What a great experience! Five stars for the food, service, ambiance, and the very very accommodating staff and reception we received. Our guest from out of town enjoyed himself very much! Shout out to Christine for sharing stories and anecdotes and making us feel really welcome like family! We took part in Kamayan and left with a full belly! There was mango, sitaw, garlic rice, pansit, tropical fruits, ceviche (kinilaw), longganisa, hipon, barbecue, ribs, chicken, tuyo, fish (pampano), tahong, egg roll. For dessert, you cant go wrong with halo-halo and homemade delectable ube ice cream. we will definitely be back with more of our friends and family and will highly recommend this restaurant!! Filipino food deserves the spotlight and Kubo definitely epitomizes our culture. read more

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Incredible service, kind and fun staff, yummy drinks (I recommend the Blueberry Martini), and best of all the comforting and delicious Filipino-American food. You won't regret visiting Kubo Chicago. read more

Kubo - Skinny Eggrolls - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you are looking for "Authentic" Filipino food, then you may need to go up North by the suburbs. Dined in a group of 5 and was seated in five mins for early dinner at 6 on a Saturday. Started with a Calamansi Martini, which was soooo goood and tasted perfectly! It was boozy and I was tipsy after a glass on an empty stomach. Food was good. Pancit was the best for me. Food wasn't plated Filipino-style. Sweet and sour fish didn't have enough sauce. Adobo has BBQ sauce after-taste. Halo-halo was okay. I completely understand that they were going for a fusion Filipino-American style to cater to Americans and other Western nationalities. Lady serving us, who I think is the owner, was so sweet. She reminds me of my Filipina mother. Salamat! read more

Kubo - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were on our way to a show at Schubas and happened to drive past Kubo. It's been a while since I've had Filipino food so I suggested we grab a bite there before the show. Glad we did! It was a nice night so we sat outside on their patio. Perusing their menu, we were surprised to find a lot of non-Filipino offerings such as chips and guac, alfredo and a charcuterie board! I guess it's a nice way to ease reluctant folks into the cuisine, but honestly, given the high quality of their food, it's not necessary. Speaking of - the food. Everything was really good! We ordered 3 things to share: pansit, lechon kawali and sweetie pork skewers (tocino). The pansit had great flavor. They also didn't skimp on mix-ins like chicken, shrimp, pepper, etc, so that was really nice to see. The lechon kawali had tender meat and crispy skin. It wasn't the best lechon kawali I've ever had, but it was still incredible. Lastly, the pork skewers were awesome! Good flavor, tender meat, and a nice, freshly-grilled taste. Service was a little slow the night we stopped in, but it turns out they were preparing for a "boodle fight" so we weren't mad about it. Additionally, it's definitely on the pricey side, but worth it for the location and portions. Should you go? Yes, you should! read more

Kubo - Pansit and tocino skewers - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really great, authentic, experience here! Service was fantastic and incredibly fast/insightful of the cuisine. Food was exceptional - we tried three dishes and an appetizer. Flavors were well-balanced and incredibly fresh. Our group had a Philippines native and he kept reiterating how authentic everything tasted. Price-wise, very reasonable... especially if you have a group and split entrees and apps to try more. ** very good martinis as well! read more

Kubo - Awesome outdoor patio - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There's not really any Filipino restaurants up in the Lakeview area so I was surprised to see this place! The dining area is really spacious, they also have a patio where it seems they can serve larger parties. For apps I ordered fried calamari and fried chicken inasal. The calamari and the chicken inasal were good but there was nothing that stood out about it. I was really excited for the longanisa burger because I LOVE longanisa (filipino sausage). I thought the whole patty would be made out of longanisa but it was mixed in with the beef. The burger itself was stil tasty but I probably would've enjoyed it more if it tasted more like longanisa. There was an egg on top of it served with a side of fries. I enjoyed having the banana (sweet) ketchup as a condiment because it paired well with the burger and fries! read more

