"Wonderful roasted chicken near Durham South Square" I've loved the other two Durham Alpaca locations for years, but somehow never noticed this one, tucked back beside Chuck E Cheeses at what I think used to be a Boston Market building many years ago (and across the street from Sam's Club & Target). I was very impressed at the large outdoor seating area with the string lights-- looked very modern and inviting. I ordered takeout online, so I was only inside for a moment, but the restaurant was very new and clean. They had the typical area on the side for condiments, including their famous spicy green and milder yellow sauces (and little cups with lids for takeout). I ordered a quarter-chicken dark (always delicious) along with fries and rice & beans. The rice & beans had a 50 cent extra fee. My wife got the quarter chicken dark with fries and maduros (fried sweet plantains). The food was ready when I arrived, and I was handed it as soon as I said my name upon arrival. It was packaged in nice plastic containers-- not so great environmentally but they did keep the heat in and maintained the food well on the drive home. Everything was delicious as always. The chicken is always SUPER moist and tender and scrumptious, made even more amazing with some green & yellow sauce. Their fries are moist and tasty, and the rice & beans had a good flavor. My wife was happy with her food too. The price is really good-- right around $10 for the quarter dark meal deals, before tax and tip. And it's a good portion size overall, too... enough that you're not hungry after, but it's not "over the top" huge. I've always been a big Alpaca fan, and I'm glad to see them spreading to other locations with the same excellent food and fast/ easy service. One tip-- if you order takeout, use their website, not commercial ones like Uber Eats or Grubhub, so you can save a little money. I'm sure I'll be back-- loved the look of that outdoor area! read more

Alpaca Chicken - Exterior, and outdoor seating - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Was disappointed with my takeout today. Seems like portions are smaller than on previous visits. 5 small maduros that were rock hard. And the quarter dark chicken (altho delicious) was really small - more like a child size portion. For these prices, I will consider trying another location next time. read more

Decided to one of their made-to-order plates for the first time. I ordered the pollo saltado and while it was good, it would've been better if there were more than 3 small pieces of chicken. Also, pickup for online ordering could be more efficient. The food was ready when I got there but I had to wait a while to speak to someone and pick up my order. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Pollo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I've eaten at Alpaca locations before. Today, I went specifically for the Friday Jerk Chicken Special. It was the most tender, fall off the bone chicken I've ever had. The sauce was flavorful, with an appropriate level of heat. It came with plantain, white rice with black beans. It was too much food, but so delicious. I ate all of it. I placed my order, paid the tab and sat down at a table. My food was delivered in no time. The dining room was spacious with seating at tables, a window counter and nice outdoor tables. They were doing good business for 3 pm on a Friday. I can't wait to go back. I love Peruvian chicken and yucca, but this was a great change of pace. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Friday Jerk Chicken, rice and plantain. - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Love this place! The chicken is delicious, and the sauces are very flavorful- would highly recommend everyone try it out in the area! They also have some fun drink flavors and lots of combo meals for people who want to try different things. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

100000% recommend for some delicious, comforting food! Their portion sizes are incredible, definitely fills you up. Their proteins are super juicy and tender, really fresh and delicious. I got the pollo saltado and also had sides of yellow and green sauce (you can get them at their sauce station), and as a sauce girly, I appreciate it. Even though it doesn't need the sauce to be good, either way it's super delish! Great service, everyone there is super friendly and really makes sure you get what you need and more. It's great for a sit-down, whether with friends, family, date, etc. definitely take a pic with the Alpaca at the door if you're here ;) I crave Alpaca (the restaurant) from time to time, glad I was introduced to here! read more

Alpaca Chicken - Pollo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Despite giving this location multiple attempts, they continually drop the ball whenever you call ahead to place an order. What should be a quick 2min visit to pick up and pay consistently turns into a 15min wait. Their call in apparently orders go a call center and then they What's App the order (lol) to the store. What a joke. read more

Alpaca is hands down one of the best food options in the triangle area. Peruvian style chicken has always been a favorite of mine, but this chain is hands down the best I have ever tried. The chicken itself is SO juicy and flavorful. I always get the dark meat because it is what I prefer, but my friends say that the white meat is also pretty tender and juicy! As far as sides go, my go to order is usual the plantains and the rice topped with black beans. Lately I've been changing it up and getting the green beans. The plantains here are never dry and are always sweet and flavorful. The green beans also have this creamy sauce on them with onions that is incredible. Do NOT forget to get the 2 sauces (spicy green sauce, and creamy mustard/mayo tasting yellow sauce) and put them on your chicken or rice! You will NOT regret. The 1/4 dark comes with leg and thigh and 2 sides for $9.75. Some of the sides can be upgraded for a cost but overall is incredibly reasonable for not only the amount of food you're getting, but the quality. The location in Chapel Hill is relatively new and is very spacious with lots of seating inside. The location in Durham towards Li Mings is also beautiful because of their outdoor seating patio with beautiful string lights. Hands down, this is a MUST go. read more

