Charcoal smoked chicken is an amazing flavor. The first time I tried it, I was hooked. Having a place like Alpaca right in the heart of Ninth Street is a gift from the food gods. They sell the chicken​ by the quarter or by the half. As much as I like dark meat, I may start ordering a half, because all that good rib meat is earmarked for the white half. But the sides are tasty​ and plentiful. The sauces, whether you get them to go or eat inside or on the outdoor dining area, are great additions to the flavor of the chicken​ that shines through from the cooking process. I'm a sucker for the maduros but the green beans and salad are also good sides. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Quarter dark with two sides (salad and green beans) - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Good food of this type...probably a dozen visits, 80% takeout...never screwed up an order and all we've tried is quite good. Try the Inca cola read more

What a great find! This place is soooo good! We were checking out an apartment in the area and looking for a place to stop for lunch. I'm a huge fan of Peruvian food. I fell in love with the cuisine when I went to Peru a few years ago. I ordered the lomo saltado--it's a staple that I need to try any time I visit a new Peruvian restaurant--and my hubby ordered the rotisserie chicken with black beans and rice. We also shared an order of the sweet plantains. I loved the lomo saltado. Full of flavor. Maybe a touch heavy on the soy, but the vinegar was on point. I also ordered a chicha morada, which was perfect. It made the meal complete. Hubby enjoyed the chicken and sides. I tried the sides and they were alright, but to be fair, it's not a special side dish either. We both enjoyed the plantains. I don't think the up-charge on their premium sides made sense, they were pretty typical side dishes. When we stopped by there were only a couple people in line, so it moved quickly and we grabbed a table outside. We really enjoyed the food and I would go back, but I would probably get the same thing again. If you're a fan of Peruvian food, I definitely recommend it. read more

I absolutely love Alpaca!! I was in Durham and looking for a perfect lunch, delicious, filling, but not heavy. The parking at the Ninth Street location at lunch time is difficult, even in the attached parking lot, but don't give up. I knew exactly what I wanted and was next in line when I entered. The customer service is always friendly and swift. I ordered the quarter chicken, dark meat and it come with 2 sides. I ordered the premium side of rice and black beans and my favorite, plantains. Seating is open now, so I sat by the window in a tall tabletop. I literally ate every bite, I didn't want it to end. I'm already dreaming of going back next. read more

Alpaca Chicken - 1/4 Dark Chicken, Rice Topped with Beans - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place has become my go-to whenever I see the alpaca label! The employees are always so welcoming and kind, the food delicious, and the atmosphere really comforting. The chicken has to be the standout, with juicy meat and a crispy skin. It is seasoned from the outer layer to the bone, and never disappoints. The sides have all been delicious, with my favorite standard one being the green beans so far! I would say that it's worth paying extra for premium sides of yucca fries, tostones, or maduros. The green and yellow sauces also never hurt the meal. If you ever see an Alpaca, don't hesitate to try it out- it's healthy, delicious, and always a great experience. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Whole Chicken with Yuca Fries - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Fantastic specials everyday, very kind workers, and very fast. I could not ask for more from here :)

Alpaca few extra clothes and we can go and get chicken from Alpaca. How does that sound. Honestly, Alpaca was a bit disappointing. The prices are on the high side and the chicken was far from the best Peruvian rotisserie chicken I've had 0 with fairly small portions. The sides were good, especially the yucca fries, and the sauces are excellent. I like that they have borrowed the wonderful concept from Charlotte, and have the sauces on tap for free as much as you like. Not so much if you're ordering to go but still awesome. However perhaps my favourite thing about this place was that by visiting I was able to discover Happy and Hale next door which ended up being one of the nicer salad restaurants that I've been to anywhere. The reason they score 3, not 4, is because of horrible service. I stood in line for about 5 minutes while people chatted and took phone orders and did everything but serve me. When they finally did serve me, my food was ready instantly, but nobody rang me up for another few minutes, while the food got cold. Tsk tsk. read more

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Cannot wait to visit again! The Lomo Saltado was my favorite of the three dishes we tried. The green sauce is a must try! This is the juiciest, most tender chicken I've ever had the pleasure of eating! read more

