After seeing the long wait at Kasama, we went here instead. We joined the waitlist, which said 20-30 minutes, but we ended up getting seated within 10 minutes as we came closer to 1pm (they closed at 2pm). I love that they give you free soup upon being seated and tea if you ask for it. They ran out of their signature lugaw soup, but they gave us a spicy bacon and bean soup instead that was so good! We ordered the longanisa and skirt steak combo, which came with eggs and garlic rice. Overall, it was a solid meal! read more

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My last review was awhile back for takeout, but I finally got the chance to eat inside the restaurant here at Uncle Mike's. To start, I loved the fresh, hot lugaw while awaiting your order. I ordered the platter with garlic rice, eggs over easy and steak and pork combo. My daughter cautioned me to order the steak medium, or medium-well, as I typically like medium-rare, but here it would be closer to rare. The garlic rice is delicious amd a generous portion. It started to get crowded and a longer line after we finished our meal, closer to 9:30 am. The food reminds me of the rich, filling Sunday morning breakfasts my mom used to cook at home, before we headed to church. read more

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The line outside the door is there for a reason, and the food is 100% worth the wait. It is a tiny, crowded space and can get INSANE on a weekend (I felt sorry for the staff) but it's so worth it, and if you can make it here on a weekday when it is quieter you will have the best silog I've had anywhere in the US. I like the bangus and the longganisa but extra nontraditional shout-out to the skirt steak, which is PERFECTLY cooked and never overdone--mouth is watering just thinking about it! read more

Oh man, Uncle Mike's is a gem!! So sad I didn't found out about this place earlier. Came here on a Saturday around 11 am and the wait was 30-45 minutes. Put your name down, they'll send a text and you can stroll around the neighborhood. Such a homey and welcoming ambiance. Everyone was so friendly and attentive service. The complimentary lugaw hit the spot, especially after a night of drinking lol. Had my best friend in town visiting who happens to be Filipino, and she said everything tasted super authentic and reminded her of childhood home-cooked meals. We got the tocino longanisa combo and big bangus. Everything was cooked to perfection, down to the garlic rice and all. Everything hit the spot and quite literally cured us. 10/10 recommend, will be back!! read more

Love Uncle Mike's! I recently went with friends after the half marathon and they were so accommodating and sweet. The service is top tier. The food is also amazing. Our out of town Filipina friend said the food was authentic and we all agreed it was delicious. The line can be at times long and there are only 2 outdoor tables but it's definitely worth the wait :) read more

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Food here is amazing. Traditional Filipino breakfast in the best way. Lugau was delicious and comes with every meal. Eggs were cooked perfectly, and the tacino was very flavorful. Steak was what they were known for and def recommend. Service was solid. Food came out pretty quick for how busy they were. No reservations and we went on a busy Sunday. Waited about 45min. The place is clean but a little crowded. A little loud but not unbearable. They have some outside seating too. Definitely come here if you're in the mood for some Filipino food. read more

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We came by as a party of 3 around 7am on a Friday morning after a redeye flight on Spirit (rip) and oh my gosh was this the perfect pick me up to get our Chicago trip started!! This is also my friend's favorite Filipino spot as well, and my expectations were absolutely met! The complimentary soup was warm, filling, and amazingly seasoned with the perfect rice ratio. I opted for the loganisa breakfast, their sweet sausage (which I thought tasted similar to nem nướng) and it was great with their garlic rice and scrambled eggs on top. Then their tomato onion salad (tastes similar to pico de gallo) was a great acidic side to the sweet sausage and soft egg. The champorado was a delicious sweet dessert to finish it off! My friend got the bangus, fried milkfish, and I got to try a bite. It was crispy, soft on the inside, and perfectly seasoned as well. If I'm ever in the area again I'll for sure get the rest of their menu! read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Longanisa Breakfast, Champorado - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The best Filipino breakfast in Chicago (Including that other two Michelin star place). Uncle Mike's taste's like home. It may be three inches above a hole in the wall spot, but the flavor and service is never compromised. It starts with a warm bowl of rice porridge which is so delightful, you would give it five stars just from that. The decorations are eclectic and make you feel like you're in your friend's mom's kitchen. Give the breakfast platters a shot - choose whatever meat strikes your fancy, I like the longaniza and the fish, and enjoy. This place is more of a breakfast/lunch destination, so take some time to hear over in the morning. Lots of easy parking. read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Vibes (The Wall) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place was SO GOOD! It has a mom and pop vibe. No reservations so there may be a wait. Smaller restaurant. They close at 2. They give you free congee. The pork was so good! One of the better Filipino restaurants. read more

