My fiance and I were heading back from SF and he reminded me that I suggested this place months ago, so we stopped by. It was a Sunday around 3, and this place was still pretty busy. There was a 10 minute wait for a table, so we opted for the bar. The interior is modern and could work for something casual or a special occasion. The servers were friendly and quick to greet us. It took us a while to figure out what we wanted, but we finally decided to order the Tokyo sour, chicken and pork adobo, lechon, and two sides of garlic rice. We would've ordered an appetizer, but I wanted to hold out for dessert. The Tokyo spritz was soooo good. Honestly, maybe the best cocktail I've ever had. It had a well balanced flavor and I could taste the alcohol, but it wasn't too strong. It was refreshing, sour, sweet, and the egg white gave it a great texture. 100/10 you should order it. I definitely want to try more cocktails here. The chicken adobo was perfectly tender and flavorful. The lechon was also delicious, as expected. Served on the side were some pickled carrots that were slightly tangy, crunchy, and garlicky. Everything tasted so good with the garlic rice. For dessert, I wanted the halo halo but I noticed a maiz con hielo milky ice. I love corn, so we had to get it. I've never heard of this before and I loved it!! My new favorite dessert!! This whole experience was an 1000/10! I think it might be my new recommended go to. Definitely give it a try! read more

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Made reservations for 5 at 6pm on a Sunday night, arrived a few minutes before, was able to checked in with the host who set up our table and led us to our seats. Space is fairly large with an open airy tropical feel. Food: Lumpia - this came with 16 pieces, nicely fried, a nice crunch and shatter on the bite, filled with meat and ground vegetables, nice savory salty seasoning with a sweet chili dipping sauce, a great appetizer to start the meal Mango salad - diced yellow mango with a medium firmness and a slightly tart flavor with red onions, chicharrons, tomatoes in a shrimp paste dressing, interesting take on a mango salad, this shrimp paste added funk, the onions a little sharp spicy bite, Crispy Pata - impressive presentation, a large portion, great for sharing, skin on the pork knuckle was nice and crispy, a mixture of fatty and lean meat that pulled apart pretty easily, seasoning was interesting almost a warm spice flavor undertone, the vinegar dipping sauce cut some of the heaviness, would have loved a spicy sauce as well to provide a bit more flavor but overall a great protein option for a group Pinakbet - nice variety of veggies from green beans, to okra, eggplant, bittermelon and kabocha squash, cooked in a savory rich seafood based sauce, a nice veggie option to round out the meal Garlic Rice - generous portion sizes, this had a nice garlic flavor, with toasted garlic pieces, was a great side to soak in all the sauces and flavors of the other dishes Leche Flan - rich, dense and delicious, not too sweet, flan was creamy and smooth with notes of caramel Calamansi Pie - tart creamy with a zestly key lime pie type experience, crust was nice and crumbly, really enjoyed this special Service was good, once we placed orders, food came out quickly. Staff was friendly with great recommendations. Water pitcher was refilled throughout the meal, mains came in really quickly. Dessert did take quite a bit of time to come but the rest of service was smooth. Overall enjoyed dining at Avenida, menu is a fun combination of classic Filipino dishes as well as some modern twists and takes. Great spot for a group to visit portion sizes are more for family style dining. Would recommend a reservation, we did see space open throughout the evening but better to be safe and secure a spot. Is on the pricey end but given the portion sizes felt it was fair. read more

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Decided to try this spot for the first time, while it was my mom's second visit. The ambiance inside is nicely put together. We came to check out both their happy hour offerings and the full menu. The food was excellent, and we loved the complimentary chicharrón. My mom was especially excited to try the halo-halo because of the hot weather, though the portion size seems to have changed. Also, keep in mind that happy hour pricing differs depending on where you are seated. the happy hour specials only apply at the bar and outdoor seating. read more

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Celebrated friend's bday with a reservation of 10 people and we had a blast. Service was amazing. Food was great -- faves were the sisig and chicken inasal! We also ordered lechon kawali (can never go wrong with that), kare-kare, grilled squid and liempo. Their garlic rice was SO full of garlic and we all loved it!! Highly recommended place read more

