There are days when nothing else just cuts it—all you want is American food. Burgers. Towering layers of beef, cheese, tomatoes, bacon, onions. Wings. Chicken dressed in spicy sauces or double fried for that beautiful crisp. Nachos. Messy bowls of chips, beef, cheese and salsa. Milkshakes. Sodas. Ice cold beers. Now you’re craving, huh?
For some people, no other cuisine spells C-O-M-F-O-R-T better than American food, and there are times that I do tend to agree. In one visit to SM Supercenter Pasig, this claim was further reinforced. The Great American Burger Joint—or simply, The Burger Joint—is a humble little spot in the supermarket building, a casual diner that offers a selection of burgers and American staples to the hungry shopping crowd.
The small space sits opposite CD-R King, a hidden gem (as much as I hate to use clichĂ©s) tucked in one corner. The place is simple and unpretentious: a few tables, a counter displaying the menu and the day’s specials, black and white walls, a few overhead lamps on one side. But wait until you taste the food.
The menu is straightforward: a few burger selections, some extras, and drinks. We started with some appetizers: the Loaded Nachos (PhP159). It uses watermelon instead of tomato salsa—an interesting swap that gives this dish a more refreshing taste and a hint of sweetness. The usual cheese sauce, ground beef and jalapenos are there atop the crisp nacho chips. It’s an interesting dish I would definitely order again when I swing by The Burger Joint.
A burger with a similar flavor is the Baja Burger (PhP179). Here, watermelon salsa, cilantro, sour cream, jalapenos, and American cheese top the thick, juicy patty. The flavors are explosive yet balanced—easily my favorite burger for the day.
The Ranchero Chili Burger (PhP199), on the other hand, is something that lovers of spicy food would definitely love. A layer of American cheese on the delicious patty, atop which sits the homemade chili, then topped with crispy, fat strips of bacon and some BBQ sauce. Who told you that chili is only for hotdogs?
If you like contrasting textures on your burger, try the Santa Fe Burger (PhP175): a sandwich of cheese, meat, crispy fried onions, cilantro, grilled corn relish, and bacon mole. The way the ingredients spill out of the bun is exactly the same way the flavors would in your mouth!
More Southwestern stuff? Order the Pulled Pork Burger (PhP195)—delicious, flavorful, sweet-salty strands of pulled pork atop a quarter-pound patty. The jalapeno and cheese balance everything out. Another great burger, really.
The Burger Joint makes their own patties in-house with 50% steak and 50% chuck. No frozen anything, even the breads are made fresh daily. With this commitment to serving high-quality food, it’s not surprising why everything tasted awesome.
The menu is not only limited to burgers; you can actually order chicken wings, hotdogs, and other typical American side dishes. The good news is that even these extras do not disappoint! I loved the Lemon Pepper Wings (PhP199), which were a touch spicy and a bit tangy and citrusy. You can have this with either sour cream or a blue cheese dip.
The Buffalo Classic Wings (PhP179) are pretty good too, exhibiting a mild heat offset by the sauces. If you like extra spiciness, The Burger Joint has this Very Very Hot Sauce you can put on almost anything. I survived it!
And damn! Before I forget. These guys make some mean milkshakes! Or should I say, Malt Shakes. I usually don’t order shakes when I eat out because they make me full fast, so when we went to The Burger Joint we made sure we drink these only after our meal. Both Chocolate and Vanilla (PhP129 each) were extremely delicious, using imported malt powder that injects a different taste compared to if the shake were made of pure milk. The Vanilla flavor won me over—I’m fond of plains and classics.
Honestly, all throughout this lunch, I was waiting for something to turn out to be not-so-good, but it never happened. Not that I’m a pessimist or cynic of some sort or something, but it’s just that when you go to a restaurant, there is always one or two item you don’t like. A bland pasta dish, a super sweet dessert… but here, everything was just perfect!
For honest-to-goodness, no-shit, no-fuss delicious burgers and American food, take a stroll to SM Supercenter Pasig and try The Burger Joint. The prices are reasonable, the burgers huge enough to be shared if you’re not that hungry, and the food is just straightforwardly delicious. I wish they would open more branches—somewhere near my house preferably, LOL! Should that happen I would never eat burgers elsewhere.
~*~
The Burger Joint
G/F SM Supercenter Pasig, Frontera Verde Drive, Ugong, Pasig City
+632.631.1299
10:00AM – 11:00PM
Menu: click here
Budget: around PhP250/head
Have you tried The Burger Joint? Which is your favorite burger?
My meal was sponsored by The Burger Joint. All opinions, however, are my own.
Special thanks to The Pickiest Eater.
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