Cholesterolfest at Stackers Burger Cafe

After not having eaten anything since breakfast, my boyfriend was in the mood for a big, meaty burger last night. Remember when I wrote about how awfully greasy the Wendy’s Baconator was when I first tried it last year? Well it turns out that I can’t really taste the oil as much when it’s delivered to fresh at the counter; leave it at the back of a slow-moving delivery motorcycle for an hour and it does get soggy. After learning to appreciate the Baconator, we’d always get one every time we crave for burgers or something to eat after a long night of drinking. But since there wasn’t a Wendy’s near my place, we went for the next best thing – Stackers Burger Cafe.

Click for a larger view

This was by no means our first time at Stackers. We’d been there once after a movie, but we were too stuffed from our popcorn binge to get anything more than coffee. It was a shame because the burgers looked reaaaally tasty. Stackers is a Filipino-owned restaurant but their burger patties are made from imported Australian beef, and they have the serving sizes of an American fast food joint. Average price of a burger is around P220-250 – not far from what a Baconator costs.

I was feeling kind of fat last night, so I didn’t order a burger like my boyfriend did. Instead, I got mozzarella cheese sticks (P115) for us to share. Yeah, I realize this isn’t any healthier than a greasy burger, but I promised myself I’d only eat two. I ended up eating a little more than that because these were the best mozzarella sticks I have ever had. Stackers didn’t get stingy with the cheese – the layer of mozzarella was way thicker than the batter, and there weren’t any unwanted air pockets inside. The batter itself was also a gastronomic delight; it was crunhy and seasoned with thyme, which blended well with the gooey mozzarella. I quite liked the salsa that came with the logs too.

And now, for the reason why Stackers is now my favorite burger joint – they weren’t just using marketing BS when their menu claimed to have “something for everyone.” I had my eye on the Chicken Tenders Salad (P125), but at the last minute I changed my order to a Barbecue Burger Bowl (P155). I’m not one of those girls who order salads at restaurants for weight loss purposes, because it’s silly to deprive yourself of delicious food due to your perceived “fatness.” But if you don’t like that greasy feeling after downing a large burger, the Barbecue Burger Bowl combines the best of both worlds – it’s a quarter pounder patty on salad greens with cherry tomatoes, cilantro, jicama, corn kernels, and crispy strips with ranch dressing. I couldn’t decide if it was the unhealthiest salad I’ve ever had, or the healthiest burger I’ve ever had. Either way, it was delicious and filling. The patty itself was juicy and flavorful (I could detect hints of pepper), while the salad provided a crunchiness you wouldn’t have gotten from a hamburger bun. Sure, I felt a little greasy after I was done, but I would’ve felt ten times worse if I had gotten a burger. (By the way, you can order the Barbecue Burger Bowl without the hamburger patty too. But where’s the fun in that?)

Shortly after my salad arrived, the waiter brought in Marco’s Crazy Deluxe Burger (P245) – two quarter pounder patties sandwiched between cheese and the special Stackers sauce. Can you see how greasy that thing is?! The photo doesn’t quite reveal the dimensions of this burger, but it was nearly as large as Marco’s face.

Halfway through the burger, I asked my boyfriend if he could cut me a slice. He fed it to me to be romantic, but I think he overestimated the size of my mouth; I couldn’t say a word until I chewed the whole thing. Not that the burger was difficult to chew; it felt unexpectedly soft, juicy, and creamy in my mouth. The semi-sweet bun was a great complement to the salty patty, which was lubricated by cheese and the sauce to make it easier to swallow. By the time Marco was done with the burger and the remaining mozzarella logs, he felt too stuffed for dessert.

Stackers is slightly more expensive than the average burger joint, but I’d recommend going there over Friday’s and other American chain restaurants. Although it doesn’t quite offer the ambiance of a dimly-lit restaurant, the serving sizes are just as huge, the food is not as expensive, and the waiters take your order for you instead of lining up at the counter. We’re definitely coming back to Stackers again, but maybe not until I get all this cholesterol out of my system.

Stackers Burger Cafe can be found at Eastwood City at Libis and McKinley Plaza at The Fort.

• Tweet
• Pin It