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This place has been on my radar for quite some time. I've been hesitant due to what others have said and unfortunately it's true. While the restaurant is beautifully decorated and the staff were pleasant, the food was lack luster. It was quite pricey for some of the items that I thought were simple. I do appreciate the option to get some items as tapas style. I really wanted to like it but the pancit bihon was super salty, the beef short rib was burnt, and the sauce for the crispy pata lacked flavor. The best item was probably the adobo rice. Overall, I wouldn't come back. I thought to give it a chance due to the high ratings. However, I did overhear the owner comping a group's meal in exchange for reviews. read more

Avenida Restaurant - Grilled Beef Short Ribs Pancit Bihon Adobo Rice Pancit Bihon - Filipino Near Me - San Mateo, California

My friends and I tried a Filipino restaurant called Avenida. I don't usually go to Filipino restaurants since my mom cooks amazing Filipino food, but this was really good! The server and the manager were very welcoming. We ordered Garlic Rice, Pork Sisig, Lechon Kawali, and Vegetarian Pancit Bihon. I'll definitely be back again! read more

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We came on a Friday evening around 5:30 and there wasn't many people. However, the restaurant filled up quickly afterwards. Pork knuckle - the skin was to a crisp, a bit of that crackling with gooey gelatinous fat and collagen underneath is heavenly, highly recommend for meat lovers Pancit - nothing out of the ordinary, great pancit Lechon with fried tofu - lechon was roasted to perfection, thick crispy skin and tender meat, the acidic and savory sauce goes very well with the meat and tofu to cut down the fattiness Jumbo squid - very tender squid but still had a good bite, great smokiness The dishes were on the pricier side, definitely worthwhile to share with others and try different varieties. read more

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We came in around 5:20 PM and started with appetizers, which were honestly excellent 5/5. That was the highlight of the night. No one told us the table had a reservation coming later. After finishing appetizers, we ordered our mains. The chicken inasal was good, but the tuna belly was concerning. It tasted off and made my tongue feel itchy, which is not something you expect from fresh fish. What really ruined the experience was the service. After our meal, our server even gave us a dessert menu, so naturally we thought we could stay a bit longer. Then suddenly another staff member came over and bluntly said a reservation was coming "any minute." No apology, no proper explanation. We were there from 5:20 PM to about 7:05 PM, ordered plenty of food for four people, and were never told there was a time limit. That should have been communicated upfront. And there are still more tables empty. Great appetizers, but poor service and questionable food quality. Not coming back. Service to be honest is something every resto have to work on because even if your food is not so good, atleast people will be happier with the service. read more

