Today, the nearly 800-square-metre DAO Asian Kitchen & Buffet opened its doors on the second floor of Ülemiste Centre, bringing together more than 100 dishes from different Asian cuisines under one roof. Inspired by the grand buffet restaurants of Las Vegas, DAO lets guests eat as much as they like for one fixed price.
The menu features well-loved favourites from Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean cuisines, as well as exciting flavours from elsewhere in Asia. Live wok and teppanyaki dishes prepared right before guests’ eyes, a lavish dessert selection and a cocktail bar make the experience even more special.
According to Ivar Vendelin, the sole owner of DAO, customers are increasingly looking for places that offer not only good food but a complete experience. “As a rule, in a restaurant you have to choose one cuisine and stick to a couple of dishes, so to try different cuisines you need to visit several restaurants. Our aim in creating DAO was precisely to offer the chance to take a journey through the flavours of Asia in a single restaurant visit – to discover new tastes, try different dishes and enjoy it all in good company,” said Vendelin.
DAO’s menu includes, for example, sushi and sashimi, dim sum, a variety of curries, naan and wok dishes, and for dessert, a wide selection of sweets, including a chocolate fountain. “We wanted to create a restaurant that offers a spectacular experience but is also affordable enough to visit on an ordinary weekday, not just on special occasions,” said Vendelin, an experienced restaurateur. In the evenings and at weekends, the buffet selection expands and dishes are also prepared on the teppanyaki grill in front of guests.
Guido Pärnits, Director of Ülemiste Centre, stressed that today’s shopping mall has to be more than just an ordinary place for shopping. “The role of a shopping mall is to offer people more and more opportunities that make coming here an experience in its own right. DAO brings a completely new concept to Ülemiste Centre’s restaurant selection, one that stands out for its unique approach. I believe it will become an attractive destination both for a quick lunch break and for a longer evening out at a restaurant,” said Pärnits.
Familiar faces at the opening gala
On 4 November, the day before the official opening, the restaurant hosted an invitation-only opening party attended by around 300 guests. Among those getting to know the new restaurant were Gerli Padar, Sandra Daškova, Kaspar Wang and Stiven Raidmets.
The evening was hosted by Hannes Hermaküla, and the entertainment programme featured the Bollywood dance troupe Zahira and drummers performing traditional Japanese taiko drumming. One of the highlights of the evening was the DAO Live Wok Challenge, in which members of the popular food-themed social media channel Näljane Nelik, Chinese TikTok creators Qiaoqiao and Kaspar Wang, and other well-known guests competed at cooking Asian dishes. The contest was judged by TV presenter and well-known foodie Marko Reikop.
One price, all you can eat
Buffet prices depend on the time of visit. On weekdays from 11:00 to 16:00, the lunch buffet costs €19.90 for adults and guests aged 12 and over. From Monday to Thursday, 16:00–22:00, the evening buffet costs €24.90, and at weekends, from Friday evening to Sunday, €34.90.
For members of the DAO World loyalty programme, the respective prices are €18.90, €22.90 and €32.90. The buffet is free for children up to three years old, and discounted prices apply to children and seniors. A lunch buffet visit lasts one and a half hours, and two hours in the evenings and at weekends. Buffet visits can be paid for either at a self-service checkout or directly with the staff. Drinks and other extras can be ordered at the table by scanning a QR code or from a member of staff.
DAO World is a free loyalty programme that lets members dine at a lower price from their very first visit. The restaurant also offers takeaway. With DAO Takeaway, customers choose a box of the right size and fill it with their favourite dishes from the buffet. Takeaway prices start at €9.90 and depend on the size of the box and the time of visit.
DAO is also well suited for birthdays, corporate events and other larger gatherings. Groups can be offered a more private, separate area, as well as specially priced birthday packages that let guests enjoy the generous buffet for longer than the usual visit time.
To celebrate the opening, a special lunch buffet price of €15.90 instead of the usual €19.90 applies from 5 to 11 November. The offer is valid on weekdays from 11:00 to 16:00, i.e. on 5–6 and 9–11 November.
