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Where To To Eat In Boracay 2022: Our Top 10 List 

A food lover's guide to the best places to drink and dine in this beachy paradise, at any time of day! 

Article (news)

Elizabeth Timbol

<p>For most of us, a trip to the beaches of Boracay often means hours spent soaking up the sun and swimming in the sea. The goal? A perfect tan. After a making two trips to the island over the summer, long-delayed after a few years, a rehabilitation, and a pandemic-driven lockdown, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Not only was my favorite beach destination as beautiful as ever, but it has also transformed into one of the best culinary hotspots in the country. There are now more crave-worthy restaurants from Stations 1 to 3 covering any, and all, flavor profiles you under the sun. In fact, these restaurants deserve their own itinerary all on their own.</p><div><br></div><p>Thanks to a fellow foodie and chef friend, I landed with a handy list of must-eat places. Honestly, I had to be strategic, since I was going to be there for only four day stretches per trip. The upside? There was not a single miss. The downside? Time is never on your side. So, consider this a starter kit, because I guarantee you will be planning another trip soon enough just to cover all your bases! </p><div><br></div><div class='article-content' itemprop='articleBody'><div class='media-content'><div class='slider-for'><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/bddeb1a0-e340-410d-b269-f47c12ea91b0_2 landscape.jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/840b8309-4a90-4815-9739-00ed4160f9d8_sunny side cafe 3 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/7b30dedc-594c-4b87-a276-33cbe2d0c2d7_sunny side cafe 4.jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d058e34b-a839-48ff-a0a7-340a7cb5d9a3_nonies 2 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/77c312b5-556b-4357-bf70-ccdd04470b19_congas 1 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/09e0c28e-ca08-4759-a680-5ae9c10e8544_mayas 4 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/c768cb87-0226-44d9-9ace-1dd665f7dca0_mayas 1 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/9130dc46-f74d-4164-94ea-af36d8b28b40_spicebird 1 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/026c37f1-5ef6-46a8-99d9-fb1a625ee032_coco mama 1 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/9fd19908-bf66-40fb-af94-d663e4e3abfd_little wave 1 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/91944138-58fc-4df3-9e8d-fb66bd0a9980_little wave 2 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/16f7878f-bfe0-4dd2-bfd2-3c2d6cd08e39_hello sailor 1 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/00d8799d-f614-49b9-b6cb-843e339c7e29_hello sailor 2 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/4ba91efb-4c3a-4e9e-8893-77c385f5774e_percy seafood 1 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/12518196-04f9-4457-9b33-59f2187bafed_percy seafood 2 .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div><div><img loading='lazy' src='https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/f4182859-1724-44be-b5e5-5fc304f49b1e_kasbah .jpeg' alt='' class='fr-fic fr-dii'></div></div><div class='media-content slider-desc'><div class='item-desc'><div></div></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Breakfast: The Sunny Side Café - There is breakfast and there is breakfast at The Sunny Side Café. Starting your day at the flagship restaurant of The Sunny Side Café Group over in Station 3 will not only leave you with a happy tummy, but it just might also put you in a sunny disposition,  pun intended. <cite>@thesunnysideboracay</cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>The Sunny Side Café - What sets them apart is their use of local ingredients like Ube, Malagos chocolate, and small-batch coffee to give their dishes a major flavor boost. For those with a sweet tooth, the Ube and Cereal Milk Pancakes, and The Sunny Side Champorado (deeply chocolatey topped with bacon brittle and caramel ice cream) are just what you need. Feeling savory? The Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict puts a barbecue spin on a breakfast classic, while their take on a Choriburger is both nostalgic and downright delicious. The Sunny Side Café is working on another branch over at Station 1, so watch out for that!<cite>@thesunnysideboracay</cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Nonie's  - If you’re jonesing to start your day on the healthier side, Nonie’s over at Station X by Hue Hotel and Resorts is a must-try. True to their tagline #eatgoodfeelgood, they offer Filipino-inspired healthy fare made fresh everyday.  