Tried El Pollo Supremo and this place hits. The chicken was super flavorful with that legit grilled char, like it actually spent time on a grill and not just near one. Not dry at all, just really well cooked. Portion size was huge. I ordered like a normal human and somehow ended up with enough food for future me too. And it's cheap. Almost confusingly cheap for how much food you get, but I'm not asking questions. Only thing to know going in, it's cash only. Luckily I had cash like a responsible adult for once, so no issues there. Definitely coming back. read more

Been going since I was a kid always good and worth the drive. I normally get half beef with a side of rice. read more

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My family has been going here for years. Even those that live out of state demand that we come here when they're in town. This restaurant is family owned and operated, and they've maintained a simple but delicious menu for years. My favorite is the 1/4 pound beef with flour tortillas. When you order takeout, they wrap the tortillas and steak in foil to keep them warm. The service is always fast and friendly. The inside of the restaurant has the kind of look that only comes from years of steady use. Nothing about it is flashy or styled, but it carries a quiet charm all the same. They only accept cash as payment. read more

El Pollo Supremo - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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After leaving hungry at the Chinese place across the street, I was still hungry and annoyed, so I decided to come here and see what they have. Nice to walk in and be greeted by the lady at the front. I can smell the chicken being grilled from the kitchen. I also like the small menu. Can't beat the 2 piece plate for $8.32. My plate came with wing, thigh, beans, pickled onion, salsa and choice of flower or corn tortilla. Chicken was yummy, could have used little more seasoning IMO but still tasted good and juicy. Beans were pretty good, salsa was very simple but refreshing. Flower tortillas was nice pipping hot. Over all the food was yummy, people were very nice and price was very good. I definitely come back here again. read more

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This is a true hole-in-the-wall place. There is nothing fancy, although they've made an effort with paint colors and some art, and a little faux roof overhang. The menu is small--chicken and carne asada, served with while pinto beans, tortillas, and salsa. We both ordered a combo plate--1/4 chicken and carne asada--for $11.99. that is a smoking deal! Our food was really good, and quite a lot of it. I imagine because of it's location and low prices that a lot of their customers are ASU students. That said a couple of groups came in to order while we were there, and none of them looked like students. The parking lot is small and very crowded. You may have to park on the street. And be aware that they only accept cash! read more

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Weekday dinner, a couple of people dining in but not too busy. A little dark inside. Ordered the combo plate of chicken and steak, comes with a salsa, beans and tortillas. Chicken was a little dry but flavorful, steak was tender, beans were cooked perfectly, tortillas were flour and pairs nicely with all of the meats. The salsa was a blended and goes well with everything else. Overall a nice local place in Tempe. read more

El Pollo Supremo - Combo plate - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The food is so delicious everytime I come and eat here! It never disappoints! Cash only! Best chicken, beans, salsa, pickled onions and hot tortillas! Always friendly and great service too read more

El Pollo Supremo - 1/4 combo and 1/4 chicken I already tore up! - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Chicken here is delicious and authentically made for a good price. Reminds me of chicken spots in mexico, feels like home inside the restaurant. Only cash and make sure to get an horchata as well, super good. Service was great and would definitely come back again. Perfect serving amount for 2 and more! read more

One of my favorite lunch spots in Tempe! The chicken and beef combo plate is always juicy, smoky, and full of flavor. You get hearty portions with tortillas, beans, salsa, and marinated onions, so delicious every time. Note: it's cash only read more

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Small hole in the wall with about 6 booths and 2 2-person tables. Cash only. Quick service. Food was outstanding. I had a chicken and steak combo and it was flavorful. Corn tortillas were hot. Everything is plastic disposable. read more

El Pollo Supremo - Combo - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

El Pollo Supremo Tempe,AZ Ohhhh my goodness. Hitting my favorite place for authentic mesquite chicken to go. I will drive for miles for this place. A whole chicken and huge portion of carne asada beef. Mmmm mmmmm good. Comes with salsa, beans, flour tortillas and red onions. Of course I had to use my Scotch Bonnet Jamaican hot sauce read more

El Pollo Supremo - Getting ready for the day - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

If you like grilled chicken you will love this place. Great food, good service, decent prices......what more is there?

I ordered for takeout during lunchtime. Food was alright. But the price is great in this economy. Service was fast.

