I don't write a lot of reviews, but we found this place by accident just cruising down Kansas Ave... the wings were just amazing! Really unique flavor and sauce... small side of rice and small side of beans. We will find our way back there soon! read more

Still my favorite chicken in the KC area. Plenty of seating. The menu is simple but effective. The staff is friendly. The chicken is delicious and moist. The frijoles charros are authentic and very flavorful. read more

El Pollo Rey - 1/2 chicken - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

When I am in Kansas City this is a must stop spot! They have the best grilled chicken I have tried, it comes with frijoles ranchos and rice! Service is quick and the place has a low-key vibe to it. read more

After getting tacos across the street, came straight to this place for incredible service and the best chicken around with some wings!

We were doing our day of taking various items to recycle (electronics, styrofoam, household, etc) and were in the vicinity of El Pollo Rey. It was 3:30 and the place had a steady stream of people dining. Like the other reviewers have stated - this place does one thing really well and perfects it - - CHICKEN. You are drawn in by the wonderful seasoned smoke from the grill. They have whole and half chicken and wings. The chicken is served very quickly & very hot! The skin is crispy not burnt and the white & dark meat is very moist. I am not a bean person so I cannot attest to that side. You also get soft corn tortillas, rice and sauce. I would have liked a little more flavor on the sides, but that won't detract me from coming back in the future. Clearly this is the place to go and wish them all the best. read more

El Pollo Rey - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

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The chicken was a 10 out of 10 rice and beans all and the pickled onions were amazing. That is my second time there I will definitely be back. I just wish it wasn't so far from where I live but the food is absolutely a 10 out of 10. read more

Oftentimes my spouse and I casually joke about boring choices for dinner by asking each other, "chicken or chicken?" Turns out, chicken is no laughing matter at El Pollo Rey; it is the "king" for a reason. You get 3 options: whole, half, or wings. It comes with corn tortillas, beans, rice, pickled red onion, and fresh salsa. It took us two tries and a bit of strategy to make it before they sold out but that's basically what days off and weekends are for, right?!? The sides are good, for sure, but the star of the establishment is the chicken (duh). Come prepared to eat with your hands and you will be glad you did because you will get to smell the lingering aroma even after you drive away. So when you find yourself asking, "chicken or chicken," you have your answer, Kansas City. read more

El Pollo Rey - Whole - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

Great food! Awesome grilled chicken that's delicious! I strongly recommend it. Half chicken and whole chicken meal options.

5/5 This food was so good. Simple, tasty, and amazing . Simple vibes, simple menu, great hospitality, and food read more

El Pollo Rey - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

Bought 3 all dry!! Terrible service no compensation! Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone unless u go and sit down and check if it's good.. read more

This place is a gem - solid food, good prices, what more could you want? I got the whole chicken, which was grilled to perfection and served hot to the table. It comes with tortillas, beans, rice, salsa, and some pickled onions. Simple meal but tasted fantastic. Food came out pretty quick which I appreciated. Plenty of tortillas for the meat, and I didn't think that there was anything missing. Definitely the highlight was the grilled chicken, which had a good smoky flavor without being burnt or overcooked. Will definitely return (and there's also plenty of other authentic Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood too). Keep in mind the hours, since they do close a bit earlier than other places. read more

El Pollo Rey - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

They do chicken and they do it well!! First time visiting and am already thinking of the next. Friendly service from the time we walked in until we walked out. read more

Delicious flame grilled chicken, authentic sides and super fast & friendly service. Highly recommended! read more

El Pollo Rey - Restaurant Front - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

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I am from out of State and was referred to try this place out. Glad I did. Their menu is simple... whole chicken, half chicken, or buffalo wings. I got an order of the half chicken that came with rice, beans and tortillas. The chicken was full of smokiness flavor. I enjoyed it. I wish I ordered their wings though!! read more

El Pollo Rey - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

No frills, technically two different styles of chicken but it's all excellent. Real barbecued chicken, no flame broil or gas. Sides were great, the salsa was amazing and not spicy; very simple but the perfect compliment. The corn tortillas are amazing, actually typically dislike corn tortillas but these were very fresh. I would sincerely highly recommend you give this place a try. read more

El pollo está muy bien sazonado y con buen sabor. Viene con acompañantes de arroz, frijoles, tortillas, salsa y cebolla morada. Lamentablemente el arroz no estaba cocido al 100% y se sentía crujiente al comer. Cuando hablé para comentarles, la señorita que contestó no sabía que decirme, me puso en espera y luego me colgó. Al llamar de nuevo me contestó alguien diferente y dijo que lo sentía pero que su arroz siempre lo checaban. Espero su servicio al cliente mejore, gastamos $65 en dos ordenes de pollo entero con arroz y frijoles extra :/ read more

