Jollibee Buzzes to the Billboard Capital of the World, New York Times Square.

After a blockbuster opening at New York Times Square, homegrown restaurant chain Jollibee continues to make waves in the Big Apple with digital billboards now already up at the iconic Times Square in New York, the global epicenter of outdoor advertising.

Three billboards featuring its flagship product–the world-famous Jollibee Chickenjoy fried chicken—are now showing at the heart of Times Square’s famous bowtie. It features two models who, after seeing a piece of the crispylicious and juicylicious Chickenjoy, couldn’t resist a bite and grabbed a piece of the bestselling fried chicken from an adjacent billboard.

Homegrown restaurant brand Jollibee joins other global brands
in the Billboard Capital of the World, New York Times Square.

In August, Jollibee Chickenjoy was named “the best chain fried chicken in America” by Eater.com. The distinction comes after Jollibee’s Chickenjoy bested over 15 global brands in four rounds of contests across different categories of chicken – from bone-in, to fillets, to nuggets. Earlier in July, Jollibee was also recognized as one of the Hottest Brands in America for 2022 by Ad Age, driven by its power to draw huge queues to its restaurants.

Today, Jollibee joins other global brands which have made a presence in the Billboard Capital of the World, and is one of the few Filipino brands and personalities who have appeared on a Times Square billboard. 

Taste is Timeless.
The creative execution of the Times Square Billboard features a model
on a billboard adjacent to Jollibee’s Chickenjoy billboard who breaks character
and grabs a piece of Chickenjoy fried chicken from its bucket after seeing it.

This comes at the heels of Jollibee’s successful debut in Times Square, with over 2500 locals and tourists queueing up on opening day and consistently outperforming targets. Alongside its bestselling extra crispy, extra tasty, and juicy Chickenjoy fried chicken, Jollibee Times Square also offers other crowd favorites including the hefty Chicken Sandwich, and Peach Mango Pie, which is made of a crispy and flaky shell filled with real mango and peach.

Jollibee has likewise introduced new offerings into its menu, including a new host of allbeef burgers, salads, and sides that are exclusive to the Times Square location. A notable standout in the exclusive menu is the Jollibee Double Deluxe Burger, which features two 100% beef patties and double the melted sharp American cheese.

The Jollibee Times Square store is the brand’s fourth location in New York. This milestone opening is part of Jollibee Group’s goal of expanding its presence in the U.S. and Canada, in line with its vision to become one of the top five restaurant companies in the world. To learn more about Jollibee North America, visit www.jollibeefoods.com. To learn more about Jollibee Group, its parent company, visit www.jollibeegroup.com

Jollibee to Open in the Heart of Times Square, New York on August 18

Another first in its international expansion plan, homegrown restaurant chain Jollibee will open in the heart of the iconic Times Square, New York on August 18, 2022. The newest store opening forms part of the Jollibee Group’s aggressive overseas expansion and sustained growth in one of its key pillar markets, North America.

Start spreading the news - Jollibee is coming to NYC!

Also known as the “Crossroads of the World,” Times Square is a top global commercial and entertainment hub. Jollibee Times Square will be located right beside Good Morning America and in the Bowtie, where the famous New Year’s Eve Ball Drop takes place. The store is expected to attract new fans and introduce the brand to more mainstream American customers.

“We are excited to spread the joy of eating to everyone and contribute to the diverse and exciting food scene in Times Square,” shared Maribeth Dela Cruz, Jollibee Group’s President for Philippine Brands (Jollibee, Chowking, and Red Ribbon) in North America.

Jollibee makes it to the heart of Times Square,
right beside Good Morning America.

The Times Square branch will offer Jollibee menu favorites, including the world-famous Chickenjoy fried chicken and Chicken Sandwich–each with its own spicy variant, and other favorites such as Peach Mango Pie and Jolly Spaghetti.

