Aliu IsaThe 5 Best Filipino Restaurants in Toronto
Filipino cuisine is captivating, woven from an eclectic blend of influences, including Malay, Chinese, Spanish, American, and indigenous traditions. The result? A mesmerizing tapestry of flavors that harmonize sweet, sour, and savory notes.
From beloved classics such as the iconic adobo and comforting sinigang to innovative fusions, Filipino cuisine offers a tantalizing spectrum of dishes that will undoubtedly leave you craving more.
So, whether you're a Filipino yearning for a comforting taste of home, an adventurous diner eager to explore new horizons, or a seasoned food enthusiast in pursuit of the next mouthwatering discovery, this article is your gateway to Toronto's finest Filipino gastronomic treasures.
How We Chose the Best Filipino Restaurants in Toronto
How much does dining at a Filipino restaurant cost in Toronto?
In Toronto, most Filipino restaurant food costs around $20. The final bill depends on the restaurant, the dish, and the portion size, but Filipino cuisine in Toronto is relatively affordable compared to other types of food in the city.
1. Tinuno
Founded by Cathy Ortega and Gerald Aquintey, Tinuno is a Filipino restaurant in Toronto that offers a unique and authentic dining experience rooted in Filipino culture, with a specialization in grilled and barbecued dishes.
At its core is the concept of kamayan dining, a traditional Filipino custom that involves eating with your hands. Guests love Tinuno’s warm and inviting atmosphere and its long communal tables.
Their signature Kamayan set, meant for sharing, includes a variety of grilled seafood, succulent pork, fresh vegetables, and a mango salad, all served on banana leaves alongside garlic rice.
For early birds, Tinuno offers Supersilog and Tinunosilog breakfast sets, providing a taste of classic Filipino breakfast combinations.
The menu also includes a wide selection of Filipino appetizers, desserts, and beverages, catering to various tastes and preferences. Plus, they offer delivery and catering services and offer special spread packages for holiday celebrations.
Pros
- Competitive prices
- Available for online delivery
- Multiple payment options
- Offers catering services
- Offers Noche Buena (Christmas spread) packages
Cons
- No wheelchair-accessibile facilities
- Long waiting time
Huge portions
“A great hole-in-the-wall joint for delicious Filipino kamayan feast! The inside is small and cozy, with lots of tables side by side and a busy vibe. The kamayan feast was super tasty and filling, with huge portions of seafood, pork belly, pork skewers, and garlic rice. It’s great value at $20 per person at the time of this writing. They even offer you more garlic rice if you aren’t stuffed already! The tilapia was slightly overcooked compared to what I’m used to, but maybe it’s just me. We also had the ube kalaya dessert, which was tasty with a nutty jam-like consistency. All in all, a great experience that I’ll definitely come back for.”
Aaron Lo, Google Review
Super fresh and delicious
“Amazing food👏
Took my parents here as they’ve never tried Filipino food and they loved it. We got Kamayan for 5 ($25 pp), soup, and lechon. Everything was super fresh and delicious. The seafood was also very fresh. There was a bit of a delay in getting our food but the wait staff were extremely polite about it and gave us spring rolls on the house (it was also very good).
We all loved the experience of eating with our hands on a communal table and the food being so good was a huge plus to our experience!!!! Vegetarian options: Kamayan includes Grilled eggplant, grilled okra, mango salad, and garlic rice. These are the only things you could eat. Spring rolls are not vegetarian.”
Katie Song, Google Review
2. iSLAS Filipino BBQ & Bar
iSLAS Filipino BBQ & Bar, which sits in the heart of Parkdale, Toronto, was established in 2013 by Chef Marc and Mariel Buenaventura.
Paying homage to the Philippines, the restaurant blends influences from Austronesian, Malay, Chinese, Spanish, American, and indigenous cultures, resulting in a cuisine celebrated for its sweet, sour, salty, and sometimes spicy flavors.
The menu features a variety of Filipino favorites, such as the flavorful sisig, dynamite sticks, the classic adobo, kare kare bagnet, and halo-halo, a classic Filipino dessert.