I came here to catch up with a friend and grab lunch. We knew right away that we were looking for this restaurant from the smoke on the rooftop. It was a tough choice because there are lots of great Mexican restaurants in KCK. We walked in and it was fairly busy. My friend and I both ordered half chicken because it comes with sides versus if you order a full chicken, it is the same price with only one set of sides. The sides are a great addition because it helps elevate the tortilla tacos you make. Some of my chicken was really tender while other pieces were a little dry but they cook it over a wood fire so you get the crispiness and smokiness from woodfire chicken. They are usually making a lot at a time so you get served your food really quickly. I like how they don't overcomplicate things and you get exactly what you order. I would definitely check it out if you have not been. read more

Wings! Customer service! We'll be back Love that they do what they do so well! Value for taste is right on time! read more

My new favorite spot! The chicken has great flavor, tender and juicy. Rice is good. Staff is friendly. Honestly would eat here everyday if I could afford it. read more

Best wings ever!! The wings tend to be really small but the flavor of the sauce is amazinggg read more

El Pollo Rey - Wings - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

Out for a drive on a Sunday afternoon when I saw smoke billowing out of a chimney on a random building on a random corner. It smelled Devine so we decided to stop and check it out. ElPollo El Rey is simple bbq. You have your choice of chicken or chicken. Couldn't t be any easier. The simplicity of their menu is excellent as they have perfected their products. We ordered whole chicken it comes with beans, rice, tortillas and salsa. The chicken is cooked perfectly and has a great flavor. Everything was really good and they were pretty busy so I'm not the only one who enjoys the food. Mind you 1 whole chicken order feed 2 adults and 1 child. Great deal for a meal for the family! read more

El Pollo Rey - a tray of food on a table - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

I've been here several times and it's always excellent! I was on a KC page with thousands of members and everyone agreed. If you haven't been there yet please give it a try. It's worth a trip from anywhere in the Metro area. read more

No complaints, great food at great prices. Chicken has yet to disappoint. If you like smoke flavor and grilled chicken this is the place for you read more

Eight years after my first review, I ventured here. Big deal, right? Yea, well, first time with ANYONE other than my wife in the car. As in, 3 other friends we stayed close to but socially distanced from on our patio for dinners through the past shitty 14 months of pandemic seclusion. Now, all fully vaccinated, we celebrated by picking El Pollo Rey as our destination, because fine dining celebrations call for BBQ chicken, right? Heady stuff, being in the car with other humans after being secluded from others for so long. For some of us, our first dine at a restaurant in awhile, and we were prepared to eat inside, but, well... if you've been here, you know that's not always such a good idea unless you like that thick smoke that sears the eyes. As on cue, the clouds parted, the sun shone, the rain stopped, an angel choir sang--eh... some guys drove by on Harleys without mufflers as we dined on three full chicken dinners among the five of us. Enough to feed a small army. Mango Jarritos washed down the smoky, succulent birds. A fine meal it was. Still as good as the first visit, and maybe because of being outside and the weather perfect it all tasted just a little better. And so more than a visit, it feels like it'll be fun again to be visiting new dining spots and favorite old ones on Yelp again and sharing those experiences. Lets just not do that thing we're still passing through again. Ever. Burp. Be careful out there. read more

El Pollo Rey translates to "the chicken king" and that worthy title is definitely deserved. The menu is INSANELY simple: you only have three options to choose from. There is the half chicken plate, whole chicken plate or buffalo wings. Each entree comes with a side of beans, rice, salsa and tortillas. Let's start with the star of the show: the chicken. It is grilled to literal perfection. When you walk in, you can see a massive grill that lines the back of the kitchen. Rows of chicken pieces are sizzling and cooking and the aroma fills the small restaurant (*be warned that the chicken smell will linger on anything you bring into the restaurant: clothes, purses etc; had to go home and do a load of laundry ). The chicken is seasoned well and very tender. I especially liked how it was perfectly charred so that you get a nice smoky flavor. The sides were decent; the rice was flavorful and the beans went well with the chicken (I made soft tacos with the meat & beans). The half chicken plate is honestly enough food for two people (or one VERY hungry person). I had a hard time finishing it, and that's saying something. The food is also very cheap (the half chicken plate is only $7) so you definitely get bang for your buck. I sat in the restaurant, but a lot of people came and did takeout too. read more

El Pollo Rey - Half chicken plate with Mango Jarritos drink - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