Kubo - Longanisa burger - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A friend and I had stopped in here before seeing one of the shows at Stage 773 theater. Sounds like this is a popular restaurant before the shows. We had opted to sit at the bar. Right away, we were asked if we will be seeing one of the shows and at what time. I believe this way they can prioritize the service and food. I had opted for a glass of wine and my friend had one of their signature cocktails. We had decided to order the Skinny Egg Rolls, Lobster & Shrimp, and Crispy Chicken Inasal. We sat and sat and sat...... no food for at least 15- 20 minutes. We did notice some the customers that came in after us were given food before us.......finally all of the appetizers were brought out, which was fine with us, the delay was a little disturbing. The food certainly made up for the delay. The food was very fresh and tasty. Overall, I would give this restaurant another try. read more

We had a pretty good brunch here today. They are dog friendly which is nice! We sat on the nice covered patio with our pup. The service was friendly but a little slow, and the food was good but a bit overpriced. It was cool to try filipino food and mix it up from the usual brunch fare. So in summary, it's not like a go to for me, but it was fun and somewhere I may try again. read more

Kubo - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A friend of mine treated me for dinner for my birthday a few weeks back. We met the owner and we talked about the history of her menu. We ordered a few dishes, including the Longanisa for starters and Lechon Kawali and a fish for dinner. We had great attentive service, and the staff was friendly, I'm looking forward to going back with my mom and family. read more

Perfect place for dining before theater on Belmont. The outdoor seating is comfy and spacious. Great ambiance. The host and server are wonderful ambassadors for the food. I had a deliciously aromatic French chardonnay and the sampler portions of the pork spare ribs and vegetable egg rolls. The food was beautifully presented, delicious and perfect for a solo summer dinner. I'll be back with friends. read more

Service was quick and we really enjoyed the outdoor patio outside in the summer. The Lechon kawali was very flavorful. I enjoyed the chicken adobo with the garlic rice and veggies. The beef stew was good as well but i thought it had too much tendons, so not my favorite part. Overall, i thought the dishes were a little bit too salty for our taste. We didnt get to try any of the drinks or desserts this time around. read more

I was going to give this place a good rating until the very end of our meal. The host came over and asked if it was my boyfriend and I's first time here. We said yes and he offered a dessert on the house for our first time and really pushed it on us (made us feel like he wasn't taking no for an answer) so we just said sure we'll do the Halo Halo since we had never had it before and it was free. Well the dessert came out and was not good at all. Then we get the bill and we got charged full price when there's no way in hell we would have gotten a dessert if we had known it would be charged. Host (middle-aged man) was very pushy and aggressive with us ordering a dessert and to know he lied about it being on the house is so slimy. Will not be coming back here. read more

I hate to write this, because last time we came the food was really good. However, the service this time was atrocious. My mother is in town and is older, so we only do outdoor seating for restaurants to minimize COVID risk. We made a reservation on OpenTable for patio seating which was confirmed by the restaurant. We drove in from the suburbs, which took an hour. However, we showed up and the host/bartender (Seth) told us INCREDIBLY AGGRESSIVELY they were not doing outdoor seating and that he didn't care what was confirmed, and walked away. I was really shocked at how incredibly dismissive and rude he was. I tried to tell him how he really should at least let guests know if something changed (especially since on their end they charge $20/person for a failure to show). He literally shrugged and said "I'm not going to open up the patio." However, since we drove all the way in, we swallowed our pride and ordered takeout. It was just really disappointing especially because the attitude of the host was "I don't care if you were promised a seat by us. Get lost." I guess I would say, compliments to the chef, but they should probably get a new manager/host/bartender. read more

I came here about a week ago with my adult son and we loved it. I order the whole fried fish which was amazing. He ordered the adobo ribs which were very good. Positives: Excellent, excellent service, not crowded, food is interesting and very flavorful, drink menu is large with lots of cocktail options. Good location. Nice large covered outside seating that isn't cramped. Negatives: we ate outside and there is a large tv on with no volume. I am not a fan of tv's in restaurants. I think the menu could be more creative with more options. I ate at a different Filipino restaurant years ago that was better because of the extensive and interesting menu. Great place overall. read more

Loved this place. Right away we were greeted in a great manner by the staff. We elected to sit at the bar, and the bartender was excellent. He knew the menu like the back of his hand and could give accurate recommendations. I truly felt he took ownership and cared about the place. Good was really good. A true experience eating here and drinks were good too. Will be back. read more

