Smash it up

You can’t keep a good thing down on an island. It has to travel eventually.

So it was that two Spanish friends from Barcelona, Marc Alberich and Chef Miguel "Mingu" Marcelino, met in Siargao in 2020 and decided to open the popular burger place, Big Belly. Now it’s migrated to BGC, Metro Manila, where people can sample their popular Wagyu Smash Burgers, Pollos Hermanos (crunchy boneless fried chicken), Choriburgers and plant-based Green Marc burger, while snacking on their Chorifries and cheesy Overloaded Fries.

The two founders — Marc, a marketing strategist from the world of fashion, and Mingu, a surfing chef looking to break through the waves — met in the surfer’s paradise and, after sampling everything around, decided to open their own eatery.

Big Belly was a smash, and part of it was their emphasis on “smash” burgers: that’s when you smoosh the burger patty down hard on the grill with a spatula, getting a good sear on the patty’s edges to lock in the juices and flavor.

The BGC location has a surf-shack exterior; inside it doubles as a bar hangout at night.

Using wagyu beef, the Smash Twin Burger is the quintessential Big Belly creation: with its seared patty hanging off the edges, you might think that’s how they named the place. Mingu claims it was his girlfriend pointing out his big belly that led to naming their burger place.

The Smash Choriburger is also a joy: something about the seared flavor takes you right back to Siargao, the beach lifestyle. (Mingu says the chorizo pork patty is infused with wagyu fats, garlic, “good Spanish paprika” and other spices.)

They met through a mutual friend on Siargao, and it was chef Luis Martinez of Terraza Martinez who convinced them to expand here. That, and the interest of Nikkei Group of Restaurants partners Carlo and Jackie Lorenzana, who sampled their Siargao location and made them an offer to expand. The BGC location, with its surf-shack exterior, is a cozy place with about 60 seats, including upstairs, al fresco and circling the bar area (they have a trove of specialty cocktails, and at night the place doubles as a hangout bar).

While beef and chorizo burgers are big sellers, Big Belly offers pesca and veggie options as well. Their Snapper Burger is a crunchy fillet of fish, and you can have most of their classic burgers in an “unmeat” version that’s been “popping” in Siargao, according to Mingu.

Cookies and Cream Milkshake.

Try their Truffle Mushroom Burger as well: delicious brie and shiitake mushrooms send it through the roof to taste heaven. The B.B. King adds bacon to the mix. And the Hot Papas are a spicy, popping dish that would go great with beer.

These are all hearty — you could say “stuffed” — burgers with a trademark overhang from the “smash” sear. Something about it suggests the laidback lifestyle of Siargao.

“There is something different about Siargao,” Mingu says. “Everybody supports each other.” Both of them met their current fiancées on the island.

“I just roped Mingu into this good life,” says Marc. “I told him, I love burgers, you love burgers, let’s give people something they want to eat.” They started January 2020, but of course by March, COVID caused a long lockdown. When they finally reopened in December 2021, and domestic flights resumed, the place was instantly loaded with customers.

And when it came time for this Big Belly to expand, Marc could only say, “Why not? Let’s go to Manila. Let’s bring the island to the people.”

* * *

Big Belly is at Forbeswood Heights, Forbestown Road, Burgos Circle,

BGC, Taguig.