Your guide to Canada’s must-visit spots for Filipino Restaurant Month

Photos from pampangascuisineca ,cebuchonbbq/Instagram

Officially commencing today, April 1, the countdown begins with a whole month of Pinoy food feasts as Filipino Restaurant Month kicks off in Canada. 

For Fil-Canadians, the month of April will be a lot tastier, sans getting fooled (on April Fools’ Day), with this month’s food celebration in full swing. 

And for Filipino Restaurant Month’s third annual run, we’re looking to an even grander display of Filipino cuisine’s greatness across Canada.

A time when food lovers unite to recognize the artistry of Filipino chefs and the flavors embedded in their menus, this April, the spotlight shines on the plethora of Filipino restaurants serving up authentic Filipino fare in Canada.

Restaurants from Vancouver to BC and Alberta join in this month-long festival, each offering their specialties to the table. 

During an event on March 18, held at the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary, Consul General Zaldy Patron highlighted the event’s previous successes, noting, “The 3rd FRMC will build on the positive outcome of the first two years…which generated a total of 120 million total media impressions and CAD7.0 million in total media ad value for the FRMC.”

Plus, with the Department of Tourism’s “Love the Philippines” campaign in full swing, this is the best time to delve deep into Filipino culture starting with food.

This year’s Filipino Restaurant Month in Canada features over 40 restaurants in eight provinces chiming in — with a goal to catapult Filipino food into the limelight while fostering a deeper connection between the Philippines and Canada.

You may also like: Grandma’s chicken curry and lumpia are the stars of this Filipino restaurant in BC

What’s cooking?

Coinciding with the 75th year of diplomatic relations between Canada and the Philippines, the event boasts of epicurean delight as restaurants across Canada roll out prix fixe menus. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the culinary gems in Vancouver and Alberta that are shining bright during Filipino Restaurant Month: 

Pampanga’s cuisine 

6094 Fraser Street, Vancouver

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Plato Filipino

892 Carnarvon Street #100, New Westminster

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Max’s Restaurant 

3546 Kingsway, Vancouver

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Cebuchon & BBQ

7451 Roper Road NW, Edmonton, AB

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Shameless Buns

5772 Fraser Street, Vancouver

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Smokehouse Sandwich Co.

5188 Westminster Highway, Richmond

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Audielicious

9720 100 Street, Fort St John

Goldilocks Bake Shop

2833 Main Street, Vancouver

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La Mesita Restaurant

10006 MacDonald Ave, Fort McMurray, AB

Flavours 8

11705 8th Street, Dawson Creek

Grandt Kitchen Restaurant

10257 King George Boulevard, Surrey

Prizes await (with stomachs full!)

Alongside the indulgence of savory Pinoy goodness, Filipino Restaurant Month is also gifting prizes to lucky restaurant hoppers. 

National prizes include:

• Four (4) domestic round-trip tickets to the Philippines from Philippine Airlines.
• Two (2) land travel packages from Rajah Tours Philippines.
• Certificates for 3D/2N hotel accommodations from nine (9) hotels owned by Megaworld International, Vista Land, Discovery Hospitality, and Chroma Hospitality. (One offers 2D/1N accommodation.)

Local prizes include:

• A total of 20 gift cards worth CAD100 each from Seafood City of Calgary and Smiles Mobile Remittance of Red Deer.
• 190 dining vouchers and 20 gift certificates for balikbayan box shipments from the 41 participating restaurants and LBC Calgary.
• Travel vouchers worth CAD500 each from three (3) Alberta-based travel agencies: FlyFriendly Travel & Tours of Edmonton, Alexis International Travel of Red Deer, and Love Canada Travel and Tours of Calgary.

Echoing the views of Philippine Ambassador to Canada Maria Andrelita S. Austria, “I encourage all of you to visit the FRMC participating restaurants this April 2024 and be ready to fall in love with our food, our people and our country.”

With a lineup of delish Pinoy eats this good, who needs a plane ticket to have a taste of home?