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Bayan Ko is an independent restaurant in Chicago owned and operated by husband-and-wife duo Chef Lawrence Letrero and Raquel Quadreny. Their menu is currently a Filipino & Cuban inspired 7 course dinner tasting. Reservations are required and bookings are available on Open Table.
Creative Filipino-Cuban fare & BYOB offered in a snug, artsy setup with outdoor seating.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1810 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: (773) 698-6373
Website: http://www.bayankochicago.com/
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Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
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bayan ko
Bayan Ko is a Michelin recognized restaurant established in 2018 currently featuring a unique tasting menu dinner inspired by Filipino & Cuban cuisine.
Bayan Ko Diner: Home
Bayan Ko Diner in Chicago, IL. Bayan Ko Diner is an independently owned Filipino | Cuban restaurant in Chicago founded by Chef Lawrence Letrero, …
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For any other dietary requests please contact us at [email protected]. Bayan Ko. 1810 West Montrose Avenue,. Chicago, IL, 60613,. United States.
Reviews
Leah Tabor
wonderful ambiance and absolutely yummy food – even the vegetarian options!! the drinks were also soo pretty and delicious!! great for a date night or intimate girls night.
we got:
drinks: cafe con leche, the beautiful yellow drink (I don’t remember the nameee!)
food: mushroom empanadas (warm, flaky, crusty, flavorful), Ginataang gulay (like a veggie curry) – we added chicken on the side (it was seared well and had good flavor too), and we finished w/ the saffron cream cheese flan (basically the thickest cheesecake ever – yum)
… morewe got:
drinks: cafe con leche, the beautiful yellow drink (I don’t remember the nameee!)
food: mushroom empanadas (warm, flaky, crusty, flavorful), Ginataang gulay (like a veggie curry) – we added chicken on the side (it was seared well and had good flavor too), and we finished w/ the saffron cream cheese flan (basically the thickest cheesecake ever – yum)
Lea Brecel Limon
My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate Valentine’s Day and I was really excited to try their tasting menu since I’ve heard so much hype about it. They change the menu every year for Valentine’s, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to go.
First course was lumpia with caviar. It was good, though the filling leaned salty and the caviar added even more saltiness, but the sweet and sour sauce balanced it out nicely.
Next was the croqueta which was delicious. Our third dish was pancit luglug — garlicky, creamy, and the chicharrones added a great crunch.
The tamales Cubano was my favorite of the night. Super well seasoned and really flavorful. The fried soft shell crab was a bit oily but still tasted good overall.
For the fifth course we had kare kare. I personally found it quite salty since the dish already had shrimp paste and the scallop was salted too, but eating it with the baby bok choy helped balance it.
Lastly, the chocoflan was amazing. Not overly sweet, still moist, not eggy, and a perfect ending to the meal.
For drinks, I definitely recommend the Pandan Mojito, Spiked Hibiscus Ginger, and Ocean Drive. We also tried the San Miguel beer and a port wine.
We also met the owner, Raquel, and she was a rockstar. Super kind and thoughtful throughout our experience — we ended up talking so long we were the last ones to leave.
Overall, definitely recommend checking them out!
… moreFirst course was lumpia with caviar. It was good, though the filling leaned salty and the caviar added even more saltiness, but the sweet and sour sauce balanced it out nicely.
Next was the croqueta which was delicious. Our third dish was pancit luglug — garlicky, creamy, and the chicharrones added a great crunch.
The tamales Cubano was my favorite of the night. Super well seasoned and really flavorful. The fried soft shell crab was a bit oily but still tasted good overall.
For the fifth course we had kare kare. I personally found it quite salty since the dish already had shrimp paste and the scallop was salted too, but eating it with the baby bok choy helped balance it.
Lastly, the chocoflan was amazing. Not overly sweet, still moist, not eggy, and a perfect ending to the meal.
For drinks, I definitely recommend the Pandan Mojito, Spiked Hibiscus Ginger, and Ocean Drive. We also tried the San Miguel beer and a port wine.
We also met the owner, Raquel, and she was a rockstar. Super kind and thoughtful throughout our experience — we ended up talking so long we were the last ones to leave.
