‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ creates new clamor for Binondo restaurant

MANILA, Philippines — “Mas masaya na kami ngayon.”

Such was how Salvador Rose, a waiter at Binondo’s heritage Masuki restaurant, described the surge of foodies and video bloggers (vloggers) into their humble diner in Benavidez Street, Binondo, Manila, ever since hit DonBelle-starrer ABS-CBN and Netflix series “Can’t Buy Me Love” featured the restaurant as the venue of the first date of one of the series’ most viral love teams, SnoRene or Snoop and Irene, the characters played by Anthony Jennings and Maris Racal.

SnoRene's famous first date scene has been immortalized at the center of the diner's photo wall.

Also among the articles framed and displayed in the restaurant is a Philstar.com story on the diner’s history, which says that Masuki Mami House opened in 1930 in Binondo. Then called Ma Kong Mami House, it was later renamed as Masuki when it relocated to its present location. In 2004, its Chinese corporation owner, which included members Bowie Kho and Willen Ma, opened a branch in Sekai Center in Greenhills, Ortigas, Pasig City.

Since then, the diner has been known for its homemade miki noodles and has been claimed to be as Binondo’s first and original mami house.

Masuki is among the restaurants included in the newly launched Coca-Cola Foodmarks campaign, which aims to put a spotlight on unique “food landmarks” that define vibrant Filipino culture. As part of the campaign, Masuki has been awarded with the campaign’s signage, which marks it as a heritage dining spot in the world’s oldest Chinatown and Manila’s gastronomic center, Binondo.

As part of the campaign, Masuki can also be found as among the food landmarks suggested for diners to try when they use the campaign’s mobile application made in partnership with Time Out. The Philippines-specific map can be viewed at https://www.coca-cola.com/ph/en/offerings/foodmarks.

"Meals represent the most significant occasion for Coca-Cola in the ASEAN and South Pacific region. Foodmarks go beyond the simple act of dining; they represent the collective joy and exploration of hidden culinary gems within the dynamic, bustling food scenes,” stated Teejae Sonza, Senior Marketing Director of Coca-Cola Trademark, ASEAN and