From the chicken, sides, to even the dessert, Don Pollo had us in culinary bliss as high as the Andes! The first time my dining companion truly enjoyed food from a Peruvian rotisserie, what more could I ask for :-D
Today, we were in the mood for some chicken, and we remembered a few times watching people enjoying Don Pollo's chicken through the window from our table at next door Persimmon. It certainly didn't hurt that the satisfied patrons included a Peruvian friend of ours and his two sons :)
We decided to head over early on a Sunday morning for take-out. Although it was our first time trying Don Pollo, we went within the first 15 minutes of opening on a Sunday morning so everything (particularly the fried yuca and chicken) may have been extra fresh!
We ordered a whole chicken plus fried yuca and plantains. When we walked in to pick up our order, my dining companion's attention was caught by the bread pudding in a display case. When we asked about it, the friendly cashier spoke with such sincere enthusiasm that we had to have one.
On the way back, we nibbled on the yuca and noticed that it was fried to a tender-crunchy-crisp, noticeably superior and fresher tasting (particularly the oil) than at other El Pollo Rico, Crisp & Juicy, and Super Chicken.
When we dove into the chicken, we immediately noticed how wonderfully prepared it was, particularly how well they seasoned the meat throughout (brining?), how well they cooked the skin crisp and thin, and how well they render the fat from beneath the skin--clearly better than EPR, C&J, and SC. The salsa verde was spicier than the competitors' versions and the fried plantains provided a sweet n' starchy cooling contrast to the heat of the salsa verde.
I read some gripes about charging $0.25/extra sauce. However, we happened to get EIGHT of them with our order (specifically requested only salsa verde). I am not sure how we got so many, but they packed a stronger punch than the other places so we only needed two cups instead of the usual four to six.
Oh, and the bread pudding... the cashier was so right! My dining companion described it as "better than Balducci's." Indeed it was moist, not-too-sweet, satisfying, and scrumptious--a wonderful blend of eggs, bread, citrus, cinnamon, raisins, nuts, etc. We had ordered bread pudding at fancier restaurants (never before at a casual place like Don Pollo), but come to think of it, we never had one that was very memorable. On the other hand, Don Pollo's was such a pleasant surprise, at only a third of the price as those of more upscale restaurants, and so satisfying that we shared half (leaving the other half to savor later).
Combined with bright, clean, and colorful ambiance (outdoor seating is popular during the recent sunny weather we are having), friendly service, and ample portions, Don Pollo has us hooked since day one! This is the first time my dining companion really enjoyed Peruvian chicken, so much so I was hearing "5 Stars! 5 Stars!" immediately after the first bite of dessert! :-D
Next time, we have to try the Aguaditos (a chicken soup with cilantro, ginger, and garlic) which also sounded tempting! read more