Dong Juan: A Piece of Cebu in Quezon City, Manila

Hello, dear readers!

How have you been? I know I've been dormant on the blog for so long now. Do forgive me, I've been very occupied with school and Team Brownie. I'm on my final year in university so please bear with me. I hope you'd still look forward to my posts though they will be coming so rarely now. I'll still try to catch up on what I've been wanting to share with you guys. As much as I miss blogging, I am trying my best to excel in and not neglect my academics while juggling my little business on the other hand as well. I'll need all the encouragement and support I can get, so praying for me would be very much appreciated. For after all, none of my accomplishments are of my own strength alone. :)

Anyway, here's a post about one of my favorite Cebu restaurants opening their doors in Manila… Read up and enjoy!

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If I'm not mistaken, Dong Juan, a Cebu home-grown restaurant, is one of the most featured restaurants in my blog. I think I have at least three posts about them (I even joined a chili burger eating challenge they once had) and I think that says a lot. I've mentioned before that Dong Juan and I go a long way back. It all started with that first bite of their burger three years ago that was probably the consummation of my "meat-lovingness". It was also one of the first few restaurants I wrote about on this blog.

Needless to say, I have always believed in this restaurant's potential. In its two years of commercially breaking through the Cebu food scene, Dong Juan persists to break boundaries beyond Cebu. Besides the growing empire they've built in Cebu (more or less 10 branches), they also have branches in Bohol, Cagayan, Davao, Pampanga, and most recently, Quezon City in Metro Manila! 

Dong Juan in Mother Ignacia, Quezon City is probably their most beautiful branch to date. It is set in an ancestral house, owned by Severino Reyes -  a Filipino playwright  more popularly known by his pen name "Lola Basyang"- across St. Mary's College. You can't miss it! 

Severino Reyes' painted portrait in the new Dong Juan branch 

I had the special privilege of being invited to their grand opening at the end of July with my entire trip sponsored by the generous hosts, Mr. Barney and Mrs. Aubrey Borja. I was flown in to Manila on a Friday morning and was accommodated in Tune Hotels, Quezon City. But before I was dropped off at my hotel, I was brought to Dong Juan for lunch. 

I was so amazed at how pretty the interiors were, all the while retaining their signature look with decorative blocks, tall coco dividers, and local painter Paul Arenas' lively paintings. I could say it evoked the same simple yet cozy charm of their first branch in Guadalupe, as if one was dining in a friend's home.

This branch had a staircase leading to the second floor where there were several rooms for special occasions or functions such as business meetings or intimate birthday celebrations. The entire floor is also available for exclusive bookings.   

They also have a cute little spot under the staircase if you feel like getting a bit more privacy. Since this branch is snuggly situated within the vicinity of the country's top TV networks, ABS-CBN and GMA, expect to find local celebrities dining here. And I bet this would be a favorite spot in the house.

For lunch, I ordered their Popeye Shrimps, Fish n Chips, and a Cheeseburger. Oops, excuse the gluttony. If you dine with me, you'll get used to it. I just like variety in my meals. ;)

There was not a trace of disappointment as all the dishes were just as good as their original branch! Well done, Dong Juan! Keep this up and the whole neighborhood will be scurrying to your doorstep again and again. 

The grand opening was to be in the evening so I headed to the hotel to rest from my early flight that day and freshen up for that night's affair. I was excited and curious to see which celebrities would show up. I was betting on Martin Nievera to be there because I remembered Dong Juan's post on Facebook, showing pictures of him dining in the Persimmon branch in Cebu and even going back the next day because he loved it.

When I arrived at the event, I was brought to the second floor where most of the celebrities were seated. True enough, the first person I spotted was Martin Nievera! He was very jolly, friendly, and talkative - the life of the party. We were introduced and chatted a bit along with his friends. It was to be a festive night - unlimited burger steaks, chili wings and crispy pata, and not to mention, the spontaneous crooning of the guest entertainers in the likes of Martin Nievera, Luke Mejares, and Jimmy Bondoc. 

