Isla Restaurant

This was our first time dining at this restaurant. They were undergoing some construction during our visit, but that didn’t take away too much from the experience. The food overall was good—though the pork BBQ was a bit overcooked and charred for our taste. On the bright side, the halo-halo was excellent and definitely the highlight of the meal. We’re looking forward to coming back once the renovations are complete to try more dishes!

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

First time to dine here. So many Filipino customers. So festive! I’m happy that there’s a place my kababayans meet and eat!

Food is delicious! We were a party of 4 with a baby and were seated right away and got our food almost immediately. The only downside is that the staff weren't very aware that we were ready for the check. Multiple employees walked passed us as our plates were untouched, so speed of service went down from there. More frequent table touching would help and treating smaller parties with the same kind of service as the large tables would be beneficial in elevating service at this restaurant. Restrooms were clean, staff courteous and presentable, just lacking in the areas mentioned above. We are planning to return in a few months for a larger family birthday and hoping this issue has been solved by then.

This was a fun trip! Packed with locals but there’s a lot of seating so no wait for a table for Saturday lunch. It’s an expansive menu - we went with two of the dishes listed under specialties. The sisig was flavorful but pretty heavy and oily - the good thing is it comes with a ton of rice which helps to balance things out. The pork belly dish we got was also flavorful and had a lot of veggies where the sisig did not. Next time we come I want to try the chicken adobo. Service was fast and nice.

Came for the first time with a friend that has been here before. He ordered everything for us since I didn’t know what to order. Everything that we had was pretty good. Some food were a little salty and fatty but that’s okay. They also play loud music so you just have to speak up a little more when talking to everyone. It’s also pricy. Definitely want to go back on a more chill time.

This Filipino spot blew me away. We ordered the Sulit Bilao #3, a massive kamayan-style spread served on banana leaves, and it was one of the most fun and satisfying meals I’ve had in a long time. The platter had everything — grilled meats, lumpia, longganisa, chicharrón, shrimp, veggies, and rice — all packed with flavor and clearly made with care. Even the sides and dipping sauces were great. Service was friendly, the vibe was relaxed, and the whole experience felt genuinely welcoming. If you’ve never tried kamayan dining, this is a great place to start.

This branch in Newark has been renovated—it’s definitely bigger and feels more open now, but honestly, I think I preferred the old layout. It had a cozier vibe. The food is still the same, with a few added to the menu and yes, noticeably more expensive. I ordered my favorite Adobong Pusit, along with Fried Tofu, Lechon Kawali, and Veggie Kare-Kare. We also had Halo-Halo, which was refreshing and just the right amount of sweetness—not too sweet like some places.

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

The closest you can get to an authentic Filipino home-cooked meal. No frills. The service is quick, we ordered and got our food in less than 10 mins. The food came out hot. The food was overall very good. The staff were quick, attentive and made sure they checked in on us often. The portion size is large, true to the family style dining. We went home with plenty of leftovers to last us another meal, easy. If we are in the mood for Filipino food, we will be coming back! We enjoyed the unlimited refill drink fountain. Nice compliment to the meal.

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

The food is always amazing and delicious in Isla. We went here a few times on birthdays and other special occasions. Service was always good and you'll never go wrong with their sulit bilao deals for around $100-$150, depending on what you order. The bilao can feed a party of 6. They have free soup or noodles and dessert 30 days before and after your birthday, need to show your driver's license for proof. The place is always full but we always don't wait long to be seated. Casual dining. There's a lot of parking.

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

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

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

Visiting Isla from afar when we have our special occasions. It does not disappoint on specific favorites. Unli rice to satisfy Pinoy tastebuds. Tends to be loud. Service is very fast. Love their small pots and pan as well as bilao as serving dishes.

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

Huge restaurant. We came for a coworker's retirement. Ordered so much food. Service was great!! I really enjoy the tamarind soup with shrimp. There is plenty of rice. My fav was the fried fish. Lechon kawaii kare kare was ok. Wish they would serve more vinegar for dipping everything instead of charging for each small container of vinegar. Look at the pic. The food tray is huge and can feed 4-6 people. So they should have serving of vinegar for each person. Other than that, great experience.

