We were running some errands on Folly Road, saw the Thursday whole chicken special sign, and swung in. And we're so glad we did. Server/cashier (QSR counter style ordering) was friendly, had great side suggestions, and insisted that because it was our first time, we try all the sauces. She was right. Yes, we enjoyed the chicken, potatoes, plantains, and cucumber salad. However, the sauces make every single bite better. Specifically, we loved the Garlic-Lime Aioli. Wow. It just went great with everything. We look forward to our next EPG detour! read more

See all

We tried El Pollo Guapo and I am officially obsessed. I ordered the Almost Legal bowl with rotisserie chicken, rice, spicy slaw, avocado, plantains, grilled corn, pico, queso fresco, pickled onion, and sriracha aioli. It had a perfect blend of flavors with a nice spicy kick. The portion was huge and easily made two meals for me. Every bite was delicious. We also ordered the chips and queso during happy hour. The chips were homemade and crisp, and the queso was on point. The space is clean and welcoming with a very friendly and positive staff. They also accept Blackbird which is a great bonus. We will definitely be back. read more

El Pollo Guapo - Chips and queso - Chicken Shop Near Me - James Island, South Carolina

See all

The best patio to enjoy delicious fresh food . The person taking my order was so helpful. I don't eat chicken so they let me switch it out for chickpeas. I got one of the delicious bowls . Everything was fresh and delicious. I loved the cilantro sauce too . Plenty of parking too ! read more

El Pollo Guapo - Bowl ! - Chicken Shop Near Me - James Island, South Carolina

Really wanted to love this spot. The decor is nice and the property gorgeous. Counter service was friendly. Nachos- the chips held up to the toppings and were yummy. Otherwise they were room temp, the chicken is bland, there's something overly sweet happening with the sauce (not a fan), and they don't have a salsa or anything spicy other than bottled sauce to help. The tacos come with double cold tortillas, again some kind of sweet sauce, and the chicken is still super bland. The fish taco had a solid piece of fish, which was fine, it just didn't impress otherwise. Fries were solid. read more

See all

This place it great. Having only popped in twice, the service and taste was everything I remembered it to be. It's got a nice laid back feeling and the surf culture on the way to Folly is the perfect place for this. Can't wait to go back and bring some friends. The tacos are great for a quick lunch or add some chips for a heavier dinner. Nice HH specials too! read more

Best food on James Island for sure! Menu is pretty wide - it's hard to go wrong here. Happy hour is extremely affordable, they also have a $30 deal on Thursdays that feeds a family. read more

This is my second time at Pollo Guapo and the tacos were just as good the second round. My dad and I visited on a lunch date and found 1p on a week day to be quiet (so this is a perfect lunch spot if you're not looking for anything busy). The service was fine. The facility itself was decently? clean. There were four tables I passed up because they had a sticky surface, some weird residue, over the top. Otherwise the other half of the restaurant looked pretty clean. As I mentioned, the food was really good. The fun-gai taco has got to be my favorite with its mushrooms and Brussels sprouts but the hola guapo taco was equally scrumptious. 4 stars instead of 5 for the cleanliness read more

El Pollo Guapo - Hola guapo and Fun-gai tacos - Chicken Shop Near Me - James Island, South Carolina

This is one of those hidden places that should stay hidden. Way too expensive for what we got, our tortillas were cold, the rice tasted like cardboard, the coke was fake. But thank god is called el pollo guapo and not el pollo rico. read more

Amazing flavors while still Fresh and nutritious. It was a wonderful surprise! The service was also amazing - fast and friendly. If we lived here, this would be a regular spot. Can't wait to come back read more

Have been wanting to try this place for a while and finally stopped in for happy hour. Very clean and friendly staff with great happy hour prices! We tried at least one each of the tacos at $3.00 each! Loved the Damn that is a spicy taco...the pickled onions were amazing! C'mon I'm a Fun-Gai taco was very good .... who would have thought mushrooms and Brussels on a taco but that hit a home run with this one. We also tried an empanada - it was packed with chicken and served with a sweet chili sauce. And the beer prices were awesome!! Tecate 16oz for $2.00!!! Great place! Sorry it took me so long to give them a try but we will be back very soon! Maybe this Friday !! read more