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Hot spot hole in the wall ALERT ! Philippine breakfast Tea and soup are free with purchase. The staff are very pleasant. Omg the main food. So not a regret coming here !!! Street parking is decent. No parking lots from what I can tell. Delight ! read more

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My favorite place I ate during my time in Chicago! I felt like I had to be rolled out of here; it was delicious. Husband and I ordered 2 plates: * tocino plate (grilled anise wine cured pork shoulder) * a combo plate of baby bangus (small fried marinated milkfish) with a lil' vinegar and longanisa (grilled anise wine cured sweet chorizo sausage) Both came with garlic rice, two eggs, some tomatoes and onions, and a little brown sugar oatmeal. You also get a complimentary bowl of congee first. This was soooooo good. Every single bite was flavorful and I'm still thinking about the tocino. We both cleaned our plates spotless. This is a must-go whenever I come back to Chicago. read more

Uncle Mike's Place - a combo plate of baby bangus and longanisa and tocino plate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Uncle Mike's Place in West Town is such a great spot if you're craving a mix of Filipino and American breakfast and lunch. The menu is unique and comforting, blending both cuisines in a way that really works. Everything I've had there has been absolutely delicious! Always fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. It's the kind of place you go to when you want a hearty, feel-good meal. My husband's favorite is the tocino breakfast and skirt steak my favorite is the fried fish. Just a heads up, they're only open until the afternoon, so it's definitely more of a breakfast/brunch/lunch destination. But it's 100% worth making the time to go. If you haven't been yet, you're missing out! read more

Uncle Mike's is a gem! Reasonable prices, generous portions, and absolutely delicious food made for a great experience. This spot is casual and no frills- perfect for a lowkey meal that is comfortable both solo and in good company. The staff was very friendly and immediately brought out piping hot bowls of slow simmered lugaw (rice porridge). The aromatics and broth were so flavorful and comforting- basically, everything you want on a frigid Chicago day. For the main event, I ordered the longanisa breakfast. The eggs are cooked to order- I went with over-easy and the way the yolks soaked into the fluffy garlic rice underneath was glorious. The sausage had the perfect crisp and char on the outside, with a perfectly sweet and savory flavor. Needless to say, I will be back for a return visit soon, and highly recommend checking out this restaurant! read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Longanisa Breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Uncle Mike's Place earns its place as a Filipino iconic restaurant for its food and hospitality. When you initially get seated, you are immediately served with a hot bowl of lugaw. The flavors were well balanced and had a strong chicken broth flavor that shines through. It is heavenly on a cold winter day to be eating this, especially for it being complementary for every customer. I decided to order a combo Filipino breakfast plate with Tocino and Longanisa. It comes with two eggs, salsa, and small cup of champorado. Everything paired well together and was cooked perfectly. Everything does have sweetness to it, so if you're new to Filipino food, that is something to be aware of. I personally have a sweet tooth and loved the salty-sweet flavor combination. For me, the standout on my plate was the champorado. It was something new that I have never tried and it was absolutely delicious. It was thick, rich, creamy, and slightly sweet. It tasted great with the meats on the plate, and also on its own! Uncle Mike's stands as a pillar of diverse cultures Chicago brings to the food scene. Filipino breakfast is not too commonly found in many parts of the United States and Uncle Mike's is a very solid representation of it. read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Lugaw - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First time here. The food was excellent, I highly recommend. The wait staff was very good and very friendly. Ordered the spam with eggs. Haven't had spam for decades, but the way it was prepared was great! Eggs were cooked right and they have it with rice which I've never had for breakfast but the rice had an excellent flavor! Best to reserve a table in advance specially on the weekends. Try it out! read more