I haven't tried many Filipino restaurants - aside from homemade preparations from friends during potlucks. Family in town interested so we chose Isla over Patio Filipino. We went on a Thursday afternoon following the lunch time rush. Dishes we tried were: Tinolang Manuk (Chicken Tinola) - very salty to the point that any flavor from the ingredients were hard to decipher. We brought leftovers home and added some water - even then it was still salty. 1/5 Isla Pork Barbeque - best of the items we ordered, but a few pieces were more fat than meat 5/5 Litsun Kawali (Lechon Kawali) - Crispy & tender deep fried pork belly served with spiced vinegar & lechon sauce; had a crunchy texture - ate the meat and left the fat. solid 4/5 Pritung Bangus (Fried Boneless Milkfish) - interesting to try but didn't have a lot of flavor without dipping into the vinegar sauce or eating with the Ensaladang Kapampangan (diced manggoes & tomatoes topped with salted egg) 3/5 Staff was attentive though was hard to get a sense of what were there most popular/recommended dishes, separate from their combination options. Will need to try Patio Filipino whenever our next Filipino craving strikes, before can compare. Nice to try though wouldn't say this place will be part of our regular rotation.

I wanted to love this place so badly, but unfortunately the experience I had last Saturday were just underwhelmingly disappointing. My friends and I ordered the Pork Sisig, Bangus Sisig, Lechon, and Tocino. The Pork Sisig was the best of the four, having stronger notes of pepper, soy sauce, and acidity. Some pieces however, were just pure fat, and the overall dish felt very heavy and fatty. The Bangus Sisig tasted like canned tuna tossed with some onions, soy, and vinegar. The fish was dry and for the price and portion, underwhelming. The Lechon looked amazing when brought out; however, the meat was beyond dry. At least it was crispy and the lechon sauce was good. The Tocino was juicy and tender, but it was just drowned in an overly sweet sauce. 6.2/10 Service was fast, and we did get the food somehow within only 5 minutes of ordering, so that was appreciated. That night there was live music playing and it felt too loud. I had to scream just for my friends to hear what I was saying. With such a large menu, there are other dishes that are "must gets" that I didn't try. But from this experience, it's hard to see myself coming back just to try the rest of the menu.

The food was absolutely amazing. My friends were coming into town for my wedding and they never had filipino food before. What better way to experience Filipino food other than having the Ultimate Boodle Fight. There was an abundance of food with my friends loving the tocino, lechon kawali, crispy Pata and the shrimp chips. Absolutely banger! Fair warning tho, call ahead as it does take 10-15 mins for them to set up your table.

Everything was very delicious. Lechon was nothing spectacular since my family always eats this on special occasions. The Adobu rice was packed with so much flavor and was honestly the highlight of the meal. I love my sour soups however the sinigang that was given to us was too concentrated that it needed some more stock/water to be digestible. I could barely finish 2 bowls so I had to go home and readjust the soup. Pancit was good but nothing too out there.

Decided to try out some new, and saw this place was close by and had good reviews. I've had Filipino a few times before years ago (e.g. Gerry's Grill in Union Landing). We arrived and were immediately seated in what looks like newly remodeled expanded seating area to side of the door (not the main dining area). It got a bit warm due to heat so waiter came to turn on ceiling fan. The dining area had many Filipino families dining out so that's a good sign. Four of us shared A La Carte #2 set menu to try different things. Waiter said usually good for 3-5 people. Dishes arrived quickly. Started off with Misua soup - looks like Chinese egg drop soup, but not too salty for me. Unlimited white rice. Fried chicken wings and drummettes. String beans and shrimp in Coconut curry. Fish in sauce. Pork belly with potato and bell pepper. Noodle dish with sliced boiled egg. I don't remember the names but overall tasty, though quite salty. Fits those with heavier palates, but I'll need lighter options next time.

