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Charga

4.6 (223 reviews)
Closed • 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago
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Order Charga Takeout or Delivery

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CHARGA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Charga

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Reviews With Photos

1/4 Chicken W/2 Sides & Drink - Charga Chicken, Biryani Rice, Masala Fries
Lynda D.

Was pleasantly surprised with the large menu of options to choose from. I went with the 1/4 Chicken W/2 Sides & Drink and specifically wanted to try the charga chicken. The meal also came with a drink. I chose the masala fries and biryani rice for my sides. Everything was cooked well and had tons of flavor. Will come back again!

The roasted potatoes with peppers and onions

How have I never been here before. I've driven by so many times and never stopped. This is without a doubt, the best butter chicken I've ever had! The naan is delicious. My husband got some roasted potatoes with peppers and onions in it. That's delicious too. I'm just sorry that I didn't take pictures before I dug in. It is not a place to come to for atmosphere, but I like sitting here and being in a very relaxed atmosphere, not pretentious at all.

Impressive
Harley S.

I wouldn't have thought we needed another chicken joint, but then again, it's unfair to call Charga a chicken joint. It's so much more. Let's start with the sides. The variety is truly awesome. You have the standard rice and fruits and potatoes (sorry to call them standard -- the potatoes are really good and the rice is infused with saffron and cilantro), but then there are all the Pakistani-influenced vegetables and legume options! Incredibly flavorful chickpea and lentil and spinach stews, spicy green beans, crisp tomato and cucumber, grilled vegetables... the list goes on and on. And then there's that chicken: there are four varieties to choose from: the specialty here is called Sajji and it's marinated and flame broiled with a mild but Berry flavorful spice mix. It's tender and juicy and the sun is somehow thin and crackling. It's really good. There are other chicken options including a spicy peri peri, a traditional Peruvian pollo a la brass, and Charga, which is a skinless flash-fried specialty. I haven't tried them yet because the sajji is so good. The owners are always there and incredibly friendly. You really want to support a business like this, and thankfully the food and the prices make it a no brainer to continue doing so. The menu goes well beyond rotisserie chicken to a variety of sandwiches, bowls, and wraps. Even burgers I haven't tried it all yet but I have a feeling there are no misses coming out of this kitchen.

Triple platter
King D.

ANOTHER BANGA!!!I had the tripple platter salmon chicken and lamb all amazing lamb being the tastiest I had there cilantro and briani rice briani being the best of the to if you like spice the Nan super fresh comes out piping hot the yogurt is on point not watery the garlic sauce nice and salty compared to ravi and kp this is up there with Ravi

Charga 1/4 Combo w/2 Sides
Stacey B.

We were looking for a restaurant after visiting Gettysburg and saw Charga on Yelp. We thought we'd give it a try....if you're thinking of going...DO IT! This is the best food we've had in the DC area over the past week. Wow! Get the Charga! So much flavor, it's ridiculous. The plantains and naan were great sides too. Great service, great food!

Sajji Quarter
Jacob C.

Went back as promised, this time for carryout, and the food was mostly fantastic again. We loved the butter chicken, chicken tikka kabob, sajji chicken; chick peas, spinach, and rice were all delicious, as well. The peri peri chicken was also very good, but not for the faint of heart as it is covered in their spiciest sauce. Only negative was the masala fries, which were soggy by the time we got our food home, but nicely seasoned. The dipping sauces are also all fantastic. Will definitely be back.

Sauce chart
Christine H.

Charga is a hidden gem that I was pleasantly surprised by! We got take out and I would definitely go back to order more chicken (and try the other daily specials). We got two Half chickens: (1) Charga with fries and chaufa and the (2) Sajji Chicken with Cilantro lime rice and grilled seasoned potatoes. Both were amazing and I kept on raving about how juicy the chicken were. Surprisingly, the highlight was the chaufa (5). There was so much flavor in this rice that it was incredible. The potatoes (4.5) were also cooked perfectly, and I may have a slight preference to the charga versus the sajji style, but I would rate both of them a 4.5 because of how unique and scrumptious each bite was. The service was excellent, as the person included all 6 types of sauces. The yellow was personally my favorite but honestly, all of them were right on point to cool or intensify the heat. Great neighborhood find. Tip: The entranceway can get a little tricky, so make sure you don't miss the turn for the side strip mall.

