Isla Restaurant in Newark is our absolute favorite spot for Filipino food! We've been coming here for years, and at this point the staff already recognizes us when we walk in, which always makes us feel so welcome. We've honestly never had a bad meal here, everything we've ordered has been delicious. My absolute favorites are the Adobong Pusit and the Sisig, and the Lechon Kawali is another must-try. If you're visiting for the first time, I highly recommend starting with those dishes. One thing we also love is that there's always something happening. On Thursdays and Fridays they serve Filipino street food outside, and on weekends they offer buffets and often have live music, making every visit feel like a little celebration. We've been to all three Isla locations, but the Newark restaurant is still our favorite because it's the closest to us. If you're looking for authentic Filipino food, a welcoming atmosphere, and consistently delicious meals, Isla Restaurant is a place you'll want to visit again and again. read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

First time trying Isla whereas my wife came here long ago with her friends for a birthday celebration. Got to be honest, the harshest review for Filipino restaurants is coming from Filipino because they often judge the cooking based on their own moms cooking or the region they are from. So my bias comes more from other Filipino places I've tried rather than my "moms cooking" Service - 3 stars. We came here around 3 pm on a Sunday and the place wasn't too busy. For just the two of us, the hostess/waitress gave us a table for two but didn't have a lot of table space for people who order more than 2. Even though there was plenty of people working, it took awhile to get our food order in. Food- 3 stars Chicken Inasal- was one of the first dishes that came and arrived fairly quick. I ate as soon as it arrived and noticed it wasn't piping hot at all. Of course I don't know how the kitchen works there but it felt like those cafeteria style Filipino restaurants that already have the dish cooked already and ready to serve. Taste wise- had a sweet taste but didn't have the bbq chicken inasal I've had in the Philippines. Sinigang Liempo- my wife's order. She compared it to her own preference and noticed it was sweeter than expected and the broth is darker. Of course, it's made based on the region. 3 stars Halo halo- 3 stars. I've had this at many places but it was a fair dessert. Can't beat the halo halo in PI. Overall, place is well decorated and has many of tables and seat to serve alot of patrons and guests. Would I go back? It's hard to say since I wasn't impressed enough to crave for what I ordered. read more

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I arrived here with my Filipino (husband) side of the family as a party of 10 and ordered the Ultimate Boodle Fight and added the Sisig Kapampangan. A table was prepared for us to set the setting before a cart full of food arrived and spread on the banana leaves. All the titos and titas agree - the best dish was the sisg which is not included in the boodle fight. The fried squid is an honorable mention. All other options I found to be rather mediocre and not worth getting again. Perhaps they were short-staffed when we arrived but it was hard to find a server to request anything. They were all in the back and only came out to bring out the food. We waited too long to ask for containers or the check. 20% gratuity was automatically applied and the total came out to almost $500. The meal wouldn't have been very enjoyable if not for the company so I don't think this was worth it. I may consider coming back just for the sisig. read more

Isla Restaurant - Ultimate Boodle Fight + Sisig Kapampangan - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

Been here several times and it never disappoints! Food - we had the following and all were absolutely DELISH! The first three are on my standard order list. - Lanz's Lumpiang Shanghai - Pancit Palabuk - Original Sisig Kapampangan - Ultimate Ginataang Hipon; first time trying this and it was so good.. love the coconut flavor with the shrimp... so yummy! Staff are all very nice and friendly, they are always happy to provide suggestions. And if you speak Tagalog.. you are perfectly set! The place is big so you could go with a small or large group - they handle big groups very well. There is plenty of parking - so no worries there. Would I go back? YES.. so many more dishes to try. read more

