I was so happy to discover Bayan Ko Diner, a vibrant fusion of two rich culinary cultures - Filipino and Cuban - within walking distance of our ceramics class. My daughter and I came here for the first time last month on the last day of our summer session, and we returned a few days ago on the first day of our fall session. I love the beautiful, trendy décor, with Filipino and Cuban wall art displayed on opposite walls. The restaurant is clean, comfortable, and inviting. Our first visit was a solid four stars. The service was good, although not particularly memorable. The food was good overall, but not everything was a hit. We ordered: - Lumpia Shanghai ($7 for 1/2 order, 2 pieces) - Filipino spring rolls with pork, scallion, and Mom's garlic sauce. The skin was crunchy and the filling was flavorful, although the rolls were quite small. - Adobo Wings ($16 for 1/2 order) - crispy fried chicken wings with adobo glaze, served with rice. The wings were delicious, but we received 5 drumettes and only 1 flat. We would have preferred more flats, or at least an equal number of flats and drumettes. - Bistek ($20 for 1/2 order) - Korean beef short rib with Spanish onions, served with rice. The meat was full of flavor, but unfortunately quite tough. My daughter wasn't a fan, so I ended up finishing the whole thing. I was actually glad this was a small portion. I had a Virgin Pandan Mojito ($10) and my daughter had a beer ($8). My mocktail was okay, but nothing particularly memorable. Then they completely redeemed themselves on our second visit! We had the entire restaurant to ourselves at first, before two other tables arrived, so I had more time to appreciate the space and really enjoyed the atmosphere. A special shout-out to our server, Christopher, who was warm, welcoming, extremely friendly, and professional. My daughter ordered their signature cocktail, Lola's Drunk Again ($15), but then realized she might be allergic to one of the ingredients. Fortunately, she hadn't taken a sip. Christopher and another lady, who isn't always there, graciously took the cocktail away without charging us. My daughter then ordered a different cocktail, El Toro ($14), which she enjoyed. I just had an orange juice ($4). We ordered the following, and enjoyed everything: - Croquetas ($6 for 1/2 order, 2 pieces) - smoked jamón with Jufran aioli. The exterior was crunchy, while the filling was delicious, creamy, and not too salty. I would definitely order these again. - Ropa Empanada ($8 for 1/2 order, 2 pieces) - beef brisket, sofrito, and mojo crema. The crust was a little thick, but crunchy and easy to eat. The beef inside was tender and flavorful. - Ropa Vieja ($17 for 1/2 order) - beef brisket in sofrito, served with rice, black beans, and sweet plantains, which we requested to be served on the side. Even the half portion was quite generous. This was perfect comfort food - flavorful, filling, and satisfying. There was an abundance of shredded beef, and it was tender, tasty, and easy to cut apart. - Ube Ice Cream ($5 per scoop) - Since we were already full, we shared a scoop. We didn't order the banana split, but Christopher gave us a really generous scoop, which was much appreciated. The ube flavor was excellent, and the ice cream was creamy with a nice texture. I would definitely order this again. Overall, all the dishes we tried on our visits had bold, distinct flavors, and the ingredients tasted fresh. We already can't wait to come back and try a whole bunch of other dishes! Bayan Ko Diner will definitely become our go-to spot after ceramics class! read more

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I really wanted to love this place. We went she s cubs game hoping for a delish meal. However, we both thought the waitress was a bit cold and when we first arrived, there were only two tables with customers We ordered two teas. The hibiscus tea I had was pretty delicious. Then we ordered the lechon whole portion but we had such a good day that we did not want to sour the day and send it back it was supposed to be crispy pork but instead it was a plate of pork fat pieces - maybe 10% meat. We took the leftovers to our dog as he will eat anything. The wings were really good I'll say. The croqueras were okay Id say; not the freshest or maybe the oil was dirty. Cute place however. read more

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Bayan Ko originated in 2018 on Montrose in a location basically beneath the Brown Line. Eventually this venue morphed into the new Bayan Ko (now a fine dining restaurant), and the original casual mashup of Filipino and Cuban cuisines transferred a few doors down to the former Glenn's Diner space as Bayan Ko Diner (got all of that?). My lovely wife and I finally made it to Bayan Ko Diner recently for a Sunday funday dinner. We were a tad early for our reservation time, but we were seated with no wait. It was cool to see images of Cuba displayed on the west wall, and Filipino scenes on the east wall. We received kind and thoughtful service throughout our meal. Since we went to two nearby breweries prior to dinner, we stuck with drinking water for our meal. We loved that the menu offered whole and half portions of most of their food items, and amazingly the price point of the half-portions were always half that of the whole portions. We decided to order only half-orders so that we could try a variety of dishes. We started off with Lumpia Shanghai and Croquetas as appetizers (two pieces of each are in the half-orders), and both were pretty tasty if not stellar. The Crab Rangoon dip was perhaps the most unique dish, as it is sort of a deconstructed version of the Crab Rangoons everyone knows and loves at Asian restaurants. The dip itself has a bold flavor, and it was served beside a bed of fried saltines. I know little about cooking processes, but the saltines were very salty and perhaps the frying aspect accentuates the saltiness of the crackers. Oxtail Kare Kare seems like an exotic Filipino dish, and the half-order consisted of a very reasonable number of oxtail segments. The oxtail tasted great with the bold peanut garlic sauce, and the plate is accompanied by eggplant (also excellent), bok choy, green beans, and a bowl of white rice. read more

