Bacolod Chicken Inasal: Ini ang Inasal

Chicken inasal has been one of the continuously-growing Filipino dishes to hit the Metro. Although I'm unsure of how it all started, most people say it originated in the Visayan islands. I have tried the versions of both Mang Inasal and Chic-Boy, and I thought Bacolod Chicken Inasal is just the same. But, I was wrong.

With its branches mostly located in high traffic malls, Bacolod Chicken Inasal deviates itself from the 2 fast food chains I've previously mentioned by being a sit-down, full service restaurant. Both its storefront and interior may give off that fast food vibe, but apparently, they're not one. They may have tons of posters inside the restaurant, but if you take them out, it would leave a nice bright-lighted Filipino diner with MassKara-themed decors.

I admit, I was not initially enticed by Bacolod Chicken Inasal's red, yellow and white color scheme. In fact, my beau and I only entered the doors of its Trinoma branch because we were already starving and every restaurant was full that particular Saturday evening. However, having no expectations at all helped as I slowly but surely discovered how this humble-looking restaurant is in fact, a gem.

I got myself an order of the chicken breast or Petso (P99.50) and a serving of Garlic Rice (P33.50). I've had my fair share of chicken barbecue throughout my food adventures in the Metro, but I was not prepared with Bacolod Chicken Inasal's rendition. I was surprised with how good their chicken inasal was -- tender and succulent chicken meat well-seasoned with herbs and spices, and coated with a nice and crisp grilled skin. It was the best chicken inasal I've ever tasted, and I'm very positive that it was freshly-cooked.

The chicken inasal was so good that I can eat it as is! But of course, I still used some calamnsi and chili-infused soy sauce to add some salty kick.

My date on the other hand, ordered the chicken thigh or Paa (P99.50) with a cup of crablet or Talangka Rice (P73.50).

Although he's not a big fan of chicken inasal, my date agreed that Bacolod Chicken Inasal's was good. However, he was not too impressed with the Talangka Rice. He says it's good, but he had better. I got to sample his cup of rice too, and although I can really taste the crab flavor, it was not as savory as I've had imagined. (I'm a big seafood lover so I know my crabs.)

After a delicious chicken inasal meal, I ended my dinner with an order of their Buko Pandan (P59.50). If you love the flavor of pandan, then you'd like Bacolod Chicken Inasal's version as it had a lot of pandan jelly. However, since I'm more of a buko girl than a pandan fan, I wished it had more buko strips.

Bacolod Chicken Inasal offers a variety of beverages too. But for the night, I only had cold water while my date enjoyed his Bottomless Native Tsokolate (P59.50). Yes, you've read it right. They indeed serve bottomless tsokolate!

Although I still prefer a sweeter blend of hot choco, my date on the other hand, really loved Bacolod Chicken Inasal's version. Made with real tablea, this bottomless cup had the rich, bittersweet cacao taste. It was not as thick as the other native tsokolate we've tried, but taste-wise, it passed with flying colors.

THE VERDICT

Bacolod Chicken Inasal really surprised me with the quality of their food. Their chicken inasal was simply the best I had here in the Metro. And, the experience didn't just end with good food. The service was impressive as well. Crew members were friendly, courteous and very prompt, refilling our water and bottomless tsokolate all the time. It also didn't take long before they served our orders, even if they probably didn't pre-cook them. Overall, Bacolod Chicken Inasal exceeded my initial perception of the brand. They've really made Bacolod, my mom's hometown, proud.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 3.5/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Bacolod Chicken Inasal, Trinoma Mall
Lvl.1, Trinoma Mall, North Ave. cor. EDSA
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 901-3622
Official Website
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