Fast food Peruvian style place. Food is very good and staff are friendly and helpful. I've had chicken and salmon - both were good and they accommodated my request for cooking preference. Generous seating Recommend for (very) casual date , meal with friends and I think small children would do fine here. read more

I will begin by saying the food comes in large portions. I actually had to freeze some to eat at a later date how much they give. The service was fast and friendly. The issue is that the food was fairly bland. I had to doctor it up when I got home. The sauces help, but I like to have my sides and meat have flavor without it being sauced up. The food is okay if you are trying to feed a family on a budget. read more

Canastas chicken had a great variety with good priced options and delicious and bold flavors. I loved the fried rice with the chicken and plantains and the sauce was delicious! Everything paired well and the interior of the place was so nice! read more

Canastas Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The food is delicious and the people are great. I was surprised by the quality and friendliness.

Forget Alpaca! Canastas is the real deal when it comes to Peruvian chicken, but there are some issues. Dined in for the first time, and ambiance looks surprisingly vibrant and warm, spacious area with polished tables, bright menu panels, a television showing some kind of South American noon-time show close to the glass windows, Peruvian arteork, and a kiosk for ordering. Waiter named Cardo welcomed us gently, and handed the brochure-like menu. He also served the disposable tiny containers of Peruvian chicken sauce and another smaller container of what appears to be lime-based salsa - so small in fact, it looks like coffee creamer pods. I ordered 1/2 white meat chicken that comes with 2 sides: red potatoes & cole slaw. My girl ordered 1/4 dark meat chicken and her 2 sides were plantains & green beans. We also ordered additional small pinto beans. Got both meals fast but there were 2 things the waiter forgot: the pinto beans and that I ordered 1/2 chicken, not 1/4. That's why I was a bit surprised at how small my "1/2" order was. When I asked Cardo if the initial serving was 1/2, he said that's 1/4 when I clearly said 1/2. There was no argument though. Cardo quickly added the 2nd half of the 1/2 to complete my chicken serving. Now, time for us to eat. Our first reaction to the entire meal: Wow, the sides are quite larger than we expected, more generous than Alpaca's servings for sure. Cole slaw was fresh & large enough for us to share. My red potatoes were well-seasoned and well-cooked. My girl enjoyed the plantains - not too sweet and pretty plenty! I was not a big fan of pinto beans; it's probably better mashed. The rotisserie chicken was tasty but they didn't give us enough sauce and the waiter did not return to ask us if we needed anything or refill our waters. The skin of the chicken was spiced well, but the inside really needs sauce for us to get a satisfying taste, but wish they gave more! We're Filipinos so we prefer our chicken with gravy rather than Peruvian sauce, but this one is not bad; I prefer Raising Canes' sauce over this but for Rotisserie, this tastes better than Alpaca's Peruvian sauces. I just hope that they would be as generous on giving sauces as they did with their sides. I hope there are other choices for sauces though, like spicier alternatives. We definitely enjoyed Canastas more than the mediocre Alpaca. Based on the info on their menu, this is the first Canastas location in NC, the first 4 are in VA, and another 1 will open in Raleigh soon. Overall, Canastas is not bad. As a fairly new restaurant, it clearly needs improvement when it comes to customer service and sauce servings. The generous servings of sides and vibrant ambiance are not enough reasons for us to return, but we'll pick this over Alpaca if ever crave for Peruvian chicken - a rare sensation. Overall: 3.3/5 read more

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Amazing food! I also tried Anticuchos but didn't take a picture, Don't forget to enjoy it with an Inca Kola! read more

Canastas Chicken - Lomo Saltado - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I would eat here again and try for the 2 of us not to over order because the portions are large. For example, I ordered a cup of a passion fruit drink. The drink was at least 12oz; so you get your $4 bucks worth but it was way more than I visualized. Same for the rest of our order. We ate there and the service was very efficient but that may be because we were the only 2 customers. I ordered a Gyro. This Gyro has a South American twist; Jalapeño peppers kicked the flavors up a notch. I was wary but the "mashup" of the Greek/SA taste worked for me. It was huge too. I had to toss half of the delish pita to save room in my tummy for the meat. The Chinese Chicken fried rice took up a whole plate. We could have shared that and had plenty. Don't order that for just 1 person unless are very big eaters. It all very good. There's ethnic music playing in the background and a large screen showing what's playing. Music volume was just right, pleasant. The bathroom was as clean as the sitting area. read more

Canastas Chicken - Outside - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I was on a road trip and looking for a quick stop, ran across Canasta's and was pleasantly surprised. It's Peruvian fast food and you can order at the counter or a kiosk. Food was seasoned well and had lots of flavor, came out hot and they had good portions for the price along with great lunch specials. Chicken was tender and the yucca was so crunchy, really good. Loved the green beans too, tons of flavor! The only thing that was a negative was that the food came out in stages instead of all together and the bathrooms could use an updating. Great for a quick lunch or casual dinner! read more

