Went here for lunch and ordered different things. Fun restaurant. Lots of space, high ceilings in a fun, relaxed island feel. Fast, friendly and efficient workers available to answer your questions and give suggestions. Large menu and everyone can find something they like. Really enjoyed the variety on the menu...so savory and the tastes explodes in your mouth! Tangy, spicy, savory and it all comes out so colorful and just delicious! Many people come with large families and have birthdays there. The workers sing happy birthday and play the song on the overhead and on the big TV overhead. Fun place! read more

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Large menu, lots to choose from. Good for large groups, they have set menus that make it easier to order. Food was fine, our party wasn't familiar with the cuisine so we ordered a set to try. Big portions, though some things were a salty and oily for me. Staff were also very friendly! We were celebrating a birthday and they played music on the speakers and had disco lights for us. A fun experience overall. read more

A fun day trip outside of San Francisco, easily accessible via Caltrain and a brisk walk. The restaurant layout is spacious with many big tables, encouraging large family dinners. While the big shared feasts are fun, I was kinda curious about the specialty dishes (e.g. sisig) that were more of an à la carte experience. Silut Bilao #4: There were only 4 of us, so we didn't get the big dish with "Fight" in the name. There was so much here that no one had to fight for their food. I really like the Misua Soup we start with, had a nice chicken flavor and silky noodles. The main platter had so many fun and delicious items. The Crispy Pata was probably my favorite, so crispy and delicious, especially with the various dips. The Longganisa was another highlight with a cross-sectional cut that enabled a lot of surface area to be nicely charred. The Chicharon was another highlight since it both crispy crunchy skin and some softer meat + fat. The Grilled Liempo had the strongest charred grill taste. Everything else was nice too, just too many to enumerate. For dessert the mixed halo halo with ube ice cream was the best. So many great flavors and textures together at once. read more

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Came here by accident but I'm definitely not mad. Great tasting food and a relaxed atmosphere. Will be back read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Ordered through door dash and I'm so disappointed with the portions. I paid $89.53 for 3 dishes: lumpia, adobe, and bangus sisig. The dishes were great but my god, the amount of food is definitely not worth it. Not sure if this is a takeout problem but I don't believe I've ever experienced an issue when we've dined in. I absolutely will not order takeout again! read more

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Food: 3.5/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5 Portion to Price: 3.5/5 Overall: A decent spot for Filipino food. Definitely good for family style. The extended review... Food: 3.5/5 - We got a lot of things and did things family style. We got lumpia Shanghai, Sisig, Lechon Kawali to name a few. All good dishes and pretty standard fare. Service: 3/5 - Standard service. Ambiance: 3.5/5 - What I like about this is it's very spacious inside. The tables are nicely spread out. Portion to Price: 3.5/5 - Pretty decent portion sizes. read more

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Overall great experience! Filipinos seem to love this place. The restaurant was loud and lively. People were laughing and enjoying themselves. Our servers were very nice and service was quick considering how busy the restaurant was. I enjoyed the Garlic Rice with the Chicken Adobe, that was comforting. Make sure you get a scoop of the Ube Ice Cream, a nice cool treat! read more

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Came here for dinner. A bit overpriced for what was served. Service is fine. The ambiance is casual. Too pricey for serving size. My previous visit here was good, but this one not so much. Probably just a once in a while visit. read more

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Love the ambiance, flavor, and service. This place is our new favorite place for Filipino cuisine. I just wished they were in the East Bay so we didn't have to drive do far. We came in for a late dinner with oyr family friends. We came in with no expectations only with the assumption that it's a place worth visiting considering that they don't accept reservations on a weekend :) . They have a wide variety of dishes: soup, grilled food, fried food, appetizer, meat or veggies, etc. We decided to order their squid ink fried rice, Garlic rice, binagoongan pork (pork in fish paste sauce), adobong pundit ( squid stew), sisig (minced pork in a sizzling plate), Squash veggie in coconut milk (loved it!) All the dishes were very tasty. I especially liked the Binagoongan Pork with the crispy pork seasoned with shrimp paste and topped with Mango and Tomatoes. I was also very impressed with the Coconut Squash Shrimp Veggie. read more

