Nothing beats watching an exhilarating basketball game —more so a championship game! — than having a good seat, great company and a huge, juicy burger with all the works and matched with awesome milkshake and fries. This is now a reality over at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, as Shake Shack opens its newest branch at nearby Gateway Mall 2 in Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City. This is also proudly Shake Shack's first Stadium Shack concept store in, no, not just the Philippines, but the whole Asia Pacific.

The coliseum is often the venue of basketball games, particularly championship games, both professional and collegiate. It also hosts national beauty pageants and serves as venue for major concerts of Filipino artists as well as highly anticipated foreign acts, including K-pop groups and American pop icons. Strategically located around the Big Dome are restaurants, both full-fledged restaurants and fast-foods, to cater to pre- and post-game or concert celebrations and get-togethers. Araneta City is, after all, one of the pioneers in the commercial district concept, and Smart Araneta Coliseum has hosted many first Philippine shows for both international and local artists. It is a celebration of togetherness, team spirit, diversity and inclusivity all at once. Shake Shack now joins the company of the City of Firsts.

The opening of Shake Shack— right where the action is— is a welcome development indeed, as people can just indulge in their favorite made-to-order Angus beef burgers, crispy chicken, fries, cheese dog, hand-spun milkshakes, house-made lemonades, even beer and wine. As a community gathering place, it "connects" through its premium and innovative food using only the best ingredients, which it carefully sources from partner farmers, ranchers, food artisans and purveyors.

Shake Shack Araneta shack has taken shape and ambiance through a collaboration with Bitto, an artist and muralist from Quezon City. His paintings feature a recurring cast of characters captured in encapsulated moments, offering intimate and familiar snapshots of everyday life. Using this signature theme, he exclusively crafted a mural for the stadium shack, showcasing vibrant color palettes, depicting characters and scenes that harmoniously combine music, movement, celebration, and local historical milestones. Beautiful, attractive and compelling art that draws people in.

Shake Shack Araneta's main attraction, though, is its exclusive offers that are aimed at addressing hunger pangs and satisfying cravings. These include the Classic Shack (P585), which comes with the iconic Shack Burger, a side of fries and a refreshing 16oz. Lemonade. There's Hotdiggity Shack (P575), which features a Cheese Dog with crinkle-cut fries and a chilled 16oz. Lemonade. For a sweet indulgence, opt for The Shackdown (P265), a frozen vanilla custard hand-spun with Oreo and chocolate chip cookies topped with cookies crumble and sprinkles. Now, these are the fast, easy and delicious snacks to bring in with you when you watch a game or a gig.

An American brand, Shake Shack started with one outlet at New York City's Madison Square Park in 2004. Now it is in over 470 locations and has established presence in not just the United States and the District of Columbia but also in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Mexico City, Istanbul, Dubai, Tokyo, Seoul, and Manila, among others. The SSI Group Inc. is responsible for bringing the brand to Manila.