Avenida Restaurant

If you’re looking for authentic Filipino delicacies, Avenida San Mateo is a must-visit. The portions are huge—definitely come hungry or bring a group to share! Just a heads-up: this place is always packed, so I highly suggest booking a table in advance. I’d even recommend ordering your food ahead of time if possible; otherwise, you might be waiting 30–45 minutes for your dishes during the peak lunch or dinner rush. Everything was great, but for me, the Tuna Ceviche, Crispy Pata, and the Sisig are the absolute bomb.

Filipino gf took me here to try my 2nd Filipino restaurant ever. I usually prefer hole in the walls over elevated places, but it's Filipino approved (also saw many other Filipinos there). Made a reservation the day of, but it was actually not needed. Lots of empty tables when we arrived just fore 1pm on a Saturday and we were seated right away. They have both indoor and outdoor seating (with heat lamps). Parking is mostly paid (street and garage), but you can walk a few blocks west for free parking as well They started us off with some complimentary chicharrone and we ordered the sugba kilaw $20, chicken inasal $16, beef shank kaldereta $24, bangus sisig $17, garlic rice $4.75, halo halo milky ice $14. I liked how all of the food came in small or large portions, allowing you to try a variety. We ordered all small portions. All the food was good. Prices seemed fair for the quality and portions. The kaldereta and sisig were my favorites. Food came out pretty quickly. Service was decent. Clean, large sized restaurant. They have a full bar as well. I would go back and try more dishes or hit up their daily HH from 4-6:30pm

It was really fun to go check this out with my Filipino cousins! We all thought the food was excellent and they appreciated that chicken insal and crispy pata were on the menu. I appreciated the vegetarian options including the chop suey and the pancit. My best advice is do not sit in the front window space on a sunny day. It was so so so hot. The milky ice drinks at the end were refreshing given we were all baking in an oven and scrunching up into the tiny amount of shade at the end of our table.

The service here was excellent they did close the kitchen around 8:30 even though the closing time was 10pm but they warn you ahead of time. The waitress was nice enough to ask the chef if we could have dessert even after the kitchen was closed and he said it was okay. We got the halo halo and the pandan dessert.

Really tasty Filipino food. Would highly recommend dining here. We went on a Saturday at lunch and made a reservation, but it wasn’t busy and could have been seated quickly. I’m pescatarian and they have plenty of dishes for only seafood eaters. The waiter was SUPER helpful in helping us select the best dishes, curating the menu for fish forward selections, and setting meat to the side so I could enjoy the main dishes too. I don’t eat Filipino food much but this restaurant is making me want to seek out more Filipino restaurants! I’d say my favorite dish was the coconut shrimp and the grilled squid. But all of our entrees were quite tasty. Definitely recommend Avenida for the vibes, food, and service!

This place surprised me! Came here on a Friday night with 13 other people and everything went well without a hitch. (we made a reservation ahead of time - if you have a larger group you can book a private area for 3 hours with a $1250 minimum charge for up to 32 people). The servers were very accommodating and friendly. The portions of the foods are quite deceiving all of the dishes are very shareable between 3-4 people. We tried just about everything. The standouts were the pancit, the crispy Pata, the garlic rice, the sisig, and the lechon. The most disappointing dishes were the lumpia/chicken wings/fried chicken and fries - skip those and get something else. Also tried two of the desserts. The halo halo and pandan ice dessert. Definitely go for the pandan dessert if you like that flavor.

First time eating here, dinner, and had an amazing first impression. Service was awesome, fast and attentive. Tropical mule, was great, boozey and balanced. All the food was delicious. Banana lumpia with Ube ice cream was a perfect way to finish off an amazing dining experience. 10 outta 10 would recommend would eat again.