They even serve up options for vegan, vegetarian, keto-friendly and gluten-free dishes. Start light with a smoothie bowl, with flavor options loaded with berries, mangoes, bananas, malunggay, and coconut. They upped the ante on healthy grain bowls by topping it with Tuna Tataki, Vegan chorizo, among other choices. Arroz Caldo even gets the Nonie’s twist made with adlai. Feeling a bit indulgent at the start of the day? Go for the Chicken and Pork Adobo, using grilled chicken and their 72-hour pork, served over black rice. Nonie’s also offers all-day brunch options, and desserts with a unique Pinoy touch, like the Fresh Buko Tart topped with coconut cream, and cacao nibs. <cite>@noniesboracay</cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Lunch: Congas  - If you’re craving for fresh yet punchy flavors, this unassuming little spot just a little past Bulabog Wetlands Park will become your go-to. Owner Lorie Ponce-Langley opened Congas on November 2020 to serve up authentic Thai food on the island. Everything from the deeply flavorful Beef Massaman Curry, the classic Pad Thai, the Kangkong with Shrimp Paste, to the much-talked about lemongrass chicken wings speak of an understanding of how to use spices, herbs and fresh ingredients. Your palate picks up something new with each bite, yet everything is perfectly balanced. The food in Congas is a great example where simplicity makes for the most delicious meals. Make this one of your first meals on the island just to set the tone for the rest of your holiday.<cite>@congasbarandrestaurantboracay</cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Maya's  - Lunch with a view is never a bad idea. If that’s what you have in mind, then head on over to Maya’s Boracay right in the middle of Station 1. The place specializes in both Mexican and Filipino cuisine, ticking all the right boxes for each. Their tacos deliver hefty portions, not only in size but in flavor. The stars on their Filipino menu are the grilled liempo, cooked old school over hot coals making the porky flavors sing, the extra-juicy chicken inasal, and the Pork Binagoongan. Extra rice please! <cite>@mayasboracay</cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Maya's  - Pass on dessert, find yourself a spot with a view and end your meal with a cocktail instead. Maya’s delivers a happy buzz via their Purple Haze, made using Agimat’s Ube Cream Liquer. It’s like sipping on ube ice cream with a boozy kick.<cite>@mayasboracay</cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>SpiceBird  - With all the reviews I had heard about the place, I made sure to slot in SpiceBird on my second visit over. Ensconced in the middle of D’Mall, there was a bit of a wait for a table, but it was so worth it! While the place is most famous for their Piri-Piri Chicken, they also smother the spicy and tangy Piri-Piri sauce on juicy grilled pork belly, shrimps, and even sandwiches. They do offer a choice of sauces to complement your food, but so top up on the tasty lemon garlic sauce and the fiery Hotbird sauce. That’s not all they have on the menu though. Consider starting your meal with grilled scallops and oysters, which come to your table piping hot off the grill. Once you’re done eating, I’d suggest a walk on the beachfront to burn those extra calories in time for the next meal. <cite>@spicebirdgrill</cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Merienda: Cocomama - Boracay, on any given day, can be scorching hot, so a cold snack mid-afternoon is always a good idea. Coco Mama to the rescue! Located at the ground floor of the newly-opened Seaworthy Resort in Station 1, this little stall makes their own ice cream that you can enjoy in the coconut shell, in a pandan cone, or even a cup. But you’re on the beach, so I’d say in the shell is the way to go. Choose between a single or double scoop of either coconut ice cream or coconut pandan ice cream (or both!), then from a variety of toppings, including fresh mango, pinipig and heirloom sticky rice. Pick up your wooden spoon and get on with the rest of your day. The only difference is, you’ve now got one of the best sweet treats on the island in your hand.