Casual BYOB eatery serving traditional Filipino cuisine with vegetarian options & lunch specials.
"Resurrection of an old favorite after they shuttered their Lincoln Square location last year." - Ashok Selvam
"Highlights include the return of Isla Pilipina, the Lincoln Square Filipino restaurant that closed in 2020 after 17 years." - Ashok Selvam
"Isla Pilipina is returning as part of a street food pop-up called Pultan Chicago, collaborating with chefs from Wazwan at Politan Row in the West Loop. The pop-up will feature some old favorites from Isla Pilipina as well as new small bites dishes, expanding what Americans know about Filipino cuisine. The event will take place from Thursday to Sunday at Politan Row." - Ashok Selvam
"After 17 years in Lincoln Square, Isla Pilipina — a Filipino food mainstay loved for its addictive lumpia and for becoming a de facto gathering place for the Filipino-American community in Chicago — is closing. Owner Ray Espiritu’s 32-seat diner, tucked into a strip mall at 2501 W. Lawrence Avenue, will cease delivery and takeaway services Sunday. Espiritu plans to reopen in a new location in May, depending on the COVID-19 situation. He declined to provide an exact location, only saying it would be “downtown.”" - Sarahlynn Pablo
"Isla Pilipina is located in a small strip mall and is easy to miss. But you should make a point of seeking it out, because the food is impressive. Order the house specials like the longanisa sausage or the mixed adobo with chicken and pork (marinated in a tasty garlic, vinegar, and black peppercorn sauce). This place is casual and good for groups. Just make sure to BYOB." - Adrian Kane