Oh yes, burger joints do abound all over the world and diners have their choice of where to get their burger fix.
The challenge, really, is for the burger establishment to have something extra going for it that will drive people to seek it out, try its offerings and (hopefully!) come back for more.
While it started out as a roadside food stall (that didn’t even sell burgers!) in Manhattan, Shake Shack has evolved into a burger eatery with a fine dining mentality, where high quality versions of the usual burger joint offerings are served up in a more upscale setting.
During a family trip to the US nearly three years ago, we decided to have our lunch at ShakeShack’s outlet along Hollywood Boulevard.
It seemed to be a popular joint as we had to line up for a few minutes before getting to the counter.
We tried an assortment of burgers such as the ShackBurger (ShakeShack’s famous cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce), the Shroom Burger (crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with melter muenster and cheddar cheese topped with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce), and the SmokeShack (cheeseburger with Applewood smoked bacon, chopped cherry pepper and ShakeSauce) which we all found to be very tasty and filling enough to fuel us for the rest of our sightseeing that day.
Of course our order wouldn’t have been complete without ShakeShacks crinkle-cut fries and shakes.
It was among the foodie experiences that we had in the States that we wish could be replicated back home in the Philippines.
And wouldn’t you know it: by the time we got back to Manila, Shake Shack was already here!
It opened its first store in Bonifacio Global City in May 2019, a second branch in SM Mega Fashion Hall in December of the same year, a third one in Greenbelt Makati in October 2020, and finally, a fourth outlet in Alabang Town Center in July 2021.
Well, life got in the way so we haven’t been able to visit any of these local outlets from the time we got back, until Hubby and I went on an errand run in SM Megamall recently.
There, we espied Shake Shack’s sprawling premises while we were walking around, and decided to have lunch right then and there.
While I decided to go for a ShackBurger, Hubby went for a Chick’n Shack (crispy-fried chicken breast with lettuce, pickles and buttermilk herb mayo).
To complete our meal, we also got some crinkle-cut fries and softdrinks.
Because of COVID restrictions, there were not a lot of people in the place (only fully vaccinated people can dine in) and just a fraction of the store’s capacity is allowed to be used.
Now that the restrictions are loosening, I hope I can bring the kids over soon so we can relive one of our fun-filled adventures.
Shake Shack’s outlets are located in the following areas:
- Central Square, Bonifacio Global City (open daily from 10am to 9pm | Tel +63 2 82553240)
- Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall (open daily from 10am to 9pm | Tel +63 2 83664059)
- Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center Makati (open daily from 10am to 9pm | Tel +63 2 79336824)
- Corte de las Palmas, Alabang Town Center (open daily from 10am to 8pm)
Jellybeans in the City 