Chef Reina

Vegan restaurant · Brisbane

Chef Reina

Vegan restaurant · Brisbane

1

33 Visitacion Ave, Brisbane, CA 94005

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Chef Reina by null
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Chef Reina by null
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Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
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Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
Chef Reina by null
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Chef Reina by null

Highlights

I specialize in vegan comfort food for all cuisines. I can veganize anything! If you are transitioning into this lifestyle, I can also help. I do parties of 2 to 1000. Caterer for 6 years and restaurateur for 5 years. Hope to hear from you all soon!  

Featured on Bon Appetit
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33 Visitacion Ave, Brisbane, CA 94005 Get directions

chefreina.com

$$ · Menu

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33 Visitacion Ave, Brisbane, CA 94005 Get directions

+1 650 989 8606
chefreina.com
chefreinamontenegro
𝕏
@chefreinasf

$$ · Menu

Features

takeout
dine in
payment credit card
Tap to pay
outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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"Over the past decade vegan Filipino food has been growing as blogs like Astig Vegan, restaurants like Chef Reina in Brisbane, CA, and pop-ups like Kumare in Portland, OR, gain traction." - ByJasmine Ting

Making a Case for Vegan Filipino Food | Bon Appétit
View Postcard for Chef Reina

Kirsten Aguilar

Google
Take out window. Food was super tasty. The vegan lechon kawali blew my mind. The vegan kare kare was tasty and silky smooth. No eggplant, which is different from my family's. I made the mistake of leaving the sisig inside its takeout container for over 2 hours, making it soggy. After flash frying the sisig at home, it became nice and crispy. Seasoning was on point.

Michelle Narramore

Google
Went out of my way to tell hotel staff about this joint as a vegan option if they’re ever asked for suggestions. The corned “beef” silog made my entire day and I’m so happy. If I had a tail, it would have wagged the whole time I was eating this delight.

Lilac

Google
outstanding filipino vegan food! 🌟 we got the tocilog & sizzling sisig, both came with garlic rice & vegan fried egg — wow!!! ❤️‍🔥we loved everything & had such an amazing meal here. the mock pork slices were super impressive as well the vegan fried egg – we’ve tried a few before but this was the best vegan fried egg we’ve had hands down! kudos to Chef Reina & crew 🫶 special shoutout to the lovely lady working the counter who let us try filipino style macaroni pineapple salad (sooo delicious!) & who had the best, most friendly & bubbly personality! thank you for the overall wonderful experience & meal here 💖✨💖✨

Katie Blankenburg

Google
Came here because I had some time to kill before picking up my mom at SFO. Also, I've been following Chef Reina on Instagram for years! I'm so happy I stopped by and I'm already looking forward to my next visit. I had a bit of a food tour before coming here so I really wasn't that hungry at all but I ended up getting the crunch wrap. Kay, who was working there was so incredibly nice, walked me through the menu, and we gushed about NYC's vegan food scene. The crunch shop was incredible. It was packed to the rim with all the right flavors and textures. If you can't decide what to get in you're hungry this is definitely going to fill you up - I wasn't able to finish at all. There isn't anywhere to eat inside, but it's an order at the window situation and then there's a table outside to eat at. Also, if you need a restroom, you can use the gorgeous public library, which is just a block or two up. I'm dying to come back with a big appetite and try the birria as well as some other items!

Jacqueline Medrano

Google
AMAZING PLANT BASED FILIPINO FOOD. we got the longsilog, chick’n katsu and ube pancakes for sunday brunch. so so delicious! beautiful view of the mountains, amazing service and delectable food :-) highly recommend !!

SF EATS

Google
Came here on a Monday holiday and it was quite busy. There were a lot of options on the menu to choose from. Best of all, they were all vegan. I don't eat vegan food a lot, but I can tell you the food here was pretty good! 「 O R D E R E D + V E R D I C T 」 1. Vegetable Lumpia | 4/5 : Was very excited to try their lumpia shanghai but they were all sold out. :( So opted for the veggie lumpia. Came with 6 big rolls. It was quite filling. I remember seeing some edamame beans and carrots inside. 2. Pancit (Canton) | 4/5 : The pancit was al dente and flavorful! Full of veggies like cabbage, carrots, bell paper. Sprinkled with garlic and green onions which enhanced the flavors. Not as dry as it looks. 3. Chick'n Sandwich | 4/5 : This came with fries which were fried perfectly! They were so crispy and nicely salted. The sandwich was quite spot on! The sauce complemented the sandwich really well. The vegan chicken patty was nice and crispy. If you didn't tell me this was vegan, i wouldn't have noticed. The vegan chicken patty was on the thinner side so you don't get the full texture of biting into a chicken sandwich, but I didn't mind. Ordered in person. Waited around 20 mins for the order. I'd recommend maybe placing an order over the phone for a quicker pick up. P.S. Some of the popular items on the menu were all sold out in the beginning of the week.

