A Taste of the Philippines

"This former food hall spot now has a permanent location in Jefferson Park with eight tables and a tight menu of signatures like crispy lumpia, longanisa-wrapped scotch eggs, and chicken adobo so tender the meat separates from the bone like it just got a cease and desist letter. We like the newcomer dishes, too, like their breakfast sandwich (a morning exclusive) with a longanisa patty, fried egg, and buttery havarti cheese, all snuggled between sweet pandesal. Pair it with ube cold brew and you’ll be ready to tackle traffic, random rainstorms that the weather app forgot to tell you about, or whatever else a typical Chicago morning throws at you." - john ringor

"We recently checked out A Taste Of The Philippines. Read our review here. Between a food truck, farmer’s markets, pop-ups, and a stall in the French Market, A Taste Of The Philippines has had a few iterations. Now it has a brick-and-mortar spot in Jefferson Park, with traditional options like lumpia, adobo, and pancit, plus dishes like longaniza scotch eggs. It’s only open Fridays and Saturdays (for now)." - john ringor, veda kilaru, nick allen

"Formerly in a food hall, A Taste Of Philippines now has its own spot in Jefferson Park with eight tables and a tight menu of signature dishes like crispy lumpia, longanisa-wrapped scotch eggs, and chicken adobo with tender meat that separates from the bone like it just got a cease and desist letter. Some of the newcomer dishes are also tasty, like their breakfast sandwich (a morning exclusive) with a housemade longanisa patty, fried egg, and buttery havarti cheese, all snuggled between sweet pandesal. Pair it with a strong ube cold brew and you’ll be ready to tackle traffic, random rainstorms that the weather app forgot to tell you about, or whatever else a typical Chicago morning throws at you." - John Ringor

"Kathy Vega Hardy is opening her first standalone restaurant, A Taste of the Philippines, in Jefferson Park at 5914 W. Lawrence Avenue. The restaurant, which seats 28, will offer a mix of savory Filipino dishes and desserts. Vega Hardy is partnering with Crumbs and Creams, a bakery known for sylvana, and will provide desserts like ube doughnuts and turon. The restaurant will also serve breakfast items such as silog and sandwiches, using local ingredients like Four Star Mushrooms for vegetarian adobo. Vega Hardy aims to preserve Filipino culture with her unique twists on traditional recipes, and the restaurant will feature a full espresso bar with coffee from Veloria Coffee." - Ashok Selvam

"Since arriving in Chicago in 2018, Kathy Vega Hardy has quickly become known as the “lumpia lady” at the Daley Plaza summer farmers’s market. Lunch favorites include pancit (stir-fry egg noodles), kaldereta (tomato beef braise with carrots) and guinataan manok (coconut milk chicken stew). In addition, Vega Hardy has served twists on traditional flavors like ube waffles and longanisa scotch eggs. Earlier in 2023, the stall closed in Chicago’s French Market, but the food is still available for catering orders. Look out for pop-ups, too." - Sarahlynn Pablo, Eater Staff