Congo Grille
Encyclopedia
Congo Grille is a chain of family restaurants in the Philippines
named for its Africa
n jungle-themed interiors. In contrast to the decor, the cuisine is predominantly Filipino with a smidgen of Western and Chinese foods. The award-winning restaurant is also popularly known as The Sisig
King for its recent achievements in a food feast celebrating the favorite Filipino dish. The chain has future plans to build stores overseas, especially in the United States.
Congo Grille was established in 1999 by Kenneth Sytin and his brothers. That year, the business had as many as 13,000 customers a month and was dubbed "the fastest growing grill in town." In 2006, Congo Grill participated in the Annual Sisig Festival held in Angeles City
, Pampanga
. Their pork sisig and two other sisig dishes won first prizes in the major categories.
The restaurant operates based on three concepts; a Philippine restaurant in an air conditioned
environment, food without monosodium glutamate
, and a mascot
(an ape
in a safari
outfit) for entertaining youngsters. Congo Grille was opened for franchising in 2008.
The first franchised-operated store opened at the Araneta Center
in 2009.
In 2007, Congo Grille, along with other companies, organized a party to feed 407 children of low-income families in the city of Valenzuela
. This was part of a program dealing with nationwide hunger.
Two years later, they teamed up with local television network GMA 7 in feeding low-income individuals. Workers of the restaurant chain offered meals to 300 people in Quezon City
, its birthplace. Toys and other collectibles were also donated.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
named for its Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n jungle-themed interiors. In contrast to the decor, the cuisine is predominantly Filipino with a smidgen of Western and Chinese foods. The award-winning restaurant is also popularly known as The Sisig
Sisig
Sisig is a Kapampangan term which means "to snack on something sour". It usually refers to fruits, often unripe or half-ripe, sometimes dipped in salt and vinegar...
King for its recent achievements in a food feast celebrating the favorite Filipino dish. The chain has future plans to build stores overseas, especially in the United States.
History
Angeles City
The City of Angeles , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city. Its name is derived from El Pueblo de los Ángeles in honor of its patron saints, Los Santos Ángeles de los Custodios , and the name of its founder, Don...
, Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
. Their pork sisig and two other sisig dishes won first prizes in the major categories.
The restaurant operates based on three concepts; a Philippine restaurant in an air conditioned
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
environment, food without monosodium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate, also known as sodium glutamate or MSG, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids....
, and a mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
(an ape
Ape
Apes are Old World anthropoid mammals, more specifically a clade of tailless catarrhine primates, belonging to the biological superfamily Hominoidea. The apes are native to Africa and South-east Asia, although in relatively recent times humans have spread all over the world...
in a safari
Safari
A safari is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa. Traditionally, the term is used for a big-game hunt, but today the term often refers to a trip taken not for the purposes of hunting, but to observe and photograph animals and other wildlife.-Etymology:Entering the English...
outfit) for entertaining youngsters. Congo Grille was opened for franchising in 2008.
The first franchised-operated store opened at the Araneta Center
Araneta Center
The Araneta Center is a 35-hectare commercial area in Quezon City, Philippines. Araneta Center Inc. , controlled by the Araneta family, is the owner, developer and manager of Araneta Center, which brings in an estimated 1 million visitors daily...
in 2009.
Charities
Valenzuela City
Valenzuela ,In rare occasion it is pronunced as , with a glottal stop after /ɐ/ in Filipino/Tagalog languages. officially known as the City of Valenzuela is a highly urbanized, first-class city and one of cities in the Philippines that constitutes Metro Manila...
. This was part of a program dealing with nationwide hunger.
Two years later, they teamed up with local television network GMA 7 in feeding low-income individuals. Workers of the restaurant chain offered meals to 300 people in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
, its birthplace. Toys and other collectibles were also donated.