Filipino food was really good and authentic. I got lumpia, pancit, and soup with chicken and mussels. The soup was really good with lots of lemongrass and ginger. The lumpia were nice and hot. The pancit was good with quail eggs. Service was good. The restaurant is huge so shouldn't have issues getting a table for a large group. Lots of parking.

Large nice Filipino restaurant serving fresh comfort food . Had this taro leaves? creamy dish that was great. Had the pork belly dish and liked that too. Kinda expensive but would come back.

Previously ate at the restaurant twice. First time was Summer 2024 with family visiting from New Zealand who craved silog, halo-halo and leche flan. Then 3 months later with my public health education FilAm crew. A Filipino dish labeled "vegetables" almost always include some animal protein (eg, shrimp paste, egg, diced pork), so I was pleasantly surprised that they offered plant-based options such as fried tofu, sisig tofu & meatless kare-kare. Most recent dining experience was first time ordering TO-GO for an elder uncle's 88th birthday who wanted a casual meal at home with family. Ordered on site a buffet that included garlic butter shrimp, sinigang bangus, grilled chicken, adobo squid, long life bihon pancit guisado, garlic rice, and chop suey. We got a complimentary appetizer (we chose fried tofu) cause spent a certain $$$ amount. It took 20 min to prepare & packed very well to make trek back over Dumbarton Bridge. The food was still hot and the tofu still had some crispiness. They don't have technology for Visa tap pay, so they had to manually enter the info due to my Visa card's over-used strip & chip didn't register with their Point of Sale system. They are doing some renovation taking down walls to bring in more natural light and more seating space.

FOOD: I went to this restaurant 2X - the first time to try it, the second time I went along with the group. I have a preference for traditional flavors especially when it comes to Filipino food. I noticed that their sinigang has a sweetness to it which is more prominent than the usual sourness. Not only their sinigang but their other dishes i tried leaned towards the sweet side - it could be the spices they used or perhaps they want to put unique twist on their classic dishes. SERVICE: Both times I visited with a small group, we were seated right away and the servers were efficient. But also worth noting that both visits were during slower hours. AMBIANCE: Clean with Filipino decor.

The flavors are all there, but it just could not cut through how salty the dishes were.. We were chugging extra water but it was just not enough. I even felt sick after. I'd still come back, but refrain from heavy salty orders and I'll have to knock a star down for that. The decor is great and love the empowerment of kapangpangan culture. I appreciate how quick the service was, and the dining room has lots of seating for big parties.

This place is packed on a Friday night. Taste We had lechon kawali and topsilog. Both were good. They didn't come back though to give tea/water we asked for. Service We oddly had to wait a while when there were lots of tables open which was odd.

This was my first time at the particular restaurant and it was for my son's friends birthday! He loves his cultural food, and it was new for us to eat this style, since we have only had filipino food at our family's house. I was very surprised how they set up their plates and how huge the dishes were!! True to the culture, the close mouth doesn't get fed! Lol so if you want somebody to serve you, you kind of have to flag the person down! Lol we made the young college graduate flag down the server, she majored in business so she knew what to do! Lol everything was delicious, fresh and tasty!! My sons best friend had an amazing birthday dinner with the whole family and there were 15 of us sitting at two tables between the adults and the college students! Lol two separate circular tables, but close enough where we could share food back-and-forth between the tables! I would definitely go back again!!

Came here yesterday with a party of 20 almost closing time ( I know, very inconsiderate of us) but we're visiting out of town and we love coming here everytime we're in the Bay. The staff was great for accommodating us , food is always GREAT! Service is AMAZING. Will definitely be back next time ( a lot earlier). Great Job ISLA!!

What a STELLAR PLACE! I, of course, expect really good and authentic Pinoy food from California, but WOOW! I would and could eat here every meal. This is located in a small shopping center across the Doubletree Newark/Fremont. A friend in the area recommend this place for us to try since it was very close by and we were hungry. Our party of 6 was seated right away near the kitchen. This place was packed and every table was a large table filled with people and food. Our server was nice and quick to get our order started. Our table ordered (not all pictured, because we were hungry!): sinigang, binagoogan rice, adobo, bistek, and pancit. The weather is chilly here, and the night we went, it was COLD. The sinigang with pork was much needed, a very sour and comforting blend. The binagoogan rice was something I had never had before, but also incredible: salty, cooked with pork belly, and the added touch of mango and tomato really complimented each other. I was impressed throughout our whole meal, but the adobo and bistek were phenomenal! We also had the pancit guisado - cooked perfectly, and man, my son LOVED it. I cannot recommend this place enough! You must try this!

