5 stars for the delicious food which came out quickly. Easy to get a reservation, and the inside of the restaurant was decorated so well! read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was super excited when I saw a Filipino and Cuban restaurant, but maybe I hyped myself too much. Everything on the menu sounded amazing, so I asked the waiter for suggestions, and sadly, I think we either ordered the wrong things or we weren't given great reccos. I got the tortillas española while my husband tried the pork belly adobo - we were told both were popular items. The tortilla was good, but it comes with a lot of the aioli drizzled on. The pork belly adobo was okay, but it wasn't crispy as I would've expected. The garlic rice was delicious, but the pork was on the sweeter side. The breakfast potatoes are crispy and tasty, and the sweet plantains are cooked perfectly. read more

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Great location near the Montrose Brown Line spot. Felt like an old school diner atmosphere. Service was welcoming and prompt. Really nice coffee as well. Shared two of the entrees with a friend and both the Sisig and Silogs were flavorful and perfectly cooked. Will be back soon.. read more

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We had a dinner reservation for Saturday night, and we were able to be seated immediately. The overall dining area seats a fair amount of people, but the seating/ambience is somewhat spartan (ie no place to hang your bag and the chairs are round so bags fall off). They used to be byob only, but I guess they recently started doing drinks and the cocktails we got were delightful. The food also beat our expectations - the ginataang gulay veggie dish was one of our favorites and we wished we ordered a full portion instead of half. Everything though was honestly delicious (lechón was both crispy and fatty, veggie empanadas were perfectly fried and had a delicious sauce), and we definitely have it on our list to come back again and save room for dessert! read more

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Run, don't walk, to Bayan Ko Diner. SO FREAKING GOOD, as I knew it would be, as the original Bayan Ko is awesome. The ambiance is casual and inviting, service is good, but let's face it, it is ALL about the food. I sampled the vegetarian empanadas, crab rangoon dip, ropa vieja, and ginataang gulay with shrimp. Every single dish was outstanding. OUTSTANDING! And I was so full I didn't have room for dessert, which almost never happens. The bill was unbelievably reasonable and the restaurant is currently BYOB, which is an even better value. I can't wait to return and try everything else on the menu. read more

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I came here with my girlfriends for brunch on Saturday and had an amazing time. I got the pork belly hash and it was good. I had a couple lean pork belly pieces which were a bit tough to eat but overall I enjoyed it. My friends did say the hash was a bit too much cause of the oil/sauce. We ordered a side of ube pancakes to share among the table and it was amazing! You can definitely taste the ube and with a little syrup it was just perfect! The service was pretty quick in terms of getting us seated to ordering and bringing the food out except for the dessert. We ordered the banana split at the end to share. We originally wanted ube, pandan, and mango, but they were out of ube so we substituted with the toffee one. For some odd reason, it took 20mins for the banana split to come out after we had finished eating and they also cleared out table getting ready for the dessert to come out. The whole entire time, the restaurant was packed with people coming in and out but food came in quickly. Inside was kind of tight between tables, but otherwise it's a cute diner. I'll probably be back if I'm in the area, but otherwise I wouldn't make a trip just for brunch up here. read more

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Really wanted to like it...i ordered tapsilog (beef). It came as a steak. It was marinated well but not the authentic tapa type of cooking. I tried the longanisa that my friend ordered and it tasted bland. Garlic rice needs to have lots of garlic. Overall i was disappointed. Price for two tapailog meal with coffee was $70. $$$. I am Filipino. read more

Bayan Ko Diner is a cute little diner. It was a perfect brunch spot to catch up with a friend. The service was great. We asked for recommendations and she gave us a bunch from both the savory and sweet menu. We started off with cafe con leche which was the perfect amount of sweet. I ordered the sisig shishito hash which was delicious but very rich. I was only able to eat half. My friend ordered the silogs which was recommended by the waitress and he loved it. We split the sticky ensaymada for dessert, amazing! I will definitely be going back! read more

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This place was sooooo good! I can't wait to go back! Ambience - Everything looked new and clean. The inside is small but they also have a cute patio out front. We went on a Saturday at 2pm (brunch ends at 3pm) and got seated right away. Service - The staff was friendly but they did seem a bit disjointed and the woman seemed frazzled. Ordering, water refills, etc. were a bit slow but nothing experience-ruining by any means! Drinks - my husband got a latte and loved it. I just had water. Food - Crab Rangoon dip: This was very unique and delicious! It doesn't save/reheat well so I recommend eating it all at the restaurant! Ube pancakes: These were really good but even better with syrup (just have to ask for it). These aren't overly sweet so you could potentially have it as a meal or as an appetizer. Shishito skillet: Delicious! It comes with garlic rice which I could have eaten a pound of. I can't wait to go back and try more menu items! There are so many options that looked and sounded so good! read more