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I'm no expert on Filipino food, but we enjoyed everything we ordered. The place is located by Newpark Mall in a pretty dead plaza. We first came here on a Sunday for lunch, and didn't realize they have a Sunday buffet so the place was very busy. We waited about 20 minutes to be seated. We didn't go for the buffet, but ordered a few dishes to try and wow were we impressed. Their menu is a book, but there's a picture of every dish along with a good description, so ordering was made easy. We enjoyed our dining experience so much that we came back again the following week with the whole family for dinner. The place is very simple and homey. There are lots for large round tables, and they filled up quickly. Our favorites were: + Original Sisig Kapampangan - this came out on a sizzling plate, and the crispy bits at the bottom were fought after. You can choose your spice level. + Chicken Halang - Halang - chopped up chicken simmered in coconut broth. + Pancit Bihun Guisado - this had so many yummy things in it, including pork, shrimp, quail eggs, squid balls, and veggies. + Ginataang Green Beans At Kalabasa - green beans in a coconut sauce with pumpkin squash and lots of other goodies. + Lumpia and chicken wings - favorite appetizers I also really liked that the staff didn't "own" a table. It seemed whoever was available, came by our table and served us. Looking forward to coming back and trying more items from their book. read more

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The food here is good, but it's a bit on the pricey side in my opinion. We had a family dinner, party of 11. Fun times...so much so that I forgot to take pictures of the food! The only one I remembered to get was the Halo Halo, which was a little over $10. So that alone should give you an idea of the prices. (Side note...I attended a gathering that catered from another Isla location and just like the San Bruno location, the food was really good) read more

Isla Restaurant - Halo Halo - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

Its a very wonderful experience! First off, parking is huge! That day is my sister-in-law father's death anniversary. We called in on a Monday night, no hassle, no need to book an appointment for the party of 12 people, less hassle. We ordered our food and the waiter is so nice to tell us that we have a free appetizer! Which we had fried tofu (they have other options too). We got the unlimited rice which is cool for people who love to eat rice. Bad side? Our order got a little mishap, the kitchen forgot one of our order Chicharon bulaklak, but we never mind cause we are already full. But, that's less money on the management. One note, for people more than 6 people, you are being charged for service fee (so watch out). Secondly, cause we are regulars here, the food we had now is not as good as flavorful as we had before. Better retrain the kitchen for the betterment of the taste. All in all we had a blast! Thank you people on the floor to make that happen! read more

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I can't believe i had not reveiwed this restaurant as i always go to this restaurant for good filipino food. Their karekare is my fave. They also have isaw in certain days which has alot of filipino street food options. They have live band in friday night and sunday but its just too loud for a small space so the people close to the stage will get their eardrums busted. All their food are yum! read more

Solid spot. I got the Jeprox Silog and it was really good -- the fish was cooked well, flavorful, and the rice hit the spot. The misua egg drop soup on the side was simple but comforting, which balanced everything nicely. The place has a steady flow of people so it feels lively, but it's not crowded or suffocating. Somehow still feels cozy even when it's busy. I also liked the setup -- solid wooden tables, warm lighting, and a menu with photos that actually helps when you're deciding what to get. Would come back. read more

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Nothing much to say. If you want Filipino food, definitely come here. My family was celebrating my uncle's birthday, and we had a great time. The food is average, and the band was okay, but it was so loud that you could barely hear anyone. read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

Why Filipino food gotta be so pricey?! Isla has the most menu items (and pages) than any other restaurant. Literally so many choices and variations. But the one dish that I crave from here is the Bistig Brisket Ning Baka (Bistek Brisket) - that's a lot of B's! It's so tender with an explosion of flavor. Isla on the weekends can get really overwhelming, so just be mentally prepared. The loud music, all the people talking and people walking around your table.. Everything everywhere all at once. Lol. Anyway, great for big parties and food/dishes to share. Lots of parking. read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

