Machu Picchu, a well-known Peruvian restaurant in Somerville, has opened a budget-friendly branch specializing in roast chicken. The roast chicken was indeed good, but the other dishes were a bit lacking. 1/4 Dark: This is the lower-end option, while the white one is the upper-end. The chicken thigh meat was roasted until tender and juicy, easily falling off the bone with a fork; unfortunately, the skin was also soft and a bit too salty. Fries: The fries were piping hot, but without any seasoning, which detracted from their appeal. The restaurant offers three dipping sauces: yellow/green sauce and white dressing, which tasted essentially the same as yellow mustard mayonnaise, Thousand Island dressing, and regular mayonnaise--the flavors were actually quite similar. read more

Machu Chicken - 1/4 Dark, Fries - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Yummy yummy chicken! Yes, please! I was craving juicy chicken so decided to stop by for dinner with my boyfriend. We have been wanting to try this place for a while so we were excited to check it out. The restaurant is nice with plenty of seating for big and small groups. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you at your table. We decided to share 1/2 a chicken with a small side of beans and large side of french fries. If you order a side you get a free side salad so that was a nice surprise. We also wanted to try their chicha morada which is a typical Peruvian style drink. The drink was nice and sugary and tasted like hibiscus ice tea. When the chicken came out it smelled really good! Everything was nice and hot and we couldn't wait to dig in! I am a french frie lover and I think these were the best fries I have ever had in Boston!! They were thick, crispy, and perfectly salted and I couldn't get enough of them! The pinto beans were also very good and tasted authentic! It reminded me of my mom's cooking which is a compliment. The chicken was the star of the show. It was very juicy and tender and very well seasoned. The meat litterly melted off the bone and I was quickly devouring it. I think 1/2 a chicken to share was enough for the both of us since we had a huge pile of french fries to finish. We really enjoyed our meal and will definitely be back for some good chicken! read more

See all

Very excited about Peruvian chicken joint. I love El Pollo Rico in Arlington, VA (DC). 1/4 chicken solid. Fries meh. Purple drink was tasty in that it was something new. The highlight is the SAUCES. Yellow - mild, Green - little spicy. If I could take home the green, it would take my rotisserie chickens from the supermarket over the top! read more

Service leaves much to desire. Tried this place for the first time ordered a Half Chicken with three sides and two Passion Fruit Juice. Our food came in parts before the drinks. Then when we finally got our drinks when my friend went to poke the cup with his straw the whole cup ruptured. I let the guy at the register who took our order know the whole cup broke and the juice spilled and I wanted to clean the mess. Never got any form or apology nor an offer to replace the drink. Just got napkins and was sent away. Great Chicken HORRIBLE service! read more

Machu Chicken - The useless napkins that barely absorbed the juice. - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

I'm so happy to have Machu Chicken open again after temporarily closing during the pandemic. I know they weren't fully gone since they were serving their menu options at their sister restaurant Machu Picchu up the street. Machu Picchu is more fine dining serving options like red meats and fish while Machu Chicken focuses on their star meat - chicken! They are a great quick everyday option to have for lunch or dinner - simple, convenient and flavorful chicken. The chicken used to be served with rice but the rice separate now. Their salad is super simple, not over the top but nostalgic to the ones I grew up having at home. The yuca fries however... i was never a fan of yuca/cassava but these yuca fries were life changing. I always have to get them when I order now. They also have a juice bar! I don't know if this was a thing before they closed during the pandemic or if it's new but I can't wait to give it a try read more

Machu Chicken - Menu - Aug 2024 - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

What a lovely reopening and re-addition to the casual eateries around Union Square! Machu Chicken keeps the same elevated flavor profiles from their sister resturant, Machu Pichu but under the guise of a smaller and more casual menu. There is plenty of room to sit inside, but it is also easy to order to-go from there or online! Extremely reasonable prices for their sandwiches (which COMES with fries! How unusual nowadays...), cannot recommend their Peruanisimo sandwich enough! Their chicken bowl was tasty but a little light on the chicken-- however with the puffs and other veggies it was still extremely filling. Next time, I am planning to get their chicken plate (and for sure there will be a next time!) The smoothie bar is a fantastic idea, and again, quite reasonably priced! Service is always consistent and friendly, the space is updated, clean and well air conditioned. read more

Machu Chicken - Chicken Bowl - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

