I recently dined here with a friend at her suggestion. She had been dying for me to try some traditional Peruvian breakfast items. I'm so glad she did because, I've been ordering Peruvian breakfast sandwiches ever since! My friend ordered us both a pan con chicharron with fruit shakes and juices. I had a mango shake while she had a passionfruit juice; both were delicious and fresh. As a lover of pork, the sandwich was phenomenal for me. The meat had a delicious fattiness to it but, wasn't too much. The sweet potatoes were crispy yet soft. The red onion offered a different texture and taste. And the spicy sauce, which was served on the side, was the perfect finishing touch to the sandwich. I'm not really into spicy foods but, the heat worked so well with the fatty pork, sweet potatoes, and the slight kick of the red onions. Unfortunately, I haven't been back to the location again but, I have began ordering these sandwiches from a restaurant that delivers to my home. I can't wait to return to this location that started my love for pan con chicharron. read more

El Pollo Gordo Restaurant - Pan con chicharron in the front and back. Mango shake and Passionfruit juice in the middle. - Latin American Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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Taste awful I ordered pork chop they burn them on top of that they fried pork chop had a fishy smell.

Truly the best food I've ever had in my life. The lomo saltado and pescado frito are the stars of the show. I make the 2 hour drive to come here whenever I can. read more

Soooooo good the food here just a little on the salty side. The seafood plate is so worth it. That's pack your plate with so much delicious food. It was so good we had to freeze some bring some back to FL so my mom can taste it! Btw she loved it too but she agreed a bit to salty read more

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Place was pretty good for what I paid for. The jalea was huge and more than enough for two people, the seafood itself could have been a little crunchier, it was a little soggy. The arroz chaufa de pollo was a little burnt. Since I was starving, I didn't notice until I was halfway done with my portion that it tasted like it had been burnt in the pot. The staff was really friendly and attentive. read more

CHAUFA ESPECIAL $14 OMG, First of all id like to apologize for not coming here before and being upset every time I drove by and there was so much traffic in the area. Now I know why there is so much traffic. The food is AMAZING! I have lived here for years and have not stopped in until Last week. The man on the phone was very nice and the food is made as soon as you place the order. I might mention that a lot of comments say the food is pricey but come on, I got this CHAUFA for $14 and it was a huge amount that lasted me 3 days! I was so full. I think the price is good for the amount of food you get. I will keep this place bookmarked when I'm super hungry! read more

El Pollo Gordo Restaurant - CHAUFA ESPECIAL $14 big portion! - Latin American Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

Love this place. 1) Cash only (main problem). 2) They have all your Peruvian specialty. 3) I love the pollos a la brasa, lomo saltado, and arroz chaufa. 4) They have tres leches. However, it is good, but not the best. 5) Good selection and service. read more

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Someone told me don't judge a book it's cover...I guess that saying it's correct! Drove about 45 mins to get some delicious Peruvian food! read more

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I have no words for how good their food.. ITS BEYOND AMAZING.. the chicken has so much flavor while still being juicy.. the chaufa special is sooooooooo good and the green sauce is straight addicting. I live 25 mins away n would drive their just for the food.. The only bad thing is parking sucks and they only take cash... besides that A++++++++ read more

I recommend Jalea and papa huancaina. Cash only, heads up! Juice lomo saltado and accessible prices. read more

El Pollo Gordo Restaurant - a man eating a salad - Latin American Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

I ate here and I don't know what happened but I was served rancid meat. I ordered steak with rice and beans and I didn't finish my meal so I took it home and after one day the meat smelled so bad. It literally smelled like poop. I have never smelled food like that before in my life and I will never forget that distinct rotten meat smell. I was clearly served inedible food and I don't plan on eating here again. read more

Yummy Peruvian pollo ala brasa...again green sauce...very similiar to PIO PIO.. Buttttt, they have jugo de chinola (Passion Fruit Juice) by the pitcher....wiggity wiggity awesomeee! And their salchi-papas are gooddd! But the best of all is the papas ala huancaina (idunno how to spell sometimes) =) read more

