Our BRANDS

experience the flavours of the world.

1979

Café Laguna, the flagship restaurant of the Laguna Group, began as a 10-table carenderia called Mother’s Best in an a partment that Mrs. Urbina was renting.

1980

In the 1980s, Julita Urbina ventured into catering which became a hit, eventually serving Cebu’s top companies. From the beginning, Mrs. Urbina’s children showed their support by helping out even while studying.

1991

Julita Urbina renovated the family’s apartment space, expanded the venue, and re-opened it as Café Laguna, serving delicious authentic Filipino dishes, which evoke the goodness of home-cooked meals in a mother’s kitchen. Purely through word of mouth, the restaurant became an overnight success. Everyone went for a taste, and always came back for more, especially for her trademark Puto Bumbong (steamed purple sticky rice), which many say was unlike any other.

1994

Café Laguna opened in Ayala Center Cebu as the first food-category locator.

1999

Laguna Garden Cafe opened at what is now The Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu.

2004

On July 2004, Café Laguna’s first franchise outlet and branch outside of Cebu opens in Cagayan de Oro City.

2005

The Laguna Group’s Vietnamese-Thai restaurant, Lemon Grass, was opened at Ayala Center Cebu. That same year, Mrs. Urbina’s son, Raki, took on the role as the group’s Corporate Chef upon finishing his advanced culinary studies at the Culinary Institute of America. Through Chef Raki and Mrs. Urbina’s collaboration, hard work, and passion for cooking, Laguna Catering became an instant favorite in Cebu.

2008

Café Laguna opens at the Northwing, SM City Cebu

2009

Café Laguna opens at SM City Iloilo

2010

Café Laguna opens at Hotel Nicanor in Dumaguete City

2013

July
Café Laguna opens at Veranza Mall in General Santos City

December
Ulli’s Streets of Asia, a melting pot of Asian flavors, opens its doors at the top floor of the Ayala Center Cebu’s new wing. It has since moved to Level 1, The Alcoves of the same mall.

2015

February
Laguna Group launches a tribute to Cebu called Parilya located at Il Corso, City de Mare, Cebu South Road Properties.

December
Café Laguna opens at the SM Seaside City Cebu

2016

Ulli’s Streets of Asia opens at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport

2018

Café Laguna opens two new locations: Robinsons Place Ormoc and Azuela Cove, Davao

Lemon Grass’s first franchise is unveiled at Ayala Capitol Central, Bacolod. A second company-owned branch also opens at the SM Seaside City Cebu.

2019

Ulli’s Streets of Asia moves to its new location at Level 1, The Alcoves of Ayala Center Cebu.

2020

Café Laguna opens at Terminal 1, Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Our HISTORY

Creating landmarks for wholesome & delicious cuisine

1980

In the 1980s, Julita Urbina ventured into catering which became a hit, eventually serving Cebu’s top companies. From the beginning, Mrs. Urbina’s children showed their support by helping out even while studying.

1991

Julita Urbina renovated the family’s apartment space, expanded the venue, and re-opened it as Café Laguna, serving delicious authentic Filipino dishes, which evoke the goodness of home-cooked meals in a mother’s kitchen. Purely through word of mouth, the restaurant became an overnight success. Everyone went for a taste, and always came back for more, especially for her trademark Puto Bumbong (steamed purple sticky rice), which many say was unlike any other.

1994

Café Laguna opened in Ayala Center Cebu as the first food-category locator.

1999

Laguna Garden Cafe opened at what is now The Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu.

2004

On July 2004, Café Laguna’s first franchise outlet and branch outside of Cebu opens in Cagayan de Oro City.

2005

The Laguna Group’s Vietnamese-Thai restaurant, Lemon Grass, was opened at Ayala Center Cebu.

That same year, Mrs. Urbina’s son, Raki, took on the role as the group’s Corporate Chef upon finishing his advanced culinary studies at the Culinary Institute of America. Through Chef Raki and Mrs. Urbina’s collaboration, hard work, and passion for cooking, Laguna Catering became an instant favorite in Cebu.

2008

Café Laguna opens at the Northwing, SM City Cebu

2009

Café Laguna opens at SM City Iloilo

2010

Café Laguna opens at Hotel Nicanor in Dumaguete City

2013

July
Café Laguna opens at Veranza Mall in General Santos City

December
Ulli’s Streets of Asia, a melting pot of Asian flavors, opens its doors at the top floor of the Ayala Center Cebu’s new wing. It has since moved to Level 1, The Alcoves of the same mall

2015

February
Laguna Group launches a tribute to Cebu called Parilya located at Il Corso, City de Mare, Cebu South Road Properties.