This is long overdue. I went here last year and it was a good experience. My friend wanted to try Filipino food so I let her choose what she wanted to try. I believe that Filipino food is amazing, but I don't agree with it being expensive, but that's a personal bias. Basically foods that those who did not have much ate, source, me being a poor kid lol. Anyway, the service was good and the day was nice. The restaurant was clean. We ordered the squid, sisig, and the tortlang, she ordered the halo halo. I always get the tortlang because it's super annoying to prep and cook lol. Overall it was good, I wish it was the not American version of sisig, but I get that it needs to be palatable. Overall as a first time filipino food enjoyer it's good, but just ask to be invited to a party lol. Nothing against the place, they need to make a dollar and I want their business to thrive. It's just too steep to justify common people food. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place since they opened in downtown San Mateo and my first experience wasn't a pleasant one. Back in 2023, I had emailed them to reserve a table for 12 people for a celebration reunion with my classmates from the Philippines. Thought this restaurant it would be ideal (for obvious reasons), but nobody ever got back to me. Even calls to speak with the manager went nowhere. I had to reserve another venue, and I finally received a response from them after the planned reunion. In a nutshell, the excuse given was they were busy and will use it as a learning experience. Water under the bridge so moving on, I decided to take the Wifey here for dinner back in November of last year with the two dogs in tow. We didn't have reservations, so the only option was to dine on their parklet. We didn't mind the cold, as long as we had a nice heater to keep us warm. We ordered the following: Pork Sisig ($27 with egg +$2) Seasoned pork, chopped and sauteed with spices on a sizzling plate. Looking at the picture, let me state the obvious: the egg yolk was already broken, and it was already cooked. They didn't even allow us the experience of mixing the egg with the rest of the dish, and the taste was mid at best. The texture of the pork was also flossy as it wasn't the typical sisig that I'm used to. Crispy Pata ($39.50) They describe it as crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. All true, but at this price point, I wanted it to wow me. It was lacking in flavor, and it was cooked inconsistently with some chunks of meat being too hard. Nothing too special, and you can get a similar dish at other Filipino restaurants at half the price. Sinigang ($11) Veggies and broth only. This hits the spot as the sourness of the broth was just right and it warmed us on a cold, chilly night. Pinakbet ($23) Stir-fried string beans, eggplant, bittermelon, okra, squash, shrimp, pork, shrimp paste and topped with chicharrones. This was the best-tasting food among the dishes that we ordered. All the ingredients complemented each other as it was well-balanced. As far as service goes, it was also inconsistent as we were initially told that we could sit at a table near the door but then changed it to the parklet as that table was reserved. Our server also changed (understandable) that caused us to wait on a request that we had to repeat. All in all, there were hits and misses and a mix bag of everything else from my very first experience to the most recent one. I'm still giving them 3 stars, and that's being generous since I want them to improve, be more consistent and be better. Hopefully on our next visit. read more

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Ambiance & First Impressions Stepping through Avenida's doors is like being transported to a modern Southeast Asian retreat--warm wood elements beautifully balanced with clean white simplicity create an inviting atmosphere. The welcoming staff greets you with genuine Filipino hospitality, setting the perfect tone for your meal. Space & Seating Whether you're seated in: * Their cozy main dining area * The fresh-air parklet outside * Their spacious upstairs section * The stylish bar area ...each space offers its own unique experience. Pro Tips Make reservations to avoid 15-30 minute wait times during peak hours! Food Highlights **Must-Try Dishes:** * Bulalo -- A rich, comforting broth that warms you from the inside out (though meat tenderness can be hit-or-miss) * Crispy Pata -- Perfectly executed house specialty * Garlic Fried Rice -- The essential side that elevates every dish Order family-style with 2-3 dishes for a group of 4 to experience the best of what Avenida offers. Value & Service Prices run slightly higher than typical Filipino restaurants, but the attentive service and pleasant atmosphere mostly justify the premium. Even non-Filipino staff impressively know their menu inside and out, and they're accommodating with dietary restrictions. Bottom Line Not every dish hits the mark consistently, but when Avenida gets it right, they remind you why Filipino cuisine deserves more recognition in the Bay Area culinary scene. read more

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Came here on a Sunday with no reservation and the only table available was a high table top which was not a problem but could be for others. I would recommend a reservation if you can! Service was good, our server was nice and frequently checked in on us. The inside was really cool and it was a vibe. As far as the food, it was really expensive and not that good. (Context: Filipino born and raised in the bay who grew up eating Filipino food from family cooking and also going to Filipino restaurants, mostly San Bruno and Daly City) The flavors were very mild/bland. The biggest disappointment was the sisig. It didn't really taste like anything and was not crunchy in the slightest. Overall, the taste of Avenida was not authentic. It's too bad because I really wanted to like it. But for people who are unfamiliar with Filipino food, I guess it's a okay super mild introduction to the flavors. But if you want authentic Filipino flavor, you're better off going to San Bruno or Daly City where the taste and price is better. read more

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Mark was our server today! We made a reservation at 1P, highly recommended btw, it gets really busy and for a good reason Food was well seasoned, my favorite is the soup and refreshing Halo Halo at the end We sat upstairs on the second level Everyone was very attentive Good food, good service A great experience overall Thanks Mark! read more

