For a delightful little burger nook nestled along Creekside in Amorsolo, Makati, Sango has a big claim to support. The Burger Master is what the signboard outside says. Stepping inside the store however, gives an entirely different vibe from the usual burger joints. Gone is the frenetic bustle of kiddie burger joints. Neither can you find the flashy high-tech metal grills of pricey grilled burger places.

Instead, you’re welcomed by friendly staff, cheerfully welcoming you with a warm “Irrashaimase!” Once you walk up the counter, you’re faced with a wide selection of burgers. It’s natural to feel confused, what with the wide array, but fortunately, the people at the counter are always helpful and ready to guide you.

One of my favorite things to order at Sango is the Yakiniku Rice Burger (PhP99). Made of tender, thin beef slices marinated in a flavorful soy-based sweet sauce, the Yakiniku is a pleasant melding of flavorful fat and lean beef. The fatty part is minimal at best, adding just a hint of texture and flavor so fat haters need not fear it. Complementing the rich flavors are the rice burger patties, made of good quality Japanese rice that’s lightly toasted for a light crunch.

Another favorite of mine, especially when I’d like something lighter, is the Teriyaki Burger (PhP89). The well-marinated sticky-sweet Teriyaki Burger patty is slipped in between extremely soft bread and a couple of crisp iceberg lettuce leaves, making for interesting interplay between the sweet salty burger, the super soft bread which gives as soon as you bite and the crisp, refreshing lettuce. Another winner, definitely.

While I haven’t eaten a whole one, the Tonkatsu Burger (PhP96) is also worth a shot. John was definitely drooling over it, telling me how good it was. Sure enough, it was very meaty—definitely a solid tonkatsu patty, drizzled with a distinctive tangy flavorful sauce, all complementing the characteristic crispiness of tonkatsu. I’d have stolen his tonkatsu burger that time, if only I wasn’t pre-occupied with my own Yakiniku Rice Burger then.

Of course, nothing complements burgers like fries. In this case though, you could live on fries alone, if it’s Sango’s Master Fries (PhP79 – small / PhP99 – large). It’s not on the menu but Punked Noodle made me try it once and I knew there was no going back to plain fries afterwards. Basically, it’s their regular large-cut fries (PhP45) served with add-ons of cheese (PhP17), master sauce (PhP17), onions, and ketchup. The add-on Master sauce is a ground beef-based meat sauce—the same sauce they add to their Master Burgers.

To wash your food down, I recommend eschewing your usual soda and iced tea. While they also serve both here, I suggest going for something more distinctive, like their Green Tea Shake (PhP50) or my personal favorite, Strawberry Shake (PhP50). Their strawberry shake is a few notches better than Mc Donald’s hard-to-find strawberry shake (selected branches only *facepalm*) while the green tea shake is a cheaper alternative to Starbuck’s Green Tea Frap. Just as good, only loads cheaper. I hear good things about their Corn Flakes Shakes too, but honestly, the Strawberry shake has me all addicted so I seldom get to try the other stuff.

Great ambiance, fantastic service, lots of J-Pop / J-Rock on the widescreen TV, a selection of manga, a super high-tech restroom, origami freebies, and have I mentioned the super fantastic service? If you’re in the area, I highly recommend dropping by. Or even calling for delivery if you work nearby. Because honestly, I love Sango so much, I’m all ready to call it my Master.

Sango, The Burger Master
Room 5 Ground Floor Creekside Mall
Amorsolo cor. Herrera St.
Legaspi Village, Makati City
830-0391

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 21st, 2007 at 10:41 pm and is filed under restos & eateries. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.