Pinoy Cravings — Restaurant in Burnaby

We recently dined at this restaurant with a group of 12, having made a reservation in advance. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the staff, and our tables were already prepared for us. The ambiance of the restaurant was simple and neat—no frills, just a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

We ordered a variety of dishes, which we’ve ranked in order of our preference:

Sizzling Bulalo - Undoubtedly, the highlight of our meal! The beef was incredibly tender, complemented by a rich and creamy mushroom gravy. Lechon Kawali - Perfectly crispy skin paired with tender, juicy meat—a close favorite. Sizzling Sisig - A classic, well-seasoned dish that continues to be an all-time favorite. Pork BBQ- Soft, well-marinated pork skewers that were grilled to perfection. Sinigang na Baboy - The soup had a good balance of flavor and generous portions of meat. However, I missed the kangkong (water spinach), which is usually part of an authentic recipe. Bistek Tagalog - Generous portions with lots of onions (which I love), providing a tangy sour kick. Pancit Canton - Packed with ingredients (madaming sahog), making it hearty and satisfying. Lumpiang Shanghai - Classic and enjoyable, it didn’t disappoint. Okoy - Crispy vegetable fritters with a nice crunch, though the veggies could have been cut finer for a more refined texture.

For desserts: Turon - These were massive! Each order came with two pieces, and yes, they had langka (jackfruit)—a delightful touch. Leche Flan - Smooth, rich, and creamy—a perfect ending to the meal.

The portions were impressive, with each dish easily serving two to three people.

Beyond the food, the cleanliness of the restaurant stood out. The single common washroom was spotless and thoughtfully equipped with a bidet—a finding that shouldn't go unnoticed!

Overall, this was a fantastic dining experience. We’re already planning our next visit and can’t wait to try their crispy kare-kare and lomi. Of course, the Sizzling Bulalo will forever remain a staple...

A Solid Filipino Food Spot Worth Returning To

We recently dined in at Pinoy Cravings in Burnaby, BC, and came away pleasantly satisfied—and already planning to return. When it comes to restaurants, we often sort them into three categories: the one-time try and never again, the "if-there's-nothing-else" fallback, and the rare gem you intentionally return to. Pinoy Cravings definitely belongs in the third category.

We sampled three dishes during our visit: Okoy, Palabok, and Sizzling Tofu.

The Okoy was nicely done—crispy, flavorful, and not greasy at all. It was a satisfying appetizer and set the tone well for the rest of the meal.

The Palabok was also good, though it leaned slightly on the sweeter side. It featured three large shrimp, which was a pleasant surprise in terms of portion, although the shrimp themselves could’ve been better in texture—less rubbery and more succulent. The dish didn’t include some of the traditional toppings like shredded tinapa or minced pork, which we’ve come to expect in other Filipino eateries. Still, it was flavorful, well-balanced, and thankfully not overly salty, which can sometimes be an issue with Filipino cuisine. The portion was appropriate for the price point, making it a worthwhile dish overall.

As for the Sizzling Tofu, it was one of our favorites of the night—rich, creamy, and perfectly seasoned. If we could suggest one improvement, it would be to add a bit more sauce, just to really round out each bite.

On top of the food, service was excellent. Our server—whose name might have been John—was exceptionally friendly, attentive, and made our experience even better.

All in all, Pinoy Cravings delivered on flavor, value, and hospitality. It’s a place we’d definitely recommend if you’re craving Filipino cuisine in Burnaby, and we’re looking forward to trying more dishes on...

Looking forward to coming back to try their other items on the menu.

We had okoy which I absolutely love. I will only ask next time that they fry it a little longer for extra crispiness. The thick part of the okoy still had wet batter inside. Regardless, it was well seasoned and a great mix/choice of vegie with shrimp. Their Inasal was moist & flavourful - my hubby picked it as “pinakanagustohan ko sa lahat”. For me it is the only inasal i liked that i’ve eaten in restaurant outside Philippines.

Something of a surprise is their Crispy binagoongan - it was not something we expected buti it did not disappoint. The eggplant is cooked perfectly. It created a good contrast to the super crispy pork and bagoong but they jived well together making the dish something you will crave for.

I guess it’s fried food craving for us as we also had tokwa’t baboy. It was cooked perfectly and if only i had more room to eat it all. 😳

We had few more items for take out and cant wait to eat it tonight. (Escabeche, bbq and shanghai). Im also looking forward to try their Lomi. Since everyone seems to love and enjoy them. Finishing a big bowl to the brim. I was so tempted to order it for takeout.

But …. I tell myself it would be better to have it tom during wet snowy day!

The atmosphere is not something that matter to me as it is the good food that makes me come back. Im so glad this restaurant opened...