Of course, I had to have photos with some of the celebrities I spotted:

with Martin Nievera
(hanging the giveaway gifts on each of his ears)

with Ogie Diaz

with Jimmy Bondoc! 

spotted: Claudine Baretto

Dong Juan Mug Cake

Dong Juan's Manila settlement looks promising and definitely something Cebu should be proud of. Expect to find familiar Dong Juan menu staples such as their burgers, pizza, and pasta. They also have a new addition to their dessert menu - mug cake which comes in 5 flavors: Dark Fudge, Red Velvet, Salted Caramel, and Speculoos Cruncy Cookie Butter. It's quickly becoming a favorite by many and I really recommend you try it. Other dishes I'd recommend are their Gambas al Ajillo pasta (a personal favorite), Onion Rings, Pork Sisig, and Sizzling Pochero. So, I'm inviting everyone in Metro Manila to drop by Dong Juan and have a taste of one of Cebu's most innovative restaurants. :) 

Ze "babe" with Dong Juan's sweet couple Mr. Barney and Mrs. Aubrey Borja & their friends

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Borja! Keep soaring and more power to you!

Dong Juan
72 Mother Ignacia Ave. cor. Scout Reyes
Quezon City, Manila

Contact: (02) 374 0265

Facebook: Dong Juan Mother Ignacia

  

Have a Burger-ful New Year at Dong Juan

            As promised, here’s my take on Dong Juan’s Kimchi Burger. Mr. Barney of Dong Juan had invited me weeks ago to try it and our friend Paul has been convincing me as well. So, as soon as my last day of classes for the year ended, trying that feisty burger was first on my to-do list.

            Kimchi on a burger patty; I thought it was unique but not odd at all. I imagined it to be just like the typical match of kimchi and samgyupsal. My foodie buddy Luis thought otherwise though and I wanted to prove him wrong. Hehe.

         It was a sweet surprise to find that Mr. Barney and his wife Aubrey awaited us for lunch together at the pilot branch where it (burger affair) all began for me. The original branch is now spruced up, refurbished with new tables and chairs and the signature details of the franchise design. However, despite the polished, vibrant atmosphere, I found that they managed to retain its sentimental element.

Cebu Secret Chow Update: Dong Juan, No Longer A Secret

         We all have that sole or handful (excuse my lame pun) of resto's we develop a special attachment or respect for when we've been there before it became a common name or franchise superstar. Everytime I hear the name of this particular resto, nostalgia and pride flows through me as my first memory of it flashes by in a second. 

         Dong Juan, that humble little hole-in-the-wall in Guadalupe and now a steadily growing franchise chain, is where I became a burger convert. The girl who used to give no attention to burgers was suddenly feeling butterflies in her tummy at the sight of big, juicy patties sandwiched in a bun since that day she had her first bite of Dong Juan's burger back in 2010. 

The culprit: The Dong Juan Burger

My Burger TRYathlon

So sorry if this update came out really late. I've been sick and had problems uploading the videos because they're pretty long.  

Anyway, I finally came face to face with THE Dong Juan red hot double d chili burger on Oct. 31 (Monday). It actually haunted me the night before, not letting me sleep well from dreaming all night that I was already doing the challenge. It felt so real, like I was really biting into those hot juicy patties with the time running after me. I guess burgers are into halloween, too.

Waking up groggy and nervous as ever, I only ate some fruits (a banana, an apple and a mango... if you wanna know.) and a little rice and pork for breakfast around 10:00 a.m. after which I left my belly to starve the rest of the day 'til the challenge. I worked out in the gym for 2 hours which included running 4.5k in 30 mins and did stationary cycling for 20 mins. The rest of the time was spent for weights and core exercises. That's a little idea for you what else this piglet does aside from eat. :)

Arriving at Persimmon with Chadd, Paul and Nekie, my hands were ice cold and shaky. It was 4:10 p.m. We signed our waivers and filled up the registration forms as if it were our last will while waiting for Dan, Edjay and Joel. Dong Juan's proprietors, Barney and Aubrey Borja also arrived shortly. 

me and Chadd giggling with nerves

Chadd warming up?

