Filipino Food in Nova Scotia and the Maritimes
Driving into Halifax for Filipino food from elsewhere in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or PEI? When to come, what to share, Sunday brunch, and how to take party trays home.
Barrios Restaurant & Bar
10/23/20263 min read
Filipino Food in Nova Scotia and the Maritimes: Planning a Trip to Halifax
If you live elsewhere in Nova Scotia, or in New Brunswick or PEI, a meal at a Filipino restaurant can mean a drive into Halifax. This guide is for that trip: when to come, what to order when you are only here now and then, and how to bring food home.
Barrios Kitchen & Bar is a Filipino restaurant at 1571 Barrington Street in downtown Halifax. We started as a food truck in 2018 and opened on Barrington Street in 2025. Our chef, Nino, is from Lucena in Quezon Province, and all our chefs are from the Philippines.
Pick your day before you drive
We are open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 AM, until 9 PM Tuesday to Thursday and 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. We are closed on Mondays, so do not plan a long-weekend Monday around us.
Sunday is different. There is no regular menu, only a self-serve Filipino brunch from 10:30 AM to 4 PM, at $29 per adult, $15 for ages 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under. As far as we know, it is the only weekly Filipino brunch in Atlantic Canada. It is a good fit for a day trip: tocino, longganisa, pandesal and siomai every week, plus soups and lunch dishes that change with the chef's choice. Book ahead for Sunday brunch.
If you are driving in for dinner Tuesday to Thursday, the last booked table is at 8 PM, and walk-ins are seated until about 8 to 8:30 PM. On Friday and Saturday the last seating is at 10 PM, and Saturday nights usually have live music. Holiday hours change, so call or check our Facebook page before a trip in December.
What to order when you only come now and then
Share plates across the table so everyone tries more. Five plates to start from:
Pork sisig, $20. Chopped roasted pork with soy sauce and chili, sizzling on a cast iron plate, with a raw egg you mix through while it is hot.
Kare-kare, $22. Crispy pork belly and vegetables in a rich peanut sauce, with bagoong, a salty shrimp paste, on the side.
Crispy pata, $27. Pork hocks simmered until tender, then deep-fried, with a homemade soy vinegar dip.
Pancit bihon, $17. Thin rice noodles with vegetables, with chicken, crispy pork belly or shrimp.
Chicken inasal, $22. Grilled chicken marinated in citrus, garlic and spices, with garlic rice. It is pork free.
Sisig and kare-kare come with steamed rice. For the crispy pata, add steamed rice ($2.50) or garlic rice ($2.75). Kare-kare contains peanut, which cannot be left out, and its bagoong is made from shrimp.
Bringing Filipino food home
Our party trays are the easiest way to take a meal back with you. Order 24 to 48 hours ahead, pick a pickup time at checkout, and collect on your way out of the city. Some trays can be done the same day if you call, but it depends on the day. Pickup runs Tuesday to Saturday until 8 PM and Sunday until 4 PM. A family size tray serves about 5 and a party size about 10.
Hot trays are packed to hold heat for a short trip and the first serving, not for a long drive. For a longer drive home, bring a cooler with ice packs, keep the food cold on the way, and reheat it until steaming hot. Crispy pata and lechon belly are boxed to keep them crisp. They belong in the cooler too, and an air fryer brings the skin back best at home.
Planning a bigger trip
For a family or a larger group, call ahead. The restaurant seats up to 60, with no room fee and no minimum spend. For a private event, call or message us on Facebook.
We also run a food booth at the Philippine Fiesta in Halifax. Check our Facebook or Instagram for the date.
Visit Barrios
We are at 1571 Barrington Street, on the west side just south of Sackville Street. Book a table or call 902-444-2515 before you set out. The full menu is online. Prices shown are from our current menu and may change.
Quick answers
Where can I get Filipino food in Nova Scotia and the Maritimes?
Barrios Kitchen & Bar is a Filipino restaurant at 1571 Barrington Street in downtown Halifax, with a Filipino brunch every Sunday.
Is Barrios open on Monday?
No. We are closed on Mondays.
Can I take Filipino food home on a long drive?
Yes, with planning. Order party trays 24 to 48 hours ahead for pickup, bring a cooler with ice packs for a long drive, and reheat the food until steaming hot at home.
Should I book ahead if I am driving in?
Yes, especially for Sunday brunch or a group.