Kubo - Pretty much fried bacon. LEGIT - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went to Kubo on a cold evening in January 2018. We were 4 of us who had never tried Filipino food. I'd recommend it as a must try, really warm staff and timely service. It's a medium sized restaurant, and I'm not positive if it can handle large groups. An impressive variety of cocktails and our host suggested a few cocktails which we really enjoyed. Must Try: Pancit Carne Asada Pinoy Style Kaldereta Chocolate Cake A La Mode Don't Try: Fish and Squid Balls read more

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Very good! Had a few friends in town and we tried here. The Calamari was a little tough, but the adobo dishes were very good. The ambiance is a little off, as there was club music playing in the background but overall a great spot. read more

Yes, this is not your traditional Filipino restaurant but their food is YUMMY nonetheless! My fave was their sisig that's made out of pork belly instead of the traditional pig face (if i remember it right, this is an off menu item but you can still order it). They tweaked some Filipino recipes to cater to the neighborhood but the signature Filipino food flavors are definitely still there (ie. the sisig still tasted authentic and it was served on a hot plate and all). Our server was also really nice -- though she was busy, she still made it a point to check on us to see if we needed anything else. I would recommend this place especially to my non Filipino friends who want to experience our dishes but are too afraid to try it out. Thanks for a great lunch, Kubo! read more

Kubo - Sisig - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We wanted to have dinner prior to catching a showing at the theater across the street and decided to go to Kubo out of convenience. The staff was incredibly friendly and the food was delicious! Hands down the best fried calamari I have ever had. The lechon kawali just melted in your mouth and my husband enjoyed his t-bone steak. The tropical martini was so refreshing as well. read more

Kubo - Fried calamari - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was sad when my go to Filipino restaurant closed and moved downtown. Not anymore because I got Kubo!! Yay!! 10 minute drive and have some traditional! I hope they expand their menu. read more

Location Kubo Chicago ( @kubochicago ) is in Chicago busy Lakeview neighborhood. So many things and see in this area so definitely easy to come by and swing by this restaurant and try a Filipino Food that someone recommended to me. Pricing the pricing is expensive than the rest of Filipino dishes in the area but it is so worth it. The food isn't the traditional Filipino food you'll see out there. They put their own twist to the traditional Filipino food. Taste and Verdict This review is for the Longanisa Burger that was recommended by a couple of viewers. Longanisa is a local version of the Philippines sausage but Kubo made this to a pork patty and it taste so awesome with the brioche bun, avocado, and egg. I highly recommend this sweet yet juicy burger. read more

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They have nice outdoor seating that was dog friendly. The staff members were really nice. Street parking is probably your best bet since their parking lot is only limited to 3 cars. Food was ok. The garlic rice was really good. I would come back to try the brunch menu. read more

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Delicious Filipino food: the lumpia, the fried fish, everything we tried was excellent. Definitely plan on going back.

First time visit this past Friday! Very easy to make a reservation online, but I'm not sure that we needed it. We sat on their patio, which is pretty good size and what most of the diners were doing. All of our food was absolutely delicious. (I also had an elderflower martini which was quite good). We just about ate every bite we were given. The service was also good. Each person who assisted us was very friendly and helpful. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Went to Kubo last week to celebrate my birthday and it was a truly great all around experience. We had a party of 20+ doing a Kamayan (traditional style of eating a whole lot filipino food with your hands) and I couldn't have asked for it to go any better. I reached out to Christine to set this up and she was amazing at communicating prior to the dinner and made sure that I had all the information I needed and even made an accommodation to remove red meat and pork for specific people who had diet restrictions. Once there, we were all immediately treated like family. Cemal, took awesome care of us from serving up some great cocktails to even splitting checks individually, which was probably a probably a pain with that many people (sorry guys!). They even gave us complimentary pancit, a birthday shot, and some halo halo to celebrate my birthday! All of my friends and family loved the food, and thought the experience was a lot of fun. Definitely recommend doing a Kamayan at Kubo! I know I'll be back for sure! read more

