Bacolod, the City of Smiles, has been winning hearts worldwide with its culinary delights, led by its world-famous chicken inasal. Marinated in a distinctive blend of spices, skewered, and grilled to perfection, inasal offers a taste of Bacolod’s food culture, making the city a must-visit destination for food lovers and solidifying its status as a rising star in culinary tourism.
Authentic Bacolod Inasal and Filipino Street Foods
Beyond the vibrant Masskara Festival, Bacolod draws tourists with its rich culinary offerings. At the heart of this experience is the iconic Manokan Country. This bustling food hub has become a must-visit destination for anyone seeking authentic chicken inasal.
When in Bacolod, locals and tourists alike indulge in the city’s famous dish, Chicken Inasal.
Manokan Country isn’t just about inasal—it’s a haven for street food lovers. The same inasal food stalls serve a wide array of classic Filipino street fare that complements the main dish. Visitors can enjoy their fill of isaw (grilled chicken or pork intestines), atay (grilled liver), puso (chicken hearts), and isol (chicken tail), all cooked to smoky perfection over hot coals. These grilled delicacies offer a true taste of Bacolod’s local food culture.
Heirloom Recipes and Heritage Dishes
Bacolod also stands out as a culinary treasure due to its rich array of heirloom dishes passed down through generations. These traditional recipes have captivated the palates of both locals and tourists, showcasing the city’s deep-rooted culinary heritage.
Ilonggo households often serve these heritage dishes, each reflecting the region’s unique food culture. “Lina-ga”, a Bacolod version of “nilaga”, and kansi, a tangy beef shank soup that blends the flavors of bulalo and sinigang, are beloved comfort foods. Chicken binakol, batchoy, and an array of seafood dishes prepared tula-style, grilled, or kinilaw (raw seafood dish), further highlight Bacolod’s diverse flavors. Many of these dishes owe their distinct character to batuan, a small green fruit that adds a signature sourness, giving Bacolod’s cuisine a flavor that’s difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Sweets for the Sweet
Bring home a taste of Bacolod with the perfect pasalubong. The city boasts a wide array of sugary confections; after all, this is the Sugar Bowl of the Philippines. Specialties like piaya (a flaky flatbread filled with muscovado), biscocho (crisp, buttery biscuits), and napoleones (a custard-filled puff pastry) are just a few of the region’s beloved desserts.
Boosting Bacolod’s Culinary Tourism
Bacolod’s flourishing food scene has gained significant momentum in recent years, thanks to the efforts of the local government and key partners like SM.
SM Supermalls has champion local culinary talents, one, through a key regional tourism and culinary campaign My City, My SM, My Cuisine. The city’s unique regional dishes and cherished heirloom recipes celebrated the rich culinary traditions passed down through generations. It brought into the spotlight, further solidifying the city’s reputation as a culinary treasure.
Continuing to support local talents, during the 2023 Chicken Inasal Festival, SM partnered with the city to host a cook-off at Manokan Country, where grillers from various barangays competed for the title of the juiciest, tastiest inasal. This event further celebrated Bacolod’s enduring love for its signature dish.
The excitement continues in 2024 with the Inasal Culinary Battle at SM City Bacolod. Culinary students showcased their creativity by preparing innovative twists on chicken inasal. This event not only underscored the city’s rich food culture but also spotlighted the next generation of culinary talents, ensuring Bacolod’s vibrant food scene continues to evolve and thrive.
A Must-Visit Food Capital in the Visayas
Bacolod’s culinary scene, led by its famous chicken inasal, has become a beacon of economic growth and cultural pride. The collaborative efforts of the city government and local institutions like SM City Bacolod, alongside the dedication of its talented cooks and chefs, are driving Bacolod’s rise as a top culinary destination in the Philippines.