Ava GabouryThe first time I had Filipino food was at a friend’s party. They brought out the giant lechon and had grilled bangus, pancit canton, and a famous dessert—leche flan.
Since then, I’ve eaten at quite a few spots in town.
So, I’ve learned how to tell good Filipino food apart from the places that are mid. If you want to give Filipino food a try, here are my recommendations.
- 1. Plato Filipino
- 2. HALINÁ Modern Filipino Kitchen + Bar
- 3. Aling Ening Restaurant
- 4. Hapag Ihaw-Ihaw Restaurant
- 5. Kulinarya Filipino Eatery
- 6. Pampanga's Best Cafeteria
- 7. PAMPANGA’S CUISINE Home of the Original Sisig
- 8. Shameless Buns
- 9. Klasik Inasal and Noodle Express
- 10. Romeo Must Taste
- 11. Pin Pin Restaurant
- 12. O! Taho
1. Plato Filipino
– Media credit: platofilipino
Address: 5175 Joyce St, Vancouver, BC V5R 4G8, Canada
Hours: Monday – 8 AM–8 PM, Tuesday to Thursday – 8:30 AM–8 PM, Friday Sunday – 8:30 AM–8:30 PM
Phone: +1 604 559 9155
Price: $
Plato Filipino has earned a beloved reputation as a go-to destination for authentic, traditional Filipino cuisine in Metro Vancouver.
The restaurant is a true taste of home for the local Filipino community and a delightful discovery for anyone looking to explore the rich flavors of the Philippines. Their mission is simple: to serve heartwarming, home-style dishes that always hit the spot.
The menu at Plato Filipino is a celebration of classic Filipino comfort food. They offer an extensive selection of favorites, ensuring there is something for everyone. Diners can indulge in iconic pork dishes like the crispy, savory Lechon Kawali or the sizzling, flavorful Sisig. Other must-try items include their rich and nutty Kare Kare and the tangy Sinigang na Baboy. This commitment to traditional recipes makes every meal feel like a family feast.
For those seeking a convenient yet satisfying option, Plato Filipino also offers bento boxes, combo meals, and a wide range of silog plates—all thoughtfully prepared to deliver a balanced taste of Filipino cuisine in one set. These choices are especially popular with diners who want a hearty, quick, and affordable way to enjoy their favorite dishes without compromising on authenticity.
Beyond their regular dining service, Plato Filipino excels at catering for events and special occasions. They offer a comprehensive menu of party trays available in various sizes, making it easy to host a gathering with delicious and authentic food. From Pancit Bihon Canton to trays of classic desserts like Leche Flan and Ube Halaya, they can cater a complete Filipino celebration.
As a pillar of the community, the restaurant also participates in local cultural events like Kamayan Fest, sharing their love for Filipino food with a wider audience. With convenient locations in both Vancouver and New Westminster, a taste of traditional Filipino cooking is always within reach.
| Pro Tip: For a true Filipino feast, you have to order the Crispy Pata. It’s a whole pork leg that’s been deep-fried to perfection, with shatteringly crisp skin and incredibly tender, juicy meat inside. 🇵🇭 Plato Filipino serves it the traditional way, with a tangy soy-vinegar dipping sauce that perfectly complements the rich pork. It’s a large dish, so it’s definitely meant for sharing with family or friends! |
2. HALINÁ Modern Filipino Kitchen + Bar
– Media credit: halina.yvr
Address: 2439 E Hastings St
Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 5 PM to 9 PM
- Saturday & Sunday – 10 AM to 9 PM
Phone: +1 778-504-0970
Price: $$
Halina’s modern kitchen and bar puts a twist on classic Filipino dishes. Case in point? Their own version of humba spareribs appetizer.
Traditionally, it’s a braised pork dish simmered in soy sauce, vinegar, and banana blossoms. Halina changed it up by switching the stew out for dry-rubbed spareribs glazed in a sweet-tangy Canadian whisky sauce, with star anise and cardamom.
For my main entree, I normally go with the inihaw na liempo (grilled pork belly) . Both times I’ve had it here, the pork had that delicious charred, crackling crust that almost made me forget that underneath was the chewy fat.
They got a great selection of drinks too. I liked their El Nido. It’s a zero-proof drink that mixes coconut milk and calamansi with pineapple juice and a splash of blue curaçao syrup. It’s creamy, citrusy, and doesn’t leave you with a hangover.
| Pro Tip: If you’re rolling in before 2 PM for their brunch, I recommend ordering the Tortang Talong. It’s a smoky grilled eggplant fritter packed with mushrooms, tofu crumble, and served with garlic rice and tangy atchara (pickled papaya). |
3. Aling Ening Restaurant
– Media credit: Joyce Hufana
Address: 4253 Fraser St
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM
Phone: +1 604-873-1956
Price: $
Aling Ening is a Filipino karenderya (small Filipino eaterie) right in our city. Karenderya’s are the Philippines’ answer when you want fast homemade dishes on the go.