Now with 84 locations across North America and over 1,500 restaurants worldwide, Jollibee continues to grow its presence in the U.S. and Canada, with plans of reaching 500 stores in the next five to seven years. Jollibee is the flagship brand of the Jollibee Group, one of the world's largest and fastest growing restaurant companies. To learn more about Jollibee and other brands of the Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com.

Jollibee Group and Yoshinoya International hold partnership ceremony.

The Jollibee Group welcomed Yoshinoya International executives in a Partnership Ceremony on June 25 to celebrate their collaboration that will bring the authentic Yoshinoya Japan beef bowl experience to the Philippines.

Yoshinoya, Japan’s world-famous Beef Bowl Chain, is the first foray into Japanese food by the Jollibee Group. Jollibee Foods Corporation formed a joint venture with Yoshinoya International Philippines Inc. (“Yoshinoya International”) to operate the Yoshinoya stores in the country, with plans to expand to 50 stores in the long term.

The Yoshinoya International executives who attended the private ceremony were Tetsuya Naruse, CEO of Asia Yoshinoya International Sdn Bhd (“Asia Yoshinoya”); Shigekazu Miyata, President of Yoshinoya International; and Shigeo Kurokawa, Director of Yoshinoya International.

The Jollibee Group officially seals its partnership with Yoshinoya International
in a ceremonial beef bowl toast
led by Jollibee Group President & CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong (front row, 3rd from left),
Asia Yoshinoya CEO Tetsuya Naruse (front row, 4th from left),
Jollibee Group President for Philippine Business Joseph Tanbuntiong (front row, 2nd from left),
and Jollibee Group Chief Real Estate and Design Officer William Tan Untiong
(back row, 3rd from left).

Asia Yoshinoya CEO Tetsuya Naruse hailed its partnership with the Jollibee Group during the partnership ceremony. “In the history of Yoshinoya, I can say that we have never encountered a company such as yours. I’ve met the best partners that we could work with and I’m really looking forward to this partnership.”

"We would like to thank Yoshinoya International for partnering with Jollibee Group. Together, under Yoshinoya Jollibee Foods Inc., we will grow and expand Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and we will work hard to make it the No. 1 Japanese restaurant in the country," said Joseph Tanbuntiong, President for Philippine Business of the Jollibee Group.

In a disclosure released in February 2021, the Jollibee Group said it aims to be the leading market developer of foreign restaurant brands in the country, as these foreign franchised brands are expected to contribute to the sustainable growth of its domestic business. Jollibee Group continues to see the success of brands like Burger King, Panda Express, and PHO24 and will apply the same success drivers in expanding Yoshinoya.

Partnership for success

Like the humble beginnings of the Jollibee Group, Yoshinoya started as a family-run shop located at Nihonbashi Fish Market in Tokyo. Today, Yoshinoya has more than 2,000 global locations.

“Our dreams to make it big one day in our respective markets have driven Yoshinoya and the Jollibee Group to continuously work hard and always strive for excellence,” said Tanbuntiong. “With similar values and a true love for great tasting food, we see a strong foundation for success in this partnership.”

“I met Jollibee Group Founder and Chairman Tony Tan Caktiong, and after our conversation, I concluded that there is no other company that we would like to do this partnership with. And although some years have passed since then, we have reached this moment today and it’s all thanks to all your efforts,” added Naruse.

“Part of who we are in Yoshinoya Holdings is being ‘For the People,’ which means reaching as many people as possible with our tasty and value-for-money food—this is also what the Jollibee Group is all about. I look forward to working well together and I commit that we in Yoshinoya will give our full support to the Jollibee Group,” he added.

Now ready to serve the same superior tasting and authentic Japanese Beef Bowls, Yoshinoya is set for its grand opening slated this July.

How Digital Drive through Menu Boards Can Boost Your QSR Sales.

The Covid-19 pandemic affected the world and industries in several ways. The restaurant industry is one of the many industries that were badly affected by the pandemic.

