Jefferson Park's food landscape is gearing up for an infusion of Filipino flavor as Kathy Vega Hardy prepares to open her very first brick-and-mortar restaurant, A Taste of the Philippines. With plans to launch in early April at 5914 W. Lawrence Avenue, the spot was formerly home to Pho No. 1 Vietnamese Cuisine. Announced by Chicago Eater, the restaurant is slated to feature a blend of traditional Filipino dishes and Hardy's unique culinary twists. Expect to find everything from lumpia and pancit, to more inventive options like ube doughnuts and turon with an ube drizzle.

Vega Hardy, a native of Manila, has been on a decade-long journey that saw her transition from accounting to culinary arts - starting with a food truck in Denver back in 2012 and arriving now, ready to charm the City with her culinary creations. According to an interview with Block Club Chicago, Hardy explained, "I'm so ready. I'm already [hearing] from people asking if I'm open." She's embracing her new role in the local Filipino community, solidifying her spot among other prime-time players like Bayan Ko and Kasama.

The Jefferson Park-based restaurant will double as a dessert destination, thanks to a partnership with Crumbs and Creams, best known for their sylvana, a cookie chock-full of flavored creams. With a 28-seat capacity and a full espresso bar serving coffee from Filipino American business Veloria Coffee, A Taste of the Philippines is looking forward to drawing in a diverse crowd, serving breakfast silog, sandwiches, and Vega Hardy's signature vegetarian adobo made with local Four Star Mushrooms. In the process, they're nurturing a collaboration between savory and sweet, hoping to complement each other's offerings in a community known for its robust Filipino presence.

Fans will be delighted to hear that the adobo at A Taste of the Philippines features a saucy twist, "the gravy properly coats the rice," Vega Hardy told Chicago Eater. Beyond their menu, the new spot also means more space for Hardy to flex her creative muscle; known for her lumpia rolling prowess, she's looking to bump up production from her average of 150 a day. A Taste of the Philippines will operate with initial hours from 4:30-9 p.m. on Fridays and 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturdays, with an intent to expand come summer, ensuring locals ample time to explore the menu and perhaps, familiarize themselves with Filipino cuisine, one delectable bite at a time.