(Chicago) – “Bagoong” (shrimp paste) rice is one of my all-time Filipino favorites. Depending on what restaurant version you are eating, “bagoong” rice is generally salty, a little sweet, sour and savory. The overall taste is strong, imposing and yet, aromatic and big in all major flavors; Perhaps, we could call it the “umami” rice. It is hard to miss this kind of rice dish in Manila because a number of restaurants are serving it; very accessible any time of the day. However, while living in Chicago, to find an amazing “bagoong” rice in a nearby restaurant is a delicious revelation and a tasty cure to homesickness. This unpretentious corner restaurant is called Tac Quick.
I became a frequent visitor of Tac Quick for its “Khao Klug Ka Pi” (shrimp paste rice) but I explored their other offerings later on, though indifferent in the beginning. The appetizers, Asian salad and some noodles such as Pad Thai are not bad at all. Although I could not distinguish them from those being served in other respectable Asian restaurants in the area, the food is generally flavorful and satisfying. My usual appetizer combination is crab Rangoo
n and fresh coconut juice; sometimes Thai iced tea. These are good front act to the main event, entrée I mean.
And the sole reason why I keep coming to Tac Quick: the “Bagoong” rice. The image below says it all but the taste speaks even louder. It is huge in perfectly balanced flavor of saltiness from shrimp paste, sweetness from the meat, sourness from the fresh green mangoes and spiciness from the fresh chili. The additions of scrambled egg and fresh onion turned the volume a few decibels higher. Wonderful!
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3930 N Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 327-5253
www.tacquick.net
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[email_link]