Kasama (restaurant)

Kasama is a Filipino restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. The restaurant has received a Michelin star, making it the world's first Filipino restaurant to earn one.[1][2]

Kasama
Restaurant information
EstablishedJuly 2020 (2020-07)
Owner(s)
  • Tim Flores
  • Genie Kwon
Chef
  • Tim Flores
  • Genie Kwon
Pastry chefGenie Kwon
Food typeFilipino
Rating1 Michelin star
Street address1001 N Winchester Ave
CityChicago
StateIllinois
Postal/ZIP Code60622
CountryUnited States
Coordinates41°53′59″N 87°40′32.5″W
Websitekasamachicago.com

Description

The restaurant is located in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood of the West Side of Chicago.[3] The name Kasama comes from the Tagalog word for together.[2] The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For dinner, it offers a 13-course tasting menu.[4]

History

Kasama is co-owned by husband-and-wife team Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, who both serve as chef-owners.[5] Flores stated that their goal was to make Filipino food accessible to people who had never had it before. Their initial concept for the restaurant was a cafe with pastries baked by Kwon in the morning, and lumpia and sandwiches in the afternoon.

The restaurant opened in July 2020 with the initial cafe concept. Later, they began offering a tasting menu at dinner during the COVID-19 pandemic as a response to widespread labor shortages.[4]

The restaurant was featured in the TV series The Bear, which is set in the restaurant scene of Chicago.[6]

Reception

Kasama has been praised by Louise Chu of the Chicago Tribune as "one of the best restaurants in the world."[5] The Michelin Guide initially added Kasama's tasting menu to its Bib Gourmand list in 2021, and then later awarded it a Michelin star in 2022, making it the world's first Filipino restaurant with a star.[4]

Esquire called Kasama one of the best new restaurants in America of 2021.[7] It was nominated for the James Beard Award for best restaurant of 2022.[8] Magazine Robb Report ranked Kasama the third best new restaurant in America in 2022, and named co-owners Tim Flores and Genie Kwon best chefs of the year for their efforts in opening the restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

See also

References
  1. "2022 Chicago New MICHELIN Stars". MICHELIN Guide. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  2. "Together with Kasama, the World's First MICHELIN-Starred Filipino Restaurant". MICHELIN Guide. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  3. Repanich, Jeremy (June 14, 2022). "Best Chefs of the Year: Genie Kwon and Tim Flores of Chicago's Kasama". Robb Report. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  4. Selvam, Ashok (April 7, 2022). "Chicago Is Home to America's Only Michelin-Starred Filipino Restaurant". Eater Chicago. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  5. Chu, Louisa (December 27, 2021). "Review: Fours stars for Kasama restaurant in Chicago". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  6. "All The Restaurants Featured In The Bear, Ranked - Chicago". The Infatuation. June 29, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  7. "Esquire's Best New Restaurants in America, 2021". Esquire. November 18, 2021. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  8. "The 2022 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Nominees | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
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