Reviews describe Buboy as a cozy and authentic Filipino spot where comfort dishes like pancit, lechon, bulalo, kare kare, and kinilaw shine, with many praising bold flavors, generous portions, and a homey counter vibe. The menu is frequently cited for thoughtful twists and a strong sense of tradition, and the service is consistently described as friendly, attentive, and approachable, making for an inviting dining experience even when busy. Some feedback points to the mall location and occasional inconsistencies in temperature or preparation, while others call the price a good value and highlight highlights such as special feasts and standout pancit canton. Overall, the reviews frame Buboy as a noteworthy, often praised Filipino food destination in Montreal with enduring appeal.
I visited twice on the same Montreal trip, which I think says something. Either about Buboy's potential, or my own optimism. Possibly both.
First visit, I ordered the bulalo. At Buboy they serve it with noodles, which is their prerogative. I asked for rice on the side because I'm Filipino, & also the grandchild of a rice farmer, so this is something I take personally. The rice was dry enough that not even the bulalo broth could rescue it, which is a sentence I genuinely did not expect to write about a Filipino restaurant. The beef in the bulalo was also quite lean, which made me reconsider whether the noodles would have even helped. The broth itself was decent. I could see the vision. I just couldn't fully live in it.
The music situation: the staff were changing songs constantly, which is a pet peeve of mine both as a customer & as someone who has worked in food service.'Folded' by Kehlani came on. They changed it immediately. I am not over this.
Second visit, different friend, different order. I got the tinapa fried rice, which was genuinely good. I also paid extra for an additional egg, somewhere in the $2-3 range, & received half an egg. So I paid to complete the egg that came with the dish.
Buboy has real ideas. The menu has personality. Our friends who live in Montreal love it, & I wanted to love it too. I just think the execution stumbles on the things that should be the easiest to get right. Rice. Beef. The egg math (I know there's eggflation, but still.)
I'll probably try the ube crinkle cookie next time I'm in town. There will probably be a next time.
I finally visited Buboy, a Filipino restaurant that gives a twist to classic Filipino dishes. I ordered the crispy kare-kare & crab rangoon. The presentation was not as appetizing as what I saw on their IG, but the taste made up for it. It was really good. When they say crispy, it is truly crispy. The crab rangoon was a standout & something I would order again.
Also, shoutout to the staff who served my food. She was very nice & welcoming. I felt a bit guilty for not smiling back when she smiled at me. Great service overall.
Apr 11, 2026
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Very disappointing & frustrating if you're trying to plan an order in advance… phone numbers don't work & if you try to reach out on social media they expect you to place an advance order over DMs.
My mom is almost 80, isn't in the best of health, doesn't drive & doesn't have social media. She used to go to Buboy a lot when it was in Monkland. Over Instagram I tried getting their new phone number but they wouldn't give one (who knows why). & then all they replied to me was that they couldn't accommodate an order 2 days in advance…
Unprofessional &, frankly, a bit rude. Super disappointing. Don't recommend for those who live far from the new location. If you like to plan things in advance & get information on what can be ordered in advance, don't bother trying to contact this restaurant…
so tasty & full of flavour! i wanted to check this place out for awhile & i'm so happy i did. the restaurant is small & cozy, & we had two orders of sisig. it was tasty, savoury & sour - probably the best i've had in a long time. i'll definitely be back!
I had the pancit & pork because I was craving noodles but didn't want to overeat in Chinatown. Perfect portion size for 1 plus the flavor is a change from other Asian restaurants!
A steaming Filipino bowl of Bulalo: rich, clear bone broth layered with deep beef flavor, tender shank falling off the bone, sweet corn, soft cabbage, & fresh noodles soaking it all in. Comforting, honest, & deeply satisfying.
Between sips & bites, we drifted through conversations about Montreal, travels across Asia, geopolitics, & cinema, the world feeling both vast & right there at the table. 🍲🌏
We appreciated the attentive service & professionalism of your staff during our recent visit to Montreal.
We're puzzled that the online reviews don't accurately reflect the restaurant's actual location, which is within a small corner space of a larger building.
Unfortunately, the food we tried didn't live up to the standards suggested by the reviews. Although the Filipino dishes did have an authentic taste, our overall experience was marred by concerns over sanitation & the ambiance of the premises.
We hope you can use this feedback to improve & align the experience with your online presence. 😩😑🫣
Their pancit canton brought me back to the ones I usually had in my childhood but more elevated in flavor. I love them for doing that. 10 out of 10 in my book
Feb 9, 2026
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Miam miam miam, leur brioche à l'ube est délicieuse. Le personnel est vraiment sympathique; on sent la passion des Philippines 😄 Super belle vibe là-bas!!! 😇
Jan 17, 2026
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I ordered lechon & crab rangoons to go & paid $2 extra to replace rice with noodles +the tip. Unfortunately, I was given rice instead of noodles, tried calling but the number is disconnected. Pretty disappointed since I was the only customer there.
We tried the Kamayan Christmas dinner special-a collaboration with Dobe & Andy-& wow. If you're a meat lover, this will absolutely blow your socks off. The spread was loaded with BBQ pork, crispy pork, chicken, duck skewers, veggies, cream cheese & crab dumplings, plus a generous portion of fried rice packed with even more meat.
Reservations are required since it's a group-style meal, & it's well worth planning ahead. Other standouts for us were the coconut soup with crispy pork & the bone broth-both comforting & deeply flavorful.
Buboy is truly a rare gem in Montreal. Huge thanks to Chef Eric for consistently offering such unique, delicious dishes at prices that remain accessible.