Alpaca Chicken - 1/4 Dark with green beans and plantains - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I love alpaca but they skimped my girl on her chicken and rice portions! They may be sexist! You can clearly tell which one is hers read more

Alpaca Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We enjoyed the food at this Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken location at South Square in Durham. This is a relatively new Alpaca Chicken location. It opened in September 2020 and is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month. Congratulations to the business for opening during and making it through the unvaccinated phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. I can't say I'm surprised because Alpaca's food and business model are takeout-friendly. This is a fast-casual restaurant chain with currently nine locations throughout the Triangle. At the time of writing this review, Alpaca Chicken goes as far north as Durham and as far south as Sanford. I believe the chain's first location opened on the north side of Durham in 2007: https://www.yelp.com/biz/alpaca-peruvian-charcoal-chicken-durham-2. It was originally known as Mami Nora's. I found this new location at South Square when searching Yelp. It's the closest Alpaca Chicken location to my wife and me. We visited for dinner on a Tuesday night around 7:00pm. We dined in. From the time we got there to the time we left, the restaurant had a steady stream of both dine-in and takeout customers. Based on our visit, this place seems to be well-established and popular. Here's what we got: * 1/2 Chicken ($11.99) - 100% all-natural Peruvian rotisserie chicken - white and dark meat, includes two regular sides; I chose maduros (sweet plantains, +$0.50) and tostones (green plantains, +$0.50); these sides cost extra because they were "premium" sides * Lomo Saltado ($12.99) - tender strips of steak, Roma tomatoes, and red onions sauteed and served over French fries with a side of white rice * Rice topped with beans (a.k.a. rice and beans) - a la carte regular size side ($3.99) * Caramel Flan ($2.99) - caramel custard topped with a layer of soft caramel My wife and I were both impressed with the quality and taste of the chicken. Simply put, it was delicious. Both the white and dark meat were tender and flavorful. I can see why this place was busy and why this brand has grown to nine locations in 14 years. There were self-serve dipping sauces for the chicken, a yellow sauce (mustardy, mayo-y) and a green sauce (definitely spicy). The chicken was so good, in my opinion, that it didn't need any sauce - even the white meat. The sauces made the chicken that much more delicious. The rotisserie chicken skin was delectable and overall, the smoky flavor, excellent texture, and great meat quality made this some of the best chicken we've had in the Triangle to date. The menu is fairly streamlined in terms of selection. Along with chicken and Latin American sides, there are a handful "made-to-order" entrees such as the Lomo Saltado we got. They make the made-to-order distinction because the chicken is already cooked in batches. When you order, it's cut and sides on the ordering line are added to your plate. I would say Alpaca is like Boston Market in this sense. Some sides, like the tostones, are made-to-order and aren't sitting on the line for immediate serving. Alpaca looks like a great catering option too. The sides were pretty good. I liked the maduros the best, but that's generally the case at any restaurant that serves maduros. Alpaca's maduros were just as sweet and yummy as I've come to expect of maduros. My wife decided to get an a la carte regular-size order of the rice and beans and I'm glad she did because it was addictive and gratifying. Rice and beans is a simple dish that's both healthy and comforting. I think they might season and/or butter the white rice here because it tastes too good to be plain. The tostones were fine. There was nothing wrong with them, but I'm not sure I'd order them again. I'd probably go for the yuca fries or green beans next time. The tostones were tasty and had good texture. The Lomo Saltado was savory and satisfying. It hit our table hot out the kitchen. I believe the steak they used for this dish was sirloin steak. If I had to nitpick, it was a little too well-done and salty for me. The steak could have been more tender, but it was seasoned and flavored well. The tomatoes and onions tasted fresh. The white rice was the same as described above in the rice and beans side dish - simple yet addictive. The portion size was large and filling, though I think they could have added a bit more meat. As for the Caramel Flan dessert, I can't say I recommend it. It wasn't bad. It was just very... average. Service wasn't bad either, but it could've been better. Our cashier was Jennyfer and she was nice/polite. Our orders came out quick. The manager fellow was nice and got my takeout containers and bag as soon as he could. The restaurant appeared to be fully staffed. However, tables and seats in the dining room were neglected and needed to be cleaned. My wife and I had to wipe down our booth. I didn't notice any tables being cleaned while we were there. That was really my only gripe with this place. It just didn't feel completely clean. read more

