Avenida Restaurant
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Got the squid, crispy Pata, fried chicken, pork sisig, bulalo, treviche, and garlic rice! All were so good and flavorful. Definitely a must get for all of them. For drinks we got the ube martini, ube pina colada, and calamansi juice. Fun drinks to try. Our server, Jermaine, was so attentive and kind! Haven't been here in a while and he did a great job suggesting dishes and explaining the portions. Place is neat and has plenty of seats. Definitely will come back!
Had a big group dinner with friends, solid dinner and nice presentation! Parking in downtown san mateo can he hit or miss but we were lucky on a weekday. Service was quick and friendly, and they called out the auto-gratuity for a large party, which was appreciated! Drinks were delicious, lumpia were good. Everything tended a little towards the salty side but good flavor. Would be down to try their HH and some of their other drinks and snacks on the menu!
Great spot for big parties in downtown San Mateo. I was able to make a reservation online easily and the table was ready right away. They have an extensive menu and everything looked good! I like how they have tapas/entree options for most things, so you can order a bunch of things and customize the quantity. They also have a fair amount of vegan/vegetarian dishes. I really liked the chicken wings, the grilled squid, and the short rib! The crab fried rice was unfortunately pretty bland but went well with the other saltier dishes. Pancit was okay but nothing crazy. The white chocolate espresso martini was very sweet and not that strong so definitely recommend that drink if you like sweet cocktails! Vibe inside is very lively and service was friendly.
Came here on a Saturday night for a friend's birthday. First time trying after so many people have told me about it (with mixed bag reviews ). I must have walked by this place a million times, so I was happy to finally try it for myself. I honestly thought it was in a different place altogether, I'm glad I was able to put the location with the name. I love Filipino food, so this place is a no brainer. The location is great and the decor is nice, art deco maybe? Very inviting and it was busy even for how early it was. They are known for their drinks/desserts too so definitely save room for the extra calories. lol The service was also top notch. The manager came by a few times and even sat with us to chat. Our waitress was a doll! I truly enjoyed my meal here.
Avenida in San Mateo is another fantastic spot for Filipino food! Every meal we've had here has been delicious, and the service has always been warm and welcoming. My personal favorites are the Gerry's Iced Tea and the Inihaw na Pusit, both are so good. My fiancé can't get enough of the Bulalo and Sinuglaw, and they're always at the top of his order. They also have a nice outdoor patio, which makes for a great place to enjoy a meal. One of my favorite memories here was when we brought our baby Sulcata tortoise with us to sit outside. Our server thought it was the cutest thing and even brought out some baby bok choy for him to snack on. It was such a thoughtful gesture and really showed how kind the staff is. Great food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere, Avenida is definitely worth a visit if you're craving Filipino cuisine!
Located in Downtown San Mateo, parking is plentiful but availability is difficult to find. The interior is quiet and spacious making it good for groups of all sizes. Food is delicious. I loved the lumpia and pancit. Lumpia was very crispy and the pancit was light whilst having flavor. Tap to pay is accepted. Overall, Avenida Restaurant is a delicious place for Filipino food.
I had such a blast here, the food was so enjoyable. I took my time and ate for 2 hours, trying a bunch of stuff. if you want a rounded meal, try an appetizer, pancit, the crispy meat (lechon was wonderful!), and another meat dish. must get dessert, halo halo is fantastic. sweet cup of goodness with ube ice cream, pudding, jellies, beans. I'm in heaven. service was so kind and cordial. would def come back with a group, they have plenty of space for a large group party. you can try more food with more people! beautiful modern interior- job well done decorating this place.
Tried Avenida for dinner, I haven't eaten much Filipino food before so I was excited to try this spot. Ordered the lumpia, crispy tadyang, grilled squid, and a side of rice. -Lumpia: can't go wrong! solid appetizer, light and crispy. -Crispy tadyang: I was deciding between this and the crispy pata. This dish was very flavorful and had so much depth! The outside was crispy and the beef was very tender -Grilled squid: light and cooked well, it wasn't chewy at all. it paired nicely with the crispy tadyang to balance out! Not a biggie but I wish the slices had been fully cut through since the squid slices were all still connected. I also liked the cooked peppery side veggies. Everything was super flavorful, I'd definitely come back to try other dishes
We arrived just before our lunch reservation. Thankfully it was not yet busy, and we were seated fairly quickly. Seating options include the bar, indoor, indoor patio, upstairs indoor, and outdoor patio all surrounded by Island Pacific decor and atmosphere. Our server, Ace, and the rest of the staff were kind and helpful. We requested mango juice and waters all around. Also ordered Lumpia, Mango Salad, Avenida Fried Chicken, Pork Sisig, Salmon Sinigang, and (of course) both plain and garlic rice. Although we found the sisig dry, everything was well received. We might visit again when in the area again, and we would accept the menu's offer to pay with cash for a 5% discount.
