The. Best. Chicken. Ever. The place seriously need to be on the tv food circuit. This may also be the best value of a meal in the NoVa area. read more

Best Peruvian chicken in the region! Absolutely delicious chicken, fries, and cole slaw. There are a couple of other food options, and I'll update this review if I'm ever in any other mood (that might not happen). There is a white/yellow sauce that's mild and amazing. The green sauce is a little spicey for me but is also very good. Can't wait to come back here. Also be sure to come in and out of the double doors, the side door lets in a lot of cold/hot air. read more

Great chicken, very fresh and great spices! The ahi mayonnaise (yellow sauce) was perfect. My half chicken, rice, fries, and Inca Kola was only $11.xx. I highly recommend! Update... I'm in town again and had the half chicken. A-maz-ing! A+++ Another update, this place is amazing! I've had Peruvian chicken (pollo a la brasa) like this at a dozen or more places, including a few in Peru, and this chicken is the best! Always fresh and juicy and the best blend of flavors, perfection! This place needs to expand! Another update, I come here every time I'm in town. Still 5 stars! Still the best chicken and still cheap! I added some recent pics. read more

See all

Summary - affordable tasty food albeit a bit heavy on the tummy. The sauces are under appreciated, esp the white one. Pros Yummy and flavorful Cheap Cons 5 pound weight gain The cold drink have 2 truck loads of sugar in each gulp Been there a few times, dine in and delivery. Been glad with the visit just about every time. It's very affordable especially if you get the full chicken. Their fries are nice and thick. Just perfect for their sauces for which they charge a bit extra. Some of the desserts are really good. There's this biscuit one which has some white powder on it. It's my favorite. read more

El Pollo Rico - It is Saturday night and it is very very crowded. - Latin American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

El Pollo Rico does chicken right. the seasonings on the chicken itself is a perfect blend. not too salty, not too bland. I don't know if they brine the chicken or what kind of voodoo magic they do on the bird, it'll be the juiciest moistest chicken you will ever eat. I use the mayo sauce and the spicy sauce and mix them together. SO GOOD. Prices are good. parking is a breeze. read more

Really good chicken but was surprised/disappointed that there's no yuca and it was kind of pricey. I use to love getting Peruvian or rotisserie chicken for kids and me because it's healthier than fast food and usually cheaper but this was more expensive than I was expecting. read more

Family owned business with great tasting chicken. I originally was only going to eat a quarter piece but ended up getting half The fries were very plain and the cole slaw was a little too creamy for me. Try the GREEN sauce; not too spicy and has a nice kick. Plenty of seats for dine-in! read more

This place is great! It does one thing and one thing well! It was a must stop when my cousins came all the way down from Philly. The chicken is great and tender. The skin is well seasoned but not to the point where it's too salty. The yellow sauce that comes with it has some sort of bite that I can't place but it's still awesome. The fries and Cole slaw weren't anything special, but not bad. The only downsides are that the plastic utensils that they give you are a little too flimsy, but let's be honest you're going to eat this with your hands. The only other issue is parking but if you just circle around the block a couple times you'll typically find something. read more

El Pollo Rico - Look at that 1/2 Chicken - Latin American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

The real deal ! Hot, fresh juicy with crispy skin. Long line on a Friday evening but worth the wait. The plantains were just meh.

Always delicious. This place is the best Peruvian that my wife and I have found in the area. My wife is Peruvian and we are used to Peruvian chicken places in Miami which are the absolute best, but this is a close second. They've never failed us, the food is always fresh and the service is always polite. An absolute must. read more

I've been coming here since I was a child and the food has always been great and the service is always fast. I came in last week and saw that they have a sticker posted next to the register for students of George Mason University. I scanned the QR code on that sticker and it said that I could get 10% off if I was a Mason student and had my student ID. I asked the woman at checkout and showed her the page that explained the discount from the sticker THEY posted. She immediately refused the discount. Like I said before, the food is always great but please do not false advertise a discount that you won't honor. Thank you. read more

