Halal-certified Filipino kopitiam stall in Bukit Panjang

I feel I’m not alone once I say my expertise of Filipino delicacies has been restricted to numerous fried hen 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 MS BBQ, a halal-certified stall serving Filipino meals at Hillion Mall.

To my restricted data, I’ve at all times thought Filipino delicacies was very like Malay ones. The bottom is normally rice, and its proteins, greens and gravies appear 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 ‘genuine’ Korean and Japanese meals.

What I attempted at MS Inasal MS BBQ

Similar to Jollibee, one of many highlights of the place was its hen. I had the Inasal Rooster BBQ with rice (S$7.50) in addition to the Bisteak Tagalog with rice (S$6.50). There have been many different dishes obtainable, such because the Adobong Manok with rice (S$6), Rooster Afritada with rice (S$6), Fried Tilapia with rice (S$8) and Ginataang Gulay (S$4).

At that second, I felt a tinge of remorse not figuring out what a lot of the dishes had 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 language eating places.

What I acquired was as an alternative an amazing tanginess that almost made me choke. Initially, I believed the dish might need gone dangerous, 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 that 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 MS BBQ’s credit score, the meat slices had been cooked decently and the tendons had been mushy like marshmallows. I believed the portion of beef was fairly first rate for its value however I’d assume the common individual may solely bear three scoops earlier than succumbing to that bitter style.

Finally, I did end my meal as I believed possibly this was the way it was imagined to style. Equally to how some individuals view durian, I accepted that it wasn’t to my style bud’s liking.

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All was properly till I requested a Filipino good friend if her Bisteak Tagalog was normally bitter. She mentioned sure, however provided that it had gone dangerous, as she defined that it’s imagined 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 Rooster BBQ with a renewed sense of lowered expectations. It appeared virtually like an Ayam Bakar with rice, which by default, ought to style first rate. The solidified sauce on the hen advised that it most likely wasn’t cooked to order.

My first act of prying a bit of meat from the hen 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. Certain sufficient, it tasted like the way it appeared.

It’s a disgrace too, because the flavours had been first rate. It had a slight charred style and the sauce, despite the fact that 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 bit of chilli. It’s undoubtedly greater than only a ornamental piece, because the soup had a slight kick to it. It might need been barely too oily to others and was similar to the hen rice soup, however at this level, something that made me eat quicker was invaluable.

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

Lastly, some good meals. It was creamy, however not as clean as what you’d anticipate a custard to be. I tasted condensed milk intermixed with egg yolks. Although it was imagined to be caramel sauce, I believed it tasted extra like gula melaka syrup, which I used to be okay with regardless. 

Regardless of the small portion, I feel it’s greatest shared as it may get fairly jelak.

Last ideas

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

Regardless of that, I’d nonetheless suggest MS Inasal MS BBQ 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 might make you and I scream Sa wakas (lastly)!

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

Anticipated harm: S$6 – S$9 per pax

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