Homegrown brand Bun Appetit has been synonymous with seafood rolls since its inception, offering generous servings of lobster, crab, and shrimp. From selling out at Salcedo Weekend Market to opening their stall at The Grid at Power Plant Mall, Bun Appetit has left the market craving more, thanks to its well-curated menu.
On Nov. 30, 2023, the brand expanded by opening its first standalone spot in San Juan—The Corner House, to be precise. “Expansion was never really on our minds. Our vision for Bun Appetit was never to be a chain, but we always hoped to have at least a second store when the right location came up,” shares Lawrence Cua, co-owner of Bun Appetit, exclusively with MB Foodies.
The Corner House’s Arthur Dichaves contacted owners Lawrence Cua and Iya Jimenez to be part of a new commercial property in late 2022. During this time, the corner of Guevarra and Recto Streets, where the old Cafe Ysabel once stood, was being developed into a community complex to reflect the vibrant food scene of San Juan.
“We visited the space and liked it very much. It felt right, and the terms were fair, so we jumped at the opportunity,” Lawrence says. “We enlisted the services of Sarah Canlas, who designed the space alongside Brian Ver and her team. Now, here we are opening almost a year later.”
With this, Lawrence and Iya welcome patrons to savor its whole new space ambiance, aesthetic merchandise, and, of course, branch exclusives.
So, what can you expect from Bun Appetit’s first standalone store? “We’re launching our brand-new shop with our full menu and seafood bagels. The bagels will be exclusively available at our store in The Corner House,” he continues. “We’ll also have some merch, and we've even set aside a little corner at the store for them. We’re so excited about growing this small line as well!”
Exclusive to The Corner House, the open-faced bagels menu features Anchovy (P450) with anchovies, cream cheese, capers, and dill; Crab (P450) boasting blue swimming crabmeat, aioli, red onion, capers, dill, and butter; Ikura (P650) showcasing ikura, cream cheese, red onion, and dill; Shrimp Avocado (P390) presenting shrimp, hass avocado, cream cheese, dill, and lemons; and Smoked Salmon (P390) with smoked salmon, cream cheese, red onion, capers, and dill.
In the coming months, Lawrence shares that Bun Appetit will continue to unveil San Juan exclusives and more. “We hope they also enjoy the consistently made food they have come to love in our charming little space with lots of natural light,” ends Lawrence.
Bun Appetit is located at G/F The Corner House, P. Guevarra corner CM Recto, Addition Hills, San Juan.