<cite>@cocomamaboracay</cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Little Wave Specialty Café - If you’re one of those in need of a caffeine fix mid-afternoon, then hop on an e-trike and make your way over to Station X by Hue Hotels & Resorts. Set to one side is the charming Little Wave Café, awash in shades of mint and aquamarine, espresso machine included. Get your IG stories ready! While they do serve up classic coffee preparations, their signature creations are the way to go. Death Cream is akin to drinking liquid coffee ice cream, combining espresso with rich vanilla custard. Poured over ice, it’s dessert and coffee in one. Another must-try is the café’s namesake concoction, which combines espresso, cream and a huge dollop of whipped cream just right. <cite>@littlewaveboracay </cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Little Wave Specialty Café - Apart from the coffee, Little Wave delivers high marks on its dessert selection, like their Millionaire Bars, layered with fudge, caramel and shortbread, or their trademark Vanilla Slice, which is reminiscent of the Napoleones. Coffee and pastries – definitely the makings of a perfect afternoon! <cite>@littlewaveboracay </cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Dinner: Hello Sailor  - Now, if you are looking to make a night of it, sipping drinks for happy hour then going straight to the dinner, then head straight over to Percy Seafood and Hello, Sailor, both at the newly-opened Seaworthy Resort at Station 1. Both places feature the best locally-sourced ingredients, produce and aromatics. What more could you ask for? Hello, Sailor is set off to one side of the venue, it is reminiscent of a tiki bar with its nipa awning, rattan bar chairs, and tongue-in-cheek logo – mermaids and all.<cite>@hellosailorboracay </cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Hello Sailor  - Owner Nowie Potenciano, half of the Boracay power couple behind The Sunny Side Group, collaborated with The Curator’s David Ong to mix up the craft cocktails that wake up a festival of flavors with every. Standouts are the rum-based Rubber Ducky, Sink Or Swim with the smoky undertones, High Tide, which features Tequila, batwan and guava, and All is Swell, with lychee, coconut and pineapple mixed with gin. One, or even two, go very well with Boracay’s famous golden sunset. <cite>@hellosailorboracay </cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Percy Seafood  - Hop over a table or two to Percy Seafood to indulge in some of the freshest seafood dishes, created by Chef Natalia Moran, you can find. Start off your meal with the fresh Aklan Oysters served raw with a tangy mignonette or grilled with chipotle and lime, and the Tuna Ceviche. It plays with textures via creamy avocado, cucumber, mango salsa, and nachos. Add another cocktail to make the experience complete! Now to the good part – the mains. Just dive in, pun intended, and indulge in the Percy Thai Curry Crab, which is fragrant, rich, and fatty that must be eaten with rice. Since you’re on holiday, go for double carbs, and order the Percy’s Basket for the best fish (and shrimp, and squid) and chips ever. The house-made aioli is yummy, but do ask for malt vinegar to go with the fish. Save space for dessert and have the Mango Heirloom Sticky Rice with salted coconut caramel sauce. The calories will be so worth it! Servings are hefty and are good for two to three, so expect a feast at your table! <cite>@percyseafoodboracay </cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Percy Seafood  - Percy Seafood shares the same aesthetic as Hello Sailor, which means every corner is instagrammable! <cite>@percyseafoodboracay </cite></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Kasbar  - One of the longtime favorites over on Station 1, Kasbar is practically a Boracay institution. Almost everyone who frequents the island has eaten there at least once. What greets you when you get there are a cacophony of bright colors and pretty lights that transport you straight to Morocco. Which is apropos, as they serve up some of the best Middle Eastern food around. Pick an al fresco table, sitting on pillows on the sand, or one of their indoor / outdoor spots – either way, you get a beautiful view of the beach as you dine. Start the meal off with their Hummus or Baba Ghanoush, which are both silky smooth and brightly flavored. Don’t be shy and dig in with the warm pita bread! After that, the kebab platter with pita takes your meal to the next level. The meats are succulent and the vegetables fresh, singing with the spices they were marinated in, and kissed with smoke from the grill. To wash it all down, their fruit lassis are the way to go. <cite>@kasbar_boracay</cite></p></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><em>Lead photo: Cocomama, Percy Seafood </em></div>