See all

Food was AMAZING!! The service was Excellent!! Honestly treated me so nice and welcoming! The man serving and giving the food to the customer for take out is so nice and caring !! Thank you for the service and the food ! Will recommend!!! read more

Weird menu. Been here twice now, tostada was bad, rice has peas in it and tastes like uncle Ben's. Nachos are ok drinks are GREAT. The second time we came they forgot to put ice in our drinks but hey, more margarita for me! The more bites you take the worse it gets I had to come back to edit this review. Brussels sprouts are good and flavorful but why in the world are they on a taco. read more

See all

Very good fast casual restaurant with everything prepared to order. You go to the counter and order. A server comes to your table to delivery your food. We sat outside and had a pleasant experience. I had the Dazed and Confused Bowl, which I really enjoyed. Lots of veggies and meats so beautifully prepared. My only negative is that the prices are much higher than I would expect for a meal like this. Three people cost about $80 and we had counter service. read more

See all

My wife and I are so glad El Pollo Guapo are on James island. We love to share their nachos; we ordered them this evening, and they were exceptional! Fresh ingredients, crispy chips, excellent portion- couldn't ask for better. Thanks El Pollo Guapo! read more

I'm so happy with this new addition to James island! This is such a fun restaurant with plenty of menu options to choose from - their speciality is rotisserie chicken and they do it very well! I ordered their nachos and the almost legal and dazed and confused rice bowls. They were all great and affordable options. I especially liked the plantains in the almost legal rice bowl. All of there choices included their rotisserie chicken which is absolutely delicious! For drinks - they have a couple fun frozen drink options and a few beers on tap from local breweries such as low tide. The restaurant set up is order at the front then seat your self and they bring your food out. The service was quick and all the staff were friendly. I would recommend coming here for a casual dinner that can accommodate small or larger groups. read more

See all

So exciting to have a new healthy spot on James Island! I visited this restaurant twice so far and really enjoyed both of my experiences. The first time I ordered a bowl, which was delicious, but isn't a ton of food and comes at a $15 price point. My second visit I tried the "1/4 bird" which was so delicious and a much better deal! For $14 you receive a fourth of a chicken with one side, sauce, and rice. The chicken quesadilla is absolutely delicious and includes caramelized onions. I also tried a side of fries which were good, but not the star of the show. I love how healthy and flavorful the food was! Both times I visited my food, came out within five minutes, which I thought was incredible. There is a ton of seating and it's a really kid friendly option with both indoor and outdoor seating. read more

See all

El pollo guapo is a newish addition to the Folly Road restaurant options and I have had a chance to try it out a couple of times. The concept is easy: order at the counter, grab a number and pick your table. The food items I have tried and recommend are: - Chicken bowls: I had the Almost Legal bowl which has slaw, avocado, plantains, queso fresco , and of course their delicious rotisserie chicken. It was very good, but made on the healthy side, so the chicken skin was removed. If you are like me , ask for them to keep the skin. - Chicken nachos: Very good and different combo with notes of lime on the crema and the tajin sauce. It was weird at first but could not stop eating them after - Churros: ABSOLUTELYUT MAGIC. They are filled with dulce the leche and cooked perfectly. i like that you can order a single churro for cheap and dont have to get a full order like in other places. Great chicken and great times! read more

Wife says this is the best place to eat on James Island. Hard to argue. Food is unique and delicious, service is great, vibe is cool and relaxed. read more

