Founded in 2008 by culinary enthusiasts Laura Murayama, Timothy Sarvida and Sam Faj Calaca, El Buono started out as a humble pizza store in Mandaluyong City. Its unique concept of supersizing classic culinary favorites like pizza, burger, iced tea and ice cream afforded the store a welcome expansion in 2009, paving the way for four more branches in Metro Manila and Greater Manila areas: Makati Cinema Square; BF Homes Paranaque; Dasmarinas, Cavite; and Morayta, Manila. In 2011, El Buono decided to cease operations of its other branches to give room for the brand’s flagship branch in Tomas Morato. The flagship store held its soft opening in March of 2012. Owing to El Buono’s loyal clientele comprising television crews and local celebrities, the owners chose to open their flagship branch in the Tomas Morato area in consideration of the store’s proximity to local TV networks.