Best Peruvian Chicken!! I 100% recommend it! Getting a whole chicken is cheaper than getting just 4 quarter chicken. read more

This place serves up some pretty terrific roasted chicken. I like to come here for lunch every few weeks or so, getting a quarter chicken with fries and coleslaw. While the chicken is great, I'm still pretty lukewarm on the sides, but then again, you're coming here for the chicken, not the sides, right? This place gets busy really quickly (at least at the lunch hour), so try to get there early if you can. read more

El Pollo Rico - Latin American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Rate: 4.5 Found this place through yelp. I have tried many different peruvian chicken places, and i would place this on my top 5 peruvian places to go too. The place is semi hidden. They have side parking and their own parking lot, but they do have their peak hours were it can get very crowded. I have been to this place twice, and you just have to follow people to know what line to stand in. Their chicken is seasoned so perfectly and i usually order with a side of fries. The only downside is that you have to pay extra if you want more sauces, and they get their money worth causes their yellow sauce is delicious. Overall i would highly recommend this place. read more

El Pollo Rico - Whole chicken - Latin American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

See all

I've been eating El Pollo Rico for more than a DECADE, but normally I frequent the Silver Spring location. Up until a few years ago, I didn't know this location existed. This is UNDENIABLY the best Peruvian chicken I've ever had, hands down, BUT I'm going to need more than 4 sauces for a whole damn chicken! I asked them to cut it in 8 pieces so at the least, I should get one sauce per piece, right? NOPE! You get two yellow and two green (spicy). A whole chicken is supposed to feed four people and you get two sides, however a small side of rice and a bag of fries won't cut it. I'm only given this place three stars because I had to ask for extra sauce (she literally gave me ONE) and the side options are small and limited. I don't like premade coleslaw that is scooped from a bucket and unlike the Silver Spring location, which gives you four large sides with a whole chicken, you only get two!! To make matters worse they do NOT offer beans or plantains!!! I'm not even sure if I saw Yuca on the menu? Although this location is less than 15mins from my house, I will continue driving to Silver Spring and pretend this location doesnt exist. You can't go wrong with the taste, flavor and juiciness of the chicken. That yellow sauce takes this already delicious chicken to another level, I just want to drink it, BUT if I can get the same thing with more options, I'm out, hahaha. read more

See all

Delivery review: Do not recommend for delivery - my order came more than an hour late and my food was cold. They charged $5 for delivery so I was expecting on time delivery. I asked for a refund for poor service but was not given one. Disappointed as I really enjoy their food. read more

Chicken is still the best. We've been patronizing them as far back as when they were located by the Hamburger Trolley (long gone), and before the development of Clarendon to what it is today. Only thing, I wish their sides that go with a whole chicken are larger and not the same size as for a half chicken. read more

I would order this as my last meal on death row. I've been eating here for 10 years now and always consistently excellent. read more

El Pollo Rico - Latin American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Whenever I'm in the mood for Peruvian pollo a brasa, this is the place I go to. It's reasonably priced, and the chicken is always fresh.

Don't miss out on El Pollo Rico if you are a Peruvian chicken enthusiast. Great value for authentic chicken. You will find me ordering a half chicken with coleslaw, rice and a coconut juice every time I go. Oh, and the green sauce adds a perfect punch! Fortunately for me, El Pollo Rico is within walking distance of my house :) read more

El Pollo Rico - El Pollo Rico in Arlington, VA. - Latin American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I used to come here all the time and was excellent. The sauces are a bit bland and the chicken was very dry :( please bring back the original way it was like 6 years ago. Thanks ! read more

My first time ever having Peruvian chicken was today, and I'm SO glad it was here! The way the chicken is prepared with the spices are one of the best blends I've ever had. I wasn't going to take a picture and just enjoy the meal, but it was so delicious (as you can tell, half of it is already gone) that I knew I had to share my review with everyone! read more

El Pollo Rico - Latin American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