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Decent. I came here for brunch for my friend's birthday. I ordered the traditional Filipino breakfast and it was good. The star of this dish is the sausage as it has a sweet glaze flavor. I also had the ube with pancakes and that was the star of the show. The depth of flavor will keep you eating more! I would totally go back and just order those. The lumpia was okay; I would pass on this. They give you plenty of food so you will be pleased with that. Also, the lattes were delicious! read more

We are so glad that Bayan Ko has created a casual concept for this space! The bar area has a beautiful giant botanical wallpaper on it and the furniture is more comfortable now. Our party has the burrito, Cubano, Filipino breakfast w/tocino, pork belly adobo, ube pancakes, monkey bread, and coffee and teas. Everyone was very happy with their food with the minor note that the garlic rice could have been a bit fluffier and warmer. The pork dishes were quite yummy and the coffees were delicious. Ube pancakes were pretty and had delicate flavors of ube and coconut garnished by excellent mango and strawberry. the monkeybread had a great cream cheese frosting on top but unfortunately was underproofed and dry on the inside. We trust this was a first opening weekend glitch and can't wait to go back for more great meals. Hooray for Montrose! read more

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My sister and I made reservations to eat here on a Saturday night. We had the beef empanadas, mussels, crab Rangoon dip, fried rice, and bistek and it was all a 10/10. The flavors were a perfect mold of Filipino cuisine with an elevation! Will def be coming back with our family :) read more

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Cubano burrito is best burrito ever! Friendly service and usually easy to get a table, the they do fill up i. the morning on the weekends. Tasty!! read more

We had previously visited Bayan Ko and had a great experience, so we were super excited to try their diner location. It did not disappoint! Their menu has a great selection of items to try. I ordered the shrimp and grits ajillo and it was amazing. Every element of the dish went so well together. It's not spicy (I was worried it would be too spicy/hot for me), rather it's very flavorful. My partner and I ordered the café con leche to drink, which was very good. Just the right amount of sweetness. Give it a try! read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Shrimp and grits ajillo - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This spot recently opened and I've been here twice already so yes I like this spot a lot. I love trying the mixture of cultural dishes here at the diner. I've previously dined at Bayan ko before the diner and I'm excited to go back there as well. The diner is more casual and family friendly with seating indoor and outdoors. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. There is street parking available and it's off of the Montrose brown line. read more

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My wife and I came for Sunday brunch around 11:30 and the estimated wait time was 30 minutes, which wasn't too bad. Seating inside is very limited so I'd recommend either coming early or making an online reservation. I ordered the Filipino breakfast burrito, my wife got the tapsilog breakfast, and we also shared ube pancakes and side order of plantains. The burrito could have used a bit more longanisa. It felt more like an egg and potato burrito and lacked the flavors that make me think of the traditional sweet and fatty sausage. The tapa used for my wife's order was a pleasant surprise, short rib, which were superb. Fried plantains, while a small order, were filling and reminded me of home. We were too full to defeat the pancakes but what we did taste was a mild one flavor that wasn't sweet. Looks like there is a patio open during warmer seasons which could make seating easier. Maybe dog friendly outdoors. Wheelchair accessible entrance. Staff are welcoming and easy to get a hold of. The food came out in about 15 mins. read more

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Rice in the silog was undercooked. Steak was well seasoned and cooked well done which worked on the dish. Lumpia is on the salty side and the sauce of the lumpia is way oversalted. How can that be screwed up? Service is ok but my friends were more than perturbed when ice tea and dessert selections of halo halo or ensaymada weren't available. We were probably the last table service that day. Overall this place missed the mark. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Silog with ribeye - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you're gonna go here. You have to try their Crab Rangoon dip. Best dish, so sweet and savory. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Crab Rangoon Dip - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cute joint with standard service. But no, you shouldn't bother eating here. Only in Chicago could a place like this survive. We got one of every appetizer. The chicken skewers were the star of that show but weren't anything I couldn't make with some discount meat from Mariano's and a grill. The ropa vieja was greasy and overcooked "steak" leftovers of a Costco quality. The pulled pork was so incredibly overcooked that it had the consistency of a pile of boiled hair. The beans were lovely, though. I got a spicy mango cocktail which was boxed mango juice with spicy tequila in it. Pure disappointment. We paid $135 for this meal. It was worth $30. read more

