Ambiance: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5 The young man working the register is super friendly and easy to talk to. He recommended some great dishes for us to try and gave us some info about the place too. Food: 4/5 We almost ordered the whole menu hahah. Our favorite was actually the bittermelon dish! It's definitely not for everyone, but bittermelon has a lot of good nutrients and Kawayan does a great job making this dish not that bitter. read more

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Kawayan's owner and chef are from Iloilo, my hometown, and that's located in the middle of the Philippines... The restaurant is in a strip mall and it's right next to 7-11, although the parking lot seems tight, I've never had a problem finding a parking spot. It's also a 5 min. Walk from the Jefferson Blueline station, that's convenient... On the weekend, try to be the first people here because it's a small restaurant with perhaps 8 tables and if you get your order in late, your food will come out, when it comes out, because good food takes time. I've seen people leave their table because of the long wait.... As for the food, I like the usual suspects like caldereta (beef stew), fried veggie-lumpia (egg rolls), pork sisig (sizzling carnitas), kare kare (peanut butter stew with beef and veggies), lumpia Shanghai (smaller pork egg rolls), garlic fried rice, and pinakbet (sautéed veggies, shrimp, and pork)... Oh, it's byob too, so feel free to bring Sauvignon Blanc or San Miguel :) read more

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Food here was ok, but not a place I would go out of my way to visit. We arrived 45 minutes before closing and were the only customers and felt rushed to order and eat. A-Lumpia Shanghai $11 - Crunchy, but not a lot of flavor. These might be the first lumpia I didn't enjoy. Batchoy Special $20 - This regional noodle dish was interesting. The fried pork belly was good, but should be served on the side or taken out of the bowl first thing so that they don't become soggy. Bistek tagalog $22 - The onion is seared and not caramelized. I prefer the method where everything is cooked together and soaked up the flavor of the sauce that makes it really intense. Garlic Fried Rice $11 - Rice was mushy. .|\---/| | @_@ | ..\_^_/..2026 read more

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I havent been here for a long time and they have new owners now. The place looks great. We enjoyed crispy pata and shrimp sinigang. The crispy pata is huge. Very tasty and crispy. The sinigang has the perfect sourness. Perfect combo with the crispy pata. The owner said they are from Iloilo, they jave variety of food. we will try the other dishes next time. read more

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Found this hole in the wall place while going to the DMV and it's honestly amazing. They serve breakfast all day, and my friends got the combo breakfast and tapsilog breakfast. I got to try both and they were great. I had the binagoongan and it was so flavorful. The lumpia were small and a perfect crispy bite. Would return! read more

Taste Of Kawayan - Crispy Binagoongan - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tucked away in a strip mall north of Chicago you'll find this casual family run Filipino restaurant. I went on a snowy day and business was slow, but I was greeted cheerfully by a family member who talked me through the menu. I ordered the Kare Kare. The peanut sauce was rich and the portions were huge! Definitely interested in coming back to try some of their other menu items! read more

Taste Of Kawayan - Jar - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you have not been here please do yourself a favor and stop by for a meal. And if you've been here but haven't been within the last year or two you absolutely MUST go ASAP. The owners are new and the service is amazing. Everyone makes sure you are comfortable and satisfied. Seating is limited but they do their very best to accommodate everyone. 100% get the sisig it's so good. read more

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I had a great experience at Taste of Kawayan tonight The prices are very reasonable and the portions are quite generous. The staff were incredibly friendly and patient, taking his time to explain and recommend popular dishes, which I really appreciated The drinks were excellent, the coconut juice was very refreshing and lightly sweet, and the mango juice had a rich mango flavor. Every dish we tried had its own unique taste and I like them all My favorite was the bitter melon dish (Ampalaya Guisado) it was surprisingly delicious!!! I can eat 10 of them myself hahahhaha! Overall, everything was flavorful and satisfying. Come try if you're looking for comfort Filipino food with great service!! read more

