Lumpias | © pulaw / Flickr

The Best Filipino Restaurants in San Francisco

Northern California Writer

Updated: 27 June 2017

Filipino fare is in the middle of a renaissance. This Asian food with Spanish influences is a fresh discovery in the culinary sea of tried-and-true Chinese, Japanese, Thai and other Asian cuisines. Filipinos are the second largest population of Asians in the United States, and the largest in California, so it’s only natural that Pinoy cuisine should enter the spotlight. So, where can you try out Filipino food in San Francisco? Check out the following eateries offering your food fix from the Philippines.

Manila Bowl

Asian, $$$

Located at the Twitter headquarters on Market Street, Manila Bowl allows you to craft your perfect Filipino bowl. Rice or healthier options, such as salad and quinoa, serve as the base. The culinary team then adds traditional Filipino food, such as chicken adobo or lechon porchetta, along with unlimited toppings and sauce on the side. Vegetarian options, such as veggie lumpia or tofu inasal, are also available.

Palabok Tuesday @manilabowl #manilabowl #manilabowlsf #marketsf #twitterbuilding #sf #bowllife

A post shared by Chef Aris Tuazon (@culin_aris) on May 2, 2017 at 12:15pm PDT

More Info

Mon - Fri:

11:30 am - 9:00 pm

Sat:

11:30 am - 8:00 pm

1355 Market Street San Francisco, CA, USA

+14158676135

Atmosphere:

Fast Casual

Tselogs

Restaurant, Asian, $$$

Tselogs, which has three locations in the Bay Area (SF, Daly City, and Colma), wants to bring Filipino comfort food to the mainstream. Some of these dishes include pancit bihon (rice noodles stir fried with meat and vegetables), maja blanca (coconut pudding) pie, and, of course, lumpia Shanghai.

Filipino breakfast is All day breakfast. 🍚🍛🍳☕ If you haven't tried then you don't know what breakfast is all about.

A post shared by Joem Ramos (@jo26em) on Jun 21, 2017 at 6:05pm PDT

More Info

Mon - Thu:

11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Fri - Sat:

11:00 am - 3:00 am

552 Jones Street San Francisco, CA, USA

+14156587142

AJ’s BBQ and Cafe

Asian, $$$

Right across the street from the Balboa BART station is this casual eatery. AJ’s serves traditional Filipino food such as adobo, lumpia, and pinakbet (mixed vegetables, sometimes with pork, steamed or cooked in fish or shrimp sauce), but it also has an American menu with classic items such as cheeseburgers, bagels, and popcorn chicken.

I'll be taking one of everything you got. @ajsbbqandcafe #eatlocal #supportlocal #filipinofoodmovement @katreyes03

A post shared by Sarah Burchard (@healthylocavore) on Feb 17, 2017 at 12:22pm PST

More Info

Mon - Fri:

6:00 am - 8:00 pm

Sat:

7:00 am - 8:00 pm

2275 San Jose Avenue San Francisco, CA, USA

+14158255983

Meal service:

Takeaway

Kusina Ni Tess

Restaurant, Asian, $$$

Casual eatery Kusina Ni Tess (Tess’ Kitchen) serves authentic Filipino food from the town of Bulacan. They aim to make food reminiscent of home cooking by Lola (grandma), with dishes such as squid adobo, pork lumpia, and chicken with coconut milk.

Kusina Ni Tess | © Gary Stevens / Flickr

I'll be taking one of everything you got. @ajsbbqandcafe #eatlocal #supportlocal #filipinofoodmovement @katreyes03

A post shared by Sarah Burchard (@healthylocavore) on Feb 17, 2017 at 12:22pm PST

More Info

Mon - Fri:

7:00 am - 8:00 pm

Sat:

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

237 Ellis Street San Francisco, CA, USA

+14153511169

Pampanguena Cuisine

Restaurant, Asian, $$$

Calling itself the “home of Filipino barbecue and sisig,” Pampanguena Cuisine has a menu that doesn’t disappoint, in terms of variety. There are a ton of options, from lechon kawali (crispy, deep-fried pork) and kare-kare (a traditional oxtail stew in a peanut-based sauce) to ginata-ang hipon (shrimp with coconut milk, jalapeño, and spinach).

