Took food to go. Combination tinola soup had a grand total of ONLY 3 pieces of mussels. I don't think it had papaya. If it did, it was stingy. The spinach was minimal too. The chicharron was enjoyed by the parents but I found they had a slight burnt taste. Makes me wonder if they had older pieces lying around and if they did a quick fry to reheat because "sayang" aka no waste. Very clean looking restaurant though and appreciate the ease of reading the menu with large photos and descriptions. I always think filipino eateries or restaurants should have a detailed description if they want to branch out to people not familiar with filipino food beyond Lumpia and pancit. Otherwise sometimes it's difficult to figure out what is offered. read more

Isla Restaurant - 3 pieces of mussels only in the seafood chicken combination tinola soup. Maybe they put more in if you eat in vs to go. - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

I was a fan of Isla when I first tried it. But getting to try different places, Isla is no longer my first choice. Overall, it is fine. The Crispy Binagongan (definitely spelled wrong) is my go to! The mango pieces add sweetness and crunch to the already crunchy pork pieces. I'm not a fan of the sinigang, not tart enough and has a funny after taste that's not great. I recently visited this place and the service tends to be good but was not this time. We were sat down first in our section and ordered. Not only did we not get all of our food, but the the stuff we ordered kept getting sent to other tables. Maybe we all ordered the same thing, but some how we were the ones that didn't get everything and we asked it to be removed from the bill. The saving grace is that they had halo halo and it's not premixed, so you can remove any thing you don't want (my partner isn't a fan of beans in there). The restaurant is good for large parties and even has deals for birthdays! read more

Love the vibe! Food selection is superb. Taste on point, as I am accustomed to Kapampangan food. Service is also good and portions are perfect for the price point. read more

I usually recommend this place to people, especially travelers who haven't tried Filipino food yet or want something decent that's not too far from San Francisco International Airport. Overall, the flavors here are pretty balanced, which I appreciate. A lot of Filipino spots can be either too salty or underseasoned, but this place gets it just right. Some standouts: the sisig is solid and not overly salty, the sinigang is good, and the Bicol Express actually has real spice (which I like). The chop suey is also surprisingly good, not watery, with a nice consistency, and the pancit noodles are cooked perfectly. The binagoongan is also a hit (my boyfriend especially likes it). That said, there are a few misses. The lumpia isn't my favorite, the wrapper is crispy, but the filling is too mushy for my liking. The fried pork (liempo) can be inconsistent and a bit dry. The beef steak is decent, but I wish it had a bit more citrus. Prices are what you'd expect for the area, but overall, this is still a solid spot I recommend for people wanting to try Filipino food without going too far out of their way. read more

It should have been my first time trying out the cuisine,because it was highly recommended...There was a door that was open in the back door,and one of the server happened to be there sweeping the floor,I asked him if it's the entrance and he sarcastically replied oh well since you're already here it is now,with that terrible look on his face....He was tall not bad looking,but the attitude said it all!I just walked out and told my husband,I don't want to spend a single dime,on a place that don't respects my patronage...I don't want to be around around negative vibes...you just lost a good tipping customer For me first impression is everything!!Whats wrong with being kind,especially to your own people!!I would have given this ratings a O ,but the app won't let me read more

Service is mediocre. Do better. It's very disappointing to see Filipino restaurants like this lacking SO MUCH hospitality. Kept giving this place benefit of the doubt but yall really out did yourselves today lol pls do us paying customers A HUGE FAVOR and get out of the service industry. Everyone that worked today 4/25. Idk what was in the air in yall restaurant but if I was your guys manager I'd be very embarrassed to see this review on behalf of you all. read more

This is my go to dinner spot whenever I'm in SF. The portions of food are HUGE and I'm always leaving full. They got delicious authentic Filipino food from different parts of the islands. I get to discover new dishes! The service feels like home, like my Tita's and Tito's are cooking for me. Plus the decor inside feels like I'm in a nipa hut which adds to the ambiance :) read more