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We were in the neighborhood and picked up food on the way home. We ordered Bihon (Shrimp), Daing na Bangus, Lumpia Shanghai, and Chicken Adobo. The Lumpia Shanghai was such a good deal, and we didn't have to fight over it. Everything was flavorful, but I was mostly impressed by Daing na Bangus. The fish was fresh, well seasoned, and fried to perfection. read more

Taste Of Kawayan - Bihon (Shrimp), Daing na Bangus, Lumpia Shanghai, Chicken Adobo - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Now known as TASTE OF KAWAYAN. Finally got to try this place. Unfortunately, they were out of batchoy, an ilonggo dish so I will be back for it. We ordered kare-kare, tokwa't baboy (tofu and pork dish), lomi, carne frita (bistek ilonggo style). The carne frita hit the right spots, as i remembered it when my yaya would cook it at home. The kare-kare was made with crispy pork which made it more delicious. We enjoyed the food and JT, was an awesome staff to deal with, as he is also the son of the owner. We will support this place since the owners are from the same place as I am from, in the Philippines. read more

Taste Of Kawayan - Kare kare with bagoong on the side - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Basta Ilonggo...Namit guid mag luto! Highly recommend the special Batchoy with thin egg noodles, thin slices of pork, liver and crispy lechon kawali. Usually have leftover food to bring home but not this time ... the plate of dinuguan (pork belly cooked in pork blood and vinegar) was cleaned out. Best paired with Puto but they were out of stock. Love the crunchy lumpia! Flavor is on point. Ordered sago't gulaman as a drink ... refreshing :-) Taste of Kawayan is under new management/different owner - a certified Ilonggo / taga Santa Maria ng graduate! Family owned and managed Like the vibe. The decor and interior is instagram worthy ... so is the food. Most likely recommend this restaurant not only with the local Filipinos but out of towners. Price is reasonable moderate but the serving is family sized. Parking is free when we parked right in front of the restaurant, on a Sunday at around 1130 am. Most likely to go back next time and try their best seller crispy pasta, beef Kare kare and pancit palabok. read more

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Came here with a friend because I was craving Filipino food and this place did not disappoint! Family owned restaurant and the owner walked us through the menu, telling us about the background of the dishes and provided recommendations based on our preferences. We got the lumpia, la paz batchoy, and bistec tagolog and everything was really flavorful. I really liked the bistec tagolog -- the meat was tender, salty and sour and was complimented well by the caramelized onions and rice. Will definitely be back! read more

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My first time here after ownership changed a year ago. I ordered the Liemposilog and it tasted great! Crunchy exterior but juicy and tender on the inside, with a great meat to fat ratio on the lechon kawali. If you like to spice up your food, ask for their homemade spicy dipping sauce. It has just the right amount of spice to still be able to taste your food, but hot enough to feel that kick. Their specialty is the pork belly sisig, so I'll have to try that in the next visit. read more

Under new management, the owner and chef, more than warrants your attention. You owe it to your palate to reward it with delightful dishes that feed not just the body but also the soul. They cure tocino in house using a family recipe that goes back decades. You can be sure that the meat are cooked to perfection. Crispy and cruchy according to dish parameters. Tender and juicy to the bite. Even the vegetables are prepared at the right temperature so it's not soggy or overcooked which often happens at asian shops. The seasoning is carefully considered, holding the balance between salt and sweet or have ample kick (bicol express) when needed. I haven't had all of the dishes but have sampled many and they are all very enjoyable. Service is quick and staff are very attentive. They said they will be making sausages soon too. I can't wait. read more

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This was a gem. Found this place through TikTok and one rainy day, got my wife to go for some Lapaz Batchoy. Our first trip was a bust as the place was packed. Got the Batchoy to go. It was great, but definitely had to go back to have it freshly made, which did not disappoint. Bought a few more dishes to take home which were all good. The only disappointment was not trying their Halo-Halo. We will definitely go back for that. read more

