Best of Toronto
The Best Filipino Restaurants in Toronto
The best Filipino food in Toronto cannot be found in any restaurant, but at my mother's house during a Filipino fam-jam. Since she's not inviting you over anytime soon, however, you might want to try one of the fine establishments scattered all over the city. One thing you'll find is that Toronto's Filipino restaurants are symbolic of Filipino cuisine in general — it's mostly about taste and not so much appearance.
Let's face it, Filipino food is Thai food's ugly sister. But who cares? Filipino cuisine is comfort cooking, the soul food of Southeast Asia: copious amounts of pork cooked many different ways, deep-fried bite-sized pulutan (finger food), tender braised meats and sauteed vegetables in savoury gravy-like sauces, all served with heaping plates of steaming white rice. You're probably just craving standard fare such as pork adobo (the national dish), pancit (noodles) or deep-fried lumpia (those little egg rolls), but if you did want to go extra-exotic with an order of bicol express or kare-kare, or even straight-up Fear Factor with a side of sizzling sisig (diced pork face on a sizzling platter), it can all be had in our fair city.
Special mentions go to Aristokrat BBQ in North York, Butchokoy in Parkdale, Quiapo! Quiapo! in Mississauga and Mayette's, near Danforth and Pharmacy. There's also a new sit-down place called Barkada at Steeles and McCowan that looks promising. Let's hope more Filipino restaurants in Toronto realize that people are looking for dining experiences that transcend heat lamps and steam trays, stryofoam containers and plastic utensils!
Here are the best Filipino restaurants in Toronto.
Writing by Leonard Cervantes. Top photo by Jesse Milns.
Casa Manila
Casa Manila proves that Filipino cuisine can look good AND taste good. From the decor to the plating, Casa Manila is as close as you're going to get to a sit-down restaurant experience. This is probably the only Filipino restaurant in town that is first-date worthy - if your first date is at the Ontario Science Centre. The standout here is the kare-kare - a satay-like oxtail & vegetable stew. Order with white rice and don't forget the bagoong (salted shrimp paste). More »
Max's Restaurant
Max's is a local franchisee of a Philippine-based chain known for their special brand of fried chicken. Anyone expecting the Colonel's secret blend of 11 herbs and spices will be disappointed in this Filipino interpretation of an American classic that gained favour with stationed US soldiers in World War 2. No crispy battered skin, but if its a crunch you crave, Max's encourages you to chomp the bones now rendered edible by Max's secret cooking process! Waste not, want not! More »
Ritz Restaurant
You'd never know that Ritz is a Filipino restaurant from the outside looking in. This ain't no regular greasy spoon. They serve Filipino breakfast and that means it's a REALLY greasy spoon. The prices are reasonable, the people are nice and you can't beat any one of the -silog breakfasts. Silog means any meat served with fried egg and garlic rice. My favourite is the longsilog breakfast featuring longaniza, which is a sweet Filipino sausage and also my porn nickname. More »
Remely's
Remely's is a Scarborough mainstay and they're really known as party caterers (i.e. my mom didn't want to cook that many little egg rolls) but if you pay them a visit, you'll find that there's tons to try here. In my opinion, Remely's shines in the "noodle" category - pancit in both Canton, Malabon and Palabok styles as well as Filipino-style spaghetti, which basically means add cut-up hot dog pieces to the sauce and then mix in enough sugar to give you a cavity. Don't hate us, Italians. We're sorry. More »
Dalisay
There's so little signage here that it would be easy to bypass Dalisay the next time you're up in Thornhill. Go inside and you'll find the same setup - hot tables with food in steam trays under glass. I had high hopes for the beef caldereta but my aching jaws told me that they either should have cooked it for longer, used a more tender cut or better yet, made it with kambing (goat) instead. The accompanying sauce however, wasn't bad. More »
Barrio Fiesta
Places like underestimate themselves. The food here is good enough that if it were served to me on china with nice cutlery and a napkin on my lap, I'd easily pay up to $20 per entree. Consider it a steal that Barrio Fiesta is content to give you two entrees and your choice of rice or noodle in a styrofoam takeout container complete with plastic fork and nice all for the low, low price of about $8. My pick is their pinakbet, which is sort of like a Filipino-style ratatouille without the CGI rats. More »
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Casa Manila... it's alright. Been there a couple of times and I can see why it may appeal to the non-Filipino because food is made to order and veers away from the usual Cafeteria style steam table presentation that 'Pinoy' store/resto's tend to have.
