A Taste of the Philippines

“The food here is genuinely so good.”

The food here is genuinely so good! Every dish tastes like it was made with love. You can really tell how much care goes into the cooking. The owner and chef is one of the kindest, friendliest ladies you’ll ever meet, and her warmth makes the whole experience even better. The service is always great, and every meal feels like coming home. If you’re craving authentic Filipino food that’s comforting, flavorful, and served with heart, this is the spot. Everything on the menu is delicious, and I can’t recommend it enough!

Modesty

Nov 2025

“Delicious food and Kathy is a delight.”

Delicious food and Kathy is a delight! We will be back. Thank you for such an enjoyable experience!

Amanda D

Aug 2025

“What a great spot.”

What a great spot! The owner/chef is so nice. We had several different items from the menu and all of them were excellent. The Sammy (pan de sal) is my favorite. Every item is made to order with love and it shows.

Jimmy C

Jul 2025

“I recently had a “Kamayan” birthday celebration with my friends here and it was amazing.”

I recently had a “Kamayan” birthday celebration with my friends here and it was amazing! It was easy to book a time slot for our private gathering and pick from the variety of ulam (entree) Chef Kathy had to offer. Her lechon kawali (pork belly) and lumpias are the best! She made sure the food was fresh and hot when me and my guests arrived (even though we were a little late.. cz Filipino time 😅). The food and her welcoming, friendly presence made the whole experience just awesome. Her desserts were also amazing. We all loved it and we will definitely be back for more! ***Also, from a separate visit - not only are her dishes good, her drinks as well! I definitely recommend either the Ube or Pandan cold brew. They were both strong and tasty in flavor!

Mica Alcantara

Jul 2025

“My first impression of the restaurant was the beautiful aesthetic immediately followed by the...”

My first impression of the restaurant was the beautiful aesthetic immediately followed by the warmth that exudes from the owner. She made us feel extremely welcome. Since it was our first time, she recommended a few items and every single thing tasted soooo goood! From the ube breakfast Sammy to the lumpia and lechon over garlic rice and the ube cookies and donuts, it all had me dancing in my chair. Olivia and Kathy were super hospitable! We will def be returning.

Katie Johnson

Jun 2025

“As a Chicago native married to a Filipina, when I saw the Taste of the Philippines on social media,...”

As a Chicago native married to a Filipina, when I saw the Taste of the Philippines on social media, I knew I was taking my wife as soon as I flew back home! We drove 50 minutes to try it and it was very much worth it! We walked in and it was such a relaxing and calm greenery all around the whole restaurant. The inside was beautiful! For drinks were ordered the Ube Cream Cold Brew and Pandan Cold Brew. They were both strong and delicious but they aren't that sweet so if you prefer sweet, ask for sweetener. For breakfast, we ordered the Breakfast Lumpia, the Longaniza Breakfast Sammy with Ube Pandesal and the Longaniza Breakfast Silog. The Breakfast Lumpia was so good and served with a side of Sriracha on a gorgeous plate. The Longaniza Breakfast Sammy on a Ube Pandesal was so well balanced, delicious and every bite was an enjoyable combination with the egg ans cheese! And the Longaniza Breakfast Silog was a classic, rice was cooked perfectly and the home made longaniza was a little sweeter than usual but absolutely delicious! We asked for some napkins and the server got them right away. Be patient when you come as all the food is cooked fresh!

Daniela Alvarado

May 2025

“So great to have this in the area.”

So great to have this in the area. Special Tasty breakfast sandwich. Super crispy lumpia. The Ube doughnut is so soft and fluffy! All tables full on Saturday at 11, but short wait for a table.

TKO

Apr 2025

“Taste of the Philippines is more than just great food—it’s a whole experience filled with warmth,...”