I’ve passed by this place countless times and have always been curious to try it out. Finally, I had the chance, and I was really hoping to write a glowing review. The staff is definitely one of the highlights here — super friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, perfect for a laid-back meal. Unfortunately, the food just didn’t do it for me. I found all the dishes I ordered to be overly salty (except the squid dish), which kind of ruined the experience for me. It’s disappointing because the restaurant has so much potential, but none of the flavors quite hit the mark for my taste buds. That said, I think everyone has different preferences when it comes to seasoning, so you might feel differently. If you're in the area, it could still be worth checking out. Taste is subjective, after all. So, give it a try and see how you like it!

street parking sucks! BUT there's lots of parking garages, where you can park, so don't pass this place up! Great customer service, from the time you walk in, get seating, order & wait for your food. Edwin my waiter was A1 TY for the convo & giving me some recommendations on what foods, I should try, Some of his favorites. Walked in around 6ish, it was not busy at all, the greeter, checked me in & told me, the only room they have was, Table Top @ the bar, No Problem, because it was just Me Myself & When I was placing my order, Edwin said...whoa that's a lota food Yup! I'm here to Taste Whatever I think I'd like! Everything I got, was Yummy! Beautiful presentation, plenty of food & they all had their own distinguished flavors. A Winner for me is they have HH & the menu looks Great, not to mention the drinks Pricing is a little too steep for some of the items, but I will definitely be back to try some other things on the menu.

Parking is a nightmare but besides that, restaurant is amazing and beautiful. Staff were very attentive, and the menu was very straight forward. Pricing Is definitely on the higher end of things. Crispy pata: 3/5, very very dry Lumpia: 3/5, not crispy and soggy Chicken adobo: 3.5/5 Beef salpacio: 3.5/5 Beef kare kare: 2/5, not true kare kare Pancit palabok: 5/5, amazing must try

Food tasted fantastic! Everything was cooked well, and every bite was amazing. Time between ordering and arriving at the table took a bit long. The ambiance and decor were all perfect. We ordered tapas sized plates to share. My favorite was the dinakdakan. The crispy tadyang would have been my favorite, but the order came out with one rib with meat paired with one rib with no meat. Unsure what we were supposed to do with the bone. Other than that, everything was great.

Solid Filipino restaurant that's great for families or larger group gatherings. The ambience isn't intimate, and the table setup feels a bit odd--likely because they move tables around to accommodate big parties. Service was friendly. We tried the lumpia, adobang pusit (adobo baby squid), and pancit bihon. The dishes are on the pricier side, but the portions are very generous and definitely meant for sharing family-style. The food isn't gourmet, so adjust your expectations, but everything was hearty and satisfying.

This is "upscale" Filipino. I will start with my rant first (which according to the server is a non-issue in the neighborhood they're in; but he claims he understands my concern). Here we go - almost $5 for a cup of white rice! NOPE - that set a bad initial impression that I expected the rest of the meal to be awful. Imagine serving Filipino food with no rice - and I don't care if your wealthy clients don't always need rice with their meal. Rice is a MUST with the heart of a complete Filipino cuisine. I end my rant. Now for the AMAZING experience. The ambience is awesome, definitely has the upscale restaurant feel that they're going for. The servers are very attentive and friendly and ensure that you're well taken care of. The place has both indoor and outdoor seating and I noticed a small private area on the 2nd floor as well. We were actually surprised with the quality of the meals. They tasted authentic without being too overpriced or too avant-garde to distinguish themselves that they lose the core of what the Filipino meal should be. Our eyes and curiosity definitely ordered more than what our stomach could handle. My dad joked that he was doing a tasting menu as he tried a bit of every meal to ensure if it is really Authentic. It was also his Birthday! So we're thankful for the staff for allowing us to bring our own cake without charging a corkage fee. Also, we got some complimentary desserts - thank you. For 5 adults - we had at least 10 entrees - yes abundance! But we were celebrating an important Birthday. I will most likely return in the future

Ahhh! Expensive Filipino food, albeit pretty good flavors. Lumpia, baby pusit, sisig, pancit palabok, and pancit bihon, and sinigang. Everything was mid.

Today was my second experience at Avenida and I came because I had a craving for some good Filipino food. And I must say as much as my first experience was great, today's just really hit the spot. Another reason is that I took my parents here, since they've been searching for a decent Filipino spot as places close to them and close to where I live are lacking. We ordered the chicken adobo, beef tapa, chicken inasal and chop suey. All of which were excellent and the fact that my parents were pleased was the cherry on top. But other than the food, another thing I love about this place is that I can enjoy a good meal while having a good ambiance and good vibes all around. Now I'm not knocking on the hole in the wall Filipino spots in Daly City that I've been to, all of them have been great too. But if you're looking for some good Filipino cooking in a more lively atmosphere, THIS is the place for you.

