Great food in this no frills place. Much better option than the more expensive Machu Pichu and up to par but different than El Rincón Limeño. Here the specialty is the charcoal chicken and they do a great job with it. But other plates like the grilled churrasco, the beans, rice, plantain are very nicely executed. With a good beer or lime water it is a great dinner at great value. For dessert we had the flan and was delicious. read more

Purple corn alcohol! Roasted Chicken. We had the wonderful opportunity to come here with our friend from Peru who dreams of their roast chicken. It is true, their chicken is good as well as their other food offerings. There is so much flavor in their food. Lots of food and reasonable prices. You have to try the purple corn drink it has a really interesting consistency. Yes, it is good. Parking is a pain, but truly worth it. read more

This is fast casual Peruvian Latin Food on the run. It's awesome. The portions are perfect. If you're very hungry, the 1/2 chicken lunch plate will do the trick. If you're craving something messier and slightly lighter, try the A lo Pobre Sandwich. Don't confuse this place for the sit-down restaurant Machu Chicken - they're affiliated but not the same place. This place also stole my heart by being one of the only places in Union Square open on Christmas Eve last year. Thanks, guys! read more

This place truly delivers for cheap and delicious Peruvian charcoal chicken. For around twenty five bucks, Hubs and I feasted on the Traditional Chicken Sandwich and fries, quarter chicken (dark meat) with rice and salad with traditional Peruvian dressing, passion fruit juice, purple corn juice, and two flans. You can't beat that with a stick, my friends! The chicken is truly what other Yelpers say and more: moist, seasoned just right, with perfectly charred crispy skin. read more

I used to love this place and have literally eaten there a hundred times. But I was gone for a year (most of 2015), and when I came back, I found the following: they raised prices. Don't get me wrong, it's still cheap, but the food is so simple that I'm not sure it's worth it that much anymore. They make you pay for sides. They skimp on their tasty green and yellow dressings (the best thing about this place!). I think you now have to pay to have more than one? The service is beyond terrible, especially for takeouts. What happened? read more

So friggin delicious!! I don't know what voodoo they use to get the flavor to permeate into the deepest layers of the chicken, but it's finger-licking good from first bite through to the end! They also provide three aji sauces- white, yellow, and green, in increasing order of addictiveness for me, but all three are almost too tasty to describe..! And can we say cheap?? It cost a grand total of $15 to feed two hungry people- half chicken, golden potatoes, salad, and side of Tacu-Tacu. The hubby'd been pestering me to go here for ever, and I'm so sad I waited until now...this place is going to be a weekly treat for us from now!! P.S. Be warned, they're crazy busy on the weekend- take-out is definitely the sanest option on a Saturday night. read more

WARNING VEGETARIANS The menu on their website is not accurate. We ordered the Andean Salad for take out, which was described as having quinoa, fava beans, and salad. When we got it home an opened the container it was a mound of quinoa with shredded chicken mixed in. I called to tell them that they must have given us the wrong thing and was told that they changed the Andean Salad to have chicken in it and that the menu online wasn't accurate. When I asked if I could get a vegetarian quinoa salad, I was told that I would have to pay full price since we "got what we ordered". Really wanted to like this place but this kind of started our relationship off on the wrong foot. read more

Came from Upstate NY, found the place through the Yelp app and decided to give it a shot. Parking came be complicated, this place is surrounded by pubs and other college student restaurants. Had to park at a close by bank parking lot. We called ahead (1hour wait), waited 5 minutes to get to our tables. This a Saturday, there was live music but I am not sure it happens every night. Customer service was great, the server kept checking in with us. We order (party of 4 including a 9 year old) a couple of delicious Pisco Sour drinks. I had the Ceviche (medium spice), my wife order the chicken (more on that in a minute) and my teenage daughter order the Jalea. Both Ceviche and Jalea were excellent. The chicken was a little cold and had no flavor. It may have been left on the counter waiting for our other orders to complete the order. I usually don't order the chicken in a Peruvian restaurant unless that is their specialty, it is on the name of the restaurant so we thought it would be good. I will still give it a 4 stars because it was still way better than the restaurants in NYC we ever tried. read more

