Moody, fine dining Filipino restaurant in ravenswood/north center Chicago. The experience of this place really starts when you enter the restaurant. I was a big fan of the interior. Dark moody lighting with warm colored lamps really sets the tone for the meal you are about to eat. Service was incredibly kind and attentive. Everyone's so lovely. The food is exactly what you'd expect - elevated Filipino and overall INCREDIBLE. Here's what we got/my thoughts. Coco ginger daiquiri - 5/5 - really refreshing. You could taste each component of the drink which was fun to experience. Sisig - 4/5 - I'll start by saying I'm really particular about my sisig. For sisig to be a 5 for me, it *has* to be crunchy. And that's the only thing this sisig was missing. For coming out on a sizzling plate, it was a little too wet, even after the sizzling. Despite this though, the flavors were there and they were delicious. Garlic rice - 5/5 - best garlic rice I've ever had in my life. Just get it. That's all I have to say. Pancit canton - 4/5 - if I'm being honest, it's hard to really elevate pancit canton. But this was a good attempt, it just seemed to be missing something to put it over the top. Really appreciated the fresh vegetables with the noodles. Lumpia - 5/5 - like pancit canton, it seems hard to elevate lumpia but they freaking did it. This was so good. The filling was nice and juicy and had great flavor. Kare Kare - 5/5 - Kare Kare was my favorite dish growing up but I've never experienced it elevated to such a high level until boonies. The meat was so tender, cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth. The vegetables being carmelized was also quite the treat. Didn't realize until after the fact that the sauce isn't made with peanuts, so huge plus that gives our peanut allergic friends the opportunity to experience such an amazing dish. So well done. read more

See all

This was a great, cozy spot to try a different take on Filipino food. Being a Filipina myself, I'm torn between labeling it because I feel like some of the dishes are more Filipino-inspired while others are definitely elevated-Filipino. Either way, it's a good place to try a twist on your favorites or dip into something new. I especially appreciated that there were a lot of vegetarian options which is hard to find in Filipino food, like our "veggie" lumpia usually has small bits of meat in it, lol. We were warmly welcomed, seated relatively quickly, and the service was attentive and timely. The place is cozy and on the dark side so my pics aren't the greatest. We had the Inihaw ng Talong which is basically grilled eggplant that came brushed with sunflower butter, loaded with tomatoes and garnished with cilantro. This was a nice start but a small one. The eggplant was smoky and creamy and complimented by the bright tomatoes. The Satti Manok, skewered grilled chicken, with cornbread sticky rice was good, but I've definitely had better for a lot less. This is usually a staple you'll find at any Filipino family's BBQ but the cornbread sticky rice was a surprisingly nice treat. If you've had this before, somewhere else, I'd skip it to try something else. The Sinigang Caesar was such a nice twist that totally made sense! My only complaint is that it was served with Bibb lettuce instead of a crunchy romaine. I enjoyed this so much I've been making my Caesar dressings with a sprinkling of Sinigang powder now and my family loves it. The Kare Kare gulay was nice and I enjoyed it. The charred cabbage gave it some extra depth that I think is needed to pull this off because this sauce is made with sunflower butter instead of peanut butter. This was great for me because I'm allergic to peanuts but it definitely changes the flavor, making it a little sweeter and lighter. I wish they would've made this with cashew or almond butter to keep it closer to the rich, deep flavors of a Kare Kare. The Maitake mushrooms -- I absolutely loved. I've never had this before and it reminded me of a good Laing which is also made with a spiced coconut sauce. I definitely could've eaten this all to myself with the garlic rice. Yes, the garlic rice is good but I was surprised to see it go for $6 a bowl. Rice is usually so cheap, if not complementary in Filipino restaurants and garlic rice is quite common, especially for breakfast (yes, I sabreakfast). It was cooked perfectly though. The mango float was delicious. Not sure why it's called a float but it was mango and mascarpone ice cream nestled in a mango sauce and topped with a delicate, crumbly butter cookie. I will definitely come back for more if I'm ever in the area again. I'd be excited to try other things on their menu. read more

