The Filipino community has deep and integral influences to the culture of our diverse Bay Area. Apart from San Francisco, from Daly City To Union City, Fremont, and Oakland, you can't discuss the Bay without mentioning our large Filipino and Filipinx-American populations here, which means naturally there are also several great places to try their native cuisine.
With an emphasis on fresh produce, natural ingredients, and complex flavor profiles, Filipino food is known for being innovative, creative, and most importantly, comforting and made with love. We've rounded up all the best Filipino restaurants all around the Bay Area, both traditional and cutting-edge, to sample the 400+-island archipelago's most exquisite dishes guaranteed to sweep you away into a tropical paradise.
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2700 Jones St / Website
We begin with the upscale Abaca by Chef Francis Ang, which elevates traditional Filipino food in modernized and refined reinventions. Located within the Fisherman’s Wharf's Kimpton Alton Hotel, this gourmet restaurant is an impressive must-try in the city, due to not only their exceptional cooking, but also their dazzling decor and friendly service. The delectable dishes to delight in here are their Crispy Octopus, Sisig Fried Rice, and Smoked Hamachi Tilapia with coconut milk, lemongrass, and green apple.
Abaca also boasts an expansive and creative cocktail menu that highlights native fruits and flavors, such as their refreshing and vibrantly purple "Ube-Colada," made from the Ube, a creamy sweet potato with earthy vanilla notes.
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237 Ellis St / Website
This local venue near the heart of Union Square is a comforting and affordable classic, providing a warm, home-cooked touch that feels inviting, familiar, and easy to approach if you are new to Filipino food. Another impeccable aspect of this fantastic restaurant is their large servings, piling on a plate of perfectly seasoned chicken adobo or their all day breakfast all for under $10. Kusina Ni Tess also offers a wide rotating menu, ensuring you will get a taste of traditional flavors any day of the week you visit.
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990 Valencia St / Website
What began as an extremely popular food truck has now incredibly flourished as a flagship restaurant in the Mission, with lines constantly out the door! What makes Senor Sisig so irresistable is their precisely flavored and tender Filipino-style sisig pork, chicken, and tofu, creatively stuffed inside burritos, tacos, or piled high atop the crispiest fries. You are bound to be properly satisfied and impressed at their Mexican-Filipino fusion, whether it be from their famously distringuishable truck, in the Mission, or over in Oakland.
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5720 Mowry School Rd, Newark / Website
Heading down to Newark, Isla is the must-try gem in the south/east bay for the true Filipino Island experience. From their tropical decor, hospitable service, and bright atmosphere, you will truly feel relaxed at this spacious oasis, especially when feasting on their artfully-prepared Kapampangan-style dishes like pancit or kare kare.
Isla is also known for their original Bilao, which is a large and instagrammable sampler of many dishes all beautifully arranged on a traditional banana leaf. You must also save room for dessert, however, for their halo halo (a shaved ice delight with sweet toppings) is also just as grand and is the perfect refreshing palate cleanser. It will be hard to share here!
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372 24th St, Oakland / Website
The Lumpia Company in Oakland is co-owned by our own legendary rapper E-40, so you know you can expect the best quality of flavors packed inside all their lumpias. With uniquely inventive fillings like beef quesabirria, chicken tinola, and even peach mango cobbler, it will be impossible to have just one of these addictingly crunchy Filipino style eggrolls.
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Loyola building, 3910 Smith St, Union City / Website
With three locations around in San Francisco, Union City, and Santa Clara, Toppings is a Bay Area staple. We highlight Toppings Too due to their intimate and tucked away space in the historically Filipino Union City's downtown. While the space might be tight and cozy inside, their portions are considerably the opposite, delivering generous servings of the freshest grilled barbeque steak, chicken, liempo and bangus, and so much more.
Their menu is expansive and customizable, providing serval combo options to guarantee a solid taste of everything Filipino. Their noodle and vegetable dishes are also delicious, and you are sure to feel comfy and taken care of here while you make your contemplate your incredible meal choices.
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31005 Courthouse Dr, Union City / Website
Gerry's Grill first opened in Tomas Morato, Quezon City, and after expanding globally, you can now get a proper taste of the Philippines right from Union City. Gerry's prides themselves on being an upbeat and refined restaurant where you can both unwind at their casual bar, or host a family gathering. You can truly taste the passion to provide the ultimate Filipino experience within all their flavorful dishes, from their sizzling sisig, to their immensly crispy Pata, amazing Inihaw na Pusit, and more. This is the best place to stop into that is totally fun, friendly, and authentically Filipino.
Whether you are new to Filipino cuisine, or miss the taste of home, all of these superb restaurants are guaranteed to transport you to the white sand beaches and golden sun of the Philippine Islands with their delectable and fresh cooking!
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Photography by: Eiliv-Sonas Aceron/Unsplash