Absolute gem. Squid ink pasta and beef Avenida dish was so incredible. The only thing I would consider skipping was the calamari (even though the tartar sauce was delicious!) The food was so flavorful and the larger portions were great for three people sharing. The ambiance is lovely and staff was kind.

Upscale ish Filipino food that serves yummy comforting meals. For starters we got some chicharron for the table. Tried their adobo rice and squid ink rice. I say the adobo rice is better. Some faves we tried was their kinilaw and crispy tandang or beef ribs. Their kare kare is also very yummy. The bangus sisig was good but I've had better. Overall solid family style meal here and they offer good cocktails

Made a reservation for 8 people which the manager appreciated. We arrived early because you can never tell how parking will be in the area. Our table was ready so we didn't have to wait for it. The Christmas decorations and carols were nice and festive. There is a nice cocktail menu featuring Filipino flavors like ube and calamari. The servers were friendly and helpful. The restaurant is nicely laid out and decorated well. Everything we had was tasty and not overly seasoned or oily. The crispy pata is their special and it was very good and a large portion. Sinigang, pancit, Kare Kare were all on point. Garlic fried rice was so good! It's pricey Filipino food so it's almost paradoxical, but I think the experience makes it worth it. And the Halo halo was delicious too!

Came here for a company event. Food were good but my biggest let down was the ceviche. They added ginger- which was overpowering and destroyed the delicate flavors of the fish. Please fix this. I really love the squid ink rice. The roasted pork was very good too. Everything thing else were pretty good.

Slow service :( Bangus sisig 9/10 - a lil on the saltier side - soft tender milk fish with gingery oniony umami flavor - doesn't have the crunch aspect like in a pork sisig (but I'm ok w that) Lechon kawali 3/10 - feel like I can make this better at home - skin is crispy border line brick - doesn't really have any notable flavors besides the expected porky flavor - meat is soft and crumbly & dry - lechon sauce is carrying Garlic rice 3/10 - isn't the typical garlic rice I'm used to - more like white rice with crispy garlic on top versus fried and incorporated together - maybe I just had high hopes ?? Samantha, our server, suggested the bangus sisig which actually became my favorite dish !! :) she got a little busy but then sat at the host desk answers calls and etc w the host so service was ultimately very slow. It wasn't busy when we went, we were seated immediately. We wanted to try the Turon and halo halo here but it took a long time to get anyone's attention so we decided to get dessert elsewhere. Overall, the vibes were meh. Prices were on the higher end for what we got. I wouldn't say this place is worth it. I'd opt for a mom n pop shop if you want good tasting Filipino food but if you're here for drinks - they do have unique drinks! I'm sure their desserts are good as well. Would I return? Prob not. :(

I have gone here a couple times, usually on a weekend for lunch. It is always packed so we always try to go right at open or after the lunch rush. I go here for the ambience, the location, the food, and the fun Filipino inspired cocktails. The restaurant is huge and very nicely decorated. It looks like a sorta upscale restaurant that you would find in the Philippines. I usually recommend this place to anyone looking for a nicer Filipino restaurant that also taste good. They serve things ala carte so the dishes are for sharing. Everything I had here so far was good, nothing really comes out to me that I hate. I love the creative cocktails. The old fashion is one of our favorites that we always get when we go then we switch around on other drinks to try everything in the menu. Overall I recommend this for a family lunch/dinner, a date, or if you just want to treat yourself for some nice Filipino food and nice vibes. It is pricey but you do get what you paid for.

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

My cousin and I are both part Filipino so we really enjoyed eating food we grew up with. We ordered calamansi juice, lumpia, pork belly, beef tapa, pancit bihon, bangus, and kare kare with bagoong, and garlic rice. My favorite was kare kare with bagoong. Their elevated bagoong was sweet like jelly. I thought the pork belly and beef tapa were a little dry. The pancit bihon was just OK. But the kare kare was the best! My cousin and I plan to make this our regular spot.