So this is one of the most popular places to get Peruvian chicken in DC and must say that we were not disappointed. The chicken was nicely marinated and very flavorful and moist. They don't have plantains or yucca chips as side but I would not hold that against them. There is a lot of sitting space and parking was also easy. But I must say that though it's better than most of the other Peruvian chicken places but I still feel that Chicken Rico's is better than EL Pollo Rico. read more

El Pollo Rico - Latin American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Wow, where to start with this place. This is usually my go-to spot for peruvian chicken, and the food is decent (although the quality has gone down quite a bit from when I first had it). Let me first start with the food. We got take out, the food was alright. The chicken was marinated nicely, but the chicken was so damn cold by the time we ate it. We only live about 8 minutes away so the chicken shouldn't have been "lukewarm", at best. The fries are good, the coleslaw is alright. The reason I'm never returning and giving this establishment ONE star is because of what happened tonight. First off, the place was not busy. We were the only ones in line, waiting for someone in the register area to call us over to take our order. The male worker who handles the food calls us over, but says something extremely ignorant and racist to us. When I confronted him, he starts laughing off with his coworkers and smirking at us. When our food was ready, the front register lady was extremely rude to us and said something like "I told you the food was ready". She was rude bc she knew I was annoyed about the situation and confronted the guy. These workers made the WHOLE situation extremely uncomfortable. We will not be returning to a restaurant that employs ignorant workers. Maybe train your employees? Do better. read more

I love the chicken and all sides. I eat it with no sauce. Sauce is not needed it ruins the food

This is my first time having Peruvian food and I am hooked! I got the whole chicken with two sides and the total was only $15! That's amazing. The chicken was delicious. The skin was delicious. The rice was delicious. The Cole slaw was just Cole slaw. This place is a quick eating place and nothing fancy. The chicken was not dry at all and had great flavor. I would def next time just get dark meat since they have an option for that. They also have dessert! read more

El Pollo Rico - Whole chicken with sides - Latin American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This chicken is outrageously delicious when it is fresh and juicy. Unfortuntely we had to eat lunch early today. The half chickens were dry, especially the breast meat. Lesson learned: Don't be the first in line at lunch. And check the chicken before you leave the restaurant. If they are dry, request a fresh, juicy replacement. Good luck ! read more

Best Peruvian chicken in the DMV, hands down. El Pollo Rico has a small menu, but everything on it is excellent. First, the chicken--I'd never had Peruvian chicken until I started working down the street at GMU in 2016 and a coworker brought me here my first week. It's just mind-blowingly delicious. Juicy meat with salty, crispy skin...I've never had chicken this good. The sides are great too! The fries are somehow always perfect (and I normally don't like steak fries), the coleslaw is creamy, the rice is buttery and perfectly cooked. The sauces (yellow & green) are both delicious, but the chicken can stand on its own! I also love El Pollo Rico because is totally independent of all the Pollo chains in the area--it's a tiny, local, family owned business that's been making chicken the same way for years. And it shows! A few notes--they take card, but you can't tip on a card. I recommend paying in cash. Also, the lines can get long, but they move quickly. The people who work here have their service down to a perfect, economical science. Just make sure you know what you want before you get to the register! read more

Convenience and good fast food. Their chicken is juicy, delicious. Their menu is very basic. I want more options on salad order but they don't have. Can not compare to El Polo Loco with variety of items on the menu. But definitely good for travelers who want a quick good meal. There is no driver through. read more

See all

Yo this place is the bomb diggity. NoVa is known for its rotisserie chicken of the Latin American flavor and this place is definitely up there in terms of the great restaurants there. What I like about this place is that it's a family feel to it. They treat you like family as you walk in, they help you with the order if you're confused by their small type. They are quick in getting you the food, the place draws a variety of diverse peoples and they make the beat goddamn chicken. I came here with my friend had a quarter chicken with yuca fries, beans and a coke in a glass bottle for under $10. What else can you ask for really? The chicken was amazingly juicy and the yuca fries were fried perfectly. I will keep continuing to come here and bring all my friends here for it. This place gets the 5 stars because they know what they are great at and they are unapologetic and true about it. Love it! read more

