Filipino Restaurants Expand in Chicago

Chicago is known as a multicultural city and melting pot full of world-class art, interesting architecture, and more. Now, it has a new string to add to its bow: An influx of highly respected Filipino restaurants. We’re not talking about the kind that look “authentic” to those who don’t know better while leaving genuine Filipinos or those familiar with the country disappointed.

Let’s take a look at one of Chicago’s rising stars in the restaurant space, Kasama, plus a few
other promising Filipino eateries.

Introducing Kasama

In a list of the 40 best new restaurants in the US 2022, Esquire highlighted two Chicago establishments: Indian restaurant Indienne and the Filipino fine-dining spot Kasama.

Despite only launching in 2020 as a bakery (it still serves pastries in the morning), Kasama has already made quite a name for itself. As well as being chosen by Esquire, it has also become the first Filipino restaurant to earn a Michelin star — one of the most prestigious accolades in the industry. It has also been named one of Chicago’s top restaurants by “Food Guy” Steve Dolinsky from NBC 5, one of The New York Times' top restaurants of 2021, and more.

Found in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village (on 1011 N. Winchester Ave), the spot is the creation of chefs Genie Kwon and Timothy Flores, who both have Michelin-star experience on their resumes.

During the day, Kasama sticks to its roots by operating as a cafe where you can buy sandwiches or pastries for a casual meal. But make no mistake — Kasama thrives as a fine dining institution at night, serving traditional Filipino food of the highest quality and attention to detail. The star
of the show is its tasting-menu, containing a 13-course dinner for $215 — sure to impress even the pickiest of food critics. Some of the restaurant’s signature dishes include its “halo-halo” (nutty tarts), classic Filipino lumpia, and a delicious mushroom adobo with mussel emulsion.

Other Filipino restaurants

Kasama may be the talk of Chicago right now for an exciting restaurant experience, but as mentioned, Chicago is a melting pot known for its great cuisines. It has various other spots with genuine Filipino food earning a reputation for excellence.

On the more budget range of the spectrum, Subo Filipino Kitchen is the second Filipino restaurant to be launched on its premises. It opened recently to replace Three R’s Filipino Cafe and Grocery, which closed in 2018 after being a staple of the community for many decades. Despite the affordable prices, you can find plenty of delicious classics, including longanisa for breakfast or a warming dinuguan strew. As a bonus, the restaurant lets you sample dishes before you commit to ordering.

Or, if you’re after more of a formal eating experience, you can find Cebu around the Wicker Park area. As well as serving delicious dishes like sisig and adobo, the establishment also serves some delicious drinks and has a great atmosphere in the back patio, making it a great spot for date nights or friend nights.

In other words: If you can’t quite visit the best restaurants in the Philippines itself, Chicago is the one to visit.