Bayan Ko

"Bayan Ko won us over in 2018 with a great Filipino and Cuban a la carte menu and a BYOB policy. It's since evolved, picking up a liquor license and switching to a $95 five-course prix fixe. But like the only good Godfather sequel, Bayan Ko 2.0 is an excellent follow-up. The creative dishes inspired by the owners’ heritage are still delicious, like black rice arroz caldo that ditches the Filipino soup’s usual chicken for tangy calamansi-butter-poached lobster that might put the bird out of the job. And with wine pairings and caviar-loaded amuse bouches, Bayan Ko successfully channels fancy dinner energy into its small, charming neighborhood spot. There's usually Cuban music playing and the staff might tell you how they're obsessed with the garnacha you just ordered." - john ringor

"While some publications may describe Filipino food as a trend, Bayan Ko — the Filipino and Cuban hybrid in Lincoln Square — proves there’s nothing fleeting about heritage. Lawrence Letrero and Raquel Quadreny have melded island cultures at this tiny spot near the Montrose Brown Line. Chef Letrero’s wings are sticky with a finger-licking-worthy adobo glaze. The chicken is succulent and perfectly cooked. The original restaurant has morphed into an upscale spot with a set menu, but the wings live on down the street at the new Bayan Ko Diner." - Ashok Selvam

"Like its sister restaurant Bayan Ko, this larger spot in Ravenswood serves great Filipino and Cuban food—just with a whole lot more eggs. Their menu has tasty traditional dishes, like longanisa garlic rice plates and flaky empanadas, plus twists on American breakfast classics, like a sisig hash with juicy chunks of pork and potatoes. Bayan Ko Diner’s space is casual, full of paintings of the Philippines and Cuba, and has lots of room for walk-ins. But as expected from a city that loves eggs on Saturdays and Sundays, that’s when this spot is packed. So if you’re planning on getting their Cubano breakfast burrito full of saucy ropa vieja and plantains for a weekend brunch, definitely also plan on making a reservation." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru, nick allen, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, nick allen, nick allen, nick allen, john ringor, nick allen, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, nick allen, john ringor, v

"Bayan Ko was a Filipino and Cuban restaurant run by a couple a few doors down, but it shifted operations in March and turned the original location into more of a fine dining vibe. Now, this space serves more of the casual classics (lumpia, silog, ropa vieja). The food is simple with quality ingredients and continues to feature both Filipino and Cuban favorites." - Ashok Selvam, Eater Staff

"This all-day restaurant in Ravenswood is convenient for all sorts of meetups, like after a college classmate asks to reconnect via LinkedIn. And though we can’t help the hang from becoming a networking session, the Filipino and Cuban dishes will make it much more tolerable. Bayan Ko Diner’s Cuban breakfast burrito or Filipino garlic rice plates are great daytime options, while the ropa vieja or lechon kawali with a tangy dipping sauce are dinner menu highlights. And if your fellow alum doesn’t force their resume between dishes, celebrate their graduation from the third-tier-friend zone with halo halo for dessert." - adrian kane, john ringor