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1/4 chicken (white) with rice, beans, and yuca fries. Delicious as always! Always a must go! read more

Alpaca Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

First time visit for me. Food and service was great. Will definitely be returning there

When I discovered this place feel in love with the juicy chicken but it's the maduros that keep me coming back. Service is always fast in and out perfect for when I come late from work. They offer many sizes (1/4, 1/2 and whole chicken and their new dos pollos options) for their food so you can share or eat as much or as little as you want. And the sides are very well portioned. They come with a yellow or green sauce, but believe me when I tell you you're gonna want extra of that yellow sauce it is delicious!! read more

Alpaca Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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as a californian who never experiences sub 40 degree weather, i greatly appreciated their outdoor seating area equipped with heaters. the quantity of food given for the price is incredibly substantial, and i have recently learned about the 10% off duke student discount. how fun. overall, 9/10 would come again featuring: 1. 1/4 white chicken combo w/ green beans & fries 2. 1/2 chicken combo w/ green beans & yuca fries read more

Alpaca Chicken - Chop Chop Special - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Restaurant: Alpaca Location: Durham, NC Food: Lomo Saltado A great place to have lunch with friends after church! I had the Lomo Saltado with a side of the green and yellow sauce. The Dish is steak strips with tomatoes and red onions over fries with a side of rice. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I've been to their location in Morrisville a few times but stopped in for takeout at this new location since I had a discount from Offline Durham. Immediately, I felt that they paid very close attention to social distancing rules. They had sanitizer, stickers on the floor for people to stand when ordering, and all the employees had their masks on properly (over the mouth and nose). We ordered the daily special (fried rice) and their veggie dish (three sides), plus an horchata. Service was quick and polite, and the food was delicious when we ate it at home. I've commented in a review of the other location that the portions seemed small for what you were paying, but our takeout portions here were commensurate with the prices. A very good option for this part of Durham. read more

Wonderful experience! I came with my dog to enjoy dinner outside on the patio on the gorgeous evening. I ordered online and Edwin brought out my food and a bowl of water for my dog. Great food and service! Everyone was so friendly and nice! read more

Alpaca Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Slowly becoming a local favorite. Located close to my office and gym I've been hitting up this location more often for lunches and dinner. The half chicken dark with white rice and maduros is my absolute favorite. The service is quick and friendly and the location is always very clean. Love the yellow sauce and the green (even if it can be a bit too spicy sometimes). The fried rice is also a great dish too. Highly recommended. read more

Some of the best chicken you will ever have. The portions are huge and the prices are low. Don't sleep on the yellow sauce!

The chicken was good. We tried the chaufa rice, which we usually love, but it was quite disappointing as it was very bland. We didn't love the fries either. Would go again but just for the chicken. read more

I had heard good things about this place but unfortunately I was really disappointed in the food. The chicken was extremely dry- likely overcooked on the rotisserie so when their main dish, that is in the name of the restaurant, Is bad, it's not easy to come back from. I was also disappointed that the slaw was regular American slaw that you get at every BBQ place in the south and not something more Peruvian inspired like they serve at Luna. The only saving grace were the yucca fries which were delicious and crisp. Other than that, it was a dissatisfying experience. read more

Used to be good. Last order was terrible. Yuca looks like to be fried and refried from 2 days ago. read more

La verdad es sensacional la atencion que nos sirvan en el restaurante Alpaca una joven tan humilde y alegre me atendio su nombre es Jocabed Aleman. fue una muchacha con todas sus honestidades me impresiono el trabajo asi para todos sean muy bien venidos vengan a disfrutar ese Rico Pollo que cocinan gracias por todo att Cresencio Diaz . read more

Wow! The most delicious chicken, sides and sauces! I will be back! I had it delivered and it was still piping hot, and everything was excellently seasoned and flavorful. Love!! read more

It was my first time visiting and they have good food. The food wasn't too bad either. But the jamaica drink could've been a lot better, if they use the powder instead of the actual plant that would explain what's missing. The same with the Horchata read more

