SHAKE SHACK IS FINALLY IN THE PHILIPPINES!!! Yes, I just had to type it in all caps, hehe! So happy that the world-famous burger store is finally here in Manila, more specifically in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. I, Mr. Eats, recently attended an exclusive media preview of Shake Shack Philippines just a few days before its grand opening to the public on May 10, 2019. In this edition of EATSplorations, I will be sharing my thoughts about some Shake Shack favorites together with menu items that can only be found here in the Philippines. Here comes my First Bite of Shake Shack Philippines EATSperience in Central Square, BGC! Enjoy!
First Bite of Shake Shack Philippines – Central Square, BGC!
Say hello to Shake Shack’s first-ever store here in the Philippines! No photos yet of its storefront or facade because it’s still boarded up as of my visit. I guess it’s really a surprise for the first few diners who will probably camp out on the eve or on the day of the opening. If you are familiar with the Central Square mall in Bonifacio High Street, Shake Shack is right there, on the ground floor facing the big heart at the park. Also, it’s just right across Shangri-La Fort.
Right when you enter (I think this is where the entrance will be, hehe!), you will see a huge panel of Shake Shack’s menu. Burgers, hotdogs, fries, concretes, Manila exclusives, shakes, ice cream, drinks, and food for your beloved pet, all on this huge menu panel just before you reach the counter. It would be thoughtful to know your order before you head to the counter. This will help the lines to move quickly which will ensure a faster and seamless EATSperience for everyone. Got it? Head on over to our Facebook page for Shake Shack Philippines’ complete menu!
Just before the counter, you might want to check out some Shake Shack Philippines merchandise! They have a onesie, some shirts, a bag, and sunglasses for the Shake Shack fanatic in you. Personally, I would like to get that Jeepney Shake Shack shirt because it’s Pinoy na Pinoy and it looks super cool!
Just in case you forget, this is where you will order, hehe! As you can see, there will be four counters where you can order your Shake Shack favorites. 3 regular lanes and 1 priority lane for PWD, Senior Citizens, and Pregnant Women. In our first-ever Shake Shack EATSperience in Hong Kong, they allowed us to order through this lane because of our baby. I don’t know if it will be the same here. Please check when you visit Shake Shack on your own and please do let me know, okay? Thank you!
The most important people in Shake Shack Philippines! Say hi and be nice. Remember, they are the ones making sure that your Shake Shack EATSperience will be special and extremely memorable. Don’t forget to thank them when you get the chance.
Mark Rosati, Culinary Director of Shake Shack, was at the event! He was the one who explained some of their most beloved menu items and some of the Manila exclusive items that we, Filipinos, will be EATSperiencing. It was a pleasure to meet you, sir!
Self-service counter. Yes, if you have never had Shake Shack before, they are a self-service restaurant. There will still be some servers and cleaners but please do get what condiments you need, on your own. Also, try practicing CLEAN AS YOU GO when you are done so that diners after you can easily find a spot.
As you can see, the place is still boarded up but this is one part of Shake Shack’s first-ever outlet in the Philippines. This side is the one facing the Bonifacio High Street park.
This side is facing the Central Square mall lobby. The place is spacious and really big. I think it can accommodate around a hundred diners all at once. It’s also fully air-conditioned. A lot of their outlets abroad have al fresco dining areas, let’s see if we will have one here, too!
It’s finally time to EAT! I was able to try out Shake Shack’s signature ShackBurger, ‘Shroom Burger, Crinkle-Cut Fries with Cheese Dip, Shack-cago Dog, all of their Concretes, and two Manila Exclusive drinks, the Ube Shake and the Calamansi Limeade. It’s safe to say that my tummy was very happy after all was said and done!
Calamansi Limeade (Php 130 for S / Php 160 for L)
A local twist on their classic lemonade. Yup, since we all love Calamansi, Shake Shack made sure to include it on their menu. I’m glad they did because it was really refreshing and a perfect thirst-quencher and palate-cleanser. They did such a great job of delivering this local connection really well. Awesome drink to start things off!
Ube Shake (Php 190)
Another local-inspired drink, the Ube Shake! Signature Vanilla Frozen Custard blended with Ube. Of course, it’s really really good! If you are a big fan of anything ube and milkshakes, you will surely love this local twist on the classic milkshake. It had ube written all over it and it was how I want my milkshake to be. Might be a little pricey for a drink but you might need it because of you know… Manila’s intense heat, hehe.