See all

The restaurant looks cute where it is a nice casual restaurant. My friend and I decided to come here as I saw it was nearby. The staff are really nice as well. To start, we ordered some lumpia's ($6) which I feel like is a must at a Filipino restaurant. They were delicious and a good way to start the meal. We ordered the Sizzling Sisig ($18) and Tortang Talong ($28) as our entrees. We got a bowl of garlic fried rice which is an extra dollar instead of regular white rice. We were surprised that the Sisig was a little sweet. We were hoping it would taste a little more savory. For the garlic fried rice, we also wanted it be more garlicky. We didn't really taste much garlic. For the Tortang Talong, we didn't know what to expect but we didn't care too much for it. It's a unique dish but we thought that it was on the sweeter end than savory. For the dessert, we ordered the mango float ($11) which we loved. It was a great way to end the night. The syrup was delicious and had a good mix of the crunch with the biscoff and softness of the ice cream. Overall, we were glad we tried it, but it wouldn't be my go to for Filipino food. read more

See all

Wow so impressed with Boonie! First of all, love all the plants they have at the front of the restaurant! Service was so attentive, professional and friendly. The food was amazing! We only got to try 2 things as we intentionally came here for snack. Absolutely loved the salon and the kare kare. Can't wait to visit again and try the other options! read more

Boonie's Filipino Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sizzling sisig was delicious!! We also got the salad and cod which were so good. I only wish I got the garlic rice instead of the regular. Our server was very nice and food came out fast. The interior was clean and calm. I'd love to come back! read more

See all

What an amazing restaurant. Filipino food has been elevated to new levels at this cozy spot. If you think of Filipino cuisine 'humble', then you really need to come to Boonie's. Service is sublime. The bar program is outstanding. And the food otherworldly. If you're lucky, the chef will come to your table and prepare a dish table side. This is definitely a place that I will return to whenever I'm in Chicago. read more

Boonie's Filipino Restaurant - Banana old fashioned - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very good Filipino food! We got the lumpiang (yum), sisig (yum), garlic rice (super simple but super yum), and adobo broccoli (yum!!). Everything was seasoned perfectly and the drinks were amazing. I got the hibiscus habanero Negroni and would recommend. Slightly busy on a Saturday night but the service and ambiance was great. read more

Boonie's Filipino Restaurant - Sizzling Sisig - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Got broken up with in the morning and the food here really healed my soul haha. The lumpia was hot and fresh and the pork filling was juicy. Everyone raved about the breakfast sandwich so of course I had to try it- it had Vigan longganisa, silky egg, smoked gouda, hashbrown on bibingka. I've never had bibingka before and it was tasty but a little thick for my liking. Overall, flavors were delish and service was 10/10. My server Christine was very sweet and attentive. I'd come back!! read more

Boonie's Filipino Restaurant - Bbl sandwich, lumpia - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We shared: 1. BBL sandwich - Vigan longganisa, silky egg, smoked gouda, hashbrown 2. Bistek Silog - marinated beef short rib, calamansi caramelized onions, garlic rice 3. Redline Express - shrimp, crispy pork, long beans in spicy coconut sauce, white rice BBL was tasty overall, reminiscent of a mcgriddle with the sweet buns which didn't have much structural integrity. The beef short rib didn't really fall off the bone and hard to eat chewy. Garlic rice was crispy, flavorful, excellent. Crispy pork in Redline Express was dry/tough and the skin was not crispy. Not enough sauce. Service was good and friendly. Not a fan of eating in dim lighting. read more

