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February 2024 by Sam H.
It seems like my parents and I have been shopping here regularly for many years. We go here as a supplement to our regular grocery shopping to buy the Filipino goodies we can't find at the grocery, like sweet spaghetti sauce, certain seafood, and pan de sal that puts most American dinner rolls to shame. My favorite part of the store is the unit you see immediately upon entering the store. It is directly across the cash register. On that unit, they usually put out delicious take-away foods for sale. It's like going to one of those hot food bars at the grocery except it's all Filipino food. We like picking up palabok and BBQ sticks to save for dinner. There are also other take-away selections, some of which you pick out and pack yourself potluck-style. For me personally, my favorites are the pastries. The selections change but I look forward to when they have the mixed puto (not the big slices but the little cupcake-sized variety puto of different colors inside the tin pans), the Spanish bread, and hopia. By reading the labels on each product on the aforementioned unit, you can see that this inventory is obtained from different vendors. My favorite pastries come from Christine's Bake Shop in New Jersey. This store just recently started selling Christine's products (at least I'd never noticed it before). The best product from Christine's is the pineapple hopia. Christine's also sells these "snack pack"-style items -- for example, if you don't feel like getting a whole bag of pan de sal, you can get varieties of Christine's breads sold in twos. My favorite is the ube pan de sal: two generously sized bread rolls with a delicious ube center. Take these home and pop them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. The ube center tastes so good warm although you can enjoy this snack right out of the wrapper too. Folks should know that this little market is pretty much a bodega, an independent small business version of something like a 7-11. So it's very unassuming and solidly middle class. We shop here on Sundays and sometimes we see folks still dressed up from church. A prior review of this store here on Yelp lamented that the cashier on duty at the time was not very conversational. My rebuttal to this is that one should manage their expectations when patronizing a mom and pop business of any variety. Sometimes you'll get service from chatty staff, sometimes you won't. This is a specialty store, not a general market, and honestly your best bet is to purchase what interests you; if you didn't quite find what you were looking for, you could chance making conversation with the staff to talk it out -- or simply make a polite exit. Read the room. I hope this store continues selling products from Christine's bakery. My runner up is Berkeley bakery, which I believe is also based in New Jersey. I highly recommend the Spanish bread from Berkeley bakery.
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January 2022 by Maryrose B.
This store is located in Oxon Hill, Md and in Virginia. The store in VA also offers typical Filipino food. The store is stocked with every items you need to bring you back to your roots. Staff are all helpful and attentive.
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September 2021 by Deborah Edwards
Best store ever lots of good deals and food love the fresh cook food.
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June 2021 by Jeannifer Braaten
Definitely on the go! Its close by MGM and whats awesome? Its right next to the liquor store…Awesome!! (I wish they would sell Filipino’s favorite beer- The “RED HORSE”) Prices is very reasonable. The owners are superb so nice. Thank you for that great service - 5 stars for you!!
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December 2020 by Tin Rodriguez
I called them to verify what time they close they said 7:00pm went there before 6:30 and they are closed already. So inconvenient:(
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October 2020 by Candace T.
I was very excited to try this market. A colleague brought back delicious snacks from his trip to the Philippines to visit family and I just had to have more polvoron which the clerk hesitantly pointed out to me for purchase. I absolutely love to try new things and learn more about other cultures so I attempted to engage with the clerk, Filipino woman, for suggestions of things to try. She shrugged and stated "try anything you like". Realizing she clearly missed that point of my inquiry I asked what were some of her favorite things and if had any suggestionsof things I could try. She smiled and stated, "I like all kinds of things". Okay... So much for that. I purchased my polvoron (ordered and shipped to the store from the Philippines - she did find it in heart to share this tidbit with me) and left. Today, I went back to the store because I noticed that they sell spicy Korean noodles I like. I didn't see any kimchi flavored noodles so I asked the clerk "Do you have kimchi flavored Korean noodles?" to which she replied "We don't sell kimchi." I asked the question again now pointing at the shelf and the clerk came around to look and said "oh you meant the noodles, no we don't." I asked when they would be in and the clerk asked another employee of the store the same question I asked her and the woman responded just as the clerk did, that they don't sell kimchi. Perplexed I went to walkout but stopped to tell them of my two experiences at their store and to ask if they knew of another Filipino store in the area. The second clerk apologized that were coming off rude. WELL. THANK. YOU. Here is my issue: if some is interested in your business from which you make profit or get a paycheck and you just so happen to be in a specialty store that your culture is reflected and the highlight of the business, and someone would like to learn more 1) don't be rude and unwilling to assist 2) do people not up-sell anymore? I was asking for suggestions because I was willing to purchase and try them... CAPITAL! 3) don't be rude!
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March 2019 by Marvin L.
Great little store with all the essential Filipino cooking ingredients. I do like the Filipino bake goods such as ensimada, ube rolls, tiny cakes, etc. also fresh vegetables in the back cooler. The Philippine brand can goods are available - ligo, 555, mama sita, and many more. The location is a bit sketchy so try to avoid in the evening.
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February 2019 by Mai Tai
Great place. Filipino friend turned me on to it.
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September 2018 by Fog runr
Friendly and helpful slice of the Philippines!
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August 2018 by Pearl W.
I love going to pick up some authentic Filipino ingredients! It's a good size store with everything you need from seasonings, to toiletries, and pandesal. Come check it out.
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January 2018 by Philippe Ablain
Nice place I used to go...
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October 2017 by Tangerine Washington
The employees are nice but I've gotten items before with the expiration date removed.
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March 2016 by Eve gernale
A great place to buy variety of filipino goods.
