Close Menu

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    She Moved Abroad at 20 With No Connections—Now She Leads HR Across Southeast Asia

    May 23, 2025

    What Makes a Standout Job Candidate, According to This CFO

    May 22, 2025

    He Studied Accountancy—But Found His True Calling in Developing People

    May 22, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn
    Financial AdviserFinancial Adviser
    • Home
    • Success
      • Leadership & Growth
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Business Strategy
      • Inspiring Stories
    • Money
      • Investing
      • Personal Finance
      • Wealth Building
      • Financial Planning
    • Work
      • Career Development
      • Workplace Culture
      • Productivity & Efficiency
      • Management & Performance
    • Life
      • Relationships & Family
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mindfulness & Balance
      • Personal Growth
    • Inspiration
      • Vision & Purpose
      • Overcoming Adversity
      • Motivational Stories
      • Mindset & Motivation
    Financial AdviserFinancial Adviser
    Home»Success»Business Strategy»He Reverse-Engineered the Best Burgers in LA—Now His Own Recipe Is a Hit
    Business Strategy

    He Reverse-Engineered the Best Burgers in LA—Now His Own Recipe Is a Hit

    FinancialAdviser.phMarch 3, 20252 Mins Read
    Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link

    For Al Galang, finding a great burger in Manila was nearly impossible. Having lived in Los Angeles, he developed a deep love for In-N-Out and other classic mom-and-pop burger joints. But when he moved back to the Philippines, he couldn’t find anything that hit the same way.

    “When I came here, I found the local burgers didn’t quite satisfy my craving for a really good burger. So naisip ko, ‘What if I could just make one?’” he recalls.

    At the time, Galang and his business partner Monica Tobias were running Sweet Ecstasy, a small milk and cookie shop in Cubao Expo. Selling cookies wasn’t exactly a high-profit business, so they considered adding something new to the menu.

    Turning Research Into a Recipe

    Galang had no culinary background, but he had the internet—and he used it to his advantage.

    “The Internet is so generous with insight in R&D into what makes a good burger,” he says. “Blogs, and, although not as much at the time, videos, provided in-depth research on how to handle a patty, what makes a good patty, and what makes a good sauce.”

    He read everything he could find on meat blends, bun choices, and sauce combinations, and then spent six months making burgers every single day.

    “You can learn anything online, but can you put it into practice?” he says.

    The Moment Everything Changed

    One day in November 2012, he put together his first burger prototype—custom giniling (ground beef), homemade sauce, and buns from Robinsons Magnolia.

    “It was a bit of a Eureka moment in the sense na, this was way better than I expected it to be,” he recalls.

    At first, they only sold burgers on weekends, inviting friends to try them. But word spread fast, and soon, customers weren’t asking for cookies anymore—they wanted the burgers.

    Today, Sweet Ecstasy is one of the most popular burger chains in Manila, proving that sometimes, the best business ideas come from solving your own cravings.

    This article includes quotes from an interview originally published by Esquire Philippines, authored by Henry Ong.

    Loading

    Related

    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleShe Was a DJ and Newscaster—Now Her Burger Brand Has a Cult Following
    Next Article How a Heart Attack at 46 Led This Entrepreneur to Launch a Game-Changing Business

    Related Posts

    Leadership & Growth

    Forget Bossing People Around—This Is How Real Leaders Earn Respect

    May 22, 2025
    Leadership & Growth

    How This Marketing Strategist Blends Analytics and Emotion to Create Impactful Campaigns

    May 21, 2025
    Leadership & Growth

    What Building a National Landmark Taught This Marketer About Purpose-Driven Branding

    May 19, 2025
    Add A Comment

    Comments are closed.

    Demo
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn

    Subscribe to Updates

      Get the latest updates from Financial Adviser about financial literacy and business acumen. Subscribe to our mailing list!

      By checking this, you agree to our Data Privacy Consent/Agreement and accept our use of such cookies.
      I agree to the Terms and Conditions

      Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn RSS

      Home

      Sucess

      • Leadership & Growth
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Business Strategy
      • Inspiring Stories

      Money

      • Investing
      • Personal Finance
      • Wealth Building
      • Financial Planning

      Work

      • Career Development
      • Workplace Culture
      • Productivity & Efficiency
      • Leadership & Management

      Life

      • Relationships & Family
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mindfullness & Balance
      • Personal Growth

      Inspiration

      • Vision & Purpose
      • Overcoming Adversity
      • Motivational Stories
      • Mindset & Motivation

      Contact Us

      Subscribe to Updates

        Get the latest updates from Financial Adviser about financial literacy and business acumen. Subscribe to our mailing list!

        By checking this, you agree to our Data Privacy Consent/Agreement and accept our use of such cookies.
        I agree to the Terms and Conditions

        Copyright © 2025 Financial Adviser. All rights reserved.

        • Privacy Policy

        Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

        FINANCIALADVISER.PH USES COOKIES TO ENSURE YOU GET THE BEST EXPERIENCE WHILE BROWSING THE SITE.

        By continued use, you agree to our Data Privacy Consent/Agreement and accept our use of such cookies. For further information, click the link Data Privacy Consent/Agreement.