It’s gonna get busy really soon. There are gifts to buy, errands to run, friends to meet, and approximately a hundred reasons to say, “Since we’re already here, let’s eat.” That last part is where things get interesting.
There’s always something new to try when you’re spending an afternoon at the mall, whether you went in looking for lunch or simply happened to walk past something that looked good. Across four SM Supermalls, a few newer dining spots are making a case for adding another stop to the itinerary.
At SM Aura, Beanhound brings coffee, specialty drinks, pastries, and savory bites into the mix. SM Megamall has Hikiniku To Come, where Japanese hamburg gets the full treatment. Over at SM Mall of Asia, Hamburg Yoshi offers its own take on the same comforting combination of beef and rice. And at SM North EDSA, Little Bee rounds things out with something for the sweet tooth.
Different places, different cravings. The only real requirement is showing up hungry.
For the Coffee People
Beanhound at SM Aura is not just a stop for the usual latte-and-go.
The coffee menu gets playful with drinks like Thai Es Yen, orange espresso, and nam hom coconut, while the food side gives you plenty of reason to stay a little longer. There are pan-de-sal paninis, pastries, brownies, cakes, and the Pang Choco Crunch, which layers chocolate ganache, Oreo crumble, and nuts over toasted bread.
It sits comfortably in that sweet spot between coffee break and actual meal. Come in for a drink, add something to eat, and suddenly the shopping can wait another half hour.
For anyone who treats finding a good café as part of the day rather than a pit stop between errands, that’s probably enough reason to linger.
If Hamburg Is Your Love Language
Hikiniku To Come at SM Megamall is much more focused. There is one thing to come here for, and the restaurant takes it seriously.
The signature set arrives with three 90-gram hamburg steaks, freshly grilled and served with rice, miso soup, grated daikon with ponzu, pickles, condiments, and a raw egg.
The three patties are designed to be eaten differently, too. Start with the hamburg on its own, then bring in the grated daikon and ponzu, before finishing with egg over rice. It turns what could have been a straightforward hamburger-and-rice meal into something you actually get to work your way through.
And when the rice is refillable, there is little reason to pretend you’re only having a light lunch.
Same Comfort, Different Direction
Hamburg Yoshi at SM Mall of Asia takes the hamburg conversation somewhere else.
The menu ranges from its regular beef hamburg to beef tongue and skirt steak, with a wagyu option for those who want to make lunch considerably more indulgent. The sets come with rice, miso soup, and sides, keeping the whole thing firmly in the territory of the satisfying, complete meal.
The beef tongue is the one that caught my attention. It brings a different texture to the familiar hamburg format without asking you to abandon everything you already like about the dish.
For A Quick Stopover
At SM North EDSA, Little Bee brings a very different kind of snack to the food run. The Thai crispy crepe stall sits right in front of the SM Grocery, serving khanom bueang, the thin, crisp Thai crepes that can go sweet or savory.
The format is simple but surprisingly varied. The crepes come with fillings like coconut cream and fresh coconut, egg yolk threads, chocolate, yam, and dried shrimp, balancing crisp shells with creamy, chewy, and savory textures.
Little Bee is also not exactly new to recognition. The Bangkok brand has earned multiple MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand selections, giving its humble little crepes a pedigree that goes well beyond the mall snack stall.
What makes it particularly fun in this context is how casually you can encounter it. You might be picking up groceries, finishing an afternoon of shopping, or simply passing through the mall when a box of freshly made crispy crepes becomes the thing you take home.
And honestly, that feels very appropriate for a food run. Not every good meal needs to be the main event. Sometimes it’s the little detour that ends up being the thing you remember. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
A good meal, a new café, something sweet on the way out. The best food runs are often built that way. Especially during the Ber months, when being out already feels like part of the season.
So whether you’re shopping for the holidays, meeting friends, finishing an errand, or simply spending an afternoon somewhere with air-conditioning, leave some room for a detour.
Come hungry. You might just leave with a new fave!
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s located at Lower Ground Level, SM Aura Premier, McKinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila.
It’s located at Ground Level, Mega Fashion Hall (Building D), SM Megamall, EDSA corner Doña Julia Vargas Ave, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila.
It’s located at Level 1, South Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Seaside Blvd, Pasay, Metro Manila.
It’s located at Level 2, Main Building, SM North EDSA, North Avenue corner EDSA, Quezon City, Metro Manila.
