY QUIET, IT'S SUSHI EATING TIME!
Now, I've had friends who have avoided the place strictly because of this emptiness, but I can totally attest this is not always the case -- the older, after-work business set come here in droves around 5-7pm, and finding a table can be difficult. -
Review from Vanessa V.
8/7/2008
really excellent japanese food. they try to give you an "authentic" experience with private booths and traditional garb. i don't know how much of that is authentic and how much is totally offensive and overdone, but i do like the privacy. the servers are very nice and attentive. you pay for all of this, though-- it's more expensive than other japanese in the area. the sushi is always fresh, though, and the ingredients high quality. they offer takeout but i don't know why you would pay this kind of premium and eat in your own living room.
also its almost always empty for some reason which is very nice. -
Review from Tyler A.
5/17/2011
I went here on a recent trip to Toronto. I was craving Japanese food and this looked like the only decent place near my hotel. As I walked in I noticed that the hussle and bustle of the city disappeared (they have covered the windows with Shoji screens). Inside you will find table seating and private booths, they all play traditional Japanese music and the staff is dressed in traditional garb. The food is excellent but a bit pricey. The menu is quite large and should have something to please just about everyone.