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Came here for dinner on a Friday evening around 7. Lots of available seating inside. It was very cold! Easy to go up to the counter and order. The menu has a variety of chicken and other meat options with sides. I ordered Anticucho de pollo for $16. I thought the price was very fair. It came with two sides and it was very filling. The chicken was great and very moist. I loved the green beans and fried rice that I got as sides. Overall really enjoyed this meal and glad we tried it! read more

Canastas Chicken - Anticucho de Pollo - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We've been to other Peruvian chicken places in the Triangle, but the service is what sets this restaurant apart. We were immedately greeted, and they told us all about their main dishes and sides. I chose a quarter white with black beans and yuca fries. The chicken was comparable to other places--well cooked and well seasoned, but the sides (especially the yuca fries) were quite large. My friend got a burrito, also with those tasty yuca fries. It's obvious that they take pride in their new restaurant, and they came to our table a few times to make sure we had everything we needed. When we left, there was no need to clean after ourselves. They cheerfully did it for us! Great restaurant, great service, great food! read more

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The interior has good dark decor with Peruvian artwork. There is an order kiosk you can use with a table of menus beside it. Or you can order at the counter. Staff is friendly and the food is cooked to order. So don't expect fast food speed. The food I had was worth the wait. I've seen some reviews that said it was not as good as Alpaca chicken. That's not the experience I had. It was as good as if not better than Alpaca chicken. My Cilantro chicken was was perfectly cooked and juicy with a cilantro flavor. Both sauces are flavorful and the green one has a little kick. The portions are large and a great value. It comes with two sides and I got rice and beans, and green beans. The rice and black beans were delicious and so were the sautéed green beans which also has sautéed strips of onion in it. Although the green beans are a bit too salty. Since I ordered using their kiosk I downloaded their app while waiting for my chicken to finish cooking. I got points for a first visit and my meal. Enough points to get a free side of red potatoes to go which I had with supper the next night. Overall a very good experience and I will be back to try some other items. read more

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"Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken and more in New Hope Commons in Durham!" Directly behind the long-standing Red Robin in New Hope Commons, a new Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken place opened just a week ago: Canastas Chicken. It's part of a small chain with other restaurants in Durham. For those familiar with the local Alpaca chain, much of the menu will seem familiar: quarter chicken (light or dark) and 2 sides for a meal. However, the menu is much broader here than at Alpaca with a wider range of appetizers, Peruvian mains, and even some sandwiches. We came on a Saturday at just after 5:30pm, and only one other family was dining inside. The restaurant is quite large and a little dim -- you order at the front, they prepare your food, and you pay and eat. I think it's set up for you to take it to your table, but the staff were extra kind and walked our food over to where we wanted to sit for us. I ordered my Alpaca standard: quarter dark chicken, green beans, and rice & beans. My wife ordered quarter dark chicken, roasted potatoes (not an option at the other place), and sweet plantains (maduros). The chicken dishes came with one yellowish sauce and one green one. The quantity was HUGE. The chicken was as expected, but the helpings of the sides were enormous (see photos). A+ for quantity-- definitely prepare to have some leftovers unless you're a VERY big eater. The quarter dark chicken was absolutely outstanding-- maybe the best Peruvian rotisserie chicken I've had. Extremely flavorful, moist, just a delight. It was delicious even without the sauces. I did use bits of the green sauce-- it had a strongly spicy after-effect and wonderful taste. The yellow sauce was much spicier than at Alpaca, with a hint of something else (maybe cilantro). The plaintains were also absolutely outstanding-- giant, sweet, rich, and perfect texture. The green beans were good. And the rice & beans were good, tasty filler-- the rice had a green color to it from some sort of seasoning that was good. It was nice that we also had the choice of refried or black beans for the rice & beans too. The only dish that was a little dull was the roasted potatoes, but they were still yummy when dipped in the sauce. As I mentioned, the service was attentive. The manager even came by our table to ask if everything was OK and offered to get us anything else we needed. Price was fair -- good for the enormous quantity and high quality. I think it was about $13 before tax and tip for the dishes. Synopsis: We loved it. We'd totally come back and try some of the other items on the menu, or even order the same thing. A+ on taste, quantity, quality, and good value. read more

Canastas Chicken - Quarter dark chicken with roasted potatoes and plantains - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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A yummier take on Alpaca! The food was delicious, with some unique options beyond the usual chicken--like cow hearts--and it was served quickly. The ordering process is mostly self-service: you order from a machine and find your own table, so there's minimal traditional "service." That said, a friendly server did bring us water when we first sat down. We really enjoyed their "famous chicken" with yuca & plantain on the side, and their dessert was surprisingly very good!!The space is spacious and clean, but I think of it as a fast-casual or takeout spot rather than a sit-down restaurant. Still, the quality of the food and the speed of service make it a great option for a quick, satisfying bite! read more

I am addicted to their Ceviche Mixto! Must have had it 6 times in the last couple months Almost A=OK delicious, which I cant say from other Peruvian places nearby. read more

Delicious food, always my choice when looking for healthy food. Great tasking chicken, the lomo saltado is delicious. Lunch menu is a great deal!! read more

The ambiance was nice and casual, the music was just right. Our service was quick even though they were busy. The food- wonderful! The papa relleno was perfect and the plate of anticucho was large enough to share. We will definitely come back! read more

Phenomenal food, hearty portions. Food is hot, fresh and served with a smile. Underrated!

