Really cute diner! We went around 930AM on a Saturday and while an inside seat would've required a reservation, we were able to sit outside immediately! They have a good beverage selection and the vanilla latte was delicious. For two people, we got a Pinoy Burrito and a half order each of croquetas, lumpia, and beef empanadas, two items coming in each half order, and it was the perfect amount of food. Our favorite was definitely the croquetas. I couldn't even tell you what was in them but the inside was soft and mushy in the best way with a crisp outside and a really yummy sauce. I also really like the empanadas with tasty tops vieja and a creamy, ranchy sauce. The Pinoy burrito was also really good, especially the bites with a good chunk of sausage and the sauce that came with it was also super tasty (as you can tell I'm big on good sauces). The lumpia was probably my least favorite but still good and crispy with a decent sauce, just liked the other things better!! read more

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Had a delightful time at BKD! I went in a party of 3 for happy hour right at open (5PM). They had a variety of $10 cocktails (the frozen ube drink was an 8/10- solid) and $5-10 bites. We ordered the wings and beef empanadas and both were very good. The wing glaze was sweet and very flavorful- I recommend. It was also super cute inside! Good vibe overall. Where it fell short for me was the service. There were 3 staff members in FOH, and it was literally just us in there until 545, yet it was nearly impossible to catch our server's eye. He was perfectly polite but very much absent. We have to wave him down (by leaning into his path, lol) for a second round, as well as for the check. A few people had streamed in by the time we left around 630, and if it had been that busy the whole time, I'd have understood. But he did walk by our table multiple times, scanned it for empties (which were there) but blatantly avoided eye contact when it was clear we needed something. Overall, other than that clear staff training issue, everything was great. read more

Had a quick yet nice and relaxing Sunday lunch here. We really enjoyed the tocino plate - very balanced, comforting, and flavorful. The tocino was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and paired so well with the garlic rice. We also tried the lumpias and pork belly adobo. Maybe not the best versions we've ever had, but still definitely tasty and satisfying. They also offer sweeter brunch-style dishes like ube pancakes, which looked fun and unique. Overall, we liked this cute, bright neighborhood spot and would happily come back again. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time at this restaurant. Menu was diverse, and the food was good. Nice-sized portions. The server was nice and really pretty, but didn't speak a word of Pilipino. The ambiance was very nice, and the patio was cute! read more

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This place is so freaking cute. When you walk in I would say it has botanical cute vibes. We sat at the bar and I asked what his fav food was and was recommended the Sisig and WOW was it the best choice. Everything was good but that was the bet by a landslide. I liked our drinks as well and the service was so quick. The food is a unique must try! I'm looking forward to coming back to the city so I can visit again!! read more

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BBQ Skewers: tender chicken thighs and the perfect amount of sweet glaze Lumpia Shanghai: the crispiness was perfection and the sauce was so good, it was like a slightly sweet vinaigrette Lechon Kawali: so crispy on the outside and the pork was juicy and tender inside, the sauce helps give flavor and softens the crispiness of the the pork Ropa Vieja: the shredded beef brisket was cooked to perfection but was very salty, eat it with the sweet plantains and rice and it reduces the saltiness taste, sweet plantains are black but not burnt, garlic rice is tasty Adobo wings: messy but worth it, delicious Saffron cream cheese flan: very sweet, but also had salt on top, texture is thick and smooth and melts in your mouth Halo Halo Banana Split: pandan ice cream is so good, loved the shredded coconut and the rice crispies to add the crunch, the fried banana lumpia was so good Hibiscus ginger cooler: slightly sweet and so refreshing, can def taste the hibiscus Pandan Mojito: slightly sweet and has like an aloe after taste Table reservations are for 90 minutes only and they give you a 20 min warning. Order quickly! You can sit at the bar if your time is up and still want to hang out afterwards. Highly recommend getting the $30 prix fixe menu (reasonably priced) and ordering one more dish from the menu for two people. We left feeling very full and satisfied if you're super hungry. Love the decor inside and very tropical with its palm leaves wallpaper. Latin music gives an upbeat atmosphere. There are two locations for Bayan Ko. One is a diner and the other place is for a more private tasting menu. I accidentally went in there instead of the diner place. read more