Taste of the Philippines is more than just great food—it’s a whole experience filled with warmth, culture, and genuine connection. While I waited for my order, the owner was passionately explaining how they make their homemade bagoong (shrimp sauce) and other spices to some older guests ahead of me. You could feel the love and pride in every word. Even though I was just picking up an Uber Eats order, I never felt like an afterthought. When my food was ready, she made sure to say my name with a warm smile—it was such a simple gesture, but it really stuck with me. That level of care and personal attention is rare. I ordered the Longaniza breakfast sandwich, the Combo Filipino breakfast, ube cheesecake bites, and the ube chocolate chip cookie—and wow, every bite was full of bold, comforting flavor. The ube treats were the perfect sweet finish. This place has soul. The food is amazing, but it’s the people and the passion behind it that make it truly special. Can’t wait to come back.

Dana Baroja

Apr 2025

“Stepping into "A Taste of the Philippines" felt like a warm welcome home, even though it was my first visit.”

Stepping into "A Taste of the Philippines" felt like a warm welcome home, even though it was my first visit. From the moment we were seated, the service was remarkably quick and delivered with genuine kindness – a true testament to Filipino hospitality. And the food? Oh, the food was a delightful exploration of traditional flavors with a touch of something special. We started with the lumpia, those quintessential Filipino spring rolls, which were perfectly crisp and filled with a savory mixture that disappeared all too quickly my step daughter wanted to drink the sweet and sour sauce 🫠. Next up was the tocilog, a classic breakfast dish that hit all the right notes. The sweet and tender tocino paired beautifully with the sunny-side-up egg and the generous portion of sinangag (garlic fried rice). Speaking of rice, we also indulged in the pork belly with sinangag. The pork belly was cooked to a delightful crisp on the outside while remaining succulent and flavorful within. My only minor quibble here, and it’s a testament to how much we enjoyed everything, is that we could have definitely used a bit more of that fragrant garlic fried rice! However, the undisputed star of the meal was the pork belly kare kare. This dish was an absolute revelation. The rich, homemade peanut sauce was incredibly flavorful and had a depth that only comes from using quality ingredients and time-honored techniques. But the real magic lay in the homemade shrimp paste (bagoong). It possessed a pungency and umami that elevated the entire dish to another level. Each bite was a harmonious blend of creamy peanut sauce, tender pork belly, and that intensely savory shrimp paste. It was, without a doubt, the highlight of our culinary adventure. To end our meal on a sweet note, we sampled their trio of ube treats: a cookie, a donut, and a cheesecake bite. Each showcased the distinct earthy sweetness of ube in a unique and delicious way. It was a perfect ending to a truly satisfying meal. "A Taste of the Philippines" offers traditional Filipino food with a subtle, delightful twist that keeps things exciting. While my only (very minor) suggestion would be to be a little more generous with the rice, the overall experience was fantastic. The quality of the ingredients, the skillful preparation, and the genuinely kind service make this a must-try for anyone craving authentic and delicious Filipino cuisine. We'll definitely be back for more – and next time, we'll be sure to ask for extra rice to soak up every last bit of that incredible kare kare sauce!

Carla Alegros-Buchanan

Mar 2025

“Went in for the Longaniza Breakfast Sammy with Ube Pandesal and it was so good I had to go back a...”

Went in for the Longaniza Breakfast Sammy with Ube Pandesal and it was so good I had to go back a couple weeks later with another friend. Haha Got the Sammy and some breakfast lumpias which had a great spicy salsa on the side. My friend got the Kare Kare. I don’t know homemade Kare Kare but it tasted great to me! It was a little pricy but will probably be back again! Ha Such a nice little place with the nicest owner, Chef Kathy!

Jonathan Palomo

Mar 2025

“A delightful experience at A Taste of the Philippines recently.”

A delightful experience at A Taste of the Philippines recently. Tried their pork Lumpia which were nice and crispy on the exterior, with a pleasant dipping sauce. Also tried their Crispy Pork Belly Kare Kare, which had such distinct and succulent peanut sauce, that mixed so well with everything they plate it together with! My only qualms is with the portion sizes being a bit small compared to the price, and with the slightly less than ideal Silverware, chairs, and tables. Overall a wonderful, and authentic Filipino food experience!

Paul Kraneis

Feb 2025