Kubo

Kubo is a cozy, dimly lit Filipino spot in Lakeview that has the atmosphere of a neighborhood dive bar, but serves delicious food. The bar is an important part of this place, and where you'll find locals relaxing after work, or groups of friends catching up over some drinks on the weekend.

But before embarking on a tour of their 20 different martinis, you should definitely eat something first. A good place to start is with crispy chicken lumpia, followed by larger dishes like pancit canton or savory adobo short ribs. They also have comforting kansi, full of vegetables, bone marrow, and tender beef shank. And the tart and salty tamarind-based soup is the perfect excuse to visit Kubo two days in a row when you’re hungover from spending too much time at the bar the day before. When it’s busy, the whole restaurant feels like a rambunctious party with packed tables and classic rock music blasting. But on a slower night, it's a great spot for a lowkey date or group dinner.