Merienda Café Menu (Update 2025)

Welcome to Merienda Café, a delightful culinary gem nestled at 1822 E Belvidere Rd, Grayslake, IL. This charming café specializes in Filipino-inspired comfort food that’s sure to tantalize your taste buds. Their menu is a celebration of both sweet and savory, featuring standout items like Sticky Rice with Coconut Cream and the indulgent Ube Cheesecake Cinnaroll. For those craving appetizers, the Crispy Tofu Bites and Lumpiang Shanghai offer flavorful bites that perfectly embody the spirit of merienda, or snack time.

On weekends, their exciting Pop-Up Menu showcases traditional Filipino dishes, including Pigar-Pigar Silog and Korean La Galbi Silog. Each dish promises authentic flavors that transport you straight to the Philippines. Diners rave about the generous portions and the friendly service, making every visit a warm and welcoming experience. Stop by Merienda Café; you won’t be disappointed!

Weekend Pop-Up Menu: Limited

Pigar-Pigar Silog (Ribeye Steak)

Pigar-pigar means flip-flip/ stir-stir. This is a known dish from Owner/ Exec. Chef Cherry Ann’s hometown in Pangasinan, Philippines. Sautéed tender velvety slices of ribeye steak, with onions, cabbage, garlic, soy and other seasonings. Comes with choice of rice, side and your way egg.

$21.95

Thu- Sun Limited: Tocino Glazed Fried Chicken Wings & Rice

5 pcs of crispy jumbo fried chicken wings. Seasoned, lightly battered & doubled fried. Dipped in sweet & savory tocino sauce. Comes with a side of white rice.

$17.95

Not ‘Yo Mama’s Bistek Tagalog Sando

Seasoned with in-house Filipino “Bistek Tagalog” sauce, Philly style 8 Oz. beef ribeye steak, sautéed with mushrooms, onions, red bell peppers, melted cheese. Hugged in french bread. Comes with a side of crispy fries & side aioli.

$20.95

Korean La Galbi Silog (Limited Fri-Sun)

Fire grilled to perfection, marinated with in-house sauce, beef short ribs, cut across the bone and other seasonings. Garnished with roasted sesame and green onions. Comes with choice of rice, egg and side. *Contains allergen: Sesame, soy with wheat.

$22.95

Limited Fri-Sun: Pork Bbq Skewers Silog

Filipino “baboy” pork bbq skewers (3) comes with choice of rice, your way egg & choice of available side.

$17.95

Atchara Salad (VG & GF)

Sweet & tarty pickled green papaya salad, carrots, red bell peppers, ginger with mixed green spring salad topped with diced cucumbers, diced mango and topped with edible flower.

$4.95

Crispy Tofu Bites (5 Skewers)

*contains allergens wheat & soy.

$8.95

Lumpiang Shanghai/ Mini Fried Pork Eggrolls)

Crispy mini Filipino fried eggrolls: Ground pork, mixed with carrots, onions, garlic & seasoned. *Contains eggs & soy. Wrapper contains milk & wheat.

$8.95

Shrimp Siomai (Steamed 10 Mini Dumplings)

Comes with choice of in-house chili garlic oil or sweet chili sauce.

$12.95

Pampagana Merienda “Appetizers”

Masamit ya Merienda “Sweet snacks”

Taho (Silken Tofu With Optional Syrup & Boba)

GF & VG Silken tofu with brown sugar and boba.

$1.00

Sticky Rice (VG, GF & DF)

Comes with coconut cream. Contains coconut (tree nut.)

$6.95

Milk Chocochip Cheesecake Cinnaroll (Good For 2)

*Contains allergens: milk/ dairy, eggs, wheat and soy.

$7.25

Ube Cinnamonroll (Good For 2)

Made with our in-house ube halaya (ube yam jam) & comes with a side of ube cream. *Contains eggs, wheat, tree nut (coconut.)

$7.25

Ube Crookie

Freshly baked croissant, filled & topped with ube & white chocolate cookies.