The food is yummy, but the last three times I have tried calling to place an order, they did not pick up. I even drove to the restaurant to order in person, but there was no one at the front desk. I waited for a couple minutes then left because I was hangry. There is an online order option, but I've only ever called my orders in. I worry that they won't see my online order since they never pick up the phone. If others have had success ordering online, please let me know! I miss the food! read more

Incredible family-owned restaurant, the soup's flavor was incredible. I loved my breakfast as well, it was very filling. Thank you for going through the menu with us and highlighting the most popular dishes an answering all of our questions read more

Kawayan serves the best of Filipino home-cooking in Chicago. Service is friendly and attentive. It has the best lumpia shanghai, pork belly binagoongan, crispy pata, pinakbet, Cardillo Pompano, and La Paz Batchoy. Top marks for their halo-halo! The quality of the dishes are consistent; it never disappoints. Plus it's BYOB! read more

Love this place, started ordering here during the pandemic and they've never disappointed with the food. It's a small mom and pop operation that make excellent food. Husband always gets their bistek and garlic rice, I enjoy the lumpia. We've picked up food once our twice and they have a convenient parking lot. Not sure if they ever resumed indoor seating but still good to go! Highly recommend for Filipino food! read more

A great Filipino restaurant! The crispy pata falls off the bone, ilongo batchoy is like home, pinakbet is the way I like it, not salty . Great a la carte. read more

Taste Of Kawayan - Lumpia Shanghai - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nothing could improve. Staff was rude when someone decided to park just to get food somewhere else in the same lot. He stalked her and her child to see where she was going and claiming she was off the lot. Asking where she was going because he was saving parking when it is public parking. There is no sign that said it was for the restaurant. Would not recommend. If zero stars can be given it would be given. read more

Came in right before closing and was graciously greeted. JT kindly went over the various delicious items on the menu and answered all of our questions. We ordered their special Batchoy, Kare Kare, Affritada, and Shanghai Lumpia with 2 calamansi juice. Very delicious and well made with beautiful presentation. Look forward to coming again with the family. Oh, a must try is their homemade chili oil, perfect to pair with everything! read more

Havent had their food in awhile. For some reason we were craving it this snowy day. We had Crispy Binagoongan and Lumpiang Shanhai for take out which are kinda staples in filipino food. Crisoy Binagoongan is unique its fried pork cooked in their shrimp paste sauce. Normaly they dont fry the pork. Its really good. And you have to have rice with it lol. Lumpiang Shanghai is the filipino eggrolls. Dip it in Sweet Chili Sauce i can eat a hundred of these. I missed this! Happy Eating! read more

Taste Of Kawayan - a container of food on a table - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had been to this restaurant in the past, but it's now under new ownership. The father owns the restaurant and is also the chef because he really wants the food to taste like it should. His son takes the orders and serves the food and is so nice and patient! He went through the menu and explained each dish as we were deciding. We chose pancit bihon combo and batchoy. I doubt you could find either dish made better anywhere else. Each dish had a rich complex taste that was so enjoyable. The batchoy meats are cooked over 24 hours to create an amazing flavor. Pancit bihon had its own wonderful tastes. Both dishes were of generous portions. The decor is inviting and joyful. The place is immaculate. It gets quite busy on the weekends, so you might find it easier to enjoy a great meal sometime during the week. Enjoy! We sure did. read more

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Definitely a must! If you like crispy pork, this is the place! You need to come here on an empty stomach because you will end up ordering everything. read more

Made a small catering order for a family/friend dinner. The food was amazing!!! Tasted just like Lola's cooking. I wish I ordered a full tray of lumpia. We had 5 people for dinner. There was definitely enough to serve 8-10. read more

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Taste of Kawayan is fantastic. I will be posting on IG as well @adagom2 Great spot for a double date. Looks like they cater as well. Family owned Ilokano we will be back Thanks for best service, JT read more

