Charcoal Chicken has been a favorite restaurant of ours for over 25 years. This family owned gem in West Haven, Connecticut was founded in 1992. They are known for their phenomenal roasted chicken that's cooked in their charcoal rotisserie oven as evidenced by the steady quantity of takeout you can see every weekend. The quality of the food is fabulous and a decent value. Two of our favorites is the shredded chicken mixed with yellow rice, peas, carrots, onions ,green olives, with raisins and the Maduro sweet plantains which as usual were cooked to perfection. Their rice and beans are seasoned impeccably and are truly amazing. Their food has stayed consistently delicious even through the Covid pandemic. The service is attentive and welcoming. The restaurant is tastefully decorated and very clean. The location is convenient, but parking can be an issue when they are crowded. The highlight of this magical restaurant is if you know anyone under the weather, the chicken soup will cure all ailments. read more

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I can't believe it has taken me this long to try this restaurant. I've known about it for at least 20 years. My friend used to speak highly of it. And, I pass it all of the time. I decided to use Uber Eats to place an order today and I'm so glad I did. I ordered a regular size, Arroz con Pollo. The portion was large enough to feed at least two people. It was supposed to have olives and raisins, the raisins were very limited, which I didn't mind as well as the olives. But the flavor was great. I also ordered a 1/4 size dark meat. It was seasoned nicely and roasted to perfection. Very juicy. Because I like it spicy, I ordered two hot sauces, but one would have been enough. It is very spicy. I feel like it's habanero, scallions, light seasoning, and vinegar. But delicious. I've never gone in the establishment, but it looks like it's a decent size and can accommodate a small crowd. There's also street parking or maybe even the vacant Rite-Aid across the street. Very causal. I highly recommend! read more

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Paid to much for 3/4 of a plate of food. Used to go there often. Don't think I will be returning

The interior looks nice and it was relaxing. The service was good. The food was DELICIOUS. Pollo, papas fritas, y maduros. Absolutely special. read more

Always a hit, we usually get rice, beans, 1/2 or a whole chicken and yuca fries. Their hot sauce is amazing! Been going here for years.

there food is I will never eat at this place ever again! I spent $50 on food that smelt and tasted terrible! it was rotten chicken like it was cooked days ago! I would not recommend eating there at all! I should have known better when I seen that no one was even in there eating when I went! This place should be shut down! read more

My family and I have been coming to Charcoal for the past couple years and order the same thing: a whole chicken, potato chicken salad, rice, and beans. The beans are delicious but everything else has decreased in quality--dry chicken and bland salad. I agree with other reviewers that Charcoal had much better food and service years ago. Today the plates we received were dirty with leftover food visible so we had to ask for new ones. I noticed our order of beans to be much smaller than what we've received in the past, despite ordering a large. They also haven't had our favorite dessert, flan de coco, the past two times we've been here. Our whole order came out to $39 but our bill was $50+. We were unaware that they added an 18% tax and tip. Even with the 18% tip, which we didn't mind paying, the math was wrong on the bill still. So disappointed with the quality of food and service these past couple of years because we used to love Charcoal. We will not be coming back for a while. read more

Oh man, this was certainly a "GET IN MY BELLY" moment! I've been searching for a spot that makes decent patacones/ tostones (or how ever your region refers to them) for a hot minute. This is my new spot. Tried out one of the lunch specials. $7.99 plus tax got me a quarter rotisserie chicken seasoned to perfection, tostones made the right way (if you love platanos, you know what I mean) and a salad. What a bargain! Could have used more tostones though. Go me! Go me! Can't wait to go back! read more

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excellent service and good.. The rice is as good as the chicken. Don't miss stopping by this little slice of heaven

Good food..but sneaky overcharging. I've been coming here for years and although the faces have changed the taste hasn't. It's really good chicken especially in the afternoons. It can get a little dry towards end of day. Prices are reasonable and beers a bit pricey at $5 per bottle. Recently, unfortunately I've been overcharged a few times for my food. First time I had the lunch special, (quarter chicken with rice and beans for $8.99) but I asked for another quarter chicken and they charged me another $8.99. A full chicken only costs about $12.00. The second time I brought a party of 14 people and the bill showed an extra $20. I questioned it and they said it was a gratuity for rice and beans.... errrr ok. Why be shady when you're selling good food? This type of service leaves a bad taste in your mouth no matter how good the food is. Might be the last time I'm visiting. read more