Our experience started out great here then just kept declining as the meal went on. Upon entering, we were greeted by an energetic man who offered us patio seating since their live musician was starting soon. When we were ready to order, the same host came and he emphasized if we wanted any apps, order it now so he can put it in first to beat the dinner rush. We ordered drinks, just the lumpia as the app, and also the rest of the entrees. I'm not sure what was happening with the service that day but we saw a server come out with our drinks and ask another table if the drinks were for them. And then later, the server knocked over a drink at the other table. And then the servers brought out another table's food order to us by mistake. The table that was seated after us got their food before us. We waited over 40 minutes for our correct order to come out, and the food tasted cold. The lumpia and lechon didn't come out which made us wonder why the first server was very adamant in putting in the lumpia order first. We waited another 20 minutes for the lumpia and lechon which was piping hot when it came out so it was obvious they forgot our order or gave it to someone else. The drinks were great but the food here was very mid. The crab fried rice had no seasoning. All the meat was overcooked. To be honest, I would rather go to Jollibees if I want filipino food. We were obviously annoyed throughout the meal and the waitress was hovering our table but never came to check in on us. When we paid, she asked us how everything was and we told her the food wasn't great. She had the nerve to say "omg I should've checked in on you" as if she didn't stand around us the whole time without any acknowledgment. Anyway this was the worst meal and experience we've had in a while and it makes me wonder how it has such high ratings. RESPONSE TO KENNETH: I'm not sure if you were the one that initially greeted us and took our order but we didn't see you at all after our drinks came out. Our concerns were that our food didn't come out and we asked various servers. Nobody came to check in on us throughout the meal. As the customer, it's not our job to try to flag a manager down to share feedback. Even then, we told the server and she didn't tell a manager. Your snarky response shares all I need to know about your business. If you have "real questions", you can send me a message.
Absolutely LOVED my first time dinner experience here! Our waitress was super kind and attentive and checked in with us often for "last call", as our party of 11 ate near closing hours. Love the elevated bougie vibes of this restaurant as well as the aesthetic plating of their modern Filipino dishes. Everything was packed with so much flavor and I had a positive dining experience here. Highly recommend this restaurant & I'd definitely come back!
lumpia: tapas 8 halves entree 16 halves, nice and crunchy inihaw na pusit: entree size feeds 4-5, definitely a recommend the texture and sauce were delicious pork sisig: entree size, definitelly a recommendation as well. adobo rice: entree will be good for 4, tapas would be 1-2 people pinakbet: tapas style, it wasn't a stand out dish and it was smaller than i thought and there was very few of each type of vegetable even though there were so many listed spinach ala pobre: really good garlic rice: large portion good for all the mains we shared leche flan: good flan calamansi pie: subtle citrus flavor We made a reservation for a party of 5 on a Thursday at 6:30, and it was more packed than expected. We were recommended some dishes and did family style and had an insane amount of leftovers. Everything was pretty delicious and the service was great besides the end when our server disappeared for about 15 minutes and we couldn't get the check. Definitely a recommendation for a party to share a little bit of everything!
Came here for happy hour and had a wonderful time! The food is probably some of the best Filipino food I've had lately in the bay. You can tell the quality of the food with each bite. The pinakbet was not skimping on the bagoong and was delicious. The kare kare was tender and the bangus sisig had a perfectly crispy bottom. The high quality of the protein here really makes each dish taste worth the price. The cocktails were also really good, I enjoy the purple jeepney which was an ube based cocktail. They do have smaller sizes for entrees that you can order so you can sample more of the menu. Will be back to try to crispy pata! The service was also very warm and friendly, they first asked if we've had Filipino food before (which we have many times) to see if they could help make any suggestions from the menu.
