HALINÁ Modern Filipino Kitchen + Bar

Before there was a dining room, there was Bigboy's Chigs To-Go, a small takeout and catering business run by four friends with a shared love of Filipino food. The restaurant's own account says the wish to bring the flavours of the Philippines to the Lower Mainland pushed the project further, and the result is Halina, listed on Google as HALINÁ Modern Filipino Kitchen + Bar, at 2439 E Hastings St in Vancouver's Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood.

The stated aim is an elevated dining room that blends Filipino tradition with Canadian ingredients and stays open to everyone, from people who grew up with the food to people trying it for the first time. The restaurant's website backs that up with a page on the history of Filipino cuisine, tracing how Spanish, Chinese, American and Japanese influences were layered onto the islands' own cooking rather than replacing it.

The bar draws on calamansi, ube, pandan and lemongrass, and pours Filipino beers alongside a Canadian apple wine made by Filipino creators. Weekend brunch serves silog plates from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and celebrations for 21 guests or more can be requested through the events page.

Reservations and pickup orders go through Toast, and delivery is through DoorDash. Hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. A free two-hour community parking lot is at Kamloops Street and Franklin Street. The phone number is 778-504-0970, and the published email address is [email protected].