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Came here with friends after a play at Theater Wit and had a couple of martinis. I was going to order the pomegranate flavored martini for my 2nd one, but the bartender suggested an elderflower flavored one and it was OH, SO, GOOD!!! Would absolutely LOVE to come back here for brunch sometime! read more

Kubo - Order a martini!!! - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

WE CAME FOR THE LONGANISA BURGER! & it was everything we hoped for. That's probably the best thing on the menu to be honest. The patty is mostly longanisa meat but mixed w a little of hamburger meat. Burger came w the egg, avocado and banana ketchup to go w the fries. Everything complimented each other perfectly. The fries were actually seasoned too. They have a huge bar inside and super cute patio seating that have 2 TVs. I'm sure they take reservations too cause there was a huge party of at least 20 sitting out on the patio near us. Still leaving enough room for other smaller parties. We came on a Monday in the afternoon which wasn't crowded. I think it was the manager (he was also the bartender) that didn't seem very friendly and seemed rushing. The bus boy was nice and attentive though. read more

Service good. Filipino food - average. Nice drink menu with decent price. Nice set up. Street parking outside, it wasn't hard to find one. I was in Chicago in past weekend and stumbled upon here for brunch. We were in the mood for Filipino food. Rice portion is off compared to meat portion. A lot of meat but not enough rice. The Pork garlic rice plate was a bit too sweet for me... almost like candy. The chorizo garlic plate was good. Both came with a fried egg. Another friend had the Longsilog (spelling might be off) burger and he enjoyed it pretty much. It was topped off with a fried egg and avocado. It came with seasoned fries (they were fresh and crunchy). It did look the best out of 4 entrees that we got. Be careful when pressing he burger down though, the egg yolk squirted all over my friends short. That was funny. Overall not a bad experience but I've had better in San Francisco and it was more authentic. This seems a bit Americanized. read more

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I had such an amazing dinner experience at Kubo last night! I'm so glad I decided to check this place out. It's kind of tucked away in the Lakeview area but that makes it more of a hidden gem. There's a decent amount of seating indoors but most people were outside on their covered patio (open on the sides) because of the nice weather. The service at Kubo was really great. The waitstaff was very good about answering all of our questions, giving suggestions or recommendations, and checking in to make sure everything was okay. They were quick and efficient with their service and brought things out as soon as they were ready. The food at Kubo is outstanding. I'm still thinking about the dishes I had last night! We started off with fried zucchini, which was delicious. The sweetness of the zucchini paired well with the crunch of the breading. Easily finished that in two minutes -- ha! It also comes with a tasty aioli which has a bit of a kick to it but I liked it! My husband and I decided to share two entrees, the chicken adobo and the Pampano Escabeche. They were both delicious, but we each had our favorites. The meat on the chicken adobo is so tender and flavorful that I thought it didn't even need the sauce! Nevertheless, the adobo has a smoky, salty taste to it that goes really well with the accompanying rice and veggies. There's definitely a hearty serving of chicken -- two leg quarters. I absolutely loved the pampano escabeche, which is a fried whole fish sitting on a bed of sweet and sour sauce. The presentation was superb but the taste is even better. The crunch of the breading paired really well with the saltiness/softness of the fish, coupled with the sweetness of the sauce. I truly loved every bite and would order it again in a heartbeat. Lastly, we decided to order Ube ice cream, which is made from a sweet yam and isn't as creamy as traditional ice cream. It definitely tastes like real ice cream though and is very sweet and refreshing. It's a little stickier than regular ice cream but still so good. I can't stop thinking about how great of a meal I had last night. Already cannot wait to come back! Thank you! read more

Great service and great food. I have been here many times and always been greeted like family. The owner always has a smile and he even lets my dog hang out on the back porch. They are very accommodating and will put whatever you want on the tv as they have so many. The drinks are amazing and always made the way you want. The food is also delicious. I have had the ribs which fall off the bone literally. The crab cakes are small but soo good it's worth it. The salmon is always cooked perfectly. And I can't remember all the other things but haven't had anything bad here once. I will always keep coming back. read more

