Coming soon · Toronto

Filipino warmth, served to the world.

From the family behind iSLAS Filipino BBQ & Bar (Toronto, 2017–2025). We're preparing Filipino events, kamayan dinners and chef-led experiences. Join the list to hear first.

Join the listRead our story
A note on where we are

Rebuilding, slowly and carefully.

We closed iSLAS in 2025 after a time of deep personal and family change. We're taking our time to rebuild the right way, with the tools, team and foundation to do it well.

We're not taking bookings yet. When we're ready, the people on our list will be the first to know.

Kain tayo! Let's eat. There's always room at our table.
What we're preparing

Experiences that nourish and teach.

Every experience will carry the same intention: food as a way to connect people, culture and stories.

Coming soon

Kamayan & storytelling dinners

Eat with your hands, share everything. Multi-course Filipino dinners where each dish is a chapter, with Chef Marc telling the story between courses.

For private hosts, cultural groups, companies and community celebrations.

Coming soon

Live cooking demos

Chef Marc at festivals, expos and community events: Filipino technique, signature flavour and a story worth hearing.

For food festivals, cultural expos and brand events.

Coming soon

Workshops for food creators

Practical sessions for aspiring chefs and food founders, built on eight years of running a restaurant, with tools from Islas Tech.

For culinary schools, food entrepreneurs and community groups.

Back on stage

Halal Expo Canada, June 11, 2026.

Our first live appearance after closing iSLAS was a cooking demo at Halal Expo Canada in Toronto. It reminded us why we started: the food, the conversations, and the aspiring chefs and bakers who stayed after to ask how to start.

“Every person who came up after that demo and said ‘I want to open something someday’: that's who we're building this for.”
Our story

Eight years of building. Everything we create comes from that.

From December 2017 to 2025, Chef Marc and Mariel Buenaventura ran iSLAS Filipino BBQ & Bar in Toronto. It grew to two locations, more than 20 staff and three annual Night Markets: a Filipino community built around a table.

iSLAS was featured in BlogTO, Foodism and Toronto Life, and recognised by the Philippine Consulate during Filipino Restaurant Month in 2022 and 2025.

The Islas Hospitality Group carries that table forward.

Chef Marc Buenaventura

Chef Marc Buenaventura

Culinary Director

Eight years running the iSLAS kitchen. Author of Finding Islas (in progress). marcbuen.com →

Mariel Buenaventura

Mariel Buenaventura

Operations

20+ years in finance and operations; the systems behind every event. Founder of Islas Tech. marielbuenaventura.com →

What we believe
Malasakit

Care

We care for every guest as family.

Bayanihan

Together

We build with our team, suppliers and community.

Pride

Heritage

Filipino flavours, told honestly and proudly.

Sustainability

Lasting

Less waste, local partners, a business that lasts.

Be the first to know

Join our table.

We'll share our first dinners, demos and workshops with the list first. Salamat po!

Join the list
The Islas family

One family, three homes.

Islas TechAI co-founder for hospitality creators Chef Marc BuenaventuraChef, storyteller and author Mariel BuenaventuraFinance, operations and Islas Tech