Okay, I've been back now a number of times. I've also been to Peru since my first visit. And yes, I still say that this place rocks! I still get take out, but I've also dined in and the service has been consistently good every time. I must admit, however, that I have a knack for chatting people up, but I've gotten to know the server Juana (sp?), and she is just a peach! She always takes the time to chat with me a bit whenever I visit. Someone commented on the purple corn drink. I've had it in Peru, and it's just as good here. Purple corn is naturally sweet, so technically yes, it is corn sugar that it contains, but it comes from boiling the corn. If you haven't visited this place yet, DO IT! read more

This is the second restaurant in the Machu Picchu chain that highlights only charcoal grilled meats and sandwiches. The original restaurant still serves their full menu, just across the street in an expanded location. My Peruvian friends really loved this place and recommended it to me over and over. I didn't even know that Quinoa could taste so good before coming here and now I have a Quinoa avocado roasted chicken salad obsession. Not to mention the sauces, if they ever market that stuff, I'll be first in line! Simple food, ridiculously big portions, bold flavors and easy on my pocket book, I'll be back for you Quinoa! read more

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Thanks yelpers! Visitando de California, quise comer algo rico pero también barato-- y después de comer una empanada, un Plato de yuca frita y tomar una "chicha morada" ( hecho con maiz morada, y con el sabor de jugo de uva dulce y la misma textura, estoy super contenta. Además, la camarera era muy simpática, y había mi música preferida en el trasfondo: salsa, merengue, y bachata. Regresaré, seguramente para probar la cerveza peruana y, quizá, un poquitito de pollo. read more

2 star because the chicken was dry. The anti cucho was excellent. Was disappointed that the quarter chicken was not moist at all. When i spoke the waiter he said they were from the first batch cooked earlier around 11. We were there at 2 but they shouldn't have been that dry. They were definitely overcooked. So, if its not moist and juicy, send it back. Will try once more but definitely wont accept sub par otherwise i can go to shaws/star market for theirs. read more

This is a review for the Polloria by a Peruvian-American, or the smaller restaurant which is on a corner. The fancier, more expensive Machi Picchu (owned by the same people) is on the other street and is about a 5 minute walk away from this one. The other one has more options than this one, as it is a "Polloria" or specialize in their Pollo a la Brasa, or rotisserie chicken, Peruvian Style, and on that note: Best. Pollo a la brasa EVER. Well, not Best, but as close to Peru's "Rocky's" as I have gotten here in the States. The chicken is amazing! I order a portion of the pollo a la brasa and was amazed by everything, it was so good! The Ahi, or green hot sauce, that came with the meal was not the best but I think it's because they went the more healthy route and didn't load it with mayonnaise like so many other Peruvian resturants do (although I will say that when its done, its delicious). My mother order a qunioa salad (she is a vegatarian) and was thirlled to learn that they even had vegatarian options (most Peruvian resturants don't have that and she has to make up a dish for them to make for her). Great service, cute interior. Will come back! read more

The people from the restaurant are so rude, I asked them why the order was taking so long and the waitress was really rude with me saying I have to wait otherwise will take longer than that. I left this empty place. I should know why that was only one table occupied. read more

Loved it. My boyfriend and I went around 8pm for dinner- I was looking for something affordable and not boring, but not too out there. We found parking on a nearby street and there was also a lot right there. The place is small and cute and I think we were the only ones who didn't speak Spanish, which is a good sign for the food. I got the purple corn drink (2.00 for a glass), the sliced beef hearts with boiled potato and corn on the side (7.99) and a side of fried yuca (yuquitas arequipenas- 3.50). My boyfriend got the 1/2 chicken (1/4th was white, 1/4 dark meat) on rice which came with a little salad (9.99) and a got a beer as well (6.50). Everything was great- I loved the purple drink and the sliced beef hearts were amazing, especially with the yellow and green sauces they gave us. The green sauce is spicier, the yellow is a little tamer. The fried yuca was great. My boyfriend liked the chicken and we both picked at the salad (the dressing was so good, don't know what it was exactly) and the rice- I even commented on how good the white rice was, ha, it was just done perfectly. The service was good; both our waiter and the other waiter checked on us enough and were very courteous. We left with leftovers and only paid 29 bucks for the whole meal, 6 bucks was more than a 20 percent tip. We were so happy with our experience there- everything was simple but so good and perfectly satisfying, the place was great, the staff was nice, and it was casual and affordable. It was a great choice and we'll definitely be going back, def one of my favorite dining experiences. read more