" the best chicken I ever had " This rotisserie chicken they serve with Peru sauces and fries . Is just absolutely delicious, one of the bests . My friend's husband's is from Peru , he swears by this place . Now I know , why . Price and portions size is reasonable for the cost . It tastes fresh as well so do the sauces . We definitely will be back many times over . The service is great. The vibe is friendly, welcoming and attentive. read more

Delicious food, quickly prepared. We got a traditional chicken sandwich, beans, and a rice bowl with veg. The purple beverage is corn-based, and tastes like sorrel or punch. The atmosphere is clean and modest with enjoyable music (without getting too jumpy). read more

See all

Delicious chicken for a great price! The meat was flavorful and I liked having the side salad. Their sauces are amazing, and pair perfectly with everything. The yucca was crispy, chewy, and probably some of the best i've ever had. The server was super friendly too, and quick to tend to us. A nice casual lunch spot, and hoping to go back soon! read more

See all

Absolutely amazing!! Chicken is wonderfully seasoned and flavorful. My sister and I also tried the peruanisimo sandwich & yucca fries, which we both thought were delicious. read more

Very delicious chicken. I got the leg quarter and rice and beans. Restaurant is immaculate and service is quick and friendly.

My family and I enjoy the food and service here. Staff have always been friendly and kind. Our favorite Menu items include the Lomo Bowl, the Peruanisimo, & the sweet plantains. And I usually come away with leftovers for lunch the next day. read more

Crying tears of joy didn't know this place was back. If anyone thinks this place isn't amazing they can fight me. It's AMAZING. THE SAUCE GUYS!!! I'll be heading there ASAP for some chicken and sauce UPDATE TO MY REVIEW I ORDERED UBER EATS AND HAD MACHU CHICKEN AND RICE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LIKE FOUR YEARS!! Guys listen! The SAUCE. Periodt. Forget ratio. Put that yellow sauce and green sauce on everything and forget your problems. Incredible. Kudos. Machu chicken I love you. read more

Great casual spot for Peruvian charcoal rotisserie chicken. Order at the register with multiple seats available. Super tender, and flavorful. Addicted to their green dipping sauce, I believe it's called aji verde, that goes well with everything! read more

The food was good and what you expect. Great flavors all around that's quick and easy to grab. A little pricey for what it is, but it was a good meal. Service was quick and nice. The aesthetic was the typical fast restaurant type of vibes read more

Machu Chicken - Lomo Bowl - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

As a born and raised Peruvian I was so excited to try this place as their menu offered a real taste of food from back home at a good price! Unfortunately while I went with the most basic lomo saltado and tacu tacu I almost started laughing at what I was given. The lomo saltado had potato blocks rather than fries, the taste of the lomo was unfortunately distasteful the only good thing I can say was the aji verde (green sauce) The tacu tacu...oh geez.. they gave me literal beans and rice?? NO SPICE NO OTHER INGREDIENTS Tacu tacu is an actual plate of refried beans with specific spices put in a pan and fried with rice once more this was so insanely disappointing and I don't believe I'll be going back unfortunately. Portions were good but beyond that it's a no read more

Machu Chicken - Lomo bowl - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Food is good but we're not going back. After paying over $100 + tip for counter service, we had leftovers and asked for to-go containers which were provided to us. With a caveat that sauces are not included - you have to buy them. Prices are pretty high, there is no service, and I ended up with an extra charge for something that should have been part of our meal. read more

I can't pretend that I've branched out a ton when it comes to this menu. I found my regular order and I stick to it because it's never disappointed. The chicken here looks simple but don't underestimate it. It's incredibly flavorful, so well seasoned. Also, where are you getting a full meal for 4 people (literally the whole chicken) for less than $40?? Nowhere. The sauces served with the chicken are also where it's at. Creamy and delicious. The plain white rice is incredibly buttery and definitely a guilty pleasure. The salad it comes with is meh but also kinda reminds me of the simple salad my parents would have with every at home dinner growing up. Fried plantains? Yes. Fried yucca? Yes. One day I'll try other menu items. But for now? I'm all set :) read more

