Craving burgers? Consider this your green light to head to Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan, where freshly ground beef, crispy smashed edges, house-made sauces, and fresh-baked buns come together in every bite.
Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan brings a globally recognized burger name to Manila through a concept rooted in quality, technique, and the gentle warmth of homecoming.
Located in West Gallery Place, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), the restaurant is the Manila burger concept of internationally acclaimed Filipino-American Chef Alvin Cailan, created in partnership with Alfonso Pedrosa, the Clavano brothers of Wagyu Studio and Izakaya Geronimo, and the Lao family.
Before finding its permanent home in BGC, Greenlight Burgers first gained attention through a series of sold-out burger pop-ups that quickly built a strong following among burger lovers. For Chef Cailan, the concept represents a return to Manila and a way to share his years of experience in the global burger scene with the local dining community.
The space, designed by JJ Acuña, reflects a nostalgic New York train diner feel. With 46 seats in total, including 12 indoor seats and 34 al fresco seats, Greenlight Burgers keeps the experience intimate and lively.
IMAGE from Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan
IMAGE from Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan
Warm lighting, cozy seating, and playful details bring character to the compact space, while the stoplight-inspired concept carries into the design through an actual signal light that tells guests whether the restaurant is open or sold out.
IMAGE from Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan
IMAGE from Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan
At the center of Greenlight Burgers is a straightforward but carefully executed approach to burgers. Rather than relying on gimmicks, the restaurant focuses on quality ingredients, proper technique, and consistency.
The beef is ground fresh daily, while the buns are baked fresh every day to create a balanced bite from the first layer to the last. Its burgers are cooked using a Schoop’s-style smashburger technique, which gives the patties crispy, lacy edges while keeping the center juicy.
IMAGE from Burgers by Alvin Cailan’s Instagram account
IMAGE from Burgers by Alvin Cailan’s Instagram account
Another highlight is the restaurant’s choice of three house-made signature sauces: Green, Yellow, and Red. Each one brings a different personality to the burger. Green offers a brighter, herbaceous flavor with tarragon, cilantro, chives, and lemon juice, adding freshness to the burger, while Yellow combines Dijon mustard, miso, muscovado sugar, and mayonnaise for a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet profile. Red is a rich, slightly tangy tomato-forward burger sauce with Filipino flair,
Thick and Lacey with Yellow Sauce / IMAGE from Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan
Among the recommended burgers is the Double Thin and Crispy (Php 550), made with double smashed patties, crispy lacy edges, melted cheese, onions, and Greenlight sauce.
Double Thin and Crispy (Php 550) / IMAGE from Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan
For those who prefer a richer bite, the Thick & Lacey features a thicker smashed patty with a juicy center and deeply caramelized edges for a more indulgent burger experience.
Thick & Lacey (Php 500) / IMAGE from Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan
To complete the meal, guests may try the Beef Tallow Fries (Php 189), served shoestring or crisscut and cooked in beef tallow for extra crunch and richness, making them ideal with Greenlight’s signature dipping sauces.
Crisscut Fries / IMAGE from Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan
Shoestring Fries / IMAGE from Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan
Behind the concept is Chef Alvin Cailan, an internationally acclaimed Filipino-American chef and restaurateur, best known as the founder of Eggslut, creator of LA burger concept Amboy, former head chef of Umami Burger, and host of The Burger Show.
Filipino-American Chef Alvin Cailan / IMAGE from Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan
Through his restaurants, media work, and cookbook, he has helped bring Filipino-American cuisine to a wider audience while becoming one of the most recognizable burger personalities in the industry.
Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan gives Manila a burger spot that is straightforward, flavorful, and carefully made. With fresh-ground beef, daily baked buns, crispy smashed patties, and house-made sauces, it offers a satisfying burger experience that is both familiar and distinctively its own.
General Information
West Gallery Place Building, 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
12:00 p.m. until sold out; 6:00 p.m. until sold out (Monday to Saturday); 12:00 p.m. until sold out (Sunday)
burgersbyalvincailan