El Pollo Guapo - Chicken Shop Near Me - James Island, South Carolina

See all

We stopped by El Pollo Guapo today on the way to the Festical of lights and surprisingly there was no one there. This was our first time. We walked in and were immediately greeted by the person at the counter, I explained it was our first time and he dug right in explaining the menu, giving us suggestions and some of his favorites. They also have a happy hour, so certain items on the board are half price (during certain hours) and then a specials board! He let my son try the limeade before we bought him one and I think that mixed with some lq for adults would be magnificent, though they already had adult versions in store but we didn't try them this time around... Anyways, the owner is from the Northeast, (CT) so I may be a little biased lollll but GO! They need peeps to eat all this wicked awesome goodness! Everything is so fresh. Picture was the family meal- Full Bird: Served with your choice of 3 sides & 3 sauces.and a chips and queso the queso was amazing and chips made in house! read more

See all

Lunch date with my adult children. We were in the mood for Latin American food. El Pollo Guapo is a fast food type restaurant featuring rotisserie chicken, tacos, fresh salads and delicious side dishes. There is plenty of parking. Outdoor and indoor seating is available. I did a carryout order. They don't take orders by phone so you need to order using the website for convenient ordering and payment. My food was ready in under 15 minutes. Inside the restaurant it is brightly colored with a picture of a big, handsome chicken...a.k.a. el pollo guapo. I ordered the span-ish chop salad. It featured Romain lettuce, corn, avocado, crispy chicken peas, marinated cucumber, Pico, queso fresco and pickled onion with white meat chicken tossed in a cilantro lime vinegrette. This was a big portion of fresh delicious veggies and tender white meat chicken tossed with a lite dressing that just brought all those flavors together. It was a little pricey, but worth it for the freshness and unique mix of veggies. I would recommend El Pollo Guapo if you are looking for a fast food Latin American influenced menu. read more

See all

El Pollo Guapo recently replaced black magic cafe on Folly road. I loved black magic so I'm sad to see them go but wanted to give the new place a try. I had a quarter chicken with 2 sides (rice and fries), the food was great, chicken was cooked well and the sides were tasty and good portions! You order at the counter and they bring the food out, easy and fast. Overall really liked El Pollo Guapo and I'll be returning sometime soon! read more

El Pollo Guapo - Quarter chicken with 2 sides - Chicken Shop Near Me - James Island, South Carolina

Stopped here with my family for lunch. I got a green bowl (the Span-ish chop) and my husband and son got a rice bowl. Our order was taken quickly and didn't have to wait very long for the food. I loved how fresh everything tasted! And SO flavorful! Hands down the best guacamole I have ever had! And the chicken was cooked to perfection! Both my son and I took home leftovers and ate every last bite! read more

Our party LOVED this place!!! Great outdoor seating on even a warm day. We ate the quarter chicken and the Dased and Confused. Great flavors, the chicken was incredibly tender. An awesome find on James Island!! read more

See all

Cute spot located on James Island. It gave me beach chicken shake vibes. A good place for a quick lunch with friends. I stopped in after yoga for a healthy meal, and they did not disappoint. They have so many options, from salads to bowls to chicken plates. I ordered the 1/4 white chicken with broccoli. It tasted good. Nothing spectacular, but it hit the spot. I want to go back on one of my celebration meals to try something more indulging. The woman at the counter was very helpful, and she didn't steer me wrong with the garlic sauce. Tons of seating indoors and outdoors. Service was quick. read more

See all

Wow this place is all time! My chica is in town and when she asked me to get dinner she had one place in mind - El Pollo Guapo. One thing I love about my friend- She is dedicated to her passions, and she is dedicated to El Pollo Guapo's chicken on the bone. I think it's a popular dish because when we got there they told us they RAN OUT!! We were so devastated, it took my gal pal an extra 5 MINUTES to order. The employee was so patient with my gal pal but eventually we narrowed it down to the nachos and a salad because ~balance~ The nachos were phenomenal, they had all the right spice and fixin's. I especially loved the green onions on the nachos- that was "chef's kiss" (as they say) for me. El Pollo Guapo reminds me of my bestie-reliable, vibrant, and zesty. The restaurant allowed for a good girl gab catch-up: we got to enjoy the nice weather outside, the yummo nachos, and all life's happenings. read more

