Bayan Ko - Chicago

My boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary at this restaurant last weekend and we are thrilled that we chose this place. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the food was incredibly delicious (especially the empanadas... they were out of this world!), and the staff was wonderful. We will definitely be returning to try the desserts next time!

The restaurant offers fantastic and innovative dishes with bold flavors and beautiful presentation. The service was excellent, and I can't wait to return once they obtain their liquor license.

A solid “meh” overall good, but a couple misses like the Kare Kare and Canton noodles. Maybe an off night? Stand outs included the sliders and lumpia. But flavors lacked real taste a bland peanut sauce and just lacking a Filipino punch. Very loud inside as well.

Really loved our dinner out last night at Bayan Ko! The food was delicious, would recommend the Kare Kare. Our server was kind and perfectly attentive as well as the hostess!

Update:sadly, dropped down as there have been a number of issues pre- and post-Covid.a few times went in to purchase a flan to-go and got some very dismissive and flippant “no” from the chef for some reason. this was after enthusiastically eating there a good 5-6 times.then dropped in a number of times when the restaurant should have been open but was closed with no sign or updates on google alerting people. which is a real drag and ruined multiple lunch plans.and lastly, they got rid of menu staples like the cuban sandwich (which was pretty great).also, a corkage fee for byob (i don’t believe they sell alcohol so the corkage fee doesn’t make much sense) AND a required 20% gratuity—disclosure: i leave a 20% tip on almost all service unless someone was specifically awful)—but i have never been a fan of having it automatically added. ??‍maybe i’ll come back at some point and give it another go.— —original review below:We’ve been looking to try this spot out since we walked by it before it opened a while back — but the few times we stopped by it was full/no reservations available. Definitely worth the wait! As a Cuban in Chicago that has a very tough time finding good Cuban food in the city, this pleasantly surprised me in the best possible way.I was able to chat with one of the owners, Raquel (also Cuban, and I assume the Cuban half of this Filipino/Cuban restaurant) — and it was a pleasure. Very nice service, and a lovely experience on a beautiful summer day on their outside seating.All three bites (appetizers) were delicious, and I especially loved the croquetas and the lumpia. And this was honestly one of the best Cuban sandwiches I’ve had in the city. The maduros (sweet fried plantains) were perfect. The rice and black beans were fairly bland, but mixed well with the other savoury food.And finally, as a serious flan connoisseur, my litmus test for any Cuban place is the flan — and this one is absolutely delicious and creamy.Very happy to have tried this place out and looking forward to many repeat visits! (will try out some of the more filipino-influenced food on my next visit)