$7.95

Ube Cheesecake (Good For 2)

Allergens: Contains milk/ dairy, coconut (tree nut,) soy & wheat.

$7.95

Halo-Halo “Mix-Mix” Shaved Ice

Halo halo means mix mix, shaved ice. Ube halaya (house made sweet purple yam cooked into a jam,) nata de coco/ coconut jelly, palm fruit, sweetened milk, shaved ice, topped with choice of ice cream, & pinipig (crispy rice.) *Contains tree nut coconut, milk/dairy/ eggs.

$3.50

Scoop Of Filipino Ice Cream

$4.50

Matcha Cream With Fresh Strawberries Croissant

$7.95

Tapsilog (Beef Ribeye Steak)

8 oz of tender & savory, seared soy & garlic marinated sliced ribeye steak. Comes with a choice of rice, side & egg. *Allergens: Wheat with soy and eggs.

$21.95

Bulgogi Silog (Beef)

Marinated beef steak strips with our in-house bulgogi marinade. Seared with onions, garnished with green onions & sesame. *Contains sesame & soy with wheat.

$20.45

Tocilog (Pork)

Marinated pork, braised with some caramelized ends. Comes with choice of white rice or garlic fried rice, atchara salad & filipino way sunny side eggs. *contains soy, wheat & egg

$19.45

Adobo Ribs Silog (Pork)

Braised, then deep fried Filipino adobo ribs, drizzled in house made adobo sauce then garnished. Comes with choice of rice & choice of egg. Comes with choice of side.

$18.45

(GF) Sisig Bangus Silog (SPICY Philippines Fish “Milkfish)

Sautéed shredded milkfish, with peppers, onions and seasonings. Comes with choice of rice &. side. Topped with your way egg.

$18.95

(GF) Bangsilog (Filipino Fish Called “Milkfish” Fried)

Comes with choice of side of white or garlic fried rice. Choice of side of sunny side up egg. Choice of soup of the day or atchara salad, whichever is available.*Contains eggs, wheat, soy, fish. *Special request for preference, extra crispy.

$18.45

(GF) Shrimpsilog

Choice of mild or spicy shrimp, sautéed in-house spicy or sauteed with crispy garlic l. Choice of white rice or garlic fried rice, topped with choice of egg. Comes with a side of atchara (pickled green papaya,) or soup of the day, whichever is available. *Contains shellfish, egg & dairy/ milk.

$19.45

(GF) Spamsilog (5 Slices Of Crispy Spam)

Crispy slices of spam meal. Comes with choice of garlic fried rice or white rice & choice of sunny side up egg, over easy egg, hard boiled egg or over hard egg. Comes with choice of fresh fruit salad of the day, atchara salad (pickled green papaya) or soup of the day, whichever is currently available.) *Contains egg & salad contains fish.

$15.45

(GF) Cbsilog (Filipino Style Corned Beef)

Filipino corn beef, sautéed with garlic, onions & tomatoes.Comes with choice of garlic fried rice or white rice & choice of egg. Comes with choice of atchara salad (pickled green papaya with mixed green salad) or soup of the day, whichever is currently available.) *Atchara may contain fish sauce.

$16.45

Fri-Sun Limited: FMBBQ Silog (Chicken) 25 Min

Sweet & savory, fire grilled Filipino chicken BBQ. Side choice of rice, topped with a your way fried egg & atchara salad (pickled green papaya mixed with cucumber, mangoes, carrots and ginger) or pancit bihon or soup of the day, whichever is available. *contains soy with wheat.

$19.45

3 Chicken Wings Rice Bowl

3 pieces of jumbo fried chicken wings, side of your way rice and egg.

$15.45

Panangan “Meals” (Silogs)

Loaded Fries

Crispy Tofu Loaded Fries With Vegan Aioli

Crispy fries, topped with crispy tofu & drizzled with mixed roasted garlic, avocado & dry seasonings. Option to add shredded cheese, choice of egg & spice level on aioli.