See all

Look if you're Filipino looking for traditional cooking stop reading and go some where else. For everyone else let's continue. Boonies is an upscale, elegant, date night restaurant that happens to serve Filipino fusion. For starters we had Shanghai lumpia(egg rolls) good, satti(chicken marinade with mochi corn bread) better, sinigang salad - excellent! The $2 garlic rice is worth the upgrade. Our mains was gulay Kare Kare excellent veggie dish. I would have preferred some beef - Im nitpicking. We also had the prettiest Krispy pata I've had. Regardless of what you choose the quality drips on all the dishes. I rank the food because I have too but really they are all good. I like Bonnie's I don't know what else to say. read more

See all

Come here for lunch & get the BBL. Just do it. This was without a doubt the BEST breakfast sandwich I've ever had. The taste is comparable to a fancy McGriddle. I actually told my server this & he informed me that the chef designed this sandwich to be like a McGriddle! If you love a good sweet & savory combo like I do, you gotta check this out. The restaurant is cozy n homey with all the cute family photos, but also chic! Def returning! read more

Boonie's Filipino Restaurant - The BBL - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best damn fried chicken! Really generous portions and super tasty. It also came out piping hot!! Definitely burned my mouth while eating it but i didn't even care, it was so good. The short ribs were also very tasty and flavorful. The Pork belly wasn't like the pork belly at Bayan Ko. It was quite lean and not tender. The lumpia was also only okay. Good flavors but the pork was too lean so it wasn't juicy. The sisig was also only okay. I'm glad I tried Boonie's but I think I'm more of a Bayan Ko girl. read more

See all

First time dining at Boonie's. First experience eating Filipino food. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, answered questions and made the experience easy to navigate. Food was paced nicely and although we ordered several dishes our two top was never crowded. Ambiance was cozy without feeling crowded. read more

See all

Tried Boonie's for the first time and it did not disappoint. I had the lechon and gulay kare kare, both of which were making their debut on the menu that day--and wow. As a Filipino, I came in with high expectations (and a little skepticism), but the lechon surprised me in the best way. I was expecting something heavier that would leave me in a food coma, but it was beautifully balanced, crispy, flavorful, and paired perfectly with the veggie kare kare. I've only ever had kare kare with oxtail, so the veggie version was new to me--and I loved it. I also tried the sinigang salad, which unfortunately missed the mark. It didn't evoke any familiar Filipino flavors for me and felt a bit underwhelming. Dessert was turon, but it came with a plantain purée rather than whole slices, which took away some of that classic texture and experience I was hoping for. That said, the highs far outweighed the lows. I'm already planning my next visit--and can't wait to bring my parents. A fresh and exciting take on Filipino food that still respects the roots. read more

See all

I'm Filipina, so I grew up with this food -- which also means I'm extremely judgmental about it. Boonie's totally won me over. I love their take on Filipino fusion. The food is creative without losing the soul of the dishes, and the cocktail menu is imaginative and modern, full of fresh ingredients that still pay homage to traditional Filipino flavors. The star of the show was the lechon kawali platter (!!). Perfectly crisp, perfectly fatty, and served with ingredients for lettuce wraps -- this is where the fusion shines. Every bite was balanced and fun to build. If you're a rice person, get a side of garlic rice and thank me later. Fluffy, garlicky, and the perfect pairing for literally everything on the table. Bonus: parking is actually pretty manageable. There's ample paid street parking right by the restaurant, but if you're willing to walk a block or two, you can usually find free street parking without much trouble. Such a fantastic meal. I'll be sending all my fellow Filipinos -- and anyone who loves good food -- straight here. read more

Boone's Filipino Restaurant delivered an amazing dining experience. I started with Bundok's Fried Chicken, which was perfectly crispy, crunchy, and juicy. The house-made signature barbecue sauce on the side was flavorful and made each bite even better. For my main dish, I had the Bistek Silog with marinated beef short rib, calamansi, and caramelized onions. The short rib was incredibly tender and juicy, paired perfectly with fresh garlic rice and a runny egg on top--simple, comforting, and packed with flavor. The service was outstanding--friendly, polite, and attentive to dietary needs. The ambiance was cozy, warm, and vibrant while still feeling intimate. Boone's is definitely a spot worth visiting, and I'll be back. read more

