Halal-certified Filipino kopitiam stall in Bukit Panjang

I feel I’m not alone after I say my expertise of Filipino delicacies has been restricted to numerous fried rooster and pasta binges at Jollibee, and possibly even the odd snack purchased as souvenirs from the Philippines (specifically dried mangos). It was to my delight that I found MS Inasal, a halal-certified stall serving Filipino meals at Hillion Mall.

To my restricted information, I’ve all the time thought Filipino delicacies was very similar to Malay ones. The base is normally rice, and its proteins, greens and gravies seem like one thing out of your common nasi padang stall. I held my reservation about how genuine the meals may probably be because it was underneath the Kopitiam model, the identical those that introduced us all these ‘authentic’ Korean and Japanese meals.

What I attempted at MS Inasal

Just like Jollibee, one of many highlights of the place was its rooster. I had the Inasal Chicken BBQ with rice (S$7.50) in addition to the Bisteak Tagalog with rice (S$5.50). There have been many different dishes out there, such because the Adobong Manok with rice (S$5.50), Chicken Afritada with rice (S$5.50), Fried Tilapia with rice (S$8) and Ginataang Gulay (S$4).

At that second, I felt a tinge of remorse not realizing what a lot of the dishes have been, however I assume that solely provides to the accuracy of the ‘distant man in distant land’ expertise.

My first style of genuine Filipino meals was the Bisteak Tagalog with rice. When the woman on the counter poured the darkish soup right into a bowl and scooped up items of beef, I used to be already imagining a peppery soy sauce style, or possibly even some natural tones akin to these equally darkish duck soups that I’ve seen in Chinese eating places.

What I bought was as an alternative an awesome tanginess that almost made me choke. Initially, I assumed the dish may need gone unhealthy, however the lack of rancid style, sadly, made me proceed consuming it.

This wasn’t even salty— it was straight-up bitter. I noticed what appeared like calamansi seeds within the soup, and thought which may’ve been the wrongdoer. There was none of that peppery style; it was only a flood of tanginess in brown dye.

To MS Inasal’s credit score, the meat slices have been cooked decently and the tendons have been gentle like marshmallows. I assumed the portion of beef was fairly first rate for its value however I might assume the common individual may solely bear three scoops earlier than succumbing to that bitter style.

Eventually, I did end my meal as I assumed possibly this was the way it was speculated to style. Similarly to how some individuals view durian, I accepted that it wasn’t to my style bud’s liking. 

All was nicely till I requested a Filipino good friend if her Bisteak Tagalog was normally bitter. She stated sure, however provided that it had gone unhealthy, as she defined that it’s speculated to style candy with hints of pepper. My futile try at pinpointing flavours was lastly full.

Now determined to rid of that bitter style, I attempted the Inasal Chicken BBQ with a renewed sense of lowered expectations. It appeared nearly like an Ayam Bakar with rice, which by default, ought to style first rate. The solidified sauce on the rooster advised that it in all probability wasn’t cooked to order.

My first act of prying a chunk of meat from the rooster confirmed my earlier assumption. It was a problem, even with metallic utensils, because the meat felt actually dense and dry even earlier than I tasted it. Sure sufficient, it tasted like the way it appeared.

It’s a disgrace too, because the flavours have been first rate. It had a slight charred style and the sauce, though tasting like store-bought candy and bitter sauce, helped quell the dryness of the meat, if solely briefly. 

The soup that got here with each dishes got here with a chunk of chilli. It’s undoubtedly greater than only a ornamental piece, because the soup had a slight kick to it. It may need been barely too oily to others and was similar to the rooster rice soup, however at this level, something that made me eat sooner was invaluable.

Clearly not studying my lesson, I assumed I’d gamble on one other dish since it could possibly’t worsen, can’t it? My ultimate roll of the cube was the Lecha Flan (S$3) which is a custard-like dessert with caramel sauce.

Finally, some good meals. It was creamy, however not as easy as what you’d count on a custard to be. I tasted condensed milk intermixed with egg yolks. Though it was speculated to be caramel sauce, I assumed it tasted extra like gula melaka syrup, which I used to be okay with regardless. 

Despite the small portion, I feel it’s finest shared as it could possibly get fairly jelak.

Final ideas

Taste-wise, I didn’t have a superb time at MS Inasal. I’m nonetheless scratching my head over what precisely occurred to my Bisteak Tagalog, and the Inasal Chicken BBQ simply couldn’t replicate its quick meals counterpart.

Despite that, I might nonetheless advocate MS Inasal to broaden your style buds. What I tasted was solely three out of practically 15 dishes on the menu, so I’m positive there’s an elusive dish that may make you and I scream Sa wakas (lastly)!

For now, I’ll persist with my barely overpriced fried rooster coupled with suspiciously candy spaghetti and a big canned pineapple juice.

Expected injury: S$5.50 – S$7.50 per pax

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