Machu Chicken - Whole Chicken Fried Yucca - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Machu chicken is awesome. The chicken is the highlight here as the restaurant's name suggests. I'm not really a big meat eater, but I even found their chicken to be juicy and tasty...and definitely worth the value of the price you pay for your meal there. The establishment isn't upscale by any means. It's just a cut above fast food restaurant. But...every diner I saw just about knew what the secret dish that you couldn't afford to miss there..e.g. chicken! If you enjoy chicken or are looking got a mesl with good value..check out Machu chicken! It might be a little hard to find parking spot as the restaurant is smacked in the center of Union Sq and the area seems to be under a perpetual subway construction...but I promise a visit there will be worth your time and money spent! P.S. fried yuccas..which are a notch above reg potato fries are awesome carb choices, too! read more

Machu Chicken - 1/4 dark roasted chicken with yucca fries ($8) Tasty and juicy! - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Quick place to get and try Peruvian food. Always get the chicken, after you try that try everything on the menu. Flavors are amazing

Love love love machu chicken!!! Their original chicken sandwich is the best and a good deal! For 13 bucks you get a big rotisserie chicken sandwich, fries, and a dipping sauce. Very authentic and very tasty!!! read more

Got the chicken tacu tacu- it was so good! The waiter described tacu tacu as rice mixed with beans and chives. It was delicious! I got white meat chicken. It was great Peruvian rotisserie chicken- with that signature crispy, nicely spiced, skin. Awesome dipped in the sauces. I'm also told the sauce tastes great on top of the tacu tacu. Will have to try next time! read more

Machu Chicken - Chicken Tacu Tacu - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Great food for American ingredients, service was good and the restaurant was enjoyable. I was double charged, and after placing a phone call, although not returned, I was refunded. So water under the bridge in my opinion. I would recommend anyone to try this place if you want a taste of Peruvian food. Get the appetizer that's a sampler, the anticucho is amazing read more

Their Peruvian charcoal chicken is amazing. Note: White chicken= chicken breast Dark chicken= chicken thigh Rec: (+++) 1/4 dark chicken + rice + salad for $7!!! You can swap the rice for fries. Salad is automatically included. Their thigh is so juicy. The 2 variations of dipping sauce provided is very mild. A spicy sauce option would be ideal, though I have no idea if Peruvians typically partake in spicy food. If you're famished, go for their half chicken. A no frills eatery with great eats at an amazing price. read more

Machu Chicken - 1/4 dark chicken + rice + salad combo - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

So delicious! On a recent trip to Boston, a friend suggested this month for a group of us to meet for dinner. I hadn't had Peruvian food in so long that I had almost forgotten how good it is. But Machu Chicken brought back all the memories. As per Yuka Y.'s suggestion, I got the 1/4 dark chicken with side salad, yucca fries instead of rice. The chicken was super tender and well-spiced, while the yucca fries had a crispy exterior and a melt-in-your mouth interior. I ate all of my fries, then stole some from my friend's side order. The Tall Man got a half chicken, which was juicy through and through, and sweet plantains instead of yucca. The plantains were tasty as well, but for me the yucca won out. We had a group of 10, and the restaurant easily accommodated us with a reservation made a couple days in advance for a Friday night. I'm glad we did call ahead, since it's a somewhat small place and quite popular in Union Square. There were some mix ups in our order, so several people had to wait for their dishes while the kitchen sorted that out. But our server was very apologetic about it, and the flavorful food made us forget about the hang ups. The prices here are very affordable. I can't remember how much my dish was, but it wasn't more than $10. For dinner. In Boston. Yep, I shall be back. read more

Machu Chicken - Quarter dark chicken with yuca fries and a little side salad. I still dream of this meal... - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I ducked in here as I was looking for lunch and I'm so glad I did! The service was great, quick and welcoming and the food is amazing! The chicken looks like your average grocery store rotisserie kind but it will surprise you. The meat is incredibly seasoned, tender, and juicy. The sauces they give with it are a fantastic accompaniment and they even gave me a side salad for my order. Great place! Can't wait to come back read more

See all

Delicious food, I cannot wait to go back to this restaurant when I'm in the area. They hosted a group of 25+ and were so attentive and understanding of everyone! read more

When I came here around Sunday around 3pm this place was packed! We ordered the El Peruanisimo which is roasted pork with sweet potatoes in a sandwich. It also comes with side order of french fries. The sandwich was delicious! It had a seasoning which I couldn't quite tell what it was, a bit spicy and sweet. We also ordered a quarter of the chicken, since they're famous for their roast chicken after all! We decided to choose the yucca wedges which is like a sweet potato and it was a bit dry but that's ok, because it came with a yellow and green sauce and they both taste like mayo with a kick. The green and yellow sauce was addictive to dip the fries and yucca. Furthermore we ordered peruvian soda which tastes like cream soda but with a yellow color. Overall, I really enjoyed this place and would love to come back. Great service and the food came fast! read more