It would be easy enough to miss this place. It's small and unassuming. That said, if you actually miss this place, you're missing out. Admittedly, I haven't eaten any of the menu except the featured dish - the charcoal chicken. However, it's good enough that I really don't feel the need to explore further. For $6, you get a quarter chicken, a side and a salad. I really enjoy the plantains. You are also given two incredible spicy sauces. You can also get a half chicken or whole chicken - either are good for splitting. And while I've never eaten anything else, I've been with others who have ordered the chicken kebab and the pork sandwich. Both drew rave reviews from my friends. Convenient, reliable, good service, and the food is really, really good. Oh yeah, and it barely costs anything. GO NOW. read more

Plantains: SPECTACULAR!! 1/4 Chicken with White meat!! SO GOOD! I've been experimenting with other things on the menu as well and they're just as good. This place is authentic, cheap, delicious, and has excellent service. A hidden gem for sure! read more

I always have gotten the chicken and never regret it. Both of the included dipping sauces are great and oh yeah you know I'm about that sauce baby. They're pretty light sauces that in their own way simply add another element to the tender chicken. I really do love having this place near my apartment for a straightforward great meal. read more

Terrible service. - slow - extremely inattentive - very basic cuisine (nothing special) You can walk around the corner and get better service and food in Somerville, and definitely in the city of Boston. Save your money. read more

Sometimes, you just want some meat and starch. Maybe you're drunk. Maybe you're lazy. Maybe you just got done with a ridiculously crazy shift at Bloc 11. And the you think, yessssssss, machu chicken exists in the world. So you call for takeout, you order, they tell you that in a short amount of time you'll have your chicken and tacu tacu (peruvian rice and beans). So you wander over, get smiled at, feel like the charcoal chicken aroma that is wafting through the streets is almost sating your hunger. And you really can't wait until you get home, so you dig past the little iceberg lettuce and tomato and cucumber salad, past the delicious sauces, and you feel the heat of the chicken. You pry the container open and suddenly your entire mind is consumed with absurdly flavorful chicken as you consume that absurdly flavorful crispy moist chicken. Your entire existence is umami and crispy skin and creamy rice and beans. And nothing about anything else matters. Ps: order a quarter dark and tacu tacu. It's $7 and so worth it. read more

Very good Peruvian roasted chicken. Sauces they make are, out of this world good, especially with rice.

Moved from the review of the OTHER Macchu Picchu. Who knew there were 2 Macchu Picchu restaurants in the Union Sq. area? 6/11/12 Review: $12 for dinner, flan and including tip? That's ca-razy! But seriously, it can't be beat. Smoky rotisserie chicken with fried yuca and salad is great and covers the essential foodgroups. Add a flan or a custard for dessert and you practically have the entire food pyramid on a plate. Ask them to toss some tomatoes on your salad or get a fruity drink, and shazam! It's all there. Love their chicken. It's juicy and flavorful, especially with their dipping sauces. I prefer their jalapeno one to the regular. This place is no frills and far from fancy, but you definitely get more than what you pay for when it comes to the food. read more

The rotisserie chicken is amazing!! You also have to try the empanadas they're delicious read more

Yum yum yum yum yum! This is the perfect place for some delicious and quick comfort food. For $5.99 you get a bountiful plate of chicken which comes with two delicious creamy and spicy sauces that are perfect for dipping. You can choose 1/4 white (or dark) meat chicken and choice of one side with a salad. Choices include yucca, fried plantains, fries, and sweet potatoes, among others. Go for the yucca or the plantains and you wont be disappointed. Go for the sweet potatoes and you might wonder why you ordered them. The plate is bountiful and comes with two delicious creamy and spicy sauces that are perfect for dipping. You seriously cannot beat the quality for this price....go, now! Side note: Can't decide between the yucca or the plantains? Be sure to NOT order the yucca app but instead order a side to save you $3 bucks. They'll bring it out first, if you ask, and you get practically the same amount but for half the price! read more