This place is great. Went there while in town on spring break after graduating from ASU back in 92 and the food and place hasn't changed! So much flavor and the same female owner taking orders. We fed 2 adults and 2 kids with a full chicken and standard sides for a about $22. It's a very casual place but crazy good, and way healthier than a burger joint. read more

CASH only. Friendly service. Was here last in November 2024 until more recenty now in June 2025, the chicken still tasted good but seemed drier comparatively, especially the breast pieces. read more

There are places you don't just eat at. You carry them with you. They live somewhere between memory and muscle, between hunger and belonging. El Pollo Supremo is one of those places. I first walked through its doors in the mid-1990s, a broke undergrad haunting the margins of Arizona State University, when Tempe was still rougher around the edges and less obsessed with branding itself into oblivion. Back then--and now--the menu was a declaration of values. Carne asada. Pollo. That's it. Beans. Corn or flour tortillas. Pickled onions sharp enough to wake you up and remind you why you came. No foam. No reinvention. No apology. A small menu like that isn't a limitation--it's a dare. It says: we do this, and we do it right. And they do. Life happened. I graduated. I left. But every time Arizona pulled me back, El Pollo Supremo was non-negotiable. A ritual. A checkpoint. Proof that some things, if you're lucky, don't change. The last time I brought my whole family was in 2015. My kids--tweens and teens, professional arguers--were sniping at each other all the way there. Then the food hit the table. Silence. Chewing. That holy, fleeting calm every parent recognizes as a small miracle. For a moment, everything was right with the world. That's not nostalgia talking--that's the power of food done honestly. Years later, my wife and I--now staring down the almost-empty-nester horizon--came back for lunch. First bite in, and it was all there again. The smoke. The seasoning. The balance. The sense that this place knows exactly who it is and doesn't need your approval. Same family. Same location. Over 40 years. In a Tempe where growth, traffic, and corporate sameness have bulldozed too many family-owned joints into footnotes, El Pollo Supremo didn't just survive--it held the line. That matters. Because cities lose their souls one small business at a time. And places like this--where the grill is hot, the menu is short, and the pride is quiet--are how a town remembers who it was. So here's the deal: if you're in Tempe, surrounded by glass boxes and trendy nonsense, and you don't stop here for a meal, you are doing it wrong. Not morally. Existentially. This is the kind of place that reminds you food isn't about spectacle--it's about continuity, memory, and doing one thing so well that generations keep coming back. El Pollo Supremo doesn't chase greatness. It just shows up every day and earns it. read more

Talk about a hassle! This place is terrible! I've tried eating here several times now and they are either out of food or extremely long wait or just happen to be a dollar short for the total price and have to try to find an ATM because they do not have one on site. Also very dirty inside. I wouldn't be surprised if they violate a number of health violations. I would recommend not wasting your time with this place.. read more

Heads up cash only. With that said chicken was really good. Salsa could've used a little more spice. Service was fast and with a smile. Nice little spot for a quick meal. read more

Have been coming here since I was a kid and we have always loved the food and the service is fantastic. The employees are always kind!

Love this place so so so much!! Definitely a 5 star Mexican bbq plate place with the really fresh and good food, and affordable prices. I've always wanted to try here, and I'm so glad I did. When I checked their food pics, I didn't expect it to be large in portion, I got a beef plate- was around 12? and didn't expect to have a lot of meat, but I was wrong. They gave so much meat, fresh salsa, beans, and tortillas. It was soooo yum! You'll need to pay with cash, but to be honest, I think it made sense at this place as I feel like that's how they keep their portion and price good! read more

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What happened? This place used to be amazing. Not anymore. The AC was barely working, the place was dark and dirty. We ordered two combo plates with 1/4 each chicken and tri tip. Both meats were so overcooked and dry with no seasoning at all. My chicken looked like the chicken jerky you buy for dogs and the steak was gray. Absolutely disgusting. The lady at the counter was extremely rude when I asked her for a Togo bowl for my pinto beans she tried handing me a large square container, I noticed small styrofoam bowls behind her and asked for one of those and she said it will cost you $2.00. I already paid for my food! Unbelievable. I will never go back read more

Absolutely Incredible food! The staff is so friendly and will remember you if you start coming in more :). Bring cash and you won't be disappointed read more

Really went into this optimistic based on the reviews and Instagram stories but sadly it was not what I expected. The chicken was dry and flavorless , the skin has some flavor but it seems like the marinade was wasted on the outside. The beef was also really dried and cut up like big league chewing gum to mask the poor cut of meat. The salsa and beans were extremely over salted and tasted like an accident. Tortillas were the only bright spot on this visit , just wish there was something decent to put in them. read more

**CASH ONLY** This is definitely a hole in a wall! The restaurant was empty when we walked in so a bit worried the food wasn't going to be good. We ordered the combo plate which includes chicken, carne asada with salsa, pinto beans and flour or corn tortillas. Everything was AMAZING. The cashier will bring out the food to you. People come in for mainly takeout. We are definitely coming here again! Hopefully they'll have aguas when we come back :) read more