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Congratulations for Alpaca for being the first restaurant to make me 'get' tostones! Pre-Alpaca I just found them cardboardy and pointless. If you've had similar problems, try it here! And just overall, I'm really glad to have Alpaca in the neighborhood. It's fast, pretty cheap, straightforward, and surprisingly delicious for a restaurant that fulfills the previous three adjectives. Their chicken is perfectly cooked with flavorful crispy skin, the yuca fries are thick, bready, and hot, their chicha morada is heavily spiced and refreshing, and I've already mentioned the tostones. read more

Found another favorite restaurant in Durham which is Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken. Along with their rotisserie chicken meals, the place also serves traditional Peruvian classics, like lomo saltado. They also have daily specials on their menu, if you want to spice things up. My parents liked the pollo saltado a lot. Likewise, my brother and I were obsessed with our rotisserie chicken lunches. In particular, I loved that I could order maduros and tostones. While I love plantains, they can be hard to find. However, this restaurant nails their maduros and tostones. So delicious, so healthy, and so wholesome. Will definitely be frequenting this place while I'm living in Durham! read more

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Awesome food. The chicken, the green beans, the plantains, the horchata...all delicious! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's always busy because it is so good.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Make sure you try both sauces: the green and the yellow. read more

Service was great, Food was incredible, staff very friendly and willing to help!!!!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great place[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]!!!!!!!!!

Really good chicken and maduros! A healthier less processed option than most fast food restaurants.

Excellent Peruvian Charcoal Chicken This was my first experience at Alpaca and it was a great one. There's a couple downsides to this place, but outside of that, it's overall a terrific place to eat and the food is excellent.  Let's get it out of the way - the parking here is dire. There's a private lot that's laid out terribly and always crowded. The traffic flow is awful and 9th Street's street parking situation is pretty tragic at the moment. So be warned that parking here is a challenge. Outside of the dire parking situation Alpaca is a wonderful establishment. It's like the Peruvian version of Boston Market. You walk in and get in line and while in line browse the menu for what you want. They have various dishes but the main feature here is the rotisserie Peruvian Charcoal Chicken. Upon my recent order I went with the half chicken with two sides. For my sides I got the maduros and white rice. After you get your order you find your seat. If it's an order that takes a little time they will bring it to your table. There's a condiment bar where you load up on your sauce of choice. There's the yellow sauce which is similar to honey mustard, and there's the green sauce which is spicy and like the green sauce at Chipotle.  The chicken is juicy and nearly fall-off-the-bone.I really enjoyed the half chicken so that there's a solid mix of white and dark meat. The maduros were tasty and cooked just right. The service was friendly and quickly.  I'm shocked it took me this long to try Alpaca and I can't wait to go back. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Half chicken with Maduros and white rice. - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We love this place! The food is consistently good and a good value. Margarita at the cash register is one of the best customer service people I've ever encountered. She smiles, asks how she can help you, offers drinks and desserts and is so polite and accommodating. This place is lucky to have her. read more

Great peruvian chicken spot right on the corner of 9th street, in the heart of the Duke Undergrad world. Got the 1/4 dark chicken with yuca fries and sweet plantains (Maduros). The chicken was so moist and falling off the bone, so well seasoned and the skin tasted so good - slightly crisped. The yuca fries paired really well with the green sauce (more spicy) and the yellow sauce. The sweet plantains finished off the meal with a pseudo-dessert. The service was fast, the people were very nice, and the whole meal came in at around $9. Not bad at all. Pros: Food Price Service Ambiance - sat outside which was really nice on a perfect 75 degree Durham day. Can't ask for more. Cons: None as of now, would have to try more before I could say something was potentially bad about this spot. read more

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This place is fantastic! I've had their catered chicken for years and always loved it. But recently I had the chance to dine in. The ordering system is very simple- white or dark meat, a quarter, half, or whole chicken, and then you pick your sides. The sides all looked great but I tried the fried plantains and the coleslaw. The green sauce they're famous for is serve-yourself next to the beverage fountain. Everything was so delicious! I can't wait to come back here with more people to spread the word! read more

The chicken was good but it's rotisserie. The flavor was very much like Boston chicken or chicken you can get at the grocery store. The yucca fries are unique but you can't beat potato, which they have but didn't try. Wouldn't go out if my way again but it's good. read more

This place was terrific on every level. Food was great along with the service and portions were perfect. Our friends who live in the area said it's probably the best place in town. Two thumbs up for sure! read more

