7 Filipino Restaurants In Vancouver If You're Tired Of Cooking Your Own Dishes

Filipinos love to eat not only for nourishment, but also for the soul-filling effects of food. At the best of times, food can be transporting and can keep homesickness at bay, especially for those of us who are far from home. The good news is, if you just moved to Vancouver or are coming here soon, it won’t be hard to bridge the distance through food.

7 Filipino restaurants in Vancouver

If you ever get a craving for the flavours of home but don’t necessarily want to make it yourself, check out these highly-rated Filipino restaurants within the City of Vancouver. After all, your pantry may be fully stocked, but there’s just something about lutong-kapitbahay that makes it irresistible, especially during the holidays!

Kulinarya Filipino Eatery

Kulinarya has two branches in the Lower Mainland: one in East Vancouver and one in Coquitlam. They pride themselves on cooking with traditional Filipino techniques and serving freshly prepped food every time, unlike the turo-turo style found in other eateries. They are best known by Pinoys and non-Pinoys alike for their Kamayan Feast, which is available by reservation in both branches.

Symphonie Restaurant

Symphonie has been dubbed a “hidden gem” in downtown Vancouver, located in West Pender between Bute and Thurlow. It’s not an exclusively Filipino restaurant, also serving sandwiches, salads, and Western breakfast fare. Their Filipino offerings, however, are a crowd pleaser, with their silogs and their kare-kare as the runaway favorites.

Klasik Inasal and Noodle Express

Don’t let the name fool you. Chicken inasal may be their claim to fame, but this Filipino restaurant in Mt. Pleasant has an extensive menu filled with comfort food. From tortang talong to Pinoy-style spaghetti (omg?!) to all the versions of sinigang you can think of, this cozy joint has it all. They also do party trays and catering for special occasions, as well as home deliveries via Skip the Dishes or Door Dash.

Pinpin Restaurant

Pinpin is one of the most popular Filipino restaurants in the city, not just for Pinoys but for anyone with taste buds. Its owners come from powerhouse culinary families in the Philippines, which owned iconic Manila spots like Cubao’s Hong Ning and Binondo’s New World Restaurant. Along with a crazy wide selection of Filipino-Chinese classics, Pinpin also offers sizzling plates, which probably explains the long and constant lines outside the resto.

Hapag Ihaw-Ihaw

Hapag is a small East Vancouver favorite with excellent service, large portions, punchy Filipino flavors, and great price points. Their crispy pata is a must according to dozens of reviews and they are one of the few spots (if not the only one) in the city that serves miki bihon. They also have combo meals, which include your choice of meat plus rice, mixed greens, and pickled cucumber all for a meager $7.50 (around Php290)!

O! Taho

You guessed it, O! Taho is the place in Vancouver for this Filipino classic. It may not be the cheapest taho in the metro, but it’s arguably the best and most authentic tasting — served fresh and hot just like the manongs do outside church on Sunday mornings. Their taho can be purchased in a variety of sizes, from a single serving to a whopping, family-sized four liters (O! 'di ba?).

Max’s Restaurant

Vancouver may have been ignored by some Filipino fast food chains (looking at you, Jollibee), but we are at least blessed with a branch from this beloved restaurant. Just like back home, Max’s boasts excellent service and a family-friendly atmosphere. They also have the same large menu full of Filipino favorites — down to their signature banana ketchup. To top it all off, they are a licensed establishment, which means they serve both local (Canadian) and imported beers (hello, San Mig!).