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We came to Isla Restaurant in Newark on February 6 around 12:30 p.m. to celebrate my son's birthday with a group of 14 people. It also happened to be their first day doing the buffet lunch, which honestly explains a lot of the experience. Leading up to the event was a bit frustrating. I called almost every day that week to ask what would be included in the buffet, and I got a different answer each time. At one point they said they wouldn't know the buffet items until Thursday night. They also couldn't clearly tell me if we were allowed to order à la carte on top of the buffet, and unlike before, they wouldn't take a reservation. The phone calls felt rushed and not very helpful, like they were just trying to get off the phone. Once we arrived, there were a lot of things we weren't told ahead of time. Kids are charged by height, not age, so if your child is tall, they may be charged as an adult. I had to ask multiple times if kids 2 and under were free, and they still had to check with the manager, which felt odd. Soda is not included with the buffet and costs extra. We also brought a birthday cake and found out there's a cake fee. Since it was their first buffet day, everything felt unorganized. They used wristbands to keep track of guests, which was fine, but overall it felt like they were still figuring things out as they went. The food itself was okay. The kare-kare was the best dish, followed by the chicken and pancit. The selection wasn't bad, just nothing that really stood out. When it came time to pay, I had to double and triple check the bill to make sure the adult and kid counts were correct and that we weren't being charged for kids under 2, which shouldn't even be a question. Overall, the experience was just okay. I think Isla works better for smaller groups (six people or less). For larger groups or birthday parties, I personally would recommend Kalesa in Milpitas, which feels more organized and better set up for hosting events. Not a terrible experience, but definitely room for improvement. read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

Ordered the sisig kapampangan and the crispy kari karing pata. The sisig was delicious, a great mix of chewy and savory, but had a bit more of the fatty parts than I'd liked. The kari karing pata was my favorite, it had a perfectly crispy skin with a perfectly cooked and seasoned pork. The peanut sauce on the side really enhanced the savoriness of the pork, and also prevented the pork from being too dry. The restaurant also had a stage with live music, which is great for setting the mood. read more

Isla Restaurant - Original Sisig Kapampangan - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

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One of my Filipino friends brought me here since I've never had Filipino food before and had a great experience! The food is pretty pricey, but if you dine in, at least they provide unlimited steamed rice free of charge which I never see anymore. I came back with my husband and saw that there's a lunch option (all day on weekdays and until 2pm on weekends) that's much more affordable, has more variety and is the perfect option when it's only 2 people dining in. I ordered the fried fish and it leaned a bit dry but was still good. My husband ordered the Filipino sausage and I thought that was delicious as well! You pick your meat and the dish comes with soup, garlic rice, an egg and soda for $16.95 which I think is a steal considering their standard menu prices on these items. It gets busy so we didn't really see our server, but it was still a great meal and suggest coming for their lunch options! read more

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I love this this place. The food are delicious!! When we have people over or meeting friends, I always recommend Isla as a meet up place. This place is huge so perfect for family gathering. We ordered more food than the pictures I took and feed 8 of us. Very little left over. That's a great sign that the food is delicious read more

Isla Restaurant - Fish kalderita ans pork kawali - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

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Came here a few Saturdays ago with a large party. This Newark location compared to Isla Grand in Pleasant Hill depicts a stark difference in terms of quality. I went to the latter a week before this visit with a different party and ordered many of the same dishes. This makes for an easy comparison between my two dining experiences. However, the food here didn't quite live up to my expectations. It didn't look or taste as appetizing as the dishes at Isla Grand. To make matters worse, I found a dead fly in the adobo rice (pictured). I thought it was a peppercorn at first glance, but quickly realized it wasn't round and there weren't any other black specks throughout the rice. Yeah, yeah "it's extra protein" yada yada.. When it was brought to the server's attention, she apologized and asked if we wanted them to remake the adobo rice. Would have preferred that they removed it from the bill, but the rest of the party just said yes. Didn't matter to me though since I lost my appetite for the remainder of the meal :/ read more

Isla Restaurant - Dead fly found in the adobo rice... almost thought it was a peppercorn - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

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We visited on a Saturday for lunch and it was fairly busy. The plaza has plenty of parking. For appetizers we ordered sisig and the calamari. The calamari batter was well-seasoned and flavorful and paired well with the lemon and acidic, vinegar sauce. The sisig was rich, savory, and a little greasy. The Kare Kare was rich and savory; love the peanut butter taste and the veggies such as the eggplant and green beans. The Kare Kare came with crispy yet tender pork belly with the tangy bagoong sauce that paired well with the rich sauce. The grilled squid was good and had a nice charred flavor. The chop suey was also flavorful, creamy, and savory veggie goodness. The garlic rice was really good and addicting. The ambiance was lively and the staff was helpful. read more