$16.95

Loaded Fries ( Cheese Mayo Aioli)

$12.95

Fri-Sun Limited: FMBBQ Loaded Fries (Chicken) - 25 Min

Marinated Filipino manok/ chicken thighs barbecue, loaded fries. Chicken tender with Filipino bbq sauce, crispy fries, topped with white cheese, eggs, drizzled in-house made aioli sauce, eggs your way & garnished with green onions. Contains soy with wheat. Aioli contains eggs.

$17.95

Tapa Loaded Fries (Beef)

Crispy fries, layered with shredded cheese, mayo aioli, seared sliced beef ribeye steak (marinated with our in house soy-garlic,) egs your way and garnished with crispy garlic & green onions.

$21.45

Bulgogi Loaded Fries (Beef)

Crispy fries topped with slices of beef (marinated with our in-house bulbogi sauce,) garnished with sesame seeds and mayo aioli sauce. Contains soy with wheat, eggs & sesame.

$18.95

Tocino Loaded Fries (Pork) - Full Order

Crispy Cut Fries with our Sweet Tocino, Melted Monterey Jack, topped with Crispy Creamy Egg and Sriracha Mayo.

$19.45

Shrimp Loaded Fries (Shellfish) - Full Order

Crispy fries topped with sautéed shrimp in butter, garlic and minced veggies, peppers and spices. Drizzled with aioli sauce.

$19.45

Adobo Ribs Loaded Fries (Pork) - Full Order

Crispy fries topped with fried Filipino adobo ribs, drizzled in house made adobo sauce & with in-house aioli then garnished with crispy garlic & green onions. Topped with 2 your way eggs.*Contains eggs, dairy/milk, soy with wheat.

$16.95

CB “Corned Beef” Loaded Fries

$14.95

Limited: Sisig Bangus Loaded Fries (Spicy Philippines’ Fish Called Milkfish)

Marinated milkfish with citrus, vinegar, labuyo (Philippines chili peppers) and dry seasonings. Choice of aioli and your way egg. *May be spicy to individuals.

$18.95

Korean BBQ Fried Chicken Wings

6pcs. Seasoned, choice of lightly breaded/ not battered, doubled fried jumbo chicken wings. Glazed in house made sweet & savory Korean bbq sauce, garnished with sesame seed & green onions. Choice of regular spicy (mild) or extra spicy. *Sauce contains soy with wheat, sesame, chili peppers & soy. *Batter is gluten-free & egg-free.

$14.95

Calamansi Glazed Wings (6 Pcs)

Lightly battered or not battered, seasoned, double fried. Then tossed in house-made sweetened calamansi sauce (Filipino citrus.). *Batter is gluten-free & egg-free.

$14.95

Salt ‘N Pepper Breaded Jumbo Fried Chicken Wings (6 Pcs)

Lightly battered/ breaded or not battered/ breaded, well seasoned, double fried chicken wings. Then tossed in salt, peppers, jalapeños, onions & dry seasonings. *Batter is gluten-free & egg-free.

$14.95

Adobo Glazed Jumbo Fried Wings

6 breaded, double fried then glazed with our in-house Filipino adobo sauce! *Sauce contains soy with wheat.

$14.95

Regular Jumbo Fried Chicken Wings (6 Pcs) Lightly Battered

Lightly battered and seasoned. Double fried to golden for that crispiness, on each bite.

$13.95

“Lechon” Manok Kawali/ Fried Chicken Wings (6 Pcs) Well Seasoned Not Battered

Double fried jumbo chicken wings, well seasoned. Not breaded/ battered.

$14.45

Spicy Calamansi Glazed Wings (*Sauce Not GF)

$14.95

Wing Sampler Flight (9 Pcs Of Jumbo Wings)

9 pcs of fried jumbo chicken wings, choice of 3 sauce flavors. Choice of either breaded or not breaded/ naked. For Kbbq please specify special instructions.)

$19.95

Jumbo Fried Chicken Wings (always 2x fried, takes up to 20 minutes)

Pancit “Noodles”

Side Pancit Bihon

Stir fried rice noodles topped with mixed veggies. *Contains soy & wheat. Call if need gluten free option.