But despite the pandemic, a sector of the industry that thrived is the Quick Service Restaurant sector. Click here to learn more about this. The rise in sales isn’t the only way QSR has changed in recent years. But some innovations are now more common in this business, one of which is digital drive-through menu boards.

If you are considering getting a digital menu board for your QSR, then you need to stop thinking and get one already. A digital menu board could increase your sales in so many ways, and we will discuss some of them below.

Photo credit: Samsung Display Solutions.

1. Get the First Impression Right

Every business owner knows how powerful a first impression is. The way you present your brand to potential customers may either make your business or break it.

With digital signage, you can ace your first impression game. This will not just help you attract potential customers, but it also ensures a lasting impression is made. Ultimately, this will help you build the customer’s loyalty to your brand.

2. Provide Entertainment

A queue at your drive-through means business is booming. This is a good thing for you but most likely isn’t great for the hungry customer waiting at the end of the queue.

No matter how quick your service is, sometimes, you can’t do anything to make the queue move along faster. However, you could make your consumers’ wait feel shorter by placing some digital signage in strategic positions to keep them entertained.

Sure, menu boards are there to show what’s on the menu, but you could place some to specifically provide entertainment for your consumers. Providing entertainment with this approach is another way to boost the impression your business leaves on the consumer.

3. Advertise Promotions and Presales

Digital menu boards can help you advertise your promotions and presales. This is especially important when a new item is being added to the menu. With a digital board, you could display your regular menu alongside the new item you want to add.

At a McDonald's drive-thru in Seoul.

4. Upselling Orders

When most people go to a drive-through, they already know what they’ll order once they get there; this is especially true when the QSR sells a particular food. But a drive-through menu board may help you influence this already-made decision.

You can use the board to highlight specialties and food items that would go well with the meals on the menu. This way, the chances of customers adding desserts, drinks, and sides to their meals will significantly increase.

5. You can Easily Segment Your Popular Items

Putting up a big board that has several options is quite nice. However, reading through might be quite overwhelming for your consumers.

With a digital board, this issue can be easily avoided since you’d be able to segment your items and display them accordingly. For instance, if you find out that some particular items sell more during a particular hour, you can group them together and then display them during that hour.

Since this is done digitally, you could easily change the menu and promote the trendy sales of the hour without spending money on printing.

Photo credit: Samsung Display Solutions.

6. Innovative Technology

These digital boards come with innovative technology that you can apply to increase your QSR sales. For example, McDonald added a weather tracking feature to their drive-through signs. When it is cold, they promote their hot coffee and when it is hot, they promote McFlurries.

You may also be able to add facial recognition to your boards (although this is quite controversial). This way, you’d be able to store your customer’s orders. So, when they visit the drive-through again, your recommendations for them will be strategic, based on their previous orders. Visit https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/ to learn more about facial recognition advertising.

Conclusion

Digital menu boards might be just what you need to shoot your QSR sales over the roof. These boards can influence your sales in several ways. From ensuring a great first impression is made to helping you upsell orders, and so on. Ultimately, your customers will have a better experience and we all know how important customer satisfaction is when it comes to sales.

McDonald's brightens up the holidays with the launch of its Ube Pastillas and Brazo desserts.

As the holiday season draws near, more Filipinos are looking forward to celebrating by sharing the light and happiness to their loved ones despite being apart. Luckily, McDonald’s is here to bring back a taste of that signature Pinoy Christmas through the new festive and Filipino-inspired holiday desserts!

Taste the festive and Filipino-inspired holiday desserts from McDonald's!

Combining Filipinos’ sweet tooth and love for the holidays, McDonald’s is adding a Pinoy twist to their best-tasting desserts with some crowd-favorite Filipino desserts. For ube lovers, indulge in McDonald’s take on the sugary delicacy with the Ube Pastillas Sundae and Ube Pastillas Frappe, while you can enjoy the sweet, creamy, and delicate flavor of Brazo de Mercedes with McDonald’s various renditions of the classic cake: the Brazo Sundae, Brazo Frappe, or Brazo Iced Coffee! Those looking for the classic taste of sweetness and warmth can also grab a cup of McDonald’s Hot Chocolate, perfect for cozy Ber-month mornings.

