As stunning as the beachfront views of Boracay are, let’s be honest—beautiful scenery alone won’t satisfy your appetite. Food will.
Now that we’ve explored the iconic Station 1 and Station 2 along Boracay’s famous White Beach, it’s time to focus on something just as important: where to eat in Boracay.
If you’re craving authentic local eats, this beloved Filipino chain is a great place to start.
Explore more travel stories and videos from Boracay’s White Beach:
Boracay Station 1: The Most Romantic Stretch of White Beach
Station 1 Travel Video
Boracay Station 2: The Most Lively Part of White Beach
Station 2 Travel Video
Affordable Filipino Eats: The Mang Inasal Fast Food Chain
Boracay is one of the Philippines’ top international destinations, drawing over a million visitors each year. Given its global popularity, it’s no surprise the island offers a wide range of dining options. One of the main foodie hubs is D’Mall near Station 2—essentially a large open-air food complex where you’ll find everything from smoothies to grilled seafood. For our first dinner on the island, we headed straight to Mang Inasal in D’Mall.
Mang Inasal Boracay (D’Mall Branch)
Open hours:
9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Mon–Thu)
9:00 AM – 11:00 PM (Fri–Sun)
How to get there: Located at the entrance of D’Mall in Station 2, just a short walk from White Beach, right beside the Ferris wheel.
D’Mall Boat Station 2, Boracay
Official Website: https://www.manginasal.com/
Mang Inasal is one of the most beloved Filipino fast food chains in the country. Fast food, you might ask? Didn’t we just say we were here for good eats?
Don’t let the “fast food” label fool you. Mang Inasal may be quick and casual, but it delivers some of the most authentic Filipino flavors you’ll find. With hundreds of locations across the Philippines (and two on Boracay), this is far from a typical burger-and-fries joint. Instead, grilled meats take center stage—think barbecue chicken, pork skewers, and more, all served with generous portions of white rice. This is fast food, Filipino style.
Fun fact: The name Mang Inasal roughly translates to “Mr. Barbecue” in Filipino colloquial usage. And yes, Filipinos take their grilled food seriously—especially their famous Chicken Inasal, which has earned fans well beyond the Philippines.
So why did we choose this spot? Even before we arrived in Boracay, our airport transfer guide couldn’t stop recommending Mang Inasal. According to him, it’s one of the most popular Filipino restaurants on the island, and interestingly, locals tend to outnumber tourists here. If you’re looking for an authentic taste of the Philippines, this is a solid place to begin.
Mang Inasal Menu: Grilled Filipino Favorites (and Very Few Vegetables)
The name Mang Inasal loosely conveys the idea of a neighborhood grill master—a casual nod to the Philippines’ deep-rooted love for grilled food. With a name like that, it’s no surprise that grilled dishes are the main attraction here.
Below are some of the signature items you’ll find on the menu at Mang Inasal Boracay:
- Paa with Rice (Chicken Inasal)
This grilled chicken leg with rice is by far the most popular order. A quick look around the restaurant confirms it—nearly every table has one. The dish itself is simple: smoky grilled chicken paired with a generous portion of white rice, yet it delivers far more flavor than you’d expect. Yes, the rice really does come wrapped like a burger.
- Pecho with Rice (Grilled Chicken Breast)
A large, juicy grilled chicken breast served with Mang Inasal’s signature rice packet—straightforward, filling, and satisfying.
- Pork BBQ (Grilled Pork Skewers with Rice)
Two marinated pork skewers served with rice. Nothing fancy, but well-seasoned and reliably good.
- Bangus Sisig (Sizzling Milkfish with Rice)
This classic Filipino sizzling dish features milkfish (bangus) sautéed on a hot plate and served with rice. It’s a staple across the Philippines and one that’s gained recognition beyond the country.
- Pork Sisig (Sizzling Pork)
Diced pork, stir-fried and served piping hot on a sizzling plate—crispy, savory, and rich.
Foodie Tip:
In Filipino, “inasal” simply means grilled, so whenever you see it on a menu, expect barbecue. “Sisig”, on the other hand, refers to dishes chopped up and served sizzling-hot on a metal plate.
When ordering, the staff will ask if you’d like the “unlimited rice” option. For a small additional charge, your rice will be refilled again and again until you decide you’ve had enough. Alongside the main dishes, Mang Inasal also offers snacks, drinks, and desserts. What you won’t find much of, however, are vegetables. Aside from the occasional garnish of chilies, onions, or scallions, greens are notably scarce.
The Filipino Way: DIY Dipping Sauce
Every table at Mang Inasal comes with three essential condiments—black, red, and white. The black bottle holds soy sauce. The red one, which looks like chili oil, is actually chicken oil. The white bottle contains vinegar—definitely not lemon juice.
To eat like a local, pour some soy sauce into a small saucer, add a splash of vinegar, crush a chili or two with your fork, toss them in, and finish with a squeeze of calamansi juice. Mix everything together and use it as a dipping sauce for your grilled meats.
Calamansi? Lemon? Calamansi-Lemon?
Speaking of calamansi, this is where things get a little quirky. The small citrus fruit served with the meal looks, smells, and tastes exactly like calamansi. But when we asked the staff about it, they insisted, “That’s not calamansi—that’s our local lemon.”
We exchanged confused looks. It looks like calamansi. It tastes like calamansi. Cut it open? Still calamansi. So when did it become a lemon? We decided not to argue and went along with it. Lemon it is. Still, it does make you wonder—how exactly do you order a calamansi lemonade in the Philippines?
Watch: Our Mang Inasal Food Vlog from Boracay
In this episode of our Boracay food series, we try the famous Chicken Inasal from Mang Inasal. It may look simple, but don’t be fooled. The skin is grilled to a smoky, lightly crisp finish, the meat stays juicy, and the price is impressively budget-friendly. If you’re exploring Boracay, this is one Filipino fast food spot well worth a visit.