$8.95

Pancit Bihon (*Good For 1)

Rice noodles (*GF) pan seared with calamansi, garlic, cabbage, julienne mixed veggies and seasonings. *Request for gluten-free, if desired.

$10.45

Pancit Bihon (Good For 2)

Rice noodle pan stir fried noodles with garlic, seasonings, mixed cabbage, carrots, green beans, seasoned and with calamansi. (*fishball contains eggs as binder) *May request for gluten-free, if desired.

$1.50

Pancit Bihon W/ Canton

Mixed Pancit Bihon (rice noodles) with Canton Pancit (wheat noodles) seasoned, and topped with mixed sautéed garlic, carrots, green beans, celery and cabbage. *Contains wheat & soy with wheat. Vegan option available.

$1.50

Pancit Canton- Wheat Noodles

Vegan option available.

$1.50

Sotanghon Sopas (GF & Veggies Only)

Slow cooked broth with aromatics and 5 spices with mung beans noodles.

$4.95

Arroz Caldo/ Ginger Rice Congee

Smooth and soothing rice soup/ congee/ porridge. Cooked with freshly minced ginger, onions, garlic, perfectly seasoned. *Option on the side of fish sauce, available per request.

$3.95

Sinigang Cooked With Beef Bone Marrow

Slowly cooked in tamarind, aromatics, tomatoes, bachoy, green beans, broccoli.

$2.95

Chicken Sopas (Dairy Free)

In-house chicken stock to make this delightful macaroni chicken soup. Made with cabbage, peas, carrots & aromatics. Dairy free & no fish sauce added. Option for additional charge, request for Filipino version, side of patis (fish sauce) and evaporated milk. Or topped with sliced hard boiled egg.

$0.50

Mungo (Mung Beans With Taro Leaves)

Made with aromatics from ginger, garlic, onions, dry seasonings, tomatoes, taro leaves, mung beans, for that warm green goodness.

$3.95

Fri-Sun: Sabaw “Soup”

Pancakes & More: Sat & Sun open-2pm

(3) Ube Biscoff Pancakes

3 fluffy ube pancakes stacked. Each layers topped with creamy ube butter, macapuno (coconut string jam,) Biscoff cookie crumbs. Comes with a side of maple syrup & seasonal fruit. *contains wheat, tree nut (coconut,) soy & milk/ dairy.

$17.95

(3) Ube Pancakes

3 ube pancakes, layered with ube whipped cream cheese butter, with macapuno and side of maple syrup. Comes with a side of seasonal fruit. *Contains wheat, tree nut (coconut,) milk, egg and may contain soy.

$17.95

(2) Ube Pancakes With Side Of Egg & Seasonal Fruit

2 in-house ube pancakes, topped with creamy ube butter & macapuno (sweet coconut jam.) Comes with a side of your way egg and side of seasonal fruit.

$17.95

(3) Buttermilk Pancakes

Soft & fluffy 3 buttermilk hotcakes/ pancakes with sliced butter, side of maple syrup & seasonal fruit. *Contains wheat, eggs, milk & may contain soy.

$15.95

(3) Matcha Tea Pandan Pancakes

Soft, fluffy, melt in your mouth pancakes, with premium matcha green tea & pandan flavor. Comes with creamy ube butter, maple syrup and topped with crushed Oreos, toasted shredded coconut, slices of bananas. *Contains eggs, soy, wheat & milk/ dairy, tree-nut (coconut.)

$17.95

Croffles (Croissant Waffles)

Imagine having your 2 favorite snack/ breakfast at the same time. Croissant & waffles. Crispy and soft Croffles, choice of flavor,

$0.75

Coming Soon! (2) Chicken & Croffles With Side Fries

Why not have both croissant & waffles, smashed together croffles? 2 lightly breaded, perfectly seasoned, fried to perfection, chicken thighs, hugged in these hot cheesy croffles, topped with your-way egg, drizzled in honey Siracha, to give it a little kick of sweet & spice. Comes with a side of fries.