One of their must-try dishes is the popular Boodeli’two, which, following the Filipino communal dining tradition and hand-eating custom, allows guests to enjoy their meal by feasting directly on banana leaves.
They also offer a selection of cocktails inspired by famous places in the Philippines such as Samar’garita, Baguio Sour, Tondo Old Fashioned, and El’nido Mojito.
Pros
- Offers gift cards
- Accepts reservations for catering and private parties
- Offers pickup and delivery
- Vegetarian-friendly
Cons
- Pricier than most competitors
Tastes better than the original
“It was a great first experience. Sago at gulaman tastes better the original. Turon especially was delicious and one more thing, there was this twist with bicol express spicy dish it was a mix of seafood wow love that. We will be back for more for sure. Thanks for that, Choco Baileys, with my brewed coffee Tita. Cheers 🍻 👏
Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5
Recommended dishes: Halo Halo, Chicken BBQ, BBQ, Lechon Chicken Wings”
Jawsea Sharky Pilapil, Google Review
Our server was so friendly
“Ordered the Tasting menu for 2 and it was delicious. Had a variety of items from the menu, all of which were amazing. Our server was so friendly and spent time explaining the meal to us. For the dessert, we had the Halo Halo and can I just say yum!!! The tasting meal for 2 would definitely work for 3 or even 4 with an additional item or two. This place is a must-try.”
Elaine Lewis, Google Review
3. Perlas de Pilipinas
Owned and managed by “Ate Pearl,” Perlas de Pilipinas serves Filipino food in a carinderia-style setting. Located inside the Al Premium food court, this restaurant may not be easy to spot, but it’s a favorite among Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike.
It offers a wide range of Filipino dishes, from chicken, pork, beef, goat, and vegetables to seafood recipes. If you’re looking for recommendations, their lechon kawali (roasted pork), pancit canton and bihon (noodles), and bulalo soup have received rave reviews.
In addition to their must-try dishes, they have set meals for group dining. Their crispy sisig, lechon belly, and chicken cordon bleu are also highly recommended for sharing.
Aside from dine-in options, they offer takeout and delivery services through Doordash and Ubereats. They also have catering services to accommodate small gatherings and large celebrations.
Pros
- Generous portions
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking
- Vegetarian options
Cons
- Pricier than most competitors
- Located inside a grocery store food court
Haven’t had anything like this before
“I ordered the batchoy and it was delicious! The broth had so much umami and there was a lot of beef in the bowl. I haven’t had anything like this before so I really liked this dish. It’s like the Filipino version of ramen.
The price point was a bit on the higher side but it’s because this food stand is attached to a grocery store. It has similar pricing to Seafood City. My boyfriend got the tapsilog and he really enjoyed it. I would definitely come back if I do my groceries and want to grab some Filipino fare. Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 4/5”
Shirley Du, Google Review
Flavourful, soft and well seasoned
“It’s tucked away inside the Al Premium food court area and isn’t open particularly late (closes at 5), so it’s best to try and swing by during the earlier day time.
Ordered the Tapsilog from their all day breakfast menu and was thoroughly impressed! The cured beef was super flavourful, soft and well seasoned. The garlic rice was also a nice touch. Overall, the portioning of the food was generous enough that I was full and also enjoying bites of beef and rice together the whole time.
I also grabbed a large tray of their cassava cake and found it to be really delicious – a nice touch is that they also line the bottom of the tray with a banana leaf so you can catch just a hint of that when eating the cake too. Hope to be back to try more from their menu!
Parking: Parking lot out front is a little small and navigating out gets crowded easily during peak times because of the LA Fitness and Costco.”
Andrew Siu, Google Review
4. Sampaguita Village Restaurant
Family-owned and managed since 2005, Sampaguita Village Restaurant offers a fusion of Filipino and Chinese cuisine.
Located in the heart of Little Manila, the restaurant’s ambiance takes you back to the bustling food joints in the Philippines, with its sparse and narrow space, visible food prep station, and a golden Buddha statue.