Me and my friend took a trip up to Bayan Ko diner in Ravenswood for brunch and we couldn't be happier we did. The vibe in there is very cozy and homey, but not too cramped. Located just under the montrose brown line stop, it's really easy to get to and well worth the trip. We ordered a few different things to share, including the Silogs, Cubano breakfast burrito, lumpia and veggie empanadas. The lumpia were perfectly fried and light, and the empanadas were delicious and packed with flavor. The cubano breakfast burrito was a burst of flavors, with the sweetness of the plantain combining well with the savory brisket. But the star of the show was the silogs. These tasty sausages combined with the fried eggs and garlic rice were so delicious and a somehow light but also hearty meal perfect for brunch/lunch. Can't wait to go back and try other things on the menu. read more

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What a lovely place with fast and friendly service! We ordered the traditional Filipino breakfast, and it was absolutely delicious. The flavors were authentic, and the dishes were served quickly and with care. Highly recommend for anyone looking to enjoy a great meal in a welcoming atmosphere. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Bangsilog - Bangus, garlic fried rice and fried egg - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ambiance is really nice and everything is super clean! I had higher expectations of the food, it was good but I thought it would be mind blowing (since all the food influencers on socials said it would be). Service could be better, it seems like there was only the hostess and one waiter. The place was pretty packed when I was there, but I still feel like they could have been more attentive. I ordered the crab rangoon dip and the silog longanisa breakfast. I personally didn't like the crackers that came with the dip but actual taste of the dip was relatively good. The silog longanisa was pretty bland in my opinion. read more

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Food was delicious with generous helpings. The service was fast, efficient and friendly. The ambiance was. energetic and pleasant. My only complaint was that the coffee was tepid and when I asked if it could be microwaved, the server simply poured in more coffee which remained tepid. Not a big deal but I like my coffee HOT! read more

Been anticipating the opening of Bayan Ko Diner for months, and I'm so happy it's finally here! Their breakfast and lunch menu is extensive, with a dinner menu soon to follow. I loved the Silogs with Bangus, featuring crispy, fragrant milkfish and deliciously rich garlic rice. The Sticky Ensaymada, topped with cinnamon butter and rich cheese, was decadently satisfying. Our first visit didn't quite match the wow factor of the OG Bayan Ko, but the diner still offers super solid and more casual selections. I'm looking forward to returning to explore more items from the diner menu. read more

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Very good food and comfortable environment. We will go back. You should make reservations if going on the weekend. Note that there are two restaurants, Banyan Ko and Bayan Ko Diner, with very different price points. read more

I loved their restaurant before they opened up the diner so I had to try it out! They have great Filipino breakfast staples along with some good fusion dishes. Can't wait to go back, will have to add it to my rotating brunch options! read more

Tried the Cuban food this time! Excellent!. This is a welcoming place with consistent service. I keep coming here for lunch. read more

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This is a cute diner and was pretty full for a late brunch. The ube pancakes were up my alley, but the lumpia and longanisa were just ok. The waitstaff were attentive but forgot some food items. I'd come back to try something else though. read more

Food was great but one of the staff members was extremely rude! Don't recall the name but blonde mid-late 40s

This was my first time visiting the diner, but I had been to the Bayan Ko dinner location previously for a food event so was eager to check them out. The interior is stylish and colorful. Also offer outdoor seating. Reservations are available too. Currently, they don't have a bar, but it is BYOB. Met friend for lunch on a Friday and made reservations, but it wasn't super busy so I'm sure a lot of walk-in opportunities during weekdays. We split Cubano and pork belly with garlic rice. we ended our meal with a cafecito. I didn't get any pictures of the food because as soon as it arrived, we smashed on sight! I would definitely go back and highly recommend. read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Open and airy with color and style! - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious food with a friendly staff. Vibes were immaculate. Garlic rice is a perfect side with any meal.