$18.70

Coming Soon! Bibingkanisa Hotcakes (2)

Soft, fluffy, buttery hotcakes, topped with slices of salted egg & Filipino sliced cheddar cheese with 2 pcs of skinless pork longanisa (sweet & savory pork sausage.)

$17.95

COMING SOON! Mochi Pancakes (3) Topped With Cloud Cream & Fruits

*GF Allergen: contains eggs.

$18.95

Side Adobo Pork Ribs

$8.95

Side Bulgogi (Beef)

$10.95

Side Beef Tapa (Ribeye)

Side of slices of beef ribeye marinated then seared, topped with garnishes. *Contains soy and wheat.

$11.95

Side Tocino (Pork)

Marinated sweet pork, braised and seared with caramelized / burnt ends.. *Contains soy, wheat.

$9.95

Side Atchara Salad/ Papaya Salad GF

GF. Pickled Green Papaya Salad on top of a bed of baby arugula, topped with Cucumber and Mango.

$4.95

Side Bangus: Fried 1/2 Fish GF

GF. Marinated and fried milkfish.

$9.95

Side Egg Your-Way

Specify your-way egg.

$2.00

Side Garlic Fried Rice (GF)

$3.00

Side White Rice GF

$2.00

Side Shrimp GF (9 Pcs)

May contain chili peppers, Filipino spicy level (5 of 10.) May special request no peppers, just sautéed.

$8.95

Side Spam (5 Slices) GF

$6.95

Side Fries

$5.75

Sides

POP-UP Drink Specials

Matcha Latte W/Banana Foam

Made with fresh strawberries, freshly brewed organic oolong or black tea, wholemilk, sweetened & topped with cheesecake crema. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Strawberry Cheesecake

$0.50

Shirley Temple Pink Calamansi

$6.95

Ube Matcha

$7.75

Dragonfruit Matcha Latte

$7.75

Buko Pandan Latte (Pandan Flavor With Shredded Coconut & Coconut Sugar)

$5.75

Chaga Chai

$0.50

Masala Chai

$0.50

Turon Latte

In-house made turon puree. (Sweetened plantains with jckfruit and sweetened.)

$0.50

Ube VANILLA Chai Latte

$5.75

Ube Latte

Made with locally roasted coffee beans, brewed freshly with our in-house ube halaya (jam.).

$0.50

Latte

Milk Teas

Ube Milk Tea

Freshly made in-house ube jam, lightly sweetened, vegan. Freshly brewed organic oolong tea leaves, wholemilk and sweetened. *Contains coconut (tree nut.) An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Black Milk Tea

Made with freshly brewed organic oolong tea leaves, wholemilk, sweetened. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Peach Milk Tea

Made with freshly brewed peach tea, wholemilk, sweetened. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Brown Sugar Milk Tea

Made with freshly brewed organic oolong or Thai black tea, wholemilk, sweetened with brown sugar syrup. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Thai Milk Tea

Made with freshly brewed Thai tea, wholemilk, sweetened. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Chai Milk Tea Hot

Made with Rishi chaga chai tea, wholemilk, sweetened. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Masala Chai Milk Tea

Made with Rishi Masala Chai tea, wholemilk, sweetened. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Matcha Latte W/Banana Foam

Made with fresh strawberries, freshly brewed organic oolong or black tea, wholemilk, sweetened & topped with cheesecake crema. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Strawberry Matcha Milk Tea

Made with fresh strawberries, sweetened matcha, wholemilk. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Matcha Milk Latte

Made with organic Japanese matcha, wholemilk, sweetened. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Strawberry Milk Tea

$0.50

Lychee Milk Tea

$0.50

OOLONG Black Tea (Earl Green)

$0.50

Rose Milk Tea

$0.50

Ube Milk Tea Cap

Freshly made ube jam / ube halaya, not powder.

$0.50

Ube Latte Milk Cap

$0.50

Turon Latte Milk Cap

Freshly made plantain & jackfruit purées, not powder.

$0.50

Matcha Milk Tea Cap

Organic Japanese matcha by Rishi.

