Restaurant Review: Filistix

FILISTIX

8900 114th Street | flavour-agency.com

Instagram: @filistix.sub

Co-Diners: The E.A.T Crew

You might remember Filistix from the really amazing Filipino restaurant that used to exist downtown. Unfortunately, they closed at the end of 2024 which was a very sad loss. However, Filistix has continued on in various forms meaning that you can still get your hands on the delicious Filipino food that you know and love! Named Best New Restaurant in CBC Edmonton's Best Restaurants 2019 and Best/Favourite Filipino Restaurant 2020 & 2023 in the Edmonton Journal, it's easy to see that this mecca of Filipino flavours has found it's way into the hearts of Edmontonians. These days, if you are looking your get your Filistix fix there are a few options; their food truck can still be found out and about in the warmer months and are often parked at various events throughout the summer. There's also the main focus of their business, now called The Flavour Agency Catering Co. which features the full range of their delicious food (but yes, you'd have to book this for an event). The most easily accessed option that I can tell would have to be Filistix SUB, located in the basement of the Students' Union Building at the University of Alberta. The hours are a bit tricky: Not open on the weekend and closed by 6:30pm each weeknight, but not impossible. I visited on a Friday evening for an early-ish dinner and it was honestly kinda fun and nostalgic being on campus and seeing all of the students scattered about, working on their studies. Most of the restaurants in the SUB building are located on the first floor so be sure to note that you'll find Filistix in the basement area. A "basement" sounds dank however the space is quite refreshing, with large floor-to-ceiling windows which allow for tons of natural light. The concrete floor feels industrial and there are plenty of tables available for seating. I especially enjoyed the giant steps being used as a chill lounge area covered in bean bag chairs. Filistix itself is set up as a take-out spot but their usual vibe is still present with neon lights making the proclamation of "good food" right under their name. I also really liked their green tile work and fun mural on the back wall. It's a small spot but you can still feel the love and personality that they continue to create. The menu of Ricemeals is small but a lot of their most popular dishes are present. They also serve up alternating lunch specials for variety. All meals are served with steamed rice and their signature Asian slaw and come in two sizes. Any easy choice was the Classic Chicken Adobo ($16.00 for large) because adobo is the national dish of the Philippines.

Seasoned roast chicken garnished with a tangy and savoury glaze made from soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, bay leaf and black pepper.

The potion size was very generous with three entire chicken thighs included! Adobo is actually a cooking method that can be used for any protein or vegetables. This process is mostly about marinating the food and usually involves browning the meat/veg first and then marinating it. The sweet savoury glaze that coats the dish is a key component! I loved this version of the dish because the chicken itself was so tender. The meat practically fell off the bone and I appreciated the complex flavour profile that's salty from the soy sauce and bright from the vinegar, tangy and slightly sweet. This dish is deeply flavoured and meant to be eaten with rice to soak up the intense sauce. The rice itself was very light and fluffy, combining with the sauce wonderfully. I also enjoyed the crunchy Asian slaw which added a great texture and did a great job of cooling the entire dish down. If you've ever been curious about trying adobo this would be the place to get it from! I also wanted to try the South Pacific Coconut Chicken ($12.00 for small) because I'd heard that it's one of the best things on the menu.

Our signature oven-roasted chicken drizzled with a creamy South East Asian-inspired coconut curry sauce.

A similar preparation to the adobo, this one uses a curry sauce instead. I LOVED this dish!!! Of the two, I think that this one was my overall favourite. The rich and creamy sweet coconut curry was just so flavourful and delicious. I loved the way that it soaked into the rice, making it taste more like coconut rice. The flavour of this dish was very addictive and while it might be a bit more Thai-leaning than Filipino, it was a huge hit. I added some Extra Chili Oil ($1.00) to my order so that I could amp up the spice level as needed but honestly, the flavours at Filistix are perfect just the way that they are. There are a few sweets available for dessert and I inquired about the Crinkles (a type of cookie) but unfortunately they were all sold out. Overall, I was just happy to see that the Filistix that still exists continues to be very delicious and upholds everything that we have come to know and love about them. I still mourn the loss of their full-scale restaurant but having a place to continue enjoying their delicious flavours is better than none at all! I'd love to see a few silogs on the menu (slap some SPAM on there!) because the students would love it (and so would I). Looking forward to spotting the food truck around town this summer for even more tasty eats!