El Pollo Guapo - Bowen with her nachos - Chicken Shop Near Me - James Island, South Carolina

This was my first dining experience at El Pollo Guapo and I was very pleased!! The happy hour menu is GREAT. $5 margaritas, $3 tacos, and half off the appetizer "munchies" menu! Everything was delicious with fast service and kind employees. The outdoor patio is beautifully decorated with greenery and a comfortable atmosphere! 4/5 stars because there were a lot of flys buzzing around :(. read more

See all

EVERYTHING was ate was delicious. The chicken is fall off the bone tender. The sauces yummy. The portions, nice. Food is ordered and then brought to your table by a server. Doesn't take too long. Many tables to chose from and options outside. There is parking too. The vibe was very friendly and relaxed. read more

El Pollo Guapo - Main counter and registers. - Chicken Shop Near Me - James Island, South Carolina

See all

Got to try out this spot today. The interior is simplistic and the design is very clean. Nice modern beach vibes with a painted surfboard hanging on the wall. We were given the option to order at the counter or use a QR code at the table to place our orders. There are no servers, so if you are looking to go somewhere and be waited on, this is not the place for you, but it did not bother me. The food was good! I got the almost legal bowl. The star was definitely the chicken and was very moist and tender. I went in the late morning, so I didn't have a chance to get a drink. Will definitely go back again and try one of their frozen alcoholic beverages! read more

See all

Delicious new spot on JI! We popped in for lunch. This is in the old Black Magic spot - they've done a nice little remodel and paint upgrade to keep it very bright and breezy inside. You have a few choices in ordering your food. A counter to place your order with a human, online take out, or you can plop down at a table and scan the QR code to enter your order and table number! Super convenient. Water station to serve yourself and there's two cases of canned and bottled drinks as well. Few boozy options and some CBD seltzer in addition to Boylan's sodas and Joe tea. We opted to order at the counter to ask some questions about the food. Ended up with the tostada, sweet potato wedges, and a dazed and confused rice bowl. We got a garlic lime aioli sauce on the side as well. Service was pretty dang quick. I think from ordering to food arrival was maybe 8ish minutes. Everything arrived piping hot! The food was mouth watering delicious. My photo may have a couple bites taken from it because the phone doesn't eat first when the food smells this good! Tostada was piled high with deliciousness. Chicken, pico, lettuce, corn, avocado, and some sort of yummy citrus crema. The dazed and confused is a mish mash of veggies and rice, we got it with chicken! If you're super hungry or just want more protein, I'd suggest adding extra chicken to the bowls. The sweet potato wedges had crispy skin and buttery soft insides. They toss them in some sort of lime salt. A little kick of acid was amazing with these! All in all, super fresh tasting food. Very colorful dishes. Big fan- can't wait to head back and try more! read more

El Pollo Guapo - Tostada and sweet potato wedges - Chicken Shop Near Me - James Island, South Carolina

Loved loved loved their chicken!! Did the whole chicken plus 3 sides for $30 on Thursdays deal. Great deal. PS Fries are legit!

This place is going to be dangerous recently opened on JI (where black magic used to be). The bowls are hefty and so flavorful. Mine had rice, chicken, plantains and a bunch of veggies. I ate half for dinner and had the rest for lunch the following day. Felt the price point was fair for the size of the portions and quality of food. We ordered online & picked up. No issues with our order or it being ready on time. read more