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Located centrally in downtown. Parking is a hit or miss, it's either metered parking or the parking garage. This place is easy to do walk in, but do recommend reservations for the weekend. Service is always amazing. I have eaten here multiple times being seated outside, in the dining area, and at the bar. The restaurant is really nice inside, the bar area is tastefully done. 5/5 - for the lumpia and garlic rice. The pandan old fashion is the best alcoholic dish there. Get the halo halo, it's done really well here. 3.5/5 - for the pancit and pork belly/tofu appetizer. Everything I have eaten here in the past has been relatively good. Recommend the pork knuckles. It's super crispy and the portion size is easily shared amongst 3-4 people. read more

Avenida Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - San Mateo, California

At first glance, ambiance gives off outdoor patio vibes but inside. Kitchen staff were hustling and bustling through the dining hall so watch where you're going or you will get run over. Hosted a large party here but was disappointed with small portion sizes attached to higher end prices. APPETIZERS: - Lumpia (4/5): basic tasting, could be crispier - Beef Salpicao (1/5) - 5 small pieces of beef and mushrooms in a super small platter ENTREES: - Garlic rice (5/5): bomb dot com - Chicken adobo (1/5): hard pass, so bland - Crispy Plata (4/5): very crispy skin but parts of the meat were dry - Inihaw na pusit (2/5): squid tentacles were good but the body was chewy and overcooked - Pancit Palabok (5/5): super tasty, great mash of flavors. Would come back here just for this - Pinakbet (4/5): great assortment of veggies in one platter and good flavors OVERALL: Great to try once but won't be back again due to steep prices. Waiter also charged us for extra dishes so beware! I read this happened to another party too. read more

Food is delicious. Salmon inasal was tasty. A good dish to order. The mashed cauliflower was OK. I didn't really care for it. The pinakbet did not have the bittermelon (it's a must for us for this dish) and the dish was covered with chicharron. Waiter was somewhat rude because he had to say it was our mistake that we ordered the wrong item. I don't think the waiter completely knew the dishes' names. Tokwa't lechon kawali was what we first ordered as appetizer and NOT regular lechon kawali which was listed under HOUSE SPECIALTIES. We didn't think he knew the word TOKWA'T at all. He did not even apologize for this mishap or at least find a way to satisfy the diners/customers. He just needs more training. Other than that, the place ambiance and food are good for dining. read more

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I love a good a Filipino spot. Most trendy places these days are Filipino fusion spots and not a true Filipino restaurant. But the dishes here definitely remind me of my mom's and aunties home cooking. Very flavorful and aromatic. Our group got the palabok, kaldereta, and sisig. All of which are just Filipino comfort food to me. Food came out quickly and in big portions. Staff was friendly and always checked in on us. The food here is pricey, but part of that is for the ambiance and knowing for sure you're going to love the food. read more

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I never eat Filipino food because I am Filipino & I rather cook it myself but this place did NOT disappoint. Usually Filipino restaurants have a TON of salt & oil, but this place doesn't make their food like that. The service was great, and the ambiance reminds me of the Philippines. We ate at the bar since it was booked on a Friday night. Drink 5/5: SPICED TRADE SANGRIA- delicious drink & it was beautiful too! Food 5/5: -Chicken skewers: great seasoning, not dry at all & tons of flavor! -Garlic rice: great amount of garlic -Beef kare kare: soft beef, great mix of veggies, and very tasty! -Tortang tolang: egg plant omelette cooked to perfection! Definitely coming back again. I'm Bisaya, so dahang salamat, mobisita mi puhon :) read more