I have one qualm with all the suggested restos on here. Where the hell is 'Sampaguita'(Filipino National Flower)? Sampaguita is located in the Bathurst and Wilson area,duhh Filipino central. Not only do the long line-ups and cramp resto style prove that its a popular and much loved Filipino resto but the way they cook the food really changes the game, for me that is.
Similar to 'Casa Manila' its a made to order resto. And like Casa Manila, Sampaguita is well known for their 'Kare kare'(Oxtail in Peanut sauce) & 'Lechon Kawali'(Re-fried roasted Pork). What is even more shocking is that there's a myriad of Chinese cooks preparing the food.
I had only discovered 'Sampaguita' last year when my FOB coworker took me there in the summer. I was blown away! And you're talking to a Canadian Filipino who grew up in Scarborough a block away from Barrio Fiesta and spent 4 years in the Philippines.
Huh? What does that mean anyway?
LJ Kusina Markham #2
Max's Chicken #3
Has anyone heard of "CHARRY'S FINE FOODS" located in Scarborough ?
http://kapitbahay.ca/
To my added disappointment, I think who ever decide to write this list is just a little LAME and have a really BAD TASTE. Remely's? Barrio Fiesta? Jesse Jr's? That's THE BEST in town? HAHAHAHA and to the person that said LJ's Kusina is good? HAHAHAHA BAD TASTE FOR SURE. LMAO I think this is a bit of a joke and kind of embarassing to showcase to other people (but then again, I don't think it would matter since non-Filipinos who would dare to try these wouldn't know the difference).
'Turo-turo' style (i have no idea what it means but thats what my mom say its called) eateries are GROSS. Food sitting there all day and not made to order and never fresh and are subpar when it comes to taste. Anyone ever tried Ellen's in Mississauga? Heard that place is good, especially their sisig.
this also goes to those who question the phrase 'thai foods ugly sister)
it's still ugly. And to sum it up Filipino food is pretty 'rustic' and I'm using that in the loosest of terms(see peasant food). Majority of the food is either fried or stewed. I know it seems pretty harsh but really people, who are we kidding? Minus Balot, look at dishes like Dinuguaan, Bopis, sisig, hell even Kare Kare looks pretty horrid to the non-Filipino. Saying that Filipino food is Thai's ugly sister is a compliment.
is that its somewhat of a filipino-chinese food fusion. The dishes have that extra ingredient that makes it taste like chinese food. Am I wrong?
I am disappointed that Aristokrat didn't make it on that list. They're legendary. Casa Manila definitely doesn't deserve to be on that list nonetheless number one! The only thing that place has is organized and modern marketing. The food is so not up to filipino standards. Its just a prettier venue then most.
I am however pleased to see Cucina Manila. They are one of my fave! The food always looks fresh, not like its been sitting there and every dish is just full of flavour. EVERY Dish.
It's true that aesthetics are always subjective and relative. But to use the word "ugly" to describe something that is as intimately connected to a culture as food is – is insulting and irresponsible. So you must understand why it's hard to swallow right? ;) Just because it doesn't look like anything we're accustomed to seeing (in "our" culture) does not make it ugly.
Yeah yeah yeah... my opinion is as subjective and relative as yours, but I'm not hating with mine. So expand you're world beyond you're backyard and be aware of who's standards you are using when you claim that it's a compliment to Filipino food to be called Thai food's ugly sister.
And ditto to the kababayan that wrote this article. Maybe he was just trying to manage expectations so people don't go "WTF?!" when they visit these places. Maybe he was going for humour. Maybe he just wanted to add some controversy. Or maybe he really thinks Filipino food is ugly. And that's fine. But even though we are all entitled to our own opinions and we have the right to express it, we still have a responsibility to do so without being a douche in a public space (virtual or otherwise).
Wow, does it? Does a busy place mean it's really good? Wow, how perceptive. Are you a detective? No, you must have some sort of insight that we all don't have. Please teach us your tricks, like how to go get a seat after ONE visit to Sampaguita's. If you cannot understand Frankie's post, then you will not understand this post as well. It's riddled with this concept called sarcasm. You MUST be from Mississauga or Vaughan.
Truthfully, Filipino food is hella ugly. What foods do Filipinos jump for joy for most? Lechon and Balut. C'mon, Lechon is an animal with a stick up its ass. And I don't care what porcelain plate you place balut on, it was still used as an item on fear factor to scare silly foreigners.
