I was in Somerville on Thursday and happened to see Machu Chicken across the street. According to my quick Yelp look-up, it had great ratings, so we decided to have our dinner here. We didn't try the charcoal chicken, but we had their quinoa salad bowls. The regular quinoa salad had cheese and corn kernels mixed in. It came with fresh slices of avocado, cucumbers, lettuce, and a side of salad dressing. The Andean salad had chicken, cilantro, and lime juice mixed in with the quinoa. It also came with avocado, lettuce, and cucumbers. I liked the quinoa salad bowl more than the Andean salad bowl. I loved that the quinoa salad had cheese chunks in it. Such a plus! I wasn't a big fan of the corn kernels because they tasted kind of plain. The quinoa was fluffy and flavorful. I also loved how fresh the avocado slices were! The lettuce was crunchy and crisp and went along so well with the creamy salad dressing. Our waiter was super friendly and cheerful. Such a lovely time. :- ) read more

Machu Chicken - Andean salad - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I was craving Peruvian food and wanted to try this place out. They had road side pick up and made it very easy to pick up my order. There is space in front of their sister location Machu Piccu where it's safe to pull over the left side of the street. The food was great! I'm a huge fan of their tamales and the meat prices that came in this meal. The corn was not very flavorful and the fried potatoes were a little dry but both still good. 4/5 stars just for cost. Food and service are great and I would recommend. read more

Machu Chicken - PARA PICAR - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I've never have Peruvian food but my experience here was good! The staff was friendly and the service was quick. I got the chicken combo. The food was defiantly different. It was good but there was not a lot of spice to it. It was more earthy and had lots of herbs. I would be willing to come back and try something new from the menu. read more

Love this place. The chicken & rice & beans & fries blow your mind even for being such simple items. I've dined in - cool experience & staff - and ordered delivered and That was equally delicious and hot. The special sauce is a highlight! Recommended. read more

Incredible rotisserie chicken. The beans are also very good and certainly worth getting.

Because of my dietary restrictions, I don't tend to explore menus that much, so I only ever order the half chicken with plantains. But frankly I don't know if I would order anything else even if I felt up to the experiment. It's amazing every time, very filling and flavorful. I'm moving away soon and will really miss getting takeout from this place - thanks for all the delicious meals!! read more

THE PLANTAINS WERE AMAZINGGGG. SOFT, SWEET, FLAVORFUL OH MY LORD (Plantains are also my favorite food so I'm a little...biased) In other news, the inca cola was quite sweet and a by bubblegum-tasting (as other reviews have said). Beef heart was uh, a bit too adventurous for us. Fried sweet potatoes were meh. We preferred the yellow sauce to the green one. Chicken was extremely tender and juicy and flan was dense and creamy. Prices were reasonable, though portions were small (just relative to everywhere else). But yes, plantainsssss read more

Machu Chicken - Inca cola - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Agree with everyone on the chicken. Delicious! Perfectly cooked, juicy and flavorful. I had the tacu tacu so it came with rice and beans, which were good but I prefer them a little less dry. Meal came with a salad, which was ok...just basic iceberg. Nothing special. The chicken is definitely where it's at. Try the sauces. Get the giant inca corn if you've never had it. Place was a little dated but makes sense since this is the cheaper of the two sister restaurants. If you're looking for a quick, solid meal and ok with casual dining, definitely check this place out! read more

The chicken is one hell of a chicken, it taste soooo good! Drinks are sooo natural Salad is ok haha This place is beyond excellent and the prices are definitely on the cheap end! I am definitely, for sure going back! Wow read more

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Wow their chicken and sausages are fantastic! I came with a group of five on a late Saturday night. We were seated right away and got a round of Pisco sour (really good) for everyone. Then, the server recommended that we try the chica morando(purple corn drink) with some apple slices. A pitcher was perfect for everyone to have a glass and then a little bit more. It tasted like cotton candy to me.. but the rest of my group disagreed. We split a quinoa and chicken dish that came with a side salad that came with avocado, cucumber and radish slices. The quinoa and chicken portion was smaller than I expected but it made for a good appetizer. Then we split a sampler with chicken, sausage, tripe, and other meats. It's advertised for a group of 4.. but more hah enough food for our group! The chicken and sausage was really delicious and everyone enjoyed the other meats too. Our server was super helpful in giving recommendations and suggestions. All of our food came out really quick and it was a great price :) read more

