From Siargao to BGC, Big Belly Manila Surfs the Metro's Growing and Diverse Burger Scene

Big Belly Manila is all geared up to take a big bite of the local burger scene at BGC with its varied repertoire of signature charcoal-grilled Wagyu burger creations, smash burgers and crispy fried burgers. And they're ready to catch the big wave of the metro's appetite for burgers. Read on and take a big juicy bite of Big Belly Manila...

The crowded and competitive burger segment is stacked and loaded with established brands and creative start-ups, yet our insatiable cravings for the perfect burger continues. But is there room for one more? The Nikkei Group certainly thinks so. With its growing roster of dining concepts bannered by Nikkei along with their other restaurants like Señorita Sunae Asian Kitchen, Terraza Martinez and Sakagura, the addition of Big Belly Manila to their portfolio is a strategic and diversified move for a bigger share of the metro's resurgent dining scene. 

Inside Big Belly Manila, the casual interiors reflect the brand's laid-back vibe and Siargao roots for a fascinating origin story. Founded back in 2020 by two Spanish friends from Barcelona who made Siargao their home, Marc Alberich and Chef Miguel"Mingu"Marcelino boldly followed their passion for burgers by offering an elevated experience of the popular staple. Three years later, their brand of burgers is one of the island's biggest culinary hits and now surfing its way to the big city's burger scene. 

Chef Miguel"Mingu"Marcelino demands nothing less than the finest and freshest ingredients for his burgers at Big Belly Manila. From the right premium Wagyu beef with its precise ratios and blends, masterful techniques and creative renditions of savory flavors, Chef Mingu and Marc developed their own standard drawing deep into their own passion for mouthwatering burgers. The result is an impressive and delectable array of burgers that can stand on its own alongside the best of Manila. 

The day of my visit, a liquor ban was in effect and I unfortunately missed out on their handcrafted cocktails and bar selection. But no worries. There's nothing a good Vanilla Milkshake can't fix. Thick, rich and creamy, an indulgent sip opens up the palate for the best burgers from Siargao at Big Belly Manila. One more decadent sip and it's time for a burger...

The Big Marc (P 540) is Chef Mingu and Marc's homage to a fastfood classic, elevated and upgraded with a thick and juicy Wagyu patty topped with creamy melted Cheddar, crisp shredded iceberg lettuce, onions and pickles slathered in the proprietary Big Marc sauce. It's the perfect introduction to the Big Belly Manila experience. 

You'll immediately notice the weight once you pick up the Big Marc, this is one solid burger. This is then followed by the unbelievable softness of the brioche, tempting you to dive right in with a big bite. That first bite delivers a flavorful burst of bold beefy notes from the juicy Wagyu beef draping the palate with a savory richness. Like butter, the Wagyu beef transforms the burger experience. And that whisper of smoky hints from the charcoal grill completes the flavors. The medley of flavors are then kicked up by the garden fresh and crisp lettuce, the sweetness of onions and the bright notes of the pickles made even more lavish with the subtle sharpness of the Cheddar and that mildly sweet and refreshingly tart Big Marc sauce binding everything together. 

The flavors are comfortingly familiar yet so much richer than your usual options. The juicy charcoal-grilled Wagyu beef clearly makes this burger a serious contender for the metro's burger battles.

The Big Marc by Big Belly Manila is an impressive start. But Chef Mingu has many more surprises from his kitchen... 

...like the decadent Truffle Mushroom (P 620) with its cast of indulgent ingredients like melted Brie, braised shiitake, caramelized browned onions and creamy Truffle sauce complementing the juicy richness of the Wagyu beef patty in a pillow soft brioche bun. The play on multiple layers of unrestrained richness is pure burger bliss right from the very first bite. 

Each big bite delivers full-on flavors, with the soft brioche absorbing even more flavorful notes from the various ingredients. The beefy richness of the Wagyu patty is enhanced by the mild yet deep creamy finish of the melted Brie and Truffle sauce while the sweet hints of the browned onions and distinct earthy notes of the braised shiitake adds a flavorful depth with each solid bite. Wagyu beef finished on a fiery charcoal grill, melted brie, truffle sauce, mushrooms and onions on a soft brioche, that's one winning play from Chef Mingu and Marc's playbook of burger goodness. 

Other charcoal-grilled Wagyu beef burger options from Big Belly Manila include the B.B. King (P 580) with crispy bacon, mustard pickles and sweet smoky barbecue sauce; the Classic (P 540) with Cheddar, salted tomato, onions and pickles and the Cheeseburger (P 550). You can also change up your burger game with UnMeat options or the Choripan (P 460) with with chorizo patty, melted raclette, browned onions and chimichurri. 

In between bites, the NY Fries (P 340) with melted cheddar sauce, crispy bacon and the Big Marc sauce on large crisp fries bring delectable plays of textural contrasts and flavors to the palate to complete your sumptuous burger feast. Other tempting Sides at Big Belly Manila include the Mozzarella Sticks (P 280), Chicken Tenders (P 280), Chori Fries (P 380), Truffle Fries (P 325), Cheesy Fries (P 290), Hot Papas (P 240) or thick fries and Homemade Fries (P 220). 

Smash or Crispy Fried? From the Smash Burger selection, the Chori Burger (P 240) with chorizo crust, melted Cheddar, browned onions and silky smooth aioli sauce offers a whole new and refreshingly different burger experience at Big Belly Manila. 

From the smashed chorizo patty ringed by a delicately crisp and crunchy crust around the edges to the melted Cheddar, browned onions and aioli, the Chori Burger with its subtle sweet and salty hints is another flavorful burger rendition in Big Belly Manila's repertoire. The sharp and bold richness of the chorizo are perfectly tempered by the melted Cheddar, sweet browned onions and smoothened by the aioli sauce for that balanced finish.

Other Smash Burger variants you may want to try are the classic Smash Burger (P 340) and Li'l Marc (P 325). Big Belly Manila also offers Crispy Fried Burgers like the Pollos Hermanos Chicken Burger (P 320), Snapper Burger (P 450) with beer battered white snapper fillet and the B.B. Chicken (P 420) with bacon and barbecue sauce.

From the first bite all the way to the last, Chef Mingu and Marc weaves another rich layer to the metro's growing and diverse burger landscape with their savory creations at Big Belly Manila. The Wagyu beef patties and charcoal-grilled finish sets Big Belly Manila apart from the rest in the competitive burger scene. It's the game-winning formula, complemented by Chef Mingu and Marc's other savory creations like the Smash and Crispy Fried variants that combine for a solid burger equation that makes Big Belly Manila a most welcome addition to the growing burger landscape in the metro. Now it's your turn. Go and take a big bite of Siargao's best, now open at BGC...