3 months ago
One of the many Filipino restaurants in the Bay Area, but this one lives up to the hype. Their salpicao is delicious, the beef cubes are so tender and juicy. Their kare kare is one of my all-time favorites, as well as the grilled pork belly! During my most recent visit, I ordered the dinakdakan and it didn't disappoint; the rich flavors reminded me of the dish I'd often eat when traveling to Ilocos or the Cordilleras. The high point of any meal here is the super creamy halo-halo, of course. Their take on this classic Filipino dessert is just divine! read more
Business owner information
Kenneth A.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We're delighted…
Absolute gem. Squid ink pasta and beef Avenida dish was so incredible. The only thing I would consider skipping was the calamari (even though the tartar sauce was delicious!) The food was so flavorful and the larger portions were great for three people sharing. The ambiance is lovely and staff was kind. read more
10 months ago
Came here months ago with a group of friends and our (majority Filipino) group were impressed by how the food here turned out! We came later in the evening (about an hour before closing) and appreciated that staff were up, ready, and patient to seat our group of 5. They were so helpful and food came out quickly! We ordered: - Shrimp gambas: this was my first time having this dish, and I liked that it was full of flavor! 7.5/10 since I have no prior place to compare it to. - Sugba kilaw: DELICIOUS. Standards are high considering this is something my dad makes fairly often. 9/10. - Tinomok: Another dish that I tried for the first time. Laing is among one of my favorite Filipino dishes, so when I saw that this was similar, I had high hopes. Also 7.5/10 since I don't have other tinomoks to compare it to! - Kaldereta: As usual, rich in flavor. The meat was tender and a heavy hitter with the rice. 8/10. - Sisig: Not the best sisig I've had, but fairly good. 7.5/10! - Palabok: Very few places I know get palabok wrong. Yummy and big portions! 8/10! - Calamansi juice: Refreshing and not too sweet! 8/10. The ambiance of the restaurant is definitely more on the higher end side compared to other Filipino places. The place is fairly spacious and has good lighting. This is a nice place to elevate your Filipino food nights out! Be aware that it's definitely a little more pricey compared to other places, but it's well worth the experience considering that the place is on the aesthetic end. read more
Came here for a company event. Food were good but my biggest let down was the ceviche. They added ginger- which was overpowering and destroyed the delicate flavors of the fish. Please fix this. I really love the squid ink rice. The roasted pork was very good too. Everything thing else were pretty good. read more
Slow service :( Bangus sisig 9/10 - a lil on the saltier side - soft tender milk fish with gingery oniony umami flavor - doesn't have the crunch aspect like in a pork sisig (but I'm ok w that) Lechon kawali 3/10 - feel like I can make this better at home - skin is crispy border line brick - doesn't really have any notable flavors besides the expected porky flavor - meat is soft and crumbly & dry - lechon sauce is carrying Garlic rice 3/10 - isn't the typical garlic rice I'm used to - more like white rice with crispy garlic on top versus fried and incorporated together - maybe I just had high hopes ?? Samantha, our server, suggested the bangus sisig which actually became my favorite dish !! :) she got a little busy but then sat at the host desk answers calls and etc w the host so service was ultimately very slow. It wasn't busy when we went, we were seated immediately. We wanted to try the Turon and halo halo here but it took a long time to get anyone's attention so we decided to get dessert elsewhere. Overall, the vibes were meh. Prices were on the higher end for what we got. I wouldn't say this place is worth it. I'd opt for a mom n pop shop if you want good tasting Filipino food but if you're here for drinks - they do have unique drinks! I'm sure their desserts are good as well. Would I return? Prob not. :( read more
I have gone here a couple times, usually on a weekend for lunch. It is always packed so we always try to go right at open or after the lunch rush. I go here for the ambience, the location, the food, and the fun Filipino inspired cocktails. The restaurant is huge and very nicely decorated. It looks like a sorta upscale restaurant that you would find in the Philippines. I usually recommend this place to anyone looking for a nicer Filipino restaurant that also taste good. They serve things ala carte so the dishes are for sharing. Everything I had here so far was good, nothing really comes out to me that I hate. I love the creative cocktails. The old fashion is one of our favorites that we always get when we go then we switch around on other drinks to try everything in the menu. Overall I recommend this for a family lunch/dinner, a date, or if you just want to treat yourself for some nice Filipino food and nice vibes. It is pricey but you do get what you paid for. read more
Filipino food in San Mateo!! I'll keep this short and simple: big portions, well made, great taste, and so many cute titas all around! I don't get Filipino food that often, but I feel like you can't go wrong with anything on the menu! Large portions so definitely come with big appetites or with people. They have traditional Filipino dishes, not the most authentic but definitely modern and upscaled which is the vibe of the restaurant. A little pricy, so make sure you bring people that will share and eat family style with you! What we ordered: * Lechon Kawaii * Pancit Palabok * Beef Kare Kare * Sinigang (vegetables and broth only) * Garlic Rice read more
You know that Pixar movie called Ratatouille where the food critic eats something and he's teleported back to his childhood of eating Ratatouille? Well, a similar feeling occurred to me too. The Filipino food transported me to being with my family. Calamansi drink, omggggg tasted so refreshing on a hot day. Vegetable Sinigang, also oh my gosh. This hands down tasted like my family recipe!!! Perfect balance of vinegar. Loved the okra, eggplant, and a healthy amount of veggies! Pork and chicken adobo, saucy and divine. As all well as the garlic rice. Fried bananas with caramel really hit it home too Vibe is ultra luxe cozy. We went on a Saturday and a jazz saxophonist was actually playing and I believe we were there mid afternoon before dinner time. I can't wait to drag my BFF's up the peninsula to try this spot! Service was awesome too! read more
3 months ago
Business owner information
Kenneth A.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Rian! We're glad to hear…
3 months ago
From the moment we walked in to the second we walked out, Avenida felt like home. The care put into everything we ate and the kindness from the servers felt like eating at my kitchen table. The manager, Ken, checked in with us regularly and went the extra mile to make us feel welcomed. If you want to experience Filipino food, culture and atmosphere, the conversation starts and ends with Avenida. I am already looking forward to my next visit read more
Business owner information
Kenneth A.