Machu Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Who'd be bold enough to open a Peruvian restaurant right opposite Machu Picchu? hmmm... turns out only Machu Picchu themselves. That's right. They've opened a second outpost right on Union Square that takes the best of the meat-side of their menu and serves it up in a nice spot that looks set to feed lunch crowds, late night diners and those who couldn't get a table at the mothership over the road. The name of this newly-opened spot is the feature dish of both here and Lima in Peru. It's rotisserie chicken done with spices and is on practically every part of the menu from the full chicken plates with fries to chicken sandwiches and chicken salads. The Peruvian ex-pat I chatted too couldn't shut-up about how lovely it was. But for me, I had to try something a bit different. A peruvian sandwich of pork rib, salsa and sweet potatoes called 'El Peruanisimo'? $6? A Peruvian beer whilst I wait? YES PLEASE. It was fantastic. Twice the price of a Banh Mi but seriously running it close for one of the best sandwiches in town. I did feel very Gringo though when my ex-pat pal informed me it was a sandwich normally had for breakfast. PWNED by PERU! So this is me being useful. Putting in the new address and telling you about this great new restaurant. If you've been to Machu Picchu then don't let that deter you from trying Union Square's newest addition - it felt warmer and more relaxed than the flagship and if you can survive without ceviche, fish and soups then Pollos has all the rest and more. read more

Machu Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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This place is delicious! My friend and I went on a Friday afternoon around 12:30, and when we got there it was mostly empty (was crowded by the time we left). We both ordered a milkshake (delicious!!), and I got a 1/4 white with plantains, he got a 1/4 dark with rice. Both came with a little side salad, and they bring a couple different sauces to the table. The yellow sauce (not sure what it was) was amazing, and the plantains were sweet and delicious. The chicken was moist and flavorful. The staff was great, and the restaurant itself is colorful. You can't beat the prices! Our meals were $8-9 each, and it was the perfect amount of food for lunch! The milkshakes were a little pricey at $5 each, but honestly, it was so good I consider it worth it! read more

Machu Chicken - 1/4 white with plantains, passion fruit milkshake - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Simple and tasty charcoal roasted chicken. A perfectly roasted chicken can elevate the mainstream fowl to new heights. Was the half chicken I ate at Machu perfect? No, but it was still pretty darn good. It was perfectly seasoned, had a nice roasted flavor, had crispy skin, and was not dry. In terms of juiciness it was fine, but a little bit more moisture on the white meat and it would have been perfect. I enjoyed my side of fried yuccas and the two sauces that they offered, my guess is that they were the creamy Huancaina sauce and the mildly spicy aji salsa. The purple corn drink was as delicious and refreshing as ever. I finished dinner with a pretty dense, but still satisfying slice of tres leches cake. The restaurant is small and casual, but service was very friendly. I had dinner quite late, so the restaurant was not full. I look forward to coming back or ordering takeout soon. read more

Serving fabulous Peruvian charcoal chicken (pollos a la brasa) in Somerville's Union Square. Option to order 1/4, 1/2, or whole chicken. Get 1/4 for a small appetite and 1/2 for a modest meal. The chicken is roasted with a delicious and glazed skin. The white and dark meat are both extremely tender. Presented with salad and your choice of side. Recommend the fried sweet potato, similar to thick sweet potato chips. If you are not in the mood for chicken, try the flavorful chuleta con chorizo (pork chop with sausage) served with salad, rice and french fries. The pork, served on the bone, has a zesty seasoning. The sausage is very juicy with the perfect texture and spice. Try the two creamy side sauces to add depth to your meats (although perfect on its own, great for variety!) read more

Machu Chicken - Charcoal Chicken and Fried Sweet Potatoes - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The one special day of the week where your stomach leads you to a restaurant, dragging your feet without your mind having control of your body, your taste buds getting sharper by the minute, and your scent of smell being completely taken over, you haven't seen a sexier and tastier chicken then this... Until you arrive at Machu Chicken! Seriously guys... The taste is amazing, flavorful and juicy, with just the right spices and blends of sauces. I'm in Love.. read more

