Pollo Campero at Fisherman's Wharf officially opened on February 14, 2024, and this location is their third in the San Francisco area. A neighbor had mentioned it to us months ago, but we only got around to trying it recently. It's just a short walk from where we live, which made it an easy choice for a casual meal. My significant other, who has family ties to Guatemala, shared some background that made the visit even more interesting. Pollo Campero was founded in the 1970s in Guatemala by Juan Bautista Gutiérrez, starting as a small family business before growing into the largest Central American chicken chain in the world. For many people in Guatemalan and Salvadoran communities, it's more than just fast food; it's something deeply nostalgic, often associated with travel, family, and memories of home. The Fisherman's Wharf location feels casual and family-friendly. The space is long and narrow, with the ordering counter at the very back, so it may not look especially inviting at first glance, but once inside, it's straightforward and easy to navigate. The staff member who helped us was friendly, answered our questions patiently, and took our order quickly. As for the food, we tried the traditional hand-breaded fried chicken, which was well seasoned and full of flavor. It's familiar enough to appeal to fans of U.S. fried-chicken chains, but distinct enough to stand on its own. The sweet plantains were nicely done; soft, sweet, and a good complement to the chicken. We also tried the horchata and jamaica (hibiscus tea), and both were refreshing and well-balanced. While we were there, several families came in, and the atmosphere felt relaxed and welcoming, especially for kids. Overall, we had a pleasant experience, and it's easy to see why Pollo Campero resonates with both longtime fans and newcomers. If you're in the Wharf and want something familiar yet a little different, this is a solid option. read more

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After trying this place, I honestly can't go anywhere else for chicken. I ordered both the grilled and the fried chicken and wow, both were incredibly flavorful and cooked perfectly. The portions are generous, and for the price, it's an amazing value. This is the kind of spot where you could grab a big order for a potluck or party and everyone would be happy. I also tried the chicken sandwich, which was just as delicious! It was juicy, well-seasoned, and super satisfying. Overall, this is a standout chicken spot that delivers on flavor, quality, and value. I'm already looking forward to coming back! read more

Pollo Campero - 8 Pieces - Chicken Only - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The tourist trap in San Francisco has some interesting places to grab something to eat. There are few chainstores around but one has been serving chicken for over half a century . They have been serving chicken longer than Popeyes and El Pollo Loco. Pollo Campero is a Central American chicken chainstore with over 100 USA locations and with locations in Latin America and Europe. I normally go to the location on Mission street between 23rd and 24th street. This Pollo Campero location is on Jefferson street in Fishermans Wharf . Every time I tried coming here the seating is always taken up fast. This time I decided to grab a table . I had to try their fried chicken sandwich. Each bite was so smooth without any turbulence because the balance of batter and chicken was just right . It was fresh and moist. I had the chicken breast of their fried chicken and it was juicy and soft . I never had such a good batch of chicken at the Pollo Campero in comparison to Mission street location. I believe the chicken here is always fresh because there are always coming in and out of here and they have to cook a new batch of it every time. I also had the side of fresh yuca fries and a dipping sauce which was pretty spicy. The Mac and cheese were tasty and not too cheesy. Other sides you can order are the Campero beans and the Campero rice. Take it from one tourist who said they enjoyed their Polo Camp ( Pollo Campero) fried chicken. It's pronounced" pollo" not polo this fried chicken that is fried and a side rice and beans they" boil" grab fresh fried chicken batch coming from the hot "oil " and you won't find a human like mascots here like Colonel Saunders , Popeye or Olive "Oyl" Pollo Campero has gone worldwide expanded to Europe since they expanded from the Central American "soil"positive spotlight for a Latin American business region who have gone through lots of civil wars and" turmoil "and living a life of "toil" they have a customer base for decades that enjoy their fried chicken and who are "loyal" read more

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I go to Pollo Campero frequently, so I decided to try their new limited-time deal--$5.99 for 3 pieces of fried chicken (legs & thighs only). You really can't beat that price. I could only finish two pieces, so I took the third one to go. The fried chicken was not greasy, which I liked. For $5.99, it's a great value and hard to beat. I would definitely come back again--it's one of my favorite places to eat when I'm near Fisherman's Wharf. read more

