When I went to Bacolod a few years back, the first thing my friends and I did upon arriving was to go straight to Manukan Country, one of the most famous landmarks in Bacolod that specializes in Bacolod Chicken Inasal. For those who haven't been, Manukan Country is a compound filled with different stalls that offer Bacolod Chicken Inasal.
The moment I got to taste the authentic Chicken Inasal of Bacolod, I fell in love instantly. You can tell the difference of an authentic Chicken Inasal from the ones straight from Bacolod compared to that of more "mainstream" Inasal restos just by mere taste. There is just something so savory about how the Bacolodians treat their chicken that just makes it the best for me.
The stall in Manukan that we tried was Aida's Chicken, one of the more well-known restaurants in Bacolod. As soon as I got back, I had to look for a place which offers authentic Chicken Inasal with the same quality as that of what I had in Bacolod. Aside from Mang Inasal, I tried Bacolod Chicken Inasal and Bacolod Chicken House which were all pretty steady. However, there was something amiss these restos that had me searching for the real Bacolod Chicken.
Talking to one of my friends who, at that time, was working in Makati Cinema Square about my search for the authentic Chicken Inasal brought me to the closest thing to Bacolod here in Manila. That place in Makati Cinema Square was Aida's Chicken, the same Aida's Chicken in Manukan Country in Bacolod. Lucky me!
It's quite unusual that this branch of Aida's chicken can be found in this mall. Aida's Chicken in MCS is like a cafeteria found inside a mall. The place can accommodate around 30-40 people but their set-up with monoblock chairs and plastic tables remind you of an eatery you can see just along the busy streets of Metro Manila. The place is air conditioned, however it can get hot at times when the place is packed.
Just like what I ordered in Bacolod, I got the Pecho Chicken Inasal complete with Garlic Rice and Chicken Oil, which was definitely the best partner when eating chicken inasal. Aside from getting the usual, for those who want to explore when it comes to food - try getting Isol, Atay and Baticolon. Not as Fear Factor levels but definitely not your everyday munchies.
What's so special about Aida's for me is their Garlic Rice complete with Toasted Garlic bits on top. You can also get the set meals which are good for two, like Crispy Liempo, Ilonggo Express and Sinigang. So if you're looking for the next best thing to being in Bacolod and having their authentic Chicken Inasal, visit Aida's Chicken in Mang Inasal. Top notch comfort food, methinks! read more