I wanted to like this place cuz of all the hype. But it was just "meh" to me. Â The ginitaang vegetables was "meh". Not as flavorful as I'd have expected. The pancit was "meh". Just noodles with lots of pepper. The palabok was interesting. I don't think I've ever had it with calamari and tofu sauce. It was good. I was most disappointed in the Laing. Not enough leaves as I am used to. Mostly fatty pork belly that I ate around. Boo.
So the food was "meh". The service was blah. We were treated ok. Nice. But an elderly man came in. Maybe a bit "off". But harmless. He asked a lot of random questions. "Who is the manager?" Â "What's his name?" Â "Can i have a to-go menu?" (Which they ran out of). Some other random things. Can't remember. I just remember the girl who answered him. Â She just kept dismissing him and referring him to the website. He didn't look like a man familiar with a computer let alone a website. She wasn't busy. The restaurant wasn't busy. Her tone with him was just impatient and rude. He's an old man. Appease him.
I may give it another try. Maybe other dishes. But any time soon.
Nobody cooks filipino food better than my mom. My opinion is obviously biased. Since I can't (nor do I want) to go to the burbs all the time to get my fix, Isla Pilipina is the next best thing. Parking is quite sparse here so I usually take the risk of stashing my car at the nearby Burger King. Â But once I'm in, I'm devouring Kare Kare like it was the last time I would ever have it.
Review Source:UPDATE: Â
So with the mindset that we should call ahead and reserve a table....
We haven't had a bad experience at all with Isla. Â It still does get crowded but if you go early enough on the busy days (say around 11:30am on the weekends) or if you call ahead and reserve a table, you're guaranteed to miss the large crowds. Â
The food, as always, is fantastic. Â In fact my partner and I just returned from the Philippines and the options here are on par or better than the ones from the homeland- favorites include lumpia shanghai, kare-kare, bicol express, garlic rice, and lechon. Â
Just go already!
I'd like to say this is as good as momma's home cooking, but in truth? It's slightly better :). Sorry, mama. I love you, but the food here really hit the spot.
Ordered the Beef Steak Tagalog and Mixed Adobo. Food was cooked really well and seasoned perfectly with the meat being nice and tender. The service was super fast and friendly. On top of that, the Halo Halo was the perfect ending. I haven't had it in a while, but the mix of Ube and piece of Flan on top was a nice touch. Wasn't too heavy and super refreshing.
The set up is typical of small Asian restaurants... not much in way of decor or ambiance, but I don't think that matters when you're in good company and getting good eats.
not a good place to go if you have allergies/sensitivities/or a special diet. They told me an item on their menu was dairy free and when I got it, it clearly tasted of dairy. My friend tasted it and agreed. I sent it back and ordered something safer (Tapas) and got my bill and was charged for the meal they served me with dairy in it  that I couldnt even eat and they threw away. I am allergic to dairy and explained this yet they served it to me and then charged me for it.
Never going back!
Also, the bathroom is in the back in the kitchen. Gross.
Maybe a good place to get pick up when you are feeling like unhealthy take out food, Â with large portions for decent price.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago.
It appeals to me a variety of reasons including these top three: 1. The food 2. BYOB 3. The price.
The food is absolutely fantastic. I love the lumpia Shanghai and often crave it. The mixed adobo and rice adobo are my favorite dishes. The crispy chicken and BBQ chicken entrees are also delicious. I have enjoyed everything I've ordered from the menu and I have ordered a LOT.
Isla also has another great reason for loving them. It's a BYOB restaurant and who doesn't love a place with good food and a bring your own bottle policy? I sure do!
Lastly, the price is just right. I have enjoyed multiple birthday celebrations and group dinners here and the price is always just unbelievable for the amount of food we consume.This place just can't be beat!
Great. Now I am craving lumpia.
Did you know their kitchen's last call is 30 mins prior to close? Now you do! I called on a Saturday night for a pickup order. My stomach needed substance before a night of bartending. Plus I craved some Filipino food.
I called at exactly 8:27pm. They almost did not accept my order with hesitation. After some convincing, the girl took my order. Yay! I knew my order of Adobo Fried Rice and Lumpia Shanghai would not take too long to prepare.