Always love coming here, there is a wait list and you'll need to sign up when you scan the QR code at their door. The wait for our party of 6 was about 30 minutes at 11:30 AM on a Sunday. There is a line for sure if you go for their breakfast, but it's always worth it! We got seated in the back room where there's plenty of spots with larger tables. The grilled pork chop was quite overcooked, but I always love ther garlic rice and fresh Lugaw. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal! read more

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Uncle Mike's Place is an American-Filipino diner-like joint that offers an all-day breakfast and lunch - this unassuming spot seems to be a favorite amongst the locals. Our group came here for brunch, and we ordered: +a complimentary lugaw is served everyday with your meal - this homestyle Filipino rice porridge that is long-simmered chicken broth with ginger and leeks was delicious! The slice of lemon gave it a nice brightness to it (could have eaten multiple large bowls of these!) +the Full Skirt Steak - the steak was overcooked, so it was dry and chewy; served with garlic rice, a fried runny egg, and a cup of champurrado (a chocolate rice pudding); wasn't a fan of the champurrado, as it was super watered down and thin, and had not much of a taste to it +the Longanisa - a platter with grilled anise wine-cured sweet chorizo sausage, served with garlic rice, a fried runny egg, and a cup of champurrado (a chocolate rice pudding); wasn't a fan of the champurrado, as it was super watered down and thin, and had not much of a taste to it +the Big Bangus - a platter with a large fried marinated Pacific milkfish, served with garlic rice, a fried runny egg, and a cup of champurrado (a chocolate rice pudding); wasn't a fan of the champurrado, as it was super watered down and thin, and had not much of a taste to it +Fish Grits & Cheese - a large bowl of grits with a block of fried fish, topped with melted cheese; the fish tasted just a usual filet of fish; using freshly-shredded cheese could have made this better +and, a plate of French Toast The staff were friendly, and they did check in often throughout our dining experience. The space doesn't seem much from the outside, but we were surprised at how 'long' and packed the place was; it does get tight! Note that they do not take reservations, and it's a first-come, first-serve type of a situation. Street parking can be found in the area. +Lugaw! +friendly service +street parking available read more

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Uncle Mike is a well-known Filipino brunch restaurant in the West town area in Chicago. My friends and I had high expectations for this place as it was very hyped. Overall, we felt that the food was okay. Some comments on the food: Bangus (Milkfish): crispy, well salted. Tocino and the longanisa (the cured pork and sausages) were not bad. A suggestion I would like to make as an Asian is that I did wish there were some Filipino veggies on the plate, as I think that would elevate the whole experience. The lugaw (rice porridge) was my personal favorite. It was gingery, savory and homey at the same time. To conclude, we don't think the food was bad but we also wish that there were more types of dishes that showcased Filipino cuisine. The food itself was not badly prepared, but it would be great to offer more sauces, unique dishes, or introduce more flavor varieties (other than vinegar). Personally we wouldn't go out of our way to visit, but we would love to see if there are new items on the menu. read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Milkfish, sausages, egg and rice - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

While walking around the neighbourhood, we stumbled upon this cute little Filipino breakfast joint. The restaurant has a very homely vibe, and they served us some warm, fresh Lagaw on the house the moment we were seated. We ordered their Tocino breakfast platter and Longanisa breakfast platter along with coffee. The breakfast platters come with a side of rice, salsa, and a sauce, which was very alien to my taste buds. The sausages (longanisa) were a delight, and the pork shoulder was also cooked to perfection. These flavours were very new and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. One breakfast platter is very filling for one person, and we were full for the rest of the day. It was overall a good experience. Definitely give it a try if you fail to get your order from Kasama like us. read more