Isla Restaurant - Chopsuey - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

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This review is only based on their lumpia's. They were hot and made fresh to order however, the taste was a bit off. Not sure why but they tasted real porky. Their sweet and sour sauce is very garlic forward. The staff were nice and the restaurant is pretty spacious. I'd gave the lumpia's a 4/10. read more

Isla Restaurant - Real porky taste. - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

The food here is pricey but at least the flavors are intense. They serve traditional Filipino food; however, it is not for the faint of heart, as most dishes may be too complex and pungent for the unadventurous. Chicharon: one simple appetizer that is mildly flavored dish, but it is freshly fried pork rinds with a sprinkle of salt. I've dipped this in vinegar with garlic or sweet and sour sauce (that was included with the lumpia) for elevated taste, 4/5 stars. Lumpia Shanghai: these are generally the best "eggrolls", as they have seasoned ground pork mixed with minced carrots and onions for more depth than typical eggrolls that only have vegetables, 5/5 stars. Pork sisig: this was traditionally prepared with pork belly, cheek, and ear that were all tender; but enhanced with the combination of flavors of savory, salty, sour, and a hint of spice, 4/5 stars. This would have been a 5/5 stars rating if it were just all pork belly, because bacon is the best! Pork bbq on the stick: the pork was tender, juicy and had a nice grilled char. The sauce flavors were garlic, salt, pepper, soy sauce, calamansi juice, and sweetness from the banana ketchup and the pork may have been marinated in pineapple juice, 5/5 stars! Chicken inasal: the chicken was also tender, juicy and had a nice grilled char. The sauce flavors were calamansi juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, annatto oil, and a hint of vinegar, 5/5 stars! Kare-Kare: creamy peanut butter sauce that mimicks curry and is complemented with the tender beef and veggies, 4/5 stars. Crispy Pata (deep-fried pork knuckles): truly a guilty pleasure dish, as this is deep fried pork but it creates delicious crispy skin. The pork meat was tender and savory with some fat pieces that added richness, 5/5 stars! The service was efficient despite that the restaurant was almost at full capacity. Regardless of the high food price, I'd return here when in the bay area, as the food was delightful. read more

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This is still the best Filipino restaurant to eat, however the buffet needs to improve, the are charging nearly $48.00 for all you can eat with tax included. I don't mind paying, however the food is COLD. The food is good, taste good however it's just to damn cold. They included crabs but removed crispy pata, bad move. If the owner can figure out a way to maintain the food temperature, hand down this will be the best buffet in the area. Also the street food is amazing! Great call on that! I read more

Isla is pretty good for when I'm missing Filipino dishes and too lazy to learn myself. Plenty of parking. They recently renovated and made their restaurant more open. They got rid of that huge wall that you see right when you walk in, thank goodness because it looks way better and more open. They also changed one area where they used to seat me and our large family, and it's now become a stage area because they have live music in the evenings. I wouldn't be surprised if they host karaoke nights. They have a monitor now that shows their upcoming events and promotes the bands coming up. Great for larger groups, but they do have some tables for when you've got a smaller group. Service is always so great when we go. They have a bell you can ring if you've had great service. Food is good. They're served as family style. I've done pick-up orders just for their jeprox when I'm craving it. I prefer their dishes over Jerry's Grill. read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

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Always our family go to for a party, celebration or simply wanna hangout & get together! Great ambiance, great food & great service! MJ is very helpful, always attentive & always going above & beyond! read more

We ordered the grilled squid, lechon, kare kare, and prawn crackers. The grilled squid was perfectly cooked, tender, and had a nice smoky flavor that paired really well with the dipping sauce. The lechon was crispy on the outside and juicy inside which definitely was one of the highlights. The kare kare was made with a rich peanut sauce with tender meat and vegetables, and it tasted super yummy. The prawn crackers were light and crunchy, perfect for snacking while waiting for the main dishes. The presentation was great too and mostly everything was served beautifully on banana leaves. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere had a cozy, family-style feel. read more