I'd say my review is probably about 4 1/2 stars but overall, why not give 5? This place is amazing. I've been meaning to get there for a long time and I finally made it. The smells are insane good. SOO GOOD. It's like summer camp, back yard cook outs and an amusement park smells and tastes all rolled into one. They are WOOD FIRE cooking chicken.. That's it. And they have it perfected. The cook on the chicken was perfect. SO good. The crispy bits were just amazing, and the dark meat still retains it's juice. You can see by the other reviews how it's done, but just quickly. Order a half or whole chicken. Done. It comes with corn tortillas, salsa (very different), pickled onions, beans and rice. That's it. Get to it. I'll say, you really don't need the extra stuff, it's all about the chicken. It's VERY good. Here is my MINOR complaints. I wish they would season the chicken just a touch. That's just my preference. And, as I've seen other people say.. SALSAS.. You have fire there, roast some onions, tomatoes, tomatillos, garlic, peppers and make a fire roasted salsa and serve that. That would really take this place to the next level for me. The salsa they give you is this really odd mushed up mixture, while tasting okay does leave a bit to be desired. Excellent chicken, super busy, excellent business model, extremely fast delivery of your order. I will be back, this place is amazing! read more

El Pollo Rey - Fire roasted absolutely perfect chicken - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

Delicious food! Very healthy. It's nice to be able to swing by and pick something up for dinner that's actually homemade. Their smoked chicken is out of this world. read more

What once was a family favorite has now become very overpriced under quality........ ..............,...................,..................................................................#expensive dry chicken ....................... ...,.........,.................,............. Save your money read more

Best restaurant in Kansas City. Best buffalo sauce to ever be created. The fire roasted chicken breathes life into you like a phenoix rising from the ashes. El Pollo Rey is a 10 out of 5. Do yourself a favor and buy enough chicken to last a week next time you go. read more

Heard about this from a local. They were right! Buffalo chicken wings were slightly spicy but slightly sweet and fabulous! They were not crunchy because they are soaked in the sauce.Tortillas had a light fluffy texture and taste. The chicken you can see being grilled. The chicken is perfectly cooked and the skin in crunchy but not hard. The salsa looks like apple sauce but it is a fabulous salsa. The beans were wonderful and had some type of pork in it including what looked like a hot dog. They were out of rice but we were there right before they closed. I would come back again and again! All for $20. read more

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Good food good price. Service was quick when ordering at the counter. Strongly recommend. We will return.

If you're familiar with the other eating establishments on this strip of Kansas Ave in KCK you'll understand when I write that the 4 stars are all for the chicken and sides that are served up at El Pollo Rey. The menu is simple. Whole chicken or a half chicken with warm, corn tortillas, small side of rice and charro beans, and pickled onions. Don't overlook the side of fresh, red salsa (just like my grandma use to make); spiced with fresh, puréed jalapeños. The chicken is charbroiled and the half order ($7) is certainly plenty to share, although, you may start to question why you didn't get the whole chicken for $13! read more

A buddy of mine mentioned this place one day and I told him he needed to take me there for lunch, so a few days later we decided to trek up to Armourdale and visit El Pollo Rey. I leave most of the Spanish speaking in my life to my bride (who's not really of Latin heritage but has been studying Spanish the past few years) but my Texas heritage grants me enough fluency to know that "El Pollo Rey" translates to "The Chicken King," and I can't disagree with that assessment! So here's what you need to know: DON'T wear nice clothes when you go... and DO plan to smell like oak wood smoke for the remainder of the day! The building is old and tired... and PERFECT. The food is outstanding. You won't have to make many decisions... the menu is what it is- you'll order either a whole or half chicken and you'll get some delicious pinto beans (complete with sliced wieners!), Mexican rice, corn tortillas, salsa, and some sliced red onions. You can purchase an avacado a la carte, and a canned soft drink if you wish... the chicken is great, as are the sides. I've had many salsas i like better, but this one is fine to add to the makeshift tacos I created with my food. Prices are good... the half chicken meal with a soft drink was ten dollars and change... i think the whole chicken is sixteen. It's become one of my new favorite places in KC... so much so that I almost hate to tell you about it for fear of making the lines long or turning them into some kind of overrated chain restaurant! ;-) read more

