What are the must-try Filipino dishes for someone who has never eaten Filipino food?

Start with adobo (chicken or pork braised in vinegar and soy sauce), lumpia shanghai (crispy pork spring rolls), and sinigang (sour tamarind soup). For something more adventurous, try sisig — a sizzling plate of chopped seasoned pork served with a raw egg on top. For dessert, halo-halo is the quintessential Filipino treat, a layered mix of shaved ice, sweet beans, coconut, ube ice cream, and leche flan. These five dishes give you a representative introduction to the cuisine's range of flavours.

Where can I find Filipino restaurants in Metro Vancouver?

Filipino restaurants and bakeries are concentrated in three main areas: Surrey (particularly along King George Boulevard and 72nd Avenue), Burnaby (along Kingsway from Edmonds to Metrotown), and East Vancouver (Commercial Drive and Victoria Drive corridors). Downtown Vancouver has a growing number of Filipino food options including food trucks and pop-ups. Filipino grocery stores and turo-turo cafeterias serving steam-table meals can be found throughout these corridors and serve as affordable entry points to the cuisine.

What is a kamayan feast and where can I experience one in Vancouver?

A kamayan feast is a communal Filipino dining experience where food — garlic rice, grilled meats, seafood, lumpia, and various dishes — is spread on banana leaves covering a long table, and everyone eats with their bare hands. Several Filipino restaurants and caterers in Metro Vancouver offer kamayan experiences, typically requiring advance booking for groups of 6 or more. Pricing generally runs $45-$75 per person. Kamayan feasts are popular for celebrations, team dinners, and special occasions.

What is ube, and why is it suddenly everywhere in Vancouver?

Ube is purple yam (Dioscorea alata), a staple ingredient in Filipino desserts and baked goods. It has a mildly sweet, earthy flavour similar to taro but with a distinctive vanilla-like note and a vivid natural purple colour. Ube has crossed over from Filipino-specific use into mainstream Vancouver food culture, appearing in lattes, ice cream, cheesecakes, and pastries at both Filipino and non-Filipino establishments. Its popularity is driven by both its appealing flavour and its photogenic purple colour, which performs exceptionally well on social media.

Is Jollibee worth the hype, and what should I order on my first visit?

Jollibee is the largest fast food chain from the Philippines, and its Metro Vancouver locations draw devoted crowds. The essential first order is Chickenjoy — the chain's signature fried chicken, which is marinated, hand-breaded, and notably crispier and juicier than most North American fast food chicken. Pair it with Jolly Spaghetti (a sweet-style Filipino spaghetti with hot dog slices and cheese) for the full cultural experience. The peach-mango pie is a must-try dessert. Expect lineups at peak hours, particularly at the Surrey and Burnaby locations.

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