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    El Pollo Real

    3.7 (97 reviews)
    InexpensivePeruvian
    Closed 10:30 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    El Pollo Real Photos

    EL POLLO REAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Lengua tacos
    Iris F.

    I stopped here expecting mediocre food because it's located in a pretty deserted plaza and I was just desperate while waiting for my car to be repaired nearby. However, I was surprised by how their lengua tacos were actually decent. The meat was so tender and flavorful, and I liked the pale orange sauce they gave. Overall the tacos were a little bit dry but still satisfied my cravings.

    1 Dry and salty Chicken Taco,2 Dry beef Tacos
    Miguel C.

    I'm a foodie who loves Mexican food. If the Tacos and Burrito Beef(steak) and chicken are good, I can enjoy anything on the menu with beef and chicken. When beef(steak) is dry and chicken is dry and salty, we have a problem. Also, my chicken had bones in it. I'm spoiled by great Mexican food from restaurants and even street carts in Los Angeles, California Wilmington, and the Long Beach area. They load one corn tortilla with lots of meat,I'm used to 2 because it won't fall apart while eating it, especially if you have to add sauce to not make it not so dry. I think it's time to take a trip back home to California for great food and visit family and more great food. Can someone please point me to a place in the DMV area that has good beef(steak)and chicken tacos???

    30. Tallarin Verde con Bisteck
    Rudy M.

    Really delicious and authentic rotisserie chicken! (Spanish style rotisserie!) They also have several Peruvian dishes which are also delicious! I recommend you try: -Tallarín Verde (Basil Pesto sauce) -Seco de Carne (Stew Beef in a Cilantro sauce) -Aji de Gallina (Chicken & sliced Potatoes in a cream sauce) -Chupe de Camarones (Shrimp Chowder) -Arroz Chaufa (Fried rice, not your typical type!) But DO try the chicken first!!! Enjoy your meal!

    Flan! Yum!
    Tammy N.

    I don't know why other people rated this place a one star. This place is actually legit and very good with flavor and portions. The only thing I could complain about is that the bottom of the flan looks burnt. Other than that, excellent meal. Chicken is very flavorful and tender. The green rice was awesomeee. And the yuca was great but way too huge in chunks.

    1/2 chicken, rice and beans, yucca fries.
    Chuck G.

    Wow, just off the beaten trail of Rockville Pike lies El Pollo Real. Peruvian cuisine is not popular around me, so while on an excursion to the DC area I figured I'd give it a try. For $14.88 I got half a chicken, yucca fries, rice and beans and a 20oz Inca Cola. Best $14.88 I've ever spent. Chicken was flavorful and tender. The meat literally fell off the bone. Rice and beans were a savory and hearty side. The yucca was fried golden to perfection. Three dipping sauces accompanied my dish all were complimentary in their own way. For those of you thinking, yeah it's a chicken joint, NO! It's the BEST chicken joint. Incredibly authentic and flavorful. The bilingual staff was very helpful, kind and efficient. I would not hesitate to recommend.

    Miranda C.

    Shhhh! Hidden Gem!! Scrumptious Peruvian food + good company = awesome times w/ family/friends Recommend w/o reservations.

    Aguadito Soup

    Not bad! I got the aguadito (chicken soup) as others recommended, and I'd give it 4 stars but found it pretty pricey for what you get. It's $9 for the regular size depicted in the image attached- a half size to-go container. It comes also with a wedge of lime and some green sauce. While they are generous with the amount of meat and it is pretty tasty, I would expect a large size to-go soup container for that price. I think I should have gotten a usual quarter chicken combo instead, since that's only a dollar more. Overall, when there are so many rotisserie chicken spots around and I've been spoiled by Sardis in PG County, it's hard not to be biased. If it's close to you and you're craving Peruvian it's worth a shot! I probably need to go back and try just a normal chicken dish.

    Dan C.

    Decent place to grab a bite to eat. Portions are good for the price. Menu is diverse and dishes ordered were prepared to order. Had the chicken burrito and a couple of pupusas. Plenty of parking out front and seating inside.

    Tortillas.
    Abegail A.