T T

Google
This establishment finally satisfied my thirst and craving for Filipino food as a vegetarian. The lumpia, sinigang, and flan were all amazing. It's a cute little spot that mostly does takeout, located just outside of San Francisco, but definitely worth the drive. I will be visiting again whenever I'm back in town. If you're a vegetarian seeking authentic Filipino cuisine, look no further—this is the place for you. I highly recommend it and wish nothing but the best for this location and Chef Raina.

Jennifer Hipp

Google
We were visiting from Chicago and chose Chef Reina's to stop for one of our meals the first day. We got the Tocilog and Deep fried Crunch Wrap, and were so impressed at how incredibly delicious they were. So good! After 7 days in the area, 14 plus restaurants/cafes, we loved Chef Reina's so much that we came back a 2nd time the day before we left for home. Chef Reina is super friendly and helpful, too. I highly recommend this place. 💕

Jason M.

Yelp
AMAZING! My wife took me here for my birthday lunch and it was incredible. We walked up to the window and Kat greeted us right away. She made excellent recommendations and we are so happy we took them. Her kindness was genuine, and she went above and beyond to make our experience spectacular. The food...oh my gosh! It's so hard finding not only Filipino food in our area (we live an hour away from Chef Reina), but PLANT-BASED Filipino food. They do such a wonderful job reinventing the classic dishes I grew up with while staying true to what we know and love. So thankful for this place! Oh, and we got tocino, singingang, bbq skewers, lumpia, and ube cupcakes. Masarap talaga! Also, there is a cute little park with tables and benches just a stones throw away to sit and eat the delicious food. It's a quiet, quaint little area. Thank you Chef Reina and your amazing team. Seriously, Kat is AWESOME! My wife and I will be back!

Kelly N.

Yelp
A true gem hidden in Brisbane! I've been meaning to try Chef Reina and I finally stopped by for a snack while I was in the area. The staff were super friendly and I really appreciated the extra welcome. Once I walked up, they proactively asked if it was my first time and if was looking for more of a snack (since it wasn't lunch or dinner time). They then recommended items, which I ended up going with! The restaurant serves only takeaway. You order at the door. They don't have indoor seating, and they have a small 2 person table right outside. Parking is only available on the street but I never have trouble finding a spot in downtown Brisbane. I had the Birria Tacos thanks to the staff recommendation. They were super flavorful! They don't skimp out on the filling. I can't wait to go back to try more items!

Gaia W.

Yelp
Straightforward, yet imaginatively appetizing vegan Filipino food. My friends and I shared a couple different plates and a la carte dishes (Lechon, Tosilog, CrunchWrap, Birria Quesadilla, and Tacos), all of which were seasoned nicely and delicious. The Tosilog was a favorite, as the texture of the vegan meat was spot on and the flavors were authentic and tasty. The lechon also deserves a fair shoutout; I've never had vegan pork belly that was damn close to the original! The guy who took our order was very patient and helpful, and the ambience of the shop is minimal but cute for a take-out only spot. Yummy!

Erin P.

Yelp
The place is really a quick pick up order place. Love Chef Reina (also famous for her cameo on the recent Netflix series, "You Are What You Eat," so I couldn't wait to try. The Service It was wait was not too long, I went to the local liquor store to grab a drink since this place doesn't have drinks. The Taste This place has great vegan Filipino food , which is ultra rare. I had the tocilog, which was yummy. I would have wanted more sweetness, maybe achara on the size or more of a sauce to flavor, it did have green onion and tomato which helped give the meat acidity though (it's the Kapampangan in me that loves achara) and it definitely was not too oily unlike most tocilog, which I thought was a lot healthier than most traditional Filipino food. They also had scrambled eggs which I believed were vegan as well and it wad a nice surprise with good texture comparable to what you'd fine in a red egg. the garlic rice was yummy and well seasoned, very heavy flavors. I also had the mac salad which was good, which I craved and sweet with chopped pineapple. Verdict ‍ I def recommend as a must-have and there were so many other menu items I didn't get to try. I think the only thing I would have liked more was drink options and achara.

Katie B.

Yelp
Came here because I had some time to kill before picking up my mom at SFO. Also, I've been following Chef Reina on Instagram for years! I'm so happy I stopped by and I'm already looking forward to my next visit. I had a bit of a food tour before coming here so I really wasn't that hungry at all but I ended up getting the crunch wrap. Kay, who was working there was so incredibly nice, walked me through the menu, and we gushed about NYC's vegan food scene. The crunch shop was incredible. It was packed to the rim with all the right flavors and textures. If you can't decide what to get in you're hungry this is definitely going to fill you up - I wasn't able to finish at all. There isn't anywhere to eat inside, but it's an order at the window situation and then there's a table outside to eat at. Also, if you need a restroom, you can use the gorgeous public library, which is just a block or two up. I'm dying to come back with a big appetite and try the birria as well as some other items!

