Cebu's OG burger favorite mark 25th year with expansion to Mactan

It’s highly improbable locals are unaware of this burger place. And if they didn’t, perhaps, it’s the perfect time to do so.

For 24 years, Burger Joint has been quietly holding it down as one of Cebu’s most beloved homegrown burger joints. Now, just in time for their silver milestone, they’ve crossed the bridge and opened their newest branch in Mactan Marina Mall, Lapu-Lapu City.

What started two decades ago, one of the owners of the joint has remained proudly local, consistent and affordable.

“I’m 48 now. I was 22 when we started,” said Martine Sarmiento, who runs the business alongside Sarrita Pimentel and Leanne Roa. “We took turns managing the place. I don’t run it alone — it was the three of us.”

Now with their Lapu-Lapu branch officially open, they’re embracing their fans on the island — a move sparked not by market analysis, but by their customers’ demands. “Almost everyone said Lapu-Lapu. So we listened,” Martine shared.

“Mactan really doesn’t have many burger places,” Martine pointed out. “We felt like we had a solid enough fan base here. So we made the leap.”

But it’s not just a copy-paste of their other stores. “This one’s different,” Martine said. “If you noticed in our Arcenas branch (Banawa, Cebu City), the kitchen is in the back. Here, we put it right in the middle of the store. People can see how their burgers are made. It’s more transparent, more open.”

And while other brands may be in constant competition mode, the owners are staying in their lane. “We don’t compete,” Sarrita said. “I don’t see them as competitors. We have a different offering.”

That offering? Comfort food done right. Burgers that are juicy, grilled on the spot and priced competitively in today’s economy. “Keeping the price low is a challenge,” Martine admitted. “But we try. Our burgers are as low as P160 (the famous Joint Burger). We make it work.”

“We were the first to offer charbroiled burgers — that’s why we don’t compete,” said Sarrita, whose favorite is the Wasabi Burger.

Their menu includes favorites like the Cheezy Joint Burger, Double Joint Burger, Spicy Salsa Burger, Cream Cheese & Garlic Burger and more. They also serve up comfort classics like onion rings, fries, sandwiches, and milkshakes.

Now with a shiny new kitchen, a loyal following and a whole island of hungry beach-goers, the OG burgers they offer are entering a sizzling new chapter. S