Ka Inato: Palawan's #1 chicken is now in Manila!

Frankly, I haven't been to Palawan yet. But from friends, reviews and blog posts, I've found out that there's a chicken haven famous in the island. It's Ka Inato which serves their famous charcoal-grilled chicken. And now, it finally hits Metro Manila as it opened its first store at RMR Square just along Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City.

Unlike the Ka Inato in Palawan which is more of a family casual-dining restaurant, the one in Tandang Sora is a fast food type of joint. But unlike most grilled chicken fast food restaurants in the metro, Ka Inato bears a more sophisticated interior with clean white walls and wooden furniture. I also really liked the paintings donning almost all sides of the restaurant. From what I know, these were made by an artist from Palawan.

Now, since this Ka Inato branch is more of a fast food restaurant, most of the offerings come in sets good for one person. (The original Ka Inato offers dishes good for sharing.) However, they also offer some a la carte items for those like me who can't live without the extra viands or for those who'll be eating with a colleague, a friend or a loved one.

And now, let me share what we got to try at Ka Inato.

For this trip, I opted to have the original Ka Inato Chicken (P98) which for me resembles the famous Bacolod-favorite inasal as it's also marinated and basked in atsuete oil, and grilled over charcoal. And of course, the perfect way to enjoy this skewered chicken goodness is by adding in chilimansi-soy sauce, atchara (pickled papaya) and rice.

I've already tried quite a lot of grilled chicken in my life, and I can definitely say this Ka Inato Chicken is one of the tastiest I've had! The skin was just so flavorful with a good harmony of sweet and savory. Even without adding in soy sauce or vinegar, it was highly enjoyable on its own. However, if I had to be nit-picky, I found the meat inside a little dry than I would've wanted. Nevertheless though, the skin undoubtedly made up for it.

My brave friend Stacy had the Ka-Inato Hot and Spicy Chicken (P103), a spicier yet still as savory variation of the original Ka Inato Chicken.

While I believe I have medium to high tolerance when it comes to spicy food, I can't deny that the spiciness level of this piece of grilled chicken exceeded my expectation. I was happy that my friend offered me a few slices to sample, but I was quite hesitant when she asked me to help her finish the chicken off. Like the original Ka Inato Chicken, this serving also has a nice sweet and savory flavor. However, the spiciness then kicks in, lingers and then stays in your mouth for quite a while. Definitely not for the faint-palated.

Aside from the chicken items, we also got to try the Kambak (P115) which my friend and I gladly shared. This dish is a fusion of kambing (mutton) and baka (beef) in a kaldereta-style preparation. While this is my first time to have tried this dish, I instantly fell in love with it. The meat pieces were all so tender and so succulent. The sauce on the other hand, was savory, a little nutty, and just oh-so-good. Seriously, I will kambak for this!

To end our meal on a sweet note, we had a Leche Flan (P28) which is probably one of my most favorite local desserts. For the price, this small plate of Leche Flan is quite good. It's sweet and creamy which makes it the perfect meal ender to tickle the taste buds after savoring the Ka Inato Chicken and my new-found love, Kambak.

Now, I'm not sure if these dinner sets are still available. But when we visited back in February, we saw Ka Inato offering packages perfect for families and even for barkadas.

THE VERDICT

Even if I haven't been to Palawan yet, I'm glad that at least I got a taste of Ka Inato which is one of the island's pride. Although their concept here in Metro Manila isn't exactly like their restaurants in Palawan, I personally think the fast food approach is well-fit for the fast-paced lives of Metro Manileños. As for their food, I found Ka Inato's offerings very satisfactory, especially the notable Kambak. And with budget-friendly prices, Ka Inato is one affordable chicken place I'd gladly visit again soon.

Taste - 3.5/5
Ambiance - 3.5/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4.5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Ka Inato, Tandang Sora
G/F RMR Square, Tandang Sora Ave., Brgy. Pasong Tamo,
(near Visayas Ave., behind Caltex & Robinson’s Supermarket)
Quezon City, Metro Manila
(02) 401-1990
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