Peter W.

Yelp
Vegan filipino food is a rare find. Nestled in lil' downtown Brisbane Chef Reina is a small and humble spot with two outdoor tables and chairs. The staff greets you with a lot of warmth and energy asking if you've been here before and is eager to tell you about the cuisine and what's good. We tried the sisiglog and the tocilog and they were delish! They really captured the savory element of these dishes and fills you up. Honestly, I did not miss the meat at all. Would of been 5 stars but they ran out of so many items on the menu. Highly recommend

Sabrina M.

Yelp
Amazing food!!! I'm Filipino and vegan so knowing this place exists makes my heart so happy, but I've also brought multiple non vegans here who love it as well! The food is excellent and the service is great. The worst part is that I can't order the whole menu at once . My friend and I shared the Birria tacos, sisig silog, and tocilog. Everything was amazing but the tocilog was my favorite! It was so much food I had leftovers the next day and it was still so good! I also got the ube flan but forgot to take a picture of it. I can't wait to come back next time I'm in town!

Tanya T.

Yelp
Overpriced, underwhelming vegan dishes that disappointed on the highest level. Its when small businesses like this one get too comfortable that the initial dishes that brought them customers no longer looks or tastes like they care. Maybe it was because there was just way too many offerings and they were minimizing? Whatever the case maybe I found the juxtaposition between the flexing of celebrities and the old menus crossed out on the window with white out alarming. I should have taken this as a prelude for what was to come. The menu was confusing and deceiving. When I received my food I was extremely disappointed with how it looked, tasted, and the overall quality of the adobo. From growing up in Hawaii and living in the Bay Area with their limitless Filipino food offerings, I have had my fill of top notch adobo before becoming vegan. I was highly anticipating the all-too familiar taste (and maybe texture) of this comfort food. Quickly after my first bite, that anticipation turned to disappointment. The chicken adobo broth was too thick, too salty, and had more potato (huge chunks) and soy sauce than the protein that was supposed to be the center of this chicken adobo dish. The pancit barely had any flavor. I used 'barely' because the vegetable that overfilled it was the only thing you tasted. The celery stuck out like a sore thumb. I missed the flavors of the pancit I tasted at other Filipino mom and pop restaurants nearby. Therefore although I went with high expectations, I left none too pleased and for that I cannot recommend this place.

Cherylynn N.

Yelp
Tell Lola, "Let's go eat Vegan Filipino Food" and you'll probably get a side eye. Tell Mama Lulu (of otakoyakisoba), and she'll rip the big fork off the wall and come after yo ass. Vegan whaaaa?! Filipino food and vegan may seem like an oxymoron but seriously...Chef Reina got that pinoy flavor down solid. In fact, when I brought a meat loving friend to Nick's on Grand in SSF (Chef Reina's previous resto), they had no idea we were eating vegan food! Chef Reina now operates out of small storefront in Brisbane for takeout and delivery. They use SpotOn who partners with DoorDash for delivery. They seem to have extended range as they deliver to the southern parts of SF. There's two cafe tables outside but there's a park down the block to picnic. If you have a car, drive a mile to the Brisbane Marina to enjoy your meal with a waterfront view. M E N U * Apps: Lumpia, musubi, tacos, etc. * Filipino Breakfast (all day silogs) w/ choice of protein, vegan egg, and garlic rice * Filipino Classics like sinigang (tamarind soup), sisig (sizzling tofu), kare kare (peanut based stew), and lechon kawali (deep fried mock pork belly) * Other items: Loco moco, katsu, birria, lomo saltado, bbq skewers, etc. Chef Reina's food can also be found at Mama Go's in SFO airport (ticketed passengers only). F O O D * Tocilog: Mock pork slices in a sweet citrus marinade, vegan egg, garlic rice ($18): https://tinyurl.com/2xfc9eh3 --Add spicy vinegar (25 cents) The flavor of the tocino was on-point...sweet with a smoky charred flavor. The mock meat had a slightly fibrous, chewy texture. I didn't mind it since that's expected with wheat gluten and the flavor made up for it. The vegan egg looked and tasted like the real deal down to the slightly browned craggily edges and slightly chalky texture you get from a well-done yolk. The garlic rice was good but could of used more garlic. Must add the vinegar for a punch of tangy heat that balances the sweetness of the tocino. Only negative: I was really thirsty afterwards. I didn't have that issue before with the food. Other things I've tried at Chef Reina's other locations: Lumpia shanghai, lechon kawali, sisig, kare kare, and pancit. Highly recommend trying the lechon kawali, you def get that crispy fatty mouthfeel. S E R V I C E Ordered online and was quoted 20-30 minutes for my order. When I arrived in 15 minutes, it was ready. A M B I A N C E Takeout/delivery only with two outdoor tables (seating for 4 total). P A R K I N G Easy, free street parking. Overall, whether you're vegan or not, if you're craving pinoy food without clogging your arteries, hit up Chef Reina!

