Brace yourselves, seafood-loving Manila foodies! The foreign restaurant chain invasion continues with the opening of the first Long John Silver's Restaurant in Manila.
Select VIP guests and members of the press were invited to sample Long John Silver's bestsellers
Named after the primary antagonist in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, Long John Silver's is America's largest seafood restaurant concept, with over 1200 branches worldwide. Long John Silver's is famous for its trademark fish and chips, made from imported Alaskan Pollock, then battered in store. Other sought-after items are its popcorn shrimps and hushpuppies.
Engr. Morgan Say, CEO of Capital Wise Group LTD. which brought the brand to the country is a personal fan of the restaurant. He describes the menu as something "unique and is something that the Filipinos would love because it is unlike most fast food outlets here which serve primarily chicken and burger.” During his frequent travels to the US and Singapore, Morgan would always drop by and LJS branch because he loves seafood and one does not always get to eat them at a quick service restaurant.
Long John Silver's is just one of the long list of international chains to conquer Manila. But unlike its counterparts, Long John Silver's price points are even lower than some of the local chains. One can have a Fish Tender & Rice meal here for only P49. A Fish Tender with Chicken Tender, and Rice meal will only cost P89. Hushpuppies sell at 3 for P25. The priciest item in the current menu is an 8-piece Chicken Meal for an entire family priced at P469.
Despite the intense competition in the restaurant industry right now, Morgan has high hopes for the brand. "For the next five years, we are looking at: at least 100 branches nationwide. After this branch in SM Manila, we are targeting locations in Mandaluyong, Makati, and the Fort," he positively projects.
About the brand
Long John Silver's started in 1969, when Jim Patterson went on a vacation and experienced a truly exceptional fish and chips meal. An enterprising businessman, Jim tried his best to replicate the experience for his fellow Americans. What followed is an aggressive expansion across the country as well as overseas. Today, Long John Silver's is present in Asia in Singapore and the Philippines.