Definitely a hidden gem brunch spot! I love that the menu had a lot of classic dishes along with some Filipino flare. There were some nice tables outside. We sat inside and it was great too! Fairly small but cozy. I got the egg white skillet which came with some potatoes and mushrooms. The mushrooms made it really stand out! So flavorful. I got the Ube pancakes on the side which I also loved! Would love to come back and try more from the menu because nothing missed. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Egg white skillet, Ube pancakes on the side - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Takes credit card. Brunch is open till 3pm. Great service. Interior is super trendy. Sisog tocino- the pork meat was soft, charred, strong seasoning. Shishito hash- pork belly was cooked well but cooked with the potato. I wish the pork belly added at the end so it stay crispy. Egg cooked well. The garlic rice was not much garlic, I wish there was more garlic flavor. One pancake ube $7- strong ube flavor. It's very fluffy and you can add syrup for more sweetness. Lumpia-2 pieces- nice texture outside. Crunchy, some meat inside. Less meaty than desired. The side sauce was good and add enough flavor. read more

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Bayan Ko Diner serves Filipino-Cuban fusion that doesn't disappoint. We ordered the following: 1. Cubano Breakfast Burrito (7/10) (beef brisket ropa vieja, soft scrambled eggs, plantains, Swiss, and black beans) Brisket and plantains? I was sold when I saw that on the menu. I'm happy to report, it was as good as it sounded. Also, the texture from the cheese, brisket, beans, and plantains was incredibly addicting. The Swiss cheese paid more of a textural role rather than flavor (compared to a different type of cheese) but I appreciated that the entire dish stuck to it's Cuban roots. For instance, Swiss is used in many prominent Cuban dishes such as the iconic Cubano sandwich. The burrito came with a red salsa which tasted pretty standard, but my recommendation is to add the hot sauce, provided at the table, to the burrito. You're welcome. 2. Sisig Shishito Hash with garlic rice (6/10) (chopped pork belly, breakfast potatoes, shishito peppers, soy black vinegar aioli, sunny side egg, toast or garlic rice) Now I am going to be totally biased here because I love anything that comes in a "Hash-style" dish. Fatty pork belly, seasoned potatoes, and a sunny side egg? It was not mind blowing and I probably won't order it again. I'd rather check out the rest of the menu, but it sounded good, looked good, and tasted good. Take that as you will. 3. Halo Halo Banana Split (5/10) (3 scoops of your choice of ice cream, turon, young coconut, red bean, coconut gel, flan, rice crispies) The ice creams are made by Milky Milky, a local Chicago small batch, handcrafted ice cream maker. For our flavors, we chose all 3 options they had at the time: ube, mango, and pandan. Homemade? Asian-inspired flavors? A wide variety of toppings? They got me again. Despite the rising popularity of ube within recent years (I am partial to taro lol), I have found not many places do it justice. THIS ube? We found a winner. Finally, a STRONG ube flavor that isn't lackluster or bland. The mango ice cream was fine and the pandan was too salty in my opinion. Pandan is one of my favorite ice cream flavors and I haven't tasted one that I haven't liked...until this one. Also, the rice crispies are so simple but add textural interest. Service was good. The atmosphere was cozy, but not cramped. The interior had jewel tones with a modern boho style that pays homage to the restaurant's Filipino-Cuban heritage. read more

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Bayan Ko is the spot! Amazing brunch here - very unique menu! Service was great, smaller store front with a couple of tables outside as well. Ube pancakes: 4/5 Crab Rangoon dip: 4.5/5 Shishito Hash: 4.7/5 read more

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What a fantastic treat! Cuban and Filipino fusion makes complete sense given both countries' shared Spanish heritage. The dinner menu is approachable and well-paced, with the option to order half or full portions on everything from appetizers to entrees--a huge plus if you want to sample a bit of everything. The Lumpia Shanghai, Empanadas, and Adobo Wings are absolute must-tries. The Oxtail Kare-Kare is perfectly balanced without the shrimp paste being too overpowering, and it pairs brilliantly with a side of garlicky rice. To top it off, the drinks--from San Miguel beer to island-inspired cocktails--were spot on, and the service was warm and welcoming. read more

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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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I definitely like their fine-dining spot better, but both are good. This location felt much more fusion-y and westernized, but the shrimp and grits were soooo good, so I really can't complain. I usually hate grits, but for some reason this dish called my name - and I'm glad I listened. The balance of flavors and textures worked really well, and everything came together without feeling too heavy. I saved half because I wanted to enjoy it again the next day, which honestly says a lot. Overall, this is a solid brunch spot with very cute brunch vibes. I'll probably be back 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

Came here on a weekday with a reservation but didn't really need it. The restaurant has big windows so it was bright for brunch time. This place has THE BEST longsilog I've had in Chicago. The longaniza was soooo flavorful, well-seared. The garlic in the rice was evenly distributed which is one of my main issues with other places that serve silogs. I had a scoop of pandan ice cream which was also amazing. read more

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

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a lovely place for brunch in lincoln square! staff was extremely friendly and consistently checked in on us. the food was absolutely delicious and came out piping hot. the pork belly of the sisig shishito hash practically melts in your mouth. the flavor of the ube pancakes was strong and overall wasn't too sweet. the standout for us was the crab rangoon dip! so glad we came in during our weekend trip to chicago :) 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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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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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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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 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

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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10/10 no notes!!!! Everything was cooked perfectly, well seasoned, great menu, friendly staff, cute vibes, great cafe con leche. Really, really good. Will absolutely be back. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Silog with half tocino and half loganisa. 10/10 - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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- 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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This place is a gem. Bayan Ko Diner is the more casual sibling of Bayan Ko (now a Michelin-recommended tasting menu spot next door), and it takes the same Filipino-Cuban heritage. Lumpia and pancit were great, more upscale than I'm used to but delicious read more

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

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

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

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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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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