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Pollo Express

4.7 (28 reviews)
Closed • 10:00 am - 8:30 pm

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Recommended Reviews - Pollo Express

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Half chicken combo
N.J. M.

I love chicken cooked over charcoal, so I was really excited to try this new spot in the neighborhood. I ordered the half chicken combo, which came with four pieces of chicken, tortillas, rice, and beans. Unfortunately, on the day I visited the meal was disappointing. The chicken tasted reheated and overcooked, with a stringy texture, and the rice and beans were bland. For $20+, it felt a little ridiculous for the execution. Truly, you could walk a few blocks, pick up a better grilled whole chicken for $7.99 at Mariano's, grab a pack of tortillas for less than a dollar, and have a much better meal than the one we had on this day. We won't be returning. My husband was also looking forward to trying this place, but it just wasn't good, and definitely not worth the price. The idea of this spot is great, but the execution or perhaps just the consistency in the experience they provide needs work.

Chicken bowl
Paula B.

Randomly walked in over the weekend and honestly we were blown away. Restaurant is huge and clean, service was attentive, and there's always chicken on the grill. We ordered the chicken bowl (without onion & cilantro) along with the chicken burrito. The food was so fresh but what stands out is how clean and light the food was. Neither meal was heavy or greasy, and still enough for two meals per person. If you're looking for something tasty but healthy in the area, this is the place for it.

Veggie burrito
Steve B.

Pollo Express is one of those spots you keep coming back to--and for good reason. The service is always friendly and efficient, and they treat you like a regular even if it's your first visit. The food? Absolutely delicious. The quality of the chicken is consistently amazing--juicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked every time. You can tell they take pride in what they're serving. The seasoning and char from the grill give it that authentic taste that's hard to find elsewhere. The moment you step in, the aroma hits you--in the best way. It's like a backyard BBQ, with that smoky, savory smell of fresh chicken on the grill. It instantly makes you hungry and adds to the whole experience. If you're craving well-made, flavorful grilled chicken with solid service and a no-frills, authentic vibe, Pollo Express delivers every time.

Chicken
Alice W.

Phew! So happy to have another location around here. Pollo Express is the real deal and the charcoal chicken with all the balanced seasonings just can't be beat. The amount of food you get on a Monday or Wednesday is incredible. If you order a whole chicken these days, you get another half for free along with two sides and tortillas. There are a great amount of sides to choose from as well. I go with the rice and refried beans. You can feed quite a few people for about $35 before tax and tip. It's always a quick time between placing my order and picking up my food. Everyone I've interacted with has always been incredibly kind and welcoming. Street parking is easy enough right out front and around the adjacent streets. I am looking forward to this location becoming a staple in Ravenswood!

Chicken burrito
Sara G.

Wow. We were blown away with how great this place was! It seems like a good portion of their business is to-go, but we dined in recently and would happily go again. The portions are large (my burrito was giant!), the prices are competitive enough, the food is delicious, and the employees were all very nice. The space was very bright and clean. When you eat in, you're given chips and salsas for the table to start, which was a nice touch. Our meals (the aforementioned burrito and my husband's half chicken combo meal) took about 15 minutes to come out as everything is made to order. The chicken combo meal came with two sides (he went with the Mexican rice and beans), and also arrived with some grilled spring onions, a roasted jalapeño, and a full pack of locally made corn tortillas. Thankfully, it's 'help yourself' to-go containers because we definitely both ended up with leftovers. Afterwards, we were meeting up with some friends and immediately started recommending they check this spot out since they live nearby. We already can't wait to go again sometime soon!

Half chicken meal with cilantro lime rice and carro beans.

I dont understand how this place has so many good reviews. The chicken was stringy and had a overall weird texture. I only had the drumstick and wing then threw away the breast and thigh because it was just so disgusting. The cilantro rice had zero flavor. I dont think it was even salted. I thought maybe it was a bad day but saw other reviews about the stringy chicken and lack of flavor for rice and beans. The carro beans were okay but the way the meat looked made it seemed like the whole thing came from a can. And I dont understand why I was given so many tortillas for a half chicken. Ill stick with Chicken Hut.

Dre C.

Best chicken I've had in years. 5 stars, I will be back. Service was great as well, I ordered online and had no wait. Establishment was very clean as well

Half Chicken Adobado with side of Mexican rice

We are thrilled Pollo Express has opened a second location on the North side. We have been driving down to Pilsen from Rogers Park specifically for this chicken for over 10 years. It is our favorite restaurant in the entire city without question. There's nothing like the experience of ripping into a perfectly charbroiled chicken and building the most delicious tacos from a hot stack of tortillas, fresh salsa, and grilled jalapenos and onions. We always pair with fresh guacamole, Mexican rice and Mexican cokes. We can't wait to become regulars at the new location.

Whole Chicken and a half.  Refried beans and Mexican rice as sides.
Blair R.

Quick and friendly service. On Monday and Wednesday they offer a takeout special of buy a whole chicken and get a half included. This includes two sides of your choice and about a dozen corn tortillas. The food is incredible! This deal cannot be beat anywhere. Don't walk, run. Seriously.

Mixed Burrito

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6 days ago

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25 days ago

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6 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Best Mexican food in the city. I was thrilled when they moved north. Really friendly staff.

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8 months ago

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1 year ago

Everything was great. The chicken. Rice. Pineapple juice. And the service was excellent also. Definitely would be back

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Very flavorful chicken! Great to add to any recipe, I wish they had some pre-shredded options. The salsa was spicy but so good!

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Ask the Community - Pollo Express

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