Best Rice Arroz Caldo With Lobster Across the US

Bayan Ko

Chicago, IL

“Bayan Ko stands as one of Chicago's most acclaimed Filipino restaurants, earning Michelin recognition for its innovative Filipino-Cuban tasting menu created by husband-and-wife team Chef Lawrence Letrero and Raquel Quadreny. The intimate Ravenswood restaurant offers a multi-course tasting menu celebrating both Filipino and Cuban heritages through creative, contemporary preparations. Signature dishes include black rice arroz caldo with calamansi-butter-poached lobster, wagyu beef vaca frita with black bean and plantain purees, and lechon with Cuban mojo and crispy crust. Featured in The Infatuation with an 8.0 rating and praised for successfully channeling fancy dinner energy into a charming neighborhood spot, Bayan Ko represents elevated Filipino dining executed at the highest level. The restaurant offers optional wine pairings and a relaxed atmosphere despite the upscale food, while their adjacent Bayan Ko Diner serves casual Filipino and Cuban dishes for those wanting a more informal experience. The restaurant has become essential to Chicago's Filipino dining scene, demonstrating Filipino cuisine's potential for fine dining innovation.”