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Looking for the Best Chicken Inasal in Manila? Here Are Bradley Go’s Favorites for Affordable, Flavorful Chicken Inasal

For someone who eats this Visayan favorite thrice a week on a regular basis, the content creator surely knows what he’s talking about.

Smiling man in a black shirt sits at a restaurant table with plates of food, including a cone-shaped mound of rice and a platter of grilled skewers in front of him.
For Bradley, good inasal must be: smoky, salty, and juicy [PHOTO COURTESY OF Bradley Go]

Even at a young age, Jason “Brad” Go, has always been curious about good food. A former construction tools retailer, the 29-year-old took the responsibility of researching and recommending new restaurants for his family to try, especially since they kept going back to the same places.

Inspired by American stand-up comedians and fitness YouTubers Keith and Kevin Hodge, who go by the moniker The Hodgetwins, he decided to give vlogging a try since they would eat out often anyway. “They’d just eat in the car but their natural humor and banter made it entertaining [to watch],” he says. 

So he tested the waters and gave it a try, but his Instagram never really took off. “I was stuck at around 300 followers for about 3 years, which was totally fine by me. I was just happy documenting my food finds for my friends and I,” he says. “Then I decided to try TikTok, and that’s where things started to boom. I was posting my usual content—car café reviews—when one video suddenly went viral. That’s when I thought, ‘maybe it’s the platform.’ I was a bit surprised, but it made me realize that there might actually be something there.”

Real and raw reviews 

To date, his posts and videos have amassed 40,000 followers in Instagram and close to 70,000 in TikTok with over 2 million likes. His accounts have been enjoying steady growth, attracting more and more people with his authenticity and laid-back vibe. “I’ve never been big on heavy editing (I also wasn’t that skilled at it), so I just leaned into my own style,” he says. “I think that also helps people trust what they’re seeing—it’s straightforward, no over-the-top accents, edits, or transitions. Just the food as it is.”

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He has recently decided to focus his mind and effort in producing more relatable content, and see where the opportunity takes him. Though not sure if it’s sustainable, he takes some hope and comfort in knowing that he gets to promote small businesses in his own way while making a living and meeting new people in the process. “That’s more than enough reason for me to take the leap.”

On a quest for the best

Brad started with in-car food reviews but to date, he has gotten brand deals  across different industries, including credit cards, water filters, and even diagnostic clinics. “It’s definitely been fun trying to work with those outside my niche,” he says.  

But the particular content many of his fans have particularly associated him with (and unarguably like him for) is his tireless search for the best chicken inasal. “It’s something I never get tired of. Up to this day, I eat inasal at least three times a week.”

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To make his elusive list, the eatery needs to tick all three boxes. It has to be affordable and has to hit three things flavor-wise: smoky, salty, and juicy.

Here, he shares the five that made the top cut thus far.

Chicken House Express

“The gold standard in Manila. The owner is the son of the original Chicken House in Bacolod. Perfectly charred, juicy, and smoky chicken. The garlic rice is elite—I always get at least two cups.”

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Address: 114 K Savana Market, Metropolitan Ave., Chino Roces Ave, Makati City

Mezmars & Mau’s Chicken Inasal Haus 

“Great value. At least 35% cheaper than most on this list, but still delivers on flavor. The chicken isn’t the biggest, but for the price, it’s more than worth it.”

Address: 2 San Joaquin corner San Rafael Sts., Mandaluyong City

Grilled chicken pieces beside a mound of blue rice topped with crunchy golden bits on a banana-leaf plate.
Chicken Inasal from Mezmar & Mau’s Chicken Inasal Haus [PHOTO COURTESY OF Neil Dy]

Oks Manoks 

“Service could improve but the taste has always stood out. It’s been a Pasig institution for a while and is now blowing up—expect long lines during peak hours.”

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Address: Pioneer Center Compound, Pioneer St., Kapitolyo, Pasig City

Yellow fried rice served on a banana leaf in a woven basket with grilled sausages beside it.
Oks Manoks’ Chicken Inasal [PHOTO COURTESY OF Bradley Go]

Chicken Bacolod 

“A long-standing chain that somehow still flies under the radar. Super solid.”

Address: 25 Matalino St., Diliman, Quezon City

Dom’s Chicken Inasal House 

“A two-month-old gem that deserves a spot in the big leagues. Rookie of the year, for sure. The owners aren’t even from Bacolod—and I like that they don’t claim to be—but the recipe tastes like it is. Great service, too.”

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Address: 3693 Bautista St., Makati City

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Angelo Comsti

Frequently Asked Questions

Bradley Go is a Filipino food content creator known for his laid-back restaurant reviews, food crawls, and viral chicken inasal recommendations on TikTok and Instagram.

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Angelo Comsti

Bradley Go is best known for his authentic food reviews and his search for the best chicken inasal spots in Metro Manila.

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Angelo Comsti

Chicken inasal is a Bacolod-style grilled chicken dish marinated in calamansi, vinegar, spices, and annatto oil, known for its smoky and savory flavor.

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Angelo Comsti

Bradley Go names Chicken House Express, Mezmar & Mau’s, Oks Manoks, Chicken Bacolod, and Dom’s Chicken Inasal House among his top picks in Metro Manila.

author avatar
Angelo Comsti

Bradley Go creates food content on TikTok and Instagram, where he shares restaurant reviews and food recommendations.

author avatar
Angelo Comsti
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