I have seen the iconic diner sign on prior visits to Manila but have always dismissed it as a ridiculous choice for sustenance. Why would I come all the way to Asia to eat at an American chain diner when so many great choices for local foods are around? Today, Filipino Denny's rocked my world.
The big draw for me was that they were open at 2am. Jet lagged and starving, I did not feel like another instant noodle cup in my room from 7/11. So, while walking around, I decided to at least check out the menu. There were several standard American diner classics such as pancakes, burgers, and sandwiches. But there were numerous local choices too such as deep fried pork belly, garlic rice with eggs, longanisa or beef tapa, and a few other nice surprises. Plus, free coffee and bread are on offer just for being there.
I had a tough time choosing but ended up with a healthy dish titled as the play on words, "Gourd for You". This was essentially an egg scramble with bitter melon (gourd) next to a generous serving of steamed rice topped with several pieces of dried, salted Danggit (aka Rabbitfish). I ordered vinegar and fresh chili on the side as a condiment (American ketchup and Tabasco have nothing on the PI).
The setting looked like a typical Denny's but what I ate was far from anything I can get in the United States. This was better than any Grand Slam Breakfast back home and it was had for about $6 USD. This was pure comfort food in a real diner setting. As an editorial, I recognize that $6 USD for a meal is out of reach for many locals to eat here but that does not negate the impressiveness of getting a local-style meal out of a chain diner from my motherland. It changed my mind about Denny's internationally for sure.
The service was friendly but a bit distracted with other duties (granted, it was middle of the night so they were undoubtedly trying to ready the place for the coming morning rush) and the few other customers in the place were either trying to stay awake with the free coffee or trying to sober up from their rough night after bar close. That only lent itself to the feel of a midnight diner where the only persons in the place were just trying to find a safe spot indoors to wait out the difficulties of darkness. For being in the middle of the ocean, they definitely got the American continent middle of the night genre spot on.
Way to go, Denny's for changing my mind about an American chain diner in the middle of Asia. I'm now a believer. read more