A Taste of the Philippines — Restaurant in Jefferson Township

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...

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...

Visited this place on May 24 with my wife. Rather than order our own dishes, we decided to try all of our usual favorites. We ordered:

Lumpia- Crispy/flakey outside with a delicious center. A little thinner and longer, but very good.

Pancit- This was good. I'm used to a little more vegetables and a lemon (this one came with a lime). The chicken that came with the pancit was tender and went well with everything.

Bistek- This was absolutely delicious. I love the flavor on this one. The portions are great, the beef was great, and the sauce that drips into the rice from the beef? Delicious.

Ube Doughnut - Not sure why everyone is going for the cheesecake bites. This is such a clear winner. It's got a little spongeyness to it that makes the ube stand out more. Very good.

Ube Chocolate Chip Cookie - Also very good. I don't typically like cookies, but this one has a soft-bake texture to it (or maybe it was just super fresh), but I was surprised how the ube compliments the cookie. It's the perfect mix of not too sweet but still complex and rich.

The staff was great. As soon as you walk in, they are ready to assist and explain any questions you may have. You can tell this is a tight group that believes in the delicious food they are providing.

My only con would be: serving water at the tables. I probably should have asked or ordered something to drink- but I usually only drink water anyway. Surprisingly, this does not get provided automatically. Lesson learned for next time. I'm sure I could have asked for it at any time, but there was too much deliciousness to finish.

Lastly, I truly enjoyed trying this out for the first time. I look forward to coming back...