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Bayan Ko Diner lives up to expectations! The food was great and it really takes in a modern taste to Filipino food. I loved the flavors and I was so full because we had so much food but I wanted to keep eating it! My only feedback was that the tocino silog tasted like barbecue instead of the regular red-like traditional tocino. It still tasted great but not what was expected. But in general, the vibe of the location was chill. Homey with cool modern decor and great for a smallish-medium dining area. Definitely try to make a reservation because it was busy and packed the whole time. Also, service was great, our server checked on us occasionally and even warned me about how the Ube drizzle stains clothes so to be careful about that. Great experience! read more

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This was my second time going to this restaurant, and it was just as good as the first time. The service was great, and the restaurant is decorated nicely. I started off with a spirit free drink. It was okay. The food was really the star of the show. We started off with the lumpia which were very good, but we also got the crab rangoon dip which was AMAZING. It came with fried saltine crackers which was very unique and tasty. I had never had anything like that, and I really enjoyed it. For the entrees we shared fried rice and the beef short ribs (bistek). Both were delicious and seasoned perfectly. Finally, she shared an order of the chicken wings. They were fried to perfection and the sauce on top was delicious. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough! read more

A 70° day in March means its patio weather! Bayan Ko Diner has a super cute little patio on the sidewalk. We ordered half orders of all of their veggie dishes. The half orders were more than enough food for two people! I had leftovers to take home. I think the curry with eggplant was my favorite (with the garlic rice of course). For dessert, they have Milky Milky ice cream!! My favorite local ice cream that is so hard to find! Absolutely delicious I can't wait to come back in the summer. read more

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I really wanted to love this place but the diner experience fell short. It doesn't give much of a diner look. Though more of upscale and trendy. The 2 doors were a little confusing because I tried to enter through a locked door at first. Food was nothing memorable. Simple Filipino breakfast with a costly price tag. I felt like the tocino and longaniza were more savory than sweet than I'm used to. The ube pancake was mad dry and also burnt. I was trying to taking something home for my toddler but even she was disapproving the pancake. read more

We decided to try Bayan Ko Diner based on the positive reviews and its feature in the Michelin Guide. The restaurant is known for its traditional blend of Filipino and Cuban cuisine. The dining space is small, so reservations are highly recommended. One thing we appreciated is that the menu offers both half and whole portions, making it easier to sample a variety of dishes. Here's what we ordered: Croquettas 4/5 - Tasty and enjoyable. Chicken Skewers 3/5 - Just okay. Shanghai 3/5 - Just okay. Adobo Wings 4/5 - Giving this a higher rating because the kids loved them, though they were a bit salty for my taste. Crab Rangoon Dip 5/5 - The standout dish of the night - this was everyone's favorite. BKD Fried Rice 3/5 - Decent, but nothing memorable. Lechon Kawali 3/5 - Nicely crispy, but meat was slightly dry. Halo-halo Dessert 5/5 - Complimentary for to end the night celebrating our kids' birthdays and was a hit with the kids. Service was a bit slow, but Chef Lawrence (the owner) stopped by our table toward the end of the meal to check in on us, which we really appreciated. Overall, the dinner was decent, though the bill was on the higher end. I don't think I'd come back for dinner but I'd rather come back and try their brunch, as the brunch menu looked more appealing than dinner. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to visit during brunch on this trip. read more

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Amazing brunch menus at Bayan Ko! The food is absolutely amazing with an eclectic combination of flavors. Interior space is super cool and the staff is overly friendly! Pro Tip: You can order 1/2 portions of many dishes which allows you to try more read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Interior - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had the opportunity to dine her during my recent visit in Chicago. This wasn't our first choice but since there's a two hour wait in Kasama, we ended up here and was glad we did. Here's our orders: Silog with garlic rice, fried eggs & tomato cucumber salad. Tocino, longanisa, beef short rib tapa. baby bangus fish Sisig shisito hash Chopped pork belly, breakfast potatoes, soy black vinegar aioli, sunny side eggs with garlic rice Drinks: latte and michelada We were served by this amazing guy who was doing everything by himself. Greeting, taking orders, serving, making coffee and drinks, cleaning tables, etc. I made sure to ask for his name which is Zane so he deserves a good shout out for being an amazing employee. The food was equally amazing and delicious! We truly enjoyed our meal and felt so full and satisfied. No wonder, the place has its own share of customers and got busy when we were there. read more

