Grilled to Perfection: Tasty BBQ, Ribs, Steaks and More
Craving meat? These BBQ joints and steakhouses are must-visits for all you carnivores! Bonus: They serve hefty portions that are perfect for sharing with the family!
We’re always on the hunt for new and exciting flavors to share! This time, we’ve rounded up four restaurants that serve big plates of meaty goodness and then some. From juicy smoked ribs done Kansas-City barbecue style to sweet tender baby back ribs paired with mouthwatering truffle fries, unlimited fall-off-the-bone ribs, and the most affordable premium steak experience in town—it’s all here.
Not only do these places offer dining, but they also have catering services and retail options for their bestselling products. Check them out!
1. Fat Smoke BBQ
Situated along the bustling Aguirre Street in Parañaque, Fat Smoke BBQ’s nondescript façade belies its distinctive menu. This one-off restaurant is a showroom of the extraordinary grilled creations of its young CEO—28-year-old Laurenz Liwanag. In 2016, while taking his internship in the US, the young chef happened on a BBQ joint called Q39 in Kansas, Missouri.
“For me, it was love at first bite of their smoked BBQ ribs. I wanted to bring that flavor back to the Philippines and improve on it,” he shares.
And Laurenz did just that. With PHP 15,000 as his starting capital, he bought a barrel pro offset smoker (which allows for slow indirect heat cooking while using wood as the source of heat and smoke) and did numerous experiments on different cuts until he came up with the winning flavors of his now famous grilled meats.
Must-haves from Fat Smoke BBQ
But what sets Fat Smoke BBQ apart from the competition? They don’t boil any of their meats to preserve the flavor, the freshness, and the juices.
Our favorites? All three of their bestseller smoked meats deserve the top prize, really. But the 8-hour smoked pork ribs edge out the wagyu beef and the Angus by just a little margin. Here’s why. There’s an underlying sweetness that permeates through every layer of the tender pork spare ribs, which combines well with the distinct smoky taste of the top charred portion.
On the other hand, the 10-hour Wagyu beef ribs are the most succulent by far. The cut comes from Bukidnon-raised cattle, which produces large slabs of ribs that are consistently juicy with the last bite as mouthwatering as the first. What’s more, the underlying fat melts into the meat like butter. Coming in a close third is the boneless Angus BBQ.
Whether eaten at the restaurant or kept in the ref and reheated slice after slice, this cut stays savory, and soft and keeps its slightly smoky sweet undertone. All three pair well with vegetables, mashed potatoes, and Fat Smoke BBQ’s steak rice.
- Cost per head: PHP 950 +++
- Location: Unit 2, DEXCON Bldg, 58 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Paranaque
- Reservations: +63 916 6908 750
2. Fireside
Started by four families (Meer, Santos, Tanjangco, and Tenchavez) as a company selling quality frozen meat products in Subic Duty-Free Shop Inc. in the early 90s, Meat Plus Specialists Philippines, Inc. has expanded its retail business to dining establishments in the metro—one of them being Fireside, which opened its first branch in 2015.
“Fireside’s concept revolves around a gathering of family and friends around a fireplace, sharing good conversations and hearty, comfort food. Over the years, we have perfected our recipes (and continuously developed more satisfying meals) using the best quality USDA meat, globally sourced tender, juicy steaks, and burgers,” says Corporate Chef Cirilo “Chiloy” Santos. Jr.
Fireside’s newly opened Molito, Alabang branch is fast becoming a favorite dining destination for the Southies. No surprise there as the 55-seater, two-storey establishment offers big plates and rich wines for pairing!
Must-haves from Fireside
We give this place top scores for taste, hefty servings, and great service. Even if we sat on the second floor, the attendants were always just a wave away—highly engaged and even giving great suggestions!
Must-try dishes include its famous buttermilk fried chicken fingers served with house gravy and honey, truffle potato chips drizzled with blue cheese, steak salad (big serving of uncut Romaine lettuce with generous slices of melt-in-your-mouth top blade steak, mouthwatering US Angus choice ribeye steak (the 700 grams can feed 5-6 people!), and 4 cheese pizza topped with honey.
The surprise winner for the night is the fall-off-the-bone US lamb ribs (so tender with a sweet undertone, served with mint leaves). For dessert, we had homemade smores that were happily shared around the table—a sweet ending to cap our big, delicious dinner.
- Cost per head: PHP 600 to PHP 800
- Location: Molito Lifestyle Building
- For Reservations: +63 917 1521 043
3. Single Origin
Guests have been enjoying Single Origin’s brews, blends, and big breakfast plates since it opened its doors in 2015. Since then it has expanded its menu and now has a full range of food and beverage selections from sunrise to moonrise!
CEO Lucas Lorenzo states succinctly, “Single Origin is more than just a place to dine. We offer a lifestyle destination where every visit comes with a promise of not only quality but consistency in serving excellent culinary creations and libations. We serve good food.”
Must-haves from Single Origin
Our top picks are the sausage platter (Hungarian, Kielbasa, and Kasekrainer sausages served with truffle chips), The S.O. Burger (juicy wagyu burger patty with melted emmental cheese, lettuce, tomato served with hand-cut fries), homemade corned beef benedict (hefty slices of brined brisket with two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce served with potato hash and a side salad) and the sweet and smokey Jack Daniels BBQ ribs.
The café also just recently launched its delicious pastry offerings (like fluffy bombolonis, flaky cruffins, and premium doughnuts), which all pair perfectly with its signature coffee. We love that we get our money’s worth with these hefty servings. There’s definitely no scrimping here!
- Cost per head: PHP 1000 +++
- Location: G/F Edades Tower, Amorsolo corner Rockwell Drive, Makati City
- For reservations: +63 906 2736 048
4. Route 95 Diner
The never-say-die attitude of young entrepreneur John Horeb Dela Cruz has resulted in eight ribs restaurants since Route 95 Diner’s inception in August 2022.
“I studied to be a pilot but the pandemic halted that dream. When I lost my job, I went into the retail business and started selling premium wines. That venture took off and entering the food business seemed like the natural progression for me. Steaks, ribs, premium meat—all are good to pair with wine,” shares Horeb.
The company he built with the help of his family has gone into franchising, and presently, construction is underway for their biggest store with a 200-seating capacity covering 1,300 sqm in Tabang, Bulacan.
Must-haves from Route 95 Diner
Looking to get the best value for your buck? Route 95 Diner’s Unlimited Platter includes a big slab of smoked BBQ ribs, a serving of Salisbury steak, thigh/leg fried chicken, one Hungarian sausage, potato & leek soup, six side dishes to choose from, and a drink. Whew!
And all that will cost you an unbelievable PHP 799—including refills. “The standing record is 5 refills. But mostly it’s our fall-of-the-bone ribs that get requests for second fillings,” adds Horeb.
We also recommend the truffle mushroom soup (so good and comes in a super-sized bowl with bread), the dynamite shrimp (battered and fried to perfection, served with chili dip), and the ribeye steak (delicately marbled, served with butter, string beans, and mushroom sauce). You can have wine for as low as PHP 275 (red or white Gufo) or go the sweet route and enjoy their delicious milkshakes.
We liked the loaded Oreo S’mores Milkshake very much!
- Cost per head: PHP 700 +++
- Location: Petron AMVEL, East Arcade, C5 Ave. Extension, Parañaque City
- For reservations: +63 985 776 7818
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