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Went to Avenida around 4 on a Saturday and it absolutely delivered from start to finish. I kicked things off with the ube espresso martini. It was incredible. Honestly one of the best martinis I have ever had. It might be even better as a post dinner drink, but I have zero regrets starting with it. After that I switched to the calamansi tonic with Hendrick's gin, which was super refreshing, bright, and perfectly balanced. They bring out chicharrons with vinegar to start, and let me tell you, mission accomplished. Crispy, salty, tangy, and instantly had us thirsty and ready to order everything on the menu. And we basically did. The adobong pusit was outstanding. Creamy, acidic, tender squid with so much depth of flavor. The lechon was a classic done right, perfectly crispy skin served with vinegar and a Mang Tomas style sauce. We ordered the palabok and I am usually not a palabok guy, but this completely changed my mind. Saucy, flavorful, noodles cooked perfectly. So good. The mango salad was light and refreshing, and the bagoong was the best I have ever had. The crispy pata was the showstopper. Fried pork knuckle cooked to absolute perfection; it's the best thing you'll eat in your life. We also got a big bowl of sinigang broth that really hit the spot. Pro tip, eat everything with garlic rice. Just do it. Huge shoutout to Ken, I think he is the manager, who took amazing care of us. You can tell he is a seasoned vet of the industry. Impeccable service, great energy, had the whole table laughing all night. All the staff were great. We wanted to try dessert but had a tee time for night golf, so we will definitely be back for that. Highly recommend Avenida. We will be back read more

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I went here on a Saturday night and was able to get seated pretty quick! I usually don't get filipino food much, but this restaurant made me love filipino food more :') The beef kare kare was amazing!! The beef itself was super tender and the kare kare went so well together. It was on the pricier side though for around $40. But I wanted to give it a one time try and it was worth it for me. The pork sisig got salty at times. But i liked how it came with a lotttt of pork. Like the value was great, and otherwise it tasted good! The garlic rice sides were a nice touch. One annoying thing was the table being wobbly where we were seated. But we got used to it over time. read more

Avenida Restaurant - Bottom: Beef Kare-Kare, top: Pork Sisig Garlic Rice - Filipino Near Me - San Mateo, California

Avenida has good authentic Filipino food. I came here with my family and we ordered a lot since we don't usually eat Filipino food that often, so we wanted to try everything. The lady who served us was nice and patient while we figured out what to get based on the Yelp pictures. Overall, the food was good and some dishes really surprised us but some meats were a bit too dry and salty. The place has a lively vibe and I'd come again. read more

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We came at 7:30 PM on a Sunday evening. About one-third of the tables were empty, so delays were not because of a full house. Food: - Tortang talong was unavailable, but we were only told 15 minutes after ordering. - Chicken inasal had good flavor but was very burnt. We spent so much time cutting away the blackened meat that it ruined the experience. - Pancit palabok tasted good, but it took about 30 minutes to arrive -- and unlike the chicken inasal, the menu gave no warning of the long wait. - Spinach ala pobre was the most disappointing. It took 40 minutes to serve, even though it was just sautéed spinach with garlic, and it was gritty with sand, meaning it wasn't washed properly. Service: - Communication was poor -- we waited 15 minutes before being told our first order wasn't available. - Food service was very slow, even for the simplest dish. - The bill still included the unavailable tortang talong, and we had to ask for it to be removed. Ambiance: With plenty of empty tables and no rush, the long delays felt careless rather than unavoidable. Nothing about the atmosphere made up for the poor food and service. Overall, the pancit palabok was the only decent dish, but burnt chicken, sandy spinach, slow service, and billing mistakes made this a one-star experience. read more

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Love the food, good service, calm ambience, clean restrooms. Always take guests here even tho it's a schlep to drive.

