Chicago’s acclaimed Filipino restaurant Kasama has been elevated to two Michelin stars, marking another milestone for the globally recognized Filipino dining destination.
The announcement was made during the Michelin Guide Northeast Cities Ceremony on Tuesday, November 18 (Wednesday, November 19 in Manila), where Kasama, already a one-star awardee since 2023, officially joined Chicago’s roster of two-star restaurants. It now stands alongside Ever, Oriole, and Alinea, which recently moved from three stars to two.
Kasama, known for its long lines and its modern take on Filipino cuisine, was first included in the Michelin Guide in 2022, earned its first Michelin star in 2023, and now reaches a new milestone with its second star.
According to the Michelin Guide, two Michelin stars mean a restaurant has “excellent cooking that is worth a detour.”
The Michelin Guide describes Kasama as a restaurant that fully embodies its name, which comes from the Filipino word for “together.” In its official review, Michelin wrote:
“Drawing its name, fittingly, from the Tagalog word for ‘together,’ Kasama unites the culinary talents (and fine dining pedigrees) of husband-and-wife team Tim Flores and Genie Kwon. Flores’s background provides inspiration for this modern interpretation of Filipino cuisine, while Kwon’s pastry training elevates the sweet side of things,” the guide reads.
“In a simple space, the two cook with striking originality. Homey traditional preparations are reimagined in elegant, inventive ways, as in an ‘adobo’ of mussels and wild mushrooms that balances tangy, sweet and savory. Bold, original sauces like peanut with shrimp paste have few equals. Desserts, like a ‘mais con yelo’ that features sweet corn semifreddo and milk granita, are every bit as satisfying,” it added.
The recognition comes shortly after Kasama’s team was invited to cook at the inaugural Michelin ceremony for Manila, Environs, and Cebu 2026 held on October 30.
READ: FULL LIST: Michelin-starred Restaurants in the Philippines | FULL LIST: Michelin-selected restaurants in Philippines | FULL LIST: Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand and Special Award recipients in the Philippines
In their post about the experience, the restaurant wrote:
“A thousand posts wouldn’t be enough to describe the impact of this trip. If you told us we’d be making Chicago style hot dogs at a Michelin gala in the Philippines, we wouldn’t believe you — but anything can be a canapé if you put your mind to it.
We are so honored to be invited to cook at the inaugural Michelin Gala for Manila, Environs, and Cebu 2026. To finally meet and spend time with chefs we’ve admired from afar was so inspiring. Congratulations to you all! Thank you to the @michelinguide team for all their hard work in creating an unforgettable gala, and to @mamacattravels , @jvbsuarez and @alli.hkg for curating the eating itinerary of our dreams.”
The restaurant said what they experienced in the country “goes beyond hospitality” as they expressed gratitude to everyone who welcomed them during the Manila event.
“It is a kind of care so deeply woven into the DNA of this culture that it feels as natural as breathing. Thank you to everyone we spent time with for the incredible warmth and generosity. Filipino food is not a fad and not a trend. It is the result of an incredibly influential and resilient history, and we are so excited for the future of this cuisine,” the restaurant said.
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Kasama’s latest Michelin recognition is seen as another major step in elevating Filipino cuisine on the global stage.
The restaurant is located at 1001 North Winchester Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.
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