More than just sun, sea and sand, Boracay has become a sub-culture all its own, a liberating state of mind temporarily placed on hold with its recent closure. Part of the unique Boracay experience is its equally famous beach grub to complete the perfect getaway. But Boracay is far from being the lost paradise, and until it recovers and opens late this year, we'll have to just wait and see. For a limited time, you can have a taste of Boracay's renowned beach grub at Hole in the Wall to satisfy your cravings, all the way until September...
The Sunny Side Cafe Group brings four of Boracay's very best to Hole in the Wall for a special pop-up allowing the metro's countless loyal fans to savor the flavors of the iconic beach destination. With the closure of numerous establishments in Boracay for the duration of its rehabilitation, the pop-up also assists business owners in providing continuous employment for its employees. At the pop-up, diners can rediscover the casual and comforting cuisine of Spicebird, Poketo, Fat Rice and Coco Mama, all in one place. For Nowie and Odette Potenciano of the Sunny Side Cafe Group, the Best of Boracay Pop-Up at Hole in the Wall is just the beginning of even better things yet to come until the re-opening of Boracay...
Spicebird has achieved near legendary status among loyal customers with its made-from- scratch signature dishes, becoming one of Boracay's mandatory must-try dining experiences (more on my first encounter with Spicebird from a pop-up two years back on my post, Spicing Up the Metro at the Spicebird Pop-Up). 
Marinated for hours and grilled slow and low served with their homemade proprietary sauces, Spicebird is just what you need after a day at the beach. Along with Poketo and its yakitori specialties, Fat Rice with its authentic Asian flavors, and Coco Mama with its indulgent coconut-based desserts, it's the Best of Boracay... 
...at Century Mall's Hole in the Wall. Start with the always refreshing Real Thai Iced Tea (P 95) from Fat Rice to get you in that Boracay state of mind with its deep, mildly sweet and creamy notes before the classic "beach grub" feast...
...and begin your rediscovery of comfortingly familiar Boracay flavors with the Yakitori Bowl (P 320) from Poketo, a sumptuous bowl filled with soft and fluffy Furikake Rice, delicate Onsen Egg, crisp Tempura Flakes, nutty Nori, sweet and mildly tart Pickles and your choice of three Yakitori Sticks. I go for the Chicken Skin, juicy boneless Chicken Wing and tender Pork Neck, each one draped in homemade Tare Sauce. It's a full meal in a bowl, with all the flavors and textures that just makes a day at the beach so much better. It's the kind of meal you can have any time of day before the next round of cocktails, or after a night of serious drinks for that sumptuous recovery. You can also order the yakitori sticks a la carte, choose from Chicken Thigh, Chicken Breast and Leek, Chicken Ball, Pork Belly, Tofu, and Eggplant.
The cool thing about Poketo's Yakitori Bowls is that you can customize your own feast in a bowl with the extensive selection of yakitori. Boneless chicken wings, pork neck and chicken skin brings a load of savory richness to your meal, enriched even further with the Onsen Egg and tempered by the subtle sour notes of the pickles. Both the tempura flakes and nori complete the flavors while adding even more texture to the bowl.
Chicken Ball, Pork Belly and Chicken Wing for a second round? Absolutely. But there's so much more to rediscover at the Best of Boracay Pop-Up at Hole in the Wall...
Switch gears and head on to Spicebird for their signature Piri-Piri Chicken Skin (P 110), crisp skin draped with tart piri-piri sauce that's perfect with an ice-cold beer. Perfectly crunchy, the bold notes of Spicebird's Piri-Piri sauce tempers the savory richness of the crisp chicken skin. And when it's this good, how can it be bad? Just go with the flow and have another crunchy piece.
The Piri-Piri Pork Belly Board (P 390) should satisfy any serious pork craving with a massive slab of tender and juicy pork belly served with turmeric Spice Rice, Honey Vinaigrette Salad, Vegetable Chips and Milky Roll. The rich blend of spices in the marinade and rub enhances the delicate sweet notes of the pork, resulting in deep, bold and rich flavors. Marinated for more than 24 hours, the flavors are fully infused to the fork-tender pork (try slicing the pork belly with a spoon). The vegetable crisps, side of honey vinaigrette salad and soft milky roll complete the flavors. And don't forget to add that signature Spicebird Piri-Piri Sauce, lots of it, to the pork.