It's hard to challenge the authenticity of a Peruvian restaurant that sells beef hearts. They look surprisingly appetizing in the menu pictures, more like chuck steaks than vital organs. I haven't yet mustered up the courage to try them, but there are plenty of enticing choices on the menu to keep me occupied until until I do. The Pollo Al Estilo is superb: 2 skewers of moist chicken steeped in yellow pepper and served with fried yucca and mutant mammoth corn kernels. The rotisserie chicken is exquisitely spiced with deliciously crispy skin. Try it with the Tacu Tacu, a rice and bean plate worthy of entree status. I love the sweet and tart iced lemonade, but for next time, my sights are set on Inca Kola, which supposedly tastes like bubblegum. Seriously good eats on the cheap in Union Square. You'll be so lost in your meal, you'll barely even notice the Peruvianized versions of Celine Dion hits in the background. read more

There's a handwritten sign on the window that says "Peruvian Charcoal Chicken". I think if they renamed the place to that, it would be packed. Because when we went, the place was empty. In the hour plus that we were there, only 5 other people showed up. This restaurant used to be Machu Piccu, until they closed and moved across the street in their swanky new digs. When they were here, the restaurant was just weird. It was a dive inside, and the menu had some really strange things. It just wasnt inviting. Well Macchu Piccu must have not been able to get out of their lease because they redecorated and reopened with a thankfully much smaller menu. Like someone else said this is to machu piccu as olecito is to ole. Well, the food is fantastic. enough so that this place has officially been added to my list of regulars. A week ago, I had a chicken kebab at Aegean in watertown. One skewer of chicken pieces on top of a salad with some rice. It was fine, nothing to write home about, and cost I think $15. Here, you get two skewers, and the taste is fantastic, light years beyond what you normally expect when you order grilled chicken kebabs. And it only cost $10. Came with white corn and fried yucca. The chicken kebabs were dainty. That sounds perjorative but I mean it in the finest way. Between each piece of chicken was like a vegetable layered sandwich of sliced green pepper, green pepper, onion, onion, red pepper. Each pepper was probably a 1/4" inch square, like I said, dainty. The chicken pieces too were smaller than one would expect. But they allowed the curry (?) marinade to seep through the meat entirely, and with the glaze from the barbecue encasing it, each piece was succulent perfection. And it only cost $10!! We also had desserts, most of which were variations on flan or creme de caramel, like white cake with layers of flan, and cookie sandwiches filled with caramel. There's a place in newton - farm rotisserie grill that is always jam packed. When they first opened, it took them quite some time for word to get out, probably because their building had been a gas station or something like that before they renovated and moved in. But they knew something about decorating - bright lights, high ceilings, glass cases filled with fresh food so you could see what you were getting, and the grill in plain view. I think macchu piccu could learn a few things from them, because their food is amazing, and it's a travesty that it was so deserted. And since I live around here and it took me this long to try it out, well, they could do a better job with presenting it - marketing it, etc. Like I said, change the name to "Peruvian Charcoal Chicken", add more lights, put out a bright sign outside, etc. One minor thing they should fix is having someone who speaks fluent english take a pass at their menu descriptions, because there are a number of items where the description does not match what they serve you. For example, chicken kebab is definitely not called that. Instead they call it "chunks of grilled chicken with onion and pepper". Technically, it described what they served, but it didn't do it justice whatsoever. Anyway, great restaurant, for when you want something more casual than the regular macchu piccu. NOTE: I wrote the above review before they changed the restaurant name on yelp. Someone there must read yelp. :) read more

this was quite good. i really enjoy chicken. its not my absolute favorite meat, but its close. so it's nice that this place specializes in chicken. the food was very very good. the chicken was tender and wasn't too dry. it was nicely cooked and the skin was crispy and delicious. i had a 1/2 chicken dish with fried yuca. the 1/2 was plenty of food and really filled me up. the fried yuca were excellent. make sure you ask for the sauces for the chicken. those are quite good. super starchy and just delicious. the purple corn drink was an interesting flavor. it tasted like something you'd drink on christmas. it had a super sweet flavor with a hint of something cinnamonny. it was quite good. the service was nice. the waiter had a thick accent and didn't quite speak english well. but that's alright. no harm no foul. he was very nice and quite attentive. the decor was ok. i liked the wall and the tables were granite which i really liked. however, it just felt really empty. the entire center was empty and i felt like it was too open and wasn't cozy enough. also. the location was a little surprising. if my friends hadn't been there before, i actually would've walked right past it. read more

Just stopped in at this place on my way home. Never been in the neighborhood before, and this was a great introduction. The 1/4 chicken meal I got was delicious, fast, fresh and cheap. Cashier was friendly, too. If I find myself in Union Square again, I'll absolutely return.. Maybe I shall come back with the sole purpose of eating here. :) read more

Wanted to add that the desserts (tres leches and flan) are equally awesome...as if you really need another reason to eat more here...