New frappe flavors!

New sundae flavors!

It’s never too early to start the holiday season! Brighten up and sweeten the holiday celebrations with the new McDonald’s Ube Pastillas and Brazo desserts—available for a limited time only.

Taste the festive twist to McDonald’s desserts by ordering via Dine-In, Take Out, Ride-Thru or via delivery through McDelivery, Grab or foodpanda! Follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and Viber to stay up to date on all McDonald’s announcements.

It’s all treats, no tricks in McDonald’s month-long Monsters and Mysteries Halloween celebration!

Ghostly Greetings from McDonald’s! 

It’s the spookiest time of the year again, and McDonald’s is here to celebrate Halloween, all month long! Starting October 8 until October 28, get a FREE surprise treat with every purchase of a McDonald’s Happy Meal via Dine-in, Drive-Thru, Take-out, or Delivery. Every Happy Meal can elicit nervous giggles or fits of laughter!

A surprise treat comes with every McDonald's Happy Meal!

If the little ones have a knack for thrilling mysteries, the Mystery Monster Boxes will surely pique their curiosity. Experience the excitement of the Mystery Monster Box in person when you stop in for a spell and drop by on your brooms via Dine-in and Ride-Thru!

Monsters & Mysteries at every McDonald's store!

The Halloween surprises won’t end there — a spooktacular Halloween is incomplete without trick-or-treating. McDonald’s is here to help kids get into the Halloween spirit while staying safe through the Monsters and Mysteries Ride-Thru! Let the kids have a fang-tastic celebration by giving them a chance to go trick-or-treating safely.

Drive-Thru at McDonald’s from October 29-31 to get an exciting Halloween item from the Mystery Monster Box for a minimum purchase of Php 250. To remember the ghoul old times, feel free to capture and immortalize the special family moment by taking a picture with the Monsters and Mysteries Photo Frame.

All dressed up for Halloween!

Want to feel the Halloween hype even more? Enjoy the Halloween decorations in select branches that will be “dressing-up” their Drive-Thru lanes!

No tricks—only treats await this Halloween season at McDonald’s! Delve into the unknown and claim surprise treats to fully experience the spooktacular Halloween spirit.

For more information and updates on this offering, visit McDonald’s Philippines Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages.

Freebies await vaccinated customers when they dine-in at McDonald’s!

Part of the private sector-led campaign ‘Ingat Angat Bakuna Lahat’ that aims to restart the Philippine economy by promoting and educating about the COVID-19 vaccine, McDonald’s invites fully vaccinated customers to experience the happiness of dining-in and sharing meals with loved ones. For every minimum purchase worth Php 150, fully vaccinated customers can enjoy a FREE Apple Pie, valid until November 30, 2021. The iconic McDonald's snack is the perfect sweet treat to go with your McDonald’s favorites— whether you’re in the mood for the Crispy Chicken Fillet or the tender and juicy Chicken McDo paired with rice or McSpaghetti.

Free Apple Pie!

Benefits await vaccinated customers!

Aside from the sweet treat from McDonald’s, customers can continue to expect a safe dine-in experience all throughout. As McDonald’s believes that keeping its customers safe starts with protecting their own, the company’s M Safe protocols remain in place, with its crew, managers, and customers all required to follow the set of stringent health and safety guidelines.

“The future may be uncertain because of the ever-evolving pandemic, but one thing is for sure: we at McDonald’s will continue to do our part in working towards a safer normal. Vaccination has an integral role in the country’s comeback, so by taking part in the Smart Bakuna Benefits program, we hope to encourage more Filipinos to get vaccinated— not only for their own safety, but for the country’s as well,” said Kenneth S. Yang, McDonald’s Philippines President & CEO.