Machu Chicken - POLLO A LA BRASA CHARCOAL CHICKEN - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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The roast chicken is delicious, but that's not saying much. Roast chicken is always delicious. Not even Boston freaking Market effs that business up. You can get a quarter chicken here for $6 and snag some fried plantains (good n' greasy, with a slight crust) and an iceberg salad, or you can pay the same for an entire supermarket rotisserie bird and/or six pounds of raw breasts at McKinnon's (just jam them in your oven like 45 minutes). Any way you slice it, you're getting the same roast. And it's always good. Praising a place for its roast chicken is like giving it five stars for its milk. In fact, it's probably easier to eff up a glass of milk than it is a damn chicken. Dining in makes for a hilariously Peruvian experience, utterly indifferent service and all, but if you're going for takeout and you're dead set on some ethnic roast poultry, you'd be far better off hitting up Kantina in the Super 88 food court down in Allston and dropping the same $6 for quarter of dope-ass Peking duck. OH, and the best part of the entire restaurant is the sign saying that you can buy their sauces a la carte -- $1 for 2.5 oz. or $2.50 for 5 oz. Best economy of scale ever! read more

Machu Chicken - White meat. Also, a green sauce. It might go on the chicken. Or the salad. Not entirely clear on that one. - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I have no photos because I consistently just order takeout but do not sleep on this place. I am only giving it 4 stars and not 5 because a couple times the sauce or plantains have been bland but let me tell you when it's good, IT'S FANTASTIC. I have also not been to the restaurant so I can't comment on atmosphere or service. Every time I get take out I order the rotisserie chicken and a side of plantains. The chicken is always moist and the sauces (aji) are also top notch. Like I said I've had times where my plantains were better than others but that could be a produce timing thing. I honestly mostly wish I could convince my friends to eat here more with me. I should note, I've been to Peru and had the peruvian rotisserie chicken. It is where it's at, and this meets the hype. read more

This is what I need in my life, delicious food at a more than reasonable price. If machu chicken were any closer to my house, I'd probably go broke. The signature chicken is excellent, and the tacu tacu takes no back seat. An unexpected surprise was how good the fresh juices were. Can't wait to come back! read more

Machu Chicken - It's all good! - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I got the lomo saltado, which was flavorful and filling. I feel like they could have added a bit more rice/meat for the price, but the dish overall was well seasoned and balanced. read more

Machu Chicken - LOMO SALTADO - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I am in LOVE with this place!! I ordered the 1/4 charcoal chicken (dark meat) and fried plantains. My meal came with a house salad. The food was delicious, my proportions were big and the total cost was only $7.50! Also, I forgot the name of the two sauces that are brought over for you to eat with the chicken- but the light green spicy sauce is flavorful and compliments the chicken perfectly! Delicious inexpensive food and fantastic, friendly service?! I'm without a doubt coming back here. read more

This is a Peruvian casual lunch place where the menu goes for simple-but-amazing. Come on in, get some chicken tacu tacu (the chicken is, of course, the star of the show, moist and delicious), maybe some fried plantains, maybe some Peruvian corn or salad. Wash it down with chicha morada (the purple corn drink), Inca Kola, or beer. I like this place a lot, and expect I'll be seeing a lot more of it (for dine in or take out) now that I'm just around the corner. read more

Although it may look pretty simple and casual don't let it deter you from eating here. Amazing chicken and fried plantains! Our server was delightful and attentive. I ordered the quarter white meat chicken meal which came with a choice of side and a green salad. I chose the fried plantains as my side and they were insanely good. Maybe some of the best I've ever had. The chicken was juicy and the skin crisp with the perfect seasoning. The side salad was pretty "meh" and I didn't care for it. It just seemed like a weird after-thought. I went crazy for the sauces that our server brought out for the table before the meal. I'm not really sure what was in them but one tasted like cilantro and jalapeño. The perfect amount of kick! I would have probably drank that if it were socially acceptable. My boyfriend order a sandwich as opposed to their famous chicken but it was still amazing. The sandwich had steak, a fried egg and plantains. SO good. read more