Thank you for your wonderful words, Gary! We’re so glad to hear that…
Date: Saturday, April 12th, 2025 Time: around 4:15pm Party of: 6 What: After Lunch Drinks *Spirit Free / Mocktail ($11) x2 *Vaccine ($15) x2 *Tokyo Sour ($19) *Black Pandan Old Fashioned ($17) *Halo Halo Milky Ice ($14) *Coconut Pudding ($7) *SF Margarita ($15) *Canned Coke ($5.50) After having a late lunch nearby, my group wanted one more beverage. There wasn't much open at the time, so we decided head to Avenida. We didn't have any type of rezzie, but it wasn't too busy. We sat at the nig communal looking table int he front. I wasn't drinking at the time, so just got the soda. Yes, I paid over $5 for a can of coke. It was exactly what I expected it to be. The desserts did look pretty. And they comped us the halo halo since we were celebrating a bday. Everyone seemed to enjoy their drinks. I've been here before for food and drink back in 2022. I had a good time. Would definitely consider coming back if in the area. REVIEW #3752 read more
There's happy hour everyday at the bar and they have good food for a good price. For my drink, I got the mango sticky rice cocktail, it was good just so strong. I got the thai chili & garlic wings, the sisig taco and the lumpia. The lumpia was so good, no complaints there. The tacos are suppose to come with 2, but they only gave me one. I confirmed with the waiter if the menu was wrong and she apologized and brought out the other. The tacos are normal, they're good but I just got bored of them halfway through. The chicken wings were delicious, but I just expected a glaze rather than them being dry. I wouldn't say I loved this restaurant, but I would come back. read more
Business owner information
Kenneth A.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Hope! We're glad you enjoyed the…
Upscale ish Filipino food that serves yummy comforting meals. For starters we got some chicharron for the table. Tried their adobo rice and squid ink rice. I say the adobo rice is better. Some faves we tried was their kinilaw and crispy tandang or beef ribs. Their kare kare is also very yummy. The bangus sisig was good but I've had better. Overall solid family style meal here and they offer good cocktails read more
I've always walked past this place but hadn't gotten around to trying it. Decided to take my mom here for her birthday dinner. We were easily able to make reservations for a party of 6 on a weekday. Upon walking in, we were greeted by friendly staff. The biggest hits were the pork knuckle and squid. Squid was tender and cooked to perfection. Pork knuckle was crunchy, flavorful, and fell right off the bone. The sissig was just ok. I think we all agreed that it was too salty so having garlic rice on the side helped. Great spot for large parties and most things are share ale so you can try their extensive menu. read more
Came here to have dinner while in the area for work. I came by myself. Let me tell you-bring someone with you. The portions are family style. I ordered lumpia, tortang talong, garlic rice and calamansi juice. For dessert, I ordered turon. Service was great. I like that they provide you with a carafe of water, I drink lots of water. I also asked for ice, which I was provided a carafe of ice. It was perfect. Lumpia was a huge portion for 1 person. They were a good size even after it was cut up. I had to take it to go. I make lumpia at home, so I am somewhat a critic when it comes to it. It had a lot of flavor, and good portion of filling. Nice and crunchy. The tortang talong and garlic rice came out. Talong was big. I don't use ketchup (which is what comes with it). I asked for the spicy vinegar. It was tasty with the garlic rice. Garlic rice was a nice size portion. I ordered the turon to go and took leftovers for the hotel. As I said in the beginning, do not come here alone. Portions are big. Good service, and I want to come and try their drinks with food next time. I would definitely come back. I like how the place is open and not too crowded in placement of tables and booths read more
This place surprised me! Came here on a Friday night with 13 other people and everything went well without a hitch. (we made a reservation ahead of time - if you have a larger group you can book a private area for 3 hours with a $1250 minimum charge for up to 32 people). The servers were very accommodating and friendly. The portions of the foods are quite deceiving all of the dishes are very shareable between 3-4 people. We tried just about everything. The standouts were the pancit, the crispy Pata, the garlic rice, the sisig, and the lechon. The most disappointing dishes were the lumpia/chicken wings/fried chicken and fries - skip those and get something else. Also tried two of the desserts. The halo halo and pandan ice dessert. Definitely go for the pandan dessert if you like that flavor. read more
