Born and raised in Bacolod City, known for the best (yes, I’m claiming it) chicken inasal, I can say I have high standards for this Filipino classic. I grew up eating inasal for dinner at least once every week especially after Sunday mass with the family. It was a surprise I never got sick of it considering my family was also close friends with the owners of three renowned inasal restaurants. So, I’ve tried just about every inasal that Bacolod had to offer—from the smokey street markets to the finer indoor restaurants.
When I moved to Manila, it was no surprise that I was pretty critical about the inasal served here. Nonetheless, I found many that matched the taste and texture of Bacolod’s famed inasal. Here are some recommendations:
JT’s Manukan Grille
For deliveries, call: 0928-7219025, 0956-7169116, 0961-5630907
As the brainchild of Bacolod-born veteran actor Joel Torre, JT’s Manukan has all the Ilonggo dishes that you could think of—from the kansi broth, batchoy and of course, inasal.
Sarsa Kitchen
For deliveries, call: (02) 7754-9943, 0917-5280115
Chef JP Anglo has brought pride to his Hiligaynon heritage by creating Sarsa Kitchen, which is known for its Negrense specialties. Other than their guaranteed savory Bacolod chicken inasal, he’s also recreated the famous kansi into a sizzling dish and empanada!
Aida’s Inasal
For deliveries, call: (02) 8811-1537
This restaurant may not be as modern as the rest of those in this list, but that’s because it’s a classic Bacolod restaurant. Aida’s was part of the street markets in Bacolod that many tourists would flock to. It silently branched out here in the Metro, tucked away in the basement floor of Makati Cinema Square. With five years of scouring for the best inasal here, this restaurant still stands as my top one.
Carlo’s Bacolod Chicken House Express
For deliveries, call: (02)8897-8432
Another hidden Bacolod gem found in Metro Manila, this restaurant serves one of the most well-marinated Bacolod inasal that you won’t get tired of eating regularly (yes, I can vouch for that as my uncles who own the restaurant keep bringing home the excess for our dinners). Make sure to pair with an order of their garlic rice!
[READ: This is as close to legit Bacolod inasal as you can get]Bacolod Chicken House
For deliveries, call: (02)8842-3096
It would almost be blasphemous not to include the quintessential Bacolod Chicken House in this list. As one of the most popular chain restaurants in Bacolod, the branches here in Manila serve the same soft and juicy inasal that the restaurant is known for—as well as some lip-smacking, crunchy chicken skin for an appetizer.
Bacolod Chicken Parilla
For deliveries, call: (02)8371-8522
Bacolod Chicken Parilla has mastered the ideal inasal flavor and texture: tender and juicy on the inside while still grilling the skin to a nice crisp. It’s coated with a generous amount of chicken oil making it even more savory.
Bacolod Chicken BBQ
For deliveries, call: 0917-8929692, (02)8655-8801
One of the best things about Bacolod Chicken BBQ is that it serves up one of the largest paa I’ve ever tried, making it completely worth the spend. Their version of inasal has lighter flavors that make it the perfect match for the toyomansi sauce.
Header photo courtesy of Bacolod Chicken BBQ
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Writer: THEA TORRES