See all

1/2 Chicken w/FF & Cuke salad Chix Quesadilla Beef Taco of the Day Pork Belly Taco Grilled Broccoli Sw Potato Wedges Churro Apple Empanada Firstly, we received amazing service from Brittany who took our order at the front counter!!! I would rate her a 5 for menu knowledge and personality!!! The male floor manager, female food runner, and chef were also very personable and professional!!! We decided to dine here due to Cinco de Mayo...you know I miss my West Coast Mexican!!! Guess what? Floor manager quickly corrected me that his establishment was not Mexican but more grilled chicken and Latino; not Mexican. The decor looks in the style of coastal Baja-surfer restaurant with both Mexican and Latino food, so you need to decide. Anyways, anything is better than the former restaurant that was here. We ordered a lot because we like to try every thing and have leftovers. The Churro was EPIC!!!! Make sure to order two!!! The FF and Swt potato wedges are insanely good!!! The chicken was dry. No seasoning goodness/love for the grilled broccoli and cucumber salad. $5 beef taco was bland and $6.50 pork belly was tough(had I had dentures, they were coming out)-should have been more tender or chopped. Apple empanada was homemade but apples were way sour. I've never had Latino cuisine, so this might be why I'm indifferent and not satisfied. Mixed message with serving containers. Sustainable metal trays for plates and cutlery. Plastic fountain cups instead of paper, plastic containers for grilled broccoli and cucumber salad---paper trays for fries. Waxed paper bakery bags for desserts. Paper boxes for leftovers and plastic bags for carrying-not the reusable kind. Lunch was $72 plus $20 tip upfront....keep it all paper, I'm okay with paying more to keep the supplies sustainable. Don't park in the back, it's May and the flies covered the vehicle due to the dumpster. Plus it was Friday at 1:00pm and a beer truck blocked the one-way exit with his deliveries. Moving on. Brittany was super nice!!!! read more

See all

Do yourself a favor and RUN to James Island's Pollo Guapo at the old Black Magic Cafe. Love the decor, vibe, and THE FOOD!! Delicious, healthy options with fresh veggies made my stomach so happy after enjoying lunch here. Would recommend carpooling if possible as parking is a bit tight. read more

See all

This place is the BEST!! My fiancé and I go just about every week. The staff are super friendly and helpful, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu, and it's the perfect casual dinner and drinks spot. I always get 1/4 chicken with slaw and it never disappoints! read more

We were hoping to split a 1/2 chicken for 2 people with sides and sauces. The sides were great as was the chicken, but I would say we definitely got a hen, not a chicken. The sauces were super tasty as were the potatoes and plantains. It's a bit expensive for a small piece of meat, but the service was good, the restaurant is clean and the staff are friendly! read more

Yes, to El Pollo Guapo! This restaurant is the real deal. It brought me back to my days in New York enjoying ethnic foods with real flavor! Don't get me wrong, I love my new life in Charleston. However, this town lacks the real ethnic food offerings until now! The chicken is amazing, the corn is great, and the Empanadas are incredible! Please do not mistake this for a Mexican restaurant, It's not. There is no shortage in Charleston for that. This is definitely something worth the trip to James Island/flavortown! read more

Really cool new place with a good laid back feel. Quick service and friendly staff. The food was super delicious, nice variety on the menu with a lot of tasty looking options. The only knock I have was that the rotisserie chicken was pretty tiny, got a 1/2 chicken to split, but a 1/2 chicken here was probably the size of 1/4 chicken anywhere else. That said it was still really delicious and the sides were good sized and amazing! The sauces you get to choose from are all really good too and add to the meal! read more

El Pollo Guapo - 1/2 chicken, chicken fat potatoes and fried plantains - Chicken Shop Near Me - James Island, South Carolina

LOVE this place! Tony is so sweet & we came here down from the Glastonbury location (our hometown) while visiting Charleston! LOVE LOVE LOVE pollo!!!! read more

Why did I forget to take pics? I went to El Pollo Guapo to get dinner to go. I ordered the Dazed and Confused bowl and enjoyed a margarita while waiting. The place is bright and spacious and the menu has a variety of offerings for everyone-including vegetarian options! The prices are very reasonable. The bowl was absolutely delicious. It was fresh and very tasty. The food came out quickly and the service was excellent. I would recommend this for everyone and their families! read more

Positives - Upbeat atmosphere , very clean, fresh ingredients, fair prices, quick service Negatives - Brussels and sweet potatoes over cooked unless you enjoy extra crispy. read more

El Pollo Guapo - Chicken Shop Near Me - James Island, South Carolina