Kiko's — Restaurant in Toronto

In the middle of a busy life filled with meetings, travel, and constant movement, I’ve found that what keeps me grounded isn’t something grand or exclusive—it’s the simple, familiar comfort of a place that feels like home. For me, that place is Kiko’s, a low-key Filipino restaurant tucked into Toronto’s Little Manila. It’s not high-end or polished for show, but that’s exactly why I love it. Kiko’s is real—filled with warmth, kindness, and a quiet sense of belonging.

I first wandered into Kiko’s looking for a break from the rush of the week. What I found was more than just a restaurant. It became a personal refuge—a space where I could set aside my role, slow down, and be part of something genuine. Filipino hospitality has a way of doing that: it welcomes you in, feeds you well, and reminds you what community really feels like.

Every time I go, I order the same thing: the K2 Seafood Kamayan Platter, served with Java Rice and a cold glass of calamansi juice. It’s become such a routine that the servers don’t even hand me a menu anymore—they already know what I’m getting. The Kamayan feast, laid out on banana leaves, is a mix of grilled shrimp, crab, squid, mussels, and rice—food that’s meant to be eaten with your hands and shared with others. There’s something about that kind of meal that slows time down. It’s unpretentious, communal, and deeply human.

One of my favourite things to do, especially on a Friday evening, is to park my car a little further away and hop on the bus with everyone else heading into Little Manila. That short ride is part of the experience. I get to blend in and connect—with elders sharing stories of home, young aspiring OPM artists strumming quietly on their phones, nurses heading home after long shifts, and students full of plans and energy. We’re all part of the same rhythm, sharing small moments on the way to the same destination. It’s those simple, unscripted interactions that make the journey to Kiko’s just as meaningful as the meal itself.

When I’m there, I’m not representing anyone or anything. I’m just another person in the neighbourhood, enjoying good food and good company. It’s my way of staying connected to the Filipino Canadian community on a personal level—not through events or titles, but through conversations, smiles, and shared experiences.

Toronto’s Little Manila is full of stories—of families building new lives, of young people finding their way, of culture preserved through food and friendship. And Kiko’s captures that spirit perfectly. It’s where families gather, friends catch up, and strangers become familiar faces. For me, it’s a reminder that no matter how busy life gets, there’s value in slowing down and being part of something real.

In a city that never stops moving, Kiko’s is my pause button. It’s where I can unwind, eat with my hands, laugh with strangers, and feel connected again. Between the aroma of grilled seafood, the comforting taste of Java Rice, and the bright tang of calamansi, I find what I’m really looking for—not just a meal, but a moment of peace, community,...

We visited Kiko’s to see if it truly lived up to the buzz surrounding Filipino cuisine along Bathurst street. This area is known as a small culinary haven for Filipinos, offering a wide variety of eateries and Asian grocery shops. Kiko’s is tucked on the side of a building, right next to Popeyes. Upon stepping in, the vibe immediately transported me back to the Philippines. The canteen style interior, the hum of friendly chatter, and the comforting aroma reminiscent of a carinderia gave a nostalgic sense of home. It’s not just a restaurant, it feels like walking into a family gathering back in the barangay.

We started with Chicken Inasal, a dish close to my heart as a self confessed Mang Inasal fan from the Philippines. Kiko’s version comes very close to the iconic flavor profile with juicy, well marinated chicken grilled to perfection, the smoky char enhancing the layers of marinade. The meat was tender and flavorful down to the bone, a sign of proper marination time and grilling technique. The rice, perfectly cooked java rice, was neither too soft nor too firm, with each grain distinct and carrying the subtle aroma of garlic and annatto. It was a harmonious pairing that brought the dish together beautifully, making it feel like a complete meal rather than just grilled chicken and rice.

Next came the Sisig. While it had an appealing texture with crispy pork bits that had clearly been rendered well, I personally prefer a richer, more savory style with bolder umami depth. This version leaned slightly toward a lighter flavor profile, and while the red bell peppers added visual vibrancy, I found they introduced a sweetness that disrupted the balance I look for in traditional sisig. That said, the crunch was satisfying, and for those who enjoy a fresher, slightly brighter take, this might hit the spot. As a chef, I appreciate the effort to reinterpret classics, even if it differs from my preferred flavor direction.

Finally, the Bagnet and Inihaw na Liempo were the undeniable highlights. The bagnet was a thing of beauty with crispy, golden brown skin that shattered delicately with each bite, giving way to tender, juicy pork beneath. Achieving this balance of texture is no easy feat and it speaks to precise control of temperature and timing. The inihaw na liempo carried the deep, smoky notes that only come from patient grilling over steady heat, with the fat rendered just enough to keep the meat moist and flavorful. Both dishes spoke of home cooked mastery, the kind that makes you close your eyes for a moment to savor the memory it evokes.

Overall, Kiko’s lives up to the hype. It offers a slice of home for Filipinos abroad, not just through food but through atmosphere and hospitality. The staff were efficient, warm, and genuinely welcoming, service with the same heart as a Filipino ate making sure you’re well fed. For anyone craving authentic Filipino flavors with a touch of nostalgia, Kiko’s is well...

This place is a true gem. I had the Kamayan box with the pork belly option. It came with so much food and everything was flavourful and cooked perfectly. The dish is also visually stunning as well. For $25 you get this ginormous platter of variety, and all orders come with a free soup too.

Let me start with the soup. This soup was amazing. They give you a nice hot bowl of beef bone broth garnished with fresh chopped green onions. You can really taste the beef bone in it. I couldn't stop drinking it, and even asked for a second offering which they gave me for free!

Now the platter. It comes with a giant serving of seasoned rice, 4 grilled mussels, 4 head-on grilled shrimp, a nice slab of crispy lechon, 2 gigantic grilled pork belly skewers, some succulent okra and grilled eggplant. Can you believe that? All for just $25!? It also comes with this dipping sauce that was very refreshing and goes well with everything on the platter, tastes kind of like pineapples and tamarind, sweet and tangy. Everything on the platter had it's unique individual flavour too, so you're not just over saturating your palette with all the same flavours. The meal does not get boring from the start to finish. I have a large appetite, but this meal can easily feed 2 people.

The grilled shrimp was simply heavenly. I love shrimp served head on. Especially when it's cooked right. The shrimp you can tell is fresh and cooked to order, the peel separates super easily and you can still see the glisten on the shrimp meat, and when I ripped it open I can still see the individual fibres of shrimp meat. Absolutely cooked to perfection.

But my favorite was definitely the pork belly skewers. It was so juicy and tender, you can tell a lot of care was put into making this. The flavour was a mixture of sweet and savoury, more towards the sweet end. I was skeptical at first when I approached the counter deciding what I wanted to order, because generally when you see food chilling on a steam table, it just associates with dry and dead. But their skewers are next level. And I'm glad the platter came with 2 of these gigantic skewers. One of the skewers I saved for the end of my meal, and even to the last bite when it is now cold, was still super moist and tender.

They have a huge menu with lunch specials as cheap as $12 a plate. Whatever you order though, I recommend adding one of the pork belly skewers to your order.

10/10 would recommend. I'm definitely coming back more often and...