This place is one of my favorites. The food is DELICIOUS. Every thing on their menu is amazing. The staff is courteous. The place is nice & clean. You have to try their rotisserie chicken! read more

I love a good Peruvian charcoal chicken and make it a point to try it from as many places as I can find them. Having recently moved to the area o was excited to see there was one here. Sadly it tastes nothing like proper charcoal chicken and they don't have the typical red, green and yellow aji sauces. None of that characteristic delicious smokiness. I wouldn't eat here again. read more

My wife was out of town with the baby so it was time to gather up some of my professional eating friends and head out for dinner. I have had my eye on Charcoal Chicken for the last several years but had yet to pull the trigger on the place. Tonight we decided to try it out. HOLY JESUS IT WAS AMAZING. Yes, amazing. Clean, well lit, full of south american families (always a good sign when eating at a south american restaurant). Turns out our waitress was the owner and she was so sweet. She even humored Andy's lame attempts at Spanish, telling him he was doing a great job. We got appetizers of sweet plantains with cheese and tostones with cheese. Then roasted chicken, ceviche - really good ceviche btw - and I ordered the chicken rice. Let me tell you about the chicken rice, I really had my heart set on the bistec a lo pobre because Im a sucker for a fried egg on a steak but I always get that when its on the menu. I was thinking about something different and when the owner told me the chicken rice was her grandmothers recipe I was sold. Yellow rice, chunks of chicken, green olives, pigeon peas, onions and raisins. Wonderful. The fruit shakes are good, as good as any Ive had anywhere but the food portions are so big I may stick with water next time... We allowed her to upsell the four of us on a shared piece of home made coconut flan, easily the best decision of the night. It was good enough that Brad brought a piece home for his studying fiance. I will be eating there again. Soon. read more

I ordered from Charcoal Chicken via Uber Eats their food does not disappoint. Every thing was very well seasoned, super flavorful, not too salty not under seasoned, food is authentic an absolute must have!! Ten read more

This was probably one of the worst restaurant in town! My family and I have a tradition of gathering up and pick a place to gather on Mother's Day for either brunch or dinner. We decided we'll try this place and the wait wasn't too long, but I noticed right away that there was only two waitresses for this large place with multiple large party tables. The service was horrible, the waitress was rude and wouldn't let people finish their sentence when she would walk away completely ignoring your request. Didn't set the table or brought anything to drink until after the food was served. The food didn't come out all at once and the chicken wasn't cooked in charcoal! Instead it was oven baked...and the natural juices were worm when they were supposed to be cold...that was my first and last visit to this restaurant! I would not recommend it!!! read more

I can't say how much I love this place. Great service and great flavor A coworker brought me a few years ago and I've been going back ever since. Lunch is great, but we also get takeout for dinner. I recommend the chicken - I usually get a half or quarter - the vegetable rice, and maduros. read more

Not the same as when i was growing up... really lost it's quality!! Today i ordered a whole chicken, white rice with beans... the only thing that tasted good was the beans.. the rice was old and clumpy and the chicken was pale as hell and old... i can't believe they will give that to a costumer but hey they just lost one. Never again read more

Charcoal Chicken - Latin American Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

Terrible service, the waitress NEVER check the table, she was too busy watching tv. Chicken soup was good but the rotisserie chicken was dry and not fresh from the day. Still I tipped them for education. Not coming back, years ago was wayyyyy much better the service and food. read more

What a surprise this place was. I met my girlfriend & her husband there and I was pleasantly surprised. The place is adorable inside, the service was great and the food was even better. Very reasonably priced with a nice menu & ample serving sizes. Although I didn't try a milkshake, I heard they are out of this world! You have to park on a busy street, but don't let that stop you -- try this restaurant -- you won't be disappointed! read more