Machu Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Delicious food. Loved the roasted chicken and green sauce! Plus maracuyá juice ... so refreshing! read more

Small space, cheap prices and good portions. On a rainy Sunday night, there were four different groups dining at Machu Chicken. Service was quick and attentive, and it felt like two minutes after we ordered our food it was already being served to us! Unfortunately, they were out of everything but white meat; fortunately, that is exactly what we planned to order. I ordered the 1/4 white with a house salad and fries for $8. My BF ordered the Tacu Tacu Chicken, which is 1/4 white with a house salad and Tacu Tacu rice for $10. The chicken was moist and hot, the dipping sauces were AWESOME (quite possibly the star of the show), the fries hit the spot, and the Tacu Tacu was okay.... I would never describe our meals as amazing, or even something I would crave, but it was tasty and inexpensive. Would I come again? Probably. It's just not one of the first places that would come to mind when it's dinner time. read more

Machu Chicken - 1/4 white with fries and a salad. - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Came here a second time because other yelpers said I was doing it wrong. This time I used the sauce that they gave me for the chicken. It was pretty good, I just felt the first time i went they didn't explain anything to me. So i was doing everything wrong. Lucky, i came with people that knew the correct way. I would recommend you give them a shot read more

Machu Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Giving it a 4 because I don't get how a whole chicken comes with a side but you have to pay for it... that makes no sense. But any-who the chicken was really good the white rice needed salt and the green and orange sauce was BOMB ! read more

My mom is Peruvian, so I've had lots of pollo a la brasa. In short, on point flavors, incredibly juicy meat, and so affordable. Such friendly service!! Will be back (wish it were closer to Fenway...) read more

Machu Chicken - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Took a few friends and enjoyed the food. The food is relatively authentic for being in the Boston area! I would recommend it.

My first foray into Peruvian food. Our visit was mainly to get ourselves acquainted with the Peruvian charcoal chicken, the Machu Chicken. Verdict? Honestly, it was good...but not fantastically good! I enjoyed how they take an interesting approached in serving the succulent marinated chicken with two different kinds of dipping sauces. But I was hoping, the chicken by itself could be a tad more flavorful. Equally interesting was their Chicha Morada drink, it was a refreshing thirst quencher libation. A must try! Overall, Machu Chicken is a pretty humble and cozy eatery, friendly service, simple food with extravagant flavors and amazing value. Glad to have tried this place once! read more