10-22-2022 I hate to give such a negative review for this mom and pop shop, but their shrimp pancit bihon is terrible. So bland. No celery or pea pods as advertised. The shrimp tasted like it was from frozen then boiled. The noodles were so broken up, I had to use a spoon. Absolutely no flavor. I threw it away. I should have known better because I didn't see anyone carry-out pancit. The whole lechon kawali looked good though. Seemed to be the most popular thing for carry-out. Also there was a sign that said "cash only today." But the sign looked old. I'm assuming it's cash only everyday. read more

Taste Of Kawayan - Pancit Bihon with Shrimp - bland, no pea pods or celery. Just terrible - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's been quite some time since last we tried food form there, and h fortunately food quality and taste has gone down while the prices have gone up. Dinuguan (pork blood stew): Last time we had this, it had really good flavor notes and was a tad spiced. air had perfect balance of meat and fat ratio. This time it was all tough pieces of meat, and the stew was dry while many of it was sitting oil/fat. It also lacked overall flavor. Kare Kare (beef peanut butter stew): This one we tried for the first time because of all the reviews. I had very high expectations but this turned out to be the biggest let-down of them all. There were only a few beef pieces inside, though very tender, and the stew was SO watery and lacked flavor again. There's nothing worse than a kare kare that's watered down. It's supposed to be nice and thick, but this was so diluted it felt unfilipino. Kawali (fried pork): You get only a few pieces, maybe 10 pieces of small slices. They were crisped up nicely but a few of those pieces were straight fat. Sinigang baboy (pork sour soup): This was okay, it was mostly string beans and eggplant. There wasn't a lot of the broth/soup in the container, or meat. The taste was fine. Overall, I don't think J would order again for the price, at least the items aforementioned. Before, I used to rave about their halo-halo, but I didn't order this time. Maybe this can be the saving grace for if I order here again. read more

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This was my 1st time here and I went last night with my other two Filipino friends. Eating here felt like I was back home with my family. The staff was very friendly and it felt as though we were eating at their house. The food was delicious!! We had lumpia shanghai, lechon kawali, kare kare, pork sig sig with egg and of course all with rice! I can't wait to head back for some more food! I actually ordered food to go too! I really enjoyed the home feel and the cooking. It made being a way from home a lot better. Salamot Po read more

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We are Filipinos and we found the one! When my mom goes home to the Philippines there's no one to cook us Filipino food so we try everything that I hear from friends or facebook. We have tried boonie's, Cebu, taste of the Philippines ( chef even joined top chef), pinoy grill( horrible dinuguan), namit cafe ( too salty daing and no pork dishes?!). No one came close to this gem! We had the bagnet kare-kare, pork belly binagoongan ( not salty just perfect!) pork belly bicol express, sisig, pork sinigang and bistik and everything is how those filipino dishes should taste like! It tasted like home! I keep on telling people this, do not try to change our food to try and cater to other cultures because it won't taste right. We even tried Sunda and spent so much money but you do not serve crispy pata with a frisée salad! You serve it with rice just like how kawayan does it. Do not try to elevate our food just keep it simple classic and family style! That is what Filipino food is all about and kawayan nailed it! Yummy! read more

We're departing Chicago bound to los Angeles we feel we craving for Filipino food so we check yelp for closest Filipino restaurant in Chicago airport ohare we found the jewel. The kawayan restaurant not far from airport just few minutes. So me and my wife said let's give it a try now wow..the La Paz bachoy is amazing and daing bangus is excellent too so crispy to the bones. Wow sadly I can't make to go because tsa will not allow if the around the area give it try you will not be disappointed. The plus the chef is kumpare of manny pacquiao and they have also friends in Camarillo can't wait to get the taste. read more

This was good! Authentic Crispy Pata -- very crunchy, tender, and well braised. Will come back. Legit Filipino food. read more

