Inside the Industry: Thai street food with Same Same Kapitolyo

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With each employer closing shop soon after hiring him, former advertising professional GJ Coleco felt like all the signs pointed to office life not being for him. So he too packed up and went on a vacation in Thailand to figure things out.

A short stay went on to become two years of cooking and teaching abroad for GJ. When he got back to the Philippines, he opened Same Same Thai Satay Bar in food hotspot Kapitolyo to bring home his favorite Thai street dishes.

It’s easy to get new customers, but keeping them is the challenge.

GJ Coleco, owner of Same Same Thai Satay Bar

When the pandemic hit, Same Same risked losing touch with its customer base – mostly comprised of young Ortigas professionals, looking to unwind after a long day at the office.

In addition to going on the usual delivery apps – which may have limited areas of service – GJ took to Viber and Instagram to ensure that he reaches his loyal customers wherever they may be.

GJ shares the challenges of bringing diverse Thai food to the Philippine market and entering the digital space, where restaurants and home businesses compete for equal footing.

If you like this episode, you might also enjoy The future of dining with Sweet Ecstasy and Restaurants and financial planning with Zzlleenn Lee.

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