Ian Mae Oriental Store - Niles, IL The BEST fresh egg rolls: made daily and perfect for parties/potlucks (just order in advance if you need a lot ). Their chicken + pork kabobs are marinated to perfection, grilled on a stick, and taste just like Filipino BBQ 5/5 Always hits the spot, super affordable, and such a hidden gem for authentic Filipino food! Check out my food review page on Instagram for the full review! @ratedbyaleena read more

Ian Mae's a hit or miss. They'll have the food ready like the lumpia shanghai or bangus, and sometimes they'll sell out. The customer service is great though and they let ubknow if they'll have more food on the shelf or if they sell out. The inside is like any food market, small and cramped. read more

We have used Ian Mae for parties over the years. Very good quality and we will be coming back for many more years.

This is the only place for good turon - won't buy anywhere else. And their suman is solid.

I've been vacillating between a 3 or 4 stars for Ian Mae. This is a mom and pop place and although certain Items are consistent - like their rice cakes (puto), lumpia Shanghai (mini pork egg rolls), Turon (banana egg rolls), pork show pow (large baos) - their other items, not too much. The veggie egg rolls have been lacking veggies or seemed a bit soggy. As for their hot meals, they couldn't compare in taste to Ruby's fast food. But I still keep coming back for more, due to my sweet tooth. Maybe I'll just concentrate on their desserts and that'll help me manage my expectations. read more

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Great place. I ordered a tray of egg rolls and they were a great price and the taste was great. They had my order already ready when I got there. They also have other groceries if you need any. read more

Their food has always been well cooked and very tasty. We wished there would be more vegetable dishes or stews like sinigang or tinola. Overall it's an excellent Filipino eatery specializing in our native desserts. read more

I have been going here for years for lumpia and turon (and cassava cake and pancit!). The food is always good and fresh. I always pick up my coconut gel and such for fruit salad from here when I stop by. A good shop for your Asian/Filipino food needs. read more

We have been going to this Filipino store for years and sometimes it is just enough food for the 2 of us, but other times it is a much larger food order for family gatherings. We love the turon, skewers, egg rolls, and veggie rolls. read more

My mom made an order and was told the total including tax will be $36. She insisted on paying ahead of time but they wouldn't let her. When we came to pick up the order, the total including tax came to be $54.19. Whomever took the order neglected to include the cost of the Shanghai Lumpia, hence why the price was increased when we picked up the order. I haven't tried the food yet, so I'm not going to post about the quality of the food yet. I'll make an edit after I tried the dishes we ordered. read more

Has been my family's go-to Filipino store where we can shop for a variety of things from a quick drink or snack, to dinner, to a missing ingredient, Ian Mae has a lot to offer. The staff is also very friendly and welcoming. I also tend to order occasional catering from them, and sometimes offer deals during holidays. read more

NOT RETURNING TO THIS PLACE !! let me start by saying I'VE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER for years. today like any other days , I went to get some pork bbq because that's what ive always gotten from them along side a veggie egg roll. I went home and took a bite and to my surprise the pork bbq was SO DRY ( Dryer than a chicken bbq) that I thought it was Chicken Bbq! I called and told who I think the owner is about it and she told me to come back. When I showed her the bbq, she confirmed that it was pork and I told her that it's not because it's so dry. I even showed her the meat. I asked if I could grab another piece that might've had more fat so it could balance the dryness of the meat and she said, " we can't do that because it's not our fault." And to my response, it is your fault. First and foremost you're responsible of letting returning customers KNOW if certain recipes are no longer the same because customers like myself come back because I know what to expect and what I'm getting. The owner later on said in front of another customer that they did TOOK OF THE FAT which again is changing the old recipe. I am EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED about the poor customer service from a place I've gone to for years. I am NOT GOING BACK to that place knowing that they can't even accommodate a patron request for something that is their fault . Anyways, DONT GET THEIR HELLA DRY PORK BBQ! You're better off grabbing a chicken , it'll be more juicy than the pork. read more

Ian Mae Oriental Store - Grocery Near Me - Niles, Illinois

Bets place for lottery tickets and you gotta get the egg rolls omg they are to die for

I like coming here for pancit, lumpia, and other pastry deserts. The workers are very friendly and explain to me what I am getting. I will definitely come back again when I am in the area. read more