Came here on a whim and oh boy it was a delightful surprise! I used to live in CA and TX and missed good Latin food. This place fills the spot and then some. Chicken was juicy; beans and rice aren't overcooked; sauce is plentiful and flavorful; it was a bit too salty for my liking but not a deal killer. Staff was very nice and welcoming as well. I will definitely be back to try again! read more

I love Alpaca! Kind of chipotle style where you order at the counter. The chicken itself is great and all the sides I have had are delicious. Don't skip the salad side - the dressing is amazing. Also, don't forget to grab both sauces. I love the green one! read more

Alpaca is a must for a quick meal at a good price! I love the pollo saltado, and it's a great size for dinner. The arroz chaufa is also bomb. You honestly can't go wrong with anything on the menu! The one thing I don't like is their chicha-- has too much canela in my opinion. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Pollo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The food here is simply amazing. We frequent this place or it's sister restaurant off of Roxboro Road at least once every week or two. It's delicious, fresh food that leaves you feeling guilt free. I get a half chicken, string beens, fries, & a salad. There isn't anything bad to say about any of these items. The chicken is the best Peruvian style chicken I've had anywhere, always perfectly cooked, packed with flavor, & juicy. The string beans are creamy & flavorful, one of the most popular items on the menu. The fries are hit or miss in terms of freshness, but even when they aren't as fresh they're still pretty delicious. The dipping sauces include a "green" & "yellow" sauce. The yellow sauce is a creamier dip, but my favorite by far is the green sauce. It has a kick to it & the combo of that with the chicken is perfection. There's also a cilantro & a garlic dressing they make that we put on our salads, which are equally delicious. And while the half chicken combo is my go-to, my family loves the Pollo Saltado, chicken salad, Lomo Saltado, & the yuca fries. In summary, it's almost as though you can't go wrong with any food items here. So why 3 stars? While the food is delicious, fresh, & guilt free, I have never seen a more inconsistent place in terms of what you get. I've realized that when I'm ordering my food, I find myself holding my breath hoping that one of the items in my combo doesn't become an after thought as they place the food into the containers. It all starts at the chicken, where you can get a portion that looks perfectly cooked, or you can get pieces that look like they've gone through a blender, with pieces of skin missing & parts of the meat looking carved into or picked at. But the biggest issue, by far, is their complete inconsistency with the side portions. I'm not one to berate a restaurant or their employees. I've worked in the food service industry & I know that it's one of the few places people are just absolutely horrible to the workers. So I usually hold my tongue & just deal with the inconsistencies. However, the last two times I've gone I just simply couldn't let it go. The picture I included here of the fry serving is from the second to last time I went, which I get in a separate container from the chicken & string beans to prevent them from getting soggy. And while I'm not looking for them to load me up on fries to the point they can't close the box, I know that they typically give me more fries than that, which drove me to take the picture so I could make sure I wasn't just being crazy. And the most recent time I went, which was this past Friday, I watched a new guy give me one grab of the tongs for my string beans, which irked me but I let it slide, & then give me one grab of the tongs for my fries, which was even LESS than what is pictured here. Still holding my breath, I thought "there's no way he doesn't at least give me another serving"...but to my complete astonishment, my guy starts taking fries OUT of the box & putting them back into the basket that had JUST been refilled. I couldn't believe it. When the fries made it down to the cashier, I grabbed the box, turned it around, and opened it up to show my partner to make sure I wasn't trippin. I literally counted 8-9 fries, if you count the little fried up bits you usually get at the bottom of the box. If you can count them, that's generally not a good sign & I regret not taking a picture of this because I knew it wouldn't be believable. Trying to hold it together & keep from being rude to the cashier, who had nothing to do with the portion, I told them to forget the fries & just make my salad the second side in the combo. At this point, for whatever reason, the cashier starts talking to the guy who served the sides in Spanish & there was confusion as to why I didn't want the fries. I interrupted & said that I didn't want to the pay for that portion of fries & it's the least I've ever gotten, & repeated my request to simply replace the fries with the salad. The cashier relays this message to the guy in Spanish at which point he replies to her "well, it's a combo"...okay?? What does that have to do with anything? If that's how it works, which obviously based on past experiences it's not, then I might as well order everything a la carte to make sure I get proper portions. Beyond that, I've never seen a place try to justify something as petty as a serving of fries. But it doesn't end here. We finally get home to sit down and eat, at which point the restaurant is closing. I open my box of chicken to find that I was given the wrong box, with no sides at all & the box they'd given me had one of the chicken servings that looked like it'd been through a blender...please reference the photo. I called the restaurant & also tried emailing them with no response. At this point I've had to let it go. And while I'd still recommend this restaurant, I'd say be conscious of the fact that you can have very hit or miss experiences. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Highly recommend as this place is delicious!!! Great price for the food and it is really authentic Spanish food. The vibes and music was awesome. Highly recommend. read more