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I miss this place and have such good memories with my family! It's become a tradition to drive out here for their sumptuous meals that is so lasang pinoy, authentic Pampangueño delight! The seating is comfortable but sometimes it can take awhile since it's always full. We walked in and didn't call for reservation or anything, not sure if there's such. The interior is welcoming and the AC is blasting! The food is extraordinary! The service staff is friendly and fast and I like that they do comeback to check how we are doing, and to ask how is the food! Price is not your usual fast food $, it is pretty much on the $$$ side since it's a specialty Filipino restaurant and well deserved for that price, it's worth it! I would recommend you to visit Isla Grill! Our favorites: chicharon bulaklak, grilled milkfish, crispy pata, Bicol express, sinigang pork, to mention; free small pot of steamed rice goes with the order! Let's go!!! :) read more

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Food was great! We had some appetizers like fried tofu and calamari. Main dishes: sinigang, adobe rice, Lechon kawali, Laing. The halo-halo withube ice cream melted super fast at night! The tibuk tibuk was surprisingly warm as dessert and they gave us an extra one which was nice. Drink selection They didn't have any other drinks like calamansi juice unfortunately which I was disappointed they didn't have since other Isla locations usually have this besides water, soda as options. Service They kept trying to take away my plate when I wasn't done eating. Ambiance Popular place, plenty of seats/tables/space, finding parking is a bit tougher but not impossible for street and parking lots, look out for the signs and pay so you don't get ticketed. read more

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I don't usually leave negative reviews, especially for such a highly rated and popular Filipino restaurant, but I felt this experience needed to be shared. While eating the adobo, I bit down on a small metal piece that appeared to be a bristle from a cleaning brush. It was shocking to find it in my mouth. What made it even more upsetting was that my 3-year-old was eating with us and could have easily swallowed it if it had ended up on his plate. To their credit, the staff removed the dish from our bill and brought out a replacement. However, by that point, the experience had already ruined our dinner. It was difficult to enjoy the meal after finding a piece of metal in our food. I understand that mistakes can happen, but finding a metal bristle in a meal is a serious food safety issue. I hope the restaurant takes steps to inspect its kitchen equipment and food preparation process to help ensure this doesn't happen to another customer. read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

This is my 2nd time trying Isla to give it another shot. The aroma of different foods was too much for me in the restaurant there was no ventilation I felt like I couldn't breathe and felt nauseous. Service was ok, could be better. When we were ready to order it looked like one person was only taking orders during dinner time. For family of 3 we ordered lumpia that was pricey $16 for appetizer, sizzling sisig bungus was $16. I wasn't impressed by the bungus it was not sizzling looks like they heated it up in a microwave and placed it on the plate. Bangus was greasy and not crispy. Another disappointment visiting this place I will definitely not be coming back. read more

Isla Restaurant - Bungus sisig and lumpia - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

Our group made reservation for Saturday night. They split us up into 3 tables. We had 3 birthdays. Once seated, our waiter was quick with taking our order. We ordered Lechon kawali, Longganisa , Isla BBQ pork, Grilled Liempo, Sisig, Kare kare brisket, Pakbet , Sinigang liempo, and Adobo rice. Everything was good, on the salty side. It was my first time trying kare kare. It was good. Plenty of food. Love the free steamed rice. Our water cups were refilled many times. Will be back! read more

