A quick diversion from the posts on our trip to Athens. I was in Greenhills today and on the way home through EDSA, I dropped by this Japanese convenience store called KONBINI Store, Tokyo Market on Connecticut Street and lo and behold, a chiller filled with ROYCE chocolates. I waxed poetic about these chocolates in a much earlier post on this blog, here, and I often buy boxes of them whenever I get the chance on trips to cities that have their stores, but as far as I know, this is the first time they are commercially available in Metro Manila. Forget the fact that the packaging/labeling is a bit bizarre, what the heck is “CHOCOLATE STAFF”?? I mean, imagine if you had even the slightest green mind?? :) At any rate, at PHP620 for a small box or roughly US$15, it is almost twice the price of the same box in Hong Kong, but still worth it for a taste of heaven, chocolate-wise. The store carries other Japanese goods, including WAGYU beef, packaged dry goods, frozen foods and ingredients and prepared japanese dishes. The place was a bit deserted when we visited, and the cooked food selection was SPARSE to say the least (though they did say they would cook to order) and I didn’t have a camera with me so no photos, but it’s worth remembering this source if you need a box of Royce chocolate as mental therapy or as a gift for a special occasion.
Konbini Store
57 Connecticut Street
North Greenhills, San Juan
Metro Manila 722.4263
40 Responses
ay walang fotos, sayang.. now its time for us to go there and check.. thanks for sharing.
Really?? I have to go there tommorow! Thanks MM.
I love Royce chocolate as well Marketman! It’s the best for me–even better than Godiva or Ghirardelli. Have you tried their choco covered potato chips? Perfect for those whose snacking pattern is salty then sweet.
dapat you stopped by angel’s kitchen next door MM.
mikel, ARRGGH, is it just next door? literally? Please post a comment with the address again, and maybe I will finally get to try it! OMG, it has the same address, 57 Connecticut, how could I have missed it? :(
If you dont have a sweet tooth, the koreans also make excellent chocolates. The Ghana brand is quite popular,and also good are chocolates packed by the department store, Lotte These are frequent pasalubong from visiting relatives from Seoul.
Royce? In Greenhills? Woohoo!!!
Hi MM, welcome back! Are you jetlagged?
Konbini is the Japanese shortcut word for convenience store like the 7 Eleven franchises. They make up words like Banarepa for Banana Republic or pasacom for personal computer. other words I can think of is digikame for digital camera and Makudo for McDonalds. It’s very interesting how they Japanize english words which somehow become part of my vocab like…..”let’s go to Banarepa” or “don’t forget to bring your digikame”.
bijin, yes WICKEDLY JET-LAGGED. Almost worse than when we fly all the way to New York. It is the main reason there are quite a few posts on Greece already… since I get up in the middle of the night and have nothing to do… :)
Konbini store also carries Shiroi Koibito (chocolat blanc et lang ue de chat)….they are these white chocolate sandwich cookies. I personally don’t like white chocolates but this one is a must try!
I was able to try Royce chocolates just recently when I was in Manila and one of my former officemates whipped out a box and shared it with us.
It was heavenly. And it says a lot, considering that I’m not a chocolate person.
chuvaness also blogged about this and she has pix.go to chuvaness.livejournal.com
Another nice reason to go to Greenhills.. MM, have you tried dining in Angels’ Kitchen, it’s this home-style restaurant along Connecticut, North Greenhills?
Blaise, no not yet, I have been meaning to. Mikel, one of the commenters here, is related to one of the proprietresses… I will get there yet…
Yes, I saw the Royce post on chuvaness and went over there to but a box of chocolate covered potato chips. I’m hoping they’ll have the champagne truffles one day.
Ah MM, you should try the lechon kawali with pinakbet rice at Angel’s Kitchen. I also like their steamed fish with asparagus.
Hi MM,
Just wanted to tell you, LA MAison Du Chocolat has a store at Pacific PLace now, just saw it yesterday, tried the plain dark ganache and it was good- HKD 20 a pop. It melted in my mouth. The thing is, I haven’t tried the one from Paris or Tokyo so no comparison. They say outside of France, the best French exports, whether Michelin-starred restos or stores, are in Japan- truly authentic, maybe even better than the original, whereas those in HK, like LGB, are poor representations of French products.
Royce is half the price here! HKD 60 for chocolate staff ( I always found the name funny and bizarre), with the current exchange rate that’s about PHP342!
oh ayan, MM. seems like am not the only angel’s kitchen fan in your blog… i swear i don’t know Mila or Blaise but i commend them on their food taste! my sister marnie would be pleased with their endorsement. and yes, it’s next door to konbini.
I am a big fan of home cooking and angel’s kitchen is one of my favorites, but just today my family treated me for Father’s day at Fluke! Resto in A.Venue mall along Makati Ave, and you should try it. Home cooking at its best. The food was SUPERB and they have a bakeshop in the same restaurant called Miniatures which serves bite sized pastries like cream puffs that are SOOO good. Its worth a try.
@mila, i had a sudden craving for that lechon kawali/pinakbet rice – must go back to angel’s kitchen.
@ragamuffin girl, i’ve tried la maison’s tasse de chocolat from tokyo. very intense chocolate pearls for drinking but good enough to eat!
OMG!!! Royce Nama Chocolates are to die for. Would the store also carry thos benriners you once wrote about. Didn’t find them at the Muji store when I visited last Holy week.
I was thinking the same thing: what the hell kind of name is ‘Chocolate Staff’? Pretty packaging, but I’d have to see how they came up with that name.
It was tasty, though. Like nothing else I’ve come across. And the chocolate was soft, not like the usual bars you’d have to crack if they stayed in the fridge too long.
@chocolate staff..i think they might have meant chocolate stUff.
Teresa, I didn’t notice the benriners at Kombini, JE and mikel, I think it has do with the Japanese approach to sayings on all things from garbage cans to notebooks that are otherwise consiered nonsensical… like on a purple cloud sky you play happily… :)
You’re right, MM, Chocolate Staff is Engrish :)
that’s news! Royce here in Manila…no more having to lug boxes to bring home for my sister! Ha. As for chocolate staff…who cares? love love love Royce. this chocolate by any other name would still be royce! thanks marketman.
Hi Marketman,
They have a really good product in Kombini. If I were to describe this imagine a lengua de gato sandwich with a white chocolate filling. All I remember about the product is that its made in Hokkaido. Their grapes are also nice
I just came back from hongkong and hoarded as much as i can of these royce chocolates, I love the white and the dark.
hello MM … YOUR THE MAN!!! , i have a sweet tooth , and royce are on top of my list!! ( especially , their dark chocolate covered macadamia – available in s’pore) ( 2nd to See’s Dark chocolate w/ English walnuts … yum,yum.. ) … i’m from the south , and a trip to greenhills will be definitely worth every liter of gasoline :) , patchi chocolates are good too … and harry and david truffles :)
royce in greenhills?? thats great news! lessens the worry of bringing it back home knowing that its packaging will only last for a 5hour flight..I’ve also tried the pretzel covered chocolate while in Singapore..yumMMMmy!
where is pacific place? i like la maison
Pacific Place is a mall in HK on HK island, under the Conrad, Shangrila and Marriott hotels.
hi… just wanna share… saw royce chocolates also in a chocolate store in Serendra. I think the name is CACAO
Yummy Royce! you can also buy it at Cash and Carry stalls, the price is around Php 450. really worth it.
Thanks!
Have you guys tried yokumoku? They’re just as good as Royce’ Chocolates. I wonder if they sell them there…
Thank you! thank you for the info! You made my day.
oh no.. im the odd one out because i think im the only one who doesnt like royce chocolates.. i find it too lardy tasting.. :-(
I love Konbini. You can buy the raw wagyu and cook it on our own at home. It is so yummy and just literally melts in your mouth kind of steak. Their gyoza, ramen, chahan (fried rice), Torimeshi Rice, chicken karaage, tempura and pita pan are all good.
There is now a store in Rockwell for Royce chocolates. I believe they are the only legit and official distributor of royce here in the country (last time I heard)… you guys might want to check it out :)
There is Royce in Greenbelt 5.
royce is definitely more affordable than godiva but the quality is just of the same level… royce is available in greenbelt 5, trinoma and rockwell. happy munching!