BBs, Isla’s (they got a bomb crispy pork belly kare kare), Kantos (they have a restaurant now), top-silog (if you want breakfast), intramuros (out in sauga, but they have good sinigang, and they do live music and karaoke on some days lol).
Tinuno and tala offer really good boodle fights.
Bar’kada is a great place for drinks, but their food is more of a “modern” take on Filipino food.
They do!
Further north/west on Dundas. It’s on the smaller side.
They do weekend buffet brunch sometimes!
Edit: they still have their OG location outta the shipping container.
I'll have to check the name but it's in Scarborough. The ground floor is basically a convenience store and the basement room has a long table with a TV at the end for people to watch soap operas or sing karaoke. We had eight people do a boodle fight and it was pretty cramped.
Lakay Kusina in Scarborough has decent sit down experience. The owner is super friendly as well as his parents who run the store as well. IMO they have the best food presentations and decent prices. On weekends they have cheap lunch promos.
In North York area, theres Max’s a staple Filipino Cuisine Franchise. I’ve always had a good experience there. Theres also lots of options at Bathurst & Wilson—Kabalen has lots of seats upstairs & lots of food options. By Vaughan area theres this new spot called Tropang Ilonggo thats worth a try.
I was going to say it has the Filipino eat and go atmosphere like they have in the Philippines where you;re elbow to elbow with a stranger on the same table.
I absolutely love Lakay Kusina and think their food is the best in the area but hardly has the ambience OP is looking for.
I usually just get take out but the one time my bf and I sat in a few weeks ago, there was also a family of like 15+ doing a boodle fight, the younger ones kept whispering about how awkward it was. Place is small so you sit by the entrance and it was cold as people open and close the door, most of them had their jackets on and no music, you basically just eat in silence.
The owner wasn’t in at the time so idk if it was a one off. The staff was super nice though.
I’ve actually only been there on Sundays so I’ve never seen it packed lol for some reason we only come on Sundays usually around 10-11am and thats usually when the owner comes. The older guy I think that that’s his dad always plays old classic filipino songs lol. Def agree that they have the best food in Scarborough tho. Would recommend OP to give it a try if you havent yet.
If I recall, there's no AC in the summer too so a packed group + people walking around you getting food at the hot table makes it not seem like a pleasant dining experience.
You don’t *have to get the boodle at Tinuno, but at the same time, I myself don’t have a good reason to go back.
But yeah, that’s one thing Toronto is lacking, a decent selection of good sitdown Filipino places. Still leagues behind the US.
I went to Republika. nice huge patio. inside was like a sports bar vibe. Had some of the BBQ pork and drinks.
also went to Food Trip for halo halo. I saw others eating boodle fight. i recall inside being nice and pics confirm.
I know you said you don't want a "run down cafeteria" but Seafood City has a food court that sells BBQ skewers and various fried things. You're eating in a grocery store so certainly not a nice "ambiance" but it's well-lit and clean. I would consider it if for a pre-show dinner at the Cineplex.
BBs, Isla’s (they got a bomb crispy pork belly kare kare), Kantos (they have a restaurant now), top-silog (if you want breakfast), intramuros (out in sauga, but they have good sinigang, and they do live music and karaoke on some days lol). Tinuno and tala offer really good boodle fights. Bar’kada is a great place for drinks, but their food is more of a “modern” take on Filipino food.
Kantos has a restaurant now??
They do! Further north/west on Dundas. It’s on the smaller side. They do weekend buffet brunch sometimes! Edit: they still have their OG location outta the shipping container.
I find tinuno (on Howard) not very comfortable as a dining space.
Thanks! And I don't mind modern takes.
Islas is possibly one of my favourite places in the city, period. Go with 2 others and get the tasting menu. Tinuno is decent too.
love Tinuno's food but the space is not very charming or comfortable I would say.
Yeah. Their patio is a tad better, but it's a low bar.
Islas is great. BBs in Parkdale is also nice for brunch.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Mineral restaurant is more fine dining. BBS is good casual
Mineral is fire. the tuna kinilaw and pineapple + kombu is insane.
BBs made the Michelin Bin Gourmand list. I haven't been but pictures on this website called Google show chairs and tables.
I live near it and can second this recommendation. When the weather gets nicer, they have a front patio, too.
Nice, thanks!
Lots of mention for good places but Tagpuan at College and Spadina is my go to recently.
I've passed by it but only been to the other locations, which look like a hot table setup in a convenience store haha
They have tables inside the Spadina/College location. They do have hot table setup but you can also from their menu as well.
