I LIKE Chicken Inasal. Unfortunately, the restaurant chain that my husband Raff and I used to go to whenever we craved for Chicken Inasal has become quite disappointing of late. The quality of its food, including its chicken, has deteriorated, Raff’s favorite Bangus Sinigang to go with his Chicken Inasal is no longer available, and the rice, which it offers in “unlimited” manner, has turned really inferior in quality.
It’s a good thing that last week, we ‘discovered’ a new place to go for good Bacolod-style Chicken Inasal. It’s called Chicken Deli, and one of its 11 stores in Metro Manila can be found at the Third Floor, Annex Bldg., of SM City North EDSA.
Chicken Deli, which just recently relaunched its brand, has actually been in Metro Manila since 2011, but in Bacolod, where it started and runs five stores, it has been around for the past 30 years. It was founded by ‘Mamang’ Lourdes Ciocon, who opened her first store in Bacolod in 1983. Orphaned at a young age, widowed at 29 and with three children (Delia, Rosalier and Teopisto) to raise on her own, Mamang Lourdes turned to her cooking skills and concocted a secret marinade for her Chicken Inasal then opened Chicken Deli. She named it after her only daughter, Delia, but the Deli in Chicken Deli also means ‘delicious.’
Chicken Deli’s Chicken Inasal, which comes in Pechopak (breast and wing) at Php105 and Paa (leg and thigh) at Php99, served with soup and unlimited rice, stays true to the authentic Bacolod-style Chicken Inasal, which is a bit more vinegar-y and salty than the Chicken Inasal that we’ve come to know. Char-grilled, the chicken is juicy and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. It’s enjoyed with a dip made with a combination of soy sauce and sinamak (Bacolod’s local vinegar) with calamansi and siling labuyo (bird’s eye chili), and eaten with hot, steamed rice that has been mixed with achuete-colored chicken oil.
Aside from the Original formulation, the Chicken Inasal now also offers two other variants, which are Sweet and Hot & Spicy.
Although Chicken Deli specializes in Chicken Inasal, the restaurant boasts of a wide selection of Chicken Delicious Meals, including Pork BBQ (Php99), Liempo (Php99), Bangusito (Php99), Pork Sisig (Php99), Squid Sisig (Php99), Chicken Sisig (Php99), Lechon Kawali (Php119), Pork Binagoongan (Php119) and Angus Beef Tapa with Egg (Php119), all served with Kanin All You Can (unlimited rice) and free soup.
Also on the menu are other Pinoy favorites, such as Binagoongang Kangkong, Kangkong with Garlic, Talong KBS, Bacolod Express , Kare-Kare, Sinigang na Bangus and Sizzling Bangus, among others. Bacolod Express is particularly interesting because it’s like Bicol Express but uses sigarilyas (wingbeans). It’s really good with rice.
Soon, a new dish, Sizzling Bulalo, will be launched and is expected to become one of the restaurant’s best-sellers as well.
For in-between meals, Chicken Deli has a separate menu for affordable merienda fares, which includes Chicken Burger (Php39), Spaghetti (php45), Ginataang Halo-Halo (Php49), Batchoy with Grilled Pandesal with Sabaw All You Can or refillable soup (Php59), Goto (Php49) and Pancit Canton (Php49).
Aside from these menu items, Chicken Deli also offers Fiesta Salo-Salo Party Packages for groups of diners as well as for special occasions. A Salo-Salo deal for 4 priced at Php499, for instance, already includes one Pechopak, Talong KBS, Squid Sisig, Lechon Kawali, Kangkong with Garlic, four sticks of Pork BBQ, four soups, a bottle of Pepsi, and unlimited rice.
Relaunched in conjunction with its 30th anniversary celebration, Chicken Deli is now owned and managed by the third generation Ciocons. With only five stores in Bacolod and 11 stores in Metro Manila (six company-owned and five franchise stores), Chicken Deli is expanding at a good pace so, hopefully, it will be able to maintain the quality and consistency of its food and service.
I’m happy with my new Chicken Inasal ‘discovery.’
(Chicken Deli’s Bacolod stores can be found at Gaisano City Bacolod, SM City Bacolod, Lopue’s East Bacolod, 8th Lacson St. Bacolod, and Ayala District Mall Talisay City. Its other branches are located at SM City North Annex, SM City North Foodcourt, Market Market’s Fiesta Market, Alabang Town Center, San Beda Alabang, Tutuban Center Mall, SM Sta. Rosa, Petron NLEX Bulacan, Petron Naga Road Las Pinas City, Mille Luce Village Center in Antipolo, MacArthur Highway, Valenzuela City.)