Machu Chicken - Quarter chicken meal and a steak sandwich in the background - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Maybe I was having a bad day or they were... who knows. First of all, they server did not know what 'dark meat' was when I order 1/4 dark meat while pointing to it on the menu. I thought pointing would resolve all barriers.. but apparently not. I asked for fries as a side... then she asked if i wanted breast or drum which I could not decipher for hell. Luckily, my friend was able to decipher. I think it took about 30 mins to get our food. Maybe because we are the first customers, it seemed like yesterday's food. My chicken was dry, no juice at all. My first thought that ran thru my head was that I could've had a better meal at Boston Market for half the time. Instead of fries, I got golden potato. I did not want to complain cuz it would take another 30 mins. Personally, I didn't taste any charcoal in the chicken. It tasted more like rotisserie. The golden potatoes were very dry once it cooled off. The most notable was the water. It was the crappiest tap water ever. I drank the whole glass just cuz I had to wash down the dry food. One of my friends, took a sip and refused to take another. Another friend just didn't even bother. We witness her refilling the gallon Poland Spring water bottle with tap water and just stuck it back in the fridge. I do drink tap water.. but when it's not covered and placed in the fridge with who knows what next to it overnight.. it tastes gross! This place must be really good since it was 90% capacity when we finished our meal. We had to wait about 15 mins before decided to wave the server down to get our check. Of course, it took another few to actually get the check. Good thing we all had cash or else it would take another 5 or 10 to get the credit card swiped. All in all, it took us around an hr and forty five minutes for what seemed could be a thirty minute meal. One server.. One cook.. ~15 customers read more

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This might actually be the best food you can get for the price. Everything is so delicious! My personal favorites are the quinoa and of course the rotisserie chicken. Perfectly spiced and cooked. I also became a fan of eating the random meats they have. All sorts of organs and parts that are super tasty with sauces. Going to continue to eat here as long as I'm around! read more

Doesn't look much from the outside but the food is amazing. Get the dark chicken and all of the sides are good. Can't go wrong with it. I'm obsessed with their sauces. Dipping or chicken sauces. I don't know what is it exactly called but I love love em! read more

The food at Machu Chicken is simple, reasonable, expertly made and *wildly* good. Peruvian rotisserie isn't something I ever had before going here, but it is delicious and probably my favorite way to eat chicken -- a big claim, but I mean it. They marinate the chicken in Peruvian beer, then spice it with imported oregano, garlic, cumin, salt, black and white pepper. The skin is rendered so beautifully and with such flavor. My go-to order is the chicken tacu tacu with a combination of dark and white meat. Their yellow and green sauces are perfect additions to whatever meal you choose -- so much so, that my household frequently orders extra to bring home and put in our fridge for later. Head to Machu Chicken for a truly excellent, low-key meal. read more

Love this place!! My coworkers and I frequently order from here. The rice and plantains are excellent and the chicken is perfect. Purple corn drink is a must!! read more

Chicken wasnt exactly super moist but not too dry either. Good for charcoal, wished it was more moist Loved the quinoa, would prob order that again Beef hearts are ok, i can do without it The corn comes in big pieces which are really chewy and not sweet. The potatoes are normal. Overall id come back if i was in the area, its sorta far but worth it if im craving quinoa, and id give the chicken another shot. read more

Came here with a group very excited to have me + my bf try this place out during our visit in town. I lived for a year in Somerville, but for some reason never found my way in here - probably in an effort to get as far away from Market Basket as possible. Parking is easy, but public transport won't be if you're dependent on the T. They had a table set up for our reservation, but the service was a little off. It seemed like our server didn't anticipate working that night, or may have been his first night on the job. 1/2 of our party received their meals and had time to completely consume them before the other 1/2 did. Awkward conversation skirting the poor service and apologetic eating while the rest of us sat there made the overall dinner uncomfortable. I would love to say the food redeemed the night, but I found the quinoa salad (with a squirt of mustard on the side?) to be edible at best. The side salad it came with was pretty uninspired, and I got so sick from the chicken I couldn't even make it home before I lost it (sorry, Shaws in Porter Square). The purple corn drink tasted good, but was basically just corn syrup-sweetened fruit juice. The prices were decent, but overall I'd say the place is a bit overhyped considering the service we received. I'd be willing to believe that this was a one-off experience, but in the future I'll probably go elsewhere. read more

Please order the chicken quinoa entrée (it comes with salad). You can choose white or dark meat. I would recommend ordering extra spicy sauce (green one!) as well. Service can be on the slow side when dining in. Pick up is super quick. read more