Filipino food in San Mateo!! I'll keep this short and simple: big portions, well made, great taste, and so many cute titas all around! I don't get Filipino food that often, but I feel like you can't go wrong with anything on the menu! Large portions so definitely come with big appetites or with people. They have traditional Filipino dishes, not the most authentic but definitely modern and upscaled which is the vibe of the restaurant. A little pricy, so make sure you bring people that will share and eat family style with you! What we ordered: * Lechon Kawaii * Pancit Palabok * Beef Kare Kare * Sinigang (vegetables and broth only) * Garlic Rice

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.

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!

You know that Pixar movie called Ratatouille where the food critic eats something and he's teleported back to his childhood of eating Ratatouille? Well, a similar feeling occurred to me too. The Filipino food transported me to being with my family. Calamansi drink, omggggg tasted so refreshing on a hot day. Vegetable Sinigang, also oh my gosh. This hands down tasted like my family recipe!!! Perfect balance of vinegar. Loved the okra, eggplant, and a healthy amount of veggies! Pork and chicken adobo, saucy and divine. As all well as the garlic rice. Fried bananas with caramel really hit it home too Vibe is ultra luxe cozy. We went on a Saturday and a jazz saxophonist was actually playing and I believe we were there mid afternoon before dinner time. I can't wait to drag my BFF's up the peninsula to try this spot! Service was awesome too!

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.

Date: Saturday, April 12th, 2025 Time: around 4:15pm Party of: 6 What: After Lunch Drinks *Spirit Free / Mocktail ($11) x2 *Vaccine ($15) x2 *Tokyo Sour ($19) *Black Pandan Old Fashioned ($17) *Halo Halo Milky Ice ($14) *Coconut Pudding ($7) *SF Margarita ($15) *Canned Coke ($5.50) After having a late lunch nearby, my group wanted one more beverage. There wasn't much open at the time, so we decided head to Avenida. We didn't have any type of rezzie, but it wasn't too busy. We sat at the nig communal looking table int he front. I wasn't drinking at the time, so just got the soda. Yes, I paid over $5 for a can of coke. It was exactly what I expected it to be. The desserts did look pretty. And they comped us the halo halo since we were celebrating a bday. Everyone seemed to enjoy their drinks. I've been here before for food and drink back in 2022. I had a good time. Would definitely consider coming back if in the area. REVIEW #3752

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.

I've always walked past this place but hadn't gotten around to trying it. Decided to take my mom here for her birthday dinner. We were easily able to make reservations for a party of 6 on a weekday. Upon walking in, we were greeted by friendly staff. The biggest hits were the pork knuckle and squid. Squid was tender and cooked to perfection. Pork knuckle was crunchy, flavorful, and fell right off the bone. The sissig was just ok. I think we all agreed that it was too salty so having garlic rice on the side helped. Great spot for large parties and most things are share ale so you can try their extensive menu.

Came here months ago with a group of friends and our (majority Filipino) group were impressed by how the food here turned out! We came later in the evening (about an hour before closing) and appreciated that staff were up, ready, and patient to seat our group of 5. They were so helpful and food came out quickly! We ordered: - Shrimp gambas: this was my first time having this dish, and I liked that it was full of flavor! 7.5/10 since I have no prior place to compare it to. - Sugba kilaw: DELICIOUS. Standards are high considering this is something my dad makes fairly often. 9/10. - Tinomok: Another dish that I tried for the first time. Laing is among one of my favorite Filipino dishes, so when I saw that this was similar, I had high hopes. Also 7.5/10 since I don't have other tinomoks to compare it to! - Kaldereta: As usual, rich in flavor. The meat was tender and a heavy hitter with the rice. 8/10. - Sisig: Not the best sisig I've had, but fairly good. 7.5/10! - Palabok: Very few places I know get palabok wrong. Yummy and big portions! 8/10! - Calamansi juice: Refreshing and not too sweet! 8/10. The ambiance of the restaurant is definitely more on the higher end side compared to other Filipino places. The place is fairly spacious and has good lighting. This is a nice place to elevate your Filipino food nights out! Be aware that it's definitely a little more pricey compared to other places, but it's well worth the experience considering that the place is on the aesthetic end.