This restaurant is craaazy packed with so many large birthday parties. And yes we were one of them. I would make reservations, but especially so if you have a large party. We had a party of 12, including 2 children and were able to tightly squish at 1 table to do the Ultimate Boodle Fight. One was definitely enough for us. The ultimate boodle fight was good but nothing amazing. I would say 3.5/5 but It was a good experience. It came with a few unlimited sodas and a few halo halos, which were good. They charge a $10 cake fee if you're bringing your own.

I was craving some Filipino food and my parents told me this place had authentic Filipino food!! Lots of seating inside, and we only waited about 10 minutes on a Sunday night. We got the garlic rice, sisig, lechon kawali, and beef Kare Kare. All of the food was sooo delicious. The lechon was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The kare kare could've had a bit more meat but it was still tasty. Service was just ok; had to dock a star for this. Our waitress didn't really check in with us and we waited awhile for our lechon kawali without updates, so we had to flag her down to ask. I overheard the same thing happening at the table behind us and they were seated before us. After we finished, our waitress was nowhere to be found so we got our check and to go boxes from a different waitress we waved over.

It was our first time trying Filipino dishes and we enjoyed them. We started with lumpiang which had ground chicken, they were delicious with the sauce. Then we got the seafood Pancit, it was okay. There wasn't as much seafood for the price. I don't like the Bistis Bangas, the fish was very tangy and flavors dint work with me. My favorite was the Tinolang Manuk, chicken stew with ginger and spinach. It was hearty and perfect for winter weather. Lastly we had the dessert Halo Halo with ube ice cream and red beans and corn and some tropical fruits. It was interesting and a great one time try. I will be back for the soup and lumpiang. The service was quick and welcoming.

There can be a bit of a wait but it is well worth! All of the things we tried was amazing and fresh. Their sinigang is perfectly sour and has a good amount of tomato and veggies. I have no true complaints and hope to come back and try more!

Had a sudden craving for "chicharon bulaklak" aka crispy, fried pork intestines so I decided to try their version out. The verdict: it was ok! It wasn't as crispy as I wanted it to be and for $20 you get 10 pieces! That's $2 a piece, which is crazy if you ask me! We do love their lumpia Shanghai but haven't actually dined in so well probably give it a try when we're craving Filipino food!

I hadn't had filipino food for a while so decided to try out this place since my coworkers recommended it. The place was pretty packed during lunch on a Saturday; lots of big tables. There was only a few smaller tables available but that was fine since it was just 2 of us. We ended up ordering kare kare, sisig, and lechon kawali. Rice was complimentary which was super nice. The brisket in the kare kare was soooo tender. It was fall apart goodness smothered in the peanut butter stewed sauce. The sauce really complimented the meat well and wasn't overpowering. The lechon kwali was fried perfectly while still being moist. It wasn't dry at all to my surprise and even held up really well when air fried the next day. Perfect crispness on the skin too! The sisig came out sizzling on a hot plate and smelled so good. The pork was delicious but definitely super oily/fatty. The lemon helps cut back on the heaviness of the dish, so I recommend adding that. It's supposed to be spicy but I didn't really get any heat, which was actually okay with me. It was about $90 total (kare kare was $30 alone) for dining in. On the pricier side for 3 dishes but we did take home tons of leftovers. We were seated and helped in a timely manner. Staff was friendly and food was out does quick (but hot!). They have a huge menu with so many different items, so definitely will have to stop by again. Everything we ordered was delicious!

