Inay’s Kitchen Filipino Restaurant — Restaurant in Ocoee

The first moments when I first entered this restaurant no one really communicated to me all the staff where in the back back so I was just sorta standing trying to get a feel for what to do next.

I walked to the back and around a small corner wall the food was already prepared just sorta sitting there. A staff member came and started describing the food and I was like alright I wanna sorta get a feel for the food so I got some pork, chicken, beef, and noodle and some water.

I went and sat down, a few minutes later a waiter staff that was obviously just the child of one of the employees brought out my food in three small bowls about the volume of a serving ladle each, a large plate full of the noodle, and bottled water (which I had been under the impression I would just be getting a glass of free water or something) . Everything was very well seasoned

However the chicken was cooked with the skin and bones, which after setting for so long the skin was a sogginess to eat around, the pork tasted to me like crayfish and was cooked with all the fat. This fat after having sat so long was basically rendered into jell (slime) that had engulfed all the pork bits. I imagine some might really like that but I couldn't stop thinking if I wanted crayfish I would order crayfish.

The beef and pancit where really good though. The atmosphere was very homey it felt like grandma had opened a restaurant and was cooking massive amounts of what she knew and had hired her grandson as sorta a high school summer job.

I went to pay and the cost after tax came to around 22$. Their credit card machine didn't want to take any of my very well working cards in the chip form. After about 3 attempts and the thing trying to call home with failing internet, the cashier and I talked and said she canceled the attempt and I paid in my emergency cash for exactly this sorta situation.

All in all the restaurant was middle ground. I think this place is more geared toward large catered parties and to go with lots of food on trays cooked right before it would go out, but then if it doesn't get the party it is intended some of it sorta sits wrong (like pork fat re-jelling). I would probably go back for a to-go order of some of their skewer meat but not really sit...

I came to this place for the first time with a hopeful smile and engaged in friendly conversation with the kitchen staff. I explained how I miss my Mother's authentic Filipino cuisine and looked them up in pursuit to acquire that savory flavor that I grew up on and missed dearly. The staff is very friendly. I ordered the pork and chicken skewer, two piece lumpia and pancit bihon. The skewers were delicious but I have to be honest, the pancit was a let down. This is just my opinion I base off my Mother's own cooking and being a chef myself, it was underwhelming as far as flavor. Definitely could use more seasoning. Lacking in vegetables. Hardly any cabbage, carrots and celery (maybe I just got a bad serving, the food is kept in buffet containers). I don't recall tasting any onion or garlic in the pancit as well. Also, no lemon wedges to go with the pancit?? You HAVE to have that citrus element. The lumpia are extremely small. All meat no vegetables in the filling. Literally just meat filling in fried rice wrapper. Even just a tiny bit of veggies adds an extra texture to every bite. I make better lumpia (minced shallots, garlic, cabbage, carrots, red peppers as part of the mix). Also, way over priced considering the cost for the ingredients to make pancit and lumpia and the portion sizes. Paid $14.69 (not including tip) for my order. One of the staff was friendly enough to give me an extra 6 lumpia if I wrote a review. I guess they assumed I would write a good review for the generosity, however very much appreciated. I write honest reviews, this is not meant to be hurtful towards their business. Again, this is based on what I am use to with my pallete growing up Filipino. I'm not saying the food is terrible, just lacking in my experience. If you have no idea of the culture and never had Filipino food then you may enjoy it. I can comment and say this is entry level Filipino cuisine. Again, the skewers were delicious and I am yet to try their other menu items. As far as going back, highly unlikely. Very unfortunate for me considering that I am a 2 minute drive from this restaurant and I would order from this place several times a week had I...

The place is nice and roomy, and presents itself from the front as a sit-down restaurant. There were about 3 or 4 customers when I came in noontime. I was graciously greeted but not advised whether to go ahead, choose a table and have a seat. I waited maybe 10 minutes then decided to have a seat. With paucity of diners that noontime, you would expect servers to be available. I could hear a lot of loud discussion in the back kitchen and several ladies moving around but all seemed oblivious that a customer is waiting. After about 12 minutes, the lady who greeted me finally came back to serve one table their food. She then graciously apologized for the delay and asked what I want to order. I didn't have a menu in front of me so I just followed her to the back where it turned out there were ready to order food available.

I ordered the Lechon kawali, beef nilaga and halo-halo. The food was acceptable, nothing bad yet nothing extraordinary. The halo/halo dessert lacked the ice cream as depicted on the menu, didn't have enough other ingredients and consisted mainly of shaved ice. The beef nilaga was appropriately seasoned but seemed to lack that beefy flavor. The vegetables in it were crunchy enough and not over cooked. The Lechon kawali was cooked right but didn't have enough sauce to go with it.

While friendliness of staff was great, the disorganization was apparent. The price of food was not commensurate with quality. This is an aspect of most Filipino restaurants around Central Fl, with the exception of Nipa Hut in Kissimmee. Most appear to start the business and run from the seat of their pants. Good planning and/or training...