Unimart
We went to the neighborhood Filipino Store today. If there's one thing that Chicago is not lacking of, it's the Filipino grocery store, that also includes a small eatery very much like a turo-turo, only way more expensive. People spend a lot of money for ordinary carinderia food like adobo, bistek, bopis, and the like. Unfortunately these American facsimiles usually pale by comparison; while the meat is generally more tender, there is a certain flavor lacking, and they're almost always much too oily or greasy.
Despite its being a beacon of nostalgia for homesick Filipinos, entering a Filipino store is like entering a whole new world entirely. The smell is deceptive; the fresh fish fits in Nepa Q Mart as it does in a Filipino Store as well. But everything else is different.
In this alternate universe, Ligo sardines is a much-vied for imported delicacy. Authentic tender juicy hotdogs are hard to find. Good luck finding danggit, because only a few stores supply this Cebuano specialty.
Names are altered as well. Biscocho becomes "Biscotti". Fried kropek becomes "Crevettes". Lapu-lapu fish is simply called grouper. And perhaps the funniest name replacement goes to macapuno, which becomes "Gelatinous Mutant Coconut". Also, it seems that most Filipino stores have an unspoken rule that they must be called "Unimart". If not, they are called nondescript "Asian Stores" or "Oriental Marts".
Most stores also have remittance centers on one side. A friendly reminder for the OFWs to sned money to their loved ones back home. Sometimes, there are booths set up for people who want to subscribe to The Filipino Channel (TFC). Funny how people pay so much to watch inane Filipino TV programming. But that's the way it goes. Nostalgia is an expensive commodity.