Aling Ening has that same vibe going on. They serve up heaping portions of classic Filipino dishes on small plates.
Personally, I like to get their beef caldereta. Each time I’ve had it, the beef was fork-tender and the sauce was rich but not overly salty. I normally get it with garlic rice and a fried egg on the side.
Their lumpias (like Filipino spring rolls) are my go-to grab-and-go snack. They usually come stuffed with savory pork and veggies, and are fried to that shatter-crunch finish.
| Pro Tip: Try their pancit palabok. It’s a salty-sweet rice noodle dish. I like how their version stays pretty true to what you would find in the Philippines. They top it with hard-boiled eggs, and sometimes more shrimp. But if you’re allergic to seafood, they have other versions like pork and chicken. |
4. Hapag Ihaw-Ihaw Restaurant
– Media credit: Dro Vancouver Spots + Eats
Address: 5432 Victoria Dr
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday – 11 AM to 8 PM
Phone: +1 604-428-0097
Price: $$
I can smell the grilled meats coming from Hapag Ihaw Ihaw the moment I get out of my car—and I can never resist the draw. This place is a nod to Filipino street food.
I come here for their pork BBQ skewers. They have a lot of meat in them and are marinated in a sticky-sweet mix of soy sauce, calamansi lime, and caramelized garlic. You can tell by the first bite that they let the char over the flames for a bit.
Their Miki is also pretty good. This dish has thick, springy egg noodles that are so tempting to just slurp up on their own. But they add on top of their noodles stir-fried juicy pork, plump shrimp, and tons of veggies.
Another menu I love here is the buko pie (coconut pie). You have to pre-order it, but damn, is it good. The first time I tried it, I fell in love with their flaky crust and that sweet shredded young coconut filling.
| Pro Tip: For a good deal, get their combo meal. Mix-and-match their garlicky chicken BBQ, or inasal (lemongrass-kissed grilled chicken) with rice, tangy pickled cucumber, and crunchy slaw. |
5. Kulinarya Filipino Eatery
– Media credit: kulinaryafilipinoeatery
Address: 1134 Commercial Dr
Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday, Sunday – 11 AM to 8 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 11 AM to PM
Phone: +1 604-255-4155
Price: $$
At Kulinarya, you don’t need forks, but napkins are mandatory. The only etiquette that matters here is ”dig in.”
This is the spot to embrace Kamayan. That’s a Filipino feast where you have an excuse to eat with your hands.
For $50 per person (reservation required), you’ll be eating off a banig (woven mat) that’s covered in banana leaves. On top, they pile sky-high tons of Filipino classics.
Their menu includes grilled pork belly, garlic shrimp, and crispy chicharon (fried pork skins). There are even mangoes and rice that look like mountains.
But, if you would rather just get à la carte, that works too. One of my favorites on their menu is the kare-kare. They simmer Northern Gold eggplant until it melts in your mouth. I love the flavour of their peanut sauce and how it’s not watery at all.
| Pro Tip: Their Fried Deep Bangus is like the holy grail for seafood lovers. Thankfully, they debone their fish before they fry it up. The bright mango-tomato salsa that comes with it is sweet and zingy. |
6. Pampanga’s Best Cafeteria
– Media credit: Alyana
Address: 4279 Fraser St
Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 10 AM to 8 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 10 AM to 6 PM
Phone: +1 604-874-0010
Price: $
Pampanga’s Best Cafeteria is a little hole-in-the-wall, but I swear this place is legit. Why do I even say that? Because every time I came here, it was always filled with Filipino locals eating.
There’s no menu here. They simply make whatever recipes they have available each day. So you could find your favorite dish, or discover something you’ve never heard of before.
On my last visit, I had laing. I like the earthy taro leaves, rich coconut, and mildly spicy ginger garlic flavours.
The lechon kawali was legit too. I liked that it was juicy and crispy. And on top of that, they serve free bowls of sinigang too—a sour and savory Filipino soup made from tamarind, with tomatoes and assorted veggies.
| Pro Tip: This place is also a Filipino grocery store! |
7. PAMPANGA’S CUISINE Home of the Original Sisig
– Media credit: pampangascuisine
Address: 5179 Joyce St
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM
Phone: +1 778-379-7003
Price: $
Pampanga’s Cuisine is basically a buffet-style restaurant. Most of their menu consists of pre-cooked dishes displayed in food warmers.
So, all you have to do is point at whatever catches your eye. They will pile it on a plate with rice, and you can dig in. But many come here for their breakfast specials.
All of their breakfast meals come with garlic fried rice, an egg cooked your way, and homemade atchara (pickled papaya). They also serve a cup of buko pandan (coconut and pandan jelly dessert), free coffee or tea, and a bowl of soup.