I'm not Filipino so I can't chime in the way other Filipinos have in their myriad reviews. But my Filipino (Chinoy, but more Filipino than Chinese) boyfriend recommended this place and brought me here for dinner, so that's gotta say something. Came on a rainy Sunday evening for a dinner date. The restaurant was full of people, and we got seated instantly and we were immediately brought a pitcher of water. Food here is really good! I had one of their signature dishes, the ima litas tintang adobung pusit (I copied this from the menu), which is a black squid adobo. It went very well with rice and lumpia. We also had a dessert that reminded me of creme brûlée with its crunchy top. Definitely coming back here when I have Filipino cravings. read more

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Came here for my dad's birthday to try the new buffet. There is plenty of seating and convenient parking behind the building. I really loved the traditional decor and the unique license plate wall. Unfortunately, the buffet itself was just okay. The pork sinigang was quite fatty, and the crab was overcooked and dry. Since the food wasn't kept on burners, many dishes weren't hot, and the dessert selection was limited. At $45, the buffet didn't feel like a great value, though I'd return to try the regular menu. On the plus side, the servers were incredibly nice and helpful! read more

Came here ready for a Filipino feast. The food was solid, but the experience had a few hiccups. Crispy pata was the highlight--golden and crunchy outside, juicy and flavorful inside. Sinigang had a nice tangy broth with fresh veggies, but it could've used a little more depth. Kare-kare had that rich, nutty taste, but the peanut sauce was thinner than expected. Pancit palabok had great flavors and plenty of toppings. Sisig came out sizzling, but it was on the milder side. Lumpia were crispy, and the calamares were decent, though a crunchier batter would've been better. Service wasn't great. Had to flag someone down twice--once for drinks and again for takeout boxes and the check. It wasn't even that busy, so that was frustrating. read more

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Came here with my friend from the Philippines and she was very happy about the food. the grilled pork was delicious and well cooked, the squid ink rice had amazing flavour and the beef dish was juicy. all the flavours were so vibrant and well spiced, the service was excellent and the restaurant was clean and spacious - perfect for a family outing for a big meal. across 4 dishes the total came out to alittle over $100. rather pricey for a meal but with Trumps new tariffs, unavoidable for dishes that rely on important spices and ingredients. will be coming back though! read more

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This is my go-to HQ for all things lumpia shanghai! Whenever I go to house parties in the area I usually bring a few orders and it's gone pretty quickly! Other noteworthy dishes I like getting here are sinigang (it's just the right amount of sourness,) and pancit bihon! Dining in at the restaurant is a great experience too. They always play chill music and service is pretty quick on weekdays. Expect longer delays on weekends as a lot of families stop in on weekends! read more

Overdue review for this place we used to enjoy going to but blacklisted now for our safety. We had 2 incidents of having a foreign object in our misua soup. First offense, it looked like a piece of walis fiber and brought it up to the server's attention immediately and they replaced it. Second time, we ordered misua again and brought it home, and my kid found a metal piece that looked like a staple or metal scrubber in her mouth. So thankful she didnt swallow it. We called the restaurant to bring it up but they had nothing to say but advised us to give them a try again. What a joke. This incident could have caused an unknown medical isssue/internal bleeding for my kid if it was not caught. Sad to say no more isla for us. read more

We like to eat at Isla, it is highly recommended by friends. It's a large dining room, but can be a little bit loud when busy. They have a huge menu, we usually like everything we order. The food comes quite quickly. read more

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Overall, this place was okay, but I wouldn't go out of my way to satisfy a craving for Filipino food here. I feel there are better Filipino places out there, but if you're in the area then this will do the trick. We tried a few dishes, including a happy hour deal where you order three beers or wine and get free appetizer. We chose calamari. Calamari: It was just alright. The breading looked pale, almost undercooked, and lacked the crispiness you'd expect. It was a little soft and underwhelming. The sauce was fine, but I wouldn't order this again, especially at full price. Lechon: Decent overall. It was crispy and oily as expected, but a bit dry. Still, it's a classic dish that's worth trying. Pork Sisig: Flavorful, though slightly on the salty side. It was enjoyable but not standout. Beef Kare-Kare: The beef was tender but leaned on the fatty side. I wish there was more meat, but the sauce was good and made up for it. Chicken Adobo (not pictured): This was good! The chicken was tender, and I'd order this again. Normally, I'm not a huge adobo fan, but this one was enjoyable. Parking: Convenient! Free parking is available in the back of the plaza after 6 PM. For street parking, you'll need to pay until 10 PM from Monday to Saturday. Extras: Free white rice refills were a nice bonus. I came with three guys, and four protein dishes were more than enough to fill us up. read more

