Boonie's

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Boonie's: Filipino Bib Gourmand in North Center, Chicago

A Bib Gourmand Celebration of Filipino Flavors

Boonie’s, on North Western Avenue in Chicago’s North Center, earned its Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2026 for good quality, good value cooking. The restaurant’s greeting — “Mabuhay!” — sets the tone for a kitchen that honors Filipino traditions while pushing them forward.

The dinner menu unfolds in sections that mirror a communal Filipino meal. Pampagana (to begin) includes Lumpiang Shanghai, fried pork spring rolls, and a Kinilaw of fjord trout with calamansi and coconut sauce. The Ata Ata — prime ribeye tartare with tamari, sukang iloko, and roasted garlic mayo — shows the chef’s confident hand with acidity and umami.

From Pampagana to Panghimagas

Patikim (for balance and contrast) brings Sizzling Sisig, a pork hash with egg and secret sauce served on a sizzling plate, and Tortang Talong: a charred eggplant omelet with swimmer crab and smoked trout roe. For the center of the table (Ulam), the Krispy Pata — a braised, roasted, then fried Duroc pork shank served with pickled fresnos and toyomansi — is a showstopper. The Kare Kare features Australian wagyu beef cheek in a sunflower butter sauce with bagoong XO.

Desserts (Panghimagas) include a Mango Float with mascarpone and mango ice cream, and a Roasted Banana Turon in a crisp spring roll. Boonie’s is open for lunch Friday–Saturday, dinner Wednesday–Saturday, and offers catering and private events. It’s a place where Filipino cooking gets the thoughtful, ingredient-driven treatment it deserves.