Chicago’s Filipino Boom Continues With a New Bakery Near Seafood City | Eater Chicago

"A family-run Filipino bakery launching on Friday, April 12, this nearly 4,000-square-foot shop—touted as one of the largest Filipino bakeries in the U.S.—sits across from Seafood City on the Northwest Side and aims to foreground traditional Filipino baking in a contemporary, sun-filled space. Designed by Aida Napoles with warm earth tones, bronze tile accents, floor-to-ceiling windows and a custom s-shaped wooden display table that seats 10, the spot blends reverence for technique with modern presentation. The owners draw on childhood experience in their families’ bakeries and describe the concept as a reimagined Filipino bakery, offering staples like hot pandesal and a carefully perfected ensaymada that is soft, moist and not overly sweet, alongside sugar-forward treats such as sans rival and pan de coco, plenty of ube-infused items, halo-halo, and savory pastries including longanisa rolls, menudo buns, and crispy Ilocos empanadas. The team hopes its proximity to Seafood City and morning commuters on the nearby Edens Expressway will attract both longtime fans and newcomers; its name means “morning” in Tagalog, and the owners are excited to build new baking memories with their young daughter." - Naomi Waxman