When JC and Karen opened JC Tambayan in Scarborough, they weren’t flush with capital or experience. What they had was a dream: to open a cozy Filipino bar that felt like home. Long before they had wings and loaded fries as bestsellers, they were just friends trying to figure out how to turn a dream into a business — and they almost didn’t make it.
Back in 2012, they started with a humble convenience store called JL Tambayan. It did well for a while, but when the lease ended, they lost their space. That’s when Karen admitted she had always dreamed of opening a bar. JC backed her instantly — even if they had no money, no liquor license, and no idea how to actually build a bar.
It was a slow, painful climb. It took nine months just to get their license, fighting opposition from locals who said the area didn’t need another bar. All that time, they were paying rent with barely anything coming in. JC even went back to driving Uber to survive. But their regulars — loyal customers from the original store — pushed them to keep going. Some even helped rebuild the new space by hand.
Today, JC Tambayan isn’t just another watering hole. It’s a community hub, filled with laughter, shared stories, and pool games. They’ve got a private game room, classic Filipino comfort food, and a bar that serves more than drinks — it serves belonging. Karen, the heart of the kitchen, treats every burger and wing like it matters. Because to them, every detail does.
JC and Karen built this second bar with the grit of two people who were told they couldn’t do it — and did it anyway. JC Tambayan is a love letter to hustle, friendship, and Filipino hospitality, one plate and pint at a time.
