In a February 2020 post, Big 7 Travel, a popular international travel website, listed what it considers to be the best Filipino restaurants in Canada.
A total of 25 establishments made it to the site’s enumeration.
Readers of Canadian Filipino Net may be interested to know that at least seven of these were either featured or mentioned in stories by Canadian Filipino Net.
These are Junior in Montreal, Kulinarya in Vancouver and Coquitlam, Casa Manila in Toronto, Kanto 98 St. Eatery in Edmonton, Filistix in Edmonton, and Plato Filipino and Shameless Buns in Vancouver.
Big 7 Travel is part of Big 7 Media. The media company describes itself as an outfit that “creates original content across our three brands – travel, food and hotels – for a mobile-first, millennial audience”.
“We produce city guides aimed towards adventurous travellers looking for authentic experiences, from where to eat and drink to the most unmissable things to do,” according to Big 7 Travel.
In its listing of Filipino restaurants, Big 7 Travel noted that Canada is “full of quality spots where you can enjoy everything from traditional roasted pig, tortas and even some world-class sisig”.
“In short, the best Filipino restaurants in Canada are easily some of the best you’ll find outside of the Philippine archipelago itself,” the site noted.
Here’s the Big 7 Travel list, and a few words from the site about each establishment:
- Tinuno – Toronto, Ontario
“This family-style restaurant is well-known for its kamayan feasts. You’ll be crammed together with other families, friends and locals as you devour everything from rice to seafood and the ever-famous lechón.”
- B’s Sizzling Kitchen – Mississauga, Ontario
“From family-style kamayan feasts to just the traditional Pinoy plates they serve, everything at B’s Sizzling Kitchen is absolutely packed with flavour. And, while the entire menu is pretty tasty, you’re going to want to stop by especially to try the pork.”
- Junior – Montreal, Quebec
“Junior is a treat from start to finish. First, you’ve got the decor, which is trendy and modern yet still reminiscent of Filipino culture. Then, you’ve got the wonderfully tantalising menu.”
- Kulinarya Filipino Eatery – Coquitlam, British Columbia
“It’s hard to beat the authenticity that you find when dining at Kulinaraya Filipino Eatery. This local Filipino hotspot oozes of tradition and relies on age-old family recipes to impress.”
- Casa Manila – Toronto, Ontario
“Dining here transports you straight into the heart of the Philippines where you can dive into local culture and cuisine. Graze your way through kamayan-style meals or opt for the salo-salo style where you’ll get to enjoy smaller offerings of plates such as Kare Kare and spring rolls.”
- Hapag Ihaw Ihaw Filipino Grill – Vancouver, British Columbia
“Hapag is a Filipino word which means ‘table.’ And, it’s this the simple concept of gathering around a table that sets the stage for what is always a great meal at this Filipino restaurant in Canada.”
- Pinoy Pansitan – Montreal, Quebec
“The pancit is always on point and the Tokwa’t Baboy is some of the most authentic you’ll find in all of Canada. It’s easily one of the best spots for Filipino food that tastes as if it’s just come straight from back home.”
- Wilson’s Haus of Lechon – Toronto, Ontario
“Slow-roasted pig is the specialty at Wilson’s Haus of Lechon. And, boy do they sure know how to roast ’em.”
- Kanto 98 St. Eatery – Edmonton, Alberta
“It’s easily one of the best Filipino restaurants in Canada for those after some Pinoy comfort food. Start off with some delicious BBQ skewers. Then, order the Bao Boy. It features savoury pork belly that the braise in soy and vinegar.”
- Meryenda – Ottawa, Ontario
“Ottawa’s most famous Filipino food truck always impresses. It’s a way for locals to explore traditional Filipino flavours with a unique and tasty twist.”
- Carinderia – Mississauga, Ontario
“This is by far the best Filipino restaurants in Mississauga. And, it all comes down to the ingredients and the preparation. They offer an all-day Filipino breakfast that’s an absolute must.”
- Sampaguita Village – North York, Ontario
“Sinigang and Oxtail Soup are some of the spot’s most loved menu items. But, we suggest heading back a few times to ensure you can also sample other delicacies such as their BBQ chicken and squid dishes.”
- Silong Express – Halifax, Nova Scotia
“This Halifax hotspot serves up fresh, tantalising Filipino dishes all week long. And, their passion for their craft and culture truly shines through. From the Lechón Kawali straight on through to the meat skewers, it all tastes as if it belongs in a super-local Manila storefront.”
- Jenmuel’s Lechon Cebu & Grill – Winnipeg, Manitoba
“Jenmuel’s is home to the country’s finest Cebu-style dishes and obviously the iconic lechón. They cook it to perfection and serve it with all of the flavours and spices you’d expect out of a tasty home-cooked slow-roasted pig back in Cebu.”
- Tambayan At Kainang Filipino Restaurant – Calgary, Alberta
“Ever sunk your teeth into a sizzling stuffed squid? What about a graze through deep-fried pig knuckles? If not then you’re in for a real treat when dining at Tambayan.”
- Lechon Republik – Toronto, Ontario
“If you’re in Toronto, you’re going to want to check out Lechon Republik. While they serve other Filipino dishes, you’ll definitely feel tempted to try the slow-roasted pig. They’ve perfected the balance between crispy skin and juicy, meaty pork.”
- Filistix – Edmonton, Alberta
“Filistix is a great spot for local students in the area to indulge in some Filipino and Asian fusion cuisine. You’ll notice that the menu features various other dishes from the South Pacific and other parts of Asia.”
- Divisoria Market – Ottawa, Ontario
“It’s a one-stop-shop for everything Filipino, whether you need to stock up on some beauty products or are craving a delicious plate of Crispy Pata or even Lechon Kawali.”
- Plato Filipino – Vancouver, British Columbia
“There’s nothing at Plato Filipino that’s not dripping with authentic flavours. We suggest heading here early in the day as their BBQ Silogs are absolutely brimming with flavour.”
- Adobo Experience – Regina, Saskatchewan
“Speaking of adobo, if you find yourself in Saskatchewan, there’s no better place to sample this Filipino delicacy than at Adobo Experience. And, don’t just stop at the adobo. Everything here is rich in flavour and incredibly authentic.”
- Ivan’s Kitchen – Winnipeg, Manitoba
“Ivan’s is only open for breakfast and lunch. And, while that disappoint a few hungry guests looking to indulge in some of the Philippines’ finest dinner dishes, you can still enjoy a fantastic, full-flavoured meal here.”
- Bistro Filipino – Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
“At Bistro Filipino, they’ve perfected the true taste of Filipino cuisines by focusing on traditional flavours and modern cooking techniques. From the Sizzling Sisig to their famous Shrimp Sotanghon it’s all just so wonderfully authentic.”
- Dbarkadz – Scarborough, Ontario
“Whether you’re sampling the soups and rice or the full-flavoured smoked and roasted meats, we guarantee you’ll be immediately transported straight to the Philippines. It’s just that good.”
- Shameless Buns – Vancouver, British Columbia
“It’s Vancouver’s coolest Filipino food truck (er, Jeepney) serving up some of the Philippines’ tastiest dishes. They’re all about fusion-style here, with offerings extending to include dishes called Not Your Lola’s Adobo Chicken and The Little Sausage.”
- Islas Filipino BBQ & Bar – Toronto, Ontario
“It’s equal parts Filipino BBQ joint and trendy Toronto bar, making any visit here fun and filling. So, settle in for a quality cocktail and then prepare to savour each and every bite of the wonderful Filipino dishes they offer. Martini and Chicken Sisig, anyone?”
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