Mang Inasal - 138 Mall — Restaurant in Cebu City

This branch had a good number of customers but wasn’t completely full. The atmosphere was lively, and the line extended outside, which raised some concerns about the layout that I’ll detail later.

The staff who took our order were friendly, but it was unfortunate that the store doesn’t accept debit/credit cards or GCash. To add to our orders, I had to run to Supermetro across the street. I acknowledge it was my fault for not having enough cash, but I believe fast food chains should offer alternative payment methods.

I ordered the Pecho Large (PM2) with a drink and unlimited rice, while my friend got the Paa Large (PM1) with a drink and unlimited rice, totaling 403 pesos. I brought 500 pesos, so my friend went upstairs as I withdrew cash for an additional order of sisig and a small creamy halo-halo.

We were seated on the second floor, which required passing through a small glass door, a locked double-sided glass door, and stairs leading to the tables. There was also a locked door for stairs to the third floor, where a couple was surprisingly sitting. The layout felt odd; the stairs seemed more like general stairs rented for the restaurant. I counted about six doors, including another locked one where mannequins were positioned facing away, suggesting it led to an area likely for selling clothes. While I don’t expect a perfect atmosphere in a fast food chain, I appreciated the effort to maintain Mang Inasal’s standards, particularly the ceiling design with rectangle box paper lantern lights and the uniform design. My concerns are mainly specific to this branch.

Despite the second floor being relatively quiet due to limited seating compared to the crowded ground floor, the volume needed to be lowered. At one point, a staff member was circulating with halo-halo items, and since I had just ordered mine, I thought it wasn’t included. The staff member who didn’t call out any orders or interact with me, despite me having a number. I thought I heard “60” from him, but when I asked another staff member, he didn’t respond. My number for the sisig and halo-halo was 60, but the announced numbers were lower. When my number was finally called, I went downstairs and only received the sisig, leaving me confused about my dessert. It took several minutes before someone finally brought me the halo-halo.

Now, regarding the food: the chicken was tender, and I loved the flavor of the inasal. While I usually prefer fried chicken, Mang Inasal’s chicken is definitely good. However, there were many burnt spots that detracted from the experience, making it less enjoyable to finish due to the bitter taste. Pouring the chicken oil over my chicken and rice was nostalgic, but it lacked the strong flavor I remembered and seemed more watered down.

The sisig was enjoyable, featuring a savory and fatty flavor with a nice kick. The texture was smooth, with no bothersome hard parts, which was a pleasant surprise. However, the onions and chili seemed to have been added later and were likely not cooked, as the onions tasted raw and pungent.

The halo-halo was decent but not as creamy or flavorful as I expected. It was generally sweet, but the ice cream and liquid components didn’t have the creaminess I anticipated. While the various ingredients like sweetened beans, fruits, and jellies added to the flavor, the red circle jellies were a disappointment; most were hard and hurt my teeth when I bit into them. I ended up spitting them out, which wasn’t a pleasant experience.

My experience at this Mang Inasal was quite decent, but there are definitely some areas that could use improvement, such as food quality, service, and overall atmosphere. I would certainly recommend giving Mang Inasal a try, as the brand has a lot to offer, but I can’t fully endorse this specific branch. I suggest looking for locations with better ratings and reviews. That said, I do believe this branch has the potential to enhance its offerings. With a few adjustments, it could provide a significantly better experience for...

Very dissappointed, with my lola we ordered a 540 food and were given 12% discount. While eating the manager requested an additional payment because the senior citizen discount is only applicable for 1 meal.. The manager in Colonade branch insisted that our order P540 is good for 4 people so she only apply the diaxount to 1 meal. While eating I explained her that its just the 2 of us, so.obviously the meal is only for 2 people but the Manager on Nov 30 7pm insisted that its for 4 people. So in my mind, what the heck is happening and just paid wjat I owe then requested to pack my fooda ans went home.. Worst manager ever,. Wishing you happines in your life Ms. MANAGER in 138 mall at 7pm Nov 30 2024 who doesnt wanna give her name and insisted on bringing my complaints with the name of her...

I ordered the Pork BBQ with peanut sauce and java rice at Mang Inasal, and it didn’t disappoint. The peanut sauce was sweet and flavorful, perfectly complementing the tender grilled pork. The place tends to get crowded, especially during meal hours, so expect a lively atmosphere. Despite the rush, the waiters were attentive and mindful, ensuring that each customer was served properly whether their order was already called or not. Overall, Mang Inasal delivers great food and service—I’d definitely recommend this store and will definitely go...