Nessa R.

Yelp
Omg..so wanted to specifically review their birria tacos this time...AMAZING. I am so glad I made the stop to pick some up while doing errands in the area. Plus the staff were friendly enough to inform me about their brunch on Sundays. I will definitely check that menu out one of these days even if I live over an hr away :)

Lisa Z.

Yelp
Came here on a Monday holiday and it was quite busy. There were a lot of options on the menu to choose from. Best of all, they were all vegan. I don't eat vegan food a lot, but I can tell you the food here was pretty good! 「 O R D E R E D + V E R D I C T 」 1. Vegetable Lumpia | $15 | 4/5 : Was very excited to try their lumpia shanghai but they were all sold out. :( So opted for the veggie lumpia. Came with 6 big rolls. It was quite filling. I remember seeing some edamame beans and carrots inside. 2. Pancit (Canton) | $12 | 4/5 : The pancit was al dente and flavorful! Full of veggies like cabbage, carrots, bell paper. Sprinkled with garlic and green onions which enhanced the flavors. Not as dry as it looks. 3. Chick'n Sandwich | $15 | 4/5 : This came with fries which were fried perfectly! They were so crispy and nicely salted. The sandwich was quite spot on! The sauce complemented the sandwich really well. The vegan chicken patty was nice and crispy. If you didn't tell me this was vegan, i wouldn't have noticed. The vegan chicken patty was on the thinner side so you don't get the full texture of biting into a chicken sandwich, but I didn't mind. Ordered in person. Waited around 20 mins for the order. I'd recommend maybe placing an order over the phone for a quicker pick up. P.S. Some of the popular items on the menu were all sold out in the beginning of the week. 02.21.2022 | Monday @12:45pm (long overdue review)

Jack H.

Yelp
Went out of our way today to check out this Vegan Filipino spot, and we were blown away by everything here. The quality, taste and service were all top tier. Everything on the menu sounded delicious, so we had a tough time deciding what to get. Luckily, our waitress was really helpful and gave us recommendations. The Tocilog and Sisig were authentic in flavor. It is mind blowing that they can get so much flavor into the dish considering it is Vegan. The fried vegan egg was a standout in the dish as well. Extra vinegar is always best with filipino dishes. The Chick'n sandwich was filling. The bun felt fresh, and the sandwich itself held up very well. I wish it came with more sauce, however it still was great and worth getting. We also got to try the lumpia. The shanghai lumpia is a classic and will draw alot of attention, however I would not sleep on the vegetable lumpia. It was impressive that the lumpia held up in shape. The restaurant ran out of some items, so that just means we have to come back soon!

Jami A.

Yelp
Both the vegan sisig and tocino tasted truly like a lighter version of the pork dish. My boyfriend and I slightly liked the tocino more. The marinade on the jackfruit is not too sweet or salty but just perfect. The only downside to this place is that they do not provide dine in so be prepared to eat your meal at home, car, or down the street at the local park. On a Friday afternoon they were out of many of their menu items. I would love to try more dishes from chef Reina if I was ever in the area again.

Victoria B.

Yelp
My bf wanted to try this place as we are vegan so so we did the drive from SJ and we were not disappointed! Cat was very warm and welcoming. She explained the menu and gave us pointers since it was our first time there. We were able to try a few items by ordering by the piece which was awesome. The lumpia was delicious, crispy and had fresh veg. My bf inhaled his Crunchwrap! The Ube pancake was not too sweet which was a nice dessert. I've never heard of Tocilog before but Cat recommended it and it was great late breakfast meal. Everything was perfectly cooked and you can tell that they make it with love. To the multiple people who walked away after finding out it was all vegan - you missed out! Cat you handled them like a pro. We will definitely be coming back! Note - it is just takeout BUT there was a table right on the sidewalk where you order and plenty of benches and a park nearby.

Christen D.

Yelp
My close friend who is vegan has been trying to get me to come with her to Chef Reina for FOREVER! We attempted twice before we got to try it - the first two times they were closed and we were really sad! But we finally got to it on Saturday, July 2! My friend has been there several times but this was my first. I am planning to make the slow transition to veganism (currently a pescatarian), so she has been taking me to really great places that have done awesome jobs at convincing me to transition quicker! Even better - this is a Filipino restaurant, which really hits home. So many of my favorites that my parents used to make were made vegan for us and I couldn't believe the taste! We ordered the lechon kawali (MY FAVORITE!), the tocilog, and the bbq skewers, along with garlic rice sides and the flan to end the morning. Like I said, I was thoroughly impressed with how each of these dishes were made to resemble EXACTLY the dishes we know and love - but vegan! Flavor was all there, texture was perfect (I was very surprised with the lechon kawali - how did they do that?! I'll never know, but I'll always come back for more!)... I couldn't have asked for better! Service was excellent too! Kat helped us with our selections and talked to us about their upcoming specials. She was really, really great at helping us feel at home. We ate outside on their lone table right by the entrance but it was perfect for our dogs, and she made sure that they were given lots of water due to the warmth of the day. That I really, really appreciated. She is definitely a gem. There is no indoor dining (for some reason I expected it). We order at the window and then wait for our order to be ready, or you can place an order for pickup in advance over the phone. Either way, service is awesome and so, so worth it. We will be back!

