COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Denny’s — the American fastfood chain that first opened in 1953 in Lakeview, California — has grown to 1,700 branches worldwide. It is now in the Philippines. The Manila crowd is all hyped up, to say the least.
The 24-hour diner is known for all-day breakfast meals, with the Original Grand Slam (fluffy buttermilk pancakes, eggs, bacon strips and sausages), being the most popular item in the restaurant’s core menu. It’s also known for milkshakes and good coffee.
“We’re always open, twenty-four hours. People from all walks of life can go to Denny’s. And the food? We have breakfast food, comfort food, steak, fish and chips. There’s something for everyone, ” said director for operations Jam Olaes of the Bistro Group, who was included the team of managers sent to US for intensive training.
“You can see it in our menu! It’s a different package, so we’re totally confident in offering Denny’s here in the Philippines,” he told Coconuts Manila.
His personal favorite is the Lumberjack Slam (PHP495), which has two strips of bacon, two eggs, two sausages, two buttermilk pancakes, a slice of ham and hash brown.
About 95 percent of menu was copied from the original Denny’s, but Pinoy breakfast favorites (PHP275 up) like the bangus belly, tocino, longganisa and arroz caldo were added to the local menu to accomodate the rice-loving Filipinos.
“If you look at the original menu in the US, it has all the hash brown, potato red skin, french fries. You know, not all Filipinos like mashed potato or fries. Alam mo na, ’pag Pinoy, makanin yan eh, noh?” Olaes said.
(‘You know FIlipinos. We love rice!’)
He added that the menu in the Philippines is more similar to Denny’s in Guam, where most people also need their rice fix.
Strategically, Denny’s is located in an area that has a very good foot traffic. It has a covered walkway connecting to Valkyrie, and a bridge that connects to Uptown mall (it’s still under construction though).
Imagine sinking your teeth into a nice bourbon BBQ burger after a night of clubbing or grabbing a nice pancake meal just before heading to a movie. Denny’s is indeed in a good spot.
Choosing BGC follows the business philosophy of the American Denny’s, which values the importance of a strategic location. Olaoes explained that most branches in the US are in gasoline stations, exit toll gates, and other areas where people can go anytime.
The good news? Expect the portions to be just as big as in the US branches.
The prices range from PHP300 up. A typical meal for two would probably cost around PHP850. Keep in mind that the portions are huge!
The company aims to open ten Denny’s branches in the Philippines in the next ten years. In fact, their second branch in the country is already in the works. Denny’s is slated to open at Vista Mall in Santa Rosa, Laguna in Nov.
Here are some of the items you can enjoy when you decide to visit:
G/F, Uptown Parade, 9th Avenue Corner 38th Street, BGC. Open daily 24/7. You may also check their Facebook page for more details.
