Lance Joseph Martinez

You’ve Seen Chef Jorge Mendez on Pinoy Big Brother—Now Here’s Where to Find His Restaurants

Article (news)

<p>Many netizens—especially devoted <strong><em>Pinoy Big Brother </em></strong>viewers—have recently found themselves curious about <strong>Chef Jorge Mendez</strong> following his memorable stint inside the <strong>PBB</strong> <strong>ho</strong><strong>use.</strong></p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769732667688viber_image_2026-01-30_08-24-10-486.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Chef Jorge Mendez inside the Pinoy Big Brother house | Screenshot from Pinoy Big Brother via YouTube</span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">Bringing his culinary mastery from his restaurants into the iconic house, Chef Jorge treated the housemates to a rare upgrade from their usual meals. With his daughter, <strong>Caprice Cayetano</strong>, among the housemates, the celebrated chef prepared a special omelet breakfast that instantly became one of the best morning spreads ever seen on the show, giving everyone the energy boost they needed for their weekly task.</p><p>While his appearance on one of the Philippines’ most popular reality shows introduced him to a wider audience, Chef Jorge has long been a respected name beyond television. He is a well-known figure in both the local and international food scene, having built a reputation through several premier restaurants across the country that offer elevated fine dining experiences.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769732548819hosehorhe_1704084928_3270423878035078093_185023563 (1).jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Chef Jorge&#x27;s family | Photo from @hosehorhe</span></span></span></div><p>In the culinary industry, Chef Jorge is widely recognized for his work as a research and development chef for the beloved Italian restaurant chain <strong>Cibo</strong>, where he also served for many years as the right-hand man of the late <strong>Margarita Forés</strong>. Today, he continues to lead the brand as its <strong>Executive Chef</strong> and <strong>Creative Director. </strong>His restaurants have earned rave reviews and numerous accolades, with two of his establishments even gaining recognition from the <strong>Michelin Guide.</strong></p><p>As curiosity about his food continues to grow, <strong>here’s a guide to where you can experience Chef Jorge Mendez’s cooking through his standout restaurants across Metro Manila.</strong></p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Mōdan</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769731779791modan.mnl_1688985659_3143762025893446730_9153592929.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Aged Buri, Tosa, Radish, Coconut vin, Sweet Potato, Ikura Tostada | Photo from @modan.mnl</span></span></span></div><p>Opened in 2022, <strong>Mōdan</strong>—whose name translates literally from Japanese as “modern”—has quickly become one of Metro Manila’s most talked-about dining destinations. Helmed by Chef Jorge Mendez, the restaurant presents a progressive Japanese degustation menu, combining locally sourced ingredients with premium imports from Japan, all crafted through what the chef calls “neo-traditional Japanese techniques.”</p><p>Since its debut in the last quarter of 2022, Mōdan has earned glowing reviews, drawing even the most discerning food enthusiasts with Chef Mendez’s inventive and refreshing approach to Japanese cuisine.</p><p>At the heart of Mōdan lies a deeply personal story.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769731890389modan.mnl_1696266294_3204836422674307915_9153592929.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Boten Ebi Chawanmushi | Photo by Pol Divina via @modan.mnl</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769731972068modan.mnl_1735678165_3535447158193866292_9153592929.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Mōdan&#x27;s team members | Photo by Pol Divina via @modan.mnl</span></span></span></div><p>Chef Mendez’s first menu, Ode, pays tribute to the people who shaped his culinary journey—especially his mother, a show band singer who often prepared Japanese dishes for the family. Miso soup and tempura were his first tastes of Japanese cuisine, memories that now come alive in the opening course of Ode: a miso-inspired taro cream and onion soup paired with beef tendon tempura on a skewer, where a golden, crisp exterior conceals a rich, gelatinous center.</p><p>While Ode honors the figures who inspired his early path, Chef Jorge’s second menu draws inspiration from the orizuru, the traditional origami crane, symbolizing cherished moments with his mother and the time he now shares with his son.