El Pollo Rico - Line on a Saturday - Latin American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Just like with pho, everybody has their opinions on what the best Peruvian chicken joint is. El Pollo Rico has gotten a lot of publicity in the past few years for, 1) for harboring illegal immigrants and money laundering and 2) for being the Peruvian chicken joint of Anthony Bourdain's choice on a recent Washington DC episode. As a Peruvian chicken afficianado, I believe their chicken is up there in terms of tastiness along with Edy's Chicken & Steak, Super Pollo (my personal favorite), and Super Chicken -- however the overall dining experience has been ruined several times due to the fact that they do not take credit cards (paper trails are easier to follow when you are in the money laundering business) and they don't serve rice with their chicken (hello I'm Asian, I need rice!). Yelpers, I am pleased to say that on a recent trip to El Pollo Rico both of these situations have been remedied so when you go there all you can focus on is sucking off all that delicious meat off the bones (and finding a decent parking spot but that is a story for another day). read more

"Dude, we gotta go here!" That's all I heard about this place. Being the patient man of mild disposition that I am, I calmly inquired why I needed to travel so far from the luxury of my hotel room's a/c to eat some chicken? "Because you have to." That (and the promise of good food) was enough for me. Well, after traffic, getting lost and sub-Saharan heat, I, shockingly, was no longer the meek wallflower many know me to be. I rationally asked where we were and when we'd arrive and shortly thereafter we were there. As was half of Virginia. I stood. And waited. Crept up an inch. Stood. Waited. Repeat. After a long time gone, I finally made it up to the counter to order. Surprisingly to all around, my patience was a wee bit stretched out. It was hard to see the menu from the beads of sweat pouring down my brow and into my eyes. With my last bit of strength, I managed an order: "1/4 chicken, fries, slaw, two of that green sauce and a coconut water." I barely made it to the table before my legs gave out from heat, hunger and exhaustion. This d@mn chicken better be worth it. ....... As I ate, Meg Ryan from When Harry Met Sally has *nothing* on me. Nothing. Ya heard? What is in that chicken... and can I give it my number? Call me! read more

Of all the Peruvian chicken joints that are scattered around the DC area (and that have conspired to make this area one of the best spots in the country for such chicken), this one restaurant, based on its reputation and exposure, may very well be the epicenter of it all. Certainly, it is well reviewed; and, on the occasions when I have dined here, it has always been busy and boisterous. Indeed, to eat here is to participate in a DC area rite of passage (like making a requisite stop at Ray's Hell Burger, Ben's Chili Bowl, or standing in line at Georgetown Cupcake). Anyway, on my last visit, the lines weren't too long; and, upon making my way to the counter, it took all of three seconds to place my order. I mean, really, what else is there to get but the chicken (and the predetermined sides of Cole slaw and French fries). Before I proceed, let me just say that I might very well have come on an off-day or, perhaps, on a day when they were breaking in a new hired hand (who in an anxious fit, feeling a bit intimidated by the crush of customers, and a misguided need to impress) misjudged the level of seasoning that he was supposed to use and erred on the side of "more is better." Really, I found the spice rub (which was fairly abundant, especially, on the interior carcass of the chicken) to be overwhelming. I mean, my chicken had been lathered up pretty well with their signature spices; and, rather than enhancing the flavor and experience of eating the chicken (and partnering with the charcoal infused aroma), the chicken simply tasted salty. Furthermore, the chicken was not particularly moist either (not dry but, certainly, not as tender as other Peruvian chicken I've had - and, I've had a lot). In the end, my French fries (big, thick steak cut fries) were the biggest hit. They were fresh, crispy and exuded a satisfying potato flavor. I guess, I will return to reassess at some point; but, for now, I am one of the few dissenting voices when it comes to this esteemed place. Honestly, I wasn't impressed by the chicken; and, it would be silly, really, to come here just for the fries. I think people would look at me and wonder what the hell I was doing. read more

