Tuesday, July 08, 2008
GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN
Imagine my great surprise last week to find this fairly recently built structure at the corner of Ongpin and Padilla Streets in Binondo now painted green, housing Mang Inasal. Originally painted yellow, it used to be a Jollibee.
I guess, even the residents and employees in the area would rather patronize the more affordable Chinese food eateries that littered the neighborhood; hence, even the incredibly popular Jolibee didn't stand a chance of making it here. Come to think of it, there may not be enough kids in this enclave to sustain a Jolibee, either. Kids, as we know, are Jollibee's most ardent supporters.
But would an eatery that offers Pinoy-style grilled meals and all the rice that you can possibly eat in one seating such as Mang Inasal have more success in this neighborhood?
As for the visitors in the area, I'm sure they'd rather go for Chinese food being in Chinatown. But then again, I may be wrong. Nonetheless, I tip my hat off to Jollibee and Mang Inasal for their courage to try their luck in such unusual circumstances.
Good luck, Mang Inasal! Hope you do well in this corner.
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Labels: eateries
posted by Señor Enrique at 11:49 AM
19 Comments:
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Photo Cache said... takaw pansin ang pintura senor, siguro ma-attract magusisa ang mga dumadaan. i myself may cross the street to check out what's going on :)
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said... So it is another Mang Inasal branch. I thought it would be Chowking because that's what the rumors my cousins heard.
Oh well, lots of good luck to them. Better still, they should have picked red to paint their new building. Attract more luck.-
Señor Enrique said...
Perhaps, so, Photo Cache, but the entire structure having been painted with such unusual vivid color is truly startling ... hehehe.
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Señor Enrique said...
Chow King may fare worse in this area, Jhay, because lots of even more affordable eateries abound that offer the same menu as Chow King's.
Yes, a red building may be more appropriate :)-
reyd said...
That's a nice business venture to compete with some afforable eateries in that area. I think their menus are at par with some Chinese restaurants there.
We will just wait and see how would they do in that area.
Sa akin, porkchop rice lang from Tasty Dumpling House, ayos na.-
Señor Enrique said...
I had dinner at Tasty Dumplings just last week, Reyd, but over at its Retiro, QC branch. I had the pork chop ... hehehe.
For those not yet familiar with this eatery, here's the URL of my previous post on it:
http://senorenrique.blogspot.com/2006/11/dumplings-and-pork-chops.html-
reyd said...
Yes, meron na nga branch sa Q.C. and served the same menu. Marami talagang makakainan sa Binondo, but you need to try all if not most of them to your taste.
And even in Carvajal st. I haven't tried all the restaurants on that street. Maybe next time. :D-
Señor Enrique said...
There were times, Reyd, I'd plan to go to Binondo to check out an eatery I haven't been to, but only to be steered directly to one of the usual favorites by my hungry stomach ... hehehe.
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ScroochChronicles said...
First time I've heard of a Jollibee branch closing shop. If you ask me, if I'm going to Chinatown then I'm eating chinese food. Simple as that.
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Señor Enrique said...
Exactly, Cookie! As much as I enjoy some of Jolibee's offerings, when in Chinatown, it's Chinese food for me ... hehehe.
Yup ... it's a first for me as well to hear of a Jolibee closing in Manila due to lack of business. But like I said, there may not be enough kids in the area to support it.-
Amadeo said...
A few years back, Jolibee also closed its store in downtown San Francisco, in an area called South of Market where many FilAm seniors lived.
It had in the meantime opened another site in Daly City, giving me the impression that it was not averse to closing sites that do not do well.-
NOYPETES said...
Matipid magbigay ng servings ang Jollibee dito sa California!
Isang higop ko lang ang plate serving nila ng Pancit Malabon!
Pero yang gimmick ng Mang Inasal na "Unlimited Rice", ayos yan kapag nagtitipid ka pero kailangan mabusog. Dahan-dahan sa ulam at medyo mas marami ang kanin at libreng sabaw. Gut buster yang kanin at may relaxing effect pa pag nabusog ka!
Typical istambay demeanor after eating a full meal with a lot of rice...Naka-taas ang sando above the bulging belly, katapos hinihimas-himas ang tiyan while picking the teeth!-
Señor Enrique said...
Lol ... dami ako nakikita nyan dito, Pete! Laki ng mga tiyan.
The unlimited rice fare I think may have been started originally by another franchise eatery -- Tokyo Tokyo. Interesting and successful concept. Kaya lang nakakataba nga lalo na sa mahihina ng metabolism.
Dito rin sa Pinas, strictly measured serving ng Jolibee. French fries tinitimbang pa nila.-
said...
Senor Enrique,
I love your blogs about Manila's diff. districts; Divisoria, Binondo, Ongpin. Thanks to Ka Tony who told me about your blog.
Can you check out something for me please, whatever happened to the original & Da Best 'Lumping Divisoria' (YummO!)that my mother loved and bought everytime she went to Divisoria. there were several imitations & wanna bes, but no one can top the original.
I never saw that stall coz I seldom made it to Divisoria when I was a kid, Supposedly the lumpia merchant has a very tiny stall in one corner of Div. Mkt., but also made buckoo bucks that he was able to send her kids to USA. Did someone takeover that stall or did anyone in the family open a chain of the original Lumpiang Divisoria?
Thanks much for all the updates around Binondo,Carriedo, Ave. Rizal, Morayta (I went to Far Eastern Univ. High in the late 60's. I dont recognize the corner of Morayta and CM Recto on your picture. Your blog is better than taking Manila History 101. I love & enjoy your blogs on Sorbitero, turon, taho vendors. Seen any Gulaman vendors, my other favorite snack that I was prohibited from drinking. Anyway, keep it up, I couldnt wait for the next one.
Happy Pasyal around Maynila.
Ed from SF, California-
said...
That's a rather bold color but that one darn good way to arouse the public's interest - be a standout from the crowd :)
I used to think that a small McDonalds joint in the largest Chinese mall here in Toronto, amidst a 100% Chinese fast food court was nuts... until I notice the younger generation queuing up for fries and coke.. all the time !-
Señor Enrique said...
Hi Ed,
Check out today's post on samalamig. Thanks for reminding me to feature it.
As for the lumpia, have not heard of it but will ask around. Only lumpia house I've featured is Globe in Quiapo
http://senorenrique.blogspot.com/2006/11/quiapos-famous-lumpia.html
Much of Manila has changed, though not for the better in some cases. Nonetheless, love id and haven't gotten bored living here as of yet ... hehehe.
Thank you very much for visiting my blog and regards to Ka Tony.-
Señor Enrique said...
Hi Ed,
Check out today's post on samalamig. Thanks for reminding me to feature it.
As for the lumpia, have not heard of it but will ask around. Only lumpia house I've featured is Globe in Quiapo
http://senorenrique.blogspot.com/2006/11/quiapos-famous-lumpia.html
Much of Manila has changed, though not for the better in some cases. Nonetheless, love id and haven't gotten bored living here as of yet ... hehehe.
Thank you very much for visiting my blog and regards to Ka Tony.-
Señor Enrique said...
Exactly the same in New York's Chinatown on weekends, BW! Amazing. I guess it's the younger generation's idea of declaring their westernization thing ... hehehe.
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said...
Great blog as for me. I'd like to read something more about that matter. Thanx for sharing that data.
Joan Stepsen
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