El Pollo Supremo - Combo plate with flour tortilla - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The place is simple. They only take cash so you know it's good. Small menu, grilled chicken, steak and tortillas. They do have other sides but the combo only came with beans, picked onions, steak, chicken, and tortillas. The food was super fresh and hot. read more

El Pollo Supremo - Combo - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

This place is amazing. It is a bit of a hole in the wall. But it's clean. Staff is great. But the food is in the stratosphere. This is real authentic Mexican food. Straight up. And consistent. They've been open for 38 years. Oh very important! Cash only baby! I had already finished eating and was prompted for a pic. I'll grab one next time. Oh and small menu. The chicken though.. gotta do that chicken. read more

Came on Monday at 1:30pm. Definitely an awesome mom and pop shop. Slightly busy, but our order was taken quickly and we found a table easily. Food was delivered to our table and we devoured it just as fast as it came. Everything was flipping delicious. We ordered a couple of the combo plates with sides of rice, macaroni salad, and potato salad. The beef was seasoned perfectly IMO. Nothing but bones left from the chicken as well. Definitely recommend this joint! read more

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I found this place nearly 30 years ago when I first moved to Tempe. And absolutely nothing has changed - NOTHING! And THAT... is awesome. And since I've lived in CA for nearly 10 years, I don't get to enjoy this place too often. It's one of those places you walk by, look inside, scratch your head, and say to yourself "Uhm... do I really wanna go in there?" Trust me - you wanna go in there! I always order the 1/2 Chicken that comes with beans, tortillas, and their homemade salsa. I love it. GO HERE! read more

El Pollo Supremo - a plate of food - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The tri-tip was fantastic. The chicken was good. Cash-only, right down the street from ASU. We thought it was good food for a good price.

First time there today. Best Mexican Chicken in the valley, IMHO. Beef is good but could be a little more tender. Flour tortillas, excellent. Beans were real good. Salsa was ok but mild. Ask for hot sauce on the side. Well worth the Price. Will be going back to get that Chicken and tortillas. read more

Best grilled chicken I've had. Excellent quality and quantity is also good. The sides were also delicious

The food is amazing but the lady at the front is the most miserable human I have ever interacted with. She was rude and refused to give me the correct amount of change. read more

This place is cash only which is a hassle. The food was decent, but for Arizona, there's much better Mexican food out there.

Excellent food. Friendly service. You need to try this place. This place is fantastic. After finishing the combo plate, I had to go back for a second one. read more

El Pollo Supremo - Combo plate - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Another fine meal from them, made with time and love!!!! Bought take out 1/2 beef with flower tortillas. Place was half pack with customer, and great service! read more

I ordered a combo plate with chicken and beef because I wanted to try both and the meats did not disappoint! The plate came with some pinto beans, salsa, and a choice of flour or corn tortillas and all of that was just okay. The horchata was really tasty and refreshing, and I'd order that again. FYI, this restaurant only accepts cash. read more

El Pollo Supremo - Large Horchata (top left), Beef Plate w/ 3 Flour Tortillas (top), Small Rice (bottom left), 1/4 Chicken + 1/4 Beef Combo (bottom right) - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Love going off the beaten path. Was not disappointed. Highly recommend . Friendly service and great food!

When I'm in Phoenix/Tempe, I leave the airport ane come straight here. A perfectly executed, perfectly balanced plate of food. Moist chicken, exceptionally seasoned with crispy edges. Flavorful beans. Refreshing salsa. Solid tortillas and the pickled onions are *chef's kiss* read more

El Pollo Supremo - Half chicken - Mexican Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Very tasty! We were at Cowtown and Buffalo Exchange and we stopped in for dinner. We got 2 combos with tritip/chicken and 1 2-piece chicken and 1/4lb tritip with 3 drinks for $46. The place is a little dirty looking. The cashier was doing tortillas and also handling cash without gloves. I guess its not important to have clean hands? The meat and chicken were super juicy, the horchata was a little bit on the sweet side. They only accept cash and have no bathrooms. I guess take it as it is. read more

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The lady answering the calls is very unprofessional. I called to place an order for pickup, and instead of offering options or being helpful, she acted strangely. I said, "Hello, can I order to pick up?" and she responded, "I don't know, what do you want?" I said, "A whole chicken, please." Then she simply told me, "Cash only," and hung up without taking my name or confirming the order. With that kind of attitude, I'm really disappointed because I was genuinely looking forward to trying the chicken read more