Unfortunately, my friend and I didn't have a great experience at this restaurant. My friend had recommended it and raved about it, so I was really looking forward to trying it, but it didn't live up to the hype. We ordered the pancit, lumpia, and adobo, and found them underwhelming -- they lacked the flavor and authenticity I was expecting. Even during happy hour, when we hoped for some great deals and bites, the food fell short. The staff were friendly, which was a plus, but the service overall was just okay and didn't enhance the experience. While I appreciated the effort, it wasn't enough to make up for the disappointing food. Sadly, based on this visit, I don't plan on returning. read more

Had a great "eat and yap" session with the girls! We came in as a party of four and were surprised by how quiet the restaurant was. We had a reservation for 6:30PM, which seemed unnecessary since there was still plenty of seating even after we left two hours later. The ambiance is modern and well put together. Definitely not your typical Filipino restaurant. Everything was spotless, including the bathroom which, thankfully, didn't have any unpleasant odors lol. Service was excellent; our food arrived in a timely manner, and the servers consistently refilled our water container without us having to ask. As for the food, it was amazing! The portions were generous, perfect for family-style dining. We only ordered two dishes which were the Crispy Pata and Beef Kare Kare along with three bowls of garlic rice to share, and we ALMOST finished everything. The flavors were well balanced, and I especially appreciated that the Kare Kare wasn't overwhelmingly peanut buttery or watered down. Given the portion sizes, food quality, and overall cleanliness of the restaurant, the pricing felt absolutely worth it. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be back! It's a great spot for larger gatherings like birthdays or celebrations, where you can try a wider variety of dishes in one sitting. read more

Avenida Restaurant - Crispy Pata (Pork Knuckle) - Filipino Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came here for lunch on a Sunday when it first opened. There were six of us in the party. As we sat, we were told that there's a time limit and we would be asked to leave after 2 hours. We were a bit taken back by this, not that we were planning to stay that long anyway, but how it was said and the fact that we were the only ones in the restaurant. This was my first time having modern Filipino food and I was glad that there were many dishes that I recognized. The portions were big enough to share. Shrimp gambas (5/5) Sautéed shrimp and mushrooms served with baguette. The dish was on a smaller side but very flavorful. Sugba Kilaw (4/5) Tuna ceviche topped with grilled pork belly. It was an interesting combo that feels a bit forced. I liked the two separately. Beef kare kare (5/5) Ox tail stew with peanut sauce. This is a traditional dish and they loaded it with veggies as well. Delicious! Bangus sisig (3/5) Sautéed milkfish. This was my least favorite. I like grilled bangus but this chopped and sautéed version just was not hitting it for me. Pancit bihon (4/5) Classic stir fried rice noodles. It was a healthy portion and we liked the protein and veggies in it. Pinakbet (5/5) Stir fried veggies with shrimp paste. This was really tasty and even had bitter melon which is a classic ingredient for this dish. Halo halo milky ice (5/5) Classic halo halo dessert! We liked the ube ice cream and leche flan on top. Overall, it was a good experience. We liked the ambiance, the dishes, and the staff (besides the offputting interaction at the very beginning). It's a bit pricey here considering many of the dishes are more traditional than modern. read more

