Congo Grille

Philippine restaurant chain

Congo Grille

Company type| Public
Industry| Restaurants
Founded| Quezon City, Philippines (1999; 26 years ago (1999))
Founder| Kenneth Sytin, MBA
Headquarters| Pasig, Philippines

Number of locations

| 10
Products| Philippine cuisine
Grilled food
Website| www.congogrille.com (defunct)

Congo Grille is a chain of family restaurants in the Philippines named for its African jungle-themed interiors.[1] In contrast to the decor, the cuisine is predominantly Filipino with a smidgen of Western and Chinese foods. The restaurant is also popularly known as The Sisig King for its recent achievements in a food feast celebrating the favorite Filipino dish.[2] The chain has plans to build stores overseas, especially in the United States.[3]

## History

[edit]

Congo Grille at SM City Clark, Angeles, Pampanga

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."[4] In 2006, Congo Grille participated in the Annual Sisig Festival held in Angeles City. Their pork sisig and two other sisig dishes won first prizes in the major categories.[5][6]

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.[1] Congo Grille was opened for franchising in 2008.[7]

The first franchised-operated store opened at the Araneta Center in 2009.[2]

## Charities

[edit]

A common meal of sisig, rice and iced tea

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.[8]

Two years later, they teamed up with local television network GMA 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.[9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Go 'ape' over Congo Grille". Manila Standard Today. August 16, 2006. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
2. ^ a b "Sisig King franchise store opens in Cubao". Malaya - The National Newspaper. August 28, 2009. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
3. ^ Antonetta Valdez-Pua (September 8, 2006). "Secrets To Premium Grilled Food". Manila Bulletin Online. Retrieved 2008-12-28. [dead link]
4. ^ "Congo Grille creates perfect recipe for franchise success". The Daily Tribune. June 27, 2008. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
5. ^ Reynaldo G. Navales (December 9, 2006). "Kapampangans show cooking skills at Sisig festival". Sun.Star Pampanga. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
6. ^ dbmedia (2007-08-23). "Congo Grille Opens at Trimona". DBMedia. Retrieved on 2010-12-26.
7. ^ "'Sisig' king opens business opportunities at Franchise Expo". The Manila Times Internet Edition. August 31, 2008. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
8. ^ "Nourishing the young through spoonfuls of joy". The Manila Times Internet Edition. November 4, 2007. Archived from the original on January 6, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
9. ^ "Congo Grille cooks for a cause". Malaya-The National Newspaper. February 9, 2009. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-15.

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