Taste Of Kawayan - Crispy Pata and everything we ordered in addition - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Finally found my Filipino restaurant!!! I only ordered Uber eats but I can tell with the dish that I got that this place got their Filipino taste buds on point. I got the nilaga baka and liempo and it was delicious. I can't wait to try more dishes at this restaurant. I waited 1hr for my food and it was worth it. read more

Taste Of Kawayan - I ate all the veggies and meat too late for a photo. - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food here was pretty good, but the only thing that bothered me was that they were out of so many items! Some things to note here... parking is free and abundant in the private lot for the shopping center it's located. It's BYOB! No signs indicating it, but when we had called ahead they confirmed they were. So feel free to bring on the San Miguel or Red Horse as you please. Aside from that, it's definitely a mom n pop shop ambiance serving up all those Filipino favorites (if they still have the stock to make it). Anyways on our visit here we did the crispy pata (deep fried pork hock), an order of lumpia shanghai, and the pancit palabok. Fried goodness with a side of noodles. All in all, no complaints and I may have new go to spot when I'm craving that home style Filipino meal. I'll probably call ahead to make sure they have the items I want before I come thru next time. That's all I got on this one! 'Til next time, cheers! read more

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Went here for dinner with a friend recently. The server (who I think is part of the family that owns it?) was super friendly and welcoming. I'm not that verse in Filipino food so he was really helpful in suggesting things. The la paz batchoy caught my eye and tummy on that cold day so I went with that. It was tasty and filling! I tried it with the pork liver. The server said you can ask without it and id do that next time probably cuz the taste wasn't my favorite personally. My friend got the breakfast combo with toccino and longanisa and omg it was so tasty (I had a small bite of his). Not super cheap but reasonable with where Chicago restaurant pricing is and filling portions. I'd definitely go back! I also loved that it was a part of a shopping/strip mall with ample parking so I didn't have to worry about finding parking and there's a Dunkin donuts right by it so we got a donut afterwards. :) read more

Friendly staff - met the new owners and they talked about their business ethics. Takes you back to the Philippines and received background and history of the dishes! SO we were there to visit a few Filipino stores to taste lumpia and this was our first and last store - so good! Clean place but we did not get to eat there but will be back! read more

This is truly an authentic, family-owned Filipino restaurant near the Jefferson Park L stop. All of their food is made to order. I ordered the palabok, which consisted of rice noodles topped with an anatto-colored gravy with chicarron flakes, scallions, and topped with sliced hard-boiled egg. It was delicious. Maybe tangier than what my palate prefers, but in all honesty, the most homemade-tasting Filipino food I've had in the area. I think the prices are a little steep, considering the palabok ended up being over $10, and the serving size was just enough for 1 person. However, it is conveniently located near the Jefferson Park L stop and Copernicus Center for events, and there is plenty of free parking in the plaza. Also keep in mind that there is a minimum purchase amount in order to use a credit card to pay. read more

Taste Of Kawayan - Pancit Palabok - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Husband and wife team serving up some yummy Filipino foods. We ordered tocilog/longcilog combo (charsiu pork, sausage and egg on fried rice) and gising-gising (pork and green bean in coconut milk and they were amazingly tasty. Very well balanced in flavors and spices, but a little on the oily side if you're not used to fatty foods. read more

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Yes, you need to eat here! Pork Belly sisig is FIRE! Small restaurant, looks family owned. The sweetest Lola was our server, she's so cute and very nice. Pork Belly Sisig is served sizzling and you can add egg if you want. What we loved was that it's saucy and dry like some other places we've tried. Serving is huge, so you can share family style or eat as main entree probably between 2-4 people comfortably. We were only visiting and came back a second time to eat sisig again. Delicious. Other things we tried that we yummy: Tocilog Palabok Bangcilog read more

Taste Of Kawayan - Pork Adobo Fried rice, pork belly sisig, and polabok - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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