My personal go-to is the tapsilog. Those thin slices of beef are marinated in a savory mix of soy sauce and vinegar, then pan-fried until caramelized. They’re served with fried egg and fried rice too.
| Pro Tip: Give their tibok-tibok a go. I swear that this silky-smooth coconut glutinous rice pudding melts in my mouth. |
8. Shameless Buns
– Media credit: shamelessbuns
Address: 302 Industrial Ave
Phone: +1 604-668-0505
Price: $$
You can’t miss Shameless Buns’ food truck. It’s housed in an actual jeepney! Those are like the Philippines’ version of a bus, decked out in bright colors and unique designs. But Shameless Buns isn’t just about the cool ride.
They serve creative Filipino eats in the form of their “main squeeze” sandwiches. Each sandwich comes on a soft, slightly sweet pandesal (Filipino brioche bun).
Their Not Your Lola’s Chicken Adobo main squeeze is one of my faves. I like the marinated slow-braised chicken adobo, atchara (pickled papaya slaw), and garlic calamansi aioli. It also comes with tomato and green onion fried garlic.
I’m also a huge fan of their Fili-Pino Cheeze Steak Fries. It’s basically their crispy palabok fries. They top it with tapa (marinated beef), caramelized onions, and chipotle cheeze sauce.
| Pro Tip: Try their “shameless sauces”! You can choose from banana ketchup, garlic calamansi aioli, and mango tamarind hot sauce—all free of charge. |
9. Klasik Inasal and Noodle Express
– Media credit: klasikinasal
Address: 650 E Broadway
Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Saturday – 11:30 AM to 8 PM
Phone: +1 604-873-3939
Price: $
Klasik Inasal & Noodle Express is where breakfast is served all day long.
The congee goto is one of my favorite things to get. It comes with beef tripe that really stole my heart. I also like how you can ask for an additional egg on top.
They also serve really good noodles. The Vegetarian Pancit (stir-fried noodles with bell peppers, cabbage, and carrots) feeds 2-3 people.
For meat lovers, the beef mami is just as good. I like the thick, chewy egg noodles and how they don’t soak up all the rich beef broth. It’s topped with brisket, boiled eggs, and pickled veggies.
| Pro Tip: Klasik does party trays of Filipino classics. You can get chicken inasal (grilled marinated chicken), Filipino spaghetti (sweet tomato sauce, meatballs, and hot dogs), and more. |
10. Romeo Must Taste
– Media credit: romeomusttaste
Address: 1205 E Hastings St
Hours:
- Tuesday – 2 PM to 9 PM
- Wednesday to Saturday – 1 PM to 9 PM
- Sunday – 1 PM to 9:30 PM
Phone: +1 604-716-2315
Price: $
If you’re craving authentic chicken inasal, Romeo Must Taste is the place to be. One bite of theirs and I was temporarily at a loss for words. I enjoyed how tender and juicy it was.
The grilled chicken came served with steamed rice, toyomansi sauce (aka soy sauce and lime), and rich chicken oil.
Another thing I have tried here is their Java Rice Bowl & Lemon Grass Chicken. The Java rice was bomb. I enjoyed the taste of their grilled lemongrass chicken, fresh vegetables, and zesty calamansi aioli.
| Pro Tip: Order the Lumpia Fries. They’re crispy, hand-rolled, and filled with all the good stuff. It usually comes with ground beef or pork, garlic, onions, and vegetables. Plus, they are fried to golden perfection. |
11. Pin Pin Restaurant
– Media credit: pinpinrestaurant
Address: 6113 Fraser St
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 11 AM to 8 PM
Phone: +1 604-322-3086
Price:
PinPin has a mix of Filipino-Chinese cuisine. They have walls featuring scenes of Philippine life, jeepneys, and more.
One of the dishes I like to order here is the ginisang kangkong with lechon. They use kangkong (water spinach) and add crispy lechon to balance out the bitterness of the spinach.
Another popular dish here is the Pinaputok na Tilapia. They simmer it in crab fat and coconut milk for a creamy, umami taste. People love the taste of the deep-fried tilapia with banana leaves because it infuses the fish with sweetness.
| Pro Tip: What I like here is the buko pandan sherbet. So if you want dessert, try it. It’s refreshing and you’ll taste all the flavors of coconut, pandan, and vanilla. |
12. O! Taho
– Media credit: k.ceee
Address: 4223 Fraser St
Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 12 PM to 6:30 PM
- Sunday – 12 PM to 6 PM
Phone: +1 604-720-9604
Price: $
At O Taho, they serve taho, a Filipino street food favorite. So, what is taho? Think of it as the Philippines’ version of pudding.
It’s got a base of silken tofu and topped with a caramel-like syrup made from brown sugar and sago (chewy tapioca pearls). It’s sweet but not too sweet, warm but refreshing, and texturally addictive.
Their savory dishes are on point too. The lumpiang shanghai (Filipino-style meat spring rolls) are crispy, golden, and filled with savory pork—perfect for dipping in sweet chili sauce. The chicken empanadas and the pork BBQ skewers are good too.
| Pro Tip: Stock up! O Taho lets you order their lumpiang shanghai (and other dishes) frozen to take home. Keep a stash in your freezer for impromptu cravings or last-minute snack time emergencies. |