Also had Sisig Baboy - Marinated and Grilled Pork topped with Jalepeno and Onion @pampcuisinesf #sanfrancisco #filipino #sisig

A post shared by Monica Chan 🍧🍰🍭🍦🍬🍨 (@_monicachan) on Dec 11, 2016 at 7:52pm PST

More Info

Tue - Thu:

10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Fri - Sat:

10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sun:

10:00 am - 7:00 pm

4441 Mission Street San Francisco, CA, USA

+14155868899

FOB Kitchen

Restaurant, Asian, $$$

This Filipino kitchen in The Mission, run by first-generation Filipino Americans, is bringing Pinoy classics to the Gashead Tavern five days a week. Nosh on some longanisa (house-made sweet garlic pork sausage, served with garlic rice and a sunny-side-up egg) or a plate of daing (fried whole Idaho red trout marinated in garlic and vinegar).

Get Filipino breakfast for dinner 🤣. Housemade spam silog (garlic fried rice and egg) , Tocino (house cured sweet pork) with garlic rice and 🍳. But if you want the Longanisa hash you have to wait for the weekend!! ✌🏽. Thanks for the awesomeness pic @ummitsmedova (@get_repost) ・・・ Brunch at @fob_kitchen 😋 #SFeats #FOBKitchen #FilipinoBrunch #brunch #GasheadTavern

A post shared by FOB Kitchen (@fob_kitchen) on May 30, 2017 at 6:32pm PDT

More Info

Wed - Fri:

6:00 am - 10:00 pm

Sat:

11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Sat:

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Sun:

11:00 am - 3:00 pm

2351 Mission Street San Francisco, CA, USA

+14156448149

Superstar Restaurant

Restaurant, Asian, $$$

Superstar may not be the most glamorous of establishments, but what it lacks in atmosphere, it makes up for in good, inexpensive Filipino food. Meals are priced from $3.50 to $5.99, with sides as little as 50 cents.

Hole in the wall goodness #bansilog #filipinobreakfast #superstarrestaurant #excelsior

A post shared by Guiancarlo (@kingcarlo143) on Jun 13, 2015 at 9:06am PDT

More Info

Mon - Sat:

8:00 am - 4:30 pm

4919 Mission Street San Francisco, CA, USA

+14155854360

Señor Sisig

Food Truck, Asian, $$$

This Filipino fusion food truck makes its way around the Bay Area, serving an updated version of sisig, using pork shoulder, chicken, or tofu. The culinary team uses it to make a variety of portable options, including tacos, burritos, salads, fries, and nachos. It’s like the lovechild of a Filipino eatery and a taqueria.

Hole in the wall goodness #bansilog #filipinobreakfast #superstarrestaurant #excelsior

A post shared by Guiancarlo (@kingcarlo143) on Jun 13, 2015 at 9:06am PDT

More Info

Mon - Tue:

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Tue:

5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Wed:

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Thu:

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Thu:

5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Fri:

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Fri:

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Sat - Sun:

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

124-130 2nd Street San Francisco, CA, USA

Malasa

Asian, $$$

If you’re craving Filipino food on the weekends, head over to Malasa at Crawstation. The pop-up serves traditional Pinoy breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and it has a 4.5-star rating on Yelp. After all, malasa does mean “tasty” in Tagalog.

Perfect for a hot day - shaved ice with tropical fruits and milk and topped with ube (purple yam) ice cream 🍧 #halohalo #filipino #dessert

A post shared by Kaye (@k_a.y_e) on May 23, 2017 at 1:12am PDT

More Info

Sat - Sun:

9:30 am - 2:30 pm

1336 9th Avenue San Francisco, CA, USA

Atmosphere:

Pop-up Restaurant

JT Restaurant

Asian, $$$

Don’t expect glamorous décor at JT, but do expect delicious food. The SoMa locale serves a mean chicken adobo, as well as a tasty sinigang (Filipino soup or stew).

#ULAM 😁 An evening of #Filipino #food, meeting #inspirational Filipino folks, and discussing/learning about the Filipino #migrant experience. 😊 #love #pinoy #sinigang #dinuguan #giniling #beefmushroom #filipinofood #food #foodie #foodpic #foodphotography #foodography #foodofinstagram #sanfrancisco #sf #bayarea #norcal #california

A post shared by Nikiya Crisostomo (@nikiyakiara) on Sep 22, 2015 at 10:27pm PDT

More Info

Mon - Fri:

9:00 am - 7:30 pm

953 Mission Street San Francisco, USA

+14155715108

Atmosphere:

Fast Casual