street parking sucks! BUT there's lots of parking garages, where you can park, so don't pass this place up! Great customer service, from the time you walk in, get seating, order & wait for your food. Edwin my waiter was A1 TY for the convo & giving me some recommendations on what foods, I should try, Some of his favorites. Walked in around 6ish, it was not busy at all, the greeter, checked me in & told me, the only room they have was, Table Top @ the bar, No Problem, because it was just Me Myself & When I was placing my order, Edwin said...whoa that's a lota food Yup! I'm here to Taste Whatever I think I'd like! Everything I got, was Yummy! Beautiful presentation, plenty of food & they all had their own distinguished flavors. A Winner for me is they have HH & the menu looks Great, not to mention the drinks Pricing is a little too steep for some of the items, but I will definitely be back to try some other things on the menu. read more
My cousin and I are both part Filipino so we really enjoyed eating food we grew up with. We ordered calamansi juice, lumpia, pork belly, beef tapa, pancit bihon, bangus, and kare kare with bagoong, and garlic rice. My favorite was kare kare with bagoong. Their elevated bagoong was sweet like jelly. I thought the pork belly and beef tapa were a little dry. The pancit bihon was just OK. But the kare kare was the best! My cousin and I plan to make this our regular spot. read more
Delicious- this is what summed up our entire dinner evening. It was parents-night out and we all decided it was time to get together again and enjoy a night out in beautiful San Mateo. Avenida was our choice. Parking was kind of challenging but we had great timing when one car pulled out and gave us their spot. Parking was free probably because it was already past 6pm. We were greeted warmly by our hostess and water was immediately brought to our table to satisfy our party of 6. We were seated just left of the entrance in a really nice spot. The decor of the restaurant had that island vibe and the fan blades were shaped as leaves. I was told the building was historical in some way by a friend but they really renovated it nicely. As for the food, we started out with the treviche (shrimp, fish, tuna) as our appetizer along with sugba kinilaw. Both delicious. We followed it up with our main course selections of inihaw na pusit (grilled jumbo squid), pancit palabok, beef shank kaldereta, beef shank bulalo. We topped out our evening with the Calamansi Pie (must try). White rice enough for 6 people. I really enjoyed the flavor of the jumbo grilled squid. It was well marinated and every bite had that teriyaki like flavor. The beef shank kaldereta had the most flavor and even if it had some cheese sprinkled on top, it was hardly noticeable. As for the bulalo, well seasoned and not too salty where the key ingredient of patis (fish sauce) usually provides the traditional flavor. What was a letdown was the pancit palabok. My friend makes a better palabok (malabon style) in where the Tinapa (smoked fish flakes) is the key ingredient. All in all, we had a great time in a relaxing atmosphere that allowed our group to mingle, converse and enjoy a great meal. Having dinner on an off-day like Monday creates this kind of vibe where you don't have to literally shout at each other just to be heard in a conversation because of the presence of larger crowds. Many people out having dinner in the surrounding restaurants as well. The evening was perfect for all! read more
2 months ago
Business owner information
Kenneth A.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience, Christine! We’re so…
Made a reservation for 8 people which the manager appreciated. We arrived early because you can never tell how parking will be in the area. Our table was ready so we didn't have to wait for it. The Christmas decorations and carols were nice and festive. There is a nice cocktail menu featuring Filipino flavors like ube and calamari. The servers were friendly and helpful. The restaurant is nicely laid out and decorated well. Everything we had was tasty and not overly seasoned or oily. The crispy pata is their special and it was very good and a large portion. Sinigang, pancit, Kare Kare were all on point. Garlic fried rice was so good! It's pricey Filipino food so it's almost paradoxical, but I think the experience makes it worth it. And the Halo halo was delicious too! read more
8 months ago
Today was my second experience at Avenida and I came because I had a craving for some good Filipino food. And I must say as much as my first experience was great, today's just really hit the spot. Another reason is that I took my parents here, since they've been searching for a decent Filipino spot as places close to them and close to where I live are lacking. We ordered the chicken adobo, beef tapa, chicken inasal and chop suey. All of which were excellent and the fact that my parents were pleased was the cherry on top. But other than the food, another thing I love about this place is that I can enjoy a good meal while having a good ambiance and good vibes all around. Now I'm not knocking on the hole in the wall Filipino spots in Daly City that I've been to, all of them have been great too. But if you're looking for some good Filipino cooking in a more lively atmosphere, THIS is the place for you. read more
1 month ago
Business owner information
Kenneth A.