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All I got was the empanadas and they were good. Service was fast and friendly. Inside the place was packed so obviously they have good chicken. Ill be back again to try the actual chicken. read more

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Last time I at at a Pollo Campero was in Guatemala, so when we were walking around the Wharf and saw it, we decided to grab dinner here. We ordered the three piece chicken meal with yucca frita and plantains. The chicken was freshly made, juicy, and very yummy. Both the yucca frita and plantains were also hot and great, you can tell nothing was out of a box. We also had the horchata which was the best of the drinks they had. Great place for lunch and not paying tourist prices at the wharf! read more

Pollo Campero - Three piece chicken meals - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm a local, but I still love coming down to this neighborhood for the beautiful waterfront and boisterous sea lions. Lots of tourist traps that serve mediocre food at high prices, so this place is a welcome addition since you can get a lot of tasty food for a reasonable amount of money. Plus really fun popular vibe here. 8-Piece Fried Chicken (Mixed): When I ordered the 8-piece, the cashier asked if only dark meat was fine. I strongly protested and asked for the mixed. Every piece had a nicely spiced breading that was quite crunchy. All the chicken was tender. The wings and drumsticks are fun quick eats, but that chicken breast was so nice and hearty. Campero Beans: Such an amazing side, way better than anything at KFC. Tastes homemade. Loved using the tortillas on this alone, between chicken bites. Yuca Fries: Way heartier than potato fries. Crunchy exterior and pasty interior. The creamy spicy sauce was a great pairing. Mango Drink: Very sweet. Like one of those fruit "drinks" from the cheap section of the grocery store that's mostly high fructose corn syrup and a little bit of actual fruit juice. I mean, it's more interesting than big brand soda, but I was hoping for something that was fruitier. read more

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Came in ordered chicken nuggets not even with any sides at all waited half and hour went to check on how much longer they told me they had already brought it to us even though I had my number on the table still with no food. Over chicken nuggets a person came to check my plates to make sure we hadn't ate them mind you it's just chicken nuggets with nothing else. 0/0 service and annoying that they couldn't just hand me a new plate after checking in with them. Instead had to do a scene with checking all the plates we even passed our hand over a plate that he claimed was it even though it was tortillas. Anyways all for chicken nuggets. (Was starving while writing this too) bad service and no reason to tripple down over something so cheap read more

La verdad la comida es rica!!! Pero el que toma lass ordenes pésimo servicio. Siempre revisen que su orden este como uds la piden

The chicken tenders/nuggets are excellent , well cooked, flavorful and delicious. I will be back soon.

Hector Rivas best general manager I seen at Pollo campero, I have been in a different pollo campero in Bay Area however Hector provided me the best customer service ever, Hope everyone has the same motivation and energy as him, 1,000% I coming back soon read more

The empanada I tried was average..the money looks fun..for groups or family..want to try pollo campero sometime..this one was at the wharf..new maybe.. read more

Pollo Campero - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

I walk by this place all the time - if you're a California native, you may think it looks like a hybrid between El Pollo Loco and Chick-fil-A. But what caught my eye were the photos outside of the deluxe sandwiches, one of which was the Queso Bacon Chicken Sandwich. Tried it myself tonight - I'm sold. Despite the line being sizable (that's a good sign!) when we arrived, the man working behind the register immediately and intuitively picked up that we were there for a take-out order. He greeted us kindly and quickly, we were in and out under a minute. Once I got home, it was time to see if life imitates art. I was immediately impressed with the packaging - it was sturdy and chic. And what's inside... wow . Chicken was tender, bacon was crispy, Queso was light and flavorful. The Queso Bacon Chicken sandwich may be my new favorite quick bite chicken sandwich. Highly recommend. read more

Good food, excellent service from everybody in this place. Decorations are also very nice. It is expensive like anything else in sf but it is a good portion and chicken is better than kfc or Popeyes read more

Pollo Campero - Campero 8 Piece Family Meal - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

Place of business is way too small feel cramped in like sardines. Combo doesn't come with a gotta pay separately! What a else of my money!

