Mary Grace gets superstar treatment in Singapore opening

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March 27, 2026 | 12:00am

Pinoy pride

MANILA, Philippines — She may not be a global superstar, but her name surely rings a bell among Filipinos, especially the “Titas of Manila” who frequent her cafes.

Mary Grace Dimacali, founder, president and CEO of Mary Grace Foods Inc., got her much-deserved superstar treatment when the company recently opened its first store abroad.

“I felt like Alex Eala for the three days that I was there,” Dimacali jokingly said, referring to the Filipina tennis sensation.

Mary Grace Café opened its first-ever international branch in Singapore last March 13 and Dimacali was there to grace the store’s early days.

Filipinos in Singapore also did not miss the opportunity to get a glimpse, and take a picture, of the woman and the name behind the popular cafe known for its ensaymada and cheese rolls.

“People were waiting in line to enter. It came to a point that there were no more ensaymada and cheese rolls so they were so disappointed after falling in line for abut 30 minutes. But then they found that she (Dimacali) was there so they said, fine, we will just have a picture with Mary Grace instead,” shared Dimacali’s daughter, Chiara Dimacali-Hugo, who serves as Mary Grace International executive director.

Mary Grace’s opening in Singapore has been met with warm reception from both Filipinos and non-Filipinos, reflecting its broad appeal across diverse communities.

“You can feel the heartfelt support of the Pinoys in Singapore. I met a few of them. They’re professionals. They came miles away just to be in Mary Grace on the first day. There’s the pride and it’s so palpable. You can feel it,” Dimacali said.

She recalled that when she started Mary Grace 30 years ago, she was simply trying to share what she knew best—good ingredients, heartfelt cooking and a warm table for everyone.

“It fills my heart that we have brought this feeling to a whole new community in Singapore,” she added.

For her, Mary Grace Café was an extension of home—a place where the smell of freshly baked ensaymada meant comfort and where a warm cup of hot chocolate meant belonging.

As such, the company’s decision to open Mary Grace’s first international location in Singapore was both strategic and sentimental.

Singapore is home to a vibrant and thriving Filipino community, while carrying the Philippines close to their hearts. Its cosmopolitan, food-forward culture and its appetite for authentic, quality-driven dining experiences made it the ideal first frontier for the brand. There are at roughly 220,000 Filipinos in the Southeast Asian island nation.

Chiara said that prior to their entry, a lot of the Singaporeans were saying that the only Filipino brand they knew was fast-food giant Jollibee.

“The Singapore branch is a 28-seater cafe, which is exactly like our first cafe in Serendra which opened 20 years ago, in 2006. I still remember, I was 16 at the time.  After school I would go to the cafe and help clean tables. In Singapore it’s like that also,” Chiara said.

“Truth be told, we wanted a kiosk first because we thought it would be like the Manila journey of starting small. But we naturally decided to do a cafe because we felt the best experience of the brand is in the cafe,” she said.

While the Singapore opening marks a significant milestone for Mary Grace, the company believes that it is only the beginning.

Chiara said the priority for the company’s first international store is to uphold the brand’s renowned quality and consistency, mirroring its reputation in the Philippines.

“Our focus today is on quality and consistency, as these have always been our brand ethos. These remain our top priorities, along with people — making sure we hire the right ones and retain them. When God opens the door and the opportunity comes for a second outlet in Singapore, we will likely pursue it,” she said.

In the Philippines, Mary Grace is also continuing its expansion, with four to five additional cafes eyed for opening this year.

At present, Mary Grace has a network of over 140 cafes and kiosks in the country.

“I think if we can make it in Singapore, we can make it everywhere,” Dimacali said.