Zara, we appreciate your visit and feedback. We understand your…
My fiance and I were heading back from SF and he reminded me that I suggested this place months ago, so we stopped by. It was a Sunday around 3, and this place was still pretty busy. There was a 10 minute wait for a table, so we opted for the bar. The interior is modern and could work for something casual or a special occasion. The servers were friendly and quick to greet us. It took us a while to figure out what we wanted, but we finally decided to order the Tokyo sour, chicken and pork adobo, lechon, and two sides of garlic rice. We would've ordered an appetizer, but I wanted to hold out for dessert. The Tokyo spritz was soooo good. Honestly, maybe the best cocktail I've ever had. It had a well balanced flavor and I could taste the alcohol, but it wasn't too strong. It was refreshing, sour, sweet, and the egg white gave it a great texture. 100/10 you should order it. I definitely want to try more cocktails here. The chicken adobo was perfectly tender and flavorful. The lechon was also delicious, as expected. Served on the side were some pickled carrots that were slightly tangy, crunchy, and garlicky. Everything tasted so good with the garlic rice. For dessert, I wanted the halo halo but I noticed a maiz con hielo milky ice. I love corn, so we had to get it. I've never heard of this before and I loved it!! My new favorite dessert!! This whole experience was an 1000/10! I think it might be my new recommended go to. Definitely give it a try! read more
Made reservations for 5 at 6pm on a Sunday night, arrived a few minutes before, was able to checked in with the host who set up our table and led us to our seats. Space is fairly large with an open airy tropical feel. Food: Lumpia - this came with 16 pieces, nicely fried, a nice crunch and shatter on the bite, filled with meat and ground vegetables, nice savory salty seasoning with a sweet chili dipping sauce, a great appetizer to start the meal Mango salad - diced yellow mango with a medium firmness and a slightly tart flavor with red onions, chicharrons, tomatoes in a shrimp paste dressing, interesting take on a mango salad, this shrimp paste added funk, the onions a little sharp spicy bite, Crispy Pata - impressive presentation, a large portion, great for sharing, skin on the pork knuckle was nice and crispy, a mixture of fatty and lean meat that pulled apart pretty easily, seasoning was interesting almost a warm spice flavor undertone, the vinegar dipping sauce cut some of the heaviness, would have loved a spicy sauce as well to provide a bit more flavor but overall a great protein option for a group Pinakbet - nice variety of veggies from green beans, to okra, eggplant, bittermelon and kabocha squash, cooked in a savory rich seafood based sauce, a nice veggie option to round out the meal Garlic Rice - generous portion sizes, this had a nice garlic flavor, with toasted garlic pieces, was a great side to soak in all the sauces and flavors of the other dishes Leche Flan - rich, dense and delicious, not too sweet, flan was creamy and smooth with notes of caramel Calamansi Pie - tart creamy with a zestly key lime pie type experience, crust was nice and crumbly, really enjoyed this special Service was good, once we placed orders, food came out quickly. Staff was friendly with great recommendations. Water pitcher was refilled throughout the meal, mains came in really quickly. Dessert did take quite a bit of time to come but the rest of service was smooth. Overall enjoyed dining at Avenida, menu is a fun combination of classic Filipino dishes as well as some modern twists and takes. Great spot for a group to visit portion sizes are more for family style dining. Would recommend a reservation, we did see space open throughout the evening but better to be safe and secure a spot. Is on the pricey end but given the portion sizes felt it was fair. read more
10 months ago
Celebrated friend's bday with a reservation of 10 people and we had a blast. Service was amazing. Food was great -- faves were the sisig and chicken inasal! We also ordered lechon kawali (can never go wrong with that), kare-kare, grilled squid and liempo. Their garlic rice was SO full of garlic and we all loved it!! Highly recommended place read more
This place has been on my radar for quite some time. I've been hesitant due to what others have said and unfortunately it's true. While the restaurant is beautifully decorated and the staff were pleasant, the food was lack luster. It was quite pricey for some of the items that I thought were simple. I do appreciate the option to get some items as tapas style. I really wanted to like it but the pancit bihon was super salty, the beef short rib was burnt, and the sauce for the crispy pata lacked flavor. The best item was probably the adobo rice. Overall, I wouldn't come back. I thought to give it a chance due to the high ratings. However, I did overhear the owner comping a group's meal in exchange for reviews. read more
10 months ago