Overall, definitely recommend checking them out!
Julia
All the dishes were super flavorful and I was quite full by the end of the 7 courses! One of my favorite tasting menus in Chicago, standouts for me were definitely the lobster + octopus!
… moreYara Mubarak
Bayan Ko was honestly just amazing.
The food was insanely good—every bite hit. Nothing felt overworked or pretentious, just really thoughtful, well-executed dishes that tasted incredible. It’s the kind of place where you can tell there’s a great chef behind the food, but it still feels homey, comfortable, and genuinely welcoming.
We did the wine pairing and it was fantastic. Our server kept refining it throughout the meal, adjusting pours and choices as we went, which made the whole experience feel personal instead of scripted. Everything paired beautifully and actually made the food better.
The vibe is casual in the best way—warm, relaxed, and fun—while still delivering food that easily deserves Michelin-level recognition. No gimmicks, no misses, just really good food made by people who clearly care.
11/10. Would go back immediately.
… moreThe food was insanely good—every bite hit. Nothing felt overworked or pretentious, just really thoughtful, well-executed dishes that tasted incredible. It’s the kind of place where you can tell there’s a great chef behind the food, but it still feels homey, comfortable, and genuinely welcoming.
We did the wine pairing and it was fantastic. Our server kept refining it throughout the meal, adjusting pours and choices as we went, which made the whole experience feel personal instead of scripted. Everything paired beautifully and actually made the food better.
The vibe is casual in the best way—warm, relaxed, and fun—while still delivering food that easily deserves Michelin-level recognition. No gimmicks, no misses, just really good food made by people who clearly care.
11/10. Would go back immediately.
Maurice Kroes
We visited during our trip to Chicago and the food was phenomenal! The 7 course tasting menu had great flavors and original dishes, with some nice wines to go with them. The owners are lovely and service was great!
… moreKeith R
Amazing 5-course tasting menu blending Filipino and Cuban flavors.
Each of our dishes were complex layers of flavors woven into an amazing experience. Cooking techniques were spot on. All three of us had a different favorite dish (arroz caldo / octopus / dessert).
Service was attentive and courses were well paced. Good sized portions and attractively balanced plates.
Very enjoyable experience!
My only (very minor) critique is that our menu was entirely very rich dishes – would have liked one lighter course.
Note: Reservations only, no walk-ins
… moreEach of our dishes were complex layers of flavors woven into an amazing experience. Cooking techniques were spot on. All three of us had a different favorite dish (arroz caldo / octopus / dessert).
Service was attentive and courses were well paced. Good sized portions and attractively balanced plates.
Very enjoyable experience!
My only (very minor) critique is that our menu was entirely very rich dishes – would have liked one lighter course.
Note: Reservations only, no walk-ins
Michael Lavery
Wonderful experience with carefully created and plated dishes over a seven course meal. Menu was easily modified to accommodate vegans and pescatarians. Wine pairing was perfect along witha couple of NA options. Well worth a visit!
… moreMichael Johnsen
We loved our dinner here. Excellent gluten-free options. We ordered half portions of everything, and it was all delicious! The crispy pork belly was my favorite.
Our service was top-notch. Our server was warm, welcoming, and super knowledgeable. I only counted eight tables, and the atmosphere was cozy and intimate.
We will definitely be back to try the lobster fried rice.
… moreOur service was top-notch. Our server was warm, welcoming, and super knowledgeable. I only counted eight tables, and the atmosphere was cozy and intimate.
We will definitely be back to try the lobster fried rice.
Steve Collins
Really enjoyed the tasting menu. Service was very friendly, attentive and prompt. Cocktails were excellent, and the dishes flavors were well executed and not overdone. The espresso was even great! No frills place not trying to do too much and executing it very well.
… moreAlbert Therese
Tried the dinner tasting menu and everything was a hit! Photos won’t do any justice especially with the flavor profile.
The Adobo octopus was my favorite.
Small place and super intimate!
Will definitely come back and try the lunch items.
… moreThe Adobo octopus was my favorite.
Small place and super intimate!
Will definitely come back and try the lunch items.