In recent years, Chicago has seen a remarkable growth in contemporary Filipino restaurants, building upon the foundation laid by family-owned staples such as Ruby’s Fast Food, Uncle Mike’s Place, Isla Pilipina (which closed in 2020), and Seafood City, the prominent Filipino supermarket.
This vibrant new wave of dining experiences spans an impressive range of styles, blending classic dishes with innovative techniques, from handheld delights to elaborate courses enhanced with modern culinary practices.
Here are ten highlights representing the diverse and satisfying flavors of Filipino cuisine, viewed through a modern Midwestern lens.
**Boonie’s**
4337 N. Western Ave.
Boonie’s, a pop-up turned Michelin Guide-recognized restaurant, offers some of the most exciting Filipino-influenced cuisine in the city.
Chef Joseph Fontelera crafts standout plates including grilled Argentine sugpo (prawns) featuring bagoong brown butter and sugarcane juice chimichurri.
Another highlight is his adobong isda with monkfish, preserved garlic chive, coconut water adobo, and hanghang oil.
Fontelera has vowed to maintain the signature sizzling sisig, a rich dish made of pork and chicken liver hash garnished with egg and lime—an absolute must-try.
**Cebu**
3120 N. Lincoln Ave.
At Cebu, a brunch and dinner spot run by siblings Marlon Tan and his brothers Malvin and Martin, diners can enjoy creative interpretations of regional Filipino classics.
Standout dishes include adobo chilaquiles, short rib silog with garlic rice (brunch only!), and sisig enhanced with calamansi espuma.
The menu also features ube waffles topped with fried chicken and an irresistible three-hour lechon belly with crackly skin—a staple since Cebu’s inception in Wicker Park in 2018.
**Kasama**
1001 N. Winchester Ave.
Kasama made history as Chicago’s first Michelin-starred Filipino restaurant thanks to the talents of chefs Tim Flores and Genie Kwon.
The restaurant offers an all-day dining experience; during breakfast, guests can indulge in hearty Filipino-inspired dishes like custardy egg sandwiches with caramelized longanisa and fried eggs served with garlic rice and tocino.
At night, diners can experience an inventive tasting menu priced at $285, featuring Filipino small plates such as lamb belly kare-kare paired with bagoong XO sauce and salmon with tamarind sinigang.
**Del Sur Bakery**
4639 N. Damen Ave.
Justin Lerias’ Del Sur Bakery uniquely combines Midwestern and Filipino flavors in a chic, allergen-friendly cafe and bakery.
Their trendy ube buttercream features two oat cookies, complemented by a citrusy calamansi curd in their morning buns.
Additionally, their sweet-savory longanisa sausage is a highlight within a flaky croissant, ideally enjoyed with housemade chai or a salted pandan syrup-infused latte.
**Bayan Ko**
1810 W. Montrose Ave.
Bayan Ko, founded by husband-and-wife duo Lawrence Letrero and Raquel Quadreny, has quickly become known for one of the city’s best tasting menu values—offering seven generous courses for $119.
Transitioning from a unique Filipino-Cuban menu to a prix-fixe format, Bayan Ko continually evolves its use of Filipino flavors.
Dishes like whole-prawn kinilaw (ceviche) served with yuzu juice-coconut vinaigrette and Thai chilies stand out, as does the Iberian pork collar asado with sour orange and yuca con mojo.
For vegetarian diners, the tasting menu for $99 doesn’t fall short, featuring dishes like brown butter-infused black arroz caldo paired with seared trumpet and oyster mushrooms.
**Bayan Ko Diner**
1820 W. Montrose Ave.
Just a short distance from Bayan Ko, Bayan Ko Diner offers comfort food that satisfies and is best paired with bottomless coffee.
Popular dishes include the sisig hash, which consists of chopped pork belly combined with shishito peppers, crisp potatoes, and soy black vinegar aioli topped with a runny egg.
The menu also includes empanadas, meat and seafood silog plates accompanied by garlic rice and salad, as well as sweet Filipino bread glazed with cinnamon and cheddar.
**Side Practice Coffee**
5139 N. Damen Ave.
A creative corner cafe, Side Practice Coffee not only serves excellent Filipino-inspired coffee drinks but also nurtures local indie startups.
Their menu features intriguing drinks like Purple Haze, comprised of cold brew with ube foam and steamed milk, along with Sunog Lattes infused with burnt vanilla bean and black sesame.
Check their Instagram for pop-up events featuring everything from art and jewelry to mouthwatering Texas BBQ kolaches, as it’s a dynamic space that champions local businesses.
**Novel Pizza Cafe**
1759 W. 19th St.
Novel Pizza Cafe offers a tight menu that fuses Filipino and Mexican influences alongside their renowned tavern and pan pizzas.
Highlights include the longanisa and giardiniera tavern pizza, which strikes a harmonious balance of salty, sweet, and crunchy flavors.
Their focaccia-style pan pizza is generously topped with pepperoni, ricotta, and hot honey—be sure to arrive early as Novel often sells out quickly.
**Kanin**
5131 N. Damen Ave.
Kanin captures the spirit of Hawaiian corner bodegas with its grab-and-go menu featuring Filipino and Hawaiian inspirations.
Their nori-wrapped musubi varies from Spam and furikake to tamarind shrimp, as well as tomato jam and egg.
Juicy tocino chicken and chimichurri pork skewers are also a highlight that should not be missed.
Show up early on weekends, when ube banana pudding and certain musubi often sell out.
**A Taste of the Philippines**
5914 W. Lawrence Ave.
Kathy Vega Hardy, originally from Manila, established her dream of opening a modern restaurant after years of running a food truck in Denver.
At her welcoming Jefferson Park establishment, patrons can expect a delightful mix of traditional brunch and lunch dishes like pancit and lechon over garlic rice, along with contemporary choices such as ube cheesecake bites and longanisa Scotch eggs.
Chicago’s Filipino dining scene proudly showcases its rich cultural heritage through innovative dishes, attractively melding tradition with a modern twist.
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