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I came to Isla Filipino Restaurant on the recommendation of my cousins who grew up in Pampanga, so expectations were already high. They mentioned the place had Kapampangan roots -- and I can confidently say it lived up to the hype. As soon as we walked in, I was impressed by how busy the place was -- large groups filled the spacious dining hall, likely families coming straight from Sunday church. The decor instantly triggered memories of old Filipino homes -- capiz windows, rustic wooden accents, and little design touches that made you feel like you were back in the Philippines. It was a wave of nostalgia I didn't expect but truly appreciated. We were seated right away at a charming table with a wooden bench. Service was on point from the get-go: one staff took our order, another promptly brought our drinks, and within 10 minutes our food started arriving. That's a rare feat in many Filipino restaurants, where long waits are often the norm -- but Isla was fast, organized, and efficient. We kicked things off with the vegetable kare-kare. I usually go for the meat version, but since we had other meat dishes, we opted for the veggie option. That said, it didn't lack flavor at all -- the peanut sauce was rich and delicious, and it only made me wonder how incredible it would've been had I gone with the oxtail version. Lesson learned for next time. Next up: Bistig Bangus -- my nephew's favorite, and now I see why. The flavor was spot-on, and the bangus was cooked just right -- tender, flavorful, and perfectly paired with steamed white rice. Then came the chicken inasal, and wow... probably one of the best I've ever had. Sweet, savory, juicy, and packed with flavor -- just how inasal should be. Being from Batangas, I had to try their Goto ng Batangas, and let me tell you -- they nailed it. The blend of spice was perfect, and they didn't shy away from using the right cuts: tendons, tripe, innards -- everything was legit. I was honestly taken aback by how close it tasted to what I grew up with. I loved it so much I ordered another one to go, and it was still just as good the next day. For dessert, we had maja blanca, and to top it off, they surprised us with a complimentary serving since it was my nephew's birthday the day before. A small but thoughtful gesture that added to the overall warmth of the experience. Everything about Isla hit the mark -- the flavors, the service, the vibe, the speed, and even the pricing. I would've ordered more if I wasn't so full, but that just gives me more reason to come back. Definitely a spot I'll be visiting again soon. read more

The food at Isla in San Bruno was amazing. We needed a last minute for party of 10 and they accommodate us.. our waiter Jun is very friendly & attentive and lots of good things to say about him..He immediately gave us fresh water & menus. We had plenty of good foods we recommended. Crispy Pata Kare-Kare, Pork Sisig, Shrimp Coconut with vegetables, Laing, Pakbet, Pansit Canton, Halo-Halo and more. I would definitely return soon and I would highly Recommend this establishment. read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

We Ate at Isla for Father's Day celebration. It was very busy and overall the food was good. We do not eat Filipino food very often. The paying guests seemed a very big representation of Filipino culture. Food is on the pricey side. Service was fast, so fast that I thought some of the dishes were pre-made? Seems this establishment can accommodate very large parties. I did take pictures of the dishes, but since my grandson did the ordering, I cannot label what each dish was! I would probably give it a 3.5 star and maybe it's very authentic but since we don't usually eat Filipino food, I do not really have a good comparison. read more

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If I could give this restaurant 5+ stars I would! Great authentic and comfort Filipino food, probably my favorite in the Bay Area. The family meal is a GREAT deal which gives you a great variety of dishes and unlimited rice! You must go here to eat family style, this is a great place for large gatherings or just a good bite with all your foodies! Food came really fast and despite the amount of people in the restaurant, I never felt rushed. If you're going for the first time, I highly recommend the Crispy Binagoonga Sa Gata (pork belly with spicy coconut sauce), Kare Kare Brisket, and Sisig Kapampangan. Went here twice in one week and I'm still craving more! read more