$0.50

Mango Smoothie Milk Cap

Made with fresh mangos, no powder.

$0.50

Peach Tea Milk Cap

Organic peach tea freshly brewed.

$0.50

Milk Cap Drinks

Smoothies

Mango Smoothie

Made with fresh mango, wholemilk, sweetened. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Ube Smoothie

Made with freshly made in-house ube jam (vegan,) wholemilk, sweetened. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Avocado Smoothie

Made with fresh avocado, wholemilk, sweetened. An option to choose plant based milk & add toppings/ syrups to customize to your liking, for small charge on each option(s) selected.

$0.50

Strawberry Smoothie

$0.50

Matcha Smoothie

$0.50

Thai Green Tea (Cold & Ask For Sweet Option)

Organic tea by Rishi.

$5.75

Thai Green Tea (Hot & Ask For Sweet Option)

$4.25

Ginger Tea (Cold & Ask For Sweetness Level

$5.75

Ginger Tea (Hot & Ask For Sweetness Level)

$4.25

Hot Calamansi Juice

$4.25

Oolong Tea (Cold & Ask For Sweetness Level)

Organic tea made by Rishi, brewed freshly.

$5.50

Oolong Tea (Hot & Ask For Sweetness Level)

$4.25

Peach Tea (Cold & Ask For Sweetness Level)

Organic tea made by Rishi, freshly brewed.

$5.75

Peach Tea (Hot & Ask For Sweetness Level)

$4.25

Tea Drinks

Brewed coffee (Cold / Hot)

Coldbrew Coffee - Unsweetened Decaf

Locally roasted fresh coffee beans, by a small Filipino-owned roaster. Then we freshly ground & brew fresh coffee daily.

$0.50

Coldbrew Coffee - Unsweetened Caffeinated

Locally roasted fresh coffee beans, by a small Filipino-owned roaster. Then we freshly ground & brew fresh coffee daily.

$0.50

Espresso (Single Shot)

Locally roasted fresh coffee beans, by a small Filipino-owned roaster. Then we freshly ground & brew fresh coffee daily.

$3.50

Espresso (Double Shot)

Locally roasted fresh coffee beans, by a small Filipino-owned roaster. Then we freshly ground & brew fresh coffee daily.

$4.50

Decaf Hot Coffee

Locally roasted fresh coffee beans, by a small Filipino-owned roaster. Then we freshly ground & brew fresh coffee daily.

$3.50

Caffeinated Hot Coffee

Locally roasted fresh coffee beans, by a small Filipino-owned roaster. Then we freshly ground & brew fresh coffee daily.

$3.50

3 Shots Of Espresso Over Ice

Locally roasted coffee beans, freshly grounded in-house and brewed.

$5.95

Cappuccino/LATTE

$4.75

Hot Cocoa

$4.95

Milk

$2.95

Apple Juice

$2.00

Coconut Juice (1 Can)

$3.95

Guava Juice (1 Can)

Caffeinated & carbonated cold soda.

$2.95

Pineapple Juice (1 Can)

$2.95

Milky Carbonated Drink (1 Can)

No caffeine.

$2.95

Pop/ Soda - 1 Can No Refills

Caffeinated & carbonated soda.

$2.95

Original Calamansi Juice

$6.25

Pink Calamansi

$5.50

Mango Juice

Made with real sweet mangoes.

$6.50

Mango Slush

Real mangos, no powder.

$6.50

Filipino Sago Gulaman Drink: Iced Brown Sugar, Banana Flavor, Green Grass Jelly & Boba

$6.75

Lychee Peachymansi

Lychee with freshly brewed peach tea and calamansi juice.

$6.50

Peachy Strawberry Mansi

Refreshing fresh brewed peach tea, diced mangos, shaken with some ice & pink calamansi.

$6.50

Sunrisemansi

Real fruits & calamansi juice, lightly sweetened, unless specially requested no additional sweetener.

$6.25

Shirley Temple

Watermelon flavored calamansi (calamansi is Philippines’ lemon/ lime.)

$5.50

Malamig/COLD Drinks & Refreshers