Boonie's Filipino Restaurant - Bistek Silog - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Heading north on HWY 41 you'll be hitting so many small hamlets with amazing restaurants on every corner it's a foodie haven; and this was my good fortune tonight up in the Ravenswood section of Chicago. I've always known about Boonies Filipino Restaurant for years but never had the notion to try it. And, yes I've been to the Philippines and yes I've had my fair share of this cuisine in the capital city of Manila, but never sought out this food here in The States. But what tweaked my curiosity tonight was a write up on Boonies Bastos Burger & Fries only served on Wednesdays and Thursdays and only at their bar. This small but fashionable bistro had a trendy and smart feel about it. I found it dapper and very tasteful. As for their restaurant menu, everything looked and smelled great, but, I was on a Chicago Burger mission this night and I was not disappointed. My Bastos Bar Burger (say that fast three times) was the hit of this show: Two smash burgers with smoked gouda, adobo caramelized onions, roasted garlic patty melt sauce with a griddled Hawaiian bun served with a mild sauce was absolutely delicious. And the accompanying fries were "killer" in such a very good way. The "not quite ketchup / not quite BBQ sauce for these fries was original and very tasty and wow did this combination work. My San Miguel Light Beer was paired perfectly with my dinner. The staff were very friendly, accommodating and fun. I not only loved this restaurant, but had a very good time being here and will most definitely come back for the deep down Philippine dinner at a table instead of the bar. Five Stars without a second thought! read more

See all

It's as good as you think and heard. WOW, the flavors the drinks that service are all so good. They will tell you to order more plates than you can probably eat, so if order down one or plan for left overs. Highly recommend read more

Boonie's Filipino Restaurant - Back seating area - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I want to preface this by saying I came during dinner and it seems like lunch/brunch may be the time to come. We ordered almost the whole menu and I think the portion sizes were small compared to the prices. It was definitely giving fine dining when going with a group of 4 and everyone taking a bite. The flavors were good but nothing spectacular. The turon look undercooked but with the caramelized sugar on it, it was okay. The filling wasn't as sweet as I expected. Service was slow and all the food took a bit to come out. Be prepared to spend some time there. We spent a little over 2 hours there not because we were chatting but because of the timing of dishes coming out. I am interested in trying this place during lunch so I'll probably be back and can't wait to see what they hype is about read more

See all

Boonie's is incredible! We have visited for lunch on several occasions and enjoyed all the rice bowls, particularly the Bangsilog and Mushroom silog rice plates. The garlic rice and milkfish were well flavored, and the mushroom was perfectly crispy and fragrant. The Laing (taro leaves with coconut milk and chilies) was rich & savory and complemented the rice plates nicely. To cap off the meal, we had the Halo-Halo for dessert, which was a decadent and delightful treat. The restaurant has a lovely and upscale design with a modern flair. The service was very efficient and incredibly friendly. The whole place was phenomenal. Upscale Filipino dining at its best. Very cute ambience, great for date night or just a nice dinner in general. Simple yet exquisite menu, every single dish was phenomenal. My favorite was for sure the Adobong Manok. We're excited to return to explore more of their menu offerings, especially their dinner selection. read more

First time being here for dinner. Had the sisig, bag net and garlic rice. Taste - check. Sisig was a bit disappointing after the rave reviews but honestly, it was okay. Bagnet was crunchy as expected although slightly tough. Garlic rice was flavorful but not overwhelmingly garlicky as others have indicated. Great ambiance although honestly, I could use more lighting - hard to read the menu. Ample street parking so another check. Service was great and kudos to everyone with their attentiveness. Our glass was never empty for even a short time and everyone helped so it wasn't just the server assigned to us. Triple check for service. Price - this was where I could hear the brakes! This was definitely pricey to the point of being over priced in my humble opinion. $6 for a bowl of garlic rice seems way overpriced. The 6 thin slices of bagnet was $12 and the sisig that didn't seem to be all meat was $18! I'm okay with paying for good food but make it reasonable on serving size. Conclusion - decent food, great service but over priced. read more