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If you have never tried Filipino cuisine, Avenida is a great place to start! Avenida has a great variety of selections to choose from, ensuring to hit all the required Filipino flavor profiles of salty, acidic, sweet, sour, grilled, and of course, FRIED! I myself am Filipino-American, and I will say that it is TOUGH to win over every single person who comes in looking for something to match up to how someone in their family cooks their favorite home-cooked meals. So from MY perspective, I think Avenida does a good job! And as a 2nd generation Filipina, the restaurant definitely gives me that sense of belonging. Location: Downtown San Mateo - Street Parking is rough on the weekends, and the parking garages are deceiving when noting that there are more spaces available than there really are! Pricing: $$-$$$, Some will say that the prices are expensive- my mom and aunties definitely think so lol - but considering the location and the fact that the dishes are prepared family style and 'elevated', I think they priced decently when splitting with a larger group Service: Our service staff were all super friendly, attentive and knew how to have a good time! We were celebrating a birthday and our server made him feel special by suggesting shots of the yummy Jeju Holiday (soju cocktail) (not pictured) and treated him with a leche flan to sing Happy Birthday Ambience: Vibes are for suree for Fil-Ams! Interior design with wooden furniture, neutral tones, tropical plants and old photographs of scenes from the Philippines. A big tv to play the Warriors game (duh) and thee best music playing (I always feel like they're playing my playlist)- r&b, underground hip hop, something you can sing to Food: We ordered a lot of food to feed our table of 9! **Again, Filipinos all have different palettes and perspective depending on where their family is from in the Philippines Salmon Sinigang: SOUR AF! I kept drinking the sabow (soup) on it's own. The salmon was tender and moist Fried Chicken with Fries: Chicken was fried crispy and juicy! Fries were under seasoned Pancit Bihon: I appreciated the amount of veggies in the pancit. Noodles soft and the sauce not too salty Inihaw na Pusit (jumbo): HUGE PORTION OF SQUID, the marinade made it taste like chicken inasal. Charred to perfection! Crispy Pata: Another Huge Portion - Perfectly Crispy outside, juicy and tender meat on the inside - not too salty Beef Kare Kare: A little sad here.. I personally wish it had more of a peanut butter flavor. I added a lot of bagoong (fermented shrimp) for flavor. The beef were inconsistently tender and dry Sugba Kilaw: Crowd Favorite! - the balance of salty and acid in this dish was amazing- perfect pairing for grilled pork and tuna ceviche Lumpia: Pretty Standard lumpia but they are served cut in half so there is actually less than I would have preferred Sizzling Bangus Sisig: Piping hot when served! I wish there was a fried egg on top. Enjoyable level of spice! White Rice: Must be ordered individually per person/cup, then will come out on a large platter. Can opt to ordering garlic rice. Leche Flan: CREAMY, THICKK, PERFECT CARAMEL SWEETNESS! Overall 4.5 rating! Always proud to support Filipino cuisine and so happy to share the culture with community! Salamat sa lahat!! read more

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Came here for a Christmas dinner with the family! Everything was so delicious, some notable favorites of mine were the jumbo squid, lumpia, crispy pata (pork knuckle), and milky ice buko pandan. The jumbo squid and pork knuckle were cooked perfectly, so the texture was amazing. The pandan dessert had such a nice pandan flavor and was a great way to end the meal. All the servers were super kind and helpful during our dinner. The interior was quite nice and had a cozy feeling to it. Would definitely recommend and come again! read more

Avenida Restaurant - Inihaw na Pusit (Tender Jumbo Squid) - Filipino Near Me - San Mateo, California

4/13/24 I've only ever had Filipino cuisine once and most of the food I ate at that time was fried which I didn't like. Avenida Restaurant is located in downtown San Mateo and it's always packed. I convinced Zach that we should try it out since every time we walk by, there's always savoring smells coming out from it. We checked in with the host and they said it would be 30 - 35 minutes for the next table, so we took a seat at the bar where they can still serve food. We placed our order with the bartender. Here's what we got: - Beef shank kaldereta - Vegetarian chop suey - Adobo rice - Ube ice cream (just for me) Everything came out together in 10 - 15 minutes. Everything smelled great. The portions are fairly large that we had leftovers the next day. The adobo rice is soft and has a good amount of pork with a garlicky flavor. The beef is very tender and full of flavor. The beef is a bit salty and thick and hearty like a stew. The vegetable chop suey was a good counter balance to the heavy-ness of the beef and rice. The veggies are cooked with sesame oil which I enjoyed. For dessert, I enjoyed two scoops of their ube ice cream. Atmosphere wise, it's pretty loud in the restaurant. I would come back to try more of their delicious food. read more

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Really rare for me to be able to find Filipino food, really cool to be able to find an elevated Filipino food place. I'm not too familiar with this cuisine as there usually aren't too many Filipinos restaurants in general besides Jollibee which I'm sure there's more to the culture than just fried chicken and spaghetti. Pretty much tried one of each category; appetizer, meat, veggies, soup. The soup is very very sour so it could throw some people off. Other than that, everything else is excellent. Love the egg with eggplant, fried pork belly, and sauteed mushrooms. Tell me about your experience if you've been here or is going to after reading this review:) read more

