Amidst her busy schedule—juggling mommy duties to five boys (four children and husband Dexter) and business responsibilities for her Happy Concept Group empire (which includes Happy Home, Le Chon, Tsokolateria, Dear Happy, I Love Backyard BBQ, Pamana, and her Private Dining)—Happy Ongpauco-Tiu makes sure to strike work-play balance by finding both inspiration and relief in travel.
“I fly quite often. Almost once a month. But most of the time, just in neighboring countries, within Asia. I go intercontinental twice a year,” she says. And as a gourmand and someone who has long thrived in the food and beverage industry, her itinerary always has to include well, food.
“Whenever I travel, all I do is eat. I get ideas from the places we go to at the same time. I’m lucky that my children are all gourmands. They look forward to eating. And now that they’re a little bit older, I make them plan the restaurant list. It’s them doing that already.”
She makes it a point to visit at least one fine dining restaurant in their trip. The rest would be casual, she says, as that’s the kind of food she also cooks in her establishments. “More elevated home-cooked meals and cooked from the heart. When I travel, that’s the kind of food I look for.”
Happy cites that her most recent trip to New Zealand was an eye-opener because of what they discovered and got to feast on. “It’s like Australia but better,” she claims. “The food scene there is very happening. People might think that there’s nothing but lamb to enjoy but no, there’s a lot more. They have really beautiful vineyards. And their food is very tasty. We Filipinos love umami flavor and New Zealand has that. I really enjoyed it.”
Though memorable, that country doesn’t make the cut for the places she can come back to multiple times just to eat. These five do.
Paris, France
“It has always been one of my favorite cities because of the vibe. Everything feels beautiful without trying too hard. I love how food, interiors and even simple cafes feel so well thought out and full of character.”
Where to go: Gigi Paris, The Ritz Paris, Angelina, L’Escale, Pavyllon and Guy Savoy. “Each place has its own charm and experience that keeps me coming back.”
Japan
“I love the food there. We have a home there so we frequent Japan. I’m very in-the-know when it comes to the local scene, especially in Tokyo.”
Where to go: “There’s a neighborhood in Japan called Hiroo. It’s my favorite. There are not too many tourists there. It’s an English-speaking place. It’s where a lot of the expats hang out. In that street it’s complete—ramen, yakitori, yakiniku. You can do your own food crawl along that street. I always recommend it to friends.”
Spain
“I love Spanish food. I like the food in Madrid, also San Sebastián. On my 25th wedding anniversary, I wanna get married there. (There’s a church in the middle of the plaza in San Sebastián) and have my reception by doing a tapas crawl.”
Where to go: “El Botin. El Pimiento Verd. Grand Barril. Ten Con Ten. Castelados. Fismuler. Filandon.”
Hong Kong
“For Chinese food! I miss Hong Kong. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I visited last year. I’m one of those people who grew up going to Hong Kong. And then parang everyone switched to Japan.”
Where to go: “I like Duddell’s and Seventh Son Restaurant.”
Bangkok, Thailand
“Even the street food in Bangkok is amazing. Anywhere you go is good. For me, Bangkok is a gourmet capital.”
Where to go: “Paste is one of my favorites.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Happy Ongpauco-Tiu is a Filipino restaurateur and entrepreneur behind the Happy Concept Group, which includes brands like Pamana, Tsokolateria, and Happy Home.
She is behind several restaurants and concepts including Pamana, Tsokolateria, Happy Home, Le Chon, Dear Happy, and I Love Backyard BBQ.
Her top food destinations include Paris, Japan, Spain, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.
She enjoys elevated home-style meals, casual dining spots, and restaurants that cook “from the heart.”
Travel gives her inspiration for her restaurants while allowing her to discover new flavors, dining concepts, and food cultures around the world.