A friend and I came in earlier this week for lunch to celebrate her birthday - being the first time for us both to dine here. We started with an order of lumpia. Then ordered our entrees of bansilog and pinakbet + bagnet. Both were hearty, delicious and authentic (both of us are Filipino). I had in passing told our waitress that it was a friend's bday. She came back and brought over a candle lighted giraffe for my friend to blow out and also a handmade care and 2 polvoron. It was a very sweet gesture. Overall a really great experience and one that reflects the Filipino hospitality and kindness that I grew up with. I am curious to try other menu items so will definitely be back in the future! read more

Boonie's Filipino Restaurant - Pinakbet Plate + bagnet - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Finally had the pleasure of trying Boonie's store front in North Center! I first tried them when they had their food hall location & was happy to see how far they've come in their own stand alone restaurant. The service was beautimous & the ambiance (including the bathroom) felt high end & modern. For food, we had the sizzling sisig & marketplace fish which was a grilled branzino. The sisig was finely chopped with a strong like flavor. I am more accustom to fine chunks of pork head & more of a spice from fresh chilies but this version was still great! I think it is made more commercially & consumer friendly. The best part of the meal was definitely the fish! It was well grilled where the char didn't mask the freshness of the fish. I only wished they gave more tomatoes/onions/radish with the fish because it made a more well rounded bite when mixed all together. read more

Boonie's Filipino Restaurant - branzino - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Every single dish we ordered here was amazing and so flavorful! The cocktails were also yummy. Shout out to Chef Joe for hooking us up and making our night here very memorable. If youre looking for a new Filipino spot you MUST come here. We love to support our fellow Pinoys! read more

See all

Boonie's is a remarkable addition to the city's culinary landscape. It's worth a splurge for those seeking a unique dining experience. Ample paid street parking is available. This resto features a contemporary yet inviting design, love its simplistic wooden interior, which brings that warm ambiance. The wait staff were attentive & proactively ensured our water glasses were replenished without any prompts. The cute card they made for our Anniversary is a nice touch! Culinarily, Boonie's offers an exceptional interpretation of Filipino cuisine that distinguishes itself from conventional offerings. The dishes embrace a minimalist flavor approach, yet provide deep satisfaction, making us eager to explore more of the menu. I have posted photos with a rating for each dish we ordered, grounded in our palates & preferences. Well done, Chef Josep! Will be back with friends in tow! read more

See all

It was really nice at lunch. Not too expensive. Attractive room. I had pretty common dishes on my one visit, so I'll add to this when I've visited a few more times. Hard to tell what's distinctive about Boonie's for such a small sample read more

This restaurant deserves a Michelin Star!! Never disappointed! Food is freshly made their sisig is the best!

Went around lunch time and got the classic Filipino breakfast. Pretty fair for the price and filling for me. Comes with vinegar to cut up the fatty flavor of the sausage and a small side of ripe tomatoes and cilantro to freshen up the pallet between bites. Service is pretty friendly, but it did take awhile for my order to come out, although it was very delicious. The choice of dark colored paint and the minimally lit areas really contrasts the natural bright warmth during breakfast and lunch settings. As I walked towards the bathrooms located in the back it felt as I was more in a dinner setting. read more

See all

If you're Filipino, and you're looking for that traditional taste you had grown up eating, this place is definitely not for you. Shanghai Lumpia. Although it was full of meat, it did not capture the taste. The fusion did not work. Even the dipping sauce was wrong. Sizzling Sisig. Another disappointment. Again tasted nothing like Sisig, it was missing pig ears. Kare-Kare. Not kare-kare at all. Lechon Baka. Definitely not! This was a big disappointment for my wife and I, we actually drove to Chicago for this. Then again to each his own. Don't let this affect your decision to eat here, you may actually like it. But for me, you cannot fusion Filipino Food, as the flavor totally gets lost. read more