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We were excited to support a Filipino restaurant, but unfortunately our experience was disappointing. We ordered the tocino for $20, and when we opened the container, we were surprised by how small the portion was. It was very saucy, with only a small amount of meat, and it was honestly only enough for one person. For $20, we expected a much more generous serving. We also ordered the lumpia, which was advertised as 20 pieces for $16, but when we counted them, there were only 15 pieces. That was very disappointing, especially considering the price. We understand that restaurants have rising food and operating costs, and we don't mind paying higher prices when the portions and quality reflect the cost. However, we believe customers should receive fair value for what they're paying. We hope the restaurant will review their portion sizes and ensure that menu items match what's advertised. We genuinely want to support Filipino-owned businesses, but we also hope they'll provide a better value so customers leave feeling satisfied. We were excited to support a Filipino restaurant, but unfortunately our experience was disappointing. We ordered the tocino for $20, and when we opened the container, we were surprised by how small the portion was. It was very saucy, with only a small amount of meat, and it was honestly only enough for one person. For $20, we expected a much more generous serving. We also ordered the lumpia, which was advertised as 20 pieces for $16, but when we counted them, there were only 15 pieces. That was very disappointing, especially considering the price. We understand that restaurants have rising food and operating costs, and we don't mind paying higher prices when the portions and quality reflect the cost. However, we believe customers should receive fair value for what they're paying. We hope the restaurant will review their portion sizes and ensure that menu items match what's advertised. We genuinely want to support Filipino-owned businesses, but we also hope they'll provide a better value so customers leave feeling satisfied. read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Pancit was very good, service was crap. I had to move to another table due to a bleach smell, said he wiped the table prior, gross! Next time use non toxic cleaner, ridiculous....This place is too expensive anyway, like most of the places nowadays! I will not return! read more

If you're looking for a place that serves Filipino food and you're with a large group, Isla is your place! Eating here always feels like you're at a big family party with distant relatives. What I love most about coming here is being surrounded by all the other big families eating and laughing together. Solid Filipino food and big selection to choose from. Just wish the portions were bigger! read more

I cannot understand why this place has only 3.5 stars. Maybe it's not authentic? It IS really good. The rice plates in particular are a great deal. I particularly like the sisig plate, which comes with a fried egg, garlic rice, soup, and a fountain drink. The sisig is very tasty: freshly fried and crispy, and bursting with flavor. Paired with some delicious garlic rice and egg? Out of this world. I've had most of the standard things here at Isla: lumpia Shanghai, Kare kare, kaldereta, and chicken adobo. Everything is a very good version. Also, there's free unlimited rice! In this era of having to pay for bread and butter, this is a welcome perk. The servers here are also super friendly and very attentive. I love this place. read more

Isla Restaurant - Sisig and Kaldereta Beef Brisket Gata - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

Came to Isla to try their Filipino food. Heard good things about this place. Large open restaurant with large family style tables. Some with bench seating. Cheerful service staff and very helpful. I gave them 4 stars for one main reason, portion size for the money. While the food was very good, (4-1/2 starts?!) I do like when restaurants give you good value for my money. Their servings were on the smaller side especially for family style. Kare-Kare Brisket, luscious sauce and very tender brisket, wish there was more meat though ( for $31!!) , comes with string beans on top Sisig, Actually was a surprise as it was very tasty and well seasoned Bistik Bangus, a braised fish dish with creamy sauce and potatoes. Again bit fish would have been nice ( $21) Garlic rice, nice portion with fried or roasted garlic. not bad read more

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Love going to this place.. this time I just got it door dashed to watch the Niners game It's expensive but it fed myself, mom, and dad and had two meals of leftovers. Total price is around $160 after getting it door dashed. I'd say food overall is a solid 8/10. I've been inside before it's a huge dining area with great service, and a fun loud environment. I really liked the short rib adobo never had that before. I always get the Lechon.. so good with the brown sauce and crispy. Mom loves the Shanghai lumpia. And you always gotta get garlic rice read more

Isla Restaurant - Garlic rice Lechon Kawali Lumpia Shanghai Bbq pork on a stick Short rib adobo - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

Took food to go. Combination tinola soup had a grand total of ONLY 3 pieces of mussels. I don't think it had papaya. If it did, it was stingy. The spinach was minimal too. The chicharron was enjoyed by the parents but I found they had a slight burnt taste. Makes me wonder if they had older pieces lying around and if they did a quick fry to reheat because "sayang" aka no waste. Very clean looking restaurant though and appreciate the ease of reading the menu with large photos and descriptions. I always think filipino eateries or restaurants should have a detailed description if they want to branch out to people not familiar with filipino food beyond Lumpia and pancit. Otherwise sometimes it's difficult to figure out what is offered. read more

Isla Restaurant - 3 pieces of mussels only in the seafood chicken combination tinola soup. Maybe they put more in if you eat in vs to go. - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