Shack-cago Dog (Php 250)
Shake Shack’s beginnings, a Chicago-inspired hotdog sandwich. This one has Shack relish, onion, cucumber, pickle, tomato, sport pepper (deceptively spicy), celery salt, and mustard. A mouthful of fresh ingredients with Shake Shack’s all-beef hot dog! It was a little difficult and messy to eat but it was fun, unique, and really interesting because of all the toppings on it. If you are not a fan of burgers, this one’s a great sandwich to have!
Crinkle-Cut Fries (Php 130 on its own / Php 180 with cheese sauce)
Fries are fries and I love them all including Shake Shack’s Crinkle-Cut Fries. It may not be super special but it sure does serve its purpose, to be a great sidekick to the already amazing ShackBurger. It’s perfectly crispy on the outside and still fluffy on the inside. Make sure to order the one with cheese sauce to make it more awesome!
Here come the burgers of Shake Shack! What burger are you most excited to EATSperience?
‘Shroom Burger (Php 445)
Shake Shack’s meat-free burger! My first time to try this one and I found it really really good! I was literally speechless. I am obviously a beef burger kind of guy but I instantly became a fan of the ‘Shroom Burger because of the juicy, beefy, and extremely cheesy fried portobello mushroom patty. I can’t wait to try the Shack Stack burger which has the ‘Shroom and a Cheeseburger all in one awesome burger!
The cross-section of a ‘Shroom Burger! Just stop and appreciate its awesomeness first. The molten cheese can be really hot so bite at your own risk, hehe. Vegetarians, you’re welcome!
ShackBurger (Php 250 for single patty / Php 410 for double patty)
The one, the only, ShackBurger! Manila might just have its best burger yet, thanks to the arrival of Shake Shack. I honestly think this is one of the best if not the best burger in the Philippines right now. No exaggerations. For me, it’s all about the patty. Their patty is just oozing with simplicity and beefiness. Every bite out of the ShackBurger reminded me of how blessed I am to be eating some amazing all-beef patty. It has a perfect crust. Well-seasoned. Extremely juicy. If there’s a perfect-looking and tasting cheeseburger in this world, this is the one.
Concretes (Php 250 for single / Php 350 for double)
Concretes are frozen custard desserts blended with various mix-ins. Shake Shack has three flavors of Concretes. They have the signature Shack Attack (chocolate custard with Bucky’s original brownie, Auro chocolate chunks, fudge sauce, topped with chocolate sprinkles), talk about chocolate overload! Next flavor is the Calamansi Pie Oh My (vanilla custard with Wildflour calamansi pie), one of two local concrete flavors at Shake Shack and my hands down favorite because it was sweet and tangy, great contrasting flavors in every bite! The last one is the Uuube-by Baby (vanilla custard with ube, coconut marshmallow, ube cookie, toasted coconut, and crispy pinipig, topped with leche flan), I think it’s like Shake Shack’s version of halo-halo but with lots of ube.
Before I end my First Bite of Shake Shack Philippines EATSperience, I would like to commend the management of Shake Shack for incorporating lots of local touch in their Philippine menu. The ube, calamansi, local chocolate, local brands, and even a local initiative through their Shack2O Hope in a Bottle bottled water. All the proceeds of their Shack2O water will help build public school classrooms here in the Philippines. Also, 5% of the sale from the Calamansi Pie Oh My Concrete supports Children’s Hour organization. It just goes to show that Shake Shack is not just about amazing burgers and milkshakes. They also have an amazing heart.
I had so much fun at the media preview of Shake Shack Philippines! It was a great way to get to know the brand and its signature items. I loved everything that I tried especially the ShackBurger and the ‘Shroom Burger. One word of advice, please try not compare this to any of your previous Shake Shack EATSperiences. Do not ask your friends if it tastes the same elsewhere. What matters is that Shake Shack is finally here and that whatever you will be getting tastes good. At the end of the day, it’s all about having a great EATSperience. Don’t forget, be there on May 10, 2019! Expect long lines. That’s it for this edition of EATSplorations! Stay tuned as I will be posting a video of my First Bite of Shake Shack Philippines EATSperience in our YouTube channel. You may subscribe through this link. Thank you!
***For more EATSperiences, follow us on Facebook / Instagram / Twitter***
Shack Shack Philippines
Ground Floor, Central Square, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
EATSplorations 
One thought on “First Bite of Shake Shack Philippines – Central Square, BGC”