I usually do not dine-in at restaurants within an hour from close. I didn't think my carryout would present too much trouble. The fact that they honored it was very pleasing. If that isn't decent customer service, then I don't know what is. I got to eat before work to avoid being an angry, hungry, or lightweight bartender that night. I appreciate the accommodation.
I arrived right before close to pick up my food. They still had a packed house. Literally, this place is small. I hope they expand soon. I've always liked the newer green scheme decor and art work on the walls. I tipped/signed my bill and squeezed my way out.
The food was very good. Plus the amount of food was reasonable for the price. Their Lumpia Shanghai tasted as it should. The Adobo Fried Rice had chunks rather than slivers of meat.
Over all, I would return to dine-in or order carryout again. The lunch special is a good deal too. This place is one of the nicer Filipino restaurants in Chicago that I would recommend.
oooh, yes.
I have been wanting to try Isla for SO LONG now, and I'm glad my friend and I finally decided to head on over this weekend. I figured we didn't need to make reservations with it being the Sunday before Christmas and we were right.
Step right into Isla and you feel like you're transported to your lola's kitchen. Or in my case, my friends from grade school's lola's kitchen--technicalities, people. Anyway, service is great and the food?
Okay look, I have a guilty pleasure of hot dogs, thus, I firmly believe Filipino spaghetti was created in my honor. If you get the spaghetti delight at Isla, you're also treated to two pieces of fried chicken. Need I go on? Fine. The chicken was some of the best fried chicken I've had in a while. Seasoned and fried just right. The spaghetti was also fabulous and can do no wrong in my fat kid mind.
We also started with the lumpia and it was tasty as well. Â My friend had the tocino and it was AMAZING. Definitely something I would get at some point.
Totally coming back and making my way through the menu. Longanisa, you're next!
Very good food with reasonable prices! They also have lunch specials until 3pm that include appetizers (lumpia) and desert!
The only problem I have is that the place is very small and tightly packed. Â But I think this is also the reason why this place is special. Â It has that typical Filipino restaurant feel that you would experience in the Philippines. Â
Food was very good, and prepared fresh. Â
We order their pancit (Filipino Noodles) for parties all the time.
I took my girlfriends father here, he is Filipino and when he saw our $55 bill, I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head! We both agreed the food tasted great and the decor was nice. However, it in no way, shape or form, justified the $55 bill. We did order a dish out but it is still outrageous. This place is BYOB and it is way over rated. The portions will leave you hungry. We could have ate at several Filipino "All You Ca Eat" Buffets for half that price! The space is tight and crowded. It's my opinion good initial reviews have carried them further than they deserve. It's time for a more honest review.
Review Source:I think this is the best Filipino restaurant in Chicago. You want non-Filipinos to be introduced to Filipino food without the overwhelming ETHNICITY of it all? Then take them to this place.
My favorite is DEFINITELY the BBQ Pork on a stick.
I disagree with people saying it is expensive. NO it is not. Chinese, Thai and Japanese places are dime-a-dozen and everywhere. Filipino restaurants are not. So if the dishes are $1-$2 more, it's a deal.
I grew up in the Philippines until I moved  to the US at 16. I KNOW what Filipino food tastes like. If you are a first generation Filipino who just go by what your mom cooks at home, and not experiencing going to other people's places to eat THEIR versions of cooking - as well as going to fiestas and going door-to-door to partake in each household's dishes, then your credibility is questionable.
I LOVE THIS PLACE, and so does my black, white, Latin and Asian close friends. Â Go with that.
I have so much love for this place. The food. The staff. The restaurant. Their story. Love and comfort in a little strip mall on Lawrence. Who knew?
I have never had anything that I didn't like. Seriously. When I first came, I knew very little about Filipino food (and I still sort of don't know much, but the constant appearances of pork, rice, garlic, and vinegar meals that we are soul mates)...but it was instantly comforting and delicious.
Now that Isla is practically my neighbor (heeeeey!), on cold days I love to call them up and order a ton of food and just sit on the couch watching bad TV and eating for hours.
* The sinigang soup with pork belly is a MUST. It is one of my favorite soups ever. They also serve it with a side of rice, so in itself, it is easily a meal, especially with the big hunks of pork belly.