I came here for dinner yesterday late afternoon. Me and my family had an amazing time enjoying over their tasty dishes. We ordered fried lumpia, pork sisig, pork sinigang, a bowl of garlic rice and a plate of longanisa and rice for my toddler son. I thoroughly enjoyed their pork sisig. This was sizzling perfectly. I can taste the fat and sizzled diced pork. Their sisig is by far the best I've had from any Filipino restaurant I've been to. They do it right here. The pork sinigang has the right amount of seasoning and salt balance. It was perfect with the equal portion of meat and veggies. Personally, sinigang is matched perfect with plain white rice because the garlic rice can clash with the flavors. We also enjoyed my son's longanisa. The fried crunch outer layer is really good and makes it unique. The longanisa is curled as well so this is unique compared to others. I think the prices are definitely affordable and reasonable for the portions. Their service is excellent and quick at what they do. They're friendly as well so this makes the experience better. This location is spacious with plenty of seating with a breathable environment. The bathrooms are clean too! This is a major plus if I should add that in. read more

Isla Restaurant - Garlic Rice - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

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I think about this restaurant whenever I start missing Filipino food. It is top-tier Filipino food, which says a lot as the competition is high in the Bay Area. even my homies who were born in the Philippines say that this restaurant is up to standard. I feel like a lot of Filipino restaurants in America are overtly salty, but the flavoring was all there and in all the right places. I am so glad that they have chicharron bulaklak here because that is my guilty pleasureeeee Attentive staff who was on top of it when it came to refills and re-ups with sauces, sides, and water. So respectful with their mannerisms and always with a smile on their face when they would do their table rounding. did not feel bad to make requests because it seemed like they took pleasure and pride in their jobs. I get shy to ask for more water, but I felt like I could easily do that here without hesitation. They also would take it upon themselves to capture photos for the people and their parties, which is soooo considerate of them. Got to love the big dining tables because yes...there would be some parties with that many table. goes to show how good the restaurant is. I like that it is set up in a big circle so that you could easily share the food and make conversation with the whole table. i like that they were playing Filipino music and playing Filipino television in the background...but imagine if they had like a karaoke happy hour omg...that would have made this the best restaurant in the bay area read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

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A spacious, open restaurant that can accommodate large parties. The service was good. Extensive menu of varied proteins cooked in so many different ways. The food was very good, very tasty, and delicious! The portions were a bit smaller so one then ends up ordering more dishes. The Palabok was one of my fave dish there. A bit disappointed with the BBQ pork skewers as it was a bit dry and tough. The halo halo was one of the best ones I've had. Overall the food was good. And when you're satisfied with your meal, ring the bell on your way out! read more

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This restaurant truly deserves a great Yelp review! We came all the way from L.A. to visit Napa Valley and San Francisco, and after eating at several American restaurants and ordering steak the whole trip, I told my husband that before leaving San Francisco, I really wanted Filipino food. I found this place on TikTok and decided to give it a try--and I'm so glad we did! They have their own parking, which is already a plus. As soon as we walked in, I loved the ambiance and the interior--it felt warm and inviting. When I looked at the menu, everything sounded so delicious that it was hard to choose. For appetizers, we ordered the chicharon bulaklak and squid balls--both were amazing, especially when dipped in vinegar. For our main dishes, we had nilagang baka, and the broth and meat were incredibly flavorful and comforting. The garlic fried rice was perfect, and the chicken inasal was absolutely delicious--marinated so well and cooked just right. We also ordered halang-halang na manok and ginatang crispy pata to go, and I can't wait to enjoy them at home. To top it all off, the server gave us free leche flan, which was such a sweet and thoughtful gesture. Overall, we had a wonderful experience, and I will definitely come back! read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

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We've been to Isla but in a different location. We decided to come to this place and try their Filipino food. The menu is the same as in other locations. The service is also fast and reliable. They serve unlimited rice with your order. We ordered their Kare Kare, crispy binagoonan, and bangus adobo. All the food is delicious and generous in size. We had enough food for 4 people. The place is also big and spacious. If you enjoy Filipino food, I recommend Isla, and enjoy their Filipino dishes. read more