Great service from the staff ,great food ,manager is very friendly with the customer thank you

Super delicious pollo. Highly recommended.................................................................................................................................. read more

Needed a quick side. Service was very sweet, the place had quite the Number of people in attendance around lunchtime. The ladies were very polite and Cleanly and organized. read more

Pollo Campero - Plantains - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

The staff here is fantastic! Our cashier, Saul, was super helpful and explained the menu clearly. Plus, the chicken was absolutely delicious, highly recommend! read more

Very good service and fast that the other restaurants, I appreciate the service, the food was so delicious, the place looks amazing and ambiance very clean, I recommend pollo campero it's the best chicken read more

Great that campero is this tourist area always a good service and food delicious definitely visiting again

I pre ordered through Door dash in the morning so by the time I got off work my chicken would be ready to pick up . Not only was it not ready when I went to pick it up the food but when I asked how long I had to wait they said maybe over an hour I asked why so long if I ordered early in the morning, I already had paid and I had a pick up time they answered so rude and told me I wasn't the only customer and if I wanted my food I had to wait. I'm all about respecting peoples time and I understood they were real busy, but they did not have to answer me like that. I would have gladly waited, but because of the way the staff treated me and the way they made me feel in front of other customers I just canceled my order. My family has been going there for years but we will not be returning. read more

Great food for the gang watching Monday Night football! Big crowd loved the fantastic fried chicken and sides. Thanks to Roberto for his right on recommendations. I think you will get many new customers!!! Perfect for a party and really tasty chicken. The best! read more

Food was alright, cow slaw was really sweet and the horchata tasted like if they just put a lot of sugar to it. I had horchata before but it was way too sweet here. service was okay. I was kind of disappointed because I hear people talking great things about this place, so I decided to drive all the way from concord just to try it and the cashier gave me a terrible service. I had asked her about the reward program that says first time you join you get a discount and she said to me. I don't know. Also I wish the music wasn't too loud in the dining room. read more

I haven't been to a Pollo Campero in such a long time. The last time I went I was 10 and I was eating it in Guatemala City. When my friends mentioned that there was one in the Warf and that we had to come and I said sure. Parking was easy, location of everything was easy. We came at night on a Sunday so it was pretty empty. When we walked in we all were ordering separate dishes but the cashier said it was better for us to get the family meal. It definitely was and we saved about $40 doing that way instead. once the food came it was just as good as I remember it. Crispy, Crunchy and moist in side. All the sides were great as well. We ordered the fries, yuca fries, Mac and cheese, tortillas and plantains. The set up of the location is exactly how you would picture it being for the city, same for the bathroom. code and only one ( I get it, it's the city). one the receipt you can fill out a satisfaction questioner and you get a free 2 piece chicken so we did that and got it that day before leaving. Will be coming back again read more

Insanely juicy & flavorful chicken. They don't speak english and that's ok. The mac & cheese was also really good and comparable to KFC. I love the spices in the chicken! read more

Maaan, ever since I found out about this Chicken Shop Chain, I haven't stop... I'm hypnotized by the flavor, freshness, and consistency. My El Salvadorian Brother told me this Chain is 45+ years old. It's older than me. And I feel like I've been missing out all my life. You don't want to make that same mistake as me. It taste like a cross between the Old Kwik Way Chicken in Oakland and Gus's Chicken, but less spicy. It's that Ole so good crispness. read more

Pollo Campero - A 3 PC mixed - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Worst place i been When i got in and ask what they had the cashier was hella rude and disrespectful and told me to shut up and tell me to look on the menu bad customer And service attention read more

Super Nice staff, my cashier was Saul and he explained the menu very nicely. Also the chicken is so delicious ! Thank

This place is delicious compared to the one on mission yikes stay away from there they over fry they're chicken till they're no meat wtf anyways this place tasted better felt better staff was better seating was normal not making it feel like a resteraunt better read more