I came into Connecticut from MD to visit friends. They brought me out to this place to try their Latin American breakfast and they did not disappoint. I tried their green plantains balls with cheese and pork and it was amazing. I felt like I was back in Ecuador eating out of my grandma's kitchen. I paired the green plantain balls with a bistec a la criolla. Later that day I had to return because I had to try their dinner dishes. I tried their Ecuadorian shrimp ceviche and once again I was astonished. I was overwhelmed with awesomeness of this dish. The service was great as well. Very attentive and friendly. Great experience!!! read more

Nice surprise! Not what I expected. Not a hole in the wall. Safe enough neighborhood by daylight. Nicely decorated with pictures of South American scenes on the walls. Salsa and meringue music with a bar in the back. Cool inside, A/C? It was empty except for us 6, but a steady influx of take outs. We started off with Presidente/Modelo beers, cream soda-like Inca Kola, papaya shake, mango shake and I ordered passion fruit with water instead of milk shake. Mine was the tartest and thickest of them all. Tasty though! We decided to order a couple of whole cut up chickens in Equadorian spices. Delicious and tender with crispy skins. We also ordered the currasco yummy but salty, flat-pounded fried steak with fried egg on top with sad, wilty avocado salad on side. Very similar to the steak in La Cazuela (P.R.) and Cora Cora (Peruvian cuisine). Ordered a bunch of sides like too hard yucca frita with a mustard-like, picante sauce (aji), fresh avocado slices, rice and red beans (reminded me of improved canned pork and beans), maduros (sweet plantains), and tostones (too dry fried green plantains) with awesome queso slices. It was odd for the server (who doubled as cashier and busboy - a one man show!) to serve us sweet plantains and tostones before the main dishes. But I guess he put out what was readily available first. We were stuffed as usual. But who can leave without trying dessert? So we tried all three choices: higos (figs) in some rich sweet sauce with queso again, delicious homemade flan in caramel syrup, and coconut flan ( not our favorite - too coconutty). Then he surprised us with tres leches cake which we instantly recognized as it hit the table. That was not even on the menu! It was even better than the flan: milky smooth and spongy cake. I forgot to mention, in the midst of all this gorging, that all the dishes are big potions. The regular (not large) portions are not skimpy either. I still think the tres leches cake at Oaxaca Kitchen beat this one and this place did not blow me away, but this place deserved four stars because he did an exceptional job of serving us and was very friendly despite our poor attempt at menu Spanish! read more

Been going there for years. Slowly it's gotten worse through out time. Did take out this evening and they screwed my order up. Not the first time and I'm sure not the last.. chicken was great at one point , but now it's dry to the point i need to wash it down with water. Lol !!! I usually don't complain or leave negative feedback on establishments but when it happens more than once and your told they can't take back what they screwed up on then maybe they should be put on blast.. so eat at your own risk ladies and gents. read more

Good service and amazing food. Their chicken is to die for and the price is even better. Ive been going here for years and sometimes they might forget some of your orders, but just double check before leaving. But over all this place is a MUST! read more

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The service is amazing and the food is exceptional. I heard that they were serving breakfast at the restaurant, and I had to try it. I came in and was impressed by the variety of breakfast menu, but there was one thing that caught my eye in particular. The bolon mixto, I even asked the waitress if she can bring me a side of bistec de carne to pair with the bolon and they were happy to make the accommodation for me. The food was great, it definitely hit the spot that I was looking for. But what took it over the top was the batido(Shake) of lulu. I had to order two. Again I have to say that I was pleasantly pleased with the food and service. I will definitely recommend this to my friends and family. read more

I'm really surprised at some of the reviews here! I ordered take out last night- a half chicken, shredded chicken and yellow rice, plantains, a couple Columbian empanadas, and flan. Everything was delicious! The portions were quite large (2 of us shared a "regular" sized rice/chicken meal), and excellent for the price. I will absolutely be back. read more

The chicken here is pretty good. I usually come about 1 or 2 times a month. I usually get a half chicken with french fries, and my girlfriend usually gets a quarter chicken with the rice and beans. Never really tried anything else on the menu. Some times I have been and it was better than others. Overall the chicken is very flavorful. Worth the trip if you have never been, and you enjoy this type of cuisine. read more

Plan ahead when you expect large parties on Mother's Day. Mass confusion with orders.

