#EatingHereIsAPlus: Meat Plus Cafe Opens at SM Mall of Asia

Road trips to Subic and Clark up north always includes a stop at an all-time favorite where dining is always a plus...

Meat Plus Cafe, the north's enduring steak and burger place for over thirty years, finally comes to Manila with its first and much-awaited branch at SM Mall of Asia. Meat Plus Cafe is a proudly homegrown concept that now includes popular restaurant brands like Kettle and their modern take on comfort food with a curated menu of classics executed with a contemporary spin (more on Kettle on my post, The Great Eatscape at SM Aura Premier: Back at Kettle and Lovin' It and Taking Comfort Food to the Next Level at Kettle), Fireside by Kettle with their roasts and grills and Tender Bob's with their signature value steaks, ribs, burgers and other savory entrees for a variety of palates (more on Tender Bob's on my post, The Fully Loaded Burger at Tender Bob's).

And it all started with Meat Plus Cafe. From Subic and Clark, Meat Plus Cafe brings their famous steaks and burgers to Manila. Read on and step inside this enduring name in both quality and value with its very first location in Manila and rediscover why eating here is always a plus...

Meat Plus Cafe was founded three decades ago on a simple concept, that any hearty meat dish begins with quality meat. Located at the Subic Freeport Zone, the retail outlet and restaurant was in the right place at the right time with access to globally-sourced tender and juicy premium steaks and burgers.

A pioneer in the "Choose Your Own Steak" concept, Meat Plus Cafe's chillers are filled with premium slabs of imported beef in a variety of cuts including T-Bone steaks, New York Cut, Tenderloin and Angus Ribeye. Open the chiller and get ready for some good times plus great food at Meat Plus Cafe.  

Meat Plus Cafe's innovative "Choose Your Own Steak" concept allows diners to customize their steak meals, and picking your own steak is part of the unique Meat Plus Cafe dining experience. Value and quality, from the chiller to the grill, this is what made Meat Plus Cafe an essential stop in Subic and Clark. And soon, SM Mall of Asia will be on top of your list of dining destinations in the metro with the opening of Meat Plus Cafe.

The imported beef selections are impressive, with all the popular cuts for your steak meal. The New York Cut, T-Bone, Tenderloin and Angus Ribeye at Meat Plus Cafe are all tempting options, but it's always been the ribeye for me. Tender and juicy with that layer of fat for even more flavor, this is my idea of a steak meal.

Once you've selected your steak, just head over to the counter and inform them of your preferred doneness. Medium rare. And that's it. A minimal cooking charge of P 155 per steak will be added to your bill, and you're on your way to a sumptuous steak meal at Meat Plus Cafe.

While your steak is being grilled, why not have some tasty starters? Start your feast with Meat Plus Cafe's thin and crisp Potato Skins (P 75) served with a duo of creamy dips...

...or go for a bowl of hearty soup like Clam Chowder (P 165), Creamy Pumpkin (P 125) and Wild Mushroom (P 145). 

Meat Plus Cafe is known for their comforting Combo Meals like the Burger Steak with Soup and Rice (P 320) and the Oven Roasted Beef Belly with Soup and Rice (P 365) served with soda or iced tea, and you'll find these favorites at their SM Mall of Asia location. Good times plus great food. And value too.

Other popular Combo Meals include Hamburger & Spaghetti (P 255), Cheeseburger & Fries (P 235), Meat Plus Burger & Fries (P 295), Seaburger & Fries (P 235), Grilled Chicken with Soup and Rice (P 265), BBQ Pork Ribs with Soup and Java Rice (P 385), 2pc Fried Chicken with Soup and Rice (P 260) and the 1pc Fried Chicken with Spaghetti (P 215). With so many tempting options, it isn't hard to understand why Meat Plus Cafe has been a popular stop up north. But today, steak is on your hit list. Then, the Angus Ribeye is served...

...grilled to medium rare perfection with a juicy pink center. The charred grill marks crisscross the massive slab of beef, this is a steak meal in true Meat Plus Cafe style. The thick and tender steak delivers that beefy richness that drapes the palate with each bite. Great as is, a dip in the housemade gravy adds that sharpness to temper the savory notes. I prefer my steak with the gravy on the side, but go ahead and pour it on your steak. You just can't go wrong with the Angus Ribeye at Meat Plus Cafe. If you wish to go completely old-school with your steak, add some Worcestershire or A1 Steak Sauce.

All steaks at Meat Plus Cafe are served with rice and vegetables, but you can also choose from their extensive selection of sides like French Fries (P 75), Mashed Potatoes (P 70), Corn Kernel (P 55), Garlic Rice (P 60), Java Rice (P 60), Coleslaw (P 65) and The Bomb (P 105), a fully loaded baked potato.

The steaks are served in a classic style, simple and uncomplicated. That's because it's always about the beef, so there's really no need to overcomplicate a good thing. Whether you go for a New York Cut...

...or the T-Bone Steak, you know you're getting premium quality beef plus excellent value. That's why eating here is always a plus.

If you're looking for a meal to share with friends and family, the sumptuous Meat Platter A (P 1,400) should do the trick with oven-roasted beef belly, grilled chicken, pork chops and pork bbq ribs. You can also go all-out with the Meat Platter B (P 1,550) that comes with a hefty serving of steamed white rice good for five, five drinks, a bowl of sweet corn kernels and mixed vegetables. Other house favorites include the Grilled Salmon Steak (P 395), Pork Chops (P 295), US BBQ Short Ribs (P 545), US Angus Beef Tapa (P 350), US Beef Salpicao (P 355) and Pan-Fried Salmon Head and Tail (P 300). 

But there's one more item I just had to try to complete my Meat Plus Cafe experience...

For years, I've always had their signature Meat Plus Burger & Fries (P 295) for a light meal or a quick snack before the drive home from Subic. One bite just triggered so many fond memories...and it's still as good as the day I first tried it so many years ago during the mad shopping heyday of the Subic Freeport Zone.

Two thick and juicy all-beef premium patties with cheese topped with an onion ring and slathered in mayo on a soft bun, it's classic flavors all the way to the last bite. The cheese and onion add both contrasting textures and flavors to the savory beef patties to complete the flavors. And it's good to be back. Good times plus great food, Meat Plus Cafe promises even more memorable stories ahead with the opening of their first branch in Manila.

For dessert, go big with the Pleasure Mountain (P 425), an indulgent bowl with scoops of ice cream topped with candy sprinkles, marshmallows, wafers and chocolate syrup. Other equally decadent coolers include the Cookies & Cream (P 190), Rocky Road (P 190), Mango Caramel (P 190) and Banana Split (P 250).

Complete your comforting feast at Meat Plus Cafe with their rustic Homemade Apple Pie (P 165) layered with caramelized slices of sweet and tart apples topped with a fresh-baked and crumbly crust, perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for that decadent a la mode touch...

...or the soft and rich velvety smooth Cheesecake (P 195)...

...the elegant Carrot Cake (P 115) that's perfect when paired with a freshly brewed cup of coffee...

...and the moist Chocolate Cake (P 155) with layers of deep and nutty notes of rich chocolate. At Meat Plus Cafe, you can always stay for dessert. 

For thirty years, Meat Plus Cafe has been a mandatory stop in the drive up north, offering both quality and value with their signature steaks and burgers. With the opening of their first branch in Manila at SM Mall of Asia, diners can now rediscover why eating here is a plus. For me, it's always been a plus...at Meat Plus Cafe. 

Meat Plus Cafe is located at the Ground Floor of the Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. 

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