Almost everyone I know who has been to Chicago told me to visit Kasama, and now I totally get why…read more They're a two michelin star modern filipino spot that's a bakery by day and a tasting menu restaurant by night. The line is almost always crazy long. Pro tip: place an online order right when they open in the morning so you can skip the line for pickup. I went close to 2pm, so I only waited about 15 minutes for brunch, but most of the pastries and breakfast sandwiches were already sold out. ＊Matcha Pandan Eclair $9.5 ** The biggest éclair I've ever seen! You get a mini version on their tasting menu, but the bakery sells this full-size beauty. My favorite pastry from the haul! I loved the crunch from the toasted genmai and the light pandan whipped cream. I just wish the matcha flavor was stronger. ＊Black Truffle Croissant $16 * Every bite was packed with black truffle flavor, and with fresh shaved black truffle, truffle oil, and a premium truffle filling, I could see why it costs $16. You also get a mini version on the tasting menu. But I wasn't a fan of the crunchy pearl sugar on top. I ended up shaving it all off. ＊Ube & Huckleberry Basque Cake $9 Loved the little powdered sun stencil inspired by the Philippine flag. It was filled with ube pastry cream and huckleberry. Personally, I found the filling too sweet for my liking. ＊Filipino Breakfast $20 ** I originally wanted their signature longanisa breakfast sandwich, but it was sold out, so the staff recommended this instead. Best recommendation ever, I even thanked them before I left! Every component was so thoughtfully done, especially the meats. Now I need to come back for the tasting menu. ＊Oh, Hot Yam $6.85 ** Hands down the best ube latte I've had. Super ube-forward with a hint of coconut sap that made it even more comforting on a chilly rainy day in Chicago.

I arrived on Saturday at 9:15 AM and ended up waiting in line for two hours. While waiting, I…read morenoticed many people bypassing the line entirely by ordering ahead. When I checked the website in line, they still had same-day afternoon pickup slots available (~2PM) with a great selection (including the black truffle croissants, eclairs, and muffin tops). The interior is nicely air-conditioned, and they offer outdoor seating. The inside can get quite cramped with crowds waiting for tables and orders. After my two-hour wait, I was told at the register that the black truffle croissant was sold out. However, I kept seeing fresh trays of them being brought out--presumably to fulfill online orders. It was incredibly disappointing to wait that long outside only to miss out on a signature item that was in front of my eyes. Breakfast Sandwich-- Loaded with longanisa, hash brown, eggs, and cheese. The eggs were incredibly fluffy, the longanisa was juicy and flavorful, and the hash brown was super crispy and golden brown (no white interior to be seen) I tried the ube and huckleberry basque cake, matcha pandan eclair, and foie gras danish. The basque cake was the standout pastry-- moist with crisp edges and a beautiful blend of flavors. The Kaffe Calamansi and Manila Fog featured incredibly unique profiles and disappeared in minutes. Note: If you choose to dine in, you can luckily order additional items from your table if you want to try more!