Pollo Campero - Jefferson St: Una experiencia única de sabor y calidad Visitar el Pollo Campero en Jefferson St es siempre un placer. Desde el momento en que entras, el ambiente acogedor y la atención al cliente hacen que la experiencia sea aún más especial. Este restaurante no solo se destaca por su deliciosa comida, sino también por la consistencia en la calidad y el servicio. Si eres fanático del pollo frito, definitivamente este es un lugar que no puedes dejar de visitar. El ambiente en este local es cálido y familiar, con una decoración que refleja la tradición de Pollo Campero. El personal es amable y siempre dispuesto a ayudar, con un servicio rápido y eficiente. Desde el momento en que entras, sientes que estás en un lugar que valora la atención al cliente, lo cual hace que la experiencia de comer sea aún más agradable. Los empleados están bien capacitados, y te reciben con una sonrisa genuina, lo que crea una atmósfera relajada. No hay duda de que la estrella del menú es el pollo frito. El pollo es jugoso por dentro y crujiente por fuera, con un sabor único que ha conquistado a muchas personas a lo largo de los años. El sabor del pollo Campero es inconfundible; su mezcla de especias, perfectamente equilibrada, hace que cada bocado sea una verdadera delicia. El menú tiene opciones tanto para los amantes del pollo frito como para aquellos que prefieren alternativas más ligeras o diferentes. El pollo a la plancha es otra excelente opción, ideal para quienes buscan algo más saludable pero igualmente sabroso. Además, las papas fritas, yuca y las ensaladas acompañan perfectamente cualquier elección de plato. El salsa Campero, con su sabor único, es un acompañamiento que no debe faltar. Su mezcla de especias y el toque cremoso le dan un toque extra de sabor a los platillos. Además, la variedad de bebidas y postres como el flan o los pasteles hacen que la comida termine con una excelente nota dulce. El precio es muy razonable por la calidad y las porciones generosas que sirven. Las raciones son abundantes, lo que hace que el costo sea bastante justo. Hay opciones para todos los presupuestos, y definitivamente saldrás satisfecho con lo que recibes. Limpieza y seguridad La limpieza del lugar siempre está en excelentes condiciones. Las mesas y baños están bien cuidados, lo que refleja el compromiso del restaurante por ofrecer una experiencia cómoda y agradable a sus clientes. También cuentan con medidas de seguridad e higiene adecuadas, lo cual es un punto a favor especialmente en tiempos recientes. En resumen, el Pollo Campero en Jefferson St es una opción ideal para aquellos que buscan una comida deliciosa, rápida y accesible, sin sacrificar calidad ni sabor. Con su excelente servicio, ambiente acogedor y comida de alta calidad, es el lugar perfecto para disfrutar de un buen pollo frito. Definitivamente es un restaurante que siempre cumple con las expectativas y deja ganas de volver. read more

It is the best experience, the food is super good, always hot and fresh, the service is very friendly, the restaurant and the bathroom looked very well organized and clean, I received my food very quickly, it was a very pleasant experience. read more

The food was just ok. Nowhere to sit. On the other hand didn't have to wait too long for the food.

Not what I expected for "fried" chicken. Do t plan on going back. Service was also horrible, especially the cashier she was so inpatient for my first time here. read more

Very good food and friendly servers. The atmosphere is very nice as well. Very delicious fried chicken and great coleslaw

In the realm of fast food chicken this place is really good. Good service. Friendly staff. At the moment very clean. Kids LOVED it. Superior to kfc etc read more

Service it's really bad it's like you're talking to a robot also I notice the flavor on the chicken it's different than the one by mission street I asked for mixed pieces and I got lots of wings people in that kitchen looks mad or sad their energy looks sad. In general you don't feel welcome in here I love campero but this location seems lack of flavor. read more

I purchased a family meal for pickup using online ordering for my family on a very very busy day. The food was delicious and very reasonably priced. We had a picnic elsewhere, but the indoor dining space looked clean and well-organized. read more

chicken breast was bloody & not cooked all the way, yuka fries were so hard u couldn't bite into them, & to top it off I had a bone!! in my empanada and it was not small smh read more

Pollo Campero - The bone!! - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California