Isla Restaurant - Grilled squid, prawn crackers, kari-karing - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

Had a really great experience at Isla! The food was delicious and it's so nice to find a place that highlights Filipino flavors, especially Pampanga's delicacies. Everything we tried was flavorful and felt authentic. Service was great--friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome the whole time. The space is also a big plus. It's roomy and perfect for larger groups, which makes it an easy choice for gatherings and celebrations. Overall, a wonderful spot for good food, great service, and a comfortable place to dine with family and friends! read more

We had a really good experience at Isla. The food was delicious, they have a nice selection of drinks, and everything felt organized. What really stood out was the service. You don't just have one server checking on you. Everyone helps and makes sure you have what you need. They were all friendly and attentive. They also have grilling, and honestly, it was waaaaay better than EMS Kusina. Surprisingly, the prices at Isla were better too. Better food, better service, better organization, and a better price. If you're deciding between the two, Isla is the easy choice. read more

If you're looking to eat Filipino family-style, this is the place to go. They offer huge platters loaded with a variety of classic dishes--perfect for sharing. We came here to celebrate my mom and aunt's birthdays, and it honestly felt like a buffet spread laid out right at our table. We ordered a feast: crispy pata, sisig, pork belly, fried fish, squid, lumpia, fried chicken, pancit palabok, kare kare, chicken and pork adobo, and more. There was more than enough food to feed our whole family (and then some). Everything came out fairly quickly, and the servers were warm, friendly, and attentive--especially when it came to keeping the rice refills coming (my family can definitely put away some rice!). My personal favorites were the grilled pork belly and the longanisa. I really appreciated that their longanisa wasn't overpowering with garlic--it had just the right balance of flavor. Overall, we had such a fun time celebrating together. Don't get me wrong, the food was great, but I always compare Filipino food to how my dad makes it--hard to beat that homemade touch. This isn't exactly a "mom-and-pop" vibe, but if I had a big group craving Filipino food, I'd definitely come back here. The dishes are flavorful, generous, and will absolutely hit the spot. read more

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Delicious Filipino delicacies and dishes in a family- friendly atmosphere. We had the Sulit Bilao #3 that had everything you see in the photo, plus we had halo halo for desert. The crispy pata, bangus, longanisa, Shanghai lumpia, and chicharon were outstanding. We had plenty of food to take home. read more

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Food here is delicious. We've been here before and the food is always good, however the customer service just wasn't up to par today. Our main server never checked on us to see if we needed anything. But a gentleman named Patrick was quite helpful as well as the lady named MJ at the podium. Both of them were great. Thank you and we will still return hoping the service will be better. read more

Amazing authentic Filipino food that is comparable if not better to home cooked meals. The crispy belly pork with eggplant is amazing. We had the $140 combo menu and it was amazing and the food taste of each plates matches. The menu is enough for 9 people and also included deserts. Staff are all friendly, respectful, responsive and accommodating. The restaurant is spacious and furnitures remind me of back home. I will always come back for more. read more

I visited Isla for dinner on a weekend with 4 other friends. The place was quiet busy but we had a reservation so we got seated once our whole party was there. We opted for a family style feast and everything we tried was delicious including the sauces that they provided. The one thing that was really annoying and ruined the whole experience was the loud live music. The music was so loud that we couldn't hear each other. Thankfully it happend towards the end of our meal because I was ready to leave. That loud music was unbearable. The service was fine and our food came out really fast. read more

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When I have that craving for Filipino food, I'm off to Isla. It's been around for years. Always delivering tasty Filipino dishes. Bring your fam, your titos and titas, your lolas and lolos, and all your kaibigan because this place is huge and they have the large round tables to accommodate all. My current favorites here are the tofu sisig with its delicious mayo-lemon sauce with a tiny tickle of spicy, the Isla Pinakbet with a smidgeon of lechon kawali, and the veggie Kari Kari. For breakfast, their silogs hit the spot. The garlic rice, sunny side up eggs and your choice of meat...how could it not be good? Our faves are the longsilog and tocilog. We can't get enough of the tofu sisig...so that is always in the order as well. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between. Isla does not disappoint. read more

