Inasal na Manok: The Smoky Grilled Chicken of Iloilo and Bacolod

Inasal na Manok is grilled chicken marinated in vinegar, calamansi, and spices such as lemongrass and ginger, with a trademark orange color that comes from a special basting sauce made from annatto or achuete oil. Tangy, smoky, and deeply aromatic, it is the kind of dish that announces itself long before it reaches the table.

The name inasal derives from the Hiligaynon verb asal, meaning “to roast” or “to grill,” ultimately influenced by the Spanish word asar, reflecting a preparation method that evolved from pre-colonial roasting traditions merging with Spanish influences during the late 19th century. The earliest documented reference appears in Felix Laureano’s 1895 photographic book Recuerdos de Filipinas, published in Barcelona, which depicts daily life in Iloilo and Panay and describes inihao nga manuc, a Visayan term for grilled chicken served in local calenderias as part of everyday Visayan culinary culture.

Banoy Velez from Oton, Iloilo, introduced chicken inasal to Bacolod in 1946. The dish became widely popular in the 1970s as roadside vendors, including farmers amid economic shifts in Negros Occidental, began selling it along Cuadra Street, now fondly known as Chicken Alley. In 2022, Bacolod City passed an ordinance declaring Chicken Inasal a locally important cultural property, a fitting recognition for a dish that had long since become the soul of the city.

There are two beloved versions: Bacolod’s inasal carries a slightly sour base flavor, while Iloilo’s leans sweeter with the addition of lechon sauce, a friendly rivalry that speaks to how deeply the dish is woven into Visayan identity on both sides. Best served with garlic rice, a dipping sauce of soy sauce and calamansi, and chicken oil drizzled generously over the rice, Inasal na Manok is more than just a dish; it is a cultural symbol of Bacolod and the entire Western Visayas.

Sources:

Getaway Philippines. (n.d.). Chicken inasal is Bacolod’s popular and beloved char-grilled dish. https://getaway.ph/blog/food/chicken-inasal-is-bacolods-popular-and-beloved-char-grilled-dish/

Grokipedia. (n.d.). Chicken inasal. https://grokipedia.com/page/Chicken_inasal

Kimverly. (n.d.). From Bacolod with love: The story of chicken inasal. https://kimverly.com/from-bacolod-with-love-the-story-of-chicken-inasal/

SunStar. (n.d.). Chicken inasal: A culinary journey from Bacolod. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/lifestyle/chicken-inasal-a-culinary-journey-from-bacolod

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