I had high hopes for this Filipino restaurant. Being Filipino and growing up eating Filipino food I was very underwhelmed and disappointed. First off, ambiance and service was good! That being said the food was not. It was ok food but was not Filipino food. Stand outs that I enjoyed was the Pork Sisig, lumpia, and longonisa. Good but not great. Pancit was overly greasy and more reminiscent of chow mein rather than pancit. Pork Adobo did not taste like Filipino adobo at all...overpowered by Worcestershire sauce. Where was the vinegar and soy sauce? Garlic rice was poorly cooked and really dry. You know it's not good Filipino food when the basic staples like Pancit, Adobo, and rice are very off. Sad. read more

My boyfriend and i came here for dinner. The food was so good and the service was great! The owner was very welcoming and showed great appreciation for Filipino cuisine. I've been craving sisig for a long time and was so glad I could find my fix! :) read more

Kubo - Longganisa Burger with Fries and Lechon Sisig with Garlic Rice - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were on our way to see a show. Got there to early and decided to get a bite. Never knew this place existed but so glad to have stumbled upon it. I had the lechon and my friend had some chicken dish. The chicken was good but it's just chicken. The lechon was nothing like authentic lechon. It was deep fried pork belly... which was awsome... But not lechon. The atmosphere was ok. It was 7pm on a Friday and only a couple of other ppl where there. Al in all i would go again. read more

Kubo - The lechon - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We just had my best friend's birthday here and I cod not have asked for a better place. The food, drinks and service were tremendous. The food: I had the red snapper and I'm telling you, it's the best item on the menu. It's a whole fish fried with a sweet and sour type sauce that is delish! However, if you don't like or know how to eat fish with the bones in, then don't get it - there's plenty of other delicious items. The curry chicken was also very tasty and I love that there's a chicken wing in it! Everyone else loves bed their dishes too but those are the two I tried. We had 20 people so we probably ordered almost everything on the menu. Anyways, the appetizers were also yummy. We had the lumpia which I highly recommend. The mussels were my second favorite. Oh, and the dessert! The chocolate with ice cream is the perfect way to indulge but the Ibe ice cream is great for anyone who wants to try something a little different. The drinks: they had a great selection of beer and wine and the crispin cider was great. I had the negroni cocktail and really enjoyed it. The service: Awesome! The bartender was super friendly and accommodating when we got there early. The waitress did separate checks which was really nice considering we had such a large party. They kept checking on us and did everything to make sure our birthday girl was happy. I can't wait to go back just for a nice dinner with a smaller group! read more

Amazing service and good food. The servers were very attentive and quick to serve our needs. Friends ordered crusted crab salmon and it was delicious with a lot of flavors. The mango martini was good and a little strong but nothing wrong with that. Our servers were Miguel and Sam and they were great. 10/10 read more

I probably had walked past this place a dozen times. Glad I finally made plans to have dinner with a friend. The place: We went on a Monday night, and it wasn't crowded at all. Maybe 2 other tables had patrons at them. Service was great - our waitress was really descriptive and gave us great guidance on what to order. The dim lighting also could make for a romantic meal, if that's what you're looking for. The taste: We shared the ceviche (which ended up being my favorite dish), the chicken inasal and I think the skinny eggrolls - which are exactly what they sound like -- almost like taquitos, instead of the traditional asian eggrolls. We also shared the Turon (fried plantains) a la mode, but got it with ube ice cream, which was really decadent and delicious (and purple). My face: A big smile when my friend decided to treat me to dinner (I mean, he did lose a bet, so it was the right thing to do :)). Total for us, with no drinks (we were recovering from colds) I think was around $35. Not a bad evening, at all. read more

Kubo - Jackfruit and plantains, with purple yam ice cream. The remnants.. - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent food and great service. This is around the corner from my boyfriends place and we hadn't been before. Our first time did not disappoint. I had the shrimp curry and he had the chicken adobo. I couldn't help myself from eating off his plate too. For the appetizer we had the spring rolls and dessert I had the halo halo. Overall a great experience. The only feedback I would give is I wish the cocktails were more of a curated craft cocktail vibe vs a long list of drinks with standard sugary mixers. read more

Ate here last night before theater Wit. Great choices/ delicious appetizers. Egg rolls. Fried zucchini. Shrimp and pork too. Enough to share. Get here early- it was very full when we left. And ask for a table- not a high top. Felt like part of a big family too!! read more

