Zark’s takes burgers to the next level

MANILA, Philippines -  For some time, the chances of easily coming across a delicious burger in Metro Manila used to be few and far between, mostly ranging from fast food chains serving bland paper-thin patties to luxury hamburgers with hefty price tags.

With the limited paltry selection, foodies couldn’t get their hands on a big juicy burger without breaking the bank, that is, until Zark’s Burgers entered the market in 2009.

Offering quality hamburgers that could truly satisfy even the most gargantuan of appetites, Zark’s first branch along Taft Ave., was an instant hit, particularly among students and burger enthusiasts from neighboring universities.

 “There weren’t any casual dining burger joints in the vicinity yet so I decided I could fill this market gap which really had the potential to scale up. The idea was unheard of back then, but the location was great and soon the place was packed with students almost daily,” said Zark’s Burgers’ owner and founder Rolandrei Viktor Varona.

An unexpected opportunity

Eight years ago on a casual stroll along the Malate area, Varona discovered a vacant 20 sqm commercial space along Taft; the small space looked ideal for setting up a food business. At that time, the former OFW, who had just concluded a two-year stint working culinary on a cruise ship, just closed down a noodle shop franchise and was looking for an opportunity to bounce back.

Despite the unfortunate turn of events, Varona said he inherited from his mother, renowned journalist Inday Espina-Varona, the fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude that inspired him to delve into the food business once again.

“She stepped up to the plate when my father passed away when I was two years old. I saw how hard she worked as a single parent and I’ve always tried to imbibe her resolve,” he said.

Varona revisited the promising space along Taft six months later and noted it was still available. At that point, it crossed his mind that perhaps this space was meant for him and his new business. The location held much potential and the concentration of a young market in this area gave him the idea to put up a burger joint.

Upon opening Zark’s Burgers, the joint became a huge success, not only for its massive high-quality dishes, but also for its reasonable student-friendly pricing.

“We really cater to the market between fast food and high-end restaurants. That’s what keeps our customers coming back; not necessarily just for the delicious burgers, or the cheap price points, but for the right value for money,” he said.

Today, there are 32 Zark’s Burgers branches nationwide catering to burger lovers all over the country. With four branches currently operating in the Visayas, eight more stores will also open this year, including Mindanao stores, specifically in Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Although there are branches in Pampanga and Bulacan, expansions in the north will soon involve a new store in Clark.

Zark’s Jawbreakers DLeague Team

Bang for your buck

Keeping in line with their tagline, “Fresh. Huge. Great.,” Varona said they ensure all burgers come out smoking hot from the kitchen in massive servings, which make for a great and filling dining experience. “We christened our menu offerings with a sporty theme in mind and our burgers start as low as 109 pesos, to provide diners with a myriad of options no matter their budget,” he added.

Apart from its varied price range, what truly separates Zark’s Burgers from the multiple burger joints across the metro is its large portions and fresh burger innovations.

Zark’s Burgers is also one of the few restaurants to introduce dining challenges to the Manila foodie scene. The most infamous of challenges required finishing either the Jawbreaker, triple cheeseburgers with two slices of spam and bacon strips smothered with cheese sauce, or the Tombstone, eight all-beef patties and four slices of American cheddar stacked on top of each other with overflowing cheese sauce, with a side of fries and iced tea in the required time limit.

Looking back, Varona muses about why the market has accepted his burgers. “I think it’s really the value for money,” he said. “The principle is to be fair, not only with my suppliers, not only with my team members, but also with the customers. I don’t want to rip them off, ganoon ang values ko. I give them the value sa ibinabayad nila. And I think they appreciate what we serve to them.”

Varona added they will definitely not rest on the success of his burger patties. “We will not stop there. Marami kaming programs ngayon, like people development, improving the food and the menu. I think it’s the right time for us to announce to everyone that we are here; we’re taking the Zark’s brand to the next level and we’re the number one casual dining burger joint. We have developed a system, built our own commissary, strong and competent management team. Along with that, yes. We are opening our doors for franchising. For franchising inquiries, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].”