[smartads] Lita and I decided to stop at the restaurant Mang Inasal on our trip downtown. We only get to eat out on average once a month these days and she decided she wanted to try something different than the normal Chow King that we have been going to. As we entered the doorman was very pleasant, the atmosphere was nice, the place was very clean and the counter girls were pretty. Since this was our first solo trip here, we had been there with a group before, but we didn’t have to really look at the menu then, we stopped to check the menu on the wall above the counter.
After we decided I had to go through the normal ‘extra’ explaining due to the language barrier. I had not eaten much of anything all day and it was almost 5pm, so I wanted 3 pieces of chicken and 1 order of rice. For some reason the young ladies behind the counter did not understand this concept. She kept wanting to give me 1 piece of chicken and unlimited rice. That must be a Filipino thing.
After I finally figured I had it through to her and she had it rung up, I’ve had enough experience with the language thing to want to make sure. I asked the young lady, “How many pieces of chicken am I getting”? She said, “One”. Oh man! I told her again, I want 3 pieces of chicken and I held up 3 fingers. She said that is extra and showed me it on the menu board, I told her that’s fine.
Now I think I’ve got this all settled, Lita has order some pork pancit, but she jumped in there after I ordered and said she wanted to add a halo-halo. So as this lady is ringing it up she is saying what she is ringing up. I should have paid more attention, but I did hear her say halo-halo. So we got our number (#6) and headed for a table. There were only 4 other people in there and they were all at one table. One of the guys that works there came out and turned the a/c up. Good, so we got a place close to the a/c.
When the food arrives they bring me 2 pieces of chicken with rice and they bring Lita her pork pancit, plus both our drinks. I don’t know what was said by Lita to the waiter, but it was something about the halo-halo. After we were both just about finished eating, no other food had showed up. She’s still expecting the halo-halo and I’m still expecting that 1 piece of chicken. I pull out the receipt in my pocket and I’ll be dang if neither on of those are on the receipt. She only rang up 2 pieces of chicken and the halo-halo was no where to be seen.
They offered to fix the problem, but we would still have to pay for it. We just told them to forget it, we had to get to the store before they closed and we had already wasted enough time here.
Other problems I had with them is that (1) they do not have chicken breasts, my favorite. I asked for the breast at the counter several times, but she said they do not have breasts there. The way she said it made me believe that they ‘never’ have them there at all, (2) they serve 1.5 liters of drinks, which is good, but they want P80 for it and you can buy it at the store for half that price and (3) the iced tea seems a bit pricy too. It was P35 for a large, which was almost twice the price of a regular soft soft drink (P19).
Now I liked the chicken and the rice was good too, and I don’t eat cheap rice, but I’m not sure I want to visit this place again. I may, but I will probably have to be by myself because Lita says she will not go there again. When/If I do go again, I will order the same thing and be sure to look at the ticket when she hands it to me. I will fix any discrepancies on the spot.
To get around language barrier,I just let my wife order for me. After being married for over 40 yrs she knows by now what my like and dislike are. Beside she has to pay for it because I do not carry pesos. Also sometimes she can talk them into a senior discount.
Well I could do that, but I keep trying because I’d like to make a break through. I need to more actively look for a place on line that teaches Tagalog or Waray-Waray, but I’d rather have the Tagalog.
Wow, 40 years of marriage, that’s great. That’s in between my parents and my marriages. They’ve been married 55 years and I’m coming up on 32 years in April.
I had the pesos on this day, but normally I let her carry them. Only problem is, when she has them they tend to disappear faster. I’m holding back on her this month, just in case. Neither of us are quite old enough for the senior discount yet, but I’ll bet when we are, she will try to. Doesn’t hurt to try.
There is one easy way to overcome the language barrier… learn the local language. If you plan to live here, that’s the right thing to do anyway! It’s not as hard as you may expect.
Good luck.
I wanted to try to learn the language, but I don’t have a teacher. No one here wants to take the time to teach me. I was looking for a good place on line to try to teach myself. Do you know of one? It would have to be an audio site though. One for Tagalog would be good enough for here, but if only Waray-Waray, I’d take it.
Hi John – I know that my teacher that taught me Cebuano teaches people online, but she is fully booked up right now (she can teach Tagalog as well).
I have seen a number of sites where they have teachers who will teach you via Skype too. Really, learning the language will make you life here a lot more enjoyable!
There is a chain of BBQ in Manila called Jerry’s Grill. Actually not too bad. All of the meat was a little tough, but thats local quality for you. I wish I had a grill at my condo cause we have a Aussie source of beef that is pretty good and prices are reasonable.
BTW, you wont be getting much cheap beef in Texas. I read that the drought has pretty much wiped out Texas beef.
Hey Don! If it’s local beef, then most likely I won’t eat it. I can tell you that if I had access to some Aussie beef at a good price, I’d go buy a grill. I miss it that much. As for ‘cheap’ beef in Texas, well I assume you are talking about price because quality is always good. But for a price, right now, I wouldn’t care if they raised the price by $5 per steak (which I doubt), when I get back, I’m getting steak and hamburgers. Hot dogs are not safe either. Sausage neither, although I have found at least one sausage I like here. There are probably more, but I haven’t gotten around to finding them yet.
I just found out that someone is unable to send comments now although he has been able to send comments recently. If anyone else is having that problem please let me know via my e-mail: johnwjr7@yahoo.com – Thanks.
reading your experience at the mang inisil made me laugh. Although its frustrating on occasion the language barrier its still kinda cute who innocent they can be in their mistakes. I have been reading ur blog when i can john and will see you before you go on your vacation. talk to you soon bud.
In a situation like this, it’s no big deal. I can always get something to eat. It’s just that I thought I got through to her and it was still messed up.
Okay, I’ll see you when you get here. Are you talking about my short vacation starting in a couple of days or when we go to Texas at the end of April?