My friends and I tried a Filipino restaurant called Avenida. I don't usually go to Filipino restaurants since my mom cooks amazing Filipino food, but this was really good! The server and the manager were very welcoming. We ordered Garlic Rice, Pork Sisig, Lechon Kawali, and Vegetarian Pancit Bihon. I'll definitely be back again! read more
We came on a Friday evening around 5:30 and there wasn't many people. However, the restaurant filled up quickly afterwards. Pork knuckle - the skin was to a crisp, a bit of that crackling with gooey gelatinous fat and collagen underneath is heavenly, highly recommend for meat lovers Pancit - nothing out of the ordinary, great pancit Lechon with fried tofu - lechon was roasted to perfection, thick crispy skin and tender meat, the acidic and savory sauce goes very well with the meat and tofu to cut down the fattiness Jumbo squid - very tender squid but still had a good bite, great smokiness The dishes were on the pricier side, definitely worthwhile to share with others and try different varieties. read more
1 month ago
Business owner information
Kenneth A.
Thanks for the wonderful feedback, Mo! We’re so glad you enjoyed our…
This is long overdue. I went here last year and it was a good experience. My friend wanted to try Filipino food so I let her choose what she wanted to try. I believe that Filipino food is amazing, but I don't agree with it being expensive, but that's a personal bias. Basically foods that those who did not have much ate, source, me being a poor kid lol. Anyway, the service was good and the day was nice. The restaurant was clean. We ordered the squid, sisig, and the tortlang, she ordered the halo halo. I always get the tortlang because it's super annoying to prep and cook lol. Overall it was good, I wish it was the not American version of sisig, but I get that it needs to be palatable. Overall as a first time filipino food enjoyer it's good, but just ask to be invited to a party lol. Nothing against the place, they need to make a dollar and I want their business to thrive. It's just too steep to justify common people food. read more
1 month ago
Business owner information
Kenneth A.
Thanks for the fantastic review, Chris! We're so glad you enjoyed the…
I've been wanting to try this place since they opened in downtown San Mateo and my first experience wasn't a pleasant one. Back in 2023, I had emailed them to reserve a table for 12 people for a celebration reunion with my classmates from the Philippines. Thought this restaurant it would be ideal (for obvious reasons), but nobody ever got back to me. Even calls to speak with the manager went nowhere. I had to reserve another venue, and I finally received a response from them after the planned reunion. In a nutshell, the excuse given was they were busy and will use it as a learning experience. Water under the bridge so moving on, I decided to take the Wifey here for dinner back in November of last year with the two dogs in tow. We didn't have reservations, so the only option was to dine on their parklet. We didn't mind the cold, as long as we had a nice heater to keep us warm. We ordered the following: Pork Sisig ($27 with egg +$2) Seasoned pork, chopped and sauteed with spices on a sizzling plate. Looking at the picture, let me state the obvious: the egg yolk was already broken, and it was already cooked. They didn't even allow us the experience of mixing the egg with the rest of the dish, and the taste was mid at best. The texture of the pork was also flossy as it wasn't the typical sisig that I'm used to. Crispy Pata ($39.50) They describe it as crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. All true, but at this price point, I wanted it to wow me. It was lacking in flavor, and it was cooked inconsistently with some chunks of meat being too hard. Nothing too special, and you can get a similar dish at other Filipino restaurants at half the price. Sinigang ($11) Veggies and broth only. This hits the spot as the sourness of the broth was just right and it warmed us on a cold, chilly night. Pinakbet ($23) Stir-fried string beans, eggplant, bittermelon, okra, squash, shrimp, pork, shrimp paste and topped with chicharrones. This was the best-tasting food among the dishes that we ordered. All the ingredients complemented each other as it was well-balanced. As far as service goes, it was also inconsistent as we were initially told that we could sit at a table near the door but then changed it to the parklet as that table was reserved. Our server also changed (understandable) that caused us to wait on a request that we had to repeat. All in all, there were hits and misses and a mix bag of everything else from my very first experience to the most recent one. I'm still giving them 3 stars, and that's being generous since I want them to improve, be more consistent and be better. Hopefully on our next visit. read more
1 year ago