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Came here for a big party birthday celebration, around 20 people on a Saturday at 12 pm. Restaurant was clean, roomy, and poppin with most tables filled with Titas and Titos. They have TV's on the ceiling, but didn't have anything on but advertisements. Service was a standout, with food coming fast after ordering along with the friendly server continually checking up on us. Everything was family style served in a metal pan. It's funny how for birthdays they place a birthday song on their speakers. Would definitely come back when craving Filipino food! Food was legit, coming from a third gen half-Filipino. All dishes that I tried had were freshly made and had awesome flavor. Noticed it was saltier than my moms home Filipino cooking, but that really is an given considering the restaurant needs to cater to the masses. Misua - 5/5 - simple, nourishing, and had just enough flavor. Appreciated that it was not salty, Chicken wings - 5/5 - no joke, these were so good. Crispy and juicy, up to par with Jollibee. Fried Prawns - 4/5 - clean prawns, not overly greasy, vinegar sauce with it hit. Palabok - 4/5 - generous portion with all the fixings. Textures were there and I found myself getting seconds, thirds. Shrimp Pinakbet - 5/5 - super fresh with a light coconut flavor. Green beans were perfect and shrimp was plump. Beeef Brisket Adobo - 4/5 - Generous portion with lots of sauce for everyone's rice. Served with potatos. Beef was flavorful and tender, served with pieces of fat. Pancit Bihun - 5/5 - loved how many vegetables were in this dish! Flavor was there and noodles were a good consistency. Cant go wrong. Pork Belly Kaldereta - 3/5 - Rich flavor, although pork did appear on the drier side. read more

Isla Restaurant - Chicken Wings - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

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I was craving so kare kare and my friend recommended me to try this place out. When we got there it was pretty packed. They had two big groups of 7 plus. They have a pretty in depth menu. But they did have a couple of pages saving discontinued. I wanted Kare kare with ox tail but they only had brisket or Pata. We opted for the brisket. We also ordered a side of Pata and bbq chicken. They offer a bucket of rice. The kare kare came with brisket, eggplant and string beans. They also offer a side of shrimp paste. The shrimp paste is different from the Asian type. Which is a bit more peach colored. The Pata was really crispy, fatty and not oily. Which was amazing. The bbq chicken was so delicious. It had just the right amount of sweetness. The staff are super friendly and nice. They checked on us here and there to make sure everything was OK. Will definitely come back in the future to try other items from their menu. read more

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Tried and tested, "Isla" has become one of our go-to restaurants in the Bay Area. The staff shows consistency in their impressive hospitality. And like always, food is flavorsome. My new favorites: "Adobong Pusit" and their refreshing beverage- "Sago" drink Luid ya ing Pamangan Capampangan! read more

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The food was really good! The portions are big! Great customer service too! Servers are attentive and very helpful. The place is nice and clean! Dakal a salamat Isla for a great dining experience for our family get together celebration! read more

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Big spacious place, clean great service. And the food is BOMB! ordered mixed pancet, chicken Adobe, garlic jumbo prawns & garlic rice. Im still licking my fingers! read more

Isla Restaurant - Garlic butter prawns were the size of anacondas - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

Rarely have a chance to experience Philippino food. This place did not disappoint. My partner made a safe choice and ordered a standard pan it with shrimp - which came with quail eggs, btw - and I chose to live a little and ordered the I'ma Lita's Tinta Rice. It is squid in black ink sauce, and had a tartness to it. Very good, no hesitation in enjoying the majority of the generous portion, which came with a generous side of rice. Highly recommend. read more