Loved the lechón kawali (crispy pork roast) and the pork ribs adobo! Kubo is in the Belmont area right across from the Wit Theatre. It's easy to miss (just ask the Über driver who couldn't find the address and decided to cancel our trip request). There's nothing that screams Filipino about the exterior. It claims to be a Filipino bar & restaurant. So when you go inside, you first see the bar (which seems out of place in a Filipino restaurant), then the simply set tables (no, none of the furniture was made of rattan LoL). One would also notice the absence of the usually ubiquitous Filipiniana in most places--pictures of folkloric and idyllic scenes of eras gone by back in the Philippines, or cápiz ornaments. Looking at the menu, which was much more abbreviated than what I'm accustomed to seeing from other Filipino restaurants, I see that there was maybe an intention to be more sophisticated and more upscale. I think this was a brave move, and on a certain level, commendable. Instead of being yet another "point point" or turo turo cafeteria-style of a restaurant, I could only guess that Kubo was intentionally made to look exactly the opposite of that. Now onto the food that we chose-- Both lechón kawali and pork rib adobo were on point with flavors (there was nothing alien or out of place with the seasonings--no attempts at doing anything that smacks of fusion anything). The lechón was not presented chopped up into chunks, but rather, as a sliced roll. That was totally surprising. But the flavors were right there. The pork ribs adobo (we got the appetizer sized option, which consisted of four ribs)--also delicious, presented on a white square plate, over a bed of mixed vegetables. By the way, the lechón kawali was also presented on a square and white plate, over a bed of rice with mixed vegetables (bean sprouts, carrot, broccoli, etc). Just a minor quibble--the plating was a bit short on visual appeal. The broccoli, especially didn't seem to belong to either plate. I think that maybe the plating could be better if the veggies were not soupy/soggy (reminded me of the texture and look of a chop suey dish). Instead, maybe use grilled veggies on the side and not at the bottom of the meat. On the overall, the four stars were for the effort and good intentions (about time Filipino cuisine gets a more modern and Uptown kind of treatment, just like Japanese cuisine and restaurants tend to be presented in modern and sophisticated terms, from the restaurant design down to the menu selections). By the way, our dinner set us back close to $50.00 (two appetizers, and the main dish lechón kawali), and just water. They also have a cocktails and a dessert menu. Just a casual glance at prices--a martini was costing around 11.00, and one of the desserts cost around 8.00 (the turon). So, it was supremely more expensive than one what would have expected to spend on a dinner for two people, without any drinks. Do give Kubo a try! Support Filipino businesses in Chicago! read more

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I wanted to really love this place but it fell short of expectations. We ordered: the loganisa burger, the pancit, the lechon, and the adobo ribs. As a filipino american I have a pretty good understanding of how most filipino foods should taste. Loganisa burger was good! Although they have two small little shavings of avocado that didn't really add to the dish. My friend had asked for additional sides of ketchup but the server had repeatedly forgotten it. And after three check ups on the table said, "oh they didn't bring it to you yet?? What? Do you still need it?" By then, the fries were cold. The pancit was drenched in some sort of broth sitting at the bottom of the bowl. Normally, pancit is stir fried in a large wok which wouldn't leave a broth in it. The flavors also lacked the classic filipino taste. Could have used fresh lemon or calaminsi (filipino lime) on the side. The adobo ribs were pretty spot on. The ribs fell off the phone with ease and had a nice crispness on the edge, but soft and tender underneath. If I had those ribs on top of rice and the typical adobo sauce/broth.. I'd die and go to heaven. UNFORTUNATELY, they gave a tiny TINY amount of rice that could fit in an ice cream cone. Lastly the lechon was also very delicious. I shared most of it with my friends so I was dismayed when I only had 3-4 pieces to myself. The "salad" that came with it was watery, warm, and in a broth? Not sure if that was intentional. Again, there was only a tiny portion of rice for a lot of meat. Kubo has a nice ambience, but lacks the smells, sounds, and taste of a traditional filipino meal. Wish it was more authentic to the cuisine. Probably wont't come back. read more

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