First Filipino-themed and owned restaurant to receive a Michelin star

Kasama is a Filipino-themed and owned restaurant in Chicago, USA that received its first Michelin Star last April. A Michelin star is the ultimate hallmark of culinary excellence.
How did its owners, Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, feel when they achieved this milestone in their business? How do they promote and spotlight Filipino food in their restaurant? What do non-Filipino customers say about their dishes? Watch their story in this "EntrePinoy Abroad" video!

[@BravespiritDailyInspiration]

Proud to be Pinoy! 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@ryanpadilla7851]

Amazing! It's just the beginning for Filipino food!

[@cuties1238]

Omayghad, that's so amazing I'm so proud for them !

[@Walk-and-Wander]

Watching "The Bear" TV series brought me here. I'm so proud to know that there's a Filipino restaurant with a Michelin star.

[@gmartist1548]

Michelin star restaurant. Filipino taste on filipino food congratulations to the couples who made their journey into something delicious to all. Owning businesses or restaurant in abroad somehow changes flavor due to the resources available to them changes the flavor but still captures the traditional food elements.

[@GUTOMOFFICIAL]

Wow nice story. Congrats! I want to go there!

[@melaniericket9333]

Im so happy finally a filipino restaurant

[@robertoaguilar2940]

In my bucket list🙏

[@robertoaguilar2940]

In my bucket list

[@matthewfrauendorff1106]

Just got my reservation booked for this weekend!

[@pinoypapapizza]

And?

[@paullawrencecapuli2472]

ka proud. pero for sure.. marami na namang pupuna. for sure

[@athenacinca8657]

I was wondering if they introduced Pan De Sal.

[@erwinrommelalejo6493]

Super proud to be Filipino ❤❤❤

[@bert671]

mmm, nah.. but good luck to them. i'll find the nearby carenderia

[@bugchaserdoc]

Lost in translation: kasama: [noun] companion • housemate • associate • chaperone • comrade • anything that goes with something • [adjective] together with • fellow • accompanied with • staying with magkasama: [adjective] being together • together • the two • companion If you meant to use "together" in Pilipino language, it should have been "Magkasama Restaurant." Get someone to translate properly next time you wish use the Pilipino language for branding. Nevertheless, great accomplishment. Best wishes on your endeavor.

[@bugchaserdoc]

@@JamesJest682 This is not about grammar policing. It is about branding using the Pilipino language in its actual meaning. If one uses it with another meaning other than its conventional one, then so be it. These are the days of "whatever I feel is right." When Chevy used Nova (instead of nueva for new) model for its car hoping to sell it in South America, it was a flop because nova means "doesn't go." When the owner of Kasama uttered the meaning as together, it will never jive for me as A 1st generation Pinoy here in U.S. The meaning doesn't sound right. It will always sound to me as "companion." If you are a native Pilipino speaker, you should know what I am saying. If you 're not, you are entitled to all your feelings.

[@JamesJest682]

@@bugchaserdoc As i said Kasama is my partner, my companion in my food journey. I find it appropriate.

[@pinoypapapizza]

​@@bugchaserdoc Haaaaayyyy.......feel better now?

[@bugchaserdoc]

@@pinoypapapizza Sorry po, I don't subscribe to feeling better. Baka ikaw po. Just in the context of understanding the Pinoy language. Gets mo?

[@epicshade144]

Kasama is a Filipino restaurant, not a Filipino-themed restaurant. Would you say Chinese-themed or Thai-themed or Vietnamese-themed restaurant? No, so don't do it with Kasama, a Filipino restaurant!

[@evolanomrac9531]

Korean wife

[@joshoaaquinoterrado105]

Aquino terrado cocoa tablea 🍫🍫🍫 pure cacao ....

[@RealSpitz123]

Haha so many haters

[@nb6792]

how is this even filipino dishes? You can call it adobo or nilaga or kinalaw, but if you have NONE of the traditional ingredients, they will not taste anywhere near the traditional cuisine. Caviar? Really?

[@josephcorpuz9056]

These are not Filipino foods though. Maybe Filipino food inspired?

[@nathaniel7214]

These are Filipino flavors. New Filipino food gets created all the time. Manam, Locacore these “modern” Filipino restaurants are very popular here and no one would ever question their authenticity.

[@josephlin4431]

.exactly is NOT typical poglippino food...lets say 10% its becoz of rice and name of chef guy and color of his skin that's it....the rest is..i don't know maybe they juSt learn from culinary school...

[@cfavo8]

what is filipino food? Lumpia...did u mean egg roll? Pancit...did u mean Lo Mein? So with your logic, filipino food is actually Chinese-inspired? Just stfu and be glad that we now have representation in the big culinary world.