Robin M.

Yelp
- Super fast service - nice staff - amazing food (and it's all vegan!) - easy to find parking It's a walk up window so it's great for takeout. I called in my order and it was ready within 15 minutes. Such great service.

Sonam S.

Yelp
This establishment finally satisfied my thirst and craving for Filipino food as a vegetarian. The lumpia, sinigang, and flan were all amazing. It's a cute little spot that mostly does takeout, located just outside of San Francisco, but definitely worth the drive. Service was amazing. I will be visiting again whenever I'm back in town. If you're a vegetarian seeking authentic Filipino cuisine, look no further--this is the place for you. I highly recommend it and wish nothing but the best for this location and Chef Raina.

Karen O.

Yelp
Amazing vegan filipino food. The vegan spam is oh so special. Only takeout, but there is a small cafe table option just outside.

Nikhil M.

Yelp
This place is AMAZING. As a takeout only vegan hole in the wall, I wasn't sure what to expect. The Tocilog is my personal favorite and full of flavor. We also tried the Birria Quesadilla which was also really good but was a little heavy. Overall would definitely recommend and I will be going back to try even more.

Tracy K.

Yelp
I've been following Chef Reina on Instagram and it's a spot on my bucket list. Went two days in a row. It's in a cute little area in Brisbane. Did not have any issues finding parking. This spot is only takeout. I ordered the Spam Silog (Fried Omnipork Luncheon meat served with vegan egg and garlic rice), Ube Pancakes with Bacon (Ube pancakes served with a side of maple syrup and veggie bacon on Fridays and Saturdays only), Chick'n Adobo (chicken and potatoes stewed in garlic-bay leaf sauce), Lomo Saltado (Peruvian stir fry with marinated beef, onions, tomatoes, french fries, and rice), side of garlic rice that came with the chicken adobo, side of mashed potatoes, BBQ Skewers A la Carte, and flan. I loved everything that I have ordered from there except for the chicken adobo. It's just me. I don't like my food sweet unless it's like a dessert. The Ube pancakes were my dessert though and it was my favorite. They forgot to give me the syrup, but it tasted good without it anyway. That Lomo Saltado was amazing! Food was good. The cashier didn't know much about the individual ingredients of the menu and didn't want to ask the cook for me. He just shrugged his shoulders when I would ask specific questions. Other than that, I enjoyed my food and would definitely come back again the next time I'm back in SF.

Laura S.

Yelp
I was a little afraid the food wouldn't live up to the hype, but as soon as I bit into my tocino dish, all those worries went quickly disappeared. The tocino reminded me of spare ribs you get from a Chinese restaurant and I'm officially hooked! The other thing I got, spam musubi, was also very good. I've made my own omni pork spam at home and it was delicious as usual. Prices seem a bit steep, but assuming that many of the vegan meats are made in house and the portion size is good (I was only able to finish half my a la carte tocino & spam musubi app) and the options are super unique, I'm willing to pay and I can wait to come back soon!

Alex H.

Yelp
I really enjoyed the Ube Pancake Breakfast, I want to concerned with the outdoor seating, half a block is a really cute garden with seating under a beautiful tree, it's a cute table and these awesome painted water hydrants. It was a fun morning. I highly recommend this place the food is healthy and delicious.

Rickie W.

Yelp
Chef Reina's is one of those places that you wish you heard about sooner. My only gripe is the price point for the portions, but they're also the only vegan Filipino food in the area.

R R.

Yelp
Delicious vegan food with so much flavor, everything on the menu is amazing, and the service is also the best. The staff are all amazing and so is Reina. Grateful for vegan food that is flavorful and full of amazing options!! Sundays have the best vegan brunch menu in the whole Bay Area. If you did not know that now you do! I think they open at 10am Sundays. They have different menus for the regular week and then a separate one for Sunday. This is well worth the drive since it's one of the smaller cities just south of San Francisco. Chef Reina is one of the best people, super talented and always making people feel well taken care of and full of delicious food. The Bay Area is so lucky to have her and her business-- go check it out, eat great food made with love. Thank you to Chef Reina for being consistently wonderful and continuing to bring crave-worthy food to us!

