Edmonton has a big, warm Filipino community, so it makes sense that some of the best home style cooking in the city comes out of small Filipino kitchens. Most of them are not fancy. Many are tucked into strip malls with a few tables and a steam table full of the day's dishes. That is part of the charm.
If you have been searching for a Filipino restaurant near you, this guide is for you. We list real spots on WhereToYEG across Edmonton and St. Albert, with what each one says it does best, plus a short guide to the dishes so you know what to order on your first visit.
A quick note on how we wrote this. We only list places that are active in our directory, and any detail about a restaurant comes from its own website or our listing. We kept the focus on chicken, beef, seafood and vegetable dishes. Menus change, so check the restaurant's link before you go.
Quick list: Filipino restaurants in Edmonton
| Restaurant | Area | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Manila Grill Express | South, North and West Edmonton | Three locations, online ordering |
| Kusina Filipino Take Out & Catering | Central Edmonton, 97 Street | Home style cooking, catering |
| Inasal Corner | St. Albert | Open late every day |
| Foodies Kitchen | St. Albert | Sunday lunch buffet, party trays |
| Barako Bistro | St. Albert | Filipino cafe and breakfast |
| SUGBA by Food D'Licious | South Edmonton, 50 Street | Dine in or takeout |
| Basti's Kitchen | Northwest Edmonton | Breakfast and lunch hours |
Manila Grill Express
Manila Grill Express is the easiest Filipino spot to get to from almost anywhere in the city, because it has three locations: south in Mill Woods on 28 Avenue, north on 127 Street, and west on 170 Street. Husband and wife Nico and Aurea de Jesus started it, and it has served Edmonton since October 2013.
The restaurant describes its food as authentic Filipino cooking that draws on the traditions of Bulacan, a province just north of Manila. You can order online from their website. Hours differ by location, and the west location is closed on Mondays, so check before you drive over.
Kusina Filipino Take Out & Catering
Kusina Filipino Take Out & Catering on 97 Street calls its food "true Filipino home cuisine." That is exactly what you want from a place like this: the kind of cooking you would get at a friend's family dinner. It is mostly takeout, and it also caters, which makes it a good call for birthdays, office lunches and family gatherings.
Kusina posts a daily menu, so the dishes change. If you want something specific for a party order, call ahead.
Inasal Corner
Inasal Corner on St. Albert Trail is named for one of the most loved dishes in the Philippines. Inasal is chicken marinated in vinegar, calamansi, garlic and lemongrass, then grilled over heat until the edges char. It is usually brushed with annatto oil, which gives it that orange colour, and served with rice.
Inasal Corner is also one of the few spots on this list open into the evening every day of the week, from 11am to 10pm according to our listing. That makes it handy for a late dinner.
Foodies Kitchen
Foodies Kitchen in St. Albert's Tudor Glen is worth knowing about for two reasons. First, it runs a Sunday lunch buffet, which is a great way to try a lot of dishes in one visit. Second, it makes Batangas lomi, a thick, hearty noodle soup from Batangas province, Tuesday to Saturday from noon. Lomi is perfect for a cold Edmonton day.
Foodies Kitchen also offers party food trays and catering, which is a common thing at Filipino restaurants. A tray of pancit is a classic at any Filipino celebration.
Barako Bistro
Barako Bistro in St. Albert is the newer, cafe style take on Filipino food. Its website describes bold Filipino flavours with local farm ingredients. The menu includes a bistek beef dip, a BBQ chicken rice bowl and a breakfast rice bowl, with Filipino desserts like leche flan, buko pandan and bibingka.
The name comes from kapeng barako, a strong coffee from Batangas, and the cafe serves it alongside a pandan coconut milk drink. If you are not sure about Filipino food yet, a coffee and a bibingka here is a gentle way to start.
SUGBA by Food D'Licious
SUGBA by Food D'Licious is on 50 Street in south Edmonton. Sugba means to grill in Cebuano, which tells you what the kitchen focuses on. It offers dine in and takeout. Our listing shows it open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays.
Basti's Kitchen
Basti's Kitchen is a small spot in northwest Edmonton near 138A Street. According to our listing it runs breakfast and lunch hours, from 7am to 3pm. Filipino breakfast, usually garlic fried rice with an egg and a protein, is one of the best ways to start a day, and it is not easy to find in the city.
A quick guide to Filipino dishes
Filipino food mixes sweet, sour and salty in a way that is different from other Asian cuisines. Here are dishes that are easy to love on a first visit.
- Chicken inasal. Grilled marinated chicken with a smoky, tangy flavour. Ask for the dipping sauce of soy, vinegar and calamansi.
- Chicken adobo. Chicken braised in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves and pepper. It is often called the national dish, and every family makes it a bit differently.
- Pancit. Stir fried noodles with vegetables and meat or shrimp. Pancit canton uses egg noodles, and pancit bihon uses thin rice noodles. It is served at birthdays because the long noodles stand for long life.
- Kare kare. A rich stew made with a peanut sauce, traditionally with oxtail or beef and vegetables, served with a side of shrimp paste.
- Sinigang. A sour tamarind soup. Ask for the shrimp, fish or beef version.
- Lumpia. Crispy spring rolls. Fillings vary a lot, so ask what is inside. Vegetable lumpia is common too.
- Halo halo. The famous dessert. Shaved ice, evaporated milk, sweet beans, fruit, leche flan and ube, all mixed together. The name means mix mix.
- Ube anything. Ube is a purple yam with a sweet, vanilla like flavour. You will find it in cakes, ice cream and rolls.
Tip: Many Filipino restaurants serve dishes from a hot counter, so lunch is often the best time to visit when the full spread is out. Some popular items sell out by evening.
Shopping for Filipino ingredients
Want to cook at home? Seafood City Supermarket on 100 Avenue in west Edmonton is a Filipino supermarket that opened in July 2020, its second branch in Alberta after Calgary, according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. It is the place to find calamansi, ube, pancit noodles and Filipino snacks under one roof.
Is Filipino food halal?
Most Filipino restaurants in Edmonton are not halal certified, and pork is common in the cuisine. If you eat halal, ask the restaurant directly before ordering. For certified options across the city, see our halal restaurants in Edmonton page and the halal food guide to Edmonton.
More Edmonton food guides
- See every listing on our Filipino restaurants in Edmonton page, with hours and a map.
- Hosting a party? Browse catering in Edmonton or read our best catering in Edmonton guide.
- Love Southeast Asian food? Try our best Thai food in Edmonton and best Vietnamese food in Edmonton guides.
- Feeding a crowd? Our restaurants for large groups guide has room for everyone.
Run a Filipino restaurant in the Edmonton area that we missed? Add it through our Get Listed page.