To know more about M Safe and the protocols in place to ensure your safety, visit https://bit.ly/SarapPagMSafe. For more details about how McDonald’s, the private sector, and you can take part in the #IngatAngatBakunaLahat movement, visit the Ingat Angat website or Ingat Angat Smart Bakuna Benefits promo page, and follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook.

The McDonald’s Famous Twister Fries Is Making A Glorious Comeback!

Coming through! 

The return of the iconic and long-awaited crowd favorite comfort snack is finally here! The McDonald’s Twister Fries is making its way back to the spotlight and we know you won’t be able to resist these delicious, perfectly seasoned, crispy, and golden curly fries!

My all-time favorite Twister Fries is coming back!

With the Twister Fries making a comeback to McDonald’s stores on September 15, you’ll be able to get the same great-tasting fries you love and missed. Savor the flavor and let it fill your tummy when you order it on its own or as an add-on to your McDo favorites like the Big Mac or Coke McFloat.

But for a limited time only!

As all good things come to an end, the Twister Fries will be available for a limited time only and will be retreating backstage before you know it. So don’t miss your chance and be sure to make the most out of this glorious comeback! Level up all your McDo meals with this mouthwatering snack, which will be available in Regular and Sharing sizes!

Great for solo or sharing! (Not sharing mine, though haha!)

What are you waiting for? You already know the drill! Get McDonald’s great-tasting Twister Fries you love before it’s gone! Order it now via McDonald's Take Out, Drive-Thru, McDelivery, Grab Food, and Foodpanda!

Save the date - 09.15.2021!

For more information, follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook to stay up to date on all McDo announcements.

Lebron James and the Space Jam Tunes Squad have arrived at McDonald's!

The iconic Space Jam Tunes Squad is making a comeback this year, and this time with McDonald’s Philippines!

Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, and the rest of the crew are all returning as McDonald’s launches the new Space Jam Happy Meal! The new collection of toys is made even more exciting as King Lebron James joins in the toy character lineup. The new design collectibles are in honor of the much-awaited sequel to the beloved classic Space Jam movie which was released 25 years ago. Space Jam: A New Legacy is the standalone sequel that features another exciting adventure with our Looney Squad.

Slam and Jam with every Happy Meal!

As McDonald’s aims to bring families closer together, it teamed up with the iconic squad and has created an exciting lineup of must-have toys which would bring nostalgia to parents and young adults, and play time fun for kids. The Space Jam Happy Meal consists of 12 Tune Squad characters which include: Bugs Bunny, Lola Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Road Runner, Yosemite Sam, Wile E. Coyote, Taz, Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian, and of course, Lebron James.

Practice your shooting skills with LeBron and the Space Jam Tune Squad, and score as many points as you can with every Happy Meal! Collect all 12 toys starting July 9! Order via McDelivery, McDo Drive-Thru, Take-Out, or Dine-In and have a family bonding time that is loonier than ever.

The Minions Take Over McDonald's with the new Banana Caramel Shake and Garlic Cheddar McFlavor Fries!

Another round of a mischievous and quirky invasion is coming as McDonald’s introduces its all-new Minions-approved limited-edition Banana Caramel Shake and Garlic Cheddar McFlavor Fries!

Unleash your yellow cravings with these new offers from McDonald's!

Starting today, your McDonald’s dining experience will fuel up mischievously because its world-famous fries are getting a Minions-approved spin! The new Garlic Cheddar McFlavor Fries gives a quirky twist to a taste we love by featuring a balanced blend of creamy cheese relish and garlic aioli dressing. The tender insides and the crispy outsides of the fries will be served with a generous amount of a savory and cheesy taste that will melt in your mouth, leaving you wanting more.

And what better way to make your day brighter and better than to indulge yourself with a Banana Caramel Shake, a cool and refreshingly delicious drink made from your favorite McDonald’s creamy soft serve, combined with milk and topped with decadent Banana Caramel syrup.