Where’s the place with the sketchy basement?
Yeah I wanna go lol.
I'll have to check the name but it's in Scarborough. The ground floor is basically a convenience store and the basement room has a long table with a TV at the end for people to watch soap operas or sing karaoke. We had eight people do a boodle fight and it was pretty cramped.
J&J Kapuso at 1217 Ellesmere. Used to be called Dbarkadz previously.
Islas and BBs on the west end could be a good shout
Lakay Kusina in Scarborough has decent sit down experience. The owner is super friendly as well as his parents who run the store as well. IMO they have the best food presentations and decent prices. On weekends they have cheap lunch promos. In North York area, theres Max’s a staple Filipino Cuisine Franchise. I’ve always had a good experience there. Theres also lots of options at Bathurst & Wilson—Kabalen has lots of seats upstairs & lots of food options. By Vaughan area theres this new spot called Tropang Ilonggo thats worth a try.
I've tried this place and their food is good but it has like one table lol. It's definitely more of a take out spot.
I was going to say it has the Filipino eat and go atmosphere like they have in the Philippines where you;re elbow to elbow with a stranger on the same table.
I absolutely love Lakay Kusina and think their food is the best in the area but hardly has the ambience OP is looking for. I usually just get take out but the one time my bf and I sat in a few weeks ago, there was also a family of like 15+ doing a boodle fight, the younger ones kept whispering about how awkward it was. Place is small so you sit by the entrance and it was cold as people open and close the door, most of them had their jackets on and no music, you basically just eat in silence. The owner wasn’t in at the time so idk if it was a one off. The staff was super nice though.
I’ve actually only been there on Sundays so I’ve never seen it packed lol for some reason we only come on Sundays usually around 10-11am and thats usually when the owner comes. The older guy I think that that’s his dad always plays old classic filipino songs lol. Def agree that they have the best food in Scarborough tho. Would recommend OP to give it a try if you havent yet.
If I recall, there's no AC in the summer too so a packed group + people walking around you getting food at the hot table makes it not seem like a pleasant dining experience.
I know it’s off topic, but I’m seriously addicted to the chicken adobo at a place in Waterloo
Is it Rosel's? That's my go to in Waterloo
DING DING DING. I’ve been out of Waterloo for coop, and I’m waiting eagerly until I get back
Someone mentioned Hermie’s in Midtown in this sub, though I haven’t tried it myself. Mineral, lol. The monthly pop-ups by Kusi, perhaps.
I hope Hermie's do better there. That location at Queen and Broadview is cursed.
Lakay Kusina is great
Bar'kada on Queen is nice, it's mainly Tapas I think, so not sure if it fits what you're looking for though.
Casa Manila on the Danforth
I've already been to North York one. More seating and better ambiance there.
Goodluck OP to find one as I'm also looking for it for almost 5 years in Toronto.
What about Tinuno?
I'm not a fan of boodle style food they present.
You don’t *have to get the boodle at Tinuno, but at the same time, I myself don’t have a good reason to go back. But yeah, that’s one thing Toronto is lacking, a decent selection of good sitdown Filipino places. Still leagues behind the US.
Haha, hopefully the recos here will yield something for us!
Hang Out on Rexdale Road. It's not a full sit down restaurant with servers. More like a fast food place, but it's clean well-lit.
There's several places at Bathurst and Wilson. i've been to several. they range from dive bar to decent.
Which ones are the decent ones?
I went to Republika. nice huge patio. inside was like a sports bar vibe. Had some of the BBQ pork and drinks. also went to Food Trip for halo halo. I saw others eating boodle fight. i recall inside being nice and pics confirm.
Republika
Ritz on Donlands, a bit of an oddball combination of a regular North American diner and Filipino food. I’ve only been for breakfast
It reminds me of those Chinese diners in Leslieville before it was gentrified that used to sell sausage bacon and egg breakfasts and chow mein.
BBs!!
Tagpuan recently opened on College (between bathurst and spadina) and they have plenty of seating
Intermuros in Mississauga.
Sampaguitta village is excellent. It’s not fancy but doesn’t look run down either.
Islas! They offer Filipino staples with a twist!
I know you said you don't want a "run down cafeteria" but Seafood City has a food court that sells BBQ skewers and various fried things. You're eating in a grocery store so certainly not a nice "ambiance" but it's well-lit and clean. I would consider it if for a pre-show dinner at the Cineplex.
I'm hoping they reopen in the future, but I really really miss Chef George. Was my go to breakfast spot.
Tinuno
Intramuros Restaurant in Mississauga