* The meats dishes are meat-tastic. Lechon kawali with THAT gravy. The longanisa. The tocino. The mixed adobo. Mmm. (Note: if you're not into pork, you are a fool and probably shouldn't come here).
* You must always (ALWAYS!) order a side of garlic rice.
* Order the bicol express spicy.
* Their noodles dishes are tasty. Love the pancit palabok with the tofu sauce.
* And no visit to Isla is complete without eating at least 20 lumpia.
* Finish off your meaty meal with halo-halo.
I mean really, any place that puts hot dogs in their spaghetti and serves it with a side of fried chicken is going to win my heart over. I already knew that. Johnny T helped put them on Chicago's "placed to eat NOW" dining map when he raved about them on Check, Please!
So, expect Isla to be busy, busy, busy. The food is amazing, it is BYOB, and the prices are low. People want in. Make a reservation if you can, even for lunch. If not, expect to wait, as the space is small. But I assure you, once you take a bite of their food, Isla will become an instant favorite.
First time in Chi-town for the marathon and what better place to carb load than Isla Pilipina.
We made last minute reservations for a party of 5 and when we arrived we waited for about 20 minutes. Â The place was a cozy mom and pop restaurant but it was a full house. Â Everyone's dishes were huge and as I was waiting for our table I can't help but salivating over what everyone was eating.
We finally got to sit down and ordered our meals. I ordered a chicken Teriyakki dish along with vegetables skewers. The chicken was nicely cooked being so tender and juicy. Â Everyone's entree was so delightful even my friends chicken noodle soup.
We ended the meal by sharing the Halo-Halo. Â It was like a party in my mouth with mix flavors of ice cream, fruits, red bean..
Overall: Highly recommend for anyone visiting Chi-town to try this restaurant. Â Reasonable price for great food.
One word: Yummy!
Absolutely outstanding!
Isla Pilipina is an outstanding Filipino restaurant. Â The food is absolutely delicious, and it is a must visit in the Lincoln Square neighborhood.
On my visit, I ordered the Sotanghon Guisado - Vermicelli noodles sauteed with chicken and vegetable. Â This entire dish was awesome. Â The huge portion was big on flavor. Â Simply excellent!
I cannot wait to return!
Notes: BYOB and no "public" restroom.
I've been quietly stalking Isla Pilipina for a few years now. Like most accomplished stalkers I didn't show myself until I was sure the timing was right. Up until my dinner the other week I was mostly just lurking in the shadows of other people's Yelp reviews and Check Please reruns.
When my family decided we needed a dinner date near Lincoln Square I knew that it was time for me and Isla at last. I made a reservation about a week and half out for a group of 6. The day of our reservation came, I filled my growler for BYOB craft beer sharing and came suited in my black stretch jeans (this is the preferred uniform for dining = more room, less obvious stains when you spill all over yourself ... which I always do).
We started off with the Lumpia Shanghai (mini eggrolls). These things were like little pieces of fried crack. My son was literally in tears when they were gone and he rarely likes anything I order him.
We also ordered the Eggplant Tomato Tower which was fantastic and again left everyone sad when it was gone. It was creamy and garlicky with the perfect al dente texture I love when eating eggplant. I would definitely get this again.
For the main dishes we shared Chicken BBQ, Lechon Kawali, Bicol Express, Inihaw Bangus, Crispy Chicken (my 7 year old's choice) and Garlic Rice. Everyone at the table was in equal appreciation of each of the dishes. My favorites were the Lechon Kawali (deep fried pork belly with a Filipino gravy) and the Bicol Express (meat, shrimp, squid and mussels in a coconut milk sauce). The Garlic Rice was also delicious. When i mentioned wanting to order it everyone kind of groaned about rice being a such a boring thing to order especially since we were already getting plain white rice with each dish. However, when the time came there was not a grain left of the Garlic Rice. It was just so perfectly sticky and garlicky that you couldn't help but love it.
For dessert we got the Halo-Halo. I honestly have never had anything like it. The flavor was excellent but everyone was a little weirded out by the beans, coconut skin and coconut gelatin clumps floating around in it. Nevertheless, we ate every bite.
