Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month in Ravenswood

Some come from far and wide, some are devoted locals; to Anna, what matters is that everyone has a story worth listening to and engaging with. Part of what makes Anna’s Thai Kitchen such a special place is a commitment to inclusivity. Dietary restrictions are no object: most items on Anna’s wide-ranging menu are either naturally vegan/vegetarian, halal, or gluten free, or can be made to order that way.  

Now in her fifth year as a restaurant owner, Anna describes her mindset with ease: “Every day is a new day.” It’s impressive to learn that Anna isn’t a trained chef, but a home cook drawing from her mother’s traditional recipes – impressive, but not entirely surprising: each dish speaks to authentic, home-based roots. Anna’s Thai Kitchen is, in fact, a family business through and through, as Anna’s own children staff the restaurant. As we dine with Anna, it isn’t lost on us that the food in front of us is the product of three generations’ work.  

Why Ravenswood? Anna recounts a day five years ago when she noticed that the space at 1828 W Montrose Ave was available, describing it as an instantaneous realization: she wanted to do something here, for herself and for her family. Ravenswood was the perfect location for someone as community-minded as Anna; we remark on how welcoming of a place it is, where neighbors help each other out and invest so readily in mutual growth. 

When it comes to addressing hearing health challenges and being connected to the right resources, it’s critical to give each patient ample time and attention. “It’s not one size fits all,” Thien says. “Every client has different needs. I wouldn’t approach a ninety-year-old patient in the same way I would approach a two-year-old, and vice versa.”  

Thien, who has Vietnamese roots, was raised for a period in Nice, France before moving to the Midwest as a child in part to be closer to hearing health resources. He reflects on how rapidly the hearing healthcare landscape has changed over time; not long ago, hearing aid devices were more expensive, bulkier, and harder to come by. Today, the market is replete with diverse options for individuals with all sorts of needs, and the stigma around hearing health—though not entirely gone—is a far cry from what it once was.

When it came to choosing the home base for Minh Hearing Solutions, Ravenswood was a no-brainer. The neighborhood harkens back to his childhood and the time he spent here then; a neighborly sort of place, one that fosters growth in community. That we’re so close to the Metra station also means Minh Hearing Solutions is maximally accessible to patients throughout Chicagoland. If you or someone you know is seeking guidance navigating hearing health, we recommend scheduling a consultation at Minh Hearing Solutions to get the help you need.

Justin cut his teeth in other pastry kitchens around the city. Opening Del Sur was a matter of needing to carve his own path; those previous roles, he explains, “didn’t feel like me”. He tells me that the story of Del Sur Bakery is also the story of Justin Lerias—in a broader sense, it rhymes with the stories of immigrants across America. “I am Filipino, but I’m also American.” We have his friends and family to thank for their insistence that he take his own Filipino-inspired creations to the market, first as a pop-up at Side Practice Coffee (another local favorite with Filipino roots). When it became clear that the demand was there in spades, Justin knew it was ready to go full time.  

Filipino cuisine is having a serious moment right now. Del Sur Bakery is far from the only Filipino eatery within a few-mile radius: speaking about the recent success of Chi-Ibigan 2, we refer to a certain “graduating class” of local establishments introducing Filipino flavors to the Midwestern palate, including Del Sur, Kanin, Bayan Ko, Side Practice Coffee, and more. Justin says he was pulled into it without even trying: he describes a unique culture of comradery among Filipino business owners that value “collaboration over competition”. We marvel at the beautiful simplicity of it; by working together, by lifting each other up, this cohort flourishes in perpetual motion.  

So why Ravenswood? Justin explains that every bakery owner must make the choice between operating a neighborhood bakery and a destination bakery. For him, it was never even a question. Del Sur would be a neighborhood bakery, and Ravenswood would be the neighborhood. Justin and his team live their principles: he identifies several nearby businesses as beloved to the Del Sur crew, including Noble Coyote, where they got matching tattoos, and frequent haunt Platform 47. 