    *****3.5 stars***** The stars here are clearly their meats, not the sides. Upon entering El Pollo Real, you'll quickly notice that the place is simple, rather small, and empty. Made me wonder if this place was any good. I've heard so many wonderful things about Peruvian chicken that I had to stay. Decided on a whole chicken with potato salad and Salvadorian tortillas ($15.25), as well as some chicharon ($5.95). When the whole chicken was being chopped, it smelt so good that I immediately said MmMmMmM...I knew this was going to be good. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Z5BoeUDgFC654OY5N1z8Xg?select=4jC1IYNMrlomcPzLPIZkFg#4jC1IYNMrlomcPzLPIZkFg The chicken was juicy, tender, and packed loads of flavor. If only the skin was crispy (it might have lost it's crispiness on the way home from being stuck in a container with no air holes, though)! I still enjoyed it. The chicharon was also yummy. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Z5BoeUDgFC654OY5N1z8Xg?select=n0O2m-1bgXR1i5X7bwTDBg#7pGn6XdYUQ-8FMYs4HGFmA Loved how it was rather meaty, instead of fatty or all skin. This dish wasn't greasy or tough at all. The sides...eh. The potato salad had way to much mayo/mustard going on. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Z5BoeUDgFC654OY5N1z8Xg?select=n0O2m-1bgXR1i5X7bwTDBg#PCqqjQvt9RUeWOKnlm4sKQ The dish was probably half potatoes, half mayo/mustard. Yikes...no thanks. The tortillas weren't bad. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Z5BoeUDgFC654OY5N1z8Xg?select=n0O2m-1bgXR1i5X7bwTDBg#7AsdKskDtzUbN3WS6ZwbzQ I guess I prefer my tortillas to be thin and not so thick. The meal was supposed to come with five tortillas, but we only got three. I kind of felt a little jipped, but three was plenty. Service is good and the food came out rather quickly. Do yourself a favor and skip the sides and go straight for the chicken (or chicharons).

    Empanadas de pollo & ceviche de pescado
    Vanessa B.

    I'm not at all a fan of Peruvian food and this really does seem like a hidden gem because the appearance doesn't do the food any justice. I NEVER order ceviche and this one was pretty legit. I didn't want to share and once I did...I ate the rest before anyone else could grab more! I did ask for it not to be spicy since I know they typically make it spicy. The empanadas were also so good! Very flavorful and I also forgot it came w a sauce and slaw which complimented it so well! I can't say anything about the chicken but it looked good. However, the yuca...it was cooked perfectly. Not too hard and so soft and tender. Loved the few things I had.

    Small piece of chicken, soft yuca and plain salad

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    1 year ago

    I like the food but it used to be affordable. Prices have gone up way roo much. I got a ceviche mixto and aguadito soup for $35

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    AZU Peruvian Cuisine

    AZU Peruvian Cuisine

    4.5(29 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    I recently tried Azu Peruvian Cuisine in Rockville and overall had a solid experience. I ordered…read morethe lomo saltado, the copa, and the chupe de langostinos. The lomo saltado was well executed. The beef was tender, the fries were crispy, and the classic mix of soy sauce, onions, and tomatoes gave it that authentic Peruvian flavor. The portion size was generous and satisfying. The chupe de langostinos stood out. It was rich, creamy, and packed with shrimp, which is important because many places skimp on seafood in this dish. It had a deep, comforting flavor and felt very traditional. The place itself is small and casual but welcoming, and the service was friendly. Overall, it's a good spot in Rockville if you're looking for authentic Peruvian flavors. I'd definitely come back to try more dishes.

    Good size place with a small area as you as you walk-in and a larger space for at least 6 tables+…read moreand a bar area with 4 stools. Nice set-up but they are still awaiting their liquor license (as of Jan. 2026), so they only serve non-alcoholic juices, sodas and water (for now) and hot teas on the weekends. The servers are very sweet and really know the food and menu. However, I did observe they are either a bit inexperienced, or the place is still getting things in order-- as they carry the food out without trays. I observed one server carrying a soup very close to the rim with bare hands. Now, for the food. An excellent array of varied dishes from different regions of Peruvian cuisine. My husband and I have tried our fair share of Peruvian food both in Peru and across various U.S. states. It's our go-to-food. The food here had its highs and lows. The Good & The Bad: Grilled octopus was delicious with a generous portion of everything served on sizzling skillet. Chorros à la chalaca (fresh mussels) served with pico. Both had a lovely presentation and savory flavors. Lomo saltado (sautéed beef tenderloin pieces) with fettuccine à la Huancaina served over a bed of fettuccine in a spicy cheese sauce (IYKYK). The Huancaina sauce was on point as was the sauce for the lomo--The (lomo) beef however was not. Beef was overcooked and tough to chew. And being a Peruvian spot the Classic Ceviche was a work of art but the flavor and the spice-level was lacking. Finally, I asked for a side of sauce and was charged for 2 oz. of sauce. They also tacked on a service charge fee for a table of two. Overall, the ambiance was nice and friendly but the food coming out of the kitchen did not warrant a $130 bill. Honestly, the prices are comparable for this kind of food. But I would expect better product and less hidden fees. I hope this small business will keep improving I'd love to give it another chance once they work out the kinks-- but judge for yourself!