Based on this experience I don't see how you could go wrong ordering at Isla Pilipina. There wasn't one thing that I wouldn't get again. Ok ... so the bathroom situation is a little odd (you have to walk through the kitchen dodging dish washers and fry cooks) but it was just something for us to laugh about while eating mass quantities of unique and delicious foods.
The only advice I have, other than to EAT IT ALL!!!, is to make reservations well in advance. The dining room is very small and people really want to eat here. I definitely wouldn't try to walk in on a weekend night. Once I called ahead to see what the wait would be on a Saturday and they told me 2.5 hours. Trust me. Make a reservation.
Yes.. I am guilty..
Ever since last months Yelp's Ditch Day Pool Party I
have been dreaming of a visit to Isla Pillipina..
You see.. Isla brought in food for the party and..
okay.. they were my all time favorite.. the best of the best..
And.. yes Isla.. you rocked at the party and you definitely
rocked for my visit today!
This marvel of a restaurant is located in a small strip mall,
And.. as you enter you will find the most welcoming of restaurants..
There are about 10 tables and the inside/interior is so welcoming..
Isla Pillipina has a great staff of people working there..
To Ray and the lovely Zyra.. I would like to Thank You both for
being so welcoming to everyone..
Everyone dining in your restaurant today was so well taken
care of.. and happy!
I would also like to say Thank You to the lovely gentleman who was
spreading his food around for other diners to try, he was a true gem!
I literally could not stop dreaming of the mini eggrolls and the
garlic rice.. with the chili sauce of course!
I am so impressed with Isla Pillipina.. this is definitely on my
top 5 list of favorite places..
And.. menu prices cannot be beat.. such a small cost for
greatness..:)
So.. in closing.. I am truly happy that I visited your restaurant today..
You have all the right stuff here.. great food, a great atmosphere,
and the nicest of employees..:)
I will be recommending you to all my friends..
You are a class act 100%.. none better!
Thank You for all you do..
Wishing you every success...
But.. how could you not be successful??
You brought it once again..:)
I'll be seeing you soon I'm sure..:)
For the longest time, my sister had been dying to try out this place. The family (parents included) finally got around for an evening out last night.
My immediate thought as I entered was that the place was way smaller than I thought it would be. My second immediate thought was that it was way busier than I thought it would be. There was not an empty table in the restaurant--usually a good sign.
As we looked over the menu, many of the dishes were recognizable....especially since my mom made all of them on a regular basis. It was quite a high bar to jump over if these chefs could make them better than her. Anyways, my dad settled on the Bangus (milkfish), my mom and sister order the palabok (rice noodles topped with assorted veggies, fish and sauce), I went with the kaldereta (meat with veggies and sauce) and my other sister ordered the Lechon (pork with sauce).
The portions were large. The food tasted good (not as good as my moms though!) . My mom makes her palabok with much thicker noodles, which gives the dish a lot more consistency than how the restaurant did it. Plus it looked like the noodles were drowning in the sauce. My dad ate his entire fish (the portion that they gave him was a similar size to what he'd cook for all five of us for one meal!). My other sister and I liked our dishes...mine was just the bit spicy and she liked hers as well.
The service was kinda slow, but I give them the benefit since it was pretty packed that night. Overall the experience was definitely a step up from the Filipino buffets that my parents are used to, and definitely warrants another visit sometime soon.
Isla is easily one of my favorite places to eat in the city. The food is so good and the prices can't be beat. I don't think we've ever spent more than $20pp here when we've come as a group. Family-style is definitely the way to go!
They are quite popular, so I strongly suggest making reservations. We never try and show up here anymore because we know the wait can be long. They've honored our reservations each time, but even calling ahead we've had to wait about 10 minutes for tables to be cleared. We typically show up with a large group and they'll have one table set aside and another waiting to be vacated by the previous party.
We came here with our BYOB Dinner Group last year and it was so good that we've decided to make it a yearly event. We returned in June for our anniversary and just came back again this past weekend for a birthday party. We're now playing with the idea of coming a third time in November when three of us have birthdays and I joked that we should come three times that month and celebrate individually. It's that good.