Freaking delicious with massive portions for later meals. Chicken was so tender and the sauces were great too. Empanadas were also fire.

So I usually go to Alpaca when I want Peruvian chicken. But I saw this place and it had good reviews so I figured I would give it a chance. Big mistake! It is nothing like Alpaca. For one the chicken is tiny, and it has different seasonings on it that don't taste as good. Second of all they're fries aren't anywhere near as good as alpacas, they just use generic frozen french fries here. Also instead of having self-serve sauces, they give you this little thimble size container. I probably would not come back to this place or recommend it when Alpaca is so much better and the same price. read more

All I'm gonna say is the pork chops! I tried this place when they first opened and it tastes better and better every time I eat here. read more

Canastas Chicken - Pork chops, fried rice, black beans and plantains. - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Service was awesome. Very friendly! The food smelled amazing as I walked through the doors. You can order ahead and order at the register. There are so many things to choose from. First time here, so I ordered the famous chicken. It was so delicious I brought a whole one with sides for dinner. My husband loved it too and wants to go back this weekend! Everything was clean, plus the tables and chairs were very comfortable. Hope they build their next one near Chatham Park so it will be nearby. They are fairly new, so check them out. This place is AWESOME! read more

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I was in the mood for fish and chips. Yelp pointed me to this place. It's a little mom and pop in a small strip mall; non-pretentious with plastic forks and associated ambiance. Service is very basic; they announce when your order is ready, then you pick it up and take it back to your table. I ordered catfish and fries. Wow, it was really good, even with a plastic fork. It was hot, well seasoned, and tasted fresh. I would go back. I'd give it 5 stars if they provided plastic cups with the soda cans you get from the fridge. read more

Got the pollo burrito. Almost threw up while eating it but I think this was my resaca more than the burrito. 5/5, delicious

Quick service, food is always fresh and excellent. Amazing portion. We always get the half chicken deal and it feeds like 3 people

Probé la yuca y estaba salada.. estaba buena pero no me gustó que tenía mucha sal.. le daba mal sabor

Canastas is delicious. The chicken is so tasty and the side selection is great and delicious. Most of the people I have talked to about it think it's better than Alpaca and I 100% agree. The only issue is that they regularly forget to give you sauce or enough sauce for what you ordered. 2 out of the last 3 orders I have made there have had the wrong amount of sauce or no sauce included and the sauce is the best part!! If they could get that together it would be 5 stars. read more

¡Fantástico! La comida está muy bueno! ¡Quiero más Canastas de Pollo! Camarera amable y restaurante limpio. ¡Definitivamente regresaré otra vez! read more

The place is really cute, and the food was so good! I didn't think I'd find a place I like as much as Alpaca, but the fried rice, chicken, and sides were so good. BEST YUCA FRIES. And of course great alfajores :) read more

Great food and service. I had lunch with friend from Chapel Hill last week. I had chicken gyro which was huge. Very tasty.

Had a terrific lunch at Canastas. We ordered the 1/4 chicken dark meat. Husband had fried yucca and green beans, I had plantains and rice and beans. Everything was delicious. The chicken had great flavor and was well seasoned. The sides were enormous. I tried and loved them all. We'll definitely add Canastas to our regular rotation of lunch places. read more

fantastic food - you could easily split the lunch portion! great flavor - high quality ingredients- cooked to perfection!

I'm surprised that I don't see more people here for dinner. The menu has interesting items, the people behind the counter are always friendly, and I feel like the portions are good for what you pay. I've been enjoying the cilantro chicken and the cilantro rice. What can I say, I like cilantro. I do wish that the TV volume was a little lower. OK, a lot lower. other than that, it's a great alternative to the Peruvian chain down the road. read more

Great place, food was delicious, space is clean, and staff very friendly. Will definitely come again.

Friendly staff and excellent food. So glad we stumbled upon this place. Something on the menu for everyone.

We were in Durham for a short visit and stopped into Canastas for lunch. The food was so delicious! I really enjoyed the 1/2 chicken with Yuka fries and fried rice. We also had several Peruvian drinks and appetizers to share. The service was wonderful. The waiter was attentive but not intrusive. read more

My food was great, service was good and the ambiance is very nice. I will return with more coworkers.

Found this restaurant while in Chapel Hill for Winter Commencement. It is definitely worthy of the five star reviews. Gracious personal service, abundant and delicious food choices. We would definitely return! read more

New peruvian spot, loved it. Food was wonderful - chicken seasoned and cooked beautifully. Generous sides and lots of food for the money. Only suggestion would be either beers or fountain drinks vs cans or plastic bottles. Will be back. read more

The chicken is PHENOMENAL, out of this world! it's very well seasoned! we also got the fried rice (delicious) and two orders of pork chops. everything tasted delicious and we will certainly be back! read more

I don't like the way the waiters serve customers in the restaurant, I had to repeat my order too many times and they never brought the forks or glasses, I don't recommend it at all read more

Canastas Chicken - the interior of a restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina