The San Francisco Bay Area boasts a thriving Filipino food scene, reflecting the rich tapestry of Filipino immigrants who have called the region home for generations. From traditional comfort food to modern takes on classic dishes, the Bay Area offers a delightful journey for your taste buds.
This list highlights some of the top Filipino restaurants in the region, catering to various cravings, budgets, and dining styles. So, grab your sense of adventure and prepare to embark on a delicious exploration!
Unveiling Culinary Gems: Top Filipino Restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area
1. Jollibee (Google Map Link)
- Star Rating & Reviews: A well-liked 4.2 rating on Google with a whopping 1911 reviews, praising the delicious and affordable Filipino fast food.
- Cuisine: Filipino Fast Food
- Must-Try Dishes:
- Chickenjoy: Jollibee’s signature dish of crispy, juicy fried chicken.
- Yumburger: A Filipino twist on the classic hamburger, featuring a sweet and savory Yum sauce.
- Peach Mango Pie: A delightful and unique dessert option.
- Vibe: Casual and fast-food. Perfect for a quick and satisfying Filipino food fix.
- Service: Efficient counter service ensures a speedy dining experience.
- Price: Budget-friendly. Meals likely fall under $17.00.
2. Fil-Am Cuisine (Daly City)
- Star Rating & Reviews: Highly-rated 4.5 rating on Google with over 920 reviews, praising the extensive menu and authentic flavors.
- Cuisine: Traditional Filipino
- Must-Try Dishes:
- Adobo (various versions): Choose from classic chicken or pork adobo, or explore other protein options like seafood or vegetables.
- Kare-kare: Oxtail stew simmered in a rich peanut sauce with vegetables.
- Sinigang (various versions): Explore the world of Filipino sour soup with options like pork, seafood, or vegetables.
- Pancit (various styles): This noodle dish comes in many variations. Fil-Am Cuisine likely offers a variety to tantalize your taste buds.
- Lumpia (various fillings): Enjoy these savory Filipino spring rolls with different fillings.
- Vibe: Casual and family-friendly. Perfect for a relaxed and enjoyable Filipino dining experience.
- Service: Friendly and attentive service ensures a comfortable dining experience.
- Price: Moderate. Meals likely range from $10 and up, reflecting the variety of dishes offered.
- Link: Google Maps link to Fil-Am Cuisine
3. Isla Restaurant (San Francisco)
- Star Rating & Reviews: A very good 4.4 rating on Google with over 900 reviews, praising the delicious food and upscale ambiance.
- Cuisine: Modern Filipino
- Must-Try Dishes:
- Kare-Kare: A modern take on the classic kare-kare, with a focus on presentation and innovative touches.
- Crispy Adobo Flakes: A creative reimagining of adobo, featuring crispy flakes perfect for appetizers or sharing.
- Bistek Tagalog: A Filipino dish featuring marinated and tenderized beef.
- Halo-Halo: A mountain of shaved ice topped with everything from beans and fruit to leche flan, a perfect ending to a Filipino feast.
- Vibe: Modern and stylish. Perfect for a special occasion or a trendy Filipino dining experience.
- Service: Attentive and professional service ensures a memorable dining experience.
- Price: Moderate to upscale. Meals likely range from $13.80 and up, reflecting the modern ambiance and unique dishes.
- Link: Isla Restaurant website https://dinfo.me/myislarestaurant.com/
As we delve deeper into the San Francisco Bay Area’s vibrant Filipino food scene, here are three more restaurants to tantalize your taste buds:
4. Lucky Three Seven (Oakland)
- Star Rating & Reviews: An impressive 4.6 rating on Google with 682 reviews, praising the delicious food, friendly service, and generous portions.
- Cuisine: Filipino Comfort Food
- Must-Try Dishes:
- Silog (various versions): Filipino breakfast staples featuring garlic rice and a protein like longganisa (sausage), tocino (sweet cured pork), or tapa (cured beef). Lucky Three Seven offers a delightful selection to start your day.
- Adobo (various versions): Choose from classic chicken or pork adobo, or explore other protein options like seafood or vegetables.
- Kare-kare: Oxtail stew simmered in a rich peanut sauce with vegetables.
- Sinigang (various versions): Explore the world of Filipino sour soup with options like pork, seafood, or vegetables.
- Pancit (various styles): This noodle dish comes in many variations. Lucky Three Seven likely offers a variety to tantalize your taste buds.
- Vibe: Casual and family-friendly. Perfect for a relaxed and enjoyable Filipino dining experience.
- Service: Friendly and attentive service ensures a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
- Price: Budget-friendly. Meals likely fall under $13.50.
- Link:
Google Maps link to Lucky Three Seven
5. Señor Sisig (Google map link – San Francisco Ferry Building)
- Star Rating & Reviews: Another impressive 4.6 rating on Google with 639 reviews, highlighting the delicious sisig and vibrant atmosphere.
- Cuisine: Filipino Specialties
- Must-Try Dishes:
- Sisig: A sizzling dish made with chopped pork face and ears, seasoned with chilies and onions. Don’t be intimidated by the description – it’s surprisingly delicious!
- Lechon: Roasted whole pig, a staple of Filipino celebrations. Be sure to call ahead to pre-order, as this dish is often prepared for special occasions.
- Lumpia (various fillings): Enjoy these savory Filipino spring rolls with different fillings.
- Barbecue (various meats): Sample a variety of Filipino-style grilled meats like pork barbecue, chicken skewers, and maybe even some inihaw (grilled offal) for the adventurous eater.
- Vibe: Casual and vibrant. Perfect for a fun and flavorful Filipino dining experience.
- Service: Efficient counter service ensures a speedy dining experience.
- Price: Moderate. Meals likely range from $10 and up, reflecting the focus on specialty dishes.
- Link: Señor Sisig website
https://www.senorsisig.com/
6. Isla Restaurant (Google Map Link – Newark, CA)
- Star Rating & Reviews: This Isla Restaurant location maintains a very good 4.3 rating on Google with 752 reviews, echoing the praise for delicious food and a stylish ambiance.
- Cuisine: Modern Filipino (duplicate entry, already described above)
- Must-Try Dishes: Refer to the previous description for Isla Restaurant (already described above).
- Vibe: Modern and stylish. Perfect for a special occasion or a trendy Filipino dining experience. (duplicate entry, already described above)
- Service: Attentive and professional service ensures a memorable dining experience. (duplicate entry, already described above)
- Price: Moderate to upscale. Meals likely range from $13.00 and up, reflecting the modern ambiance and unique dishes. (duplicate entry, already described above)
- Link: Isla Restaurant website
https://dinfo.me/myislarestaurant.com/
Note: We’ve included Isla Restaurant twice on this list. It appears there are two locations in San Francisco with slightly different ratings. Both offer a modern Filipino dining experience.
7. Chibog (Daly City)
- Star Rating & Reviews: A stellar 4.5 rating on Google with 567 reviews, praising the generous portions and authentic flavors.
- Cuisine: Filipino Specialties
- Must-Try Dishes:
- Lechon: Roasted whole pig, a staple of Filipino celebrations. Be sure to call ahead to pre-order, as this dish is often prepared for special occasions.
- Kare-kare: Oxtail stew simmered in a rich peanut sauce with vegetables.
- Sisig: A sizzling dish made with chopped pork face and ears, seasoned with chilies and onions.
- Pancit (various styles): This noodle dish comes in many variations. Chibog likely offers a variety to tantalize your taste buds.
- Vibe: Casual and family-friendly. Perfect for a relaxed and enjoyable Filipino dining experience with a focus on generous portions.
- Service: Friendly and attentive service ensures a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
- Price: Budget-friendly. Meals likely fall under $12.80, reflecting the focus on large portions and classic dishes.
- Link:
Google Maps link to Chibog
8. Tselogs (Daly City, CA))
- Star Rating & Reviews: Another impressive 4.5 rating on Google with 447 reviews, highlighting the delicious food and friendly service.
- Cuisine: Filipino Comfort Food
- Must-Try Dishes:
- Silog (various versions): Filipino breakfast staples featuring garlic rice and a protein like longganisa (sausage), tocino (sweet cured pork), or tapa (cured beef). Tselogs likely offers a delightful selection to start your day.
- Adobo (various versions): Choose from classic chicken or pork adobo, or explore other protein options like seafood or vegetables.
- Pancit (various styles): This noodle dish comes in many variations. Tselogs likely offers a variety to tantalize your taste buds.
- Lumpia (various fillings): Enjoy these savory Filipino spring rolls with different fillings.
- Vibe: Casual and family-friendly. Perfect for a relaxed and enjoyable Filipino dining experience.
- Service: Friendly service ensures a comfortable dining experience.
- Price: Budget-friendly. Meals likely fall under $12.40.
- Link:
Google Maps link to Tselogs
9. Abacá (Google Map Link – San Francisco)
- Star Rating & Reviews: A very good 4.4 rating on Google with 466 reviews, highlighting the innovative dishes and upscale ambiance.
- Cuisine: Modern Filipino Fusion
- Must-Try Dishes:
- Kare-kare Short Rib: A modern take on kare-kare, featuring short rib instead of oxtail.
- Crispy Pata: Deep-fried pig trotters, a dish for the adventurous eater with a reward of textural explosion and savory goodness.
- Adobo Flakes: A creative reimagining of adobo, featuring crispy flakes perfect for appetizers or sharing.
- Halo-Halo: A mountain of shaved ice topped with everything from beans and fruit to leche flan, a perfect ending to a Filipino feast.
- Vibe: Modern and stylish. Perfect for a special occasion or a trendy Filipino dining experience with a focus on innovative takes on classic dishes.
- Service: Attentive and professional service ensures a memorable dining experience.
- Price: Upscale. Meals likely range from $12.20 and up, reflecting the modern ambiance and creative cuisine.
As we conclude our exploration of the San Francisco Bay Area’s phenomenal Filipino food scene, let’s delve into three more hidden gems waiting to be discovered:
9. FOB Kitchen (Google Map Link – Oakland)
- Star Rating & Reviews: A stellar 4.5 rating on Google with 391 reviews, praising the delicious and innovative Filipino brunch options.
- Cuisine: Modern Filipino Fusion with Brunch Focus
- Must-Try Dishes:
- Longsilog: Silog dish featuring Filipino sausage, perfect for a flavorful breakfast.
- Ube Pancakes: Pancakes infused with vibrant purple yam, a unique and delicious brunch option.
- Adobo Flakes: A creative reimagining of adobo, featuring crispy flakes perfect for appetizers or sharing.
- Kare-Kare Short Rib: A modern take on kare-kare, featuring short rib instead of oxtail.
- Vibe: Modern and stylish. Perfect for a trendy Filipino brunch experience or a special occasion.
- Service: Attentive and professional service ensures a memorable dining experience.
- Price: Moderate. Meals likely range from $12.20 and up, reflecting the focus on brunch dishes and creative takes on classics.
- Link: FOB Kitchen website
https://www.fobkitchen.com/
10. Kusina Ni Tess (San Francisco)
- Star Rating & Reviews: An impressive 4.7 rating on Google with a limited but very positive reviews praising the generous portions and home-cooked taste.
- Cuisine: Filipino Comfort Food
- Must-Try Dishes: (Limited information available due to few reviews, but some possibilities include):
- Silog (various versions): Filipino breakfast staples featuring garlic rice and a protein like longganisa (sausage), tocino (sweet cured pork), or tapa (cured beef). Kusina Ni Tess likely offers a delightful selection.
- Adobo (various versions): Choose from classic chicken or pork adobo, or explore other protein options like seafood or vegetables.
- Pancit (various styles): This noodle dish comes in many variations. Kusina Ni Tess likely offers a variety to tantalize your taste buds.
- Vibe: Based on available information, likely casual and family-friendly.
- Service: Reviews haven’t mentioned service details, but the positive sentiment suggests a welcoming experience.
- Price: Budget-friendly. Meals likely fall under $12.00, reflecting the focus on comfort food and generous portions.
- Link:
Google Maps link to Kusina Ni Tess
10. The Sarap Shop (San Francisco)
- Star Rating & Reviews: A perfect 5.0 rating on Google with only 9 reviews, but all reviews are very positive, highlighting the delicious food.
- Cuisine: Filipino
- Must-Try Dishes: (Limited information available due to very few reviews).
- Vibe: Information not available.
- Service: Information not available.
- Price: Moderate. Meals likely fall under $12.00 based on the limited information available.
- Link:
Google Maps link to The Sarap Shop
Please note: With a limited number of reviews for The Sarap Shop, it might be wise to check out their social media presence (if they have one) or look for additional reviews on other platforms to get a better understanding of their offerings before your visit.
This comprehensive list offers a diverse range of Filipino dining experiences in the San Francisco Bay Area. From modern takes on classic dishes to hidden gems with rave reviews, there’s a restaurant to tantalize every taste bud and budget. So grab your chopsticks and spoon and embark on your own unforgettable Filipino food adventure!