We love it when celebs share what they eat in a day, what their comfort food are, or even what they have in their fridge. There's just something about famous personalities and food combined that capture our attention, whether it's finding similarities with our own eating habits or discovering something new from them.
So it's even more interesting when celebs open their own restaurants, where you can taste the food they like to eat or cook and even catch a glimpse of them if you're lucky. Inspired by their backgrounds, interests, and personal stories, these celeb-owned restaurants (usually a collab with non-celeb business partners) in the Philippines are worth checking out.
1. Nico Bolzico and Erwan Heussaff's Chingolo Deli & Kitchen
If you've always wanted to try the Bolzico beef that brothers-in-law Nico Bolzico and Erwan Heussaff often post about, here's your chance. The premium Argentinean beef has found a home in their new venture, Chingolo Deli & Kitchen.
Chingolo highlights the grass-fed, free-range beef on their menu, which includes burgers and tapa for dine-in, and slabs and cured meat for takeout. For gatherings at home, they have the party package: roast striploin, roasted onions, and sweet potato mash or frozen fries, chimichurri, and a bottle of wine. Sounds good? Sounds good.
Chingolo is located at UPRC III Bldg., 2289 Chino Roces Extension, Makati.
2. Daniel Padilla and Vice Ganda's District 8 Manila
Behind this gastropub is a star-studded list of partners: Celebrities Daniel Padilla and Vice Ganda, pro athletes James Yap, Marc Pingris, and Paul Artadi, Chef Kel Zaguirre of Locavore, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, and entrepreneur Charlton Yu. Together, the eight partners created a lively spot that attracts celebs, athletes, and other famous personalities from different industries. With interiors inspired by NYC's Meatpacking District, the 180-seater gastropub regularly hosts events and accepts private bookings.
As for the food, it's made to pair well with the range of drinks. Think sweet cocktail—there are eight signature drinks inspired by the eight partners—with Gambas Ala Jillo, or ice-cold beer with Deep Fried Pork Knuckles or Fried Chicken Fillet with Bacon Rice. YUM.
District 8 is located at 2/F G-Strip, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan.
3. Bea Alonzo's Dean & DeLuca
Coffee lover Bea Alonzo's newest baby is a branch of the global chain Dean & DeLuca. With luck, you might just spot the actress having a cup of coffee, indulging in the Molten Valrhona Chocolate Cake, or enjoying a meal with friends.
Aside from coffee and dessert, Dean & DeLuca has an extensive menu perfect for gatherings from brunch to dinner. Try the Smoked Salmon Quinoa Salad, Quatro Formaggio Pizza, or Truffle Porcini Mushroom Pasta. The bread and pastry selection is not to be missed—make sure to grab some bagels and croissants for the road.
Dean & DeLuca is located at Scout Rallos corner Scout Tuazon, Tomas Morato, Quezon City.
4. Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo's Angrydobo
They say that good food is made with love—but sometimes, anger gives it that extra kick. The adobo that takes center stage in Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo's restaurant has an interesting back story.
Almost 15 years ago, when they were just dating, the couple got into "a really petty argument that just blew up." They were in Los Angeles, USA, at the time. Judy Ann had promised to cook a big batch of adobo for their friends, so they had no choice but to work together despite their argument. Ryan got the groceries, dumped everything on the kitchen counter, and went to bed, not knowing that Judy Ann would spend all night whipping up a storm. When he went to the kitchen the next morning, she put a bowl of "fluffy white rice topped with this dark but gleaming adobo" without a word and went to bed. Hence the name of the restaurant, Angrydobo!
You can now get a taste of the couple's memorable adobo at the restaurant. Try the Classic (pork belly), Short Ribs, or Flakes, which are rice bowls with laing or gising-gising, pickled onion, and crispy garlic. For an interesting dessert, try the Dark Chocolate Champsicle, a dark chocolate champorado popsicle with a crunchy choco shell and tuyo powder.
Angrydobo is located at 2456 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila.
5. The Magalonas' Milky & Sunny
Sundays meant pancakes and bacon for Pia Magalona, her late husband, rapper Francis Magalona, and their eight kids. It was a weekly treat—you would never see them have the breakfast duo any other day of the week. A family tradition that Pia and Francis each had even before they got together, it has evolved into the restaurant Milky & Sunny.
Partly owned by Pia and her children Maxene and Elmo, the restaurant keeps the tradition alive in the wide range of bacon, pancake, and other all-day breakfast meals. There's the Bacon Sunny Rice Meal, Bacon and Mushroom Omelette, and Strawberry Banana Pancake. Bringing the best of both worlds, Maxene's Pancake Wrap has bacon, eggs, butter, and maple syrup wrapped in a paper-thin pancake.
Aside from breakfast faves, they also have lunch, dinner, and after-hours options like Mama's Meaty Spaghetti, Sunny Beef Burger, and Margherita Pizza—though who says you can't have these for breakfast, too?
Milky & Sunny is located at The Ignacia Place, 62 Sgt. Esguerra Ave. corner Mother Ignacia Ave., Diliman, Quezon City.
6. Joel Torre's JT Manukan Grille
In his over 40 years (!) in the business, Joel Torre has played *many* memorable characters, such as our national hero (Jose Rizal, Bayaning 3rd World, and even Okay Ka, Fairy Ko! Part 2), a hitman who goes in and out of prison for contract killings (On The Job), and a gang leader who befriends his wrongfully imprisoned cellmate (Miracle In Cell No. 7).
In real life, though, Joel runs a successful chain restaurant named after him: JT's Manukan Grille. Starting out as a chicken inasal takeout place in 2003, it has now expanded to over 20 branches nationwide—plus a franchise in Guam, USA, too. The restaurant pays tribute to his hometown, Bacolod, and serves Negrense favorites like Chicken Inasal, Kansi, and Batchoy. They also have skewered classics like Isol (chicken bottom) and Baticulon (chicken gizzard), and veggies Pinangat (laing) and Apan-Apan (adobong kangkong with guinamos or Ilonggo bagoong).
Check out the full list of JT’s Manukan Grille branches here.
7. Marvin Agustin's SumoSam
Though '90s heartthrob Marvin Agustin still dabbles in movies and TV shows, he has put more focus on building an empire with his partners in the restaurant business. Arguably his biggest project is SumoSam, a Japanese chain restaurant with over 20 branches nationwide. They offer Japanese favorites like sushi, sashimi, ramen, yakitori, tempura, and rice bowls.
In 2014, Marvin reunited with '90s love team partner Jolina Magdangal and launched Bida Filipino Kitchen. Though it doesn't seem to be in business anymore, the actor has his hands full with many other restaurants such as Wolfgang's Steakhouse (American), John and Yoko (Japanese), and Kondwi (Asian tapas and cocktails).
Check out the full list of SumoSam branches here.
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