Of course the food is consistently delicious but I also want to compliment them on their service! So friendly and you can tell the staff really enjoys working there. It's a good feeling when you can tell people are enjoying what they do. I am a chef so I love to see that. Thank you to everyone at Alpaca! read more

This place never disappoints. Came here this past weekend after a good hike. Great lunch decision. Every time we come here, I get the same thing. But old faithful is okay! 1/4 chicken, rice and beans, and another side of plantains! This is also the only place I know that has Inca Cola on tap. Being West Indian, seeing this makes it a winner in my book. But Straight to the point: Everything is fresh, chicken is juicy, great sides, and a really nice seating area outside in front of the restaurant. Keeps me coming back. read more

Alpaca Chicken - 1/4 chicken, rice and beans, and the green sauce is the best!!! I pour it over everything! - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The chicken was tasty, the music really fit the atmosphere. Appearance and bathrooms were clean. Servers were friendly and informative. The available sauces were kind of bland. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I was expecting for the chicken to be yummy and the taste was great but this was under cooked! Totally not acceptable read more

Alpaca Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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My favorite place ever!! I loved it so much that I ate here three nights in a row! The chicken was fresh and delicious. The rice bowls were the best ever..and the sauces made everything completely yummy! Both sauces were fabulous, but the green, creamy sauce was my favorite. Highly recommend!! read more

Oh my goodness, the chicken is delicious and the salad with the cilantro dressing is amazing I mean the place is clean. The service is sweet with a smile. Come on y'all and get you some. You're gonna love it. read more

The chicken is good, although slightly undercooked. I ordered a side of rice and black beans and that was excellently seasoned, but a bit dry. I will order again. It's a new location at the bottom of UHill in Durham, behind the CookOut restaurant and a bit downhill from there. Pickup process is a bit confusing; there was not text or email to let me know my order was ready. You can pick up your food on the shelves near the door, marked for GrubHub, etc. Prices are right, and the choice of sides is good. I'll be back. {just cook the chicken a tad longer next time :} read more

Shat myself on my way home, the chicken was too good I should have known it came with consequences

Authentic Peruvian food. It's hard to see people not understand with the meat and salad, as it's not an American eatery but rather an authentic experience. The safety rating is a 98 so I do t understand the issue with their food. A slow cook meat is going to have a pink tint but doesn't mean it's under cooked. The best thing about this place is the price point. You just can't get a $8 lunch like this anywhere. The food is fresh, hot, tasty and healthier than fast food for sure. I've been a fan of Alpaca many years and everyone I ever brought here has enjoyed their food. I've probably introduced at least 12 people in the past 5 years. The location is absolutely their best one and is beautiful. The patio is gorgeous and I like having the TVs to watch while I eat. I will they need to install some blinds as the large windows made the dining room hot and it was only 64 degrees outside. So I did let the manager know. The summer would be ugly inside. read more

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If you know Alpaca, then you know how good the food is and how you can't go wrong no matter how you order (shout out to my go-to order: 1/4 chicken, white meat with rice and beans and green beans as my sides). I really appreciate that this location has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating (with string lights!) though I do wish the outdoor seating offered heaters. The staff is attentive and service is quite fast at this location, plus it is always clean and has a great ambiance. This is a great location for Alpaca and I hope this expansion serves them well! read more

Look here... someone at my office said they were going to eat Alpaca for lunch... let's just say I was a little taken back. I didn't want no dang push-me-pull-you burger for lunch? Then it was explained that Alpaca was Peruvian... Well slap me with a plantain and call me giggidy! I absolute love Peruvian food, and this place is outstanding! Hit me with the green sauce AND the spicy! Yes, yes, yes, you cannot, I repeat, cannot go wrong with Alpaca! Do it now, you know you want to!! Oh and it's not hairy goat meat, it's chargrilled chicken, just so we're clear. read more

Third visit. I really tried! My chicken is always dry. And today there was the thin half of the wishbone that punctured the roof of my mouth. Too many people in line to stand in line AGAIN to complain. Mediocre at best other times. Sorry, but I won't be back. read more

The food is amazing. Everytime I walk by I have to stop myself from getting something or I'll eat the same food everyday. Service is great, everyone is always kind. This particular location has a nice patio too. read more

The food is delicious! We wanted to got back for break fast if we could . Got the half chicken, which is rotisserie over coals; yucca fries, never had yucca and it was great; the sweet plantains; and the rice. Had to go back for my mother in law. It was made to order. Absolutely delicious! U have to try it! read more

This was easily among the best lunch places I have eaten at. Definitely do yourself a favor and try their green sauce