See all

Mouth orgy. The end. Not really. I like to make my Yelp reviews somewhat informative but the first two words sum it up perfectly. Plus I would like to relive one of the best nights of my life. It's in the top three, in fact. It was: Wedding night, adult bris, and Machu Chicken. All three have a common thread running through them. Give up? They all helped me move onto the next stage of my life. With the wedding night, that's obvious. New wife, new life. Adult bris . . . Well, if you've ever surfaced after a dive, you'll get the idea. And with Machu Chicken, it elevated my sense of taste to a new height. Experiencing a completely new flavor profile is a rare and exhilarating experience. It's like the sensei presenting you the different colored belt. I now have a wider palette of experiences to draw from when I come up with dishes for weekday dinners. In other words, it was literally next level. Mouth orgy. Tonguebang! And the miracle of it is that they did it with a simple roasted chicken. This restaurant specializes in chicken and is the sister restaurant of the more traditional Machu Picchu just around the corner. There's a good reason for this: The chicken IS special. Machu's chicken is charcoal-cooked and it's seasoned with a bafflingly good rub. I have never tasted anything like it. On the one hand, there was the irreplaceable smokiness of the charcoal. On the other hand, there was a wisp of sweetness and a citrusy touch. I'm sorry I can't get more descriptive but that might be a good thing because it might encourage you to experience it for yourself. By the way, the white meat was succulent as well, which suggests that it was brined. With the chicken, I got roasted potatoes and a side salad. The roasted potatoes were almost perfect. They had crisp exteriors and interiors that were soft, but not so soft that they collapsed under the weight of one fork tine. Potatoes are as natural a side dish to roast chicken as they are to steak. They're like the enabling husband on 'My 600-lb. Life'; they boost the main attraction's meatiness. The chicken was the first unique flavor profile I tasted. The second, characteristically Peruvian, flavor profile was the pair of dipping sauces. The two most well-known sauces are aji verde and aji amarillo. This literally translates to green chile and yellow chile and the colors of the salsas will reflect this. The green chile sauce can be made with any green ingredient that you fancy. Machu makes theirs with jalapeños making it the hotter sauce of the two. It's got a pleasing bite that finishes really well on the smoky chicken. It's actually not unlike your typical South American girl: Elegant and alluring but she'll kick you in the nuts if you're not careful. I say elegant because both salsas are thickened and smoothed out with some kind of dairy product. Traditional recipes call for cream, but some people use mayonnaise. It doesn't matter. The smoothness tames the bite of the peppers very well. The aji amarillo pepper is the pride of Peru. They've popularized the pepper and the famous paste it's made out of. If South America was governed by chile peppers and I had to appoint a Secretary of State to represent the region, I'd appoint aji amarillo. It's the perfect chile. It's tangy, it's got a very manageable heat level (further tamed by the dairy product), and it has a bright color, much like the colors that Peruvians like to adorn their buildings and bodies with to keep the mood festive. It speaks to the best qualities of the region's fruity chiles. I went back and forth between green and yellow, going back as much for the color combination as the flavor combination. Whoever designed the 'Sesame Street' sign must have had these salsas the night before. I finished my chicken and it took all of four seconds for the three of us to decide that we wanted dessert. It took us even less time to settle on the tres leches cake. If South Americans had stopped innovating at salsas and chicken, they would have contributed enough to the world. But they decided to go a step further and combine sweetened, condensed milk with a luscious sponge cake. I think everyone knows what tres leches cake is. If not, everyone knows what Wikipedia is. Look it up. I think it's enough to say that it was fantastic. The ingredients in tres leches cake would lead you to believe that it's going to be very sweet. It wasn't. It was just sweet enough. Like Brick Top in Guy Ritchie's 'Snatch.' This too is a dish that defies articulation. In fact, we're about to come full-circle: The emotions I experienced during my top three life events cannot be conveyed. You'd have had to witness my facial expressions. (Try describing the look on someone's face when the mohel is walking towards him). Let that be you at Machu. Minus the wiener-chopping. Let the flavors and the heat register at their own pace and let them make you smile. read more

See all

Been here twice and on both occasions the Peruvian chicken was nothing short of impeccable. I always get the Chicken Tacu Tacu which consists of 1/4 chicken (your choice of dark or white meat; I always get dark) served with Tacu Tacu (what they call their seasoned rice and beans) and a house salad. Not listed is the light green and light daisy-yellow creamy sauces that are pair perfectly with the succulent chicken. We were taking guesses at what the sauces were. I couldn't place the yellow one but my guess was an avocado crema of sorts for the green one. I don't often head over to Somerville, but Machu Chicken is always worth the trip. read more

Machu Chicken - chicken tacu tacu - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Yummm. I really like this place. But I will say the best Peruvian places seem to be out in Everett. That said, roast chicken here is to die for. Also tried the Jalea the other day and the squid and fish are fried INCREDIBLY well - soft and melt-in-your-mouth. Definitely get yucca fries and fried plantains if you have space. I always leave this place feeling way more full than I expect. Will aim to try more dishes next time! Bow Market and Union Square are around the corner and nice to walk around until you feel light enough to sit down again! read more

Machu Chicken - Jalea - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Started with a pisco sour and It was so yummy, def recommend. While this chicken tasted a little different than the pollo a la brasa I'm used to from back home, it was still delicious and the skin was so crispy and paired nicely with the tacu tacu. The green sauce had nice flavor and great spice! My bf got lomo saltado and that was honestly the star of the show. So much flavor, my bf almost licked the plate clean! Will definitely be back for the lomo ;) read more

Machu Chicken - LOMO SALTADO - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Don't overlook this modest shop! We got the whole chicken with fried yucca and house salad. The chicken seems basic, but it is so tender and juicy yet crispy!! The yellow and green sauce perfectly pairs with the chicken and yucca. It's a good amount of food. The A Lo Pobre Sandwich is also very tender and the fried plantains inside was on point. read more

See all