You talk about Psychotic owners. I have been here before I will never go back again. I was taking pictures for my Yelp review and the owner asked me what I was doing. I mentioned that I Yelp businesses that I visit. She started threatening me & said she was going to sue me & asked me to delete the pictures. I deleted the pictures & apologized. Even after this she kept up with her threats to sue me? ARE YOU KIDDING? I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THIS STORE AGAIN read more

While dining with friends recently I'd mentioned needing something tasty for a shindig. I.e. catered foods. So I was asking them for suggestions. At that moment we were dining on some lumpia shanghai rolls so my friend suggested ordering a tray. He gave me a vague idea of costs and recommended a catering shop to check out in the burbs. This is how I came to know about this place. Lumpia shanghai rolls are small finger-length pork & veggie spring rolls. He mentioned a tray with some fifty pieces would probably cost about $20 dollars. I was sold. Note: the size of these. These aren't common eggrolls from a Chinese restaurant. They are individual and the length of a small pinky finger. One person would probably devour 3-5 pieces depending on eating habits. He went on to mention they offer a full line of catered foods: like BBQ pork on a stick, popular Filipino entrees, fried pork and desserts like Turon. Turon is or can be, slices of banana and jackfruit wrapped in a spring roll wrapper and fried. The way he talked about it, I figured it would be winner. Since the food I needed was for a party with Indian family, Indian people like jackfruit, so this was a winner of an idea. Fast forward to this little shop. I peeped reviews before calling in so I had an idea of what to ask. The ordering process was easy. The person on the other end had said I could pick up the food the same day. Just give them an idea of pick-up time and then show up with payment. Later that day I was there by the estimated time. I was told they were just finishing the desserts and to wait. I guess most people picking up never arrive on time, so I was early. Per a review by Phil S., I heeded a warning not to keep my phone out while looking around the store. Apparently the owner does not like her shop to be photographed for online posting. If you saw the interior, you could probably guess why. Some shops like this tend to be a little bit... what's the word.., unkempt. Food smells, food warming lamps, food spills, because food is prepared on the premises and if not ventilated properly areas can get sticky. It's dive like, sticky floors and all that. Aside from these details, the food catering is pretty stellar. People are often coming and going. Picking up orders or stopping in to grab prepared foods. Food is kept in heated compartments. There isn't much assistance. Just grab a container and start piling on whatever you like. If you're willing and have an exploratory nature, you're in for a tasty surprise. Not mindblowing but definitely worth a taste or two. With two good catering orders under my belt, I'll keep'em in mind for the next time I am in need of a food offering. Side note: Many Filipino catering shops have pricing that is similar. A tray of these rolls are usually under $20 for approx 50 pcs. Turon can also carry a per cost of about $.30 to $.50 cents depending on their skill/popularity. read more

Ian Mae Oriental Store - Front. - Grocery Near Me - Niles, Illinois

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I've never been inside this joint, but my mom always picks up some turon on her way back home... and man this turon is awesome!!! AND YES THATS 5 STARS FOR THEIR TURON! A short description of what turon is.... Filipino turon consists of a plantain wrapped like a spring roll and then deep fried -- sort of like banana lumpia. The most common turon filling is the saba variety of banana. Jackfruit is also added as a filling. The rolls may be dusted with brown sugar before frying. I will check back and see how the rest of the store is sometime soon.... and re-review this place :) read more

The Bad: Lousy service and lousy management. My family ordered sisig on Xmas for NYE. My parents called several hours before pickup to confirm since they live far away. Upon arrival, the lady at the counter, Leti, played coy and said they didn't receive an order, nor does she remember picking up the phone. Liar - my mom even carried an order card; ruined part of my parents dinner preparations. The good: When they don't lie and serve us our orders, the food is really good, especially their sisig. read more

Okay, here is where I go to get Filipino/Asian goods. This store is a grocery, with fresh, dry, and pre-packaged selections imported from the Philippines. There is also a selection of baked goods, imported candy, and snacks. This place also offers turo- turo (prepared cooked Filipino dishes pre-packed). I usually see fried fish, fried pork chop, barbecue on a stick, and their version of a vegetable egg roll. They also offer fresh Pampangas longanisa (Filipino sausage) one of the best. There are many varieties of longanisa, but my family and I love this brand. The store also offers catering of Filipino dishes. I have ordered many times from this store and have found the Lumpia (Filipino egg roll), and the Turon ( fried plantain bananas with brown sugar wrapped in egg roll wrappers). I believe their version of the Turon also has slices of jack fruit along with the plantain bananas. Another tasty item is Pancit( noodle dish) made with chicken. These three dishes are always a hit at parties and there are never leftovers. Call first to make your order, I have never seen a "menu" of the items they make, but just ask and they try to accommodate. Prices vary depending on the size you want. They have a parking lot, but spaces are tight. They are open 7 days a week. Hours vary so call first. The space in the store is also tight, so the double stroller has to stay in the car. Enjoy! read more