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This restaurant is located in the heart of Downtown San Bruno. They have a small parking lot behind the restaurant. There are also plenty of metered parking spots available around this restaurant. We came here with couple of my friends for lunch. We were seated right away upon entering the restaurant. They have an extensive menu. There are so many varieties to choose from. We were debating what we wanted to order. We decided do it family style and order different entrees to share. We had the lumpias and fried calamari as our appetizers. The lumpias were crunchy on the outside. The fried calamari was just ok. We definitely had better elsewhere. While we were almost done with our appetizers, we had to flag down our waiter to take our entree order. We ordered bunch of entrees like bangus sisig, lechon kawali, pinakbet, pancit, and brisket sinigang. The entrees came out in a timely manner. Majority of these entrees were too salty and greasy, causing dehydration and dry mouth throughout the rest of the day. Out of all the entrees, our favorites were the pinakbet and the bangus sisig. Both of these entrees were flavorful. read more

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As a outsider/non-Filipino, Isla seems like a strong representation of Filipino culture. The restaraunt is designed for big gatherings of family and friends, but of course this doesn't mean you can't go in smaller group! The Sulit Bilao #1 comes with a plethora of items. Some of the favorites were Kyle's Chicken Wings, Prawn Crackers, Lanz's Lumpia Shanghai. The only minor misses were the Grilled Liempo (Pork Belly) and Squid which were both a little chewy. The Tinola Combination Soup and Pancit Bihun Guisado were flavorful and warming. Everything was definitely more than enough for a group of 3. Wish I was able to save room for dessert! read more

Isla Restaurant - Sulit Bilao #1 - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

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This is definitely at the top of our 'favorite Filipino food' places. We were driving by the neighborhood and just had to stop to eat here even though we weren't hungry - that's how much we like the food. It was around 3:30pm on a Sunday afternoon and the place was a little over 1/2 full. There's plenty of seating here so we were seated right away. They are quick to bus the tables once they're emptied so the place always looks clean. We weren't hungry but had to have a few of our favorites: lumpia shanghai; lechon kawali; and pork sinigang. If you dine in, they offer unlimited plain white rice. Everything was so yummy and we had plenty left for our baon. read more

Isla Restaurant - Sinigang pork - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Foods from all around the Philippines are at Isla with a cozy sit down vibe, fast service, and good portions. they have a wide selection of proteins cooked in different ways, so many menu options Came here with 2 people and really liked their Silog meals! great combo meal! loved their misua soup coming back here with my family soon to try their larger platters read more

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Love this Filipino spot! I'm definitely not a Filipino food expert, but I am a huge fan. The place has tons of seating, gives off a very friendly vibe, and has a strong family feel to it. The restaurants plays happy birthday on the speaker and helps takes photos. There's also a bell you can ring on your way out if you were satisfied with your meal! At 7pm on a Thursday, we (party of 2) had to wait 10-15min. Definitely a packed spot, even on weekdays. Parking is pretty doable, but be mindful that meter goes till 8pm. We ordered: -Lumpia Shanghai: smaller than other Lumpia Shanghai I've had but sooo crisp and filled with meat. About $15 for 20pc. -Prawn Sinigang: plenty of prawns (were a bit of a hassle to peel), and tons of veggies! I do wish the broth was just a tad more sour. -Pork Sisig: came out super hot and crispy. This dish was delicious but very oily. Definitely a treat item! -Garlic rice: $11 for huge cauldron of rice but this was so delicious. The best garlic rice I have ever had! Overall, paid around $80 for the two of us, and had some soup and rice to take home. read more

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If you are in San Bruno and craving for some authentic Filipino food with large dinning area that can accommodate large group of people. Isla Restaurant is for you. I came in with my bf who is Filipino and he said the food is tasty and similar with what he grew up eating. When you finish eating, you can even ring a bell as you walking out the restaurant if you satisfy. I found it's so fun to do. Service was decent, they will come over one to fill your water and ask if you need anything Food price is a little bit pricey, but it comes with free and refillable white rice. read more

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We tried Isla's and really enjoyed the flavors! Dolly provided such friendly and attentive service, making us feel very welcome. The crispy pata was perfectly fried and crunchy, the kari-kari and chicken adobo were both rich and savory, and the tinolang tahong had a comforting, homestyle taste. The garlic rice tied everything together beautifully. The ambiance blends traditional Filipino charm with a modern touch, creating a cozy yet stylish dining atmosphere. The only downside was the portion sizes a bit on the small side for the price but overall, the food and experience were delicious. Would definitely come back again! read more

