MANILA -- Popular US restaurant chain’s Denny’s finally opened its first store in the Philippines at Uptown Parade in Taguig last Friday.

Started in 1953 in Lakewood, California, Denny's has grown to become one of the largest franchises worldwide with 1,700 locations and counting, including restaurants in Canada, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand and Qatar. The American diner partnered with the Bistro Group of Restaurants to bring Denny’s to the Philippines.

“We feel that the Philippines is quite ready for a 24/7 restaurant,” explained Jam Olaes, director for operations of the Bistro Group, which also brought other US brands like TGIFriday’s, Texas Roadhouse and Buffalo Wild Wings to the country.

Located in an area with several contact centers, popular bars and clubs, as well as office buildings and residential condominiums, Denny’s in Uptown Parade aims to become the go-to place for anyone who needs their breakfast fix any time of the day or night in Taguig.

“Everybody is welcome in Denny’s. In the US, construction workers, yuppies, or families come in. It’s the same concept that we want to have here in the Philippines — that we’re always available to serve any of our guests,” added Olaes.

EXTENSIVE MENU

With serving sizes almost the same as in the US but at lower prices, Denny’s extensive menu wruns the gamut of American comfort food from pot roasts and fried chicken to salads and all-day breakfast fare.

Pancakes are a mainstay in the menu, and found in sweet-savory platters like the Original Grand Slam, which also has eggs, bacon strips, and sausages.

For those who enjoy peanut butter cups, try the delectable Choco Overload Peanut Butter Pancake plate which stars two pancakes sandwiching white and milk chocolate chips, drizzled with peanut butter and hot fudge, accompanied by two eggs, bacon and thick-cut fries.

Nothing says "breakfast" more than eggs. Eggs take center stage in omelettes where fluffy yellow sheets of egg are enriched with butter and folded around fillings like ham and cheese, or go the whole nine-yards with the Ultimate Omelette bursting with crumbled sausages, bacon, roasted bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese.

For American diner food, on offer are burgers like the Spicy Sriracha Burger (hand-pressed beef patty, cheese, creamy sriracha sauce, jalapeno, lettuce, tomato and onions on a brioche bun), or the Bourbon BBQ Bacon Burger (beef patty, sweet bourbon sauce, cheddar cheese, bacon, sautéed mushrooms, lettuce and tomato on a cheddar bun).

Sandwiches are hearty like the French Toast Slam (French toast, bacon, eggs, sausages), and the Grand Slamwich.

In the Grand Slamwich, potato bread is spread with maple spice syrup and grilled with a filling of two scrambled eggs cooked Denny’s style (read: butter, butter, and more butter), crumbled sausage, bacon, shaved ham, American cheese, and of course, bacon. It’s sweet, savory, buttery and very satisfying.

FILIPINO FAVES

While the local branch has 90% of the US menu, Denny’s also included Filipino comfort food favorites like the Arroz Caldo, Rib-eye Bistek Tagalog, Lucban Longganisa, Pork Tocino, Chicken and Pork Adobo, among others.

“We wanted our Filipino favorites to have the exact flavor as what the Filipino palate would expect it to be,” assured Olaes.

Denny’s is set for a quick expansion with a larger second branch set to open in Vista Mall in Sta. Rosa, Laguna by October 31.

“We have signed a contract to build 10 stores in 10 years. And with the capability of Bistro [Group], we’re quite positive. We hope that we’ll be able to open two more Denny’s [branches] soon,” said Olaes.