Charga chicken with mixed veg and channa

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

It's so good and the staff was so friendly. The food is a must try in Arlington. I went there once and then went back 3x in a month.

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

Love their whole chickens, yuca, plantains, and grilled veggies. Super friendly staff too.

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4 years ago

Love this place: chicken is delicious! I thought pollo Rico was the best but this is my new fav!

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Amazing chicken and paneer. Very friendly and economical. This is truly a jewel hidden in a strip mall.

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5 years ago

Ordered the chicken with rice and black beans for sides. Chicken was meh. sides didn't offer any flavor either.

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6 years ago

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8 years ago

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6 years ago

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

Great taste for Peruvian chicken, not like some called Peruvian restaurants that the put so much cummin that it tastes to cummin.

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4 years ago

Great chicken, chick peas and sautéed veggies. Friendly staff! Will definitely be back!

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

Disappointing for all the hype. Sides were oily, chicken was dry and flavors just didn't work for us.

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8 years ago

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5 years ago

Solid rotisserie chicken. White meat moist as it should be. Try the Sajji style chicken, lightly marinated in spices, with lots of flavor.

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8 years ago

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8 years ago

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3 years ago

Chicken to die for! Yummy sides and friendly service. Great to have this place in Arlington!

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5 years ago

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Page 3 of 6

Ask the Community - Charga

There's no signage saying it's a halal food ? Nor on the menu

Everything on the menu is 100% certified halal and the owner is very proud to let everyone know that. They recently became the new management so I think they just have not gotten the chance to update everything yet.

Is it Halal?

Yes, it's halal! As soon as we saw the sign, we knew we had to go there 😄

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El Pollo Rico - 1/2 Chicken Dark

El Pollo Rico

4.3(1.7k reviews)
1.9 mi•Virginia Square
•$$

Amazing food!! We…read morewent about an hour before closing and surprisingly, there were a lot of other people in line already as well! We didn't know what to expect going in. The line was long but they were very open about why it was taking a while (they wanted to ensure they only took orders they could fulfill and check their food inventory), once we ordered it was very fast! The food was delicious and so well made! The half chicken was what we got and it's alot of food so be ready to eat! The rice, plantains, and yuca are so yummy, highly recommend any of those sides. The sauces are all delicious as well, you can't go wrong. Such a great place to get quality dinner and the seating it plenty! 5/5

El Pollo Rico was our go-to for years, going all the way back to the Anthony Bourdain era. We'd…read moreregularly order a whole chicken, dark meat only, and this was one of those Arlington spots I used to bring out-of-town friends to. I still laugh at ordering through the microphone after COVID because it feels like I'm stepping up to request a karaoke song. Unfortunately, it hasn't felt like the same place lately. They stopped letting us order the whole chicken the way we preferred, started nickel-and-diming on sauces, and somehow the flan always seems to be out. More importantly, across probably five recent orders, the chicken has consistently tasted under-seasoned despite that great rub and flavor that made this place famous. Portions feel smaller while prices have climbed. The dining room doesn't help. It feels dated and neglected rather than like somewhere you want to stay and eat. It's still a convenient option if you're in a pinch and need a family meal, but I no longer bring visitors here like I used to. For me, the value, consistency, and experience that once made El Pollo Rico special just aren't there anymore.

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El Pollo Rico
El Pollo Rico
El Pollo Rico

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Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar

Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar

4.1(354 reviews)
13.0 mi
•$$

Beautiful restaurant with good service…read more Our favorites were: ceviche classic, beef empanadas, fried sushi. Will return to try more dishes.

