6 restaurants serving Sisig Tacos
Napa, CA
“Carabao represents a groundbreaking milestone for Filipino cuisine, bringing Michelin-trained Chef Jade Cunningham's refined yet accessible vision to Napa Valley as the region's first Filipino restaurant. Named after the Philippines' national animal, the water buffalo symbolizing strength and perseverance, Carabao opened in 2025 after three years of sold-out pop-ups that proved Napa's appetite for elevated Filipino food. Chef Jade, who grew up in Bulacan and trained at The French Laundry, blends her childhood flavors with fine-dining techniques learned from Thomas Keller's legendary kitchen. The intimate 50-seat dining room features soft pink and jade green tones, fresh plants, and rattan baskets that evoke Philippine rice fields, while murals by Filipino artist Marielle Atanacio celebrate cultural heritage. Founded in partnership with her husband Mathew Cunningham and the Gonzales Family Fund, Carabao serves as both restaurant and platform for Filipino culinary arts advancement. The menu reimagines classics with precision and artistry - arroz caldo becomes chicken confit porridge with local organic ingredients, pancit features hand-rolled noodles with seasonal vegetables, and sisig tacos arrive topped with quail eggs. Tortang talong pairs with smoked coconut bechamel and marinated cherry tomatoes, while sweet spaghetti uses Wagyu hot dog Bolognese. Traditional dishes like kare-kare, lumpia, lechon, and inasal showcase bold Filipino flavors through refined presentations. The curated wine list features Napa Valley selections that complement the cuisine's complexity. Reservations through Resy fill quickly for dinner service Tuesday through Saturday, with weekend lunch available. Carabao's 4.9 rating reflects exceptional execution that honors tradition while pushing boundaries. This restaurant doesn't replace home cooking but celebrates it through a lens that positions Filipino cuisine on the global fine-dining stage where it belongs.”
Poway, CA
“Luna's LUNpias represents the remarkable pandemic success story of owner Luna Mortenson, who started with a casual social media post offering homemade lumpia in April 2020 and grew it into Poway's award-winning Filipino fusion restaurant. Voted Best Filipino Restaurant in San Diego 2024 by San Diego Reader, Luna's opened its brick-and-mortar location in 2023 after building a devoted following through pop-ups at breweries and farmers markets. The restaurant's innovative approach blends traditional Filipino flavors with influences from Hawaii, Mexico, and Japan, creating unique dishes like lumpia nachos, sisig tacos, tempura musubi with panko-crusted Spam, and chilaquiles made with Filipino tocino. Luna's signature creations include the viral PancitLUNpia Cakes and Ube Tres Leches that showcase creative fusion while maintaining authentic Filipino soul. The family-run restaurant at 14034 Poway Road emphasizes fresh, made-to-order preparation, vegetarian options, and dishes that tell the story of the Filipino diaspora experience through food.”
Oakland, CA
“Señor Sisig has revolutionized Bay Area Filipino food through their innovative Filipino-Mexican fusion concept that began as a food truck in 2011 and expanded to multiple brick-and-mortar locations. Founded by Evan Kidera and Gil Payumo, the restaurant takes its name from the beloved Filipino dish sisig-traditionally crispy pork seasoned with calamansi and chili peppers-and reimagines it within Mexican culinary formats. Their signature California Burrito features sisig alongside french fries, cheese, and signature sauces, while their tacos, nachos, and quesadillas showcase how Filipino flavors translate beautifully into familiar handheld formats. This creative approach makes Filipino cuisine accessible to broader audiences while respecting the integrity of traditional flavors. The menu extends beyond sisig to include chicken adobo, lumpia, and tocino preparations, all adapted into fusion-style presentations. Señor Sisig's success demonstrates the natural affinity between Filipino and Mexican cuisines, both emphasizing bold flavors, communal eating, and satisfying comfort food. The Oakland location serves downtown's diverse lunch crowd and evening diners seeking flavorful, innovative fast-casual dining. The restaurant's popularity contributed significantly to the Filipino food movement in the Bay Area, proving that Filipino flavors can successfully integrate into mainstream food culture. With multiple locations across the Bay Area including food trucks and partnerships at sports venues, Señor Sisig has become a recognized brand that introduces thousands of diners to Filipino ingredients and cooking styles through a fusion lens that feels both adventurous and approachable.”