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This has been on my list to try for years. Came in on a Friday night. Nice decor. Greeted and seated immediately. Menu was extensive with pictures. We ordered the Sulit Bilao # 1. The platter was huge and had a little bit of everything. We also ordered pork sisig topped with egg and chicharron, litsun kawali, and pancit palabuk. Everything was delicious and portions were generous. My son enjoyed ringing the bell at the end of the meal to show he was satisfied. read more

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I've ordered à la carte items in the past as well as recently trying their Saturday breakfast buffet and food was just ok/decent, but nothing to go crazy for. I do enjoy the variety of food options provided for the breakfast buffet but nothing really stood out. If anything, I did enjoy the fried pork chop, the fact that they had 3 different rice options, palabok was ok, but everything else was underwhelming. The meats weren't prepared well. The tapa and tocino were both tough/overcooked and the tocino was missing that char/carmelization along with the longanisa. The tomato/egg dish had way too many tomato than egg. Also, for $25, drinks aren't included fyi. The restaurant is spacious/clean, tons of tables, and service was good. Overall, I'd say this is an ok place for people who are first discovering Filipino food, but for me I'm better off saving my $25 and making my own Filipino breakfast/food at home lol or going elsewhere. read more

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It's been a while since I've been to Isla and I'm glad I visited recently with friends. I definitely feel like their quality of their dishes and service increased since my last visit. Definitely would come back again to satisfy my Filipino cravings. read more

Isla is the perfect place to bring a big group of friends or your family to eat! Would always recommend the Isla Ultimate Boodle Fight because it feeds 10 people or even more! I love how it also comes with unlimited refills on the sodas and 3 Halo-Halo's. Remember to wash your hands and dig in! read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

Great place for filipino food and good vibes! My friends and I love coming here for celebrations; it's a huge restaurant and the ambience brings us closer together! Service is always extremely kind and helpful. read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - Newark, California

Came here for Mother's Day because my mom had been wanting to try this place for a while. From the outside, it doesn't look too big, but once inside, the space opens up quite a bit. I really appreciated the live band, it added a festive touch, though it was a bit too loud. I literally had to type out our order to show the waiter because we couldn't hear each other. One thing I did like was the menu layout, every dish had a photo, which made ordering easier. They also offer a package deal, which is nice in theory, but it would be great if you could mix and match dishes instead of sticking to a preset selection. We ordered a few different dishes, and while they looked appealing, the flavor didn't quite match up. Honestly, most of it tasted like something I could've made at home, and with more seasoning. For the price we paid (around $200 for 5-6 dishes), I expected better. Service was another downside. We constantly had to flag our waiter down for refills and service , not ideal when you're trying to enjoy a special occasion. Overall, it was a decent first-time experience, and I'm glad we tried it for Mom's sake, but I wouldn't come back. The place has potential, but it fell short in a few key areas. read more

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Authentic Filipino dishes. Extensive menu. There are some really awesome Filipino food available in the Newark/Fremont area. It is one of the most unhealthy cuisines on the planet...but oh so good! When it comes to desserts, some of Asia's best desserts come from the Philippines. This restaurant's Original Sisig Kapampangan is very good. Moist, tender, and flavorful. Their crispy pata comes with 2 types of sauces. Very crispy. Yum! Their chicharon is freshly made. It still sizzles right out of the fryer when you dip it in vinegar. Can't wait to come back and try other dishes. If you're looking for value and you have several people in your party, don't overlook their package deals from their Sulit Ala Carte menu options. Very affordable for larger parties. Wait staff are friendly. Lots of parking. Spacious interior. read more

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Sisig!!!! Food is super tasty. My whole family enjoyed!!! Live music. It is a bit loud lol but other than that, great experience and will be back! read more

This place looks authentic. Interior is on point with Filipino culture. Our service was alright. Not attentive but was fast delivery of food which was good. Food wise is good as well. Check out what I ordered for my party. read more