Looking for a great meal with friends and family? Filipinos love Moment Group restaurants to satisfy any craving. Whether you want Japanese food from Ooma or juicy burgers from 8Cuts, Moment Group has it all.

Today, Moment Group has 56 branches all over the Philippines.

And they even open a new restaurant around every 56 days!

But their success story started small, built on a shared passion for food and the belief that dining is more than just eating—it’s about making memories.

Let’s explore the journey of Moment Group and how they turned their passion into a dining empire.

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🍽️ Humble beginnings

The story of Moment Group began in 2012, with three friends who shared a love for food: Abba Napa, Eli Antonino, and Jon Syjuco.

While sitting in their living room, they started brainstorming. They wanted to create restaurants that served good food and made people feel at home right away.  

Malls were looking for restaurants to fill up their spaces. And people were looking for great restaurants to celebrate milestones in.

But starting a restaurant business in the highly competitive food scene of Manila wasn’t easy.

They poured their savings and energy into opening their first restaurant, Manam. They wanted to create Filipino comfort food with a twist.

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💥 Leap of faith

But they faced many challenges. Filipino families passed down those recipes from one generation to another. Every family had a different approach.

They’d have unique ways of doing things, but they kept their traditions alive!

The Moment Group wondered how people would react to their modern twists on Filipino classics. What if people didn’t like their ideas?

But they stuck to their vision. The team believed that this would be a big step forward for Filipino cuisine.

“It’s a business that requires you to be hands-on.There’s no getting around a 200-percent commitment of your mind, your creativity and your time,” said Abba.

The Moment Group’s hard work paid off. People started falling in love with Manam’s signature dishes, like ‘sinigang na baboy sa watermelon’ (a sour soup with pork and watermelon) and ‘crispy pancit palabok’ (a noodle dish covered in savory sauce)!

With the success of Manam, the team realized they were onto something special. They believed they could create more restaurants for Filipino families to make memories together.

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🚀 One restaurant at a time

The success of Manam was just the beginning. “The first thing we think about is not the bottom line,” said Abba

“Can we give people happiness through what we create? We need to ensure this created value is worthy of their tummy and wallet space, not just today but also tomorrow.”

They also had an idea for a burger joint called 8Cuts. The team was nervous to pitch their idea to SM, a Filipino retail giant, for a spot in their mall. “We were no one in the industry, newly entered, and are so appreciative that SM took their chances on us,” says Jon.

They followed this up with Ooma, a casual Japanese restaurant that was known for its delicious sushi rolls!

But the Moment Group is not just focused on creating new brands. They’ve also brought in the world-famous Din Tai Fung with its delicious xiao long bao!  

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📈 Learning to pivot

Moment Group grew quickly, but they faced some bumps in the road.

With so many restaurants opening so quickly, they had to make sure that their food and service were consistent.

“We want to make sure that each and every person on Team Moment loves what they do and is prepared to face our everyday challenges,” said Eliza. “Ultimately, we want them to head home proud of what they’ve done and with their heads held high.”

When the pandemic hit, things got even more difficult. Restaurants were closing down quickly.

The Moment Group wasn’t ready to give up. They adapted their recipes to be just as delicious when people ordered them for delivery and takeout.

They also started turning their most beloved meals into frozen food products! This way, people could still get a taste of the Moment Group from the comfort of their homes.

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🌍 Here and now

Today, Moment Group operates over a dozen restaurants, each with its own personality and charm.

They keep innovating their food so Filipinos everywhere can access their delicious meals! They recently partnered with 7/11 to create ready-to-heat meals in 2,000 stores all over the Philippines.

The Moment Group just started expanding overseas with their first restaurant in Singapore. It’s a Filipino restaurant called “Hayop” that brings some of their classic dishes from Manam with Singaporean ingredients.  

Wherever they go, each Moment Group restaurant stays true to its mission: creating unforgettable meals.