BLUF: Ok, after being open 3+ years, one would think that an upscale restaurant would get their act…read morein gear & deliver wonderful service every time, right? Especially at their prices & the hoity toity atmosphere, you'd think they'd also be well-run and reasonably accommodating, eh? Nope. Worth the drive? Not any more. Worth the wait? Definitely not anymore! For as many times as we've frequented Pisco in Reston with a small group, one would think they'd get their seating straightened out. Every time we've attempted to eat here on a reservation, they've had issues. Never set up and ready to seat us. Never prepared upon opening... and it's never busy when they first open which is why we always go early. But, they are NEVER ready to seat us. What's the use of making a reservation a week in advance if you're not going to be ready to seat the party nor accommodate the request? How would you like to find out at the last minute that they're going to split up your party at two different tables on two different sides of the restaurant because they weren't prepared when you gave them a week's notice via reservation? The food isn't that good to have to keep going through the challenge of being seated every time we make a reservation for a group. They're really pricey, too. So, certainly not worth this chronic headache. There are PLENTY of other places in the Town Center or in Herndon/Reston in general where you can get a tasty meal, not drop a day's pay, and have your entire party served well together. The taco joint across the street is definitely a more pleasant experience, for example, and I would certainly recommend bartaco...give them a try instead for a fun environment and some good eats.

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Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar
Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar
Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar

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Autentico - PIQUEO CALIENTE

Autentico

4.3(280 reviews)
11.0 mi
•$$

Let me start by saying, I really love this resturant! This is my second time going there, as I went…read morethere last week with friends, and wanted to go again as their menu was extensive! I wanted to wait and give a review after the first time as I hoped it wasn't one of those, ("the first time it was great! The second time...not so much.), let me reassure you that was not the case with Autentico! On my first visit, I had a seafood selection, and it was so fresh and so good! I was also checking out my buddy's chunks of beef that were part of his meal, and wanted that too! He gave me a chunk and it was so tender, juicy and good, I knew on my next visit, I would have to order some form of their steak! The service was spot on, and food order time to table, was exceptional! My next visit came yesterday, and yes I ordered a steak! It was a late Friday afternoon, and even though they were busy with a few large tables of people, service was still outstanding and the food was even better than the first time! If you have read some of my reviews, by the time I think to take pictures, there's not much left to take a picture of! Also, I know some people just take pictures and not much else, and while something can look really good in a photo, you have to dig into it to unearth what's really good about the dish, and everything I have tried at Autentico, was superb! I ordered the NY Strip with fries and instead of the rice that comes with it, I asked if I could substitute veggies for the rice? They said no problem! While the first time I had a couple bottles of their Corona, which was very cold and was also provided with a frosted glass, this time I asked for a Modelo Especial. I was told they had it on tap! Major points, as I love all of Modelo's products especially the stouts! It was just my buddy from work this time and me, and we had such a great meal and the ambiance was awesome! I had joked my first time visiting there while driving in, that there was an Irish resturant right next to it! I mentioned that we should go there after for a couple pints. We never got around to it, as we were too full both times to make it in. But that resturant is in the back of my mind for a future visit! So if you do go to Autentico, you won't be disappointed. It's a great location that's worth the drive, and an exceptional resturant!

Back again after their recent rebranding from Pio Pio to Autentico. Came with the same friends who…read morefirst introduced this spot to me. I ordered the seafood mix paella and it was so delicious that I finished the entire portion by myself. I initially wanted to save it for dinner. I'd love to come back again to try other food on their expanded menu. Likely the most authentic Peruvian food spot in nova.

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Autentico
Autentico - POLLO ANTICUCHERO

POLLO ANTICUCHERO

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Outside area

Peruvian Brothers - Ceviche and big empanadas

Peruvian Brothers

3.7(79 reviews)
4.9 mi•Pentagon City
•$$

Nice location, parking could be crazy, we lucked out with spot right down the street. We met some…read morevisiting friends and decided to dine outside (beautiful afternoon). All the Staff was super and checked on us constantly, never felt abandoned outside (we were only ones). We went with Family meal and a side order of Pupusas (2 for $10). Your choice of spinach/cheese, beef or chicken. We stuck with water to drink. The chicken was delicious, we have our favorite in Alexandria, but this chicken was very good. The sides were good, fries, yucca and rice. The sauces complemented everything (green & white). We asked for ketchup, they did provide some packets (perfer an actuall ketchup bottle when dining in). The Papusas were not a big hit with the table. Overall, a good option if in the area. Especially for the price which was way better than expected for area.