With no further ado, here's the video of my shameless feat:

I lost all sense of taste as I was stuffing myself with this HUGE Frankenstein creation of Dong Juan. I was able to handle the heat of the Malaysian chilies but the 1 pound of burger was so overwhelming and the pungent smell of the chilies mixed with prawns were also bothering me. I really struggled with swallowing it and I was regurgitating in my last few bites. The patties were  juicy though so I didn't need water to lubricate my throat for swallowing. Great job, Dong Juan!

Chadd and I each ordered a can of coke and creme brulee to cool us down. I definitely needed this. Sweets therapy! 

This wasn't bad at all. I enjoy creme brulee because of the crisp caramelized sugar lid covering the creamy custard; not just the taste but also the sound when you break into it. Aaahh...

I finished in 7 mins 12 secs with a burnt tongue from the hot patties and looking like Joker from Batman, red around the mouth area. I was miles away from the record to beat which was 1 min 44 secs so you can imagine what a monster the record setter was. But I still felt like a winner with all the support and company of my City Sports Club gym friends and Mr. and Mrs. Barney and Aubrey Borja. They waived my bill for the challenge as credit for being the first female challenger. Thank you so much! It was definitely worth experiencing although I don't think I'll be doing any speed eating contests ever again. I can eat a lot but not in a blizzard. That goes to say, I have a big appetite but I can't eat fast. I'm pretty proud I got to finish the whole burger though. :D

Sincerely, I believe Dong Juan will go a long way with their solid concept, great food, and cozy ambience. They currently have 3 branches ready to serve us at Guadalupe, Mango and Persimmon and will be opening 3 more very soon at the Crossroads, A.S. Fortuna and I.T Park! They're on a roll!

I would also like to make a special mention about the paintings in all the branches of Dong Juan. These are from Paul Arenas, one of my friends from gym. I just found out recently that I had a friend painter! How cool is that?! Lol. So do check them out because they're really pretty. He uses oil paint on canvas and is inclined to pastel colors. I love that his paintings have a touch of patriotism, like this Filipiniana interpretation:

pastel domination :)

Sorry for the poor pictures, my camera really sucks.

with Paul Arenas, my manager :D

the only girl/one of the boys
challengers for the day: me with [forgot his name... sorry], Chadd and Edjay

After the challenge, some of us stayed for dinner. Of course, I didn't take dinner cuz I was stuffed to the brim. We discussed the difficulties of the challenge and how to possibly overcome these. 

Dong Juan's proprietors Mr. Barney and Mrs. Aubrey Borja are some of the warmest people I've met. They really know how to make their customers leave with a smile. They even sat and chatted with after dinner. 

from left: Barney Borja, Aubrey Borja, author, Nekie, Paul, Dan

This was definitely a day to remember. I've set a record for myself. And, no more eating contests for me. Haha.


Hope you guys enjoyed this post. :)


I encourage the ladies to join the challenge! Challenge is still going on until Nov. 30 and top ten best time records will be chosen for finals on Dec. 2! So c'mon! I'm sure my time is easy to beat. ;)


Thanks again for the opportunity and complements, Mr. and Mrs. Borja! More power to you! 


video by: Nekie Macalolooy and Dan Garret Mojares

Babe For Food

your new BFF in Cebu dining! 

Red Hot Double D. Double Dare Challenge

CALLING ALL HARDCORE FOODIES! 

A RED HOT CHALLENGE HAS COME UP! 

Dong Juan is stirring up the city with a burger eating challenge called the 

"Dong Juan Red Hot Double D, Double Dare Challenge". 

It's rare to find eating challenges in Cebu so this is really interesting and I'm definitely up for it; not exactly to bring home the bacon (although that would be totally awesome) but at least experience it. 


The challenge imposes one to devour a DOUBLE PATTY chili burger as fast as possible. Looks like it's about who has the biggest mouth and most calloused tongue. :))


The challenge was launched last October 20 and lasts til November 30. And the first record was set at 2 mins 46 secs by a team member of the Cebu Red Dragons. And the latest update stated that the new record is 1 min 44 secs! *Gulp! Battle is on from 2-5 pm at all branches - One Mango, Persimmon and Guadalupe. 


The last time I ate here (at the Persimmon), I had their chili burger and it definitely stung my nose and tongue. And that was the regular serving. Imagine one with a double patty and added chili! Let's see how this goes for me. 


