How I started I started Silog Rice Above

I’ve always been in love with cooking ever since I was a kid. I used to sit in the kitchen and watch my mom cook every day — that’s really where it all began. I didn’t realize it then, but that’s when I started falling in love with food and how it brings people together.

 

When I was 18, my family and I moved to the United States in 2013. Two years later, I decided to follow my passion and went to culinary school in San Diego and San Francisco. After graduating, I started working as a cook at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where I learned the importance of quality, consistency, and discipline in the kitchen. Later, I moved to Los Angeles and worked as a restaurant manager, which taught me the business side — how to take care of both the team and the guests. Those experiences helped me understand every part of running a restaurant, from the kitchen to the front of the house.

 

A few years ago, I went back to the Philippines after ten years of living in the States. During that trip, my family and I would often visit a small Filipino breakfast spot — the kind of place that felt warm, simple, and full of home. That’s when the idea came to me: Why not bring this Filipino breakfast experience to Los Angeles?

 

When I came back, I started working on the idea right away. I spent a year developing the menu, writing my business plan, and saving up to make it happen. That’s how Silog Rice Above was born.

 

It’s always been my dream to open my own kitchen — a place where I could share my love for Filipino food. With the experience and knowledge I’ve gained through the years, I was finally able to bring that dream to life.

 

For me, Silog Rice Above isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a piece of home. It’s my way of sharing Filipino comfort food not only with my fellow kababayans but also with people from all backgrounds. I want everyone to experience what Filipino food truly feels like — warm, comforting, and made with heart.

 

Every challenge has taught me something valuable. Through it all, my love for food and my dream to share a taste of home continue to drive me. Silog Rice Above is more than a business — it’s my story, my passion, and my way of giving others the same feeling of comfort and connection that food has always given me.