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Uncle Mike's is where I go for Filipino comfort food in the form -silogs. I haven't been here in a hot minute, but I can now appreciate the advances in technology as far as the wait list and how to pay. For lunch this time around, I had the skirt steak and porkchop. I have had neither before this as I tend to gravitate towards the Tocino and longanisa. Both were great and I'm glad I tried them. Next time I'll try the bangus. Overall the visit was great and I'll be back for semi annual visit! read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Takes credit card Parking on the street The rice porridge (Lagaw)- is free when you dine in. It was super super tasty. Great flavor. There's lots of ginger. It's like Cantonese jok but a little more watery. 2 meat combo with eggs ($17.50) Breakfast combo with skirt steak (4oz) and one meat $21.50- the skirt steak was delicious! It was cooked perfectly with great flavor. The marinade used had a hint of sweetness. The A1 sauce on the side was not needed. Small bangus (milkfish)- it was cooked perfectly. Moist inside and crispy on the outside. You could eat most of the bones. It was my first time eating it and I was pleasantly surprised. Longanisa- it was okay. It has decent flavor, some fat. I wish it was charred or caramelized more. Tocino- they give you a large amount. This was disappointing. The flavor was not very good, not strong in seasoning or sweetness. It was soft and some parts was fatty. I would say Kasama's tocino is better. It comes with 2 eggs however you want it cooked. The garlic rice was average, it wasn't a very strong garlic flavor read more

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What a great way to end my Chicago trip, with the best breakfast ever! There's nothing like Filipino comfort food! I ordered the combination plate: baby bangus(milkfish) & tocino with 2 eggs & garlic rice. Lucky us, they also added a small champurado (not always available apparently!) The amount of food you get is so worth the price! The quality tastes just as good as my parents would have made it, so it really tastes just like home! The bangus had the perfect crispiness to pair with the vinegar & tomato sawsawan. Is there an "upscale" way to eat this?? Forget the knife/fork! Haha, You just HAVE to tear that thing apart and dip it in the vinegar. It IS THE way. 10/10 for me! Also I didn't realize BABY bangus existed on menus. I was always used to full sizes of bangus, so having a small portion was a nice treat. Then the tocino... my sweet goodness, did I get lucky or was the portion just thick? That's all I have to say. 10/10!! Service: everyone was friendly. They would check how we were doing and if we needed anything. I wish they had banana ketchup at the time, but that was our only request haha. Ambience: it felt like stepping into a glimpse of the Philippines. With the wooden & tile pieces everywhere. I cannot wait to come back and visit! Hopefully with some friends & family next time read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Tocino and Bangus Combo! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Flew back home for a week and as soon as we picked up the car from the airport we came straight here! Hungry and looking for a home cooked meal for my family and my Filipina wife, Uncle Mike's came through for us! As soon as we walked in we were seated quickly and given menus. The servers were very kind and tentative during out visit. They brought out complimentary soup, I think it was Arroz Caldo (soup with rice). It had a lemon slice in it and hints of ginger which was so nice on that rainy day. In total qe ordered three breakfasts combos. One with a Pork Chop and Skirt Steak, one with Baby Bangus and Longanisa and one with Baby Bangus and Spam. The Pork Chop was seasoned so well cooked perfectly, still juice and not dry at all. The Shirt Steak was also cooked perfectly and pared so well with the eggs and rice. The Baby Bangus was fried perfectly with a size of vinegar that just brought it together so nicely. The Langanisa was delicious! I think it was home made, I'm not sure but it was onw of the best I've ever had. And the Spam, well spam never misses the mark! The garlic fried rice was also made perfect and over all, all the food was so good and truly felt like it was made with love. They dishes came with Pico that was well seasoned and a great addition to the meal! The inside of the restaurant was a very calming and welcoming green and art on the curtains which again. Gave a homey kind of feeling. Over all Uncle Mike's is great and I wish I could visit more often! read more