It's hard to chose what my favorite dish would be. There are some I like more than others, but I enjoy them all. The Paksiw na Lechon is fatty (made from pork skin and fat) and there is another stew-like dish with a blood sauce. Those might be my least favorite, but I don't turn them down when they are ordered. I'd have to say my top three might be Crispy Pata (deep fried pork knuckle), Bichol Express (seafood medley in creamy coconut milk sauce) and the Tocino (meat strips with a tangy glaze). We've also ordered Crispy Pusit (their version of Calamari) and found it to be delightful. The outside is crispy without being greasy and the squid is very tender instead of chewy. I'm also a huge fan of the Crispy Chicken, which is easily some of the greatest fried chicken you will find in the city, and you can't go wrong with Pancit, Lechon Kawali or Beef Kaldereta.
We sometimes change up what we order, but we do stick to some traditions. We start the meal off with a pile of Lumpia Shanghai (mini pork egg rolls). You can get 20 small pieces for $5. We typically order 40 and end up ordering 40 more. We discovered the suggested serving size is 10 pieces per person. We also don't consider it a complete dinner without at least splitting a side of Garlic Rice (I could eat it by the bowlful) and a Halo Halo dessert to round off the meal.
I was with my mother and uncle, who are helping me move out to my new place, when she turned to me and asked if there were any good Filipino restaurants around the area-- because she was in the mood for Filipino food.
Of course, I turned to Yelp, which suggested Isla Pilipina, and it wasn't that far away from my place. So, we ended up going. We actually ended up passing by another restaurant, but it wouldn't open for another hour, and my mom was already hungry.
Now, since I was born and raised on Filipino food, I'm a bit picky on how it's served. The problem with growing up on Filipino food is that it always tastes better cooked at home, or at a Filipino party. The food is good, the portions are huge (and served family style! We werent' aware) But it's not as good as good old fashioned Filipino cooking...
I'd bring my friends who are unfamiliar with exotic foods here. I'd bring my best friend here to get used to Filipino food and to try it. The lumpia is great-- but small. But other than that, the food is good, as long as you've never tried the cuisine before. If you're familiar with Filipino food, you might just want to head to a Filipino party...
It's hard to find a sit down Filipino restaurant, especially one this cute, with good food and great service. The atmosphere is adorable.
Tried the adobo, lumpia shanghai, and pancit canton. We devoured it and even ordered more lumpia and lechon kawali to-go to eat later. They weren't as good after having to reheat them but still got devoured pretty quickly. The lechon was great when paired with pan de sal.
My mom lives in California so the next time I need some good Filipino home cooking, Isla Pilipina is where I'm going! (until I figure out how to make this food for myself)
My boyfriend and I drove for 30 minutes in a storm just to eat here. It's not often that you see a Filipino restaurant with so many reviews (and all of them GOOD). Sadly, I think we drove all that way for nothing. The restaurant is nice and the servers are all very friendly but I didn't think the food was anything out of the ordinary. Maybe my mom spoiled me with all of her home-cooked Filipino food?
We tried the sinigang with shrimp, crispy pata, pancit palabok, garlic rice and halo-halo. Everything tasted okay but was definitely not worth the high price tag. Our meal for 2 cost us about $50!! My mom could cook a bigger, tastier feast for probably about half that price! The sinigang was good. The crispy pata was very crispy but had very little meat. The pancit palabok had way too much sauce for my taste. The garlic rice was too sticky and did not have enough garlic flavor. And I could probably make better halo-halo at home. It's times like these where I wish my mom lived nearby..or at least in the same state.
I never really get excited about Filipino restaurants... So it means just that much more for me to tell you: If you're ever in Chicago, definitely go check this place out! They are on-point, true to the dishes I remember eating growing up---and most importantly, they make this sadly underrepresented and undersold delicious cuisine readily accessible to the general public. My hat's off to you, Isla Pilipina! Maraming salamat---ang sarap!
Of particular note: They actually LIST THE INGREDIENTS of the menu items! What a crazy concept! It's as if they're actually TRYING to reach out to the general public... ^_^
Finally tried Isla...and overall food was okay. Â Food didn't blow me away as for some reason I was expecting more, but was overly pleased. Â We ordered the Lumpia Shanghai (pretty tiny but eh, it's an appetizer), Kare Kare, Crispy Fried Chicken, Inihaw na Baboy (grilled pork) and the Pancit Canton. Â All were good, not great, but if I were to choose a fave of our order it would be the Crispy Chicken. Â Chicken very crispy and flavored well. Â The pancit canton would come in 2nd...noodles weren't overly greasy as some Filipino places, and was cooked well and tasty. Â
I think this is a great place for those who haven't experienced Filipino food. Â A great starting place for novices, and also a good option for the non-novices.