December
Café Laguna opens at the SM Seaside City Cebu

2016

Ulli’s Streets of Asia opens at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport

2018

Café Laguna opens two new locations: Robinsons Place Ormoc and Azuela Cove, Davao

 

Lemon Grass’s first franchise is unveiled at Ayala Capitol Central, Bacolod. A second company-owned branch also opens at the SM Seaside City Cebu.

2019

Ulli’s Streets of Asia moves to its new location at Level 1, The Alcoves of Ayala Center Cebu.

2020

Café Laguna opens at Terminal 1, Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

2022

Café Laguna opens a second outlet at the Mactan Cebu International Airport, this time at the Terminal 1 Departure wing.

2023

May

Ulli’s Streets of Asia opens at IL Corso, Cebu SRP

 

September

Café Laguna opens its newest branch at The Mall NUSTAR

 

1980

In the 1980s, Julita Urbina ventured into catering which became a hit, eventually serving Cebu’s top companies. From the beginning, Mrs. Urbina’s children showed their support by helping out even while studying.

1991

Julita Urbina renovated the family’s apartment space, expanded the venue, and re-opened it as Café Laguna, serving delicious authentic Filipino dishes, which evoke the goodness of home-cooked meals in a mother’s kitchen. Purely through word of mouth, the restaurant became an overnight success. Everyone went for a taste, and always came back for more, especially for her trademark Puto Bumbong (steamed purple sticky rice), which many say was unlike any other.

1994

Café Laguna opened in Ayala Center Cebu as the first food-category locator.

1999

Laguna Garden Cafe opened at what is now The Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu.

2004

On July 2004, Café Laguna’s first franchise outlet and branch outside of Cebu opens in Cagayan de Oro City.

2005

The Laguna Group’s Vietnamese-Thai restaurant, Lemon Grass, was opened at Ayala Center Cebu.

That same year, Mrs. Urbina’s son, Raki, took on the role as the group’s Corporate Chef upon finishing his advanced culinary studies at the Culinary Institute of America. Through Chef Raki and Mrs. Urbina’s collaboration, hard work, and passion for cooking, Laguna Catering became an instant favorite in Cebu.

2008

Café Laguna opens at the Northwing, SM City Cebu

2009

Café Laguna opens at SM City Iloilo

2010

Café Laguna opens at Hotel Nicanor in Dumaguete City

2013

July
Café Laguna opens at Veranza Mall in General Santos City

December
Ulli’s Streets of Asia, a melting pot of Asian flavors, opens its doors at the top floor of the Ayala Center Cebu’s new wing. It has since moved to Level 1, The Alcoves of the same mall

2015

February
Laguna Group launches a tribute to Cebu called Parilya located at Il Corso, City de Mare, Cebu South Road Properties.


December
Café Laguna opens at the SM Seaside City Cebu

2016

Ulli’s Streets of Asia opens at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport

2018

Café Laguna opens two new locations: Robinsons Place Ormoc and Azuela Cove, Davao


Lemon Grass’s first franchise is unveiled at Ayala Capitol Central, Bacolod. A second company-owned branch also opens at the SM Seaside City Cebu

2019

Ulli’s Streets of Asia moves to its new location at Level 1, The Alcoves of Ayala Center Cebu.

2020

Café Laguna opens at Terminal 1, Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Awards and Achievements

1999

First Locator, Food Category
First Locator, Garden Row
Ayala Center Cebu

2000

Award of Merit, The Cleanest Restaurant
Cebu Medical Society, Inc.

 

2002

Entrepreneur of the Year
Grand Chamber Awards - Cebu Business Month
Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry

 

2004

Store Operations Excellence
Ayala Center Cebu

 

2006

Entrepreneur of the Year
Small Business Category
Ernst and Young Philippines

2007

Best Filipino Restaurant, Editor’s & Reader’s Choice The 2007 Zee Bigfoot Choice Awards
Zee Lifestyle

 

2008

Business Entrepreneurship
Cabuyao Awards
Sagisag ng Cabuyao (Laguna)

Cleanest Restaurant of the Year
Cebu Medical Society Inc.