San Francisco, CA
“Señor Sisig's Ferry Building location brings the beloved Filipino-Mexican fusion concept to San Francisco's iconic waterfront marketplace, introducing tourists and local food lovers to innovative Filipino street food. Founded by Evan Kidera and Chef Gil Payumo, Señor Sisig pioneered the concept of marinating pork shoulder for 24+ hours using family recipes from Pampanga before charbroiling and serving in Mexican-style tacos and burritos. The Ferry Building stall positions Filipino fusion cuisine alongside the Bay Area's most celebrated artisan food vendors, showcasing Filipino food culture to thousands of daily visitors exploring San Francisco's premier food destination. This high-visibility location has helped legitimize Filipino cuisine in the mainstream Bay Area food scene, exposing diverse audiences to sisig's bold flavors. Beyond traditional pork sisig, the menu offers chicken and tofu variations, California sisig burritos with French fries, and the signature crunch-a-dilla. The Ferry Building's emphasis on quality local food aligns with Señor Sisig's commitment to fresh ingredients and authentic preparations. While the stall format limits seating, the prime location near the Embarcadero makes it ideal for tourists, commuters, and Ferry Building shoppers seeking quick, flavorful meals. Señor Sisig's presence at the Ferry Building represents Filipino cuisine's arrival in San Francisco's culinary elite, standing alongside celebrated vendors as an equal ambassador of the Bay Area's diverse food culture.”
“Señor Sisig's Thrive City location represents the brand's newest chapter, opening in January 2025 at the Chase Center arena complex home to the Golden State Warriors. This marks a historic milestone as Señor Sisig becomes part of the Warriors' dining lineup, bringing Filipino fusion cuisine to one of the Bay Area's premier sports and entertainment venues. Located at 151 Warriors Way, the Thrive City restaurant serves Warriors fans, concert-goers, and Mission Bay visitors with their signature Filipino-Mexican fusion. The menu features exclusive items including crispy sinigang wings created in collaboration with Bay Area music artist P-Lo, a longtime friend and collaborator. These tamarind-forward wings with fresno chiles demonstrate Señor Sisig's continued innovation in Filipino fusion. The location also serves the Tosilog burrito, lechon kawali plates previously exclusive to Oakland, and their full range of sisig preparations. The opening celebration featured members of the San Francisco Filipino Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the cultural significance of Filipino representation at this iconic venue. Founders Evan Kidera and Gil Payumo emphasized their mission to bring "food, culture, connection to the community" to Thrive City. This location extends Señor Sisig's evolution from food trucks to a multi-location restaurant brand with presence at one of San Francisco's most visible venues. For Filipino-American visibility and Filipino cuisine's mainstream acceptance, the Thrive City location represents a major achievement in bringing Filipino flavors to Bay Area sports and entertainment culture.”
“Los Kuyas brings Filipino-American fusion cuisine to San Francisco's vibrant food scene, combining traditional Filipino flavors with California influences and modern culinary creativity. This restaurant appeals to adventurous eaters and Filipino Americans alike with its innovative approach to classic dishes and its willingness to experiment with flavor combinations. The name "kuya," meaning older brother in Tagalog, suggests a welcoming, family-style approach to dining. Los Kuyas fits perfectly into San Francisco's diverse and dynamic restaurant landscape, offering both familiar comfort foods and surprising new interpretations. The casual atmosphere and creative menu make it a popular spot for groups, date nights, and solo diners exploring the boundaries of Filipino-American cuisine.”
