RiceBox at RC Oriental Outlet Store

So Lechon kawali’s skin isn’t crunchy – I repeatedly told/​asked the guy I want crunchy and make sure it’s not stale, otherwise I don’t want it/what’s the point. Alas, I’m here in the store poking at the chopped meat and it’s stale. Whatever fine we’ll pay for it.

I am completely biased about this review, just a warning.
They have a new owner and I can see that they are renovating and trying to fix everything that was not working for this place. The place looks a lot more inviting and cleaner. They have a quicker service and better payment methods. They also now Lotto/​Scratch tickets!
The food is still delicious and I love that they are adding different things in their store. I love the new Crinkles and other new packaged goods. I especially love their halo-​halo catering style! They have a great design and it has perfect proportions for each ingredient in it.
If you are looking for a new Filipino restaurant/​grocery, this place is a must go-​to!

RC Oriental’s food quality has gone down. And you know it’s bad when my family asks me to write this review.
Ordered one of my favorites, tocino, and it’s just loaded with fat. I barely see any meat. I mean, I know Filipino food can be fatty but this is just… FAT.
Seeing the number of failed Filipino establishments on my list, I hope RC can pull it together.

Walking up to this place I was skeptical. Walking to the back for the cooked food and looking at it, still skeptical. Brought it home and ate it and I am a HUGE fan. Mmm the pork adobo was great. The pancit bihon delicious!
The food is delcious and I am definately going back to try some more!

A great little store that carries all of my Filipino cooking needs. And it doesn’t hurt that I can pick up delicious carry-​out food as well. The prices are great and the selection fits my needs! I just wish they were closer — I only come every blue moon to stock up on sauces, spices and treats!

i like the pancit and the bangos (milk fish) here!
grab and go!

I was going to meet Michelle J. for dinner in Skokie and told her I had to stop by Unimart to pick up some Balikbayan boxes — she then told me that RC sells them too. Bless her heart as she called them for me to check the prices ($ 3.29 vs. Unimart’s $ 3.99) and the store hours (they close at 8pm). I went to RC when it was already dark out, so I drove past and missed it as the storefront wasn’t lit and had to go in a few circles before realizing it was in the plaza.
I walked into the store and did a quick walk around in the small store, jam packed with all the Filipino/​Asian yummies, and didn’t see the Balikbayan boxes, so I walked to the counter and asked for it. A man walked out the front door to some secret storage space and came back with the boxes I needed. I paid for them (along with two bags of Jack ‘n Jill potato chips that are my absolute favourite and thus couldn’t resist) and, without asking, he picked the boxes back up and carried them to my car for me!
Granted RC is tiny, and since I went there just for the boxes, I didn’t do a thorough inspection of the selection of items available, but I must say that customer service is impeccable — I was in and out so quickly. Besides, you cannot beat non-​Filipinos working there who were speaking better Tagalog than yours truly!

good place to grab snacks of the homeland…
Their fried tilapia is the bomb-​diggity too…

First off-​the location. Its next to a Long John silvers and next door to a GREAT Korean prepared food store, and across the street from Wholly Frijoles.
The only thing keeping it from getting a 5 star rating is that it is too far from me and too small! they have all the staple Flip grocery items, but the true gem is in the back-​the take out.
Unlike many Filipino restaurants in the Chicago area, they aren’t greasy or over cooked. I hate squishy vegetables! The flavor is out of control-​and beyond fresh. If you see it, get it, cuz it ain’t gonna be there later. When they’re out they’re OUT. I worked at a hospital (ok-​so I’m ½ Filipino and a Nurse. Get over it) and every time there was even a remote excuse for a party, I was required to pick up the lumpia. These are tiny little eggrolls-​also called Lumpia Shanghai. Some things they have frequently, like some kind of fish. Usually fried. The Bangus here (open, flat and garlicky) is crazy good. The good thing about Flip food is that there are alot of stews and braised dishes that hold up well. So go ahead and get a few things and keep the left overs for your Baon (lunch tomorrow.) ok, thats probably spelled wrong, but you get it.
They have the yummy ice cream flavors that only Filipinos would have. Ube (purple yam) is my personal favorite. Halo Halo mix which is one of out national desserts, Langka, a fruit that is found abundantly in the PI, and a young coconut to name a few. Kinda pricey-​as it is everywhere since it is imported from the PI, and packed in a tin.
Also present is a substantial baked goods section by the counter. Pan de sal-​our breakfast or dinner roll. And the garlic peanuts.. . YUM Empanadas are usually pretty good. If you see a three colored triangle shaped concoction on the counter, try it. Its made out of rice flour, ube is the purple layer, but I can’t remember what the other 2 colors are-​but very different from anything you may have tried.
There is a small fresh produce section that is appreciated, so you don’t have to go elsewhere for the specialty veggies that most grocery stores don’t have, like long beans or banana flowers. They carry the famous Queso de bola, a Gouda-​esque cheese that is a staple. They also carry fresh longaniza. A heart attack waiting to happen if eaten frequently. Its our breakfast meat of choice, and is a flavorful pork sausage in natural casing. Essential for a truly authentic Flip breakfast with garlic rice and a fried egg. They also have Chorizo de Bilbao, another hard to find ingredient. Its Spanish style chorizo, not the the soft Mexican version that you are used to, it resembles a softer salami.
Snack section-​with so many chip options it boggles the mind. And there are also a few pulutan choices (snacks that you eat with beer) I like the tiny fried fishies flavored with either teriyaki or spicy something or other. And they have Calamansi juice soft drinks or the pure calamansi in packets to make your own (which I prefer-​Filipinos have a tendency to make the drinks too sweet) Calamansi is like a cross between lemon/​orange/​lime. But not. It’s citrus, and native to the islands I believe. A must try.
Judging from this review, you would think I owned the place-​but alas just a HUGE Fan.. .