El Pollo Gordo officially fell off. Ever since the previous owner sold the restaurant, the new owner has been taking the legendary El Pollo Gordo on a downward spiral. I have given them chance after chance to try and redeem my love for the Pollo a la Brasa but the they continue to fail me serving the driest chicken on Union Ave. With more completion on the block, it seems that El Pollo Gord is losing (if not lost) their touch. As for the new owner, his attitude sucks. This place needs to step it up big time. I'll be visiting again one day and hopefully I will update my review. Pros: + Empanadas + Green Sauce + Chica Morada Cons: - Owner - Dry Chicken - Rude staff - Overpriced - Owner sometimes charges $1 for the smallest amount of sauce (Teaspoon size maybe) - Pollo a la UPSET ** Try Neighboring competition... Lena y Carbon is really good ** read more

My boyfriend who is new to spanish food is OBSESSED with this food. We take the 40 minute drive most weekends just to eat here. I grew up around this restaurant and have been eating here for about 10 years. It is the BEST peruvian I have EVER had. Ive had the chicken, salad, lomo saltado, papa ala huancaina, tallarin verde,... The list goes on and on and everything is AMAZING. Even the fish and calamari is amazing and FRESH. HUGE portions for cheap. read more

Best steak chaufa around! Local small Peruvian place, with all of the delicious food to go with it. The food is cooked to order, it's seasoned perfectly and so fresh! They give you a crazy amount of food for less than $10. I knocked off a star because like other said its cash only and the parking isn't that great in the area. Oh make sure you get the green sauce with the chaufa - I think it's called ahi? It's got a kick but it is soooo yummy! read more

I'm not afraid to give places 5 stars especially when they deserve them. Hands down best chaufa in northern New Jersey. Their green sauce is delicious Perfect balance of flavors and not too spicy. The rotisserie chicken is a plus too. read more

El Pollo Gordo Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

Thee words: Get the chaufa. The chaufa (Peruvian style fried rice) is an absolute must. I used to work in the area and one of my colleagues put me on to the chaufa. The chaufa with chicken is delicious but the chaufa mixto with chicken and steak is next level good. The green sauce that comes with it really sets it off. Do not proceed without. You also get a lot for your money so it's a great value. read more

Best pollo la brass in Paterson, their green sauce is highly addictive and my family and I practically drink it. This is about as close to real Peruvian food as I'm gonna get. read more

I was disgusted today because I saw a customer changing her babies diaper in front of everyone. The staff was looking and did not say anything. I could not believe what I was seeing. I got sick to my stomach. I can't believe they allow this! I'm outraged! read more

Mixed reviews for this place. They were out of green sauce, or at least, that's what we understood from the server;) Unfortunately, no Spanish speakers in our group. The chicken with fried spaghetti was, for lack of a better word, meh. It was like a very indifferent version of chicken chow mein, with less veggies and sub spaghetti. The side of arroz was bland; just plain white rice sans any flavorings. The pork tamale however was a revelation and is the sole reason for this place garnering a 3-star review. Its color was a shade of red. It was quite moist and littered with peculiar yet wonderful findings: peanuts and olives for instance. In fact, I think it may have been a peanut-flavored tamale, though not overwhelming with the nut. The pork pieces were white meat, not dry, very tasty and just the right amount. 4 stars for the tamale. 1 for the chicken and rice. read more

I love Peruvian food and have tried various restaurants, and this place beats all of them in two things: the jalea and the arroz chaufa (of any variety). I cannot express how amazing these two dishes are here along with the other things I've tried like the lomo saltado and the rotisserie chicken. You can't go wrong here. Probably one of my favorite restaurants ever. I now live on the west coast, but whenever I'm in the area this is a MUST. read more

This place is sooo good my first time ordering take out and the food is just as good omg I've had there jalea there ceviche there papa la huancaina all of it every Time is sooo good read more

El Pollo Gordo Restaurant - Papa a la huancaina and ceviche - Latin American Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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Pollo a la brasa is okay They give u huge portions of food but the food isn't great. Parking sucks. read more

Had the Chuaffa a long time ago and really was craving it so we picked some up for dinner. I order the special one with shrimps and meat it was good. The baked chicken was also good but the fries were fried in dirty oil, and the salad was old. read more

Not a fan. The potatoes with that yellow sauce was very salty, fried rive had no taste, and their dessert chocolate cake was so dry. Presentation DEFINITELY surpassed taste buds which is never a good thing read more

El Pollo Gordo Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

Food always good! Service is cool. They can have a long wait even if yu call and order. But great spot .

