Mamonaku Kohi — We’ve Taken Coffee to a ‘Hole’ New Level

Mamonaku Kohi, a Japanese-inspired café in Quezon City, Philippines, has become an internet sensation due to its unique service style. Offering what’s aptly called a Hole in the Wall experience, the coffee shop features a simple facade with minimal openings, as a rugged hole in a concrete wall becomes the protagonist of its exterior. Through this hole, staff hand customers their chosen beverages. This unconventional setup has captivated social media, drawing millions of views as people share videos of their experience on Instagram and TikTok.

Mamonaku Kohi opened its doors in August 2024 with an unconventional twist—rather than a traditional entrance, this branch features a large hole in a concrete wall as its takeaway counter. While it’s one of four locations across Quezon City and Manila, this site has gained attention for its distinctive ordering system. Instead of speaking their orders, customers use laminated picture cards hanging next to the opening to choose their drinks.

Although the Filipino café stands out locally, the idea isn’t entirely original. In a TikTok video with over 1.4 million views, users have pointed out similarities to Tokyo’s Anakuma Café in Harajuku, where customers are served through a hole in a green wall by a bear paw. Like Mamonaku Kohi, Anakuma also uses a non-verbal ordering method, relying on tablets to take orders.