Food
Illustration by Cara Padilla
Steak is often regarded as a luxurious food far beyond what the student budget can afford. Thankfully, the enjoyment of eating a quality steak is now more accessible for the regular college student. With this list, Vantage rounds up a list of steakhouses that fit right into the usual student budget. These four places around Katipunan serve steak at affordable prices to satisfy every meaty craving.
Blake’s
Along Katipunan Extension sits Blake’s, a homey restaurant that prides itself in its melt-in-your-mouth marinated steaks. The 250-gram porterhouse is presented on a slab of wood that showcases the restaurant’s rustic aesthetic. As the Php 250 steak is served, what stands out the most are its irresistible grill marks. Cutting into the steak was tough, but the meat is actually tender to the bite. Its simple seasoning coats the steak with a tinge of saltiness that complements the cut’s meaty flavor well. Despite the enticing grill marks, the smoky flavor from the char is disappointingly unapparent. However, the steak is elevated by Blake’s original gravy, which provides a fuller flavor as its creaminess complements the meat’s saltiness without weighing down the steak. Although being the farthest away from campus, Blake’s steaks are surely worth the visit.
Mad Mark’s
Mad Mark’s is located in UP Town Center, which is a quick tricycle or jeep ride away from Ateneo. Their Signature Steak price stars a 150-gram slab of premium USDA beef accompanied by two sides and a sauce of your choice. Grill marks give variety to the texture, providing a crispiness that balances out the more tender side of the steak. The accompanying Bootstrap Steak Sauce (among other choices) is a sour and zesty contrast to the meat’s savory flavors. Their take on a classic side, the Smashed Potato, features a hearty mix of potato skin and bits result in a buttery and chunky affair. Mad Mark’s creamy and slightly sweet Mac & Cheese provides a welcome foil to the meat’s salty and smokey tastes. Although something of a splurge at Php 330, Mad Mark’s offers a sizeable and filling steak along with a wide variety of sides and sauces to choose from to ensure that the meal is worth its cost.
Rap Steaks and Cakes
Rap Steaks is just a short walk from campus and is easily the most accessible steakhouse for Ateneans. This quaint restaurant at F. dela Rosa Street behind Regis Center offers a smokey, well-marinated, and exceedingly tender porterhouse steak at only Php 247. Each mouthful is a joy to chew as the succulence of the steak shines through with every tender bite. However, the real star of this joint is their mouthwatering gravy. Rap Steaks’ unlimited serving of gravy has just the right amount of buttery tang, providing a robust flavor without overpowering the overall flavor of the steak.
Brickfire
A hidden gem amongst Esteban Abada’s countless establishments, Brickfire is located at the second floor of the Xavier Residence Building. This steakhouse offers the most budget-friendly steak with sides at Php 190. Their best-selling menu item is the Cowgirl Annie, a 220-gram steak that is slathered with three sauces to choose from: original, honey mustard, and wasabi. Brickfire’s wasabi sauce stands out as it gives the steak a zesty twist that simply can’t be found anywhere else. On its own, the steak is a bit tough, but the unique flavors and cheap price more than compensates for it.
Steak does not have to be reserved for fancy family dinners and expensive date nights. These cozy and convenient steakhouses prove that you can enjoy quality steaks without hurting your wallets. The best part? You won’t even have to leave the comforts of Katipunan to do so.
Note: Raps Steak is no longer open.