If you're looking for the best turon (plantain and jackfruit eggroll in caramelized brown sugar) in the Chicago area, this is the place to buy them! Ian Mae is one of the cheapest Filipino/Asian goods stores in the Chicagoland area. Not only do they sell staples such as pancit noodles, assorted Filipino snacks, mango juice, and tropical fruits in jars, they also sell freshly cooked food such as turon, vegetable lumpia (eggrolls), chicken and pork barbecue on a stick, and other types of meat dishes. The dishes are at least $8 each, and are a good portion. I also like buying their freshly made sweets such as yema. This is also a great place to order catered Filipino food for your party. The prices aren't bad and the food comes in big pans that you can easily put into wire serving racks. The only complaint I have about this place is that they don't always have all of the tropical fruits in jars I need to make a good Filipino fruit salad. Namely, nata de coco (coconut gel). read more

Ian Mae has easily moved to the top of my list and earned the title of MY FAVORITE Filipino store. It may be small (crammed full of items) and located in a dingy strip mall, but this place is full of Filipino goodness. The variety of Filipino brands is better than what I have seen in other shops. And the variety of prepared foods is much better than other shops as well. Meat/fish pancit (noodle dishes), and different stews, all made in their kitchen. So what are the things that sealed the deal for me? Freshly made Turon (think egg rolls, but made with plantain and jack fruit filling, fried in egg roll wrapper with a sticky brown sugar glaze). My aunt's is better because she makes it without jackfruit just for me. (she spoils me) But I bet IM would make it without Jackfruit if I asked. And fresh Lechon Kawali (roasted pork belly) that comes with a super rich and mildly spicy sauce. Perfectly roasted peices of pork belly is a no-brainer. 4-5 different kinds of fish--tilapia, bangus (milk fish) and a couple others. Some fried, Some marinated and fried. Some stuffed and baked. Now we visited Sunday morning, and we were the only customers for a while. But I know the shop can get super busy. So if there's a particular item you'd like, best to call ahead if you can. They also provide catering for your parties. Hmmm. Lumpia for Super Bowl Sunday...I'm gonna get on that. read more

the hot foods and desserts is where this place shines. grocery side of things you can pick up a few snacks and packaged essentials. gets cramped on the weekends during lunch time so come early if you can. read more

This place gets 5 stars for one reason they carry ASSAM Black tea! You'll find unique Filipino products that you will never find at your local grocery store. Their Turon and BBQ chicken is amazing and reminds me of home. definitely check this place out!! read more

I love their turon the best anywhere and its only .50 cent. Egg rolls are good. Its a small store and they ran out quick, Because its good. The person who gave it 1 star for taking pictures, any store owner who sees you taking pictures won't like it. Common sense dude. read more

This is my mother-in-law's favorite place for Filipino food! They make good pancit, palabo, egg roll shanghai and more. It's a small store, but the quality of food is good. They prepared fresh food every day and only limited amounts. It's located in a street mall, so parking is not an issue. If you are interested in trying some filipino food, but don't want to pay much to eat in restaurants, this is your spot. read more

Haven't even been here ...yet, but friend of ours ordered their empanadas for their kids 1st birthday and they were so good I wanted my wife to go get 4 more of them and baon them in her purse for later, and the party just started. Lol. read more