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I am so glad I got to check this place out during my visit to Chicago! I came with two friends for a 6pm dinner on a Friday night with a reservation. It definitely starts to get packed around 7pm and 8pm so a reservation is definitely a good idea! Inside is super cute with a moody sophisticated vibe and the staff were so incredibly kind and helpful! I love that there are both half and whole options for the dishes as well. We ordered so many things and also got two complimentary items which made the experience here even more special! Thank you, chef! - Lumpia: you can never go wrong with this appetizer and this did not disappoint. Perfectly meaty on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Loved the sauce it came with as well. - Ginataang Gulay: we wanted some balance in our dinner so ordered this vegetable dish which was also really good and saucy! - Mussels: honestly my favorite of the night. The sauce was sooooo bomb. The flavor profile of this dish is to die for. The mussels are perfectly cooked as well. I will be thinking about this dish for a long time... - Ceviche: light and refreshing, amazing bites of seafood ranging from shrimp to squid to octopus. Loved that this was served with plantains! - Lechón Kawali: Perfectly crisp skin and soft and tender meat. Just a classic you can't go wrong with! - Bistek: really juicy and tender. I love me some beef short ribs but this was a little on the saltier side for me so rice is a must with this for me! - Oxtail kare kare: soooo good. loved the curry sauce in this. the oxtail could be a little more tender but it was such a perfect protein choice for kare kare. - Virgin pandan mojito: sparkling and delicious! - Halo halo banana split: I love that the banana in this dessert is the turón! The pandan and mango ice cream were my faves. Definitely a dessert to share with the table! Thank you to the staff and chef of Bayan Ko Diner for such a memorable and amazing experience here! This is a MUST TRY spot in Chicago! read more

One of the best brunches I've had in a longggg time!! I absolutely adore Filipino food, but it's lowkey not as prolific as other restaurants so it's always a rare treat to get to go. This place was quite crowded when we got there on a Saturday at 11am, so I'd recommend making a Tock reservation online - they're not hard to get at all! Restaurant itself is decked out in decorations from the Philippines and the islands. Loved the laid back casual family friendly vibes! The longaniza silogs was sooooo good - came with the most addictingly fragrant yet light garlic rice, and the longaniza was both sweet and salty, with a super nice chew. Pairs stunningly with the garlic rice. We also tried the sisig shishito hash, which comes with chopped pork belly sautéed with breakfast potatoes and shishito peppers. The soy black vinegar aioli was really umami, and the potatoes had a bit of a char that made it so crispy and flavorful. Also came with that addicting garlic rice. Croquetas were $6 for two tiny ones - not bad, a bit on the saltier side but the chipotle mayo balances it out! But if I could only choose one entree... I think I'd do the longaniza cuz that was just TOOO good! Next time I really want to try the sticky ensaymada and crab Rangoon dip too - almost every table had that! read more

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07/07/25 - Finally @ Bayan Ko Filipino Cuban restaurant. I've driven by so many times but I finally stopped for breakfast around 11:30. I ordered the Tocino breakfast w/garlic fried rice, 2 eggs over easy & cucumber & tomato salad w/sliced green onions. The tocino was absolutely amazing marinated & seasoned & cooked to perfection. The egg over easy was the perfect compliment to the garlic fried rice. Cool nicely designed dining area in. Tropical theme in keeping w/the Filipino & Cuban food. I should have eaten outside as it was a perfect 70 degree day. The lone server did a great job keeping up w/the heavy volume. I have been eating Filipino food for over 45 years as my 3 best friends & wife are Filipino. This tocino was so dam good and probably the best I ever had. I will definitely be back again read more

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Came here yesterday and it was such a great meal! I really appreciated how they offered half portions on every dish so we could try more. And even then I thought the half portions were huge!! The inside was so cute - it felt like I was in the tropics! And the staff was nice at explaining the menu. My favorite of the evening was definitely the Adobo Wings - the sauce wasn't too sweet but finger licking good lol. The crispiness was also perfect. The lumpia was also delicious and I enjoyed the Ropa Vieja a lot as well. This dish was super balanced and the brisket was very tender. The noodles were also great, I liked how there were two types and the vegetables made the flavors more complex. Overall a great meal and I would definitely return. Left feeling very satiated. read more