For those craving authentic Filipino flavors, the pinakbet, a vegetable stew cooked in shrimp paste, and the kare kare, a rich peanut-based stew with oxtail and vegetables, are highly recommended.
They also serve a variety of vegetarian-friendly options, from tofu with mixed vegetables to eggplant tofu, baby bok choy, and vegetable sour soup. They can also accommodate any special dietary requests, so guests can enjoy a satisfying meal without any worries.
The restaurant offers family platters and party trays for sharing. Their bestsellers include Filipino and Chinese-inspired dishes of grilled meats, noodles, fresh vegetables, seafood delicacies, and aromatic soups.
Pros
- Wheelchair accessibility
- Free and spacious parking
- Prices are exclusive of tax and gratuity
Cons
- Does not accept credit card payments
- Customer complaints about noise level
- Limited parking options
Brings back memories of home
“First time to try a Filipino restaurant in Toronto. This place brings back memories of home. Not only the food are mouth-watering but the service are incomparable. The staffs are just so kind. Must try for sure are lechon kawali fried rice, pancit canton, lomi and crispy pata! Will definitely go back 👍🙏”
Al Evangelista, Google Review
I wish we have this place in Orlando
“We came here before heading back home. The moment we open the door, everyone was so welcoming. We’re a large group so they immediately got us set up in a long table. When we got seated, just warm people welcomed us. We were advised that since we’re a large group that automatic gratuity will be added and of course we said yes.
Our food was made fast, every single dish that we ate was a no frills just delicious food. The Garlic rice brought memories, it’s made exactly how my Lola (grandma) makes it. I absolutely enjoyed every spoon of it.
Now the Lechon Kawali was for the win! I had to order another serving because it was that good. It was crunchy and melt in your mouth, how they cook it that way just blew my mind. Its like Hong Kong style pork belly. The Beef Bulalo hits the spot. The Pancit was all gone as well.
I would highly recommend this place when you’re in Toronto. I wish we have this place in Orlando. Thomas & The Owner even checked on us and they’re hospitality is top notch!!”
Regina Manalili, Google Review
5. Wilson’s Haus of Lechon
Wilson and his family are the proud founders of Wilson’s Haus of Lechon, which opened its doors in 2017 after they moved to Canada from the Philippines. They wanted to introduce their Cebu lechon recipe, which has been cherished by Filipinos since 1998, to Toronto.
Wilson’s family ran a successful restaurant called The Four Brothers in the Philippines before coming to Canada. There, they mastered cooking lechon, a mouthwatering roasted pig dish that’s a favorite among locals and often eagerly devoured at festivals.
Their menu showcases their authentic Cebu formula for roasted and grilled meat and kinilaw, a traditional Philippine version of ceviche.
Their most popular item is the Haus Combo, a serving of steamed rice, a main dish, spring rolls, and a drink.
Aside from accepting dine-in customers at their North York and Scarborough branches, they also have online delivery and takeout services.
Pros
- Offers delivery and takeout
- Perfect for casual and group dining
- Street parking
- Offers catering
Cons
- No outdoor seating
- Complaints of burnt or over-grilled food
Truly a gift from heaven
“Not only is the food amazing here, but they are kind-hearted people too. We showed up 15 minutes before they closed at 9pm, and though they had been open all day and were ready to start shutting down, they took the time to explain to us what the food was, that more food was available, the combo options. We wanted to eat on their patio and they left the light on for us even after they closed the restaurant. I witnessed that they are generous of heart in giving back to the community. Pork and chicken skewers were fantastic and the lechon pork belly was amazingly delicious. The food and service here is truly a gift from heaven. Go and see for yourself.”
Johnson K, Google Review
Highly recommend the lemon grass roast chicken
“Highly recommend the lemon grass roast chicken. It is so juicy and tendor. The lechon are also great and goes very well with the sauce. Just make sure to order in advance or prepare to wait for a long time as the roast chicken pretty much are sold out the moment it came out of the rotisserie.”
Ray Du, Google Review