Wow, the food here is so flavorful and unique. I will def come here again to try their other dishes. I had the bagnet and the pork belly was fried to perfection and it was not dry at all. I tried their satti manok and it was so good and nothing I ever had before. The chicken skewers were tender and juicy and it was so good with the satti gravy which was like curry. I could not get over the cornbread sticky rice. I never had anything like it before. I was confused but also very amused and I loved the texture. It reminded me of dduk or a mochi texture. I also had the garlic rice with it which was the perfect pairing to balance out the sauce and the heavier flavored dish. My friend had the sinigag salad and it was so fresh and the dressing was delicious. My friend had the adobong isda and it reminded me of a Korean dish called godeungeo jorim by the smell of it. This Filipino dish just has more broth in it. Our waitress was super nice and gave great recommendations since it was our first time here. read more

See all

THE CRISPY PORK IT WAS THE BEST DISH OF THE NIGHT FOR ME!! i was grabbing that chicken by the bone at the end of the night but it was pretty just okay for me. sisig flavor wise was great says the certified filipino! lumpia yummy but kinda salty. eggplant yummy but i think its just cause i like eggplant. overall decent food but a bit too expensive compared to how my tastebuds feel!! they also had this cool ube alcoholic drink that i didnt try but thats cool!! read more

See all

Delicious food! Lots of gluten free options and great service. I've had two dishes here, I don't remember the names but the short rib dish was a little tough for my liking. The oyster mushroom dish is phenomenal! Great options for all different types of diets, very yummy, highly recommend. read more

They're meant to be sharing plates but my husband (whose favorite restaurant is Burger King) said he needs to order his own sinigang salad next time. That's how good the vegetable dishes are at Boonie's. It's the same lesson we learned long ago with the lumpia. We have to each order our own. No sharing. read more

Boonie's Filipino Restaurant - The best lumpia and the best salad we've ever had - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a treat this place is! We took a bigger party (9) so made a reservation and had a pre-planned menu. We ate SO MUCH food! The service was great, the ambiance is lovely. We are from out of town so it was a great Filipino experience for us. There is no alcohol at Boonie's so BYOB. We had: Lumpia, pancit canton, sizzling sisig, sitaw, bistek, lechon manok, adobong isda, and maitake mushroom piaparan. They also serve complimentary slices of watermelon at the end! read more

See all

Of course I came back again. All favorites tbh can't rave about this dinner enough. Chill relaxing vibes and delicious creative foods and drinks. Great for groups and for a single diners. I haven't had anything average. Shout out to all the people who work here because they really know their stuff and care about the service. read more

See all

Pricey but tasty Filipino fare! This is a restaurant that serves elevated and "remixed" Filipino cuisine. There's a limited menu, so when I went with a group of 7 we basically ordered everything on the menu. Service was great, and Liv our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and helped us guide how to order our dishes. A lot of dishes are small, so in order for a big group to share, you need to double up on them. Highlights were the sizzling sisig (ground meat with sauce and egg) and the lamb shank (wonderful flavor and gravy)! Things I would probably skip are the pancit canton (which was lacking a bit in flavor, and the portion was small), the eggplant appetizer, and the lions mane mushroom ulam. Price came out to about $50 a person. I also found the portions to be on the small side. I feel conflicted about this restaurant, as it does strive for an elevated dining experience, but with dishes that are typically inexpensive casual fare. So to see a dish like pancit which is something you would see in giant portions served at a potluck, served in such a small serving, there was almost something contradictory about it. And I couldn't help but think about going to a much cheaper restaurant and having a meal that was just as satisfying. But it was nice. read more

