Time was when you only had two choices for your grilled chicken – spicy or regular.

Not anymore.

Luneta Restaurant, named after a historic landmark in Manila, Philippines, has given grilled chicken lovers another option; and it has been getting huge following especially in the Filipino community: the inasal.

Preparing chicken – and other meats – the inasal way takes its roots in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Central Philippines.

It’s an Ilonggo term that means “chargrilled,” using different ingredients and sauces for marination to give that mouth-watering aroma and unique flavour.

“Usually kapag weekends, umaabot kami ng hanggang 1,000 benta isang araw,” Arnel Saygo Reyes, restaurant supervisor who hails from Pangasinan, tells Food Trip Magazine.

(We usually sell up to 1,000 grilled chicken a day during weekends.)

Asked why he things this is so, Reyes said: “Kuha ang lasa at timplang Pinoy po kaya patok at binabalik-balikan ng ating kabayan at sa abot kayang-kayang presyo.”

(It has that Filipino mixture and taste that is why it’s very popular. Our customers keep coming back for more and at a really reasonable price.)

Luneta’s grilled inasal chicken costs AED10.

The first Luneta Restaurant opened in Satwa on May 28, 2021. It’s second branch which is on the Al Rigga strip in Deira, opened last year on Nov. 24. Both are open 24 hours a day.

Aside from its widely popular grilled inasal chicken, Luneta also has a range of homegrown Filipino dishes on the spread like Caldereta, Adobo and  Ginataang Kalabasa (Squash sauteed in coconut milk).

Luneta also offers Special Cajun Boodle as well as a lot of choices in the sizzling range.