Well, where can I start from? We had a wonderful experience with a Peruvian restaurant in NYC and decided to give it a chance in Boston hoping we would get the same unique taste. I ordered piqueo criollo, terrible dish with burnt oily combo of meats from the weirdest parts of animals!!! Vary heavy to the point that I had a very hard time sleeping that night! Grilled chicken dishes are ok. But pretty muchthe same as starmarket grilled chicken! Nothing special or authentic!!! read more

FIVE STARS HANDS DOWN!!! Take it from a Peruvian! I would eat here everyday if I lived closer! The Charcoal chicken is so delicious with the French fries or rice. The sauces are so yummy I could drink them. Great service, cheap prices, and amazing food! There's not much to say when a place is so good...just go there, you won't be disappointed. read more

I have tried this twice and I am extremely happy! It registers in my weekly schedule. Great charcoaled chicken, very tasty. The sauces are perhaps the best I have tried in similar restaurant. Especially the green one, reminds me of the greek "tirokafteri". It is spicy and very tasty. I liked the white (breast) better than the dark (thigh). This is very rare for me, and it means that the chicken is made perfectly. The prices are excellent. read more

My friend who lives in the area took me here for lunch on a weekend. Looks more like a cafe than a restaurant, very casual dining. I got the steak with rice, plantains, and two sauces that are served for the whole table. So delicious and if only I had enough room to order from their extensive dessert list. Must go back!! read more

I've been here several times and had their chicken in a variety of forms. All good, but my favorite is still the moist and flavorful rotisserie chicken. The two sauces are a nice complement, and sides such as yucca, plantains and fries are good. The space is a small informal storefront with bright decor and friendly service. read more

Eating here made me feel like a soft, warm alpaca was hugging my soul. It was that delicious.

The chicken is the bomb, their menu is inexpensive, and the staff is sweet. A great casual lunch/dinner spot.

best chicken in the city by far! I have been going here since moving in last September and have not been disappointed.

Delicious chicken. Better than what you'd get at Whole Foods, however, it's like 3 times the price as well. I have only ordered this to go which is why I am using that comparison. Their sauces are amazing. read more

Fantastic roast chicken soaked in brine. Wow!

Forgot to write this review over the summer so I'm going by memory. Been wanting to try this place for awhile because I'm a Villen/local and after seeing them on that local television food phantom thingie that likes the color purple. ;) Food is good and inexpensive. Place is small. Service is sorta slow but manageable. Parking can be difficult in Union Square. Worth a try. I did have high expectations that it did not live up to. Maybe that was partially my fault. Don't get me wrong it was still good just not WOW like I was expecting. Would try it again with a newbie or vet to see if I missed something... read more

We ordered delivery and was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the chicken was. It was very well seasoned and not dry at all. The yellow and green sauce was also very good especially mixed in with the chicken and rice. Will be ordering from them again soon! read more

Came here with three friends a few weeks ago on a recommendation, and was very satisfied. The food was great and in hefty portions, and the drinks were great. The prices were also very fair. I would drive from the south shore to go to this place again. Highly recommended! read more

I had the 1/2 chicken with fries and anticuchos. It tasted good, but I don't come to a Peruvian restaurant to have a standard rotisserie chicken. It didn't have the same flavors as a pollo a la brasa that Peruvians would expect. Same goes with the anticuchos, it tasted good, but didn't have the same flavor. The only saving grace for the food was the aji salsa. Great for the fries and the chicken. I'll probably not come back since I could get the same rotisserie chicken at any local grocery store. read more

Chicken with yuca or the misky salad is a staple in my take-out diet. The only enhancement I can imagine is if organic chicken was an option...I'd happily pay another few bucks for the upgrade. read more

We read about Machu Chicken in the Boston Globe and decided to give it a try. I'm generally not fond of plain roast chicken, but this was different. It was truly wonderful! The restaurant is small and they take reservations, which we recommend. The four of us ordered 1/2 chicken portions, and I took half home for another tasty chicken dinner. We all agreed that ordering more and taking home leftovers is the way to go. We ordered a side of fried plantains, which wasn't necessary, as there's a lot of food in the dinner. They were OK. Recommended also: the white Peruvian sangria. Not heavy on the alcohol, but delicious. One caveat: there are two restaurants connected to this owner and we stopped first in the larger, the wrong, one. It's called Machu Picchu Restaurante Turistico. After we figured out our mistake and communicated with the people who seated us, they were most gracious, refusing to charge us for the little appetizer they bring to everyone as you are seated. We left a tip anyway. A delicious experience with really good service. read more

Just shut up and go already. Amazing taste to value. No need for further comment. Awesome in all the way.