Isla Restaurant - crispy pata, kari-kari, garlic rice, chicken adobo, and tinolang tahong - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

This was my second time here with a big group and they did a great job again. Each time I've come, we've order the large platters to share and some extra entrees. This will leave you fill! They have a lot of menu items, you will find something you like. They have a bunch of party or spending deals so take a look at their menu. We also ordered the sisig which was really good with lemon. The dessert was also good. We had a table of 13 and everyone left full with leftovers. read more

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A Taste of Home Every Time at Isla Restaurant We've been coming to Isla once or twice a month for a while now, and every visit reminds us why we keep coming back. The food is consistently delicious, the service is friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere feels like home. Their Filipino-focused menu truly celebrates the flavors we grew up with -- comforting, flavorful, and cooked with care. The sinigang is hands down one of the best you'll find anywhere: perfectly balanced with that tangy tamarind flavor, tender meat, and fresh vegetables. It's one of those dishes that instantly makes you feel at home. The unlimited rice is a huge plus (because let's be honest -- Filipino food just isn't complete without extra rice!). And with so many great menu options, there's always something new to try, from their crispy classics to hearty stews and sizzling favorites. What we love most is that Isla never disappoints. Whether we're dining in with family or grabbing a comforting meal after a long week, the quality and flavor are always top-notch. If you're craving authentic Filipino food with generous portions and heartwarming flavors, Isla is the place to go. A true gem that keeps us coming back again and again! read more

Went here last night to celebrate my dads early birthday and also celebrate Mother's Day. The service here is quick and amazing and it feels so welcoming because it is Filipino owned. The food here is really good. We ordered Ponsit lumpia saying chop Suey and squid ambience feels like the Philippines. There's a lot of wooden chairs and almost feels like back home when you visit the Philippines the people here are really nice. It's very family oriented with service. Here is quick and amazing. Everyone is really accommodating and very polite. read more

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Admittedly this was my first time ever having Filipino food outside of lumpia and Jollibees. But, it was a very interesting experience! Think Cracker Barrel but Filipino. The food was very good and authentic (according to our Filipino friend), but I have no benchmark to compare to. I personally really enjoyed salted fish with plenty of rice to offset the saltiness! I believe rice is endless here so don't be afraid to get more. This food is HEAVY - the pork cracklings, trotter, and fried bangus were are very oily, but super delicious with rice and plenty of coconut vinegar sauce. We polished off our meal with halo halo, of course. And it was delicious - a very interesting mix of textures from shaved ice, ube ice cream, corn?, flan, and other chewy things. It reminded me a lot of Vietnamese ché! The service was super friendly and the platter feed a party of 5 comfortably! I would recommend Isla to be your first adventure into Filipino food if you haven't tried it yet. read more

Isla Restaurant - Party Platter! - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Service was horrible and food was ok. With so many Filipino restaurants in South City and San Bruno, this would NOT be my first choice. Good selection of main dishes and dessert offerings. Ideal for families or groups read more

Review is for order online and pick up. Super easy to order online. Designated area for pick up. Small sign at the front register you need ID for pick up (not at designated pick up area or stated online). Food was packed horribly. I only ordered 60 lumpia and the bag was closed tight. Container not vented. It was all soft and mushy. I was testing to see if should order for catering, but this just showed it is not a good experience for that. Guess expected more from a restaurant that has been doing business for a long time. Taste: A tad salty IMO with a extra sweet sauce. Worth the $40? Meh...priced a bit high. read more

Isla is our go to spot for Filipino food in the Bay Area. The TNT shrimp is delicious, although not as good as the Newark location. We also got the all day happy hour drinks, which includes 3 beers and a free fried tofu appetizer. The service was spotty. It's good for big groups since they have large tables that could accommodate us! read more

Isla Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California

The restaurant is spacious perfect for big families, Food a little pricey but is really good, The lumpias were delicious, Service was fast, friendly and they give us a free dessert read more

Isla Restaurant - Beautiful Birthday Lady , she celebrated at Isla restaurant - Filipino Near Me - San Bruno, California