See all

Yay I finally got to try this place. It has been a long time coming that I have had the yearn interest to do so, but failing to get around to it has been the ongoing issue. My friend and I showed up about 7pm to dine at this establishment. It's pretty unsightly establishment, but nonetheless, they serve up some serious grub from the grill directly to your plate offering whole chicken, half chicken or quarter sized with complimenting sides of fries, rice, or coleslaw. We opted for the 2 piece chicken with 2 sides. Don't expect to be neat when consuming this. It will get messy and you will use your hands for the duration of the meal more than utensils. Beverages are canned soda or bottled water. If you only want a cup of water - make sure to specify or else they will give you bottled. Happy dining! read more

See all

What is there to say about El Pollo Rico that hasn't already been said? This is Peruvian style chicken at its finest. My only complaint is that they don't serve Yucca. That's the only reason I didn't get them 5 stars. read more

THIS IS THE BEST PLACE IN THEE ENTIRE WORLD! When I hear "El Pollo Rico" my heart skips a beat. All I ever dream about is their mind blowing, juicy, savory charcoal broiled chicken with extra, extra WHITE SAUCE. That is literally all you need in life. My friend actually lives in the new apartments behind El Pollo Rico, and I am so jealous of her because I would be coming to El Pollo Rico for breakfast, lunch, and dinner EVERYDAY. No shame, it is THAT amazing. If you are hungry and can't decide what to eat - EL POLLO RICO IT. I promise you will not only love it, you will be addicted. CASH ONLY. read more

El Pollo Rico - Amazing! - Latin American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

See all

Wow. Amazing. Delicious. This place knows how to do pollo chicken. It's the only thing on the menu and is packed with South Americans.

Peruvian chicken... :) :) :) Always packed and there is a legit reason. You can usually get parking because someone is just pulling out. The lot is a pretty decent size, and they have a fair amount of seating inside. Nothing much about the decor...and its pretty much located in a back alley....but Staff is quick, food is great. For about $15 you can get a whole chicken and two sides. Their white rice is magically delicious and flavorful. Be aware though: sometimes they run out of chicken. And sometimes they only accept cash. Delicious. read more

This is basic Peruvian chicken at its finest! My chicken has always been juicy and flavorful and since I loooove french fries, the addition of steak fries is a winner in my book. The chicken can be ordered in 1/4, 1/2, or whole. Each order comes with two sides; choice of rice, cole slaw, and steak fries. In addition, you get two sauces; green and yellow. (I don't like sauces so I am not sure what they are). And while the line may reach out into the parking lot, don't let that stop you because it moves really fast. If you choose to dine inside, there is plenty of seating. It appears that the dining area is not well attended, as the seats and tables are always sticky, but if you don't mind sticking to your seats then you will love this place. El Pollo Rico has its own private parking area, but during lunch looking for parking can be a nightmare. Again, remember, that since the line moves so fast, you won't have to wait long before someone moves their vehicle. Unless they got stuck to one of the seats on the inside...then your wait time might be slightly longer. read more

***** 900th REVIEW ! ***** (For El Pollo Rico, not me personally) It's been a good couple months since I've dined here, (I used to walk 5-6 blocks from my old workplace during my lunch break), but I just HAD to write a review for them. As if they need another 5-star review. El Pollo Rico is THE spot. It's absolutely the BEST Peruvian Chicken joint I've been to. I've tried other pollo places all over VA, and even in CA. Nothing comes close so far. The menu, sure, isn't flashy, but simpler options in my opinion means they spend less time cooking up many side dishes, and more time focusing on what's really important- THE POLLO! The chicken here is perfectly cooked, seasoned with just the right amount of spices, and is just all around A+. The sides, like I mentioned are limited. You can choose 2 out of 3 sides for the meal: rice, fries, and/or cole slaw. Gotta admit, I looove the steak fries here! So yummy and crisp.The rice is my other option, plain white rice, but I get it so that the chicken is still the highlight of the meal. Treat yo'self to some excellent pollo! Go 'Rico! read more