MANILA – The man behind Tokyo Bubble Tea and Honeybon has a new restaurant concept – and it’s not Japanese.

Located at The Block at SM North EDSA in Quezon City, Gringo is a South American restaurant serving grilled chicken and ribs in a homey setting.

Contrary to what most people think, Gringo is not the name of the owner of this restaurant – he is a fictional character, a man who “likes hosting get-togethers” and “cooking up a mean Mexican-Latin feast.”

Restaurateur Reagan Tan said this is their way of standing out from the sea of chicken and ribs concepts in Metro Manila.

“Iyong personality kasi ng brand is very important,” Tan told ABS-CBN News and selected members of the media during the launch of Gringo. “Nowadays kailangan may emotions, may feelings ang brand kasi ang dami nang ribs, ang dami nang chicken [restaurants].”

“Si Gringo, ang personality niya is everybody’s welcome. Iyong vibe at design ay na-create because of that inspiration.”

Gringo’s first branch at The Block can accommodate 45 customers at a time, a number that Tan considers quite small for the concept.

He said they have plans to open bigger restaurants at Burgos Circle in Taguig and at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong.

“Sa Burgos Circle, 60-seater kami, then for Megamall, baka umabot kami ng 120 seats. Malaki ‘yun, eh,” Tan said. “Our target opening is August at Megamall and June sa Burgos Circle.”

The food

Tan, who describes himself as a “non-practicing chef,” developed the recipes for Gringo, just like in their other concepts.

He said he thought of serving chicken and ribs instead of burritos saying that Filipinos don’t usually eat the latter on a daily basis.

“Iyong burritos kasi usually hindi inaaraw-araw ng Filipino, so we launched a South American concept with chicken and ribs para pwedeng araw-arawin,” said Tan, who studied culinary arts in Canada before opening Tokyo Bubble Tea.

Gringo’s chicken comes in two varieties – Original and Southern Spice – while the ribs are served in the restaurant’s signature barbecue sauce. These are best enjoyed with side dishes such as beans, potato salad, fries, Mexican rice, and even a serving of okra.

While these two are the stars in Gringo’s menu, this place also has something for everyone – nachos, tacos, burritos, boneless catfish with salsa, and baked mussels with cheese, among others.

Most of the dishes are made for sharing and the flavors bright and just right for Filipino palates, all without sacrificing authenticity.

But perhaps the best thing about Gringo is its prices – your P300 can certainly go a long way.

Taking all these into consideration, Gringo is the new kid on the block that is definitely worth a visit.