Isla Grand Restaurant

been there about 5 times now always pretty dare good

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

If your into authentic filipino food. This is the place for you. Live bands on weekends.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

We celebrated when Isla brought their business to Contra Costa, finally a Filipino food that I could be proud of to bring my guests. However, being too big and too busy doesn't mean that your service should decline. We were here for 2 consicutive weeks this month for in-laws birthday, we were seated right away and placed our orders after few minutes.

It went down on the way they serve food, they are very quick that I assumed that food that are famous for customers get to be prepared ahead like pork sisis and crispy pata. We ordered, crispy pata, pork sisig, pancit, nilagang brisket, pakbet, grilles liempo, grilled squid and fried tofu as appetizer.

Crispy pata came out really quick and sisig with rice and there's a like 10 minutes or so before they serve the rest of our food and our appetizer came in the middle of our meal when it's supposed to be at the beginning.

After serving our food, our waiter never came back to check on us, I had to refill our water from their soda machine myself because you can't find any waiter close to our table. Their servers are everywhere they got no assigned section. After finishing our meal no one ever came up if we are ready to pay, we had to ask their staff who is cleaning tables to get our check and finally someone took our money and asked if we need to-go containers but also, that person never came back and we had to ask another person to bring us to-go containers.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 2

This place is huge compared to the other Isla restos. Food is authentic and delicious. You can never go wrong with their kare kare and lechon kawali. Service is fast, attentive and friendly. I can imagine this being so busy during the weekends so we went early on a Sunday morning to avoid the crowds.

Our other favorites are the sisig, bistek bangus and grilled pusit. One of our favorite Filipino restos in the East Bay.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Finally came here was excited to try the food here. I even did a video on social media about how excited I was to come. Unfortunately I have 2 issues 1. The choices of meat 🍖 cuts is very questionable, mostly bone, odd parts of the animal, chicken I can't bite with no meat. 2. The male servers were a bit too caty, bad attitude and didn't really want to work.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 2

Absolutely terrible experience. The food was drowned in MSG to the point it was unpleasant to eat. The kare-kare had none of the authentic flavor it’s known for, and the so-called “tinta” rice was clearly just rice dyed black—no sign of real squid ink at all. The soup was unbearably salty. I’ve eaten at both the San Bruno and pleasant hill branches and the quality was equally awful at both locations. This restaurant has zero consistency or authenticity. I will never return and would not recommend.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 4

Absolutely terrible experience. The kare-kare had an awful taste and the meat was extremely chewy. The vegetables looked like they were straight from the freezer and lazily mixed into the sauce. The tinola was unbelievably salty and completely inedible. Total waste of money. I will never come back to this restaurant.

Food: 1

Totally outstanding food & service. We had lunch on Saturday for lunch at the Newark, CA Isla Restaurant just to sample the food after trying to eat at two other Filipino restaurants in Fremont that were duds (totally yuckie). On our way home on Sunday from the Bay Area back to Lincoln, CA, we just learned there was another Isla Restaurant in Pleasant Hill. We decided to stop by there just to check out the site. We were so happy to find the restaurant open so stoped & had lunch plus invited our best friends from Pittsburg. Double OMG…sooooo good! Ordered delicious dishes: deep fried fish, crispy pork kawali, Kare-kare, tocilog rice plate & wonderful dessert! Super accommodating service.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I’m definitely biased because I love our Filipino food so much! 🫶 It’s one of my favorite spots. Even though it's a bit pricey, the portions are large, so it's worth it.

The servers here are very nice and the place is cozy as well. Plus, they also have a bar with live music! Unfortunately, the bar area was fully booked, but we could still hear the band playing while we ate. So this is a great place to bring your family and friends 👍

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This authentic Filipino food restaurant is great. The restaurant is a large open restaurant similar to a business cafeteria. It is a fun atmosphere for large groups and families. I would not recommend it for a romantic date.
I was with a native Filipino who said the plates we ordered are almost identical to the homeland.
This restaurant also has a separate section, which was sold out, where a live band plays. The band was energetic playing 90's and 2000 music. Unfortunately, there were no tables available. I would recommend having dinner in the dance hall. I enjoyed the service, although a bit slow on the drinks, but prompt in serving the food. I would definitely return and stay for the live music!

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 4

The food and service is amazing. Alexander is a great host.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Every time my family eats at Isla no mater what you order the taste does not change, THIS IS OR FORTH TIME AND YOU'LL go home full all the time. So take my word it is good EATING TY

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food was delicious... vegetables were cooked just right. The crispy pata was crispy and tender... the kare-kare sauce was served luke warm and so was the rice. The beef brisket nilaga was really good... beef was tender and the broth was tasty and plenty.
Sisig order was forgotten so we had to remind server... it was good but portion was really small.
The servers were nice and attentive.
We'll come back if in the area.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

Mostly for all filipino dishes lovers.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Went on a Saturday evening when they hired 2 bands to play, mostly songs from the 80s - 90s. The music and singers were great!! One of the fish dishes was a little too salty for my taste. Overall, their Filipino food hit the spot. Both soups we had were great! There was also filipino street food sold right outside the building.

Small dance floor, tho it works! Enough room generally for people who want to dance! We called about 5 days before to have a table reserved. Reservations are recommended for Saturdays ( don't know about other days) especially when there is a band playing. A great time!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4