Came here on a Monday evening and there was a children's birthday going on outside, as well as a few family parties inside! Have been craving Filipino food and found this online. Food was really good! Was able to try the Bangus, Pork Sisig, and sinigang. They also have deals throughout the week which is nice. Everything came out in a timely manner. I'd say the only down fault is I feel like it is priced higher than some other Filipino restaurants I have been to in the Bay. The service was not the best.. but not the worst. They don't tend much to you so you might just have to flag people down, but I really didn't mind that. The overall ambiance has a balance of party but comfortable home vibes. They had lights going on and several tv screens! Would still highly recommend this place!

LENT 2025: FOURTH FRIDAY (JEPROXSILOG) & FIFTH FRIDAY (IMA LITA'S TINTA RICE) How do you not keep eating the same thing all over again? Part of the adventure of eating is trying something you never had before. However growing up in a Filipino Catholic household the only two types of fish I had to ate during Lent Fridays were tilapia or bangus. The previous Friday I ate bangus so I didn't want to eat that same fish again. The following Friday on the last minute I ate at Isla Restaurant. I've eaten at this restaurant before once about more than ten years ago. When I entered the restaurant I noticed one of the specials is jeprox, which is deep fried crispy sole fish. As I looked at the menu I noticed one item that looked enticing - Ima Lita's Tinta Rice. This item consisted of rice cooked in squid ink topped with fried calamari. At the end I decided to order the jeproxsilog. One appetizer I ordered was popcorn shrimp mainly because I was hungry as I didn't eat anything in the morning. I liked the light, crispy breading with the shrimp moist, but nothing really outstanding about the popcorn shrimp. When I saw the jeproxsilog the appearance of the fried fish reminded me of the small crispy fried smelt fish. I've had that dish before and I didn't like it as the fish were dry, salty, and bitter. The bitterness left an aftertaste. Those were my concerns about the jeproxsilog. I was more than wrong. At Isla the jeprox wasn't bitter yet had a light crispy texture. One thing I liked about was the fried egg. Even though the eggs were over easy the yolk was still runny. I enjoyed my late lunch that Lent Friday. After my first visit I didn't think about coming back to Isla soon. Yet when I saw Ima Lita's Tinta Rice on the menu I felt that dish might bring me back to Isla. The following Friday I came back to Isla for that dish. I thought also about get dessert. When I saw the sizzing tofu sisig I decided to order it for appetizer. People don't like tofu because of the texture, but I prefer it over than the dry rice cakes in the supermarket. The sisig sauces match well with the tofu. The sizzling tofu sisig is a filling dish. Growing up I've eaten squid cooked in its own ink. However the ink tasted murky. I didn't know what to expect from the Ima Lita's Tinta Rice. From appearance the dish looks like paella. With the fork the rice felt like risotto. When I took a bite of the ink-saturated rice it didn't taste murky. Also the rice kernels wasn't soggy like arroz caldo. If I could have the squid ink rice with the jeprox that would have been a fitting dish. After two Lent Friday visits for lunch at Isla I was surprised by jeprox and squid ink rice - both items I enjoyed eating. Maybe when I come back to eat at Isla Restaurant I will get dessert.

This place is truly like your classic Filipino restaurant- they also just recently renovated and it looks amazing- more space, more tables for small group! Fast and friendly service- Food is always good and serving size is great- shareable so you get to try other yummy choices in their colorful menu.

The crispy pata here is one of the best I ever had. Pair that with vinegar and garlic rice and it's delicious! Even a take out the food was still hot and fresh and the food was prepared fairly quickly. The service was a bit rushed and they neglected to give utensils when asked but all in all was good food

Manager was asking the ID of our service dog which according to ADA guidelines business are not ask proof of disability of the owner and service animal. We have been in hospitals. hotels, fine dine restaurants and this is the first time the MANAGER ASK for ID. He did discriminate a person with disability and our service dog. EDUCATE yourself manager about ADA GUIDELINES. We will let the authorities know how you discriminate our service dog. Update: Decided to go KALESA. They had us be with our service dog without asking proof of certification. For sure they are aware of what business owners can ask based on ADA guidelines. Isla discriminates ... disappointing. Will definitely inform my friends and family not to eat at your restaurant