See all

This is one of our favorite Filipino restaurants in the area. My husband is half Filipino and loves it here. As a vegetarian, I also have options here which is rare in a Filipino restaurant. The maitake it's crunchy, flavorful and delicious. My husband loves their longanisa. I also love that they have coffee from other places. Last time we went, they had a black sesame latte, which was super good. The Matcha latte we got was also unbeatable. We have definitely come here a few times and we will continue to come here while we live in the area. Definitely worth checking out! Don't hesitate to go make a reservation. read more

Cute Filipino restaurant. A bit dark ambient lighting. Pork belly: one of the best crispy pork I've had! Really juicy, perfect match with the brown sour sauce I forgot what it is made of Chicken leg is super tender but needs more stronger flavor for me Sizzling sisig: I miss the sizzling plate dish in Asia! Flavor's ok. A bit too sour for me. The hot plate did not bring the flavor out Garlic rice is really strong garlic smell. Wish it has some meat so I can just eat it by itself Reasonable price for the quality of food Clean and nice restroom with poupouri and a bidet! Not many people will actually use it but nice to see it! read more

See all

AMAZING Filipino food. AMAZING service. My table was honestly so difficult, but the staff handled everything with smiles and grace. We tipped over 50% because they absolutely deserved it. The food wasn't the most authentic Filipino cuisine I've had, but it was incredibly tasty. I'm usually hesitant about small plate restaurants, especially with Asian cuisine, but this experience was perfect in every way--service, management, and the meal itself. We ordered the sizzling sisig, lechon manok, adobong isda, whole fish inasal, and a few daily specials. The sizzling sisig stood out with a perfect balance of acidity from the lime, toning down the saltiness and making it an incredibly enjoyable dish. Every dish was flavorful, and the servers were extremely knowledgeable, helping us choose the perfect meal. The whole fish inasal was another standout for me. It was perfectly cooked--crispy, flavorful, and well-balanced with a great mix of acidity and sweetness. The garnishes added even more depth, really bringing out the flavors of the dish. Pairing it with garlic rice made it even better, and the fish ULAM was simply amazing! By far my favorite dish. If you enjoy sweet and acidic flavors, I highly recommend ordering this. Despite being a high-end restaurant, it felt like family. The servers were attentive, even going out of their way to console my crying niece and nephew with stickers and crayons. They even wrote me a sweet note to mark the occasion of my white coat ceremony. My guests were super late, but the staff was patient, professional, and kind, which meant a lot on an already stressful day. I don't want to give too much away--just go and eat there. You'll understand why I love it so much. I can't wait to come back ASAP! read more

I am a little mixed on this place because I don't think filipino is really my thing. I will bump it up to 4 because I don't think anything went wrong, but I am just not a fan of this kind of food. We started with the getting all the grilled appetizers (minus the vegan option). The chicken, pork belly, and short ribs were all excellent. I would give a special shoutout to the short ribs which were better than I expected. The pork belly and chicken were pretty good too. The portions were also decently large. We also got the lumpia which is always a hit! I got the beef tongue for my main course which had some pretty good flavor, but was kind of mushy. This is probably how this is prepared so its probably more of a "me problem" than anything the restaurant did. We all also got garlic rice which we thought was a little too much garlic, but mellowed out with the addition of other meats and flavors. We ended with the fried sticky rice coconut balls which were good, but not extremely memorable. Still, it was a strong ending to a meal that I thought lagged a bit in the middle. It was also a little expensive. The menu seems a little too small and unless you really like filipino food, you are only going to have options in the applitizers. Honestly, that is survivable as I thought the grilled meats appetizers were tasty and I should have gotten more instead of the tongue. The other highlight was that the service was actually quite excellent. They were able to make recommendations, were attentive, and flexible with a few young kids we had. The place seems upscale, but is pretty cozy and has probably the best volume music I have heard at a restaurant. Not too loud, not too soft. Will I be back? Maybe. I would return to get the chicken, pork belly, lumpia, and short ribs, but that is the meal that I am making. I would suggest that to you if you are unsure.k read more

Boonie's Filipino Restaurant - Sign outside - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois