At the center of this story is Zeus Collins, a familiar face in Philippine showbiz, best known for his stint on Pinoy Big Brother and later as a performer on It’s Showtime with the dance group Hashtags. But when the lights of live TV dimmed during the pandemic, Zeus—like millions of other Filipinos—found himself asking: What now?
As it turned out, the answer was comfort food.
How It All Started
“Mahilig talaga kami sa Japanese food,” Zeus recalls. At the height of lockdown, with no flights for his siblings working in aviation and no shows for himself, he and his family decided to turn their cravings into a business. They pooled ₱50,000 and opened a small stall—Le Katsu.
But the pandemic wasn’t the only storm Zeus was weathering.
As a performer closely tied to ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime, Zeus was also hit by the network’s shutdown in 2020—a massive blow to thousands of talents and workers across the country. “Sabay-sabay yung pagkawala ng trabaho,” he says. “Walang live audience, walang taping, tapos pati ‘yung mismong network na kinabibilangan mo, nawala rin.”
With two industries—showbiz and live entertainment—crumbling beneath him, Zeus had to pivot fast.
From the beginning, though, it wasn’t a solo act. “Habang binubuo namin ’tong Le Katsu, masaya ako kasi may kanya-kanya kaming ambag,” Zeus says. Kuya Raf led operations. Ate Frances worked on the food and menu. Pauline, Zeus’s wife, handled marketing. And Zeus? He brought the social media clout that gave the brand its first viral push.
The Katsu That Clicked
Le Katsu offered more than your usual breaded cutlet. They served crispy katsu bowls with a variety of meats—chicken, pork, fish—topped with rich sauces, vegetables, and Japanese rice. It was comforting, satisfying, and most of all, affordable.
“Masaya eh,” Zeus says of those early months. “Nag-eenjoy kami lahat. Tapos nagulat kami sa pagtanggap ng tao—pinipilahan kami. Ang dami ring nakakapansin online, naiinterview kami. Kaya naging smooth lang din ang lahat para sa amin.”
The Family Behind the Flavor
Zeus is quick to point out that Le Katsu’s success was never about one person—it was about teamwork.
“Hindi ako nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral,” he shares. “Pero alam ko rin na hindi habang buhay ang pagiging artista. Kaya grateful ako na kahit wala akong alam sa business, andiyan yung pamilya ko para suportahan ako. Masaya ako kasi hindi lang ito pangarap ko—pangarap namin lahat.”
That clear sense of collaboration—each sibling contributing their strength—became the business’s foundation.
When They Almost Gave Up
Like many small businesses, Le Katsu hit a wall in its second year.
“Sales were low. Franchisees were discouraged. We were considering shutting down,” recalls Rafael Castelo, Zeus’s brother-in-law and Le Katsu’s CEO. “But instead of giving up, we used our last funds to build a website. Miraculously, it worked. It reignited interest and opened new doors.”
Sometimes, it’s that one bold move that turns things around.
From Side Hustle to Scalable Brand
That digital push proved timely. As inquiries poured in, Rafael and the team made a key decision: franchising.
“We were encouraged by friends and customers to franchise,” Rafael says. “At first, we offered it only to people close to us—friends and relatives. But the demand kept growing.”
To support this growth while protecting the quality of the product, they invested in a central commissary—a back-end move that allowed them to standardize ingredients, sauces, and prep methods across locations. It also helped them keep prices low, even as food costs rose.
Today, Le Katsu boasts over 90 branches nationwide, with more in the pipeline.
Thinking of Franchising?
Rafael shares advice for aspiring entrepreneurs:
“To always be in pursuit of excellence. Know your strengths, act on your weaknesses, and don’t be afraid to learn from others. If you love what you do, you’ll find a way through the hard times.”
And if you’re interested in becoming part of the Le Katsu family, you can learn more about their franchising program by visiting
www.lekatsumanila.com or following them on Instagram at @lekatsu.ph and Facebook at Le Katsu Manila.
Le Katsu isn’t just a food brand. It’s a Filipino family’s story of resilience, reinvention, and rising—one crispy, comforting bowl at a time.