To make the best out of your Minion Invasion experience, pair the thick, creamy, and luscious Banana Caramel Shake with your tasty and flavorful Garlic Cheddar McFlavor Fries. Minions Combo starts at PHP 145.

What are you waiting for? Bring out the kid in you, and prepare for more mayhem to come with these new Minions-approved menu items! It’s available for a limited time only, so don't miss out on the first taste! Order the new Garlic Cheddar McFlavor Fries and Banana Caramel Shake now—available in all McDonald’s stores nationwide via Dine-In, Take Out, Drive-Thru, Pick-up, McDelivery, and via GrabFood and foodpanda.

For more information, follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook to stay up to date on all McDo announcements.

Foodie Goodie | Shake Shack at Dongdaemun, Seoul.

On our second Sunday in Seoul, the boys and I went on a shoe hunting adventure starting from Nike Town in Itaewon, then to Footlocker and all other shoe stores in Myeongdong, until we finally ended up at Hyundai City Outlets and the Nike stores in Dongdaemun. I call it 'shoe hunting' because we weren't able to find the sneakers that we wanted (Kyrie 3 Flip the Switch and Dennis Rodman's Air Shake Ndestrukt) - in short, we never really got to shop for shoes.

Gastronomically speaking, however, we were beyond content as we also went on a major food trip along the way. In Itaewon, we had fried chicken at Yue's favorite fried chicken joint, KFC. Then we had coffee at Cafe Nescafe right across the street. In Myeongdong, we had bingsu and churros at my current favorite dessert cafe, Sulbing. And in Dongdaemun, we finally had the chance to try New York City's famous burger chain, Shake Shack.

Shake Shack in Doota Mall, Dongdaemun!

The third and newest branch in Seoul, Shake Shack Dongdaemun is located on the first floor of Doota Mall. The store opened last April, a few weeks before we arrived in Seoul.

Welcome to the Shack! :)

We arrived at Dongdaemun around 7pm so I kinda expected that Shake Shack would be jampacked, and it was. It's a good thing they have outdoor seating, and some of the benches were still unoccupied when we arrived. We settled into one of the benches, enjoying the cool spring breeze as we scanned the menu handed to us by the staff standing beside the main door.

Full house at Shake Shack!

The menu features all the Shake Shack classics - burgers, hotdogs, and fries, as well as a selection of location-specific frozen custard concretes. For the Dongdaemun branch, they have Dongdaemun Rainbow (vanilla custard, rainbow sprinkles, JAMMY’s strawberry jam, glazed donut), Green Light (vanilla custard, 'Bohyangdawon' matcha, marshmallow sauce and shortbread), and Shack-ffogato (chocolate custard, coffee caramel sauce, chocolate toffee chunks, cocoa powder).

The menu in English (click to enlarge).

The menu in Hangul (click to enlarge).

I lined up at the counter as soon as the boys were done choosing, and thankfully the queue wasn't so bad. There were like 4 or 5 counters open, and the staff were pretty efficient in taking and filling orders.

Efficient order-taking. :)

I've read stories saying that Shake Shack takes about half an hour or more to prepare your order, especially during weekends and peak hours. The boys and I were actually prepared for the long wait so I was pleasantly surprised when this queue calling device lit up after just ten minutes of waiting.

Add caption

And here's what we had - Shack Burgers for the husband and I, a Hot Dog for Yue, Crinkle Cut Fries for sharing, plus Coke Zero for drinks.

Food! Glorious, greasy, yummy!

The Shack Burger (6900 won for single patty) is a cheese burger with lettuce, tomato, and Shack Sauce served on a potato bun. It's allegedly made with 100% Angus beef, with no hormones or antibiotics added. It's moist, juicy, and so damn delicious. Totally worth every (Korean) won.

Good ol' Shack Burger.

On the other hand, the classic Hot Dog (4400 won) is an oak wood chip smoked sausage also served on a potato bun. Yue loved it, even without ketchup, mayo, or mustard.

Hotdiggety dog!