</p><p>Capping its rise, Mōdan was named a Michelin Selected restaurant in the <strong>2026 MICHELIN Guide.</strong></p><p>Tucked away at <strong>Unit 5, Level 1 of Escalades East Tower on 20th Avenue</strong> in <strong>Cubao</strong><strong>, Quezon City,</strong> Modan welcomes diners from Wednesday to Sunday.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://metro.style/food/restaurants/modan-second-menu-inspired-by-origami/35775"><strong>Read More: Mōdan&#x27;s Second Menu Is Inspired By Origami </strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Some Thai</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769732061190somethaiph_1768879976_3813964125986485361_64824004543.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @somethaiph</span></span></span></div><p>While <strong>Some Thai</strong> first made waves with its main branch in <strong>Tomas Morato, Quezon City</strong> in 2024, Chef Jorge Mendez’s bold Thai concept has officially landed in Ortigas with a new outpost launched in 2025, staking its claim in the heart of the district’s fast-rising dining scene, now a playground for adventurous eaters and destination-worthy restaurants.</p><p>At Some Thai, the cooking is deeply personal rather than rigidly traditional. Chef Mendez lets instinct, memory, and appetite lead the way, choosing feeling over fixed ideas of authenticity. But this freedom is anything but careless. Each dish is anchored in discipline, precision, and a deep understanding of technique.</p><p>Standout crowd favorites like the Gaitod Fried Chicken and the papaya salad tossed tableside—served with the flair of a street-side performance—showcase that careful balance of control and confidence. It’s the kind of cooking that comes from knowing the rules intimately, then bending them just enough to keep things exciting and unpredictable.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769732101150somethaiph_1768449602_3810353890505245904_64824004543.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @somethaiph</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769732141971somethaiph_1769484809_3819037832410291227_64824004543.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @somethaiph</span></span></span></div><p>The Ortigas menu keeps beloved hits from the Morato branch, including the Tom Yum, Crab Curry, and Son-in-Raw Egg, while introducing Podium-exclusive dishes that give regulars something new to obsess over. Additions like the Dry Tom Yum Noodles and the sweet Khanom Kho ensure the <strong>Ortigas</strong> branch feels less like a repeat and more like a bold new chapter.</p><p>Adding even more excitement to the experience, Some Thai—like Chef Mendez’s Modan—has been named one of the 25 recipients of the <strong>2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand Award</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://metro.style/food/2025/12/16/some-thai-qc-s-michelin-bib-gourmand-winner-opens-second-branch-at-the-podium-1150"><strong>Read More: Some Thai, QC&#x27;s Michelin Bib Gourmand Winner, Opens Second Branch at The Podium<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Mugen Ramenya</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769732201270mugenramenyaph_1761638422_3753217567004186454_72070695760.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @mugenramenyaph</span></span></span></div><p>Of all the restaurants Chef Jorge Mendez has brought to life, the most personal, and sentimental, remains <strong>Mugen Ramenya.</strong> Inspired by his deep love for Japanese culture, a fascination that began with stories his mother shared with him growing up, the ramen bar is more than a dining spot, it’s a reflection of memory, craft, and identity.</p><p>Tucked along <strong>Maginhawa Street</strong> in <strong>Diliman, Quezon City,</strong> Mugen Ramenya is Chef Jorge’s intimate ode to ramen. Designed as a minimalist bar for solo diners, the space blends Japanese comfort food with intentional, deeply personal details. From the vending-machine–style menu to the house-made noodles, every element feels deliberate, refined, and unmistakably Jorge.</p><p>For diners, the must-try dishes read like a love letter to Japanese flavors with modern twists: the Crab Ramen with tahini tonkotsu broth, Karaage with tamago aioli, Ebi Nuggets with gochujang mayo, Crab Chahan, Wagyu Chahan, the limited-time Crab Claw Bun, and even dessert—Fried Corn Milk with matcha sauce and kinako—round out the experience.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769732245891mugenramenyaph_1761379206_3751043107421433299_72070695760.