2009

Store Operations Excellence
awarded by Ayala Center Cebu

2008 Marketing Partner
11th Annual Ayala Malls Merchant Rewards
Ayala Malls

Outstanding Filipino Retailer, Cebu Search
Outstanding Filipino Retailer, National Search
Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA)

2010

Valuable Entrepreneur
Perlas Awards
Philippines Foundation, Inc.

Best Crispy Pata
SOOO Pinoy
Unilever Foodsolutions, Department of Tourism, Philippine Daily Inquirer

December, 2010
Outstanding Filipino Retailer, Cebu Search
Outstanding Filipino Retailer, National Search
DTI & Phil. Retailers Association

2011

Top 5 Merchants with Green Initiatives
Earth Hour Celebration
Ayala Center Cebu

Best Pinakbet
Best Bulalo
SOOO Pinoy
Unilever Foodsolutions, Department of Tourism, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship, Small Scale
AGORA Awards
Philippine Marketing Association

2012

Philippines' Best Restaurants
awarded by Philippine Tatler Dining

Certificate of Excellence
TripAdvisor

2013

Accredited Member
Hotel, Resort, and Restaurant Association of Cebu, Inc. (HRRACI)
Café Laguna
Philippines’ Best Restaurants
Tatler Dining Philippines

Certificate of Excellence
TripAdvisor

Most Promising Retailer
DTI & Phil. Retailers Association

2014

Philippines’ Best Restaurants
Tatler Dining Philippines

2015

Laguna Garden Café
Finalist, Regional Retailer of the Year
Philippine Retailers Association

Café Laguna
Best Filipino Restaurant
Best of Cebu
SunStar Cebu

Sustainability Leadership Award
Ayala Center Cebu

Café Laguna
Philippines’ Best Restaurants
Tatler Dining Philippines

2016

Laguna Catering
Best Catering Service
Best of Cebu
SunStar Cebu

Café Laguna
Philippines’ Best Restaurants
Tatler Dining Philippines

2017

Laguna Catering
Best Catering Service
Best of Cebu
SunStar Cebu

Café Laguna
Philippines’ Best Restaurants
Tatler Dining Philippines

2018

Café Laguna
Philippines’ Best Restaurants
Tatler Dining Philippines

2019

Laguna Catering
Best Catering Service
Best of Cebu
SunStar Cebu

Café Laguna
Philippines’ Best Restaurants
Tatler Dining Philippines

2020

Café Laguna
Philippines’ Best Restaurants
Tatler Dining Philippines

Puto Bumbong, Café Laguna
Best Kakanin
SunStar Best of Cebu

Café Laguna
Best Palabok
SunStar Best of Cebu

2021

Café Laguna

Philippines' Best Restaurants

Philippine Tatler Dining

 

Café Laguna

Best Filipino Restaurant

Sunstar Cebu

 

Café Laguna

Puto Bumbong - Best Kakanin

Sunstar Cebu

 

Café Laguna

Best Palabok

Sunstar Cebu

2022

Café Laguna

Philippines' Best Restaurants

Philippine Tatler Dining

Franchising

Franchising-04

Buisness concept

At the Laguna Group of Companies, we are eager to share our love for good food and our well-established restaurant concepts with you.

initial investment:

One-time fee, to cover the following:
1. Pre-operating support & services
2. Initial training
3. Opening assistance
4. Marketing support
5. Supervision fee
6. Operations manual
7. Research & development

site requirements:

1. Presence of class A, B and upper C income population
2. High vehicular and foot traffic
3. Accessibility of customers
4. Ample parking space
5. Visibility of the site
6. Preferably in an upscale mall 200-250 sq.m.

other investments:

1. Leasehold improvement
2. Store equipment
3. Office supplies
4. Kitchen and dining ware
5. Furniture, fixtures and decors

how to become a franchisee?

Send a letter of intent to:
Mrs. Gilda U. Viado – Franchise Director
Café Laguna
Level 1, Ayala Center, Cebu Business Park
Cebu City, Philippines 6000
Tel No: (032) 231 0922 / 0917 590 3662

Enclose the location map of the site with landmarks. We will pre-qualify your application and call you for a meeting where we will explain the Application procedure including the franchise investment package.

existing franchises

Café Laguna
Hotel Nicanor, Dumaguete • Robinsons Place, Ormoc • Mallberry Suites, Cagayan de Oro • Veranza Mall, Gen. Santos

Lemon Grass
Ayala Capitol Central, Bacolod

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