I wasn't very impressed. The empanada was very doughy, especially around the edges. The plantains were tasty, but were probably a little too unripe prior to cooking. My fellow diner has the Andean salad--the lettuce on the dish was shredded iceberg, the variety you'd find on a Taco Bell taco. The accompanying avocado was a bit unripe, and the quinoa/chicken mix wasn't seasoned enough. The sauces brought out before the entrees were tasty. The service was underwhelming, the waiter never came back after the food was brought out. In all, not a terrible place, but there are better. read more

Yum, Peruvian chicken. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a meal that's as cheap and as satisfying/tasty/healthy-ish as you find at Machu Chicken. For $7, you get a quarter chicken (light or dark), a basic salad, a side of your choice (potatoes, quinoa, tacu tacu, fries, plantains), and those delicious yellow and green sauces to slather over everything. The chicken was solid, with tasty herbs slathered over the thin skin, and the golden potatoes were nicely fried and a good accompaniment to the chicken. I think the sauces really make the whole thing though, especially since the chicken meat wasn't necessarily dry but wasn't super moist either. I left full, happy, and without a major dent in my wallet- skip the fast food and come here. I had been to Machu Chicken's older sister Machu Picchu and enjoyed it, and I'm glad to see that its more casual counterpart lived up to the precedent. read more

I'd been meaning to stop by the Charcoal Chicken & Grill for some time, but I kept forgetting about it. I remember eating at this location before Machu Picchu's main restaurant (and larger menu) moved down the street. I've been a fan of that restaurant as long as I've lived in Union Square, so there's no excuse for not visiting the Charcoal Grill sooner. And now, having eaten there, it was really really dumb to wait so long. My dining companion had the 1/4 chicken with tacu tacu (beans & rice). The chicken was incredible - tender, well flavored. We split a purple corn drink (chicha morada) which was a bit like a fruit punch. I had the ribs dinner, which like the chicken, was falling off the bone and lightly seasoned. It was served with boiled/fried potato slices, a salad of shredded lettuce and rice. Decor is basic, service was slow but cheerful, and it wasn't crowded on a Sunday night. The chicken really is the star, and at under $10 for a large serving it's one of the best deals in the city. Can't wait to try the sandwiches and other options as well. I'm now mentally bookmarking the Charcoal Chicken & Grill for future takeout nights. read more

Go here and eat chicken! This is a life changing chicken experience made better by the delicious green and yellow dipping sauces (get both, get extra, and take them with you to put on everything you eat). I know, I know, it sounds very simple and chicken is usually the boring option on a menu. But Peruvian charcoal chicken IS what you've been missing in your life. You can also grab some of the other tasty menu items if you must. A favorite of mine is the quinoa salad with aiji amarillo pepper, cheese, and choclo (giant Peruvian corn). read more

I ordered their white meat 1/4 chicken tacu tacu, which came with their beans in rice and side salad for $11 or $12, and it was delicious. Their chicken was juicy and tender and they give you a good sized portion. Order came with 2-3 creamy sauces to dunk your chicken in, which were savory but not overpowering. This is a great place to grab a casual bite of simple chicken done right. read more

The more casual counterpart to the main restaurant, this location is great for lunch. I've been there twice now, my annual lunch with my mom for Mother's Day. Service is OK, as the only party in the whole restaurant you'd expect a little friendlier service but hey, as long as I get my food, I'm happy. I've tried a variety of items on the menu, from the infamous chicken to the grilled tripe (AMAZING) to the sandwiches, which might be my new favorite item. I got the pork one, which was so tasty and flavorful, it left my licking my fingers wishing for more. For drinks I tried toe purple corn drink, which for those of you who are adventurous and for others will leave you wondering why you must chew your drink. Dessert was OK, definitely pre-made and just pulled out of the fridge on demand. If you play your cards right, your entree will fill you enough that you won't have room for dessert. read more

One of my favorite finds in greater Boston. Can't