Chicken Ati-Atihan Filipino Grill & Restaurant — Restaurant in Maine Township

Per 2024 Golf Rd, and 2025 Milwaukee Ave, visits...:

Food: very good. Of the Filipino restaurants eaten in the past year(!), this had the best garlic fried rice. It’s not the best ever, but certainly better than that offered by other, larger, un-named competitors. Fish was good, beef as well; the egg rolls at our 2024 visit were too salty but not those ordered in 2025, and at all visits they always presented a decent mix of crispy and soft textures. The chicken breast in our Ati-Atihan Combo was excellent. Its sauce was not overpowering so its grilled prep could be tasted alongside the marinade. That's art in motion...or perfected barbecue? The thigh-lover in our group devoured his barbecued thigh Ati as well, so it was presumably just as perfect. Topping everything off, prices were thankfully decent.

Service: our server was open and honest about the possible wait for our order. Up to 45 minutes but ours was luckily ready in about 20 due to our very arrival (the restaurant had just opened for the day and diners started piling in later). At our 2024 visit our server remembered our discussion at seating about the leche flan, and asked if we were interested in it after the main course. But of course! Alas, that dessert was not available at our Milwaukee Ave visits. Maybe another day?

Atmosphere: this has always been a very family oriented Filipino restaurant which has moved to various locations in Niles, Illinois. So far, this newest one has been the best. There's a great decor and enjoyable background radio. My co-diner laughed at the Christmas music that played throughout our late September 2024 visit; it was present again in (just? it was so cheerful!) one April 2025 visit, along with a fine music mix for families. This newest Milwaukee Ave location also had a stage for a band. When does it play? Saturday nights? Quick, move the tables out of the way...

I love their original location, so I really wanted to try this new location! The interior is very nice and spacious. When we first entered, the host brought us to our table with menus. After about 5 minutes, my invitee and I knew what we wanted to order and just waited. We were engrossed in conversation that we didn't even realize how much time had passed since we got sat down. I checked the time and 20 minutes passed and nobody came by to take our order!! We had to call over a waitress to take our order, which is ridiculous. It's their job to check up on their tables. She informed us that the food would take 35 minutes, which is fine because good food should not be rushed. Once we got our food, I was in awe with how beautifully presented it was! It looked delicious, and even the plates looked cute. We ordered pork lumpia, mango fried rice, chicken bam-i guisado, and beef sinigang. The chicken bam-i guisado was SO horribly salty. The mango fried rice tasted so heavily of packet seasoning. The beef sinigang was dry. The best dish out of the four was the lumpia. Which is pretty sad. I had to ask an employee (not sure of her position since she was bringing out food from the kitchen and also working the register) for plain white rice to try and balance the salty food. It helped, but it ruined my appetite and food should really not be that incredibly salty. I mentioned how salty the food was to the employee, but no apology or any attempt to remedy the issue was given. The restaurant is so beautiful, it is such a shame that's not being run better. The employees need better training. They were all over the place and seemed confused about where to go or what to do. The cook(s) need to evaluate their food before serving it out...

Chicken Ati-Atihan Restaurant, a truly exceptional Filipino dining experience. Having recently visited their new, larger location, I was overwhelmingly impressed. The restaurant offers a remarkably clean and welcoming atmosphere, with friendly and well-trained staff who embody the spirit of Filipino hospitality ("pakikisama").

The food itself is outstanding, reminiscent of My Mom's home-cooked meals. The quality and authenticity of the dishes rival those of well-established Filipino restaurants in the area, such as Kasama, Boonies, and Subö. However, Chicken Ati-Atihan distinguishes itself not only through its delicious, traditional cuisine but also through its commitment to community.

The restaurant's growth from a small branch to its current impressive establishment is a testament to the owner's dedication, integrity, and generosity. I was particularly touched by their commitment to supporting fellow Filipinos in need, offering assistance and even providing free meals to those facing hardship. This genuine compassion is deeply embedded in their culture and reflected in the overall experience.

I highly recommend Chicken Ati-Atihan Restaurant. It's very clean even the bathroom !! Its combination of exceptional food, warm ambiance, and unwavering commitment to community makes it a truly unique and worthwhile culinary destination. I encourage you to make a reservation and experience it...