I'll be taking the challenge on Monday, Oct. 31. I'm pretty nervous about it but I also wanna represent the girls team. They say that I'll be the first female to participate so far. I'm gonna need Adam Richman from Man Vs. Food for this. I'll try to get some strategies from him.  ;)


Wish me the best! Hope you guys could be there to cheer me on and watch me unleash my piggy powers. Or better yet, join me in the challenge! :3 

photo by: Barney Borja

Babe For Food

-your new BFF in Cebu dining! :)

Cebu Secret Chows: Cebu's Burger King -- Dong Juan

      I resided at Guadalupe since I was in grade school until 2009 and the only decent restaurant nearby that most of the community knew then was Mooon Café. But right along the street where Mooon is situated, a small house that seemed to be a restaurant caught my eye every time I passed by. The signage read “Dong Juan”. The anything local junkie that I am, the name interested me and made me wonder what kind of food they served. I was in high school then and only got the opportunity to dine there when I got to college because a friend of mine recommended the place to me for their juicy burgers. 

     I like Flame It but I was never a huge fan of burgers.... until the day I tasted Dong Juan's. The day Dong Juan's burger touched down on my tongue was the day I officially fell in love with burgers. I'd only settle for Flame It since Dong Juan isn't in Ayala. No other burger could compare to the sensation Dong Juan left me.
 

     Dong Juan first opened in December 8, 2007 at Guadalupe with a concept that catered to the Cebuano palate and  not to mention, pocket. It is a family-owned business and was intended to be a burger and pizza place where middle class to upper class can enjoy good meals at value for money. I have only dined there 4x but am always satisfied. I've tried their Dong Juan burger, sisig, pizza and gambas al ajillo pasta. I loved the pasta. It was topped with bonito flakes which gave a distinct flavor to the dish. I'd always recommend their burgers and pasta to friends who ask me about Dong Juan or a place to go for a food trip. This hidden treasure has flourished solely by word-of-mouth.

     Aside from the good food, one other item that contributed greatly to their popularity is the glass they use to serve their iced tea. They use a sake glass which is actually exclusively made for them. Their food is exceptionally tasty because most of their dishes and the corresponding components are made from scratch such as the sauces, coatings and even potato chips. They  also use quality ingredients.

     Last May, the second branch finally opened at Persimmon, M.J. Cuenco, Mabolo; near Ayala. The setting here is different from the pioneer branch in Guadalupe; a simple yet sleek interior retaining little signature details like their wooden bench chairs. Seating capacity can accommodate up to 60 pax and reservations for special occasions are also accepted. Before the second branch opened, Dong Juan was already packed even on weekdays since this year. Thus, reservation is strongly recommended.  

 
     I checked out this new branch with 3 of my college friends. Carl and Natasha got the Dong Juan burgers, I had the Chili burger and Jillian had the burger steak. We also ordered the onion rings for our appetizer. The onion rings really surprised me because they weren't just onion rings. They were ONION RINGS. HUGE! Battered and breaded and accompanied by a citrus chili sauce. That had to be one of the best appetizers I've ever had and definitely the best onion rings I've ever had so far. Dong Juan sure knows how to play with senses, entertaining both eyes and taste buds.   

ONION RINGS @ 109 php

Sizzling Burger Steak - 99 php

Their burgers are succulent and flavorful, half an inch thick. Burgers range from 99-149 php.

my chili burger - 149 php

Their pizza and pasta are also among their hot-selling items. Pizza range from 199-259 php. Pasta are at 99-149.

from left clockwise: Natasha, this writer, Carl and Jillian

Dong Juan is the place to be for great food, great company, and great value. 85% of the menu is worth trying.

P.S. I would like to apologize for not posting any entries for so long. I've been so swamped with school but I hope I can post something at least once a week.

I'd also like to thank Mrs. Aubrey Borja for sparing me her time to answer some of my questions about Dong Juan. 
      
You can visit or call for reservation at either of the branches of Dong Juan located at:

999 Emilio St., Guadalupe, Cebu City - 256 1796


Persimmon, MJ Cuenco Ave., Mabolo, Cebu City - 266 5826

Babe for Food

your new BFF in Cebu dining 

:)