Best native chicken in town at Toryano’s

Victoriano M. Yee, Jr., owner of Toryano’s holding the 2009 National Shopper’s Choice Award with his staff. photo by junnex chua, jr

EATING is one indulgence that human could not do without even in times of deepest financial crisis or natural disaster. And Filipinos love to eat. So no wonder food industry is one of the most dynamic, if not the fastest economic stimuli of the country, perhaps second only to the remittances of our Overseas Filipino Workers. Steamy food is served until the wee hours of the morning from the multi-colored streets of Ermita in Manila to the sodium-lighted sidewalks of Magallanes Street in Davao City.

But not all food outlets are the same. Some are a real treat but very expensive and many are just copycats and boring. But only very few really catch the taste of what is called a truly delighting sumptuous Filipino meal. And one that comes very close to it is Toryano's Chicken House, located fronting across Camus Street from the entrance of Apo View Hotel. "Toryano's specialty is our now famous native chicken barbecue aside from our mostly Filipino and unique Dabawenyo dishes," says Victoriano M. Yee, Jr., the soft-spoken and friendly owner. "We try to make our food line more like simple ‘lutong bahay' delicacies without unnecessary fuzz but with added value on quality and good service," he said. Among its customer's unique favorites are "baka't-bawang" and garlic kangkong with deep flavors of lemon grass and other herbs.

Rightly so, Toryano's was chosen as 2009 National Shopper's Choice and Annual Awardee as No.1 Native Chicken House in Davao City and is vying for the same distinction in 2010. It was listed in Chef Gene Gonzales' 10 best dining destinations in the country of the year in his column at Manila Bulletin on December 30, 2010. Gonzales is an internationally-acclaimed food and dining authority of the county. Only barely over two years in the business, Toryano's has already established a large number of followers among health conscious customers who prefer native chicken being fed and raised naturally over other breeds of chicken mostly offered in other chicken houses. The two large heaps of used barbecue sticks at the Camus Main Branch and those that adorn all other Toryano's branches are proof that it is indeed Davao's No.1 barbecue house.

Starting the business is not easy. Jun, as he is fondly called by friends, is an engineer by profession who has the passion for food and cooking. He did not give up doing business after failing three times. "Toryano's is my fourth business venture and I thanked God that it clicked with the help of some relatives and friends," Jun confided. Well not a bad feat though because I know a friend who made it big after failing 33 times. He is not worried about the state of the economy or the stiff competition among the burgeoning number of barbecue houses in the city because he believes Toryano's has an edge over them. "People eat even in bad situation and they are starting to be health conscious and going natural. So our marching call is growing, expanding and innovating", he added.

Founded in August 8, 2008 it started in a small place along Ilustre and later expanded to Camus Street as its main branch. A branch was then opened in Tagum City and hopefully the Buhagin Branch will open in February this year. Jun is also seeking good location to setup branches in the cities of Cebu, General Santos and Cagayan de Oro soon. He is also into a unique Own-A-Taxi program to give opportunity for poor but deserving drivers to own their taxi units while driving. "It is my own way of helping the poor and share my blessing to them because I also rose from their rank," he concluded.

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