As long as I can remember El Pollo Rico has been an institution and the “no brainer” destination for Peruvian chicken in Northern Virginia. I remember going in there years ago and being completely lost in the legendary moisture and charcoal flavor of the chicken, “special Peruvian sauces”, slaw and delicious fries in a completely packed place, every seat taken.
Last Wednesday, Michi and I decided to head over there after a Cherry Blossom walk. The Charcoal smell in the air was phenomenal and they still maintain that stripped down, South American Polleria atmosphere. Same good old 5 item menu on an old school board, all plastic utensils, DIY, soup Nazi type service, they now, however, do take credit cards.
Ok, so simple place = simple review; chicken sucked! Way too dry! (Moisture is supposed to be the charm of Peruvian chicken in the first place) and it was cold!! The skin was salty and didn’t seem to have that usual magic of the Hispanic spice blend worked into the flesh with the Peruvian brine, the worst part for me was that I could actually taste a bit of chlorine water from the brine in the skin.
I should really stop right here because it is a “Pollo place” and the Pollo was “muy malo” but I’ll add this; the “Peruvian special chicken white sauce” was mostly mayo and the slaw was also mostly mayo. Sadly, the fries and the white rice ended up being the best part. They are solely living off the fading fumes of their past glory days.
In a nutshell, I can think of about 1.934.209 places I can get better chicken, including KFC, they should probably go back to not taking credit cards and rather stick to the original recipes and execution that made this place legendary. On one of their walls remains a picture of the owner/founder of the place whom I believe is dead and probably turning in his tomb after what they are doing to his once celebrated business… sorry jefe, pero se estan re cagando en tu negocio!
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