Have gone here twice and the food is amazing. I'm originally Cuban and can vouch for their take on Cuban food. It's not a cozy place to chat because it's super busy and crowded but the food is worth the trip. Also, something that is important to me are bathrooms and theirs although small, are clean and nice. read more

Bayan Ko is a Filipino and Cuban Fusion restaurant that offers a wide variety of unique dishes. Located in the city, it is a smaller space. Because of this, I recommend making a reservation for any size party. We had a large group so we got to try a lot of the menu. We tried Sisig Shishito Hash ($18), Crab Rangoon ($18), Ube Pancakes ($16), Tocino ($18), Pork Adobo ($24), and Beef Tapa ($24). Overall, the winner was the Ube Pancakes which had a strong ube flavor and the perfect texture. Possibly the best Ube Pancakes in Chicago. But perhaps we came on an off day, because unfortunately we were underwhelmed with everything else. We had visitors from Maryland too who all agreed. As Filipinos maybe we've got too high standards but the flavors weren't anything special and either too salty or bland. I did think though that the deep fried saltines was a yummy touch to the crab rangoon dip which had a lot of potential. It needed a bit more cream cheese. Service was a bit on the rough side. We were a larger group without a reservation which I admit was poor planning on our part. If I had known, I would've taken initiative to book. Regardless, that day was 94-95 degrees outside. We asked for some seating indoors and offered to split up so that our visitors won't have to sit in the heat. There were plenty of open seats but they were "reserved" ahead of time. However, the problem was that the walk-ins before us were finishing up their food. Meaning that by the time the reservations came in, they could've had the tables that the walkins finished. I don't understand why they couldn't allow us to sit inside when there was so much open seating. With the extreme heat, I would've expected better service and overall decency. But we were slapped with a "These are for reservations only." Which again, I get, but the timing of the reservations coming in were perfectly matched with the walkins leaving. There was plenty of open seats. I literally watched it in front of me. There were even bar seats open but weren't offered to us. The walk in group that came in behind us were able to get the open bar seats. In addition, our group was split up on the picnic tables outside. Our food came at different times, we basically sat separately. But of course, the 20% gratuity was added on because we were a group even if weren't treated like one. In addition, because we were outside it felt like we were snubbed. Of course, us asking to sit inside to avoid the 95 degree weather may have peeved staff, even though we were very nice and professional about it. As a customer, I don't expect restaurants to go above and beyond but I expect decency and professionalism. The irony of the restaurant name "Bayan Ko" which translates to "My country" and insinuates unity within the Filipino community wasn't lost on me. While no one was outwardly rude to us, you can tell a lot based off of tone and inattention. I wanted to love the restaurant, but with service and mediocre food, I was left just very unsatisfied. And sadly, my out of town visitors felt the same which probably sucked the most. Will I give Bayan Ko another chance? Absolutely, I believe in second chances but out of all the other options in the city, it definitely won't be at the top of my list. But again, please take my experience with a grain of salt- give it a go and form your own opinion! I will always support local businesses and encourage everyone to do the same. Everyone has their off days. I wish Bayan Ko success! read more

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It's dinnertime as I write, yet my mouth is still watering when I think about the delicious shrimp and grits I had for lunch hours ago at Bayan Ko Diner, dangerously close to where I live. What a complexity of flavors, and so comforting. The silog makes a delicious breakfast... there are so many other dishes I look forward to trying, like the cubano sandwich and one of their three breakfast burrito options. Not to mention the desserts. Great food and great service with a welcoming vibe. Good for families. read more

Wow. Just mouth watering Delicious food! great drinks! Warm and cozy. Service on point.

The service was amazing i love this place they always treat me well & show me amazing hospitality

Great brunch spot right near the brown line. Bright and sunny space with unique food options read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Ube pancakes - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Just had an amazing foor trip here today! Loved all that we got- the Pork Belly Adobo, the Sisig, the Lumpia and the Halo Halo! Thanks for the flavor explosions in my mouth! oh and also, the service is impeccable! read more

My husband is Cuban and I'm Filipino and we can honestly say that the food tasted authentic! Ropa Vieja is normally not my husband's favorite but he said this place has the best ropa vieja he has ever tasted. The lechon kawali was good. Mussels are a must! We ordered the half dishes and we still had leftovers to take home. The halo halo dessert had a twist. It's not how we normally serve halo halo in the Philippines but it was sooooo good! Jasmine was our waitress and she was great! BYOB! Everything for less than $70! We are definitely coming back! read more

Bayan Ko Diner - Lechon kawali, mussels, ropa vieja - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was delicious, offering a good mix of Cuban and Filipino flavors that complemented each other perfectly. I went with the Tocino Silogs and cafe con leche. The service was top-notch, with staff who were both friendly and attentive. The decor was adorable, adding a charming touch to the overall ambiance. This place is a gem for anyone looking to enjoy a a Cuban/Filipino fusion. Highly recommended! read more

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