The Crinkle Cut Fries (3900 won) were pretty good, too - not too greasy, and cooked just right.

Fries forever.

All in all we spent 31200 won (around Php 1300 or $28) for a la carte items at Shake Shack. Sure, it's a bit pricey compared to the set meals at other fast food joints, but their burgers are so freaking delicious which makes it totally worth the indulgence.

Shake Shack donates 5% of their Shack Attack Concrete sales
to Green Fund for the preservation of climate change.

My only regret is that I did not order a Concrete because my intestines were already stuffed from all that eating that we did that day. But then again, there's always a next time. There will definitely be a next time!

Souvenirs, anyone?

Shake Shack Dongdaemun
Doota Mall 1F
#001 Jangchungdanro 275 Jung-Gu, Seoul
+82 02-553-5576

Foodie Goodie | Pepper Lunch.

33 days to go 'til Christmas, and I've crossed out almost all of the items on my Christmas shopping list. Thanks to our Binondo/Divisoria shopping trip last week, I was able to accomplish almost 80% of this Herculean task within the span of ten hours. Crazy, I know!

My friends and I arrived at Lucky Chinatown Mall a few minutes after its doors opened, and from there we spent an entire day walking, haggling, and shopping along the streets of Binondo and at the 168 and 999 Mall. The only time we took a break from all that walking and shopping was when we had lunch at Pepper Lunch Express, located at the 4th floor of Lucky Chinatown Mall. I fell in love with their Beef Pepper Rice the first time I tried it (that was around four years ago, if my memory serves me right), and I've been a fan of their food ever since.

Founded in 1994 with its first establishment in Tokyo, Japan, Pepper Lunch now has over 200 restaurants all over Asia, including South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. Its founder, Chef Kunio Ichinose had this business model in mind when he was conceptualizing the restaurant - provide tasty steak in fast food style at a reasonable price. And from there, the idea of 'sizzling it your way' (aka cooking your own food) was born.

At Pepper Lunch, meals are served on sizzling plates, which are actually electromagnetic cookers. They heat up to 260 degrees Celsius, which allows you to cook your raw meat within minutes.

Beef Pepper Rice, Php 198.

No worries about the meat being undercooked as they're sliced very thin, like bacon. When the meat is ready, mix it with amakuchi (honey brown sauce) or karakuchi (garlic soy sauce), or a combination of both.

Teriyaki Beef Pepper Rice with Egg, Php 235.

Some dishes are served with an egg, like the Teriyaki Beef Pepper Rice which my friend ordered. You mix the egg and the beef together, but before you do, make sure both of them are cooked all the way through. Then you mix in the teriyaki sauce.

Aside from beef, Pepper Lunch also serves fish and chicken. These dishes are served with vegetables on the hot plate, with the rice in a separate bowl. You can put the rice into the plate after you've cooked the meat, or you can just take spoonfuls from the bowl as you eat.

Teriyaki Double Salmon, Php 325.

Teriyaki Pepper Chicken, Php 325. 

Also on the menu are salads, soups, and desserts. My friend ordered a Kani Salad, which was served in a cup. Apparently, they're called 'Shake Shake Salad', which you have to shake (to mix the dressing and veggies together) before you eat it.

Kani Salad, Php 99.

If you're dining at Pepper Lunch for the first time, here are some tips:
1) Keep your hands off the electromagnetic cooker. They're extremely hot.
2) Cook your raw meat at once to maximize the heat of the electromagnetic plate. If you must take a photo of your raw food, do it within seconds. Or you can save the picture-taking for later, once the meat is cooked. :)
3) Season your meat with sauce. You can season them while turning the meat over, or after the meat is cooked. 

Pepper Lunch is love!

There are about ten Pepper Lunch restaurants in the Philippines, and six Pepper Lunch Express branches. They do takeaways and deliveries, and they accept group bookings and party reservations, too.

Pepper Lunch Express
4F Lucky Chinatown Mall
Binondo, Manila