This place has THE BEST TURON I'VE EVER HAD! For those of you who don't know what Turon is, it's an egg roll but instead of a meat and vegetable filling, it is a Filipino dessert/snack filled with plantain and jackfruit, is fried to a golden brown and has a sticky Caramelized sugar glaze on top. It's awesome. My Tita (aunt in tagalog) always makes Turon for our family parties amd one day when she couldn't make hers we decided to order from Ian Mae. Long story short that large tray of Turon was gone instantly and she even said it's better than hers. Oh & the best part is.,, the Turon is only 50 cents each! Awesome! We also come here for their Lechon Kawali. For those of you who don't know that, Lechon Kawali is Deep fried pork belly Filipino style served with a sweet and tangy pork liver sauce called Mang Tomas. Their chicken and pork barbecue sticks are good and have a good amount of meat compared to other Filipino stores/restaurants but are a little on the expensive side in my opinion. Their other prepared foods are just average. Their Pancit needs more ingredients in it. Not enough chicken, and vegetables and too much noodles. This store also has the basic things you need in you're kitchen if you're Filipino. Assorted Mama Sita cooking seasonings and sauces, different noodles for pancit, rice, Filipino canned foods, soy sauces, vinegars, coconut milk, jars of nata de coco (coconut gel), jarred filipino sweetened preserved fruits etc. They also have the Filipino snacks me and my cousins grew up eating. The refrigerator has assorted ice cold Filipino drinks. There's also always leche flan but I haven't tried it yet but hope to try soon. And my favorite... Buko Pandan (a green, creamy Filipino dessert served cool and made with shredded coconut, condensed milk, cream, coconut strings, coconut gel, and jello). They also have phone cards for when it's time to make a long distance calls to the Philippines to chit chat with your older relatives that don't know how to use Skype and facebook haha. I believe you can also send money to the Philippines from here. Point is..... Call ahead and order a tray of Ian Mae's Lechon Kawali and Turon for your next party! read more

We stopped by on our way to a beach day in Evanston. Definitely impressed by the lechon kawali and $1 rice. Even my mom was impressed when she ate our leftovers. Prices are incredibly cheap for us and wish we lived closer. Friendly service as well. My only minor complaint is that there aren't tables to sit and eat your food. But will definitely stop by again if ever in the area! read more

i love their turon! the ladies that work here are really nice and they were very accommodating during the holidays even though they are super busy filling orders. If its around the holidays, good luck calling to place an order 4/4 times i called, the lines were busy. My aunt ended up stopping by to place an order. read more

Tried some of the cooked food, so far everything was good. Kareoka and turon was excellent but one of the older ladies on the cash register was blabbing away on the phone while tending to customers often getting some things wrong. Customer service definitely needs to be seriously improved. Would have given this store 4 stars. read more

This place has the BEST turon around for a great price. Quick turn around time too! I ordered same day at 9am and was able to pick it up at noon. Pure awesomeness! Turon is a must have at Filipino parties! I can't wait to try the other food here! read more

Best Turon in Illinois! I drive 1.5 hrs for this Turon. Small grocery but very reasonable.

I know nothing about Philipino food, but I love lumpia egg rolls. We have been getting lumpia from Ian Mae for all our social gatherings. Everyone that has tried it instantly loves it. After reading all the review, I will now be going back to try turon. read more

Pork barbeque not good. It's so tigas and chewing it makes my jaw aching. It is also hilaw the pork. Don't like. They heat old food. I can tell by the taste. read more

If only I can give this place Negative stars, I would!!! Very lousy service and communication! We called to order egg rolls for pick up at 7pm, the lady confirmed that it'll be ready. When my husband came to pick it up, after driving very far and tired from work, they already sold it to someone else! Talk about business ethics and customer service!!! They did not even give us any calls that it's no longer available or any heads up! Never again will I order nor encourage any of my friends and family to order from this lousy Place!!! read more

Great little Fillipino store. My father in-law is from Manila and he LOVES this place.

We ordered food last Christmas for a New Year 's eve Family get together gathering. The woman( maybe the owner) in the counter wrote our orders In a piece of paper she just cut from somewhere and advised us to call them before picking up for confirmation. We called them and someone told us that it's ready. We live far from the store and so we have to travel for an hour to get there. At the store the owner told us she could not find our order nor that piece of paper where she wrote our order. WTF!!! Who knows where was that piece of paper! Maybe in the toilet! The thing is your special occasion was ruined because of someone's irresponsible and very lousy management! This place was just dropped out from my list! There's a lot more stores with great services that this one! read more

My parents buy food from this place and it's always good. I decided to go see this place for myself with the intent of buying tons of Filipino junk food. The place is pretty small/cramped and super dirty. I was turned off. I decided not to buy anything because I was not sure how clean the kitchen was where they prepare the food. If the store front is that dirty, makes you wonder what's in the kitchen. Yikes! read more

I love this place! The Filipino food are delicious, whatever it is. The service is excellent as well. My daughter had held a household for their church organization and we bought turon, suman, sapin-sapin in bulk even without an advance order in place. They are very accommodating and well recommended. I live about 30 minutes away and trust me, the drive is well worth it! read more

Another good reason to move to the suburb! :-) We live in Park Ridge so we're close to Niles and we frequent this little place - full of great food. We get food catered there all the time, and we've yet to be disappointed. Ian Mae rocks! :-) read more