Overall, good food, reasonable prices, service was good.
I've been avoiding going to Isla, and even turned down a couple invitations from friends to join them. Â I knew once I tasted the amazing delights I would forever be obsessed. Â And so it has happened. Â
Started off with the tasty vegetable lumpia, then split longanisa (perfect level of sweetness) and lechon kawali (like a drug it's so good!), and of course finished up with a halo halo.
This is excellent Filipino food and I can't wait to work my way through the menu. Â Party platters are also in my future!
LOVED everything I had on my first trip here. Â We ordered the sinigang (sour soup broth with veggies & your choice of meat or seafood), mixed adobo (savory chicken & pork stew that you eat with rice), crispy pata (deep fried bone-in pork knuckle served with a soy sauce & vinegar dip), and halo halo with ube ice cream (shaved ice dessert with cream & fruit). Â I am definitely coming back for more!
The atmosphere was laid back, and our waitress was so sweet and friendly. Â They take a lot of take-out orders, we noticed.
Word to the wise: finish the crispy pata there because the leftovers won't be the same, even after you bake, broil, or toaster oven it.
Great place to take someone who has never had Filipino food. Â Definitely not oily or greasy. Â Great menu selection!
Ok, so let's be hones Filipino food is not the healthest. Â The crispy pata and lichon kawale was SOOO goood. Â I haven't had the halo halo yet, but everyone I've spoken to said it was good. Â
So nice to have a Filipino restaurant in the area!
Best halo halo I've EVER had. With surprise flan inside... Some jackfruit and red beans, I'm in love! And so close to my house.. This could be bad... But GOOD!
The appetizer mini eggrolls were perfect to start. Plus we ordered so much for entrees that we new it was going to be a feast. For only two!
Crispy Pata was sooooo delicious! Tasty and like they say- crispy! We still got Lechon Kawali which is like the same thing but cut to pieces. So choose one or the other...
Veggies- taro leaves?!?! I've had taro smoothies, but leaves? The closest I can compare us creamed spinach.. And AMAZINGLY delicious! I couldn't have asked for better veggies!
Chicken adobo was awesome. Tender and tasty. We also had adobo rice which had the same chicken in the rice so it was a little too much. But man was it good!!
All in all it was very good, but also very high in calories, so don't go too much... :)
Isla is where I go for a fix of the Filipino food my parents rarely make! Â It's located in the randomest little strip mall; handily right next to a liquor store as the place is BYOB! Â
I ALWAYS start with an order of Lumpia Shanghai--20 pieces seems daunting at first, but they inevitably get demolished before dinner's over! Â I've tried a respectable variety of the menu--from the Pancit Canton, to the Adobo Rice, to the Beef Kaldereta-- and haven't been disappointed yet. Â My favorite go-to is the Inihaw Pork. Â You get a pretty nice portion for your buck here so I usually have some to nibble and snack on the next day (though my mom has been known to steal my leftovers). Â
Overall, I adore this place! Â The interior is cute. Â I love the little lumpia and halo-halo shirts staff wear (and sell!). Â It's also ridiculously affordable. Â The first time I was there we ordered an appetizer, three entrees, and dessert and it STILL didn't break the bank. Â I've seen other reviews that mentioned long waits, however I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes (I typically go on the weekdays at 7 or 8).
I love this place! Â It was recommended by a few friends and I am so glad I finally tried it.
The lumpia appetizer is the perfect starter. Â I always smack myself in the head because I don't get the 20 pcs for $2 more.
We ordered everything. Â The BBQ pork, which has an authentic name I cannot recall, was savory with a bite - I think they marinate with a pretty strong dose of vinegar. Â Perfect for the barbie. Â The adobo was only meh in my book; a little too heavy/stew-y for my liking. Â BBQ chicken is simple enough, but so many restaurants mess it up - not Isla Pilipina. Â They make it magnificent, reminding us that the simplest dishes are the best ones. Â The fiance hearts the grilled veggies.
