A Taste of the Philippines

Once in a while I gotta take a moment and write a review for a restaraunt that truly surprises me with more than I expected walking into it. Came in here because I heard great things and the food, the service, and the very kind and welcoming owner Kathy herself - did not disappoint! Growing up having eaten Filipino food for almost 40 years it's hard for a restaraunt to stand out but Kathy does a great job keeping the food authentic to its roots while also integrating special touches of her own that you can tell she picked up from her own special experiences through family and life as a chef.

We had the Loganisa/Tocino combo, the lumpia, the Kare Kare, the bistek, the ube donuts (our kids loved them), the ube cookies, and the ube cold brew... and would have them again and again. We'll be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best Filipino food around! Kathy is an amazing chef and her new spot is great!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chicken Adobo, Lumpia Crispy, Pork Belly Fried Rice

I finally got to try it and I would be back however the hours of operation are lutacris literally closed for 3 days? I just dont get it for a business

.see the hours open look some serious medical attentions by appointment if you want to dine...NOT a commercial business it's a clinic resto..???

I picked up lonsilog, bistek, and some lumpia, they were all delicious! I also snagged a few baked goods, the Ube cookie YUM! I wish they gave sawsaw (vinegar) for the lonsilog ? but the whole experience was great! The owner was so kind and friendly. I will come back another day for dinner!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

As of now, I’ve only been in for brunch, but what a delicious brunch it was! I had the longaniza breakfast Sammy with an Ube cold brew and the ube chocolate chip cookie! All of these items were spectacular!!! I also decided to take some lumpia to go, as I was going to meet up with friends and wanted to bring yummy treats, and they did not disappoint! I was also lucky enough to have met the owner Kathy! She was so welcoming and friendly and super helpful. Over all, A taste of the Philippines is an amazing little place to try out, especially if you’re wanting to try something new! This place is definitely going to quickly become one of my regular dining spots! Can’t wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!

Parking: Ample free parking right in front of the location. The restaurant is in a small strip mall complex.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Longaniza Scotch Egg, Lumpia & Pancit, Lumpia Crispy, Ube Chocolate Chip Cookie

The food was delicious and service was great!! Kathy and Ed were awesome and very friendly! Will come back again soon!!! Thank you!

Vegetarian options: Mushroom adobo, Veggie Pancit, Veggie lumpia

Parking: Lots of spots available as it’s in a strip mall. Also street parking available.

Kid-friendliness: High chairs available

Wheelchair accessibility: Tables are low to allow for a wheelchair.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Ube Donuts, Chicken Adobo, Lechon Kawali, Ube Cheesecake Bites, Chicken or Vegetarian Pancit, Lumpia Crispy

As a Jefferson Park resident, it is great to have a place like A Taste of the Philippines in the neighborhood! It is walkable, has a cozy environment, and is super welcoming. I like the counter service because instead of having to wait for someone to notice you to order, you just order right as you get there and they'll bring out your order once it's been freshly made. If it's busy, expect a bit of a wait as it's a 2 person show, but definitely worth the wait if there is one. Regardless if it's busy or not, Kathy always makes it a point to come out and say hello when she can. I've been coming here since Kathy has opened and can say that I have tried just about everything she has to offer.
The lumpias are not the short ones you may be used to - they are longer and have folded ends - but they are just as good. The breakfast lumpia, when they are on the menu, are definitely worth a try. The chicken tocino is delightful and now that you can order it in a combo with the longaniza, it's the best thing ever! The longaniza (in whatever form you order it) is delicious-flavorful and a bit saucy! The breakfast sammy is something I always get - the egg is always runny, the cheese always melty and the longaniza made to perfection. I typically pair it with one of the cold brews - both are delicious. If you are looking for something a bit stronger, go with the ube cold brew. If you want something sweeter (but not crazy sweet), I recommend the pandan cold brew. You should keep in mind that as it's a cold brew, both will have a pretty good coffee flavor so I can see how some may think it's stronger than they anticipate. The ube and pandan cookies are addicting! Always soft and sometimes they have a little crunchy edge that adds to the deliciousness and every time I eat one, I want another one! The ube donut is just as fabulous - baked, not fried, and super light and fluffy. When I tried the chicken coconut milk, I literally told Kathy that I could bathe in that sauce. So good! If you are looking for a veggie option or would like something on the lighter side, I would recommend the mushroom adobo. It's flavorful and saucy, which is great with the rice in my opinion.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Ube Donuts, Breakfast Lumpias, Mushroom Adobo, Filipino Breakfast with Chicken Tocino, Lumpia Crispy, Ube Chocolate Chip Cookie

I had read so much and decided to try them for a quick snack ? ordered the Ube cold brew: delicious not too sweet
Uber donut: love that it's baked and my toddler enjoyed it as well again not over powering with sugar
Lumpia: flavorful and fresh

Can't wait to go back and try their dishes.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Ube Donuts

Tastes of the Philippines is a true gem! The food is absolutely delicious—authentic, flavorful, and made with love. Every dish was a burst of flavor that took me on a culinary trip to the Philippines. The ambience was warm and welcoming, making it a perfect spot to enjoy a meal with family or friends.

A special shoutout to Kathy, the owner, who went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Her hospitality and passion for her restaurant truly shine through. Can’t wait to come back again! Highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The boys all met for lunch here and it was amazing. We had the chicken adobo, lumpia’s, pork belly fried rice and this purple donut thing that was the bomb. The cold brew coffee was strong. Great presentation. I dig it, fun place. Good vibes. The owner was super nice and fun. She talked to us for a few minutes and was chill and funny. I saw some people giving reviews that gave her a hard time about the hours but it totally makes sense to me for some work life balance and to give her employees time to spend outside of work. Cool place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Ube Donuts, Chicken Adobo, Pork Belly Fried Rice

I can’t say enough about this place. I ended up checking it out based on a friend’s recommendation. The chicken adobo was perfect and fell off the bone and lumpias were insanely good. The owner was friendly and we figured out that we have kids the same ages.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chicken Adobo, Lumpia Crispy

I recently visited Taste of the Philippines and was impressed by the overall experience. The food was flavorful and well-prepared, offering a great variety of dishes at very affordable prices. The staff were incredibly hospitable, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The ambiance was warm and relaxed, perfect for a casual meal with friends or family. Highly recommended for anyone looking for good food and great service without breaking the bank!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Filipino Breakfast with Chicken Tocino, Chicken or Vegetarian Pancit, Lumpia Crispy, Ube Chocolate Chip Cookie

Silogs and longaniza sammy is a must try!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Lumpia Crispy, Pork Belly Fried Rice

Great addition to the neighborhood. Breakfast sandy is excellent. Also really enjoyed the donuts, cookies, and lattes. Looking forward to coming back in.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5