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Mugen&#x27;s Tantanmen Ramen | Photo from @mugenramenyaph</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769732321169mugenramenyaph_1758276003_3725011554892320191_72070695760.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Mugen&#x27;s Wagyu Ramen | Photo from @mugenramenyaph</span></span></span></div><p>What truly elevates Mugen, however, is what’s inside. The restaurant embraces the Japanese “just for eating” philosophy, stripping the space down to its essentials. A single ramen bar with ten solo stations fills the room, framed by bar stools and a deep crimson palette accented with black and gold. The open kitchen stretches out like a stage, where broth is ladled, noodles are boiled, and toppings are assembled right before your eyes.</p><p>There’s no room for lingering conversations here, and that’s intentional. At Mugen Ramenya, it’s just you, your ramen, and the quiet hum of a kitchen that turns comfort food into a deeply personal experience—one bowl at a time.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://metro.style/metro-style/food/2025/8/14/first-look-modans-chef-jorge-mendez-opens-mugen-ramenya-on-maginhawa-1432"><strong>Read More: First Look: Mōdan&#x27;s Chef Jorge Mendez Opens Mugen Ramenya On Maginhawa<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Makanai</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769732398369makanaiph_1758016866_3722837756524118051_66197543270.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @makanaiph</span></span></span></div><p>At <strong>Makanai</strong>, dinner unfolds like a performance. Luscious donabe are built tableside, steam rising in slow, dramatic plumes—turning each meal into a quiet moment of theater. The restaurant is polished yet inviting, a space born from a dream Chef Jorge Mendez once shared with his late mentor, Margarita Forés.</p><p>Now serving as executive chef of the restaurants Forés once helmed, Mendez sees Makanai as the realization of a long-held vision. The idea traces back to his time collaborating with a Japanese chef abroad, where he repeatedly heard the word makanai!—the joyful call for staff meal, a humble dish made from whatever ingredients were available and shared among the team.</p><p>That spirit followed them everywhere. Mendez would cook adobo and kinilaw for the kitchen crew, while Forés traveled with a maleta filled with essential ingredients from home—small gestures that turned foreign kitchens into places of comfort and connection.</p><p>“Bringing Makanai to life is deeply personal,” Mendez shares. “It’s a tribute to those moments, and to everything Margarita and I shared in and out of the kitchen.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769732438428makanaiph_1768471210_3810535153885854806_66197543270.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Wagyu Shortrib, Kanpachi Crudo, and Beef Gyoza Tartare | Photo from @makanaiph</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769732470030makanaiph_1768726808_3812679265406441007_66197543270.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @makanaiph</span></span></span></div><p>Today, that story lives on at Makanai, located at<strong> Unit 1B West Gallery Place, 9th Avenue corner 28th Street, Taguig,</strong> where diners can experience this intimate, soulful approach to dining daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://metro.style/food/2025/9/16/new-makanai-by-jorge-mendez-turns-japanese-comfort-food-into-playful-art-in-bgc-0925"><strong>Read More: Now Open: Makanai By Jorge Mendez Turns Japanese Comfort Food Into Playful Art In BGC<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Each restaurant by Chef Jorge Mendez carries its own beauty and strength, standing apart while still connected by his unmistakable touch. So if you ask which one is the best, the answer is simple: it depends on your cravings.</p><p>Whether you’re in the mood for comfort, adventure, or quiet indulgence, every table tells a different story. With Chef Jorge, one bite is all it takes to understand—his food doesn’t just satisfy, it speaks.</p><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Though many first discovered him on <i>PBB</i>, Chef Jorge Mendez has long been a respected name in local and international dining—here’s where to experience his food across his standout Metro Manila restaurants.</p>

Though many first discovered him on PBB , Chef Jorge Mendez has long been a respected name in local and international dining—here’s where to experience his food across his standout Metro Manila restaurants.