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It's my second tike being here because the first time i came, everything was so good. My go to is grilled squid and bbq pork. The portions are pretty big; it's a good place for large group gatherings. The food is just so flavorful and delicious. But the bbq pork is a bit chewy today. The noodles were ok to me but my friend loves it. Overall, i recommend this restaurant! read more

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Celebrated a birthday at Avenida Restaurant, a Filipino fusion spot with excellent service and a warm atmosphere. Food Highlights: * Mango Salad: Fresh ingredients, mangoes were super sweet; shrimp paste was strong, so maybe ask for less if you're sensitive to saltiness. * Cheesy Chicken Dip: Salty on its own but delicious with the bread. * Inihaw na Pusit (Jumbo Squid): My favorite -- perfectly tender with a flavorful sauce. * Crispy Pata (Pork Knuckle): Super crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, nicely seasoned; there's extra sauce on the side if you want it. Drinks: The Summer Back Home cocktail was amazing -- great balance of sweetness and alcohol. Honestly, I'd come back just for the drinks! Overall, a fantastic spot for celebrations or just a fun night out with friends. Highly recommend trying the inihaw na pusit and the crispy pata! read more

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Avenida was a nice gem in DT San Mateo! There aren't many "upscale" Filipino restaurants in the Bay Area, so coming here was a nice experience overall. They are on the pricier side, but you are paying for service, presentation, and high quality dishes. One thing that really impressed my family and I is that they kept the traditional flavors of each dish while also making it extremely flavorful and less oily! Filipino food can be really oily and salty, but my family and I found the perfect balance from these dishes at Avenida. Highlights were the crispy pata, salpicao, and pusit (jumbo)! I'm so excited to come back and try the rest of their menu! read more

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I thought this place was super tasty. It is pricer but overall the quality was good. They serve the food pretty quickly and is spacious. The servers were also attentive in case we wanted anything. They were really nice to allow us to bring in our own cake for our friend's birthday and don't charge a cake cutting fee if they don't cut the cake. They also fridged it for us until the end of dinner. read more

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The adobo pork and chicken plate, lumpia, and garlic rice was solid. This place is super clean and bright. I really liked the design of the restaurant. We were able to make a reservation for two ahead of time. I recommend parking in the Central Parking upstairs area and walking over. Street parking can be a bit hectic if you're coming for dinner. read more

Omgee where do i start with this place!! Hands down to expectional services food was on point i loved everything we ordered our 2 hour drive from Sacramento was so worth it!! Must try the inhihaw na pusit to die for Thank you for making my birthday a little extra today!! read more

I always like to bring out of town guests or relatives here because of the upscale get comfy ambiance, and expertly crafted Filipino food. A cuisine that tends to go unnoticed by most. But the chefs being a modern and bright take to classic Filipino comfort dishes. I can start that anything grilled here is phenomenal. Actually smoky and grilled flavors on their meats. Kara Kara is a staple here and they do it right. They are famous for their Crispy pata and it is so crunchy it is a deifnite treat here. Can't go wrong with their juicy baby squid and lumpia either. Their garlic rice is also flavorful with no burned garlic residue. Every dish I've ordered here has been a hit and I go back time and time again. Don't forget their craft cocktails and milky ice (like halo halo) to end your indulgent meal. Service is friendly and fast and they truly take care of your experience. read more

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Left a huge positive impression on me! Little on the expensive side, but would do it again! The food was great and well served, the service was good and location is nice. If you get 2 dishes it is easily a big meal for 2 people. Highly recommend the Beef Shank Kaldereta, if you like red meat. If you are more of a seafood, the Inihaw na Pusit (squid) was also very flavorful, deliciously grilled. The desserts seemed to be a big selling point for this restaurant, but I'll be honest and say I wasn't particularly impressed by it at all. Maybe just not my kind of dessert. read more

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Super tasty Filipino food. Ken was super kind and really helped pick out some great dishes. Will be back.

2nd time here. The food is great. I love the pork knuckle and the steamed fish. Everything is fresh and flavorful. The service was great too. read more

Avenida Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - San Mateo, California