Filipino restaurants are thriving in Chicago, despite pandemic hardships: ‘So many people of different colors are coming in.’

“Our generation — the young generation — just wants a chance to say, ‘Hey, we’re here,’” said Letrero, 42. “The young generation of Filipino cooks and chefs going to culinary school in the early 2000s (and) working for other people said to themselves, ‘If I ever have my own place, I’m going to take all these skills and open a Filipino restaurant.’”