There's ALWAYS a party here so atmosphere is very lively and fun. Big family gatherings are the usual, as is the menu to accompany the group. Good people, good food, good music. It's hard not to like this place. I took a whole bunch of menu pics, it's probably only half of it. I first tried to order off Uber eats and it's next to impossible because idk what all the names mean. Especially when it comes to the combo meals. There's no description or anything online to help you either. Now going in to dine has helped de-mystify some of what's on the menu. The pictures help a lot, for someone who's not Filipino. Filipino food I think tends to be sodium heavy with the sauces, so a bucket of rice that comes with the entrees do not surprise me. Everyone here will leave full and satisfied, and probably some to go boxes. Large parking lot. Not much else in the plaza so there's plenty to of time to catch up with your friends and family, or try to figure out what to order as you wait.

This was a fun trip! Packed with locals but there's a lot of seating so no wait for a table for Saturday lunch. It's an expansive menu - we went with two of the dishes listed under specialties. The sisig was flavorful but pretty heavy and oily - the good thing is it comes with a ton of rice which helps to balance things out. The pork belly dish we got was also flavorful and had a lot of veggies where the sisig did not. Next time we come I want to try the chicken adobo. Service was fast and nice.

WHY WE WENT HERE: - lunch THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE): - located in a plaza off Mowry School Rd and Balentine Dr - plenty of parking - shaded enclosed (with plastic to protect from the elements) outdoor patio seating THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE): - kind of looks a bit like a cafeteria or food court inside THE MENU: - the menu is very THICK; I appreciate that there are essentially photos for every single menu item along with the Kapangpangan menu item title as well as the Tagalog menu item title equivalent - sulit ala carte - appetizer - soup - noodles - pork - fowl - beef - seafoods - vegetables - rice & silog - desserts WHAT WE ORDERED: - sisig Kapampangan - kari-karing brisket ning baka - sigang boneless bangus - camaron - steamed rice - taho THE TASTE: - I'm allergic to fish/shellfish so I can't personally attest to those items, but my mom and my sister (who had the leftovers) loved it - sisig was VERY good; tangy with a kick; good meat, cartilage, fat ratio - kari-karing brisket ning baka was VERY good; saucy, tender meat, good amount of vegetables - my mom thoroughly enjoyed the taho; nostalgic for her CUSTOMER SERVICE: - warm and welcoming - a little slow; not as attentive (to order, to get a water refill, to get the check)

Food was delicious and very authentic. The service was great they were friendly n fast service! And the ambiance of the place was perfect!

Best Filipino food Ive had in the Bay Area!! Our server, Alex was Awesome! His knowledge of all the food and its preparation was exemplary!!! I thought he was the owner because of his welcoming smile and professional mannerisms! Kudos Alex! Thank you for a unforgettable experience

We had a celebration in the area with my HS friends and we decided to do lunch here. We ordered a bunch of food and shared it. Everything was delicious! Service was great and our food came pretty fast. The restaurant was nice and clean. Would definitely go back if we're in the area.

The setting of this restaurant is bright and spacious, more on the simple side with just a bit of art/decor and a casual vibe. The place was quite packed on a Monday evening, but there were still plenty of seats available, with tables both inside and outdoors. I just ordered for pickup and the process was easy online through DoorDash. The staff here was super friendly and welcoming, and worked efficiently to get my order out (as I arrived early, before the 20 minute quoted ready time). My food was packed nicely and served to me with a smile. I ordered plenty, enough for at least two meals, as I wanted to try a couple different items on their menu. The isla pork barbeque and original sisig kapampangan were outstanding, and I enjoyed these dishes with some steamed rice (the half order is A LOT, more than enough to feed two hungry adults). The sisig dish was delicious and not really spicy (except that jalapeno), the minced pork tender and well-seasoned, combined with those chopped grilled onions, yum. The pork barbeque was even better, maybe the best I've had. It's like the bbq skewers you get at other filipino eateries, but its not served on a stick, which works for me cuz it's more convenient and easier to eat with utensils. Omg, it tasted amazing... whatever they put in that sauce, bravo! A special recipe indeed. And the meat cooked perfectly with just enough fat to enhance the flavor and a nice char off the grill. This was my first time trying Isla Restaurant, but it won't be my last.

