"Bayan Ko Diner is the ala carte sister spot of one of our favorite prix-fixe restaurants, Bayan Ko. This restaurant family has strong genetics: the Filipino and Cuban dishes at this all-day Ravenswood spot make us want to have every meal here. photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik You can share crispy lechon for a casual dinner date while hyping up the breakfast burrito you had hours ago, two seats over. But one of the best reasons to swing by for dinner is that most dishes can come in half-orders. Get a whole spread of lumpia, ropa vieja, adobo wings, and halo halo, and leave your emergency vacation funds unscathed. photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik On weekdays, it’s pretty easy to get a table, and you'll be surrounded by Ravenswoodian families and paintings of Cuba and the Philippines. Weekends are a different story. Book a reservation for Saturdays and Sundays if you’re trying to compete against all of the other egg-hungry brunch-eaters. Food Rundown photo credit: Kim Kovacik Longanisa Silog You can order the garlic rice plates with tocino or fried milkfish, but our protein of choice is the housemade longanisa. The sweet sausages have a nice char and are excellent on their own, but make sure to get the rice and yolk from the fried eggs involved for an ideal silog spoonful. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Cuban Breakfast Burrito The dinner version of Bayan Ko Diner’s ropa vieja is tender, with plenty of spices that pair well with garlic rice. As it turns out, when you wrap the beef strands in a tortilla with plantains, swiss cheese, beans, and eggs, it also makes for a tasty handheld breakfast. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Lumpia Shanghai Bayan Ko Diner’s lumpia is one of their few all-day dishes, thankfully so—there isn’t a waking moment when we wouldn’t want to snack on these. Each one is fried to golden perfection and full of peppery ground pork. They come with a soy-garlic sauce on the side, but taste great as is. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Empanadas For more golden brown appetizers, check out the empanadas. The crust is light and flaky, and they come with your choice of mushrooms or brisket (our favorite). Don’t neglect the mojo crema on the side. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Ceviche Featuring an aquatic entourage of shrimp, scallops, and squid, this sweet ceviche is a fantastic dinner starter. The thin plantain chips are a great vehicle for each bite of seafood, and the avocado adds layers of creaminess for contrast. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Lechon Kawali Like Mariah Carey, this pork belly has range. The fried skin has an incredible crackle, while the meat underneath remains juicy. And the Mang Tomas sauce cuts through some of the fat and richness. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Halo Halo Banana Split We’re big fans of Milky Milky Ice Cream. We’re even bigger fans when it’s served with crispy turon and coconut strings, coconut gel, red bean, and housemade flan. Plus, some puffed rice for extra texture." - John Ringor
