Lola Asiang opened Lapu-Lapu eatery in Marquez de Comillas in 1928. Her goal was to serve delicious and affordable Filipino food. Students from a nearby school would come to try her specialties like pancit luglog, dinuguan with puto, and arroz caldo.
In 1936, Asiang came up with the idea for an Adobo Sandwich while on a picnic at Luneta. She used chicken adobo as the filling and it became a hit.
In 1940, the popularity of her sandwiches led to the creation of a Rolling Food Store, which was a mobile canteen that went around Luneta Park and nearby areas.
The Chicken Barbecue was introduced in 1945 as a solution to cutlery theft at the Aristocrat beach resort. This became one of the restaurant’s bestsellers.
Lola Asiang was recognized as the Mother of Filipino Cooking in 1980 for her love and care in cooking for her customers.
Aristocrat is considered an icon in cultural history for its 80-year success in serving quality Filipino comfort food. In recognition, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines installed a historical marker in 2013.