Phil J.

Yelp
We live in Brisbane but only now just discovered Chef Reina. It was incredible - flavors were amazing. Don't think vegan - think great food (whatever your diet) - you will not be disappointed. We had the adobo, sisig and carñitas crunch wrap. Looking forward to trying other items next time. Very happy to now add Chef Reina to our list of regulars. Would suggest ordering online. There's not really any seating but just a few steps away is Brisbane Community Park. On a nice day take a blanket, enjoy the views of San Bruno Mountain, and have some amazing food!

Tess D.

Yelp
My. Favorite. Restaurant. In. San Francisco. How could that be? But it's only takeout? But San Francisco has some of the best restaurants in the world? Yes, I know, I know! But this is vegan Filipino food which is so incredibly rare to find. And it tastes just like the non-vegan versions of my childhood. Try the tocilog! It's so good! Thank you Chef Reina and your super friendly team for making Filipino vegan food a reality in SF!

Estrella E.

Yelp
Our first stop once getting to San Fransisco. We were both hungry and tired from the flight so the first thing we did was get some vegan Filipino food. We ordered some foods to share. They don't have indoor sitting but they have about two tables outside to dine in. I'm guessing mostly for take out. The portion were not that big but definitely was filling.

Fancypants X.

Yelp
Big flavors come out of the tiny Brisbane kitchen Chef Reina operates out of. There's one two-top outside so be prepared to take your order to-go. The (jackfruit) ribs, which I loved when I'd had them at Nick's in SSF, were dry & simultaneously overly smoky & sweet. Hoping that's a one-off but will pass on it next time to make room to try other Filipino-inspired vegan dishes. The rest of our meal consisted of: -- Pancit bihon: our favorite item. Loaded with tender-crisp veggies & tasted like the noodles of my childhood. -- Sizzling sisig: tangy & vinegary. Tofu takes the place of traditional pork pieces. -- Lumpiang Shanghai: not an exact replica of its pork-filled version, but tasty, crunchy, & piping hot. A must-order. Coming back to try Chef Reina's Ube Pancakes & her variety of "-silogs" (rice, eggs, "meat" combo) for breakfast. Love her unique take on the food of mah peoples!

Shane S.

Yelp
I recently went to Chef Reina with my friend. I had an underwhelming experience here. I really wanted to like it as there were good reviews on Yelp. I like supporting all vegan restaurants and perhaps my expectations were too high. I had the Fillipino BBQ skewers meal. It was $16 before tax. It was basically tasty and flavorful mock meat on a stick. You get a couple of sticks. It came with garlic rice and a side salad that was basically a bunch of raw onions and a few slices of cucumbers. The BBQ skewers were tasty and flavorful. The garlic rice was okay and the side salad was disappointing. The menu was a bit confusing and pretty heavy on mock meats. Granted am sure they were done right flavorful and tasty yet the menu lacked veggies. I also found the food rather expensive and not filling. There also is no proper seating except for a small table with two seats that might or might not be available otherwise you have to take your meal to go. On a positive note the service was friendly which is appreciated. My friend got the beefless basil meal. That was $15 before tax. I asked him what he would give it out of 5 stars and he said 3.5 stars so slightly better than me. I think people like it that the food here is authentic flavorful food albeit mock meat heavy. Add some more veggies to the menu and perhaps some more seating along with either more food for the same price or lower cost than I would surely return to give it another review hopefully bumping up my review one or two stars.

Isaac A.

Yelp
Ordered their beef stew equivalent (I don't remember the formal name). Staff was really friendly and warm. I asked to get their most popular dish and this is what they chose. The price felt high initially but the portion size was bigger than I expected and the flavor was definitely chef kiss good. Pro tip make sure to check in on Yelp your first time since they have a promo for 15% off. I'd really like to work my way through the menu and I plan on doing just that!

Dylan C.

Yelp
This place has been on my radar for a while and I'm glad I finally got to try it! I visited on a Friday night and ordered the tocino. It was really yummy and a huge portion - I was definitely stuffed afterwards! I'm vegetarian, so I've never had the meat version, so I really have no clue what it is supposed to taste like, but I liked it! Really flavorful and nice crispy/blackened edges. There are a lot of Filipino specialties on the menu and no descriptions, so I definitely did some Yelp sleuthing in advance to figure out what to get. Coming here with a group and splitting a bunch of things would be ideal so that you're able to try a little of each. I do wish there was some kind of combo plate or something so I could have tried a couple items - I was by myself just stopping by on the way to San Francisco, and that's likely to be the case next time I visit, so I'd love to be able to try a couple things instead of having one giant order of something. I've literally never been to Brisbane before and have never had a reason to go there, but Chef Reina will definitely be a reason for me to come back when I'm nearby!

Rosemarie R.