The calamari stood out, probably the best thing we ordered. The Peruvian chicken was solid, and the…read morealfajores were a highlight. But the shrimp saltado was forgettable, and the chicha morada was a letdown -- mostly ice, barely any flavor. It tasted like purple-tinted water, not the real thing. I bought two empanadas to bring home to my mother and asked specifically for two chicken. The employee at the register was friendly, but kept nudging me toward one beef, one chicken. I said no. I explained my mother doesn't eat beef. She bit into one at home and stopped. It was beef. There was no way to know from the outside. I understand that mistakes can happen, but it was disappointing to receive the wrong empanada after I had specifically explained that my mother does not eat beef. What made the situation even more concerning was that the beef did not seem fresh. In addition, while the empanada looked properly baked and golden on the outside, the dough inside was still undercooked. Unfortunately, this experience changed my overall impression of the restaurant.

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Peruvian Brothers - Dining Room

Dining Room

Peruvian Brothers
Peruvian Brothers - Ambiance

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Ambiance

INCA Social - Mango & Shrimp Ceviche

INCA Social

4.0(428 reviews)
5.3 mi
•$$

TLDR: A fantastic game day spot with an energetic atmosphere, attentive service, and delicious…read morePeruvian food. The only downside was the limited and not very clean restrooms during a busy event. First, let's give an applause to their social media team for helping me discover this place. The game day promotions caught my attention, and they absolutely delivered. The decor, atmosphere, and energy were all fantastic. You could tell Inca Social was well prepared, with a fully staffed team that stayed attentive throughout our visit. Whether it was quickly finding us an extra chair or constantly refilling our water, the service was excellent. The food was equally impressive. I highly recommend the lomo saltado, and the pasta served alongside it was surprisingly delicious. The Inca Balls were also a great appetizer with a light, crispy exterior and a savory filling. The drinks were solid as well and rounded out the experience nicely. My only complaint is that there are only two restrooms, and given how busy the restaurant was, they weren't as clean as I would have hoped. Overall, this is a lively spot with great food, excellent service, and a fun atmosphere that I'd happily return to.

I had been here before and the food was not bad at all as well as the service. I decided to go for…read moreMother's Day since I had not been here in years and was hopeful the food would be the same if not better. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Food selection was smaller, food was not worth the price and service was awful. We did not have a reservation but saw several tables open. They sat us near the welcome booth as we were a family of 5. We were given menus but not enough utensils and thought eventually we would get it along with the menus. There seem to be a huddle of employees in the entrance of booth and the waiter did not show up for another 5 minutes. Another 5 minutes passed and a different waitress showed up asking if we were ready. She did not tell us of any specials and we had to ask her the price of the bistec a lo pobre which she said was $26. We also asked her about other items we saw at the online menu but she said they weren't available. We decided to stay and order ceviche, lomo saltado, anticuchos and bistec a lo pobre. My husband ordered a beer and I ordered a chicha. There was no physical menu for children and she verbally told us the options. I ordered chicken tenders and fries for my toddler. She took our orders and food came out after 15 minutes. The meat was missing the sauce the menu said it came with, the ceviche tasted very lemony and the chicken tenders were more like chicken balls. The waitress never showed up with our drinks and we decided to just eat and go as the staff seemed to want to socialize more than tend to the customers. Once we were done, we asked for boxes and the check. Apparently, gratuity was already included and maybe thats why the service was so bad? She hardly came to check on us and to top it off she was surprised when we told her drinks never showed up to please take it off check. She didn't apologize or asked how the food was. She gave us boxes and off we left. Later, we realized the bistec a lo pobre was $28 instead of $26 and we had ordered two. I just wanted to leave at that point and not wait another 5 minutes for waitress to fix her mistake. The ad, as shown in picture, said all moms receive a flower but I guess having three kids with me wasn't enough for me to get one. We also noticed when we left their website said a party of 6 or more has gratuity included but we were a party of 5. What is shown online is very different than what you get in person and if the food was great I would gladly go back for at least takeout. Food is not worth it, the service for Mother's Day made it worst and the environment was mediocre at best. Prices were inconsistent and menu is not appealing. Not sure what happened here but changes should be made at least for Mother's Day.

Photos
INCA Social - Decor

Decor

INCA Social - Seafood + Rice

Seafood + Rice

INCA Social - Inca kolada

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Inca kolada

Charga - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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