Del Sur is preparing to close down for a couple of weeks to accommodate an exciting expansion project, which will finally afford more kitchen space and limited indoor seating space for customers. As for what else is next for Del Sur, our lips are sealed—but we’ll be seeing you in line.  

It’s no wonder Bunny Ears Art House feels different. The space is inspired by the kinds of interactive, child-centric spaces Jinny experienced when living in Seoul, South Korea with her husband and young children during the COVID pandemic. While there, Jinny also enrolled in a design program where she learned how to create traditional Korean clothing, or hanbok (Jinny also owns Tailorbird Fabrics across the street). The two years she spent in Seoul were formative, and inspired Jinny to take the leap of faith into a more creative, self-led career path. Upon arriving back to Chicago, Jinny hit the ground running, applying for a Community Development Grant through the City that she credits with kickstarting the creation of Bunny Ears.  

Jinny shares that celebrating diversity and encouraging curiosity is a guiding principle of Bunny Ears Art House. This is a space where kids can freely express themselves and explore their sense of identity. She recalls a line from a review that stuck with her early on: “This is a place where kids can be themselves.” It was affirmation of a snowballing success. Coincidentally, a parent of a frequent Bunny Ears visitor pops in to say hi while we’re talking and shares his own review: “It’s awesome, we’ve loved it here from day one.” After he leaves, we gush about the neighborhood we live and work in, a place where you can count on neighbors to say hello and lift you up at the most unexpected times.  

Bunny Ears Art House continues to grow through partnerships and collaborations with nearby schools and childcare programs. For those with creative-minded kids, we recommend taking a look at Bunny Ears’ summer camp program  for ages 5-13.  

Fusion food is frequently made on the proverbial tightrope, but Bayan Ko’s menu takes care to please fans of traditional Cuban cuisine, fans of traditional Filipino cuisine, and everyone in-between. When I ask her about the dish that “became” the prototype for Bayan Ko, Raquel offers two without hesitation: the adobo wings and the lechon, both now iconic staples under the Bayan Ko name.  

It’s been a decade or so since Raquel and Lawrence first began taking steps to turn their shared dream into reality. We talk, of course, about the decision to set down roots in Ravenswood: the space Bayan Ko is in now was the last stop on their search, but they knew it was home right away. Bayan Ko and Bayan Ko Diner are mere steps from each other, nestled by the Montrose Brown Line Station. The proximity works: Bayan Ko is the reservation-only tasting menu restaurant; the Diner, on the other hand, serves daily brunch and dinner fixings with a more relaxed Happy Hour focus.  

Both are must-try destinations for anyone who’s ever self-described as a “foodie” (and the rest of you, too, frankly). Bayan Ko’s current tasting menu highlights their evolving take on surf n’ turf, perfect for the warmer months and arrival of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Bayan Ko Diner is an evergreen pick for weekday pick-me-ups (we recommend stopping in on Tuesdays for $10 cocktails, but the specials don’t stop there).  

But their reasoning—their “why”–runs deep with community roots. Dr. Mike explains that the three originally became connected through their involvement in pockets of Chicago’s LGBTQ community. There was, from the beginning, an investment in creating spaces that feel safe and inclusive to groups who may feel unwelcome and unsafe in other establishments. This became the motivator behind BRB Aesthetics. The name has a double meaning: in addition to standing for “Beauty, Results, and Balance”, BRB also stands for “Be Right Back”, signifying comfort, safety, and loyalty.  

Clients of BRB Aesthetics Central have every reason to be loyal. What sets this place apart is attention to detail, quality care, and top-of-the-line equipment. These are practitioners with their clients’ best interests at heart; protocols and precautions are taken very seriously, and each client receives a complimentary consultation and personalized care suggestions upfront.  

Finding Ravenswood was a “happy accident”, and they couldn’t be happier with how things have turned out. It’s a diverse and thriving neighborhood that manages never to feel overcrowded, and proximity to both the Brown Line and Ravenswood Metra Station enable easy visits for clients all over. BRB Aesthetics is growing quickly: starting May 4, the med spa will be open daily from 9am-6pm, and current and potential clients should be on the lookout for new products and services.