Yelp
I just started to not eat meat a week ago and thought I would try this place and I was really impressed how the "meat and egg" tasted. I ordered the tocilog, lumpia, chick'n sandwich and impossible burger and it was so GOOD! Anybody who is trying to change to a plant base diet should eat here! The food is DELICIOUS!!!

Shreha J.

Yelp
I had been wanting to get take out from here for so long and it was WORTH the trip to Daly City. I'm vegan and have never had filipino good before, so I can't say if it was authentic or not, BUT... I did take my non-vegetarian boyfriend that at some point said "are you sure this is vegetarian? I think you're eating meat" which tells me it's legit ;) We shared: Tocilog, Spam Musubi, Tofu/mushroom plate, Ube flan (recommended by the chef!) Everything was absolutely delicious, my favorite was the Tocilog. It was perfectly charred, full of sweet-spicy flavor, and a perfect consistency. The tofu dish was also so flavorful and I absolutely loved it. The spam musubi was definitely fun, but I would reduce the amount of rice in it since it was tough to taste the delicious spam through it. And the ube flan, oh MAN IT WAS SO GOOD. The perfect aftertaste. A bit sweet for my taste but I'd still go for seconds. 10/10 recommend.

Honey Z.

Yelp
Every dish we ordered tasted like made in Heaven. - flavorful and VEGAN! There's no space for dine-in but they made it work to seat us outdoor. Can't believe everything is made vegan and can still maintain Filipino essence! We will definitely come back here (often)! The service was also phenomenal.

Kendra G.

Yelp
My guy and I ordered brunch from here and while I wanted to love it (I'm always in search of great vegan/vegetarian eateries), it fell short. We ordered the ube pancakes and the birria burrito. My ube pancakes were uber gummy/sticky and tasted like a big ball of flour... otherwise, there was no "ube" (or any other) flavor to speak. Also, I thought there would be 3 pancakes, but there were only two. It was $16+ not well spent. The birria burrito was lacking in flavor, BUT was a good size and while he didn't enjoy the lack of flavor, he appreciated that it was filling given its $19 price tag. When we initially looked at the menu we thought we'd want to try so many things, but after being disappointed by our first go at the place, we likely will not go back.... Also, we went fairly early in the day and we asked about the cupcakes (because I read in another review that the cupcakes were good), but they said the cupcakes were "sold out" for the day. I found that language odd because they hadn't been open long enough to be "sold out" of anything yet, but maybe they just meant they weren't selling any that day. Overall, I'm going to give the food TWO stars, but I'll add a third star for customer service because the young lady at the register (Cat) was super friendly!!

Jon T.

Yelp
It's hard not to want to go down to Brisbane on a weekly basis to get some delicious food from Chef Reina's. Whether you're a fan of Filipinix food, or just damn good vegan food, you will always come away happy. If you visited Nick's kitchen (formerly in Daly City, South City, and on Mission), you'll already be familiar with the quality food available at Chef Reina's. She was the mastermind behind Nick's move to an all-vegan menu (and it's subsequent expansion into new locations.) Unfortunately, these locations closed during the pandemic but many of the menu items live on at Chef Reina's. On the Filipinix side, you get very generously sized portions of classics like Tocino, Sisig, Pancit, Adobo, and more. Buy as many as you can and prepare for a week's worth of leftovers. Your stomach will thank you later. There is also a "bistro" section with things like burgers, salads, katsu, and loco moco. One of my favorite items here is the chicken caesar salad, which has got to be one of my favorite versions (and I've had MANY--I basically order this whenever it's available vegan.) The one downside is that if you don't own a car getting to Brisbane is very challenging. Despite being directly south of SF the biking and transit options are pretty atrocious. Fortunately, Zipcar can save the day for something like this but I hope one day we'll see these delicious options return to the city. Until then, I'll go whenever I can!

Lisa W.

Yelp
Everything here was absolutely delicious! The service was wonderful and the person taking my order explained what all of the dishes were. The vegan meats were cooked so well and they replicate the flavors of real meat so well. The BBQ pork skewers were my favorite and the lumpia were so tasty too! The garlic rice was good but the garlic pieces were a little charred for my taste. Overall I would definitely come back if I could!

Tragedy D.

Yelp
Best vegan Filipino food...of all time. I could be reaching because this is the ONLY vegan Filipino food I've tried. This cute establishment has the Dutch door where you can order. You won't be disappointed with any of the dishes. Wait time after ordering is a short 10-15 minutes. Small table with two chairs in front. You can ask them to write your order on the to-go boxes so you don't get it mixed up. We ordered the Tocino plate, Kare Kare (add a side of rice), Philly Steak sandwich, and the Breakfast burrito. I wish Chef Reina would expand to Southern Cali. I've been waiting for months for their website to be in stock for their care packages. Loved their radio station; keeping the kitchen dancing to the oldies. Street parking is pretty good.