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It should have been my first time trying out the cuisine,because it was highly recommended...There was a door that was open in the back door,and one of the server happened to be there sweeping the floor,I asked him if it's the entrance and he sarcastically replied oh well since you're already here it is now,with that terrible look on his face....He was tall not bad looking,but the attitude said it all!I just walked out and told my husband,I don't want to spend a single dime,on a place that don't respects my patronage...I don't want to be around around negative vibes...you just lost a good tipping customer For me first impression is everything!!Whats wrong with being kind,especially to your own people!!I would have given this ratings a O ,but the app won't let me read more

There was about 16 people in our party. We walked in and they had 2 tables for us immediately. AMAZING service by the staff. The food is incredible! I loved their lechon kawali kare-kare! Must try! Everything they served us was perfectly prepared. We also loved the Laing. At the end the gave us 6 complimentary deserts! So generous. We loved the halo-halo topped with Ube ice cream and their Leche Flan was also as amazing. There's parking on the side but be prepared to pay for street parking in case that is full. $3 for 2 hour parking. read more

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Love the vibe! Food selection is superb. Taste on point, as I am accustomed to Kapampangan food. Service is also good and portions are perfect for the price point. read more

Tuesday night we came for dinner! The restaurant was starting to get busier and busier. All the employees made us feel welcomed and had so much kindness in their service. I like how they serve the food and tell us what dish they are serving. I felt so comfortable talking to the waiters and ask for any things we needed to enjoy our dinner. I couldn't decide on dessert so I went with the most unique which was the Maia Blanca brûlée! So good. Gotta love the Pork Sinigang, super good and tasty. We liked how the sinigang had taro chunks. The sisig was delicious and soft with lots of flavor. We also tried the Bicol Pinakbet which was mixed veggies in coconut milk spicy sauce it was more sweet than spicy. Overall this restaurant displayed comfort, clean and kindness feelings all around. Will come here again and try the buko pandan & kare kare! read more

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Ordered online in advance, which was quick and easy. There's a small parking lot on the side of the building to save you from paying fees for street parking in San Bruno. When I arrived, I waited 5-6 minutes before any employee acknowledged me, let alone helped me pick up my order which was just sitting there behind the unstaffed pickup counter. Many workers did pass me by though, without a word. Got the isla pork barbeque and sisig silog with steamed rice. The taste of the dishes I got was good, though there were a lot of fatty pieces I couldn't eat, especially in the pork bbq skewers, and the egg in the silog was way overcooked. By the way, the silog meal doesn't come with a drink as noted on the restaurant's website. It did include the soup though. My meal was still satisfying, despite the issues I mentioned, and I had plenty of leftovers. However, my experience here was disappointing compared to the Isla location in Newark, where I've gotten bigger portions, better quality, and friendlier and more attentive service. The only thing I like better at the San Bruno eatery is the inviting setting. It's spacious, modern, and very wood-centric. read more

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Love Isla! We absolutely love their pork sisig, which is packed with flavor, and the unlimited rice servings are such a great bonus. The service was quick, and the servers were very attentive, making the experience smooth and enjoyable. The portions are generous, the dishes are fresh, and the overall vibe of the restaurant is casual and welcoming -- perfect for a relaxed meal with friends or family. Definitely a spot we'll be coming back to and recommending to anyone craving Filipino food. read more

Isla Restaurant - Sisig - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

Great Filipino spot that feels super authentic in both the atmosphere and the food! When you walk inside, the space is super big with banquet tables and smaller tables. It was packed on a Saturday night. There are families celebrating for birthday and people casually hanging out. We ordered the fried pork belly fried rice and the señor sisig. Both are delicious but a bit too oily and sour for my liking. The portion sizes justify the cost. There is also unlimited rice. read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

My family wanted to eat filipino food, but needed to get something that would be quick since they were going to the airport. And the food came out super fast, but, sometimes getting a server was slow. We flagged this lady who was working there down twice - once to order and once for the check - and she went off and took another table's order first, and started bussing tables! We actually had to flag down a different water - two different dudes, both of whom were very helpful. The interior is cute, the food was solid. The seafood pancit wasn't my favorite, but the asobo rice and lechon were super tasty. We also got the fish, which was tasty but had bones. I also really appreciated the pictures, esp since my aunt had never had filipino food before read more

