Chicken inasal named best Filipino dish

Move over adobo, chicken inasal snags the crown as the No. 1 Filipino dish, as ranked by TasteAtlas.

This grilled chicken dish, famed for its mouthwatering flavor and golden color, has dethroned sinigang as the best among TasteAtlas’ top 100 Filipino dishes.

It scored a 4.5 out of 5 based on ratings and food expert reviews, as presented on the TasteAtlas list, updated on Oct.16, 2024.

Originating from Bacolod, the most populous city in the Negros Island region in the Philippines, inasal na manok is a beloved Filipino dish marinated in a mixture of vinegar, lemongrass, ginger, garlic and other aromatic spices. 

This dish boasts of its appetizing golden color and a unique peppery flavor. Giving the dish its colorful hue is an annatto-infused oil brushed over the chicken during grilling, which also adds a peppery kick to the dish.

Let’s eaaat! Chicken inasal is always better with a drizzle of chicken oil on top of the rice. Who agrees?

Watch how to make chicken inasal at home in our new video! >>> https://t.co/HWHIC3EA9z pic.twitter.com/DcPLIVLMXg

— Erwan Heussaff (@erwanheussaff) September 8, 2020

To complete the meal, garlic fried rice and spiced vinegar are served, making this pure delight on a plate a must-try for both locals and tourists alike.

You may also like: Kinilaw and inasal get the French treatment at this NYC wine bar

Chicken inasal in the spotlight

In 2022, Bacolod officially declared this local dish as an important cultural property, further cementing its place in the country’s culinary history.

According to TasteAtlas, the best chicken inasal can be found in Aida’s Manokan in Bacolod.

This local culinary masterpiece has also been making waves in the US, particularly in Los Angeles, where Manila Inasal is serving up this Filipino favorite.

But if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and do some grilling, Chef Melvin Trinidad of Hapa Barkada in Portland has a chicken inasal recipe you can try.

Other favorites on the TasteAtlas Top 100 Filipino Dishes

Lechon comes in second with a 4.4 rating, followed by leche flan clinching the third spot. 

However, not all Filipino dishes fared well. The controversial fertilized duck egg, Balut, was recently rated as the worst Filipino dish while halabos na hipon (steamed shrimp) languished at the bottom at No. 100.