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If you're visiting Chicago, you need to come eat at Uncle Mike's place! They are only open from 6am to 2pm serving delicious Filipino breakfast and lunch meals! I ordered the baby bangus and tocino combo with sunny side up eggs, meanwhile my son got the skirt steak and pork chop combo with scrambled egg. They give you complimentary soup too: The restaurant is beautiful, service is excellent! I highly recommend! read more

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A great filipino brunch spot! We had a 30 minute wait on a Sunday, it allows you to track what spot you are in the waitlist, which is nice. The place feels slightly crammed but it is lively and we had no issues with service. The soup is complementary with the meal. We tried a variety of dishes and there were no disappointments! Will be back for sure! read more

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Finally made a visit to Uncle Mike's Place and it was so good! Absolutely have to go back. We loved our meals and the flavors of the meat we ordered. The bangus fish was served with a vinegar on the side that was very refreshing and zesty. The servers were quick and polite as well. This place definitely gets busy, but we went around 1 pm and were seated immediately. Highly recommend for some authentic Filipino breakfast! read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Longanisa and Bangus Combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Nice down to earth breakfast place. In addition to standard breakfast fare they also have Filipino food options and they started me off with this porridge that was great. From there I had eggs over rice and for meat I had a sweet chorizo and spam, and I get spam isn't for everybody, that was just my choice, but it was great and they also serve it with a chocolate rice pudding to finish. So good! read more

Finally got the chance to dine-in at Uncle Mike's Place, a very popular Filipino breakfast restaurant in the Ukrainian Village/West Town neighborhood of Chicago. For our party of nine eating in on a Monday morning, the food and service was excellent...never hurried and the food was served piping hot and in big portions. A definite winner. Uncle Mike's was started in 1991 as a typical neighborhood breakfast diner, serving american breakfast and burgers for the neighborhood. They started to serve Filipino dishes in 2008, starting with a really good rendition of the co-owner's mom's lugaw...and it jumped from there. I was able to sample a lot of their dishes, and many of them I found to be the best version I've eaten at a Filipino restaurant. Everyone gets a cup of their famous rice porridge to start. It's very good: so soothing on a cold Chicago day. It has the typical garlic and scallion toppings, but also had a fresh lemon slice. It was the first time I've had lemon on rice porridge... and it really works as a flavor enhancer. The menu is available via a QR code on your phone and isn't too big: one side of Filipino classics and one side of American. Our party ended up getting a mix. Big Bangus ($20.50) - It's a whole large milkfish, deboned, marinated in a vinegar base sauce, and then deep fried. It comes with a choice of egg, garlic fried rice, a very vinegary pico de gallo (great with the fried fish), and some sawsawan dipping sauce. This dish all starts with a very big piece of fish, butterflied. I've had many versions of this dish, and this was probably the best, mainly because of how large the fish was, giving up big pieces of boneless loin that I could dip in the sawsawan. It also came with chocolate rice pudding (champorado), which was the first time I tried it. It's good in moderation. I also got to sample a piece from their skirt steak dish (full for $27.50). It was served well done on request, but was still tender. My wife tried their french toast ($9.75) from the American menu, which I thought was OK. The tocino plate was plentiful, but I'm not a fan of such a sweet marinade (which is why I didn't try their longanisa). I also really wanted to try their potato pancakes, but was told that they only came in fours and nobody else at the table wanted to try it. Definitely, next time. read more