Samantha J.

Yelp
DELICIOUS!!!! Honestly all my nostalgic snack dreams came true when I found this adorable little pick up food spot. The flavors are AMAZING, the service was super friendly and helpful. I would come here every-time I'm in the area so I can try the whole menu! We had the "pork" lumpia 10/10 Chicken adobo 10/10 Burrito 8/10 Everything was amazing. Can't wait to come back!

Nerissa D.

Yelp
This is my second time here and I'm not disappointed. We tried something new. Staff: very friendly and helpful Ambiance: no seating are inside. There's table mad chairs provided outside but not too stable but will do if you're just waiting to pick up your food. Wear a jacket buts gets windy in Brisbane. Food: this is the 2nd time I've ordered the Laing, Tocilog and Sisig. They're very good but a bit salty for my taste. The Shanghai was good. You can't tell it's vegan. The musubi was just good. However, I suggest maybe lessening the rice or cutting the spam thicker and maybe add vegan teriyaki sauce. I'm not sure if there's MSG on the dishes but I would suggest using only a little. All in all I would still recommend this restaurant.

Marcus K.

Yelp
Fantastic new take out restaurant. What an honor to have it here in the wee little town of Brisbane. Called in for take out and got a few excellent vegan dishes ready within 30 min. The menu on the door is not very helpful unless maybe you know your Filipino dishes. No description of what you are actually getting. So just take a stab and don't worry. It's all good. We got the vegetable Lumpia which came with a little white cream sauce. Also got the Tocino which looked like red peppers but were not and the the Laing which was a tasty sauce like dish. Had garlic rice but next time will get plain white rice. The dishes are so tasty that you don't need additional flavor on the rice. Everything was really good. It's pretty pricey especially compared to the adjacent Brisbane restaurants like Melissa's Mexican, Mama Mia Pizza, or Nana and Lucky House Chinese Restaurants. But it is quite good.

Michael W.

Yelp
Good vegan Filipino food (or even any kind of vegan Filipino food) is a rare find, so much so that I have been known to nosh on the giant banana leaves they use to cover the tables with at Kamayan festivals. Chef Raina is kiiiiiiinda in the middle of nowhere, but deeeeeefinitely worth the trek and the disorienting feel of the nondescript location south of SF. Step up to the curbside window and order your heart's content out full of vegan Filipino food (from the vegan menu) and you will not leave unsatisfied. The portions aren't the biggest, but that just gives you more reason to order multiple dishes!

Cris A.

Yelp
I was excited to try this but I ended up getting disappointed 99% of the fried food is a waste of money. Except for the Shanghai. Don't even think about trying anything else other than these the BBQ skewers, Sinigang, Kare kare, Laing, Thai beefless basil, and the Ube pancakes or Ube waffles although the bacon on them is tasteless. As for desserts the classic Turon is always good and always get the cupcakes don't try anything else. If you think of getting the garlic rice buy it somewhere else it's $4.50 for an extra small container (It's one size) be mindful of what you buy as they are expensive.

Neha V.

Yelp
Glad to have had my first ever experience of Filipino food with Chef Reina's. I have heard from Filipino friends that their food is based heavily around meats and to veganize them is no easy task. Needless to say I obviously recommended Chef Reina to them and they're super eager to try it out. I got lumpia shangai, chickn adobo and Tocino a la carte. I loved them all. That chicken adobo was my favorite just because it was bursting with flavors and it was so damn tasty. I'm waiting to go back and try their other stuff, particularly the ube pancakes!

Roby R.

Yelp
There is no better vegan food than chef Reina that I am aware of. She is friend, nice, and has the best vegan dishes. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu.

Anjana P.

Yelp
New find for me in Brisbane! Will try to che kout more items next time just got the chikn Caesar salad which was pretty big.

Rachitha P.

Yelp
Love love love! Food is insanely good. I have liked every single dish I've tried. I drive 20 mins just to pick up their food. I wish we could dine in. Want to eat the food immediately as it's made

M'famous O.

Yelp
I am not a vegan, but Chef Reina has the best food. Hard to believe that there is no meat in the dishes because everything is so authentic and delicious. We get take-out from here weekly!

Benny A.

Yelp
I want to scream Birria Tacos!!! They are so awesome! I could eat them every day. The chicken katsu was good; Just wished the portion was bigger; Not sure why the Adobo didn't come with rice. Of all Filipino dishes that go well with white rice, adobo is at the top; The adobo was delicious.

Kelvin Y.

Yelp
Amazing Filipino food that happens to be vegan! The Lechon Kawali is spot on especially the sauce. The Egg in the Sisig looked and tastes like a real Fried Egg. The Sisig was also delicious. We also tried the BBQ "Ribs" Excellent flavor and satisfying texture. I was born and raised in the Philippines. The food at Chef Reina satisfied my Filipino food craving.