From Home Kitchens to Global Stages: The Rise of Filipino Cuisine

Filipino cuisine, once a hidden gem, is now captivating the global culinary scene. Rooted in rich traditions and family recipes, it has evolved, embracing innovation while honoring its heritage. This transformation is evident as Filipino restaurants earn accolades from prestigious institutions like the Michelin Guide.​

Kasama – Chicago, USA

Kasama made history as the first Filipino restaurant to earn a Michelin star. Owned by husband-and-wife duo Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, it offers a 13-course tasting menu that reimagines traditional Filipino dishes with modern techniques.

Beyond the refined dishes, Kasama captures the soul of Filipino dining: warm hospitality, bold yet balanced flavors, and a genuine spirit of sharing. The experience is as much an emotional journey as it is a gastronomic one, demonstrating how Filipino food, once considered humble home fare, can command a place on the world’s most prestigious culinary stages. Kasama’s success paves the way for a broader recognition of Filipino cuisine's depth, complexity, and capacity to evolve without losing its roots.

The inclusion of these restaurants in the Michelin Guide underscores the growing international appreciation for Filipino cuisine. As the culinary world continues to explore and celebrate diverse flavors, Filipino dishes are gaining well-deserved recognition on the global stage.

Abacá – San Francisco, USA

Abacá offers a contemporary Filipino dining experience, blending traditional flavors with California’s seasonal ingredients. 

Bayan Ko – Chicago, USA

Husband and wife duo Lawrence Letrero and Raquel Quadreny offer a tasting menu at their Ravenswood restaurant, blending Cuban and Filipino flavors with dishes like lobster arroz caldo, wagyu vaca frita, and mojo-crusted pork belly in a relaxed setting.

BB's

Start your day or wind down your night at this vibrant Filipino diner in Parkdale, where playful colors, laid-back energy, and bold flavors come together—from Adobo fried chicken at brunch to pancit and calamansi pie at dinner, all served in a space that radiates retro-cool charm.

Boonies

This cozy Filipino restaurant, once a food stall, serves pork dishes like crispy belly and herbed sausage, complemented by steelhead trout in tamarind broth and a delightful plantain spring roll dessert.

Donia

Donia is a lively Filipino restaurant in Soho blending British produce with bold Filipino flavors like adobo croquetas, chicken inasal, and lechon—perfect for sharing with friends in a warm, bustling space.

Estrellita

At Estrellita, owners Hope Webb and Walter Cortado offer a cozy space serving Filipino classics like Cebu-style lechon and crispy Angus beef lumpia, with rotating specials and a wait for the kitchen’s to-go and catering orders.

FOB Kitchen

Janice Dulce’s cozy Filipino restaurant in Temescal serves dishes like sweet and sour sinigang, coffee-coconut ribs, and suman rice cake, all enjoyed with cocktails in a relaxed island-inspired setting.

Kamayan ATL

Tagalog for "by hand," kamayan is the traditional Filipino form of dining. Choose from a menu of family-style dishes, with a good dose of classics mixed with regional items. Lumpia are always a hit, while the sinigang, with tender pork ribs bobbing in a tamarind-based broth, is spot on.

KAYA

Kaya, located in a bungalow-style building in Mills 50, offers a tasting menu that puts a modern twist on classic Filipino dishes, featuring local seafood, produce, and standout dishes like kinilaw na isda and braised oxtail kare, served with perfectly cooked garlic rice.

Maison Nipa

Maison Nipa, run by a seasoned Franco-Philippine duo, serves refined French cuisine infused with bold Filipino flavors, offering inventive dishes like Adobong Pusit-style squid and wild duck in adobo sauce, all in a modern, warmly styled dining space.

Spoon & Pork

Marked by a neon pig and a laid-back vibe, this modern Filipino comfort food spot dishes out pork-packed favorites—from lechon kawali and patita to adobo pork belly nigiri and chorizo burgers—alongside must-tries like beef tapa with garlic rice and eggs.

Tadhanà

After cooking for the UAE royal family and making TV appearances, Chef Frances Tariga finally opens her own restaurant, offering an elevated tasting menu that reimagines regional Filipino dishes—from smoked yellowtail kinilaw to banana ketchup-glazed pork belly—on a culinary journey across the archipelago.

Source: MICHELIN Guide