Moving on to the best part of the meal - dessert. Â Halo-halo, which directly translates to mix-mix, caps off the meal with a light hint of sweetness. Â I always ask for extra purple yam ice cream. Â IT IS SOOOOO good. Â Has a coconut sweetness that I am a sucker for.
Next time, I have to try the crispy chicken. Â Heard it's heaven.
I absolutely hate hate HATE to have to do this because I really enjoy the cuisine here, but I'll give Isla benefit of the doubt that perhaps it was an off day for them.
I was super excited because I was in the area to try the $5.99 weekday lunch special, which I never get the chance to do because of work. Soup, Rice, Eggrolls, Leche Flan, your choice of Entree...such a great deal! Now I've been raving to my friends about Isla Pilipina for awhile now, so I invited two first-timers to come along with me. I plotted my order beforehand by looking on the website menu. I was SET on the Tilapia Fillet. Crispy, Fried Tilapia  and a bed of white rice was just what I needed. When I went to make my order, I was saddened to see that the Tilapia was no longer on the physical menu. If this is really truly the case, please update your website Isla!
To add, some reason our service was really slow! It took about 15-20 minutes for the waitress to take our order. Then, we saw that another table that arrived after us got their food before us!! When we were ready to pay, the waitress was nowhere to be seen, so we had to go up to the register. Quite disappointing.
Now, I still have to admit, I think Isla Pilipina is one of the best tasting, best value Filipino restaurants in the area, which is why I still give it 4 stars. My first-timer friends enjoyed the food too. Immediately when they walked in, they said the restaurant "smelled so good, so you know the food is good". Not to mention, the place was crowded for a Thursday at 1pm. My friends ordered the beef steak, as did I, and I was very satisfied... but again based on what I explained above I have to knock down a star. Sorry guys.
Well, I finally made it here. After all this time being on my list and then a month ago being turned away due to a water main break outside, I got in the door with a sixer of beer ready to get down. I came away so impressed in the food and service I'm plotting my return and then on a search for other similar spots.
The fried lumpia is so good...you think 10 pieces would be enough for $3, but these bite sized wonders go so fast. Â The sweet and sour sauce is perfect for dipping. Â My sister and I was overwhelmed by the great choices on the menu ranging from veggie to chicken, beef an seafood. We decided we had to try thie Adobo fried rice, which was a revelation. Â The rice was cooked so perfectly, the right blend of fluffy and sticky. Â The dish came back with chicken and pork and it was a huge portion. I could have had this for a meal. Â There's actually an adobo entree that's a bit different but one of their specialties. This is on my list for next time.
We also decided to try the Kare Kare which is oxtail in a peanut sauce with string beans. Â Believe it or now this was my first time eating oxtail and I was definitely into it. Â Cooked to tender perfection on the bone the oxtail and peanut sauce was a great combination that had a ton of flavor. I didn't mind using my hands to pick the meat off the bone. Â The last entree we had was the Bicol Express, which is squid, shrimp, mussels and chicken cooked in a coconut milk sauce. Â This took a bit longer to cook and we were pretty much stuffed by the time it came out but this might have been the winner on the night. Â Fresh, delicious seafood in a light creamy sauce with mushrooms and green and red peppers. Â
Overall, the food was fantastic and the service was fantastic. We were seated right away on a busy Wednesday night and our food came out quickly. The servers were very friendly and had the right balance of checking in with you and leaving you alone. Â
I definitely cannot wait to come back and try some more dishes! This is my new favorite spot on Lawrence...besides Nhu Lan.
Based on my one and only experience, I am not a fan.
I ordered the mini eggrolls, calamari, and Bicol Express. Â The mini eggrolls were delicious and came with a uniquely flavored sweet and sour sauce. Â That was the first dish I ordered, and the only dish I enjoyed to say the least.
When I saw calamari on the menu I got really excited; after reading good reviews about the quality of their seafood I knew it had to be ordered! Â Boy, was I wrong. Â I normally prefer my calamari sauteed, but am always willing to try it fried. Â This was so intensely deep fried that there was barely any calamari within the breading. Â It was almost as if I ordered a deep fried batch of...nothing? The parts of the calamari that I could actually taste were so dry and fishy that I could hardly devour one bite, not to mention they were very tough. Â It came with a vinegar sauce that I was unable to enjoy; extremely sour - but understandable if traditional to Filipino culture.
