Enrico Dionson, or just Rico, is known as the presidential lechonero as he used to regularly ship several boxes of lechon to Malacañang Palace during the term of former President Joseph Estrada.

Rico started roasting in 1997, and through perseverance, he was able to perfect his marinade using organic local ingredients most notably loads of leeks and garlic, the quintessential Cebuano lechon recipe, and some other secret spices. The mouth-watering aroma and flavors of his lechon soon garnered the attention of locals and it was not long after that hogs started literally flying out of his commissary to airport carousels from Cebu to Manila. The rectangular boxes with Rico’s Lechon boldly stamped in red could be spotted bound for someone’s party. He also became the lechon supplier for top hotels and restaurants in Cebu. Where there’s a buffet, the preferred lechon would be coming from Highway 77 in Talamban where most of the roastings are done by men loyal to Rico.

As a food business, Rico’s Lechon cannot be beat as it has garnered several awards through the years. It is the first lechon brand with international recognition, receiving the prestigious Stevie Award twice — first in 2017 in Tokyo, Japan and once again in Vienna, Austria winning as Company of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, the People’s Choice Award and Marketing Campaign of the Year for its “Daghang Salamat, Cebuano!” PR campaign.

From its humble beginnings, the company caught the attention of investors, and in 2013 it started to expand with its first restaurant in Mabolo. Now Rico’s Lechon is run by a corporation with professional consultants helping to sustain market share through product consistency, as well as opening several outlets in Manila. Although it has ventured into a dining concept, it remains true to its core product with perfectly crisp skin that can stand on its own without sawsawan as the juicy meat is full of flavors from its marination. It comes in two variants, the original and spicy.

Their popular restaurants highlight an open kitchen where customers can observe the chopping of their orders. Cebuano cuisine is fully present in their menu as well, and among the popular dishes are dinuguan, lechon sisig, monggos and bam-i.

The company also has the Lechon Fulfillment Center for orders of whole lechon and a take-out counter for smaller orders.

5 Branches all over Cebu:

1. Cluster E, Unit E15/16, Axis Entertainment Avenue, Vibo Place, N. Escario Street

2. Unit 3 &4 Mactan Promenade, AirPort Road, Lapu-Lapu City

3. Mantawi International Drive, North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City

4. Ayala Malls Central Bloc – IT Park, Lahug

5. IL Corso Lifemalls, SRP

Open Daily from 10 AM to 9 PM

Tel. Nos.: 032-233-9682 & 032-253-4650 | Mobile No.: (0915) 115 0248

Delivers within and outside Metro Cebu

www.ricoslechon.com

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