Happy Days!
For Americans of my generation, or a little older or younger than me, we surely remember the old TV show “Happy Days” with Ron Howard. Happy Days was set in the 50’s and included characters like Fonzie, the ultra-cool motorcycle rider, along with the oh-so-regular Cunningham family. How could we forget Happy Days? One of the places where Richie Cunningham, Fonzie and the gang liked to hang out was always “Al’s Diner.” Well, I got a surprise the other day when I was walking through the streets of downtown Davao when I looked up and saw a place called “Al’s Diner.”
The outside of the place was all painted up in Red, White and Blue American style motif, and it looked very inviting. There was a big sign out front saying that it was the home of the “GIANT BURGER.” Unfortunately, on that particular day, I had already eaten lunch, so I made a note to go back and see what the place was all about. Sure enough, 2 or 3 days later, I went back to Al’s Diner for lunch, along with Feyma and our oldest son, Chris. When we went inside, we were surprised that it is really an all out American decor in the place, the food is American, and the music they play is 60’s American music too!
We each ordered a Cheeseburger with fries, and we also ordered a “Sloppy Al,” which is like a Sloppy Joe sandwich. The burgers were absolutely great! The cheeseburgers we ordered were said to be (on the menu) 1/4 pound patties, although I felt they were not quite that big. I would recommend ordering the double cheeseburger if you go give it a try, which has two patties. But, the flavor was authentic American flavor for a hamburger. We all loved the burger. The “Sloppy Al” was pretty good too, although next time I’ll be sticking with the Cheeseburger, it was better.
It was funny, because the menu at Al’s Diner has all kinds of information about Al, the owner of the place, and he is not American at all. Al is British! But he does a nice job of making it an authentic American style place with American food. The waitress there said that we just missed Al, he left right before we came in, but I promised the waitress that I would be doing a write-up about the place in my column, and that she should tell Al about it, so he could check it out. Al’s also delivers too, if you call them up and order.
One nice thing about Al’s too is that Al donates 50% of his profits to provide computers for Public Elementary Schools in Davao! That’s very generous, and I plan to do my part to keep him earning those profits! 
Al’s is located on “Crooked Road,” right next to NCCC Express, which is right between Rizal Street and San Pedro. If you are not quite certain where that is, it is within walking distance from Claude’s Cafe de Ville here in Davao. For delivery of food from Al’s Diner, you can call 222-5555 in Davao, or Cellphone (0915) 770-5985. Tell him that Mindanao Bob recommended the place! Try it! I think you’ll be happy that you did!
Last 5 posts by MindanaoBob
- Rental deposits in the Philippines - March 10th, 2010
- Nearly powerless - March 8th, 2010
- What do you think this is worth? - March 5th, 2010
- You say you want an American Style house? - March 3rd, 2010
- Living on the Ring of Fire - March 1st, 2010
Hi Bob,WOW,this brings back many teenage memories,HAPPY DAYS was a huge hit here in the Uk in the late 60s and 70s,i have many happy memories of hanging out in coffee bars many designed on similar theme,Gaggia coffee machines,pinball machines and those beautiful juke boxes of the era,Hamburgers and knickerbocker glories.Most were owned by Italian immigrants who came here after WW2,some were even ex pow’s who set up home here after the war.I often wish there was a revival of this style of coffee bar.We found them great places to meet and hang out.Sadly much of todays youth here are more interested in under age alchohol consumption,then running riot thro the towns.Thanks for reminding me of those really HAPPY DAYS.
Hi Chas – Yes, those indeed were happier days, don’t you think? Well, if you are in Davao, swing by at Al’s Diner, because it has that same authentic feel to it that you describe!
Thanks for the great post on Al’s Diner in Davao. I could just see “The Fonz” sitting there in Al’s eating a burger, wearing his trademark leather jacket,thunbs up, and speaking Tagalog :lol. Now if only we could get Al to move a diner to Baybay Leyte. Richard W.
Bob,
I had met Al at FoM and have been there a few times already. Al is originally from the UK but had lived in Florida for a while before moving here.
His food is based on American flavors and even his spaghetti is american style, not the sweet filipino type.
I am planning to write an article in my blog about there but waiting for a copy of the writeup about him in Mindanao Times a few weeks back so I can be accurate about his Foundation Bites for Bytes.
Hi Bob – On the lighter side, it appears Al’s marketing is vary American as well. A 1/4 pound pattie, as explained in small type on most diner menus in the States, is a 1/4 pound pre-cooked. Warning: The pattie may lose a little weight when grilled!
Hi Richard – Ha ha.. the Fonz speaking Tagalog? Say it isn’t so!!!
Hi Bruce – Thanks for the additional information about Al. His menu did not go into the fact that he had lived in the USA as well, it only said that he was from the UK. I did enjoy the food there!
Hi Paul – Yeah, that’s the standard way it is put “1/4 pound before cooking” – there must have been significant shrinkage in that burger! It was delicious, just a little small, though.
hi bob –when i get to davao i will be sure to have my first meal at Al’s–i hope to arrive in late april –by the way jane had a birthday monday –i posted a few pic from the party on your photo site –thanks for all you do for us wanna-be’s
i miss the old days, i think the fonz in the philippines would have to be freddie augilira.it there was one there.
Hi Bubba – I was looking at your photo album, and I recognized your fiancee right away from our “encounter” in Digos the other week! Ha ha.. I am still amazed by that!
Hi Jerry – You may be right on that… Freddie Augilira, the Philippine Fonz!
Fonzie in Tagalog? talaga?
that sounds like a great place, Bob ..a and it’s far from the only place owned by a foreigner here with an American and/or European theme. Fits right into what we were talking about recntly about business here not having to be based on undercutting the exisitng business model in a battle of shaving centavos off the going rate in ordfer to make a paper-thin profit. Almost any sensible business cna be made to fly with drive and enthusiasm .. and a health disrespect for the ‘experts’ who will be happy to tell you all the reasons it ‘can’t be done’.
I laughed at the mention of the 60’s music … that’s hardly a trademark in this end of the country .. at least half a dozen Manila radio staions are ‘oldies’ stations and when they talk ‘oldies’ they mean 1950’s and 60’s ‘oldieas’. Our municipal trash men have their own trademark … a huge karaoke speaker atop their truck and you can always hear them in plenty time to take out the basura, becuase their 1960’s hits blare out at some ungodly db level … th workers seem to love it, but it’s hard to carry on a conversation with them, they all seem deaf
hi bob sounds like my kind of place my wife and i will have to check it out , now that im through with my bout with dengue ,and i am out of the hospital … oh and happy birthday bob my birthday was the 5th of feb see yall later
Hi Dave Starr – Oh yes, indeed, there are other places along these lines down here too. But, this place was just unique, and I enjoyed my visit. I have actually ordered some delivered food from them since my visit, it’s excellent!
Hi Ken – Glad that you are over your dengue! Belated Happy Birthday to you too!
Hi Bob , i allso liked the happy day’s show.
But i want to ask you something,
when i retire and come live in iligan ,
what about health insurance , is that in the Phil. that you know of.
I read something about it last time , but forget where.
Can you give me an answer , or maybe somebody else ?
Thank you. Anton
Hi Anton – yeah, you can get health insurance here. Read this post.