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Angel’s Burger, and their road to becoming “Burger ng Bayan”

Few things make one’s mouth water quite like the smell of beef burger patties cooking on the grill. Chances are, you’ve had the experience of walking along the street, and then suddenly that beefy smell gets your attention. We know that you know what we’re talking about. Angel’s Burger has been a beloved staple of Filipinos looking for that burger fix for years – but have you ever wondered how they started?

They are one of, if not the most, ubiquitous burger chains in the country. Angel’s Burger has been filling the stomachs of Filipinos for over 2 decades now. Not only are their burgers tasty and affordable, but they pioneered the trend of “buy 1, take 1” burgers. Many have attempted to copy, but nothing beats the original!

The Birth of Angel’s Burger

Like most success stories, Angel’s Burger started from humble beginnings.

Owners Joseph and Vicky Mojica took a leap of faith way back in the 90s. They were ordinary bank employees, but decided to try their hand at putting up their own business. They resigned from their jobs to take a leap of faith. One of the businesses they tried was to franchise a burger restaurant. They went into all sorts of businesses at that point just to make it.

When their daughter Angel was born, Vicky had an idea. They asked for permission from their franchiser to start a similar burger business of their own. So, in 1997, they built their first burger shop, and named it after their daughter. That’s when they started the “buy 1, take 1” trend.

Their first branch was in Sikatuna, in Quezon City. initial capital was only ₱20,000 at the time, with the freezer taking up half the budget. They were making their patties and buns at home. However, if you can’t recall the chain from the late 90s, that’s because their first try at Angel’s Burger wasn’t actually so successful.

A Lucky Turn of Events

Both Joseph and Vicky decided to become Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to tide their way through business challenges. It was a tough situation, as they had to leave their children behind in the Philippines.

However, luck was on their side, quite literally. It was only supposed to be a weekend away at Las Vegas. But in an amazing turn of events, Vicky actually won the jackpot on a slot machine during the Vegas trip. She won $10,000, which was under ₱500,000 pesos at the time. The couple immediately decided to return home and give Angel’s Burger another shot.

“Paguwi namin  ginamit po namin ang lahat ng pera para pagandahin po ang Angel’s. Binago namin ang pamamaraan ng pasweldo, ang pagkain lalo namin pinasarap, at iyong itsura po binago namin,” shared Vicky.

With the rebranding, and the drive to constantly improve their recipe, things started to take off – and the rest is history.

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A Family Affair

Many people may remain doubtful of their “buy 1, take 1” strategy, thinking that it’s not sustainable nor profitable. However, this is exactly the model that drove them to success. In fact, they recently celebrated their 24th anniversary just last year!

Angel’s Burger now has over 1,300 branches nationwide. They even opened their 11th commissary in Marikina just last 2019. Currently, their branches and kiosks produce over 30 tons of burgers daily. Their tagline, “Burger ng Bayan,” is very apt, as most Filipinos have, at some point in their life, enjoyed their tasty burgers.

This family-owned business shows no signs of stopping. Aside from Joseph and Vicky, their children Cholo, Joma, and Angel are also working for the family business. Their daughter Angel, who is now all grown up, is now acting as the Assistant Finance Officer of Angel’s Burger.

Their story is one for the books. It shows that with a dream, some persistence, and a little bit of luck, anyone can strive for a better future.

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