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I want to preface this review by saying I am of Hispanic descent, so I may naturally have a higher bar when it comes to Latin cuisine and what I expect in terms of AUTHENTICITY and flavor... I arrived with my family and there is a sign at the entrance instructing guests to "please wait to be seated." Unfortunately, there was no host or hostess present at the front, so we stood waiting and tried to get the attention of the only visible staff member in the restaurant. He appeared to be working alone behind the bar counter and didn't notice us right away. This already created a slightly disorganized first impression. If a restaurant is going to require guests to wait to be seated, there really should be someone assigned to the front to greet and seat customers..... Once seated, the same gentleman brought us menus, but it took quite a while for him to come back and take our orders because he was handling multiple roles at once--taking orders, preparing drinks at the bar, and bringing out food. It honestly felt like he was doing the job of several people, which is not fair to him or the customers. On to the food: as someone who is Latina and familiar with both Cuban and Filipino cuisine (through family and community), I was surprised by the execution. Appetizers were served in very small portions-- only two or four pieces per order--such as the lumpia, which felt overpriced for measely two pieces. The pricing overall felt quite high for the portion sizes even with 4... Flavor-wise, the food leaned heavily toward a more Americanized interpretation. The ropa vieja lacked depth and seasoning compared to what I'm accustomed to, and the pancit bihon tasted closer to a salty chow mein-style stir fry rather than the traditional dish...even the noodles used were very different It didn't reflect the authentic balance of flavors associated with Filipino cuisine... Overall, while I appreciate the concept and understand the challenges of running a restaurant, the execution felt inconsistent. Between staffing limitations, high prices, and food that didn't fully reflect the authenticity of either cuisine, the experience fell short for me and my family. read more

- good food, ok service, fun ambiance - reservation made and recommended for a saturday brunch - not too interested in returning Came in for a nice brunch outing to explore more Filipino cuisine in the city! I was interested in the Filipino and Cuban combination, but it more seemed to be offering individual dishes from both cultures. I had gotten the Pork Adobo served with a nice fluffy bed of white rice and a jammy marinated egg. The sauce was flavorful and powerful with its sweet-flavor glazing each piece of pork belly with a nice coating and being balanced with a spoonful of rice. I appreciated how the pieces were not too fatty and there was a good ratio of pork to rice. I found that the sauce was quite sweet and the addition of sesame seeds on top only added to the imagery that this was more of a "teriyaki" dish than that of adobo. It was a tasty dish with good flavors and ratios, but in my experience of adobo, I don't think this shares too many similarities. My girlfriend had gotten the Baby Bangus Silog that came with a tomato salad. The two eggs were cooked sunnyside up and the bangus was pretty standard tasting when eaten with the vinegar at the table. I found the sinangag to be light in garlic and the salad to be light in vinegar. From previous yelp reviews, it seems that most people had gotten 2x bangus fish, thought we may have gotten a "big" one on our visit. Alongside previous reviews, it seems that prices have gone up, so the dish served was a bit different than what was expected. From our visit, the food was good, not what I was really expecting, but still good food. The servers were kind, but felt like we were kind of forgotten, which was acknowledged with an apology when we were tended to. When I initially saw the Filipino and Cuban fusion, I was expecting more a mix of ingredients and techniques between the cultures, but the restaurant had mostly featured established dishes from both cultures. We focused on the Filipino food this time, but if ever, I'd be interested to try their Cuban options as well. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Baby Bangus Silog - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Such a great concept of combining cuban and filipino food. They complement each other so well. I got the Pandan mojito with ube pancakes and pork adobo. This combo will definitely be the classic for whenever I'm back. The pork was cooked perfectly as every bite was so juicy and rich. The pandan mojito paired well as it was so refreshing and light. The ube pancakes took the prize for me as they were so fluffy and the ube flavor shined through. The decor was super cute and curated a very elevated brunch vibe. Would definitely come back. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great vibe for a weekend brunch with quick service. It was busy, but we were able to walk in on a Saturday at prime brunch time and get seated immediately even though it was at the counter. We ordered the Pinoy Burrito and Sisig Shishito Hash. Both were delicious right when they came out piping hot and flavorful but some bites of the burrito did end up being just tortilla, which wasn't the best. Overall, yummy flavors and would consider coming back to try more of the menu. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Sisig Shishito Hash - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious food, beautiful drinks, and okay service. I got reservations for three people same day on a Friday at 5:30pm, however as I was making the reservation at 12pm and times were slipping away quickly. Definitely make it further in advance if you want a later time! Food - we got happy hour prices (1 dollar off still nice). We got the Jamon Croquettes: lumpia for appetizers (definitely more than enough for 2 adults 1 kid). We then got the pork belly 1/2 plate (SO MUCH). It was so crunchy, so juicy, perfectly cooked. And then we got the ropa vieja. It comes with black beans, pulled beef, plantains which were soooo good, and a garlic rice. Everything was delicious. Dessert we had the banana split which is very unique. For drinks we had brut, and an pinoy colada, the colada was purple and full of ube, so pretty. The service was okay, a little all over the place, but the staff were polite. It was crowded and there were many kids here which was nice to see having brought my own child. They do not have a children's menu but have to go cups for kids, and a lot of the food was eaten by my kiddo. read more