I wanted to try isla because I was having a craving for Filipino food and didn't want to drive to union city. The menu was extensive; kinda pricey compared to other places. The sisig was mediocre (very greasy) and the longsilog plate I had wasn't good. The sausage was cooked too much leading it to be dried out. The misua soup was nice palette cleanser for my meal. Unfortunately I wouldn't come back :(

Ambiance is very clean and spacious. The service was amazingly fast and friendly. The food was excellent. The sesig was outstanding especially with the chicherone crumbles on top. The kare kare beef was excellent as well. They even gave us a small side of the shrimp past so we could have it to our taste. The halo halo was very authentic and just as good as any.

Classic go to Filipino Family Restaurant. Good for family events or drinking with your buddies. Menu selection is massive be prepared to bring your appetite. If you order enough they do offer a select complimentary appetizer. Ambience is pretty good what you would expect from a Filipino Restaurant. Servers are friendly and helpful. Once you place the order the food is served hot and fast. We ended up staying an extra couple of hours opening another tab to order more food. I would probably comeback with a big group to try the Sulit A La Carte menu I think they still offer unlimited rice for dine in. Definitely check out their menu deals to maximize your experience and enjoy a classic Filipino Cooking. Make sure to make room for dessert they have some great ones from Halo Halo and Leche flan.

Very spacious restaurant with plenty of parking. The staff were good. The food was great and fulfilling. Ordered the tocilog, longsilog, sisig, and chicharron. They also give complimentary soup to start off. The food itself was great. Especially loved the sisig couldn't stop eating it. The restaurant looks like it would be good to catch a sporting event as they have a bunch of TVs. There are plenty of items on the menu that I would like to come back and try.

We celebrated a birthday here with a group and everything felt just right. Food came fresh and flavorful - just like made at home Filipino dishes. Everyone was happy, and they really know how to handle a big table.Friendly service, cozy vibe and good portions.

I've always had mostly positive experiences at this Isla. Between this and the one in San Bruno, I much prefer this one by a massively wide margin. I feel like the food portions here are way better than San Bruno's and they typically don't make me wait as long for my food either. Not to mention, parking is child's play here in comparison. I think my favorite thing on the menu is their lechon kawali kare kare since that's something I don't think enough Filipino restaurants serve and oxtail is MASSIVELY overrated. Sorry, but it is. Cry about it. I'm only knocking off a star because I can and also last night was the one time service here was a little lackluster. My family couldn't get our waiter's attention for most of the meal just to get water so I ended up doing the water refill on our pitcher myself. It's not a huge pain in the ass or anything but I don't like doing another person's job that they get paid to do but I do it for free. Is that being overly nitpicky? Maybe. I also don't care. This specific Isla is probably my favorite Filipino restaurant I've eaten at in the Bay Area at least. I've said countless times in past reviews that I don't like most Filipino restaurants in the United States so I consider that high praise. However, this location is in Newark and I'm residing in Antioch. This place isn't exactly a convenient drive so I'm looking forward to when the Isla location in Pleasant Hill opens up, whenever the hell that is.

This is one of my favorite Filipino restaurants in the East Bay. Their food is consistently good and the portions are always big. We got the beef brisket Kare-Kare, Garlic Rice, and the BBQ pork skewers. The food came out quick and was steaming hot. Our service was very good from the moment we walked in. We were greeted right away and sat quickly. The server was very quick to take our order and regularly checked on us. This restaurant is usually pretty busy at dinners, especially on Friday nights and the weekends. They have both inside and outdoor seating. Inside can get busy and fairly loud but this only adds to the authentic feel of being around great people and good food. If it's your birthday they will play a happy birthday jiggle over the sound system which is sort of cheesy but is part of the fun and entertainment of the restaurant. Overall I always enjoy going to Isla to eat. I always know I'm never going home hungry .