This is one of our go-to restaurants whenever we crave Filipino food: Avenida! This place is packed with customers as the location is in the busy streets of downtown San Mateo. We recommend calling in to reserve a table as wait-times can be very long, especially during peak lunch and dinner hours. It’s also common for the restaurant to run out of certain drinks, dishes, or desserts, so try to visit as early as you can in the day. Otherwise, it’s best to avoid weekends or any major holidays!
Avenida is a hot-spot for Filipino food in San Mateo. It offers a modern-take on traditional Filipino dishes, elevating its looks and tastes that attracts anyone new to the cuisine or those experienced to its flavors. The restaurant’s decor makes it a lot more inviting, especially compared to the typical hole-in-the-wall image of other Filipino or Asian restaurants. They also house a balcony overseeing the inside of its restaurant that they use for any small event, party, or gathering.
Our Recommendation from Avenida
To start off, the restaurant’s Sugba Kilaw is one that we always order whenever we visit. Sugba Kilaw is a Filipino-style ceviche topped with their own marinated and grilled pork belly. It packs a lot of flavor, which many locals enjoy with any alcoholic drink from their bar. You can also regularly enjoy this dish with some rice if you’re not as keen on alcoholic drinks!
One of our favorite entrees is their Beef Shank Bulalo. It’s a Filipino dish that isn’t as commonly served in other restaurants, especially when compared to a known favorite like Sinigang. We highly recommend that you order extra broth with it! This is so you can enjoy its soup both on its own or by pouring it over a plate of rice.
Don’t forget to always order rice with your dishes! Since Filipino dishes tend to pack a ton of flavor, you should eat them with plain white rice. This will help to balance out the saltiness or acidity of each dish.
As for our go-to desserts, the Halo-Halo, Buko Pandan, or Leche Flan are all so delicious that it’s difficult to narrow down! They serve their desserts cold. Avenida serves their The Halo-Halo and Buko Pandan with milky shaved ice, making it enjoyable on warmer days. For colder days, we tend to enjoy the Leche Flan more with its soft and creamy texture.
Lastly, we can’t forget to recommend one of their most popular items on their menu: Gerry’s iced tea. Just know that this isn’t the typical iced tea because it’s Filipino-styled, meaning it packs with flavor and comes sweetened! It’s one of the items that often runs out early in the day, especially on their busier days.
Any Questions?
Definitely give Avenida a try if you haven’t already! If you have any questions or comments, let us know in the comments down below! Make sure to check out our Facebook page for frequent updates and notices!
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