    Photos
    AZU Peruvian Cuisine - Dining space

    Dining space

    AZU Peruvian Cuisine
    AZU Peruvian Cuisine - Aji de gallina

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    Aji de gallina

    La Canela - Complimentary ceviche item

    La Canela

    4.0(389 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    We had a very good experience at this Peruvian restaurant. We tried the lomo salteado as our main…read moredish and it was delicious, with great flavor and a generous portion. For appetizers we ordered pork chicharrón and calamari, both very well prepared and perfect for sharing. The atmosphere of the place is warm and pleasant. One thing I really liked is that the music is not too loud like in other restaurants, which makes it a perfect place to have a conversation while you eat. Also, the waitress was very attentive and friendly throughout our visit. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience and I would definitely come back. Tuvimos una muy buena experiencia en este restaurante peruano. Probamos el lomo salteado como plato fuerte y estaba delicioso, con muy buen sabor y una porción generosa. De entrada pedimos chicharrón de cerdo y calamares, ambos muy bien preparados y perfectos para compartir. El ambiente del lugar es cálido y agradable. Algo que me gustó mucho es que la música no está demasiado alta como en otros restaurantes, lo que hace que sea un lugar perfecto para conversar tranquilamente mientras comes. Además, la mesera fue muy atenta y amable durante toda nuestra visita. En general, una experiencia muy agradable que definitivamente repetiría

    I am rounding this up to five stars; tasty food, very friendly staff, and nice vibes inside! Would…read moresay the dishes are flavourful and good levels of savory/sweet depending on the item.

    Photos
    La Canela - Interior of La Canela with hardwood colonial chairs and classic Spanish ironwork

    Interior of La Canela with hardwood colonial chairs and classic Spanish ironwork

    La Canela - Pulpo

    Pulpo

    La Canela - Chicharrón de Calamar

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    Chicharrón de Calamar

    Poyoteca - Whole Chicken Meal

    Poyoteca

    4.3(133 reviews)
    6.0 mi

    This was my first visit to Poyoteca! I had seen it from the outside, but only ordered online and…read morehad delivery for years .... It helped to get us through the shut-down lock-downs of the pandemic! I had the veggie burrito and flan. Both were absolutely delicious! I also love their green beans, mashed potato, and other things you can put together in a veggie sides dish -- you get to choose four. It's great! They have mac and cheese, too .... I really enjoy the food but of course, it's the art that drew me in the most in the first place -- even when first seeing it online years ago, I found the look of the logo to be very visually appealing. As well, this is much of what I so liked during my first dine-in experience. The only thing I didn't like was that it was rather loud. Well, it also happened to be very cold but it was very cold out that night and I was stuck wearing warm-weather clothes from the warmth earlier in the day, so ... it was a bit uncomfortable but also, I was having to consider someone else's comfort who found it to be much louder & colder ('freezing,' in fact!), than I did. The metal chairs are rather hard. There are booths with soft cushions, too -- so you have your choice. The coolest thing is if you're a fire-lover, sometimes they cook with what appears to be a flash-frying method and the flames are really big and bright -- so cool to see! If you eat with your eyes, there are many visual treats to be had here! If you just eat with your mouth, there are plenty of tasty treats! It's an all-around, all-over taste and other-senses sensation! (Filling, too -- I believe you will not leave here hungry!) Overall, I highly recommend it!

    Poyteca's whole chicken takeout meal is the best dinner rescue ever! Takeout is super fast and…read morefriendly-they made our yucca fries fresh on the spot. The chicken is hot, tasty, juicy, and meaty. Although we didn't get it this time, one of my favorite sides is the honey roasted carrots and Brussel sprouts. Lots of sauces are provided for the chicken and fries - green is a bit spicy while the yellow sauce is mayo-based. Delicious!!

    Photos
    Poyoteca - Menu

    Menu

    Poyoteca - Yucca fries - side

    Yucca fries - side

    Poyoteca - The top pic I posted over 3 yrs ago on yelp saying do not enter. They finally put signage up.

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    The top pic I posted over 3 yrs ago on yelp saying do not enter. They finally put signage up.

    El Pollo Real - peruvian - Updated May 2026

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