The waitress advised me to order the Bicol Express, as she said it was her favorite dish on the menu. Â This dish included sauteed calamari, mussels, pork and came in a coconut milk sauce. Â I wanted to give the seafood another shot and was hoping that the sauteed calamari was better than their fried version. Â It tasted a little like curry, however it was much too sweet! Â I'm not one to order sweet entrees, but went way off the beaten path due to my waitress's suggestion.
The calamari was a lot tastier, and the mussels were fine. Â I wish it had more mussels. Â The pork was awful, I could barely eat any of it. Â The Bicol Express was a little spicy, and I enjoyed that - but overall, this dish was not suited for my personal taste.
Their service is pretty hospitable, which I am always appreciative of. Â I wanted so badly to like this place, especially since they were playing Ray Charles, but was sadly let down. Â Since this restaurant has so many good reviews I MIGHT consider checking it out again. Â I had never eaten home style Filipino food before this and I am curious to try the spaghetti and hotdogs.... Â
If you come here, whatever you do, DO NOT ORDER THE FRIED CALAMARI APPETIZER.
Everyone I know needs to go here now. Actually, even if I don't know you, you needdd to go here now. Isla has some seriously good Filipino food. I've only had Filipino food a handful of times in my life, mostly at friends' houses, so I was pretty excited to try some new dishes.
My friend made reservations 3 weeks in advance for our party of 7. I wasn't quite sure why she made them so early, but when I saw its pint-size seating, I was so glad that she did. Â We decided to order several dishes, so that everyone could try something new. I don't even remember what the heck we ordered, or how many dishes, but all I knew was that food kept coming out of the kitchen to our table. We ended up ordering the Lumpia Shanghai, Crispy Pusit, Pork BBQ, Kare Kare, Pancit Bihon, Longanisa, Crispy Pata, Mixed Adobo, Grilled Vegetables, and most dishes came with white rice. Â Needless to say, we had had plenty to try, and even took home leftovers.
Everything was sinfully delicious, but my absolute faves were the Grilled Vegetables, Pork BBQ, Pancit Bihon, and the Longanisa. I also had a (couple) taste(s) of the Flan, which was fabulous, and a bit thicker than traditional Mexican Flan. Â All together, we each ended up paying $20/person which is a steal if you saw how much food we ate and took home, and not to mention the amazing service of the staff. Everyone was so hospitable to our big party, and made our experience excellent. I don't have enough good things to say about Isla Philipina, other than I can't wait to go back.
Oh!!! One last thing--did I mention it's also BYOB? Because it is :)
I have been here twice. I took my cousin in August 2011 to get some Filipino food and meet up with some of his friends. It was great and my cousin said it was just as good as the Filipino restaurants in California, which is a compliment. Some of the best Filipino restaurants can be found in the SF Bay Area.
Then for my second visit, I organized a dinner for seven and made reservations about 3 weeks ahead since I knew how small the place was and it was a Friday night. Since it was BYOB, I brought a 12 pack of San Miguel with me from Binny's. But I didn't know they had San Miguel at the liquor store next door. I made a mental note for next time.
We got  traditional dishes - Lumpia Shanghai, Crispy Pusit, Pork BBQ, Kare Kare, Pancit Bihon, Longanisa, Crispy Pata, Mixed Adobo, which also came with 4 or 5 servings of rice. We also ordered grilled vegetables (2 servings), crispy fried chicken, adobo fried rice. Even for a party of 7, this is a lot of food since they serve family style and the portions were huge. When the Kare Kare came out, we were like "More food?" LOL Everything was fantastic especially the longanisa and crispy pata. I can eat the longanisa all week long. After being stuffed, I got leche flan for dessert. It's denser than traditional Mexican flan imo. It reminded me of my mom's flan. My friend had a bite or two and she liked it as well.
When we received our bill including tax and gratuity, we were amazed how cheap this place was and brought home 5 leftover containers all together. Fantastic Filipino food and great deal.
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