Alpaca Chicken - 1/4 Dark Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Delicious Peruvian restaurant with great chicken dishes including authentic soups and salads

Alpaca introduced me to Peruvian roasted chicken and my life was never the same! Whenever we come here we experience seamless ordering process and consistent service, and the food was always good with satisfying portions for reasonable prices. You get a choice of white and dark meat parts--or even the whole chicken! Definitely order the sides--our favorites are yucca fries and sweet plantains. We've come here several times by ourselves and with big groups. We've tried the Morrisville location and the other Durham location as well. read more

Decided to swing by with my mom for lunch and she was just as impressed as I was. It was her first time here, and while i've tried the catering before, I had actually never been into the restaurants. We appreciated the extra parking that they had for the restaurant because sometimes on 9th st it can be frustrating to park. When we went in, we were greeted by the lady in the front. We gave a minute to decide what we were going to choose. I ended up doing the veggie platter (pick 3 sides) and my mom chose the chicken with 2 sides. Overall, we thought that the food tasted amazing and that they were quick about it too. It's all in hot-bar style, so there's no waiting for the food. Despite that, it all tasted super fresh and authentic. My mom fully approved of their food. read more

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Healthy, delicious, hot food served fast. Plays Spanish pop music at a pleasant volume. 5 stars for food, service, and atmosphere. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Chicken with three sides and Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Rawtissorie chicken!!! Ordered a whole chicken and parts were raw. I feel gross . Won't be going back read more

Alpaca Chicken - Rawtissorie chicken it is! come on y'all!! Unacceptable - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

There were some good menu items and my food except the white meat was good. While the white meat was flavorful the meat was dry. The price to food ratio was reasonable. The service was friendly but I had a little hard time understanding some of the staff. Overall, I would come back again. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I enjoyed Alpaca! It's very similar to a place I just visited in Charlotte, so I had something to compare it to. You walk up to a counter and place your order. The chickens are cut right in front of you (if you order a 1/2 or 1/4 chicken), and then your plate slides down the line as you pick your sides. Other dishes (like fried rice) are made in the back and brought out. I ordered 1/4 chicken with a side salad and plantains. I'm such a sucker for plantains! There is a drink machine for your to get your drinks. Around the corner is the sauce station. Only two sauces (one spicy and one not), and I wasn't very impressed with the not spicy one. The chicken itself was moist and had good flavor. The side salad wasn't chopped up very well, and it was a little awkward to eat. The plantains though-on point! Overall, it was a good dinner. I would like to go back and try one of their dishes. read more

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Wow this place was really great. I've never had Peruvian food before and was completely blown away. There is lots of seating here, it was pretty clean, and everyone was very friendly. But now to the FOOD: the value here is excellent. I ordered 1/4 chicken and 2 specialty sides. The chicken was so flavorful and just the right amount of crisp and juicy. The sides were so good too! The rice and beans were perfect and both type of plantains were seasoned just right. The fries were also pretty good. We loved the sauces that it came with as well. Such an unexpected delicious experience. Will be back!!! read more

Alpaca Chicken - 1/4 Chicken (White Meat) and sides - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Having been spoiled by some delicious Peruvian chicken in Los Angeles, I've been searching for more in various areas I've lived, including NYC - and this is the best since LA. I am so thrilled to have come here - their rotisserie chicken is on point, and their aji verde was excellent. As was the yuca! Everything tastes very authentic. We will definitely be back! read more

Honestly just some solid Peruvian food. The maduros were my favorite part of the meal! Such a good texture and flavor. Chicken and beans were good! Just not anything too special. Would definitely come here again, especially for the maduros. read more

Alpaca Chicken - 1/4 Dark Chicken, side of Maduros and Green Beans - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Mmmm yummy yummy chicken.... The chicken is great, the sides are great, and there is an impressive assortment of Latin american soda and beer (Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Brazil). My go-to is 1/4 dark with rice and beans and sweet plantain like a proper Latino, but the green beans are good too. I am certain I could eat a half chicken if I try hard enough. Avg meal $8-12 which is perfect for the grad school budget. read more

