Chic-Boy (Filipino sit down fast food) (National City)

Here you are, back at reading mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog.  Today's adventure takes us to National City, because that's where Cathy drove.  Kirk is still on vacation and Ed(from Yuma) is still clearing out his office.

So, let's get some things cleared up right now. A) Baboy is Tagalog for pig/pork.  The name of this restaurant is a shortened version of Chicken-Baboy, or Chicken-Pig, which are two of the primary items served here. There also is fish on the menu (Isda in Tagalog), but that word doesn't fit the signage in a non-double entendre way. {I'll wait while you go through the possible combinations in your head} 2. There are three tables (with a total of eight chairs) to sit at inside this tiny shop, so if you are here and can't find a place to sit and eat, don't be surprised. Located in a a mall anchored by Popeye's and Starbucks, across the way from a McDonald's, Chic-Boy is one of more than eight Filipino owned businesses in this mall near the South East corner of 805 at Plaza Boulevard. Despite my tendency to blog about places and food items that nobody else has blogged about, I was happy to find  Faye did blog about Chic-Boy last year. Now I don't feel too far out of the loop and am glad to share one of her (an my) (and cc's) snack food favorites with you (hint: last photo of this post).

Yep, that's pretty much the entire menu on the wall (there is a sandwich board out front, listing some specials) and the other three photos are the entire counter, showing items available. We were here early, so everything was available.Above is a "BBQ Pork Stick Combo"($3.78)[The combo includes a choice of canned beverage]. The rice is jasmine and very good, the BBQ pork stick is moist and has good flavors (there is vinegar in the marinade, making it not so sweet, which I like).

Above , the BBQ chicken breakfast bowl ($4.99).  The BBQ chicken stick, is also moist and not overly sweet.  This is also served with a good amount of jasmine rice, some stir fried bok choy (the only vegetable I've ever seen here) and an over-medium egg.  Just a perfect mesh of ingredients for a hearty meal. Those greasy bags to the left in the glassed in area? Fried dilis (anchovy), fried bulaklak (pork intestines) and, above, fried chicken skins(the snack of choice by both Faye and myself). Each priced the same, ($8.99/lb) and served with a cup of garlic infused vinegar, a perfect, tasty, non-carb snack.

This is a great place to stop for good, fresh food.

Chic-Boy 2220 E. Plaza Blvd, Suite T National City, CA 91950 (619)472-2449

Comments

[caninecologne]

Oh hell yeah...chicken skinz!!!! I want.

it's $1 cheaper at Kababayan (waiting for that post) too.

[Faye]

Thank you for posting the Tagalog translations! I don't eat Filipino food often so it's a struggle when I read posts about Filipino food and have to google each dish. So this post was helpful. I LOVE Chic-Boy and have re visited this place many times. I wish you tried their lechons! They're my favorite here in SD (with their tart vinegar sauce). Can you explain the taste of the fried pork intestines (if you ever had them) ? I've never tried them (mind over matter right).

[J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats]

Cool. Don't know of a lot of Filipino places in SD. Would you say this is one of your favorites?

[Cathy]

Fried chicken skins are just the best snack, cc. Looking at my Kababayan photos, I have too many of just a bag of skins and container of garlic peanuts...need to get some 'To-Go' and photograph it before consuming!
Thanks, Faye. I started really learning about Filipino food last year when cc and I went to Pasadena to meet Marvin Gapultos (The Adobo Road Cookbook) at his book signing. The bulaklak are usually not breaded, just fried, crispy and all ruffled like a flower, with a bit of chew; no real flavor. They do look different (and are less chewy) than the intestines I have photographed in my recent Golden City post.
I do really like the food here (and the available choices at other places in this mall), J.S.. I also like the variety of choices at the Seafood City Food Court as well as at Kababayan Bakery (closest to home for me).

[janfrederick]

Fried chicken skins. Oh yah!

[Cathy]

One of the new items at the San Diego County Fair, JanFrederick!

[Soo]

Mmm.. Bbq and roasted meats. :-) Sounds like my kinda place. :-)

[Cathy]

BBQ'd, roasted AND fried, Soo. The best of everything and so good!