This is the only place I go to get my Spanish Food. Chaufa to the Chicken great taste and flavor. I love their Chaufa with mix with chicken and shrimp topped with GREEN GREEN SAUCE to die for. Craving it now just by writing this review hahaha. We order to pick up from work atlist 2 to 3 times a week. Street Parking available near just drive around the block. read more

Ooo, soo good! When I'm back home in NJ and craving Peruvian food, I come here. For under $10 you get a HUGE portion of chicken, rice, beans and a side salad. I always have leftovers. Of course, pick yourself up a bottle of Inca Kola and you're set! read more

Best Peruvian food in the area. I used to be a repeat customer at joeys in totowa but I stopped going there because the service is very poor and they are stingy with the sauce and meat. El pollo gordo gives you as much sauce as u want and the meals are full of meat and not cheap. I will continue going to Gordos forever they have been catering to all my needs and I make very large orders for the corporation I work for. Thank you for everything! read more

Bomb Peruvian food, big portions and great prices. There lomo salteado, steak chaufa (peruvian fried rice), papa a la huancaina, choro a la chalaca, jalea mixta I could keep going but you'll just have to try it for yourself. The only reason I didn't give a 5 star is because there service is not the most greatest or attentive. But there food is hands down some of the best Peruvian food I've ever had which is why I keep coming back. read more

Green sauce is amazing. Lomo is amazing. They need to put one In manalapan/freehold NJ I drive over an hour for this place !

El gordo, or the "fat man" in English knows how to cook succulent fat juicy chickens. This is your standard Peruvian rotisserie chicken. Done pretty damn well. The location sits on the corner of he busy Monroe st, across the street from a fantastic Mexican grocery store which by the way offers great produce and hard to find ethnic products. El Gordo is a small shop with maybe 10/15 tables. As soon as you walk in your greeted with the welcoming scent of spanish spices cooking coming from the large roaster that sits at the front. The chickens are xpertly cooked. Juicy though and though. Lots and I mean LOTS of flavor. Not your sickly Grease birds that one is acclimated with from Boston market. This is the real deal. Great natural Peruvian homestyle cooking done right. A plump half bird with fries and salad comes out to 7.50. A whole bird with two sides is $15. The birds are marinated and rubbed with peruvian spices. I pick up hints of cumin. Super delishious!! The clincher. The GREEN SAUCE!!! Utterly amazing. Waning: Just don't dip ur fingers in the sauce. I won't be held accountable if by any chance you chew one by accident lol read more

Food is pretty good, But after what I saw last time I was there I'll never go there again. So I would think twice before going here. It wasn't very pleasant. Let's see it was a huge sanitation issue! Gross! read more

this place is awesome. the chicken is succulent and flavorful, and that green sauce? just hook me up to an IV of that! i went there today and for $9 i got a 1/4 chicken, white rice, beans, side salad (basically just lettuce and cucumber), and diet inca cola. the owner and servers are so nice and let you stay as long as you want. their only downfall is the desserts, which look like they are bought pre-made from somewhere else and leave a little something to be desired (i've tried the tres leches cake and the flan). read more

El Pollo Gordo Restaurant - 1/4 chicken with rice and salad for $6. say what??? - Latin American Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

Been coming to this place for almost 7 years. Fantastic Peruvian food don't go anywhere else but here. The pollo is always juicy and fresh and the guy is always welcoming. But I may say some of the waitresses can be a bit more upbeat. 5 for the food and 3 for the girls. read more

Been back a few times and would say the service could be a bit better. There is a guy who is always at the front of the store who I think is the owner who probably shouldn't be in the front of the house. He is not very welcoming and I have not seen him be friendly with anyone on any of my visits there. Still food is the #1 reason for me to go somewhere. Which I would say is excellent. A little inconsistent on the chicken, 1 out 3 visits it was dry/overdone. Just enough reasons for me to go and try some of the other similar restaurants in the area. read more

Great food! Very tasty! Portions are huge! Went with 4 people and all the dishes were superb. Only reason did not give 5 stars is because the dining room needed to be cleaned up. But overall very good meal! read more

Best pollo best sauce best rice best people I recommend their food. Fernando is the best!!!

They have the best aji (green hot sauce) however they are extremely greedy with their sauce. They give ONE half filled container for a family order. I always have to ask for extra sauce and pay 50 cents for each one. Im ok with paying for a few extra however they should give a few free with your order! Their chicken is amazing!!! Perfect flavor and moist! The salad is really good. Chaufa and lomo are really good. No delivery! N cash only! read more

Food is good especially the lomo. But you have to make sure you know what you want before you go. They are not friendly, especially if you do not speak Spanish. Not polite at all. read more