The people behind Toronto’s always-popular Thai staple, Pai, are gearing up to open yet another restaurant in the city.
Just months after opening their latest concept, Tha Phae Tavern — a playful, nightlife-inspired Thai restaurant — Chef Nuit and Jeff Regular, the unstoppable duo behind Pai, Khao San Road, and Kiin, are teaming up with Jeff’s brother, Joel Regular, and preparing to open something entirely new in the city.
Boasting Michelin recommendations for their Northern Thai cuisine at both Pai and Kiin, it would be all too easy for the team to rest on their laurels and stick with what they’ve already proven themselves to be good at — goodness knows the people of Toronto wouldn’t stick their noses up at another Thai restaurant from the Regulars — but that’s not what they’re doing.
Instead, while all of the team’s past ventures have been odes to Chef Nuit’s Thai background, their new venture, Makilala, will be an exploration of Jeff and Joel’s Filipino heritage. With Filipino cuisine taking over the Toronto food scene at the moment, their timing couldn’t be better.
“Chef Nuit has been cooking and learning from my entire family for the past 20 years, and we’re so excited to share her love for learning and cooking our traditional recipes with the community,” says Joel.
The restaurant is moving into the space that formerly housed the iconic Golden Thai, which closed down in 2020 after two decades in business, and Makilala will be making good use of the enormous space.
The front of the restaurant will be occupied by a curated marketplace, stocked with a rotating selection of goods from Filipino artists and vendors selling handmade and locally-sourced products while, just beyond it, the spacious main dining room will feature long, communal dining tables to encourage shared meals, a large stage, and a basketball court painted on the floor to honour the sport’s hold on Filipino culture.
“Basketball is such a big part of growing up in the Philippines,” says Jeff. “We wanted to channel that energy and sense of community into the space—from the court-style layout to the laid-back, open vibe.”
The bar, modelled after a sari-sari store, will serve up a mix of traditional Filipino drink staples like Red Horse, San Miguel, Tanduay and ube cocktails, as well as creative new inventions, and even an in-house light beer called Makilola.
As for the food, you can expect a full suite of traditional Filipino cuisine, including chicken adobo, sinigang and taho, as well as a kamayan menu of family-style feasts served and eaten on large banana leaves.
“Everything I’ve learned about Filipino cooking has come from spending time with Jeff and Joel’s family,” says Chef Nuit. “This menu is built on the tradition and love of their family recipes. I feel incredibly grateful to be able to share these dishes and the stories behind them.”
The exact opening date for Makilala is still up in the air, but you can expect it to open its doors before the summer is up and, if any of Jeff and Nuit’s past ventures can provide any indication, it’s sure to be another lay-up.
Makilala will be opening up sometime between late July to early August 2025 at 105 Church St.