Walked in and got seated quickly. The restaurant was spacious. Chose this Filipino place over others around the area since it serves authentic Filipino food compared to other fusion places. Service was nice. They have a ton of Filipino dishes on their menu. Palabok not as flavorful as I was expecting. Sisig was great. Kaldereta brisket and pinakbet were good. They served unlimited rice. Halo halo was okay too but would not say that it's one of the best I've had. On that Sunday night, there was a live band that played Filipino pop/rock music. Everyone had a great time singing along! Overall, would give this place 4/5. read more

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Exec summary: miss the chaos of Asia? You'll feel right at home here This is the equivalent of eating in a typhoon... and only with a fork and spoon. Ambiance :Old town San Bruno- who knew? It was packed on a Friday This place is set up for large groups. And It's filled with family's ....and it's loud giving it an Interesting vibe. Screaming babies , kids running around, screaming parents. I was also the only non Asian here Service. It exists in a theoretical way. They'll get around to you when they are ready. Have your order ready The dishes ... they come out FAST ...BUT.... Forget any order. The appetizers came last Water? We got it after the appetizers. Just roll with it Food: I am no expert in Filipino food. So I ordered safe. Lumpia (small fried egg rolls) which are quite delicate and amazing Rice with squid ink and calamari. Don't let the jet black color put you off. It's amazing BBQ- yes, we got a safe dish. Probably should have been more adventurous Summary: Buckle up- it's a crazy ride Note: NO American Express accepted. And someone explain to me why they don't give you a knife ? BBQ chicken with a spoon? read more

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Service is mediocre. Do better. It's very disappointing to see Filipino restaurants like this lacking SO MUCH hospitality. Kept giving this place benefit of the doubt but yall really out did yourselves today lol pls do us paying customers A HUGE FAVOR and get out of the service industry. Everyone that worked today 4/25. Idk what was in the air in yall restaurant but if I was your guys manager I'd be very embarrassed to see this review on behalf of you all. read more

I usually recommend this place to people, especially travelers who haven't tried Filipino food yet or want something decent that's not too far from San Francisco International Airport. Overall, the flavors here are pretty balanced, which I appreciate. A lot of Filipino spots can be either too salty or underseasoned, but this place gets it just right. Some standouts: the sisig is solid and not overly salty, the sinigang is good, and the Bicol Express actually has real spice (which I like). The chop suey is also surprisingly good, not watery, with a nice consistency, and the pancit noodles are cooked perfectly. The binagoongan is also a hit (my boyfriend especially likes it). That said, there are a few misses. The lumpia isn't my favorite, the wrapper is crispy, but the filling is too mushy for my liking. The fried pork (liempo) can be inconsistent and a bit dry. The beef steak is decent, but I wish it had a bit more citrus. Prices are what you'd expect for the area, but overall, this is still a solid spot I recommend for people wanting to try Filipino food without going too far out of their way. read more

Was in the area and craving Filipino food. Parking a bit difficult as their parking lot was small, luckily we were able to find street parking. The place was spacious and clean. . The food was decent, I have had better but it wasn't bad. Bistig Bangus- A bit saltier than I'd like but still good. Portion were a bit small for the price. Garlic rice - hit the spot. Just wish they were able to give us a cup versus having to order a whole platter. Pork BBQ- Meat was tender, a tad bit charred than I like. Overall, portions were small for their prices. read more

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I was a fan of Isla when I first tried it. But getting to try different places, Isla is no longer my first choice. Overall, it is fine. The Crispy Binagongan (definitely spelled wrong) is my go to! The mango pieces add sweetness and crunch to the already crunchy pork pieces. I'm not a fan of the sinigang, not tart enough and has a funny after taste that's not great. I recently visited this place and the service tends to be good but was not this time. We were sat down first in our section and ordered. Not only did we not get all of our food, but the the stuff we ordered kept getting sent to other tables. Maybe we all ordered the same thing, but some how we were the ones that didn't get everything and we asked it to be removed from the bill. The saving grace is that they had halo halo and it's not premixed, so you can remove any thing you don't want (my partner isn't a fan of beans in there). The restaurant is good for large parties and even has deals for birthdays! read more