It is hard to get good roasted or grilled chicken, so I am always looking for places that do it particularly well. I had not been particularly impressed with Macchu Chicken in the past (quite a few years ago), but I decided to try it again recently, and I was pleasantly surprised. The chicken is cooked perfectly, juicy and flavorful. The beans on the side are very tasty. And the creamy sauce is excellent, as is the fried yuca. As noted by others, the people running the restaurant are very nice, which is always a plus. Macchu, you are back on my list of go-to places! read more

Delicious chicken! Usually I am wary of getting rotisserie chickens because they always turn out so dry. Not here. We ordered one chicken and it was flavorful and juicy. Highly recommend. The salad and fries sides are huge. Come here if you are hungry. read more

I 100% recommend this place! Their food is not only delicious but affordable! Everyone was super nice. Our waitress was very attentive and Friendly, she always had a smile on giving the restaurant ambience a positive and welcome feeling. The food wait wasn't long at all! And again the waitress came with a smile to deliver our food to our table and asked if we needed anything! I believe her name is Connie but I'm not sure. she is tall with black curly hair. Great service overall! Can't wait to come back! read more

Outstanding chicken, great price, service is good. This place has become my favorite place to eat for under $15 per person in the Somerville & Cambridge area. read more

Let me start off by saying that we had a great waiter by the name of Christian. Attentive but not overbearing, knew the food well, answered all our questions, and was quick. And an overall pleasant and funny guy. We got there around 7:10 at night. about 3/4 full. Excellent chicken, plantain and fresh salad. A solid five all around. And of course the price is right. Next stop will have to be there full-service restaurant Machu Picchu read more

Went here for a friend's birthday almost 6 months ago so it has been a while but the most memorable thing for me was the ceviche. I've never had much before this time to say if it's the best ceviche ever but it's pretty good and I did finish the whole thing and was very tempted to drink the juice and hurt my stomach... And we got a few other hot dishes that were pretty good. Dont' know much about Peruvian but would recommend as a place to try at least once for the experience. read more

This is our go-to for comfort food take-out close-to-home. I love grabbing a chicken and a few sides for dinner. It's affordable, delicious, and makes for great leftovers. read more

LOVED it! My boyfriend and I went on Sunday night for dinner. We had the nicest server and she was so knowledgeable about the menu! I have a gluten allergy and she knew every ingredient in every dish I asked about. The food was DELICIOUS. We had the mussel appetizer. Topped with a spicy lime, tomato, onion cilantro dressing. So flavorful. For dinner I had the mixed ceviche. It was also delicious and so fresh! For both this and the appetizer we had the option of low medium or lots of spiciness. We chose medium for both. I loved the ceviche. It had shrimp, scallops, octopus, calamari, white fish, and something else, I don't know what but it was all delicious. My boyfriend had the lomo saltado with juicy sirloin strips stir fried with onions tomatoes and french fries served with a giant portion of rice, The steak was so tender and juicy and gluten free! There are no juices or marinades added to it, just spices, yet it was so juicy. I thought there had to be something, but no, it was just that good! We also tried a pico sour, the traditional liquor from Peru. It was good, I would recommend trying a drink with pico. You must try this authentic Peruvian restaurant with a big menu there is something for everyone. If you don't, I think you are missing out. Very reasonably priced menu, the most expensive entree is $20, most ranging $12-$16 read more

We were here for lunch. We ordered the charcoal roasted chicken, a smoothie, and a chincha morada. We liked the food but there was nothing special about that chicken. I ordered the fried plantains which were a delight. I might go again to try the Quinoa salad and other meats. Service was good. The ambiance was alright. read more

Awesome Peruvian chicken. It's not Miami good but it's still great. Good, quick, and friendly service. Went on a sleepy sunday afternoon during lunch time and it wasn't too crowded. The Tacu tacu sauce is worth the hype, I was pouring it over everything. read more