Came here to have dinner while in the area for work. I came by myself. Let me tell you-bring someone with you. The portions are family style. I ordered lumpia, tortang talong, garlic rice and calamansi juice. For dessert, I ordered turon. Service was great. I like that they provide you with a carafe of water, I drink lots of water. I also asked for ice, which I was provided a carafe of ice. It was perfect. Lumpia was a huge portion for 1 person. They were a good size even after it was cut up. I had to take it to go. I make lumpia at home, so I am somewhat a critic when it comes to it. It had a lot of flavor, and good portion of filling. Nice and crunchy. The tortang talong and garlic rice came out. Talong was big. I don't use ketchup (which is what comes with it). I asked for the spicy vinegar. It was tasty with the garlic rice. Garlic rice was a nice size portion. I ordered the turon to go and took leftovers for the hotel. As I said in the beginning, do not come here alone. Portions are big. Good service, and I want to come and try their drinks with food next time. I would definitely come back. I like how the place is open and not too crowded in placement of tables and booths

Delicious- this is what summed up our entire dinner evening. It was parents-night out and we all decided it was time to get together again and enjoy a night out in beautiful San Mateo. Avenida was our choice. Parking was kind of challenging but we had great timing when one car pulled out and gave us their spot. Parking was free probably because it was already past 6pm. We were greeted warmly by our hostess and water was immediately brought to our table to satisfy our party of 6. We were seated just left of the entrance in a really nice spot. The decor of the restaurant had that island vibe and the fan blades were shaped as leaves. I was told the building was historical in some way by a friend but they really renovated it nicely. As for the food, we started out with the treviche (shrimp, fish, tuna) as our appetizer along with sugba kinilaw. Both delicious. We followed it up with our main course selections of inihaw na pusit (grilled jumbo squid), pancit palabok, beef shank kaldereta, beef shank bulalo. We topped out our evening with the Calamansi Pie (must try). White rice enough for 6 people. I really enjoyed the flavor of the jumbo grilled squid. It was well marinated and every bite had that teriyaki like flavor. The beef shank kaldereta had the most flavor and even if it had some cheese sprinkled on top, it was hardly noticeable. As for the bulalo, well seasoned and not too salty where the key ingredient of patis (fish sauce) usually provides the traditional flavor. What was a letdown was the pancit palabok. My friend makes a better palabok (malabon style) in where the Tinapa (smoked fish flakes) is the key ingredient. All in all, we had a great time in a relaxing atmosphere that allowed our group to mingle, converse and enjoy a great meal. Having dinner on an off-day like Monday creates this kind of vibe where you don't have to literally shout at each other just to be heard in a conversation because of the presence of larger crowds. Many people out having dinner in the surrounding restaurants as well. The evening was perfect for all!

It's rare that I write Yelp reviews; however, there are times when I feel compelled--either when a restaurant is amazing or disappointing. In this case, unfortunately, it was the latter. The ambience was great, but the menu was overpriced compared to other excellent Filipino restaurants offering the same dishes. For example, the crispy pata was priced at $49, which did not feel justified. My friends and I expected something special, but it was just a standard crispy pata. Our waiter was pleasant and answered our questions, but once our food was served, we didn't see him again. There was no follow-up or check-in. Additionally, the woman who brought out our dishes was quite rough and came across as rude, placing the dishes on the table aggressively. Our bill totaled over $500, so I had high expectations and left disappointed. I had also hoped this might be a place to host future company dinner events, but based on this experience, I don't plan to return. I would pass on Avenida.

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!

The food was ok But only small portion , it wasn't what expected . The service was not quite ok.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Location and ambiance are nice. Servers are attentive and courteous. But If you're looking for some really authentic tasting Filipino food you may not like the dishes here so much. Crispy pata has a slight taste of a Chinese seasoning used on their own roasted pork. Everything else taste sweeter than it should be. We requested no pork rinds on the pinakbet, but guess what... they were still there! Younger generation may not mind the taste nuance, since we saw quite a few of them last night. There were four of us in the party and all felt the same way. Lastly, our bill showed two additional dishes that we did not order... how did this happen? Hopefully, the person-in-charge did not try to pull a fast one on us, so I'll give him or her the benefit of the doubt.

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!

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.

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.

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 :)

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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!

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.

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:)