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El Pollo Rey, where have you been all my life? After eating at Boston Market, the now defunct Kenny Rogers Roasters (unless you're willing to travel to their only remaining sites in Southeast Asia - why Southeast Asia??), a not-too-bad Maui Mike's in Hawaii and many other upscale fast food chicken specialty locations of middling quality, I never really learned what good chicken was supposed to taste like. Thanks to El Pollo Rey, now I know. As you approach the entrance from the parking lot, you'll notice the pile of wood for the grill that is stacked against the wall on the East side of the building. Upon entering, look left to see the long and wide grill behind the counter that is usually covered with chicken. You probably smelled the aroma from a couple blocks away as you approached the restaurant, and once inside, it's intoxicating. It's just like when you step onto your back porch and you can tell when one of your neighbors is grilling chicken - multiplied by 10. The menu is limited, but what they serve is very, very good. Whole and half grilled chicken, also chicken wings, served with tortillas, Mexican beans (with hot dog slices floating in the beans - I'm not kidding!), rice, salsa, and a baggie of onions. The salsa is very fresh, almost too fresh, particularly during the season when the tomatoes are more whitish pink rather than red - maybe they should rethink the salsa recipe during this time of year. I was also impressed with the high-quality paper napkins on the tables, they aren't the super cheap variety that most fast food restaurants offer that require a new napkin each time you wipe your mouth or hands. The atmosphere is very informal, fast food style, with as many tables as they can cram into their small dining room. However, the lack of a multi-million dollar facility doesn't deter many people from visiting, as the restaurant is virtually always completely full of happy and satisfied customers. Just to be clear, the grilled chicken is beyond fantastic. It's juicy, it's smoky and tender, and it has those wonderful grill marks that say - this chicken was cooked the way chicken was meant to be cooked. I know people say things like "best chicken I ever ate" and they don't really mean it, but I truly don't think I've ever had chicken that is a close second to this. read more

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I just love the food here...never disappoints. The service is always quick.. Ambiance is unique.. read more

KCK TACO TRAIL (south): I've been here a few times before, but never on a weeknight. I recommend either calling to reserve a chicken or get there before 6:30. There were only 5 whole chickens left by that time of night, but they happily reserved two for me. Customers who showed up around 7:00 were out of luck. My family of 5 ordered two whole chickens and 2 orders of wings (8 per order). I love the wings here. Deep-fried and coated in buffalo sauce. I would recommend adding more sides if you're sharing because the rice and beans are tiny. You get some pureed tomato salsa with your chicken order. There are 2 types of habanero hot sauce on the tables. I dined in during Covid-19. No other customers dining in on a weeknight. The tables were spaced far apart. Approximately 8 tables inside and several picnic tables outside. Hand sanitizer by the register. They let me move a couple of tables together to fit my group of 5. 2 chickens and 2 orders of wings was a perfect amount for 5 adults. We had a couple of pieces of chicken and TONS of tortillas leftover. This place would be 5 stars if they had beer and more fixings for the tacos. read more

El Pollo Rey - Whole chicken for dine-in. Arrives on paper plates with lots of white corn tortillas and tiny sides. Limes $0.50. - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

Tagged along for lunch with friends and was introduced to El Pollo Rey for the first time. The restaurant was loosely described so when I was told, "all the have is chicken" I wasn't really understanding all they have is grilled chicken; half, whole, or Buffalo wings. And after experiencing the Half BBQ Chicken, I understand why they don't offer more...they don't need to! It was a perfectly cooked and flavorful half chicken served with a stack of freshly prepared corn tortillas, rice, charro beans, and a tasty salsa. The only thing I would do different is next time I'll order another whole chicken to go for later! I'll be back for another taco experience like this! read more

El Pollo Rey - Half bbq chicken with rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Kansas

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I'm not joking when I tell you all that these are the best Buffalo wings I have ever had. The sauce... is immaculate. I wish I knew how they make it. Wood fired chicken is incredibly good too. Just all around A++++++. read more

El Pollo Rey is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that will make you anything you like, as long as it's smoked chicken. And boy do they do it well. For under $7, you get half a chicken, rice, beans, salsa, and five tortillas--enough to fill just about anyone and leave you totally satisfied. The chicken was juicy, the skin crisp and flavorful, and the sides made for some delicious chicken tacos. For the soda drinkers out there, they also have plenty of Mexican coke and sodas (made with real sugar, for when American corn syrup doesn't cut it). To keep this review short and sweet, El Pollo Rey serves some of the best chicken I've had, and I can't wait to go back. I'd definitely recommend stopping by! read more

Pretty simple the menu is chicken chicken and more chicken! You can get tortillas, rice, beans, and sauce on the side. I got the wings with tortillas and it was just right. They are seasoned with Buffalo sauce and the flavor was great! The service is they serve you get down the business, it was busy when I went for lunch but they did not stop the goodness of those wings. It packed with windows all along the walls and they play music as well at a chill volume read more