Inasal Near Don Benito Remains a Student Favorite

By Mariela Angella Oladive

For many students navigating the budget-tight world of university life, finding affordable yet satisfying meals is a daily challenge.

Near the West Visayas State University Medical Center—fondly known as Don Benito—there has long been one go-to solution: the unmistakable scent of grilled food from makeshift stalls lining the sidewalk every late afternoon.

Inasal sa Don Benito became a popular food trip destination for students like Pia, a college student boarding nearby.

“I would usually go there for dinner, especially when I was short on cash or when no other eatery was open,” she said.

“With just PHP20, I could already buy several sticks. Instead of spending PHP75 to PHP100 at other eateries, I could have a full dinner for just PHP40—including rice,” she added.

For as low as PHP4 to PHP15 per stick, students enjoyed Filipino street food staples like isaw (grilled chicken intestines), betamax (coagulated chicken blood), liver, hotdogs, and chorizo.

“I usually bought isaw and pork—they were the best,” said Kathleen Faith Vio, 25, an Education graduate from West Visayas State University.

“Even without sauce, they were still flavorful. Perfect with freshly cooked rice. It also became our after-school bonding place during senior high,” she said.

Although the stalls have since been relocated to E. Lopez Street near the original area, the memory of inasal sa Don Benito remains strong.

On late afternoons, crowds of students—some still in uniform—lined up for a quick, affordable meal.

Workers, passersby, and even fellow street vendors joined the queue.

A balut vendor told the Daily Guardian they sometimes bought dinner there too, calling it a budget-friendly choice.

Inasal holds a special place in Filipino food culture.

While the word simply means “grilled,” its flavor represents more than a cooking method—it captures community, simplicity, and shared experience.

“Even after graduating, if I’m in the city and staying nearby, I’d probably still buy those inasals,” Vio said.

“You don’t forget experiences like that.”