Came here on the recommendation of my girlfriend and the positive reviews of my fellow Yelpers. I have mixed feelings to go with mixed food results. I got the charcoal chicken. The taste was fine but it was the smallest 2 pieces I could have gotten. It was more like charcoal chick. The plantains (maduros) were well made and the salad was fresh but my girlfriends pork chops were dry and tough although well seasoned. Unlike my chicken the portions were more generous. I'd come back but not on a special night marked for celebration. read more

Wow! Wow! Wow! Is all I can say. The food is authentic and tasty. As an American latino I understand the flavors in Spanish food. Charcoal Chicken is real and their food speaks for itself. Try more than just one meal. You will not regret it! Charcoal Chicken is "mi segunda Casa"! read more

So I asked the waitress if I can order a side of chicken and white rice. What did she say, no!! No??? I am so stund that she didn't offer to ask the chef if they can do that for me. I am a very dedicated person when I like a place and will brag and bring an army with me. There loose. I will never come here again. The only reason I wanted something small was because I ate a couple of hours earlier and I was still feeling it. Shame on them!!!! read more

Chicken was absolutely amazing but I have to say I was disappointed..I ordered a lunch special which turned out to be $10 and some change. I only got 2 small pieces of chicken and 4 plantains..what the heck am I going to do with that?..still hungry right now ughh read more

The worse chicken I've ever tasted!! The chicken was extremely dry and had absolutely no flavor at all!!! The chicharron was also bad. Hard, dry and no flavor! I will never go back there and will never recommend anyone to go there. It's a waste of money! read more

I tried this place after searching online for latin food in West Haven. I didn't really know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. The place is very clean and the staff is friendly. I ordered chicken and tostones to go and it only took about 10 minutes to be done. The chicken was moist and well seasoned and the tostones were simply perfect. We will definitely go back there again! read more

I have been going to charcoal chicken for yearssss and recently they hired 2 new waitresses who are absolutely horrendous, myself my brother and cousin walked in sunday and were told to sit wherever.. then 15 minutes passed and no one brought us a menu, no one even acknowledged us. finally we got up and left, my cousin asked the waitress if we were supposed to get our own menus and she had the ordacity to say she didn't see us?!? like what!! you were the one who told us to sit lol then my parents walked in today and the same girl completely disregarded them!! whoever this girl is they need to get rid of her fasttttt because they just lost 5 LONGG TIME customers! read more

paying $11.95 for a whole chicken and $3.75 for fried green plantain!!!! I was HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED with our order!!! We stopped to by a cut whole roasted chicken and tostones to go with dinner! the chicken was overly salted like it was old and re-seasoned, tostones tasted re fried.... paying $11.95 for a whole chicken and $3.75 for fried green plantain!!!! LESSON LEARNED!!!!!! Take a little extra time and cook it yourself!!! read more

Very much upset with me ordering to go and when I get home I look at the order of tostones to only find 8 in the tray for 7.00. The beans did not taste freshly made and the lady in the front was really rude. The chicken was great at least. read more

Charcoal Chicken is a gem!!! We have been getting take-out from here for years, but when it was time to plan my 40th birthday party, my husband looked to host it here. Am I ever happy that he did!!! The night was phenomenal. They closed the restaurant for us (they still had take-out business) and set it up beautifully. We started off with a signature drink (wow) and ceviche for all. Josue and his family were fabulous about the set-up of the place, the food and all the drinks. Of course the food was delicious - cut up chicken, chicken rice, shrimp rice, beans, salad and maduros. And we finished off the evening with a delicious cake they made for me. Everyone was very attentive and made my night so special. If you haven't visited here yet - you need to. Just watch out for the hot sauce...it's really hot! I highly recommend Charcoal Chicken! read more