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Second time here and went with husband for a special occasion. Really good once again- didn't write it up the first time. 6 pm on a Saturday and lucky we had reservations as it was full. To drink I ordered a strawberry rhubarb cider and it was tasty but less sweet than I am used to. Hubby got Filipino beer and he liked it. We shared all the plates - love the half portion option. We got the lumpia (terrific), croquetas (hubby loved them - the filling was too bland and smooth for me), fried rice (fantastic) and the crab Rangoon dip with the fried crackers- the dip was ok to me (husband loved it ) but the crackers were fantastic. Dessert was the flan which was very good . They comped the drinks and the dessert as it was our special day- so nice of them! read more

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Overall good experience. I wasn't blown away but my friends loved it and were impressed! I wish the menu emphasize the fusion part.. how are the dishes a bland of two cultures? How is it showcase? I wish they used their servers to explain that aspect of the experience Food was good, good portions, and delicious mocktails. Service was mediocre! I think I'll give it another try In the future. read more

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I really wanted to like this place and support my fellow Filipinos, but I unfortunately really do not like this food. I came here with my brother years ago before they split into the diner and the restaurant and we thought the food was Bad. Like not mediocre but just not good, which is so unfortunate because Filipino and Cuban food are both so delicious. I grew up in New York - I've had a lot of Filipino food in New York, the Philippines, and all over, and this just does not meet my standards. I came back this year with a group of other Filipinos and unfortunately we agreed we just are not a fan of the food. But it's nice to see them succeed and the space is cute. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Lumpia and empanadas - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food is great. Would recommend trying and I would revisit again. Just a few suggestions/some feedback: Music is too loud. Had a hard time holding a conversation with someone sitting just across from me. Ube pancakes - good flavor but kind of odd that it doesn't come with any type of syrup or cream on the side to dip or pour on the pancakes. There's some whipped cream on top and decorative ube drizzle around the pancakes but it needs something on the side to dip/pour since eating that many pancakes can get quite drying. The price for the lumpia is quite steep. $14 for four. These weren't particularly my favorite. Pork belly adobo was my favorite. My one critique is that perhaps a little more sauce would be great. BBQ chicken skewers and silog longanisa - no complaints. # of staff -- I dined around noon on a Saturday. This was my first time so I don't know how many staff are usually present, but it was obvious from the get go that they were understaffed even for such a small place. There were two waitresses and one other staff person helping with cleaning up the tables. The staff were constantly bustling around trying to take orders, greet people, serve, etc. I felt bad for even asking for spoons. read more

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I really like how open it is. I've been in there previous incarnation and this space is more inviting. High wood beam ceilings, a mural of a tropical forest by the bar, the vibe is definitely about living life. The burrito longanisa is fine, except that I can't really taste the Filipino sausage. My wife really likes the aioli. The Sisig hash is more satisfying and filing. The pork belly is clearly identifiable. I can't quite give it 5 stars because I feel the flavors have been toned down to satisfy a larger clientele. I have no complaints mind you. The space is great and the staff(Emily and Zane) is excellent! read more

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3.5 stars if I could. Filipino Cuban inspired restaurant but was missing the authentic feel of both cultures. Indoors was beautiful, but you can only sit inside by reservation. About 6 tables outside so we had to wait a bit. I got the pork belly adobo with garlic rice and it was really good! Tasted more of just a marinated soy sauce pork belly but still good. We also got the longanisa silog, which I didn't try. The Filipino bbq skewers were flavorful, but more of a tomato based glaze than a sweet Filipino bbq glaze. The egg rolls were standard. The tables had vinegar, sriracha, and REGULAR ketchup, which was kind of disappointing because usually, silogs are enjoyed with banana ketchup. I would go again, but without the thought of wanting Filipino food. As for Cuban food, it looks like there were only 2-3 things inspired by Cuban cuisine. read more

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The food here is very tasty. We came here with a large groups (with a reservation) and they were able to accommodate all 8 of us! I really enjoyed my pork belly adobo, and my husband said the sisig shishito hash was good too but perhaps a bit burnt. I also got a passionista which was absolutely delicious. A few friends ordered the pinoy colada, which everyone agreed was tasty, but did not seem to have very much alcohol in it. I'm glad we tried this place out overall! read more

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Bayan Ko is my favorite restaurant on the North Side. I'm tempted to say in all of Chicago! The food never misses, I love the garlic rice, abodo wings, and their house made sauce (mom's sauce) is unreal. From the food to the service, you can tell they take great pride in what they do. It also helps that the ambiance is well curated and makes for an aesthetically pleasing eating experience for any occasion. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Lumpia Shanghai and Empanadas - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Small restaurant, but comfortable. Service was friendly and not pushy, trying to turnover tables. We came in for brunch, and there were several items I would've liked to try. We started with the Lumpia and Crab Rangoon Dip, both were great. I liked the crackers that came with the dip but wanted more bc the dip is very creamy and rich. For my entree, I got the Sisig Shishito Hash- very flavorful and delicious but I wished the pork belly was crispy and not fatty. BYOB! read more

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Enjoyed another amazing Filipino Brunch at Bayan Ko. We were super excited to try the ube pancakes after seeing them on another table and they did not disappoint! pancakes were fluffy and the coconut topping paired nicely. All the Silog dishes were delicious with garlic rice. Surprisingly really enjoyed the Cafe con Leche too. Inside, the vibe is cozy with trendy homages to the Philippines like the fork and spoon/jungle decor. Place fills up pretty fast so make sure to make reservations. read more

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Delicious! A friend had been wanting to come here, so we gave it a go for dinner and it was great! Our server (I didn't catch their name) was awesome, checking in on us enough during a slow-paced dinner, giving recommendations, but not being pushy. We ended up splitting a bunch of dishes so we could try more. We had the croquetas, lumpia, crab rangoon dip, vegetable empanadas, and the saffron cream cheese flan. The crab rangoon dip was good, though a bit unexpected-on the sweeter side and not as much crab flavor, but still good. The lumpia and croquetas were pretty 'normal' but with great flavor. The vegetable empandas were fine-nothing wrong with them, just nothing that stood out. The flan was excellent-our server explained it's a hybrid between cheesecake and flan, which was spot on! The texture was great, as was the flavor-the saffron was a nice touch. The ambiance was good, nice decoration without being over the top. The price was great too, even though we split several dishes it was very reasonable. Keep in mind this is BYOB (you can pop into the convenience store two doors down to grab something, which is what we did), and there's a $15 wine corkage fee ($5 for beer). read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Saffron cream cheese flan - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

4.25 Stars - This spot has been on our list for a while now, and is constantly being recommended by people in the industry. We had a small meal but it was very good! I am eager to come back and try more dishes, I have a feeling my rating would go even higher. Food 4/5: Indulgent, unctuous and savory, the breakfast dishes are comforting and had unique flavors and loads of texture. I really appreciated the vinegar on the table to cut thru the richness of the pork. Service 5/5: There with a smile whenever we needed them but let us enjoy our meal whenever we were deep in convo. They even added extra prosecco to my cocktail free of charge when I found it a little too sweet which was very kind and much appreciated (I asked for a splash of soda water and they went above and beyond). Ambiance 4/5: Cute and casual twist on a diner but with much better design, a great lively spot to have a daytime date or grab a bite when you're hungover and want comfort food read more

A Cuban and Filipino mashup I never knew I needed. Their main restaurant has received so much hype and I'm glad the diner is a more approachable option if a tasting menu isn't your jam. Pinoy burrito- eggs, sausage , egg. The little sauce it comes with is amazing. Ube pancakes - crispy edges. Fluffy. So good. Get an extra sauce in the side to drizzle. The cola glazed skewers were my favorite. I'd have these over some white rice next time as my meal! Mushroom empanadas were excellent too. Really great brunch and I want to come back and try everything else on the menu. Make a reservation as they get busy. Service was great. The inside is like an elevated diner, chill armosphere, but higher quality food. read more

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Wanted to keep up with the Filipino theme day~ Ordered the pork adobo, lumpia shanghai, and the beef skewers. The pork was really fatty but decent restaurant if you want a casual diner/want casual Filipino cuisine. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Pork adobo, skewers, and lumpia shanghai - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We booked a table for a late lunch for our group of 6. Our table was ready even before our reserved time, which set the tone for a fantastic experience. Our waitress greeted us with a warm smile & was super attentive throughout our meal. As we settled in, we had to remind ourselves that this gem of a restaurant specializes in Filipino-Cuban fusion, so we were in for some unique taste! Each dish was a new experience, different from what we're accustomed to. We'd like to come back & dive into their dinner offerings! We can only imagine the culinary delights that await us! read more

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Came in at 10 AM on a Sunday by myself and was immediately seated at the bar (had numerous parties going on but lots of tables available). I haven't yet been to the flagship restaurant (will update when I eventually do) and assumed this "diner" version would be very casual. Although the patrons and staff were all relaxed, this is a bit more upscale in presentation than your typical American dinner. The restaurant presents a warm, vibey tropical aesthetic that harkens to the restaurant's Filipino and Cuban cuisines. Filipino breakfast is a simple, yet important aspect of Filipino culture and I am always curious how non-hole-in-the-wall places interpret meat+egg+price. The menu doesn't explicitly tell you this but for the itlog (egg) rice plates, you can do a half order of different meats, so I did the Tocino and longanisa, with a side of Ube pancakes. Tocino - you can tell by the color not being bright red that this is an in-house made tocino. It was tender, juicy, and not very sweet like your typical tocino. Additionally, it wasn't sticky/glazey like normal. Only minor complaint was that I wish there was a little more char. Longanisa - I THINK this was also made in-house but I'm a little less sure than the tocino. Very similar notes in comparison to the tocino in terms of differences with your store bought. It came with a tomato-onion salsa. Ube Pancakes - two for a side ($7), which is perfect for me. Overall, I really enjoyed it. The staff were nice, though they seemed a little stressed and preoccupied. A young girl that I'm guessing is related to the owner or workers took my plates. I'm giving it a 4/5 since I can't give a 4.5. It wasn't mind blowing so I can't give it a 5/5 but I'm happy with what I got. I'd like to come back and try their Cuban food and dinner menu items. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Half-Tocino+half-longanisa+egg (tocilongsilog) and a side of Ube pancakes ($28.80 before tip) - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything was delicious. Service was great and the space is designed fairly well. There are half and whole sizes for many of the items, which I kind of found helpful. Hands down my favorite are the croquetas with smoked jamon filling and juffran aioli. I could eat a bucket of these. It's my favorite style of filling and the crunchy exterior is great. Can't find great croquetas like this anywhere else in Chicago. The saffron cream cheese flan with caramelized white chocolate sauce was very good. It's a slightly denser flan, a little like a cheesecake, and very rich and creamy. I strongly recommend. I also enjoyed the ropa vieja, black beans, maduros, and garlic rice. The ropa vieja is probably the best in Chicago and is pretty comparable to the elite Cuban food one can only really find in Miami. I enjoyed the crab rangoon dip with lump crab, cream cheese, sweet chili sauce, and fried saltine crackers. Exactly as you'd expect: take the filling out of crab rangoon and it's a dip. I would prefer actual crab rangoons personally though. Bistek was good, just not my favorite. There's a lot of bone, so be aware of that, along with being tougher. Flavors are great. Pandan Mojito and Ocean Drive Daiquiri were both good but the mojito had blended mint in it, which made it difficult and slightly unpleasant to drink. The pandan doesn't really come through either, but it's still tasty. read more

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Food wasn't authentic enough for me. I don't think a side of white rice is even on the menu, and it's a staple in the Filipino culture. Lumpia Shanghai was okay. I was excited to try their potato omelette, but the garlic aioli on top ruined it. Our waitress was nice, though. read more