Tasty, filling, and affordable are the best 3 words I can use to describe the wonder that is Machu Chicken. On a tip from some coworkers I got a 1/4 chicken (dark meat) sides, and sauces (peri peri I think was the name of the dish?). One bite into the green sauce and I was in heaven! The fried yucca can be hit or miss and doesn't travel as well as the other sides, but that aside I always eagerly await my next Machu experience. The place is small but clean and the staff have always been friendly and helpful. Can't recommend this place enough if you are in the Union Square area! read more

My husband and I lived in the neighborhood for a year and ate here 1-2 times per week. Best chicken ever. We went out of our way to pick some up last time we visited Boston. read more

The chicken here is unbelievable. It is easily the most flavorful I've had in my life. The sauces are amazing and taste great with the side salads provided. I always get the chicken and quinoa dish and it's more than filling! read more

Machu Chicken - Chicken and quinoa, salad and avocado, sauces - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

We had the chicken tacu tacu, chicken quinoa, and... A purple corn drink. The food is fantastic. We had both dark and white chicken. Both versions were cooked perfectly. The corn drink.. it's purple, sweet, savory with a nice thickness to it. I can't remember the name, but you should definitely try it. We got two sauces--one savory and one spicy with a hint of lime. Both sauces were perfect with every item. The salad dressing was the best I've had this year. Service was top notch. Our server was friendly and attentive. And frankly that's just dressing. The food itself is enough to warrant five stars. Price is extremely reasonable. read more

Those who have been here know there is Machu Chicken and Machu Picchu. If you are looking for a more elegant dine in experience, Machu Picchu is for you. But if you are looking for a more casual setting with amazing chicken, look no further. Machu Chicken is a very authentic Peruvian Chicken establishment. As mentioned above, both Machu restaurants are owned by the same people and carry the same quality when it comes to food for both locations. Chicken is the dish here people. While they have good sides and other options on the menu, I (and many others) come back for the delicious chicken.(don't forget to get the green sauce) The chicken is cooked daily and if you have a preference between light meat and dark meat get here early because they sometimes run out of a certain type. This is the beauty and the tragedy of good, fresh cooked chicken. No matter what you get the prices are reasonable and the staff is incredible. Shout out to Christian for his impeccable service every time I'm there. Enjoy! read more

Super cute place in the smack dab middle of Union Square. Service was super fast and friendly, and I have to say, I really appreciate a restaurant that doesn't go crazy with the size of its menu. The girlfriend ordered the sandwich al lo pobre (steak, fried egg, plantains), which was delicious. It was decadent and juicy and perfectly assembled to get a nice mix of textures. I ordered the 1/4 dark chicken with fried yucca. Honestly, the chicken was so-so, but the fried yucca were top 10% lifetime yucca - especially with the lovely dipping sauces. PS: Someone should definitely start a Peruvian Chinese restaurant called "Manchu Chicken" read more

Meh. The chicken was dry and pretty tasteless. I would have been better off with a rotisserie chicken from Costco! I'd have to be starving to go back here. read more

My husband and I had the chance to try this unique and flavorful food the past week. Initially it's confusing getting here as the location on Waze is TOTALLY WRONG. But it's okay, you can't miss it, it's in the heart of Union Sq. So that means horrible parking... The place is your typical fast casual with a Peruvian twist, the people there are nice and they cater to your order quite quickly. I ordered the Tacu chicken and my husband the sandwich. The food was delicious though my tacu was cold and the chicken was all bone and no meat -- so I kinda felt like I paid $10 for rice and beans. The salad that comes with it is useless, no flavor, no dressing, it was just lettuce. Perhaps changing the side to something else as the default? The sauces were interesting and we enjoyed experimenting with our dishes. The sandwich was quite amazing, better than my dish for sure. Come here during the dead hours, it's easy to find a seat and it's very accommodating for all parties. read more

My girlfriend and I ate at a Peruvian restaurant in New York for the first time ever last month and we were amazed at how the different flavors and spices used in Peruvian cuisine made a dish so familiar to us taste so different and delicious. (Me being Brazilian and she being Cuban) This is now our new spot for Peruvian food out here in Boston. The price and quantity of the food is great! read more

Machu Chicken - 1/2 Roasted Chicken and Rice topped with Aji Verde - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

So nice to have a Peruvian Pollo a la Brasa in this neighborhood. Almost like being in Lima. People there are so nice. Highly recommend the yucas as a side ! read more