And this is what started it all. The original Piri-Piri Chicken Board (P 320-1/4 Chicken/P 545-1/2 Chicken) from Spicebird with juicy chicken, Spice Rice, Honey Vinaigrette Salad, Vegetable Chips and Milky Roll is one of those Boracay staples that just captures that Boracay island flair. And why not. The chicken is perfectly grilled with its lightly charred outer layer adding delicate smoky hints pairing well with a generous slather of Spicebird's Piri-Piri Sauce (for more on Spicebird, see my earlier post from two years ago, Spicing Up The Metro at the Spicebird Pop-Up).
And "when you like flavor more than you like friends," just add more of Spicebird's Garlic & Lime Sauce for a flavorful punch with each bite. Curry, Hot Sauce, the original Piri-Piri Sauce or Garlic & Lime, try all four and find your favorite.
Don't miss out on the authentic yet somewhat quirky and twisted interpretation of Asian flavors like the one-of-a-kind crisp Crab Fat Wings (P 390) from Fat Rice. Crab fat and chicken wings? You bet. One bite takes your favorite wings even further with rich crab fat and sweet palm sugar for that carefree Boracay beach flair where anything is possible. Like crab fat and chicken wings. The crab fat just lays on a different kind of richness to the juicy wings, and it works. It adds a unique and indulgent kind of umami to the wings that you can only find in Boracay. But you can have your indulgent bite for a short and temporary time at Hole in the Wall...
The Cereal Salt & Pepper Pork (P 390) draws inspiration from the popular Singaporean Cereal Prawns, replaced with juicy pork ribs in flavorful five-spice covered in crisp cereal. A complete meal, the dish is served with rice. And you'll probably want another bowl. The deep, rounded, sharp and earthy notes of the five-spice blend cuts through the richness of the pork, followed by delectable textural contrast with the crispy cereal. Flavor and texture come together in another sumptuous dish at the Best of Boracay Pop-Up at Hole in the Wall.
The Vietnamese Cha Ca "La Vong" (P 390) is an absolute must-try, with premium cod fish simmered in hot oil infused with turmeric and served with fresh dill, noodles, fish paste, nuts and chili. I first learned of this Hanoi dish from an episode of Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown where he dined in the century-old restaurant that served Cha Ca La Vong. Since then, I was fascinated with the dish, but sadly, no Vietnamese restaurant offers this iconic dish from Hanoi in the metro. Nowie and Odette Potenciano tried the dish in their travels to Vietnam at the very same restaurant along the street named after the dish, and brought it to Boracay at Fat Rice. Grilled and pan-fried with dill and chili, the tender fish is then laid on hot oil with its greenish tint from the turmeric and dill. Simply add the noodles and mix thoroughly, sprinkle with peanuts and chili and a drizzle of fish sauce. Add a squeeze of lime and enjoy. It's exactly the way I imagined the dish would be, with fresh and clean flavors with just a whisper of heat from the fresh chili. This one's a personal favorite.
End your feast with an indulgent dessert from Coco Mama to complete your beach grub experience at the Best of Boracay Pop-Up at Hole in the Wall...
The Coconut Ice Cream with Mango (P 140) from Coco Mama is another must-try in your long list of Boracay flavors. Sweet and creamy with strips of coconut contrasting with the tart sweetness of fresh mangoes capped by crisp puffed black rice, it's a dessert that exudes that familiar tropical island vibe. Served on a coconut shell, it just doesn't get better than that. The debate over Boracay's temporary closure will continue with increasing controversy, with both sides of the political fence sticking with their own views. But the fact remains that until the closure is lifted, the flavors of Boracay as well as countless jobs are preserved with a special pop-up to remind everyone that it's our turn to keep the Boracay state of mind alive. And well. At the Best of Boracay Pop-Up at Hole in the Wall...extended until September.
Hole in the Wall is located at the 4th Floor, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Barangay Poblacion, Makati City or call 801-1230 and 0917-580-2558 for inquiries.
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Hole in the Wall is located at the 4th Floor, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Barangay Poblacion, Makati City or call 801-1230 and 0917-580-2558 for inquiries.
Dude for Food is now on Facebook and Instagram, check out the FB Page and IG Feed for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.