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Uncle Mike's was an amazing place to grab breakfast. I would highly suggest getting the combo if there are several proteins you want to give a try. My favorite foods were the porridge and the fish. This is somewhere I would definitely want to visit again. We got our food incredibly quickly and all of the staff were very nice and checked on us often. Know that it does get busy, so plan to arrive before you are starving! read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A breakfast place that specializes in Filipino and American breakfast. We came here on a Sunday around 1P and waited about 30 min. You're technically not supposed to wait inside so we ended up visiting a coffee shop and bakery across the street. They seemed slammed so they missed my drink order and another server tried to take our order. It might've been because we came late but they ran out of the complimentary congee. Due to the egg shortage, it was 1 egg instead of the usual 2. My only gripe was I wish we had more rice. The meat was hearty so I would've wanted a bit more rice so the dish was more proportional. Overall it's a solid spot for bfast read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Tocino and Longansia Combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of my favorite casual breakfast spots in the area. The food is consistently great. The porridge is surprisingly flavorful and satisfying, and the longganisa is always amazing. Service is welcoming and friendly every time. The whole place has a very laid-back, casual vibe that makes it easy to relax, linger, and ease into the morning. Highly recommend! read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Longanisa and Skirt Steak Combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Well the food is great but the line system is horrendous. The person who logs you in the line misrepresents the waiting time. One local group came in and they gave them the option to seat outside without presenting the same option to other people in the line. Unfortunately that looks very preferential. read more

Went to Uncle Mike's for brunch and it did not disappoint! We got there around noon, there is a line outside and we waited for about 45 minutes before getting seated. Service is pretty fast. We tried all the main items: tocino, baby bangus, longanisa, steak, garlic rice... they were delicious!!! Too bad we missed the porridge (aka soup), they recommend getting there before 11am as they are very popular. Overall a delicious experience and we'll definitely be back! read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Craving some tapsilog? Uncle Mikes is a reliable restaurant to get your fix. The tocino is tender and flavorful. Longonisa never misses. And the bangus (fish) is always fire. What I love even more about this place, complimentary lugaw and champorado came with my tapsilog. The staff is friendly and there is tons of seating(dont let the small front room fool you). Though I've never ventured away from the tapsilog section, they do offer some american dishes which is pretty considerate. Not from read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Lugaw - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you're looking for Filipino breakfast this is the spot!!! Got the bangus and longanisa and it tasted amazing. I also tried the tocino, which was a little fatty for my liking, but the flavor was so good, and the skirt steak was also so good. When we sat down, there was a bowl of lugaw at the table and it was so comforting and had such good flavor. The employees were super nice and helpful, and it felt like I was in someone's home while I was eating. I'd definitely come back if I'm in town again! read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Longanisa and Skirt Steak Combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Worth the wait! Don't walk! RUN! The best Filipino silog place I've been to. I'll be dreaming about this breakfast for YEARS to come. Everything was delicious, cooked to perfection, couldn't ask for anything better. read more

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This place has changed a lot since we were here last. It looks like they added more tables to pack people in. You have nowhere to stand when you walk in the door, and it is a definite fire hazard. The service was quick but the food was lukewarm. The clientele was more diverse than before. Space is an issue and the restaurant is not ADA compliant. read more

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I'm shocked I've never reviewed this place, great skirt steak, excellently seasoned, great garlicky fried rice, great lugaw (gingery and chicken broth-y and lemongrassy), love that I can get all of the above with brunch and EGGS. Love the cinnamony rice pudding that I definitely thought were beans at first. Speedy service, excellent hole in the wall vibes, can't miss. read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Marinated Skirt Steak - half - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Maybe our group of five just got lucky--we found street parking nearby and were seated right away. The service was decent, nothing special, but the food came out quickly. The tocino was absolutely amazing and the highlight of the meal! On the other hand, the feta omelet was a disappointment. It was way too runny in the middle, to the point where I could only eat the cooked parts and passed the rest to my boyfriend, who wasn't as picky. Next time, I'm sticking with the tocino--it's a clear winner! read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Feta omelette -dont recommend it - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My first time trying true Filipino cuisine was luckily at Uncle Mikes and I still am dreaming of this place. The food was SO good and SO affordable. Their menu is pretty simple but all composed of your true Filipino classics. This place is always busy and for a reason. The ambience is comparable to a classic diner vibe. Def worth trying out and I am so happy I now finally understand the true hype. read more

Uncle Mike's Place - Combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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