Ambiance & First Impressions Stepping through Avenida's doors is like being transported to a modern Southeast Asian retreat--warm wood elements beautifully balanced with clean white simplicity create an inviting atmosphere. The welcoming staff greets you with genuine Filipino hospitality, setting the perfect tone for your meal. Space & Seating Whether you're seated in: * Their cozy main dining area * The fresh-air parklet outside * Their spacious upstairs section * The stylish bar area ...each space offers its own unique experience. Pro Tips Make reservations to avoid 15-30 minute wait times during peak hours! Food Highlights **Must-Try Dishes:** * Bulalo -- A rich, comforting broth that warms you from the inside out (though meat tenderness can be hit-or-miss) * Crispy Pata -- Perfectly executed house specialty * Garlic Fried Rice -- The essential side that elevates every dish Order family-style with 2-3 dishes for a group of 4 to experience the best of what Avenida offers. Value & Service Prices run slightly higher than typical Filipino restaurants, but the attentive service and pleasant atmosphere mostly justify the premium. Even non-Filipino staff impressively know their menu inside and out, and they're accommodating with dietary restrictions. Bottom Line Not every dish hits the mark consistently, but when Avenida gets it right, they remind you why Filipino cuisine deserves more recognition in the Bay Area culinary scene. read more
1 year ago
Came here on a Sunday with no reservation and the only table available was a high table top which was not a problem but could be for others. I would recommend a reservation if you can! Service was good, our server was nice and frequently checked in on us. The inside was really cool and it was a vibe. As far as the food, it was really expensive and not that good. (Context: Filipino born and raised in the bay who grew up eating Filipino food from family cooking and also going to Filipino restaurants, mostly San Bruno and Daly City) The flavors were very mild/bland. The biggest disappointment was the sisig. It didn't really taste like anything and was not crunchy in the slightest. Overall, the taste of Avenida was not authentic. It's too bad because I really wanted to like it. But for people who are unfamiliar with Filipino food, I guess it's a okay super mild introduction to the flavors. But if you want authentic Filipino flavor, you're better off going to San Bruno or Daly City where the taste and price is better. read more
Mark was our server today! We made a reservation at 1P, highly recommended btw, it gets really busy and for a good reason Food was well seasoned, my favorite is the soup and refreshing Halo Halo at the end We sat upstairs on the second level Everyone was very attentive Good food, good service A great experience overall Thanks Mark! read more
9 months ago
It's rare that I write Yelp reviews; however, there are times when I feel compelled--either when a restaurant is amazing or disappointing. In this case, unfortunately, it was the latter. The ambience was great, but the menu was overpriced compared to other excellent Filipino restaurants offering the same dishes. For example, the crispy pata was priced at $49, which did not feel justified. My friends and I expected something special, but it was just a standard crispy pata. Our waiter was pleasant and answered our questions, but once our food was served, we didn't see him again. There was no follow-up or check-in. Additionally, the woman who brought out our dishes was quite rough and came across as rude, placing the dishes on the table aggressively. Our bill totaled over $500, so I had high expectations and left disappointed. I had also hoped this might be a place to host future company dinner events, but based on this experience, I don't plan to return. I would pass on Avenida. read more
More info about Avenida Restaurant
201 E 3rd Ave
San Mateo, CA 94401
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(650) 781-3637
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https://avenidarestaurant.net
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Ask the Community - Avenida Restaurant
Is your outdoor patio dog friendly?
Hi, Kristel! 😊 Our patio and parklet are both dog and pet friendly 🐾
Besides street parking are there any other parking options like garage parking?
Yes there is Walking distance There are 2 garages nearby
Is it intimate dining for say a 30 year anniversary dinner?
It could get pretty loud in the restaurant, so probably not an ideal place for intimate dining.
What are the current hours? I saw the current online menu and it says there's lunch specials starting at 12 Noon but Yelp says you're open at 4pm (Monday thru Friday).
I passed by the place many times already and ate there today and am pretty sure it is only open for dinner.
Do they use MSG in their dishes?
Are there gluten free dishes on the menu?
NO there are no gluten free dishes on the menu.
Is this restaurant stroller / baby friendly?
I think it'd be possible to bring in a baby with stroller - the tables are not tightly arranged. The staff impressed me as the type that would accommodate a baby with a smile.
Do they have Happy Hour?
they only have lunch specials from 12pm-3pm starting at $12.99,only few selections though
Do we have to booked a reservation?
It's best to book a reservation especially during COVID-19 as indoor/outdoor dining is limited.
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59 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Avenida Restaurant - filipino - Updated September 2026
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