PS: The Wilson Aristokrat is horrible compared to the one in Mississauga. The Wilson location is just a bad restaurant that people will go to if they can't get a seat at Sampguita's, or Cusina's, or Jolly Tops.
Those should NOT be the issue. I think what some people are reacting negatively to, including myself, is the use of the word "ugly" to refer to Filipino food by the writer and by extension all that agree with him. It is UNnecessary.
The writer can say it ain't his thing. Although to what end in the context of his article, I have no clue… but he can say it. Hell, in the privacy of his own home, he can even say it looks like pig slop… to him. So yes, he can have his opinion. We can all have opinions (In fact I have too many). But when he voices that opinion publicly, he has a responsibility to be respectful. We all do. In a public medium such as this one, he and those that agree with him, have no reason/need to use words that insult, or demean, or marginalize, bla bla bla... Because at that point, it is NOT just an opinion. Them's fightin' werds!
I'm sure the writer is a smart man. I'm sure the other posters that agree with him on this issue are smart people. So I am ALSO sure that he, and they, could have thought of any number of WORDS in the english language to express their opinion about Filipino food, that doesn't leave a bad taste in other people's mouths ;) … Cheers to opinions!
"Filipino food doesn't come to mind when most people (including myself) think of a great night out to eat."
Why are you speaking for most people? Do you know all of the 5.5 million people in the GTAA?
Who are you? Your right your opinions mean nothing to me. The problem I have with you, is you speaking for everyone in the GTAA? I couldn't care less wether or not you like filipino food it's obvious to me you haven't truly experience filipino food. Why do I say that?
"when I feel like something simple and tasty and that's when I go for Filipino food."
Tell me what dishes have you tried and name me all the dishes you've tried in each province? Ohh by the way don't google the dishes it's way to easy to spot a fake online. You don't even have a clue how filipino food is prepared yet alone trying to say it's simple. Filipino food is all about preparation and not made to be sitting in a buffet type serving. If you know anything about our food you will know that FACT!
"salt, pepper, garlic, soy and vinegar are often common flavours used"
Are you serious, you honestly believe that is the fundamental ingredients for all our dishes? How sad you are, that is the most basic ingredients for Adobo and this dish can be cook so many different ways. I don't even pity you, simply because you have no clue other than your basic knowledge of our fine dishes.
By the way don't use any of those restaurants above as an example to represent Pinoy Food, they are mediocre to my standards compared to the finest restaurants in the Philippines.
One more thing to add! YOUR entitled to eat any food you like because FOOD is very subjective. Just don't go speaking for the whole population of the GTAA about Pinoy food. I'm quite sure you don't even know more that 10k people personally!
A thousand people in the GTAA does not even qualify for MOST people!
Next time before adding your opinions at least back them up with known facts!
If you're going to represent don't do it with the back of your hand, Leonard.
I applaud the writer for giving both Filipinos and non-Filipinos an honest opinion.
If you guys want polite rahrahrah comments just because the writer is Filipino too, then why not read Filipino newspapers where the editorial says nice things about their own friends and family!
then again, if you expect the writer to say he likes everything just because he's Filipino, then you guys are more Filipino than you know
(and I'm Chinese!)
Yes, if people attack you on race then be defensive but this is not it. Chill...
- bopis, pork bbq, pancit bihon, lumpiang shanghai, ukoy, bistek, halo-halo, turon from Remelys
- tokwa't baboy, beef caldereta, mechado, maruya, biko from Barrio Fiesta
- palabok from Jessie Jr.
- kare kare fro Ellen's Place
I'm stil looking for a place that cooks from Ilonggo valenciana.
karate uniforms
Birchmount and Lawrence in Scarborough. I've been to most of the Restaurants on the list and duscussed here. If you're looking for delicious authentic Filipino food at a great price...this is it!
From the Special Batchoy to the huuuuuge BBQs to the amazing breakfasts served starting at 7am, this small family restaurant has a selection of delicious dishes and a true homelike feel. You will keep coming back time and time again...and thank me for turning you on to it.
Lamesa wasn't open at the time of writing.
Agreed, it's awesome. Definitely a night out or a specia treat but a bit too pricey for a weekly go-to.
IMO:
1. Lamesa, which is in a league of its own. Food - 10, ambience - 10, service - 10+++
2. Sampaguita, food - 10, ambience - 0, service - 8
3. Co-china Manila, food- 7, ambience - 0, service - 5 (cafeteria-style service but gets points for friendliness of staff, which is nonexistent in the others)