Kawayan is a small Jefferson Park spot with a colorful plant mural, a few tables, and many great Filipino staples. The kare kare is tender, the crispy pata is fried to perfection, and the sisig with plenty of sizzling meat gets a burst of calamansi. But our favorite dish is the La Paz batchoy, which comes from the owners’ hometown of Iloilo City. The soup is loaded with crunchy lechon kawali, beef slices, egg noodles, and a sprinkling of chicharron—a hangover can’t survive in the same room as it. Even if you’re not dealing with the consequences of a fun night, the batchoy is worth a visit.

Food Rundown

La Paz Batchoy

This must-order noodle soup is rich, hearty, and has a garlicky punch thanks to the fried bits of Count Orlok's least favorite allium on top. And calling this dish meaty is a massive understatement. All of the brisket, fried lechon, boiled pork belly, liver, and chicharon give the broth plenty of savoriness and textures.

photo credit: John Ringor

Sisig

This cast iron skillet full of sizzling sisig is great. There’s a nice amount of char, richness from a freshly cracked egg, and a citrusy burst of calamansi. It’s good with white rice, but we like to upgrade to garlic rice for extra flavor.

photo credit: John Ringor

Crispy Pata

There’s plenty of pork to go around at Kawayan—especially when this giant mountain of fried pork leg shows up. The skin has an incredible crunch without triggering any fear that you might need to call your dentist later, and the meat is full of peppery flavor. Liberally use the soy sauce-vinegar combo that comes on the side.

photo credit: John Ringor

Kare Kare

The chunks of beef in this creamy peanut butter stew are so tender our mandibles barely need to put in any work. It also comes with string beans, bokchoy, and green onions for added flavor and texture. This kare kare does lean more nutty than savory, so get the umami-packed bagoong that comes on the side involved.

photo credit: John Ringor