Excellent food for a great price! I didn't try the chicken (was craving the fried rice for some reason!), but my friends really loved it. I got the Peruvian fried rice with the side salad and a side of yucca fries. The fried rice was amazing and full of flavor, and the yucca fries were perfectly crispy. I also got the horchata drink, which was delicious (though a bit on the sweeter side, but not too overwhelming!) The staff were really nice and accommodating, even when we wanted to change our order and it was the middle of rush hour! They have really great outdoor seating that's spaced apart, and also indoor seating if you like. The only downside was how crazy busy it was (we went on a Saturday night): the place was packed and we had to wait a little while for our food. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Arroz chaufa, yucca fries, and side salad - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

If you've been to Viva chicken in Charlotte or Raleigh the concept and food here is very similar. You walk in and order, tell them if it's for here or to go and then pay at the register. Drinks and sauces are around the corner. The food is mostly pre-made so you get your food quickly, which is nice if you're in a rush. I'm a little irked that there are regular sides and premium sides, which are 50 c extra. Why not make them all the same price? For around $8 (the option for 1/4 chicken and 2 sides), you can get a really solid meal. I wouldn't say the food is healthy, but it doesn't sit all weird and heavy in your stomach as fried chicken sometimes does. The chicken is juicy; the dark meat especially, but the white meat is not dry at all. The sides are ok. Probably don't get the house salad unless you really want some chopped up romaine lettuce. Black beans and rice are a safe choice. Green beans are covered in a savory sauce that is quite oily but make them taste amazing - even my vegetable-eschewing brother liked them. They have 2 house sauces, one yellow and one spicy green. Both are lacked flavor and spice - they are more creamy than anything else. My recommendation is to make a cocktail of ketchup, valentina, and one of their sauces. Finally, if you're coming in a group of 3 or greater, order the whole chicken! I'd say one chicken feeds a hungry group of 3 and maybe a group of 4 if it were a family of 2 adults and 2 kids. Makes more sense cost-wise. The staff is really friendly and patient. They came around and checked on our table a few times, which was nice. It gets pretty crowded around 6pm and therefore it gets kinda loud, though I didn't find it to be an issue. read more

This is an overall review for dining-in and to-go at this Alpaca location, as well as catering coming from this location. Alpaca and the associated Mami Nora's restaurants are my and my husband's go-to easy, delicious dinner. We've had just about everything on the menu at this point, but definitely have some favorites. We've found time and time again that the chicken is hot and perfectly seasoned, the sides are fresh and tasty, and the service is all-around excellent. We usually order the whole chicken meal which comes with two large regular sides, but you can upgrade to the premium sides for a small extra charge. We usually get rice topped with beans and maduros (fried sweet plantains), but if we're very hungry we'll sometimes order an extra side of green beans because they're soooo good, cooked in a creamy and delicious sauce. This is the best deal for us as we always have tons of leftovers for another whole supper and even a bit left for a small lunch too. So basically five meals for $20 - what a deal! If we happen in on a Wednesday, I always go for the "Chop chop" special (pictured). It's a generous serving of rice and beans topped with shredded chicken, corn, pico de gallo, and fried tostones (savory plantains). Now this dish tends to take a bit longer to come out of the kitchen than the regular chicken plates but it's worth the short wait. My husband always chooses Alpaca when it's his turn to order catering for his construction company because they're professional, reliable, and affordable. At about $9 per person you really can't beat the price, and there's always plenty of food for tons of hungry guys plus usually some leftovers! They also feature lots of international sodas, beers, and desserts. They even have Inca soda in the fountain machine! I will mention that the only side we haven't really loved were the yuca fries, but we do see lots of people ordering them so maybe they're just not our taste. Every other side is wonderful. There are also two delicious sauces that are included with every meal, a spicy green sauce and a creamy yellow sauce. Overall, we just love this place so much and are always hungry for Alpaca! read more

Alpaca Chicken - Chop chop special on Wednesdays - so much food! - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I absolutely love their charbroiled chicken, black beans and string beans.. Everything is so funny resh and full of flavor.. I try to eat from here at least once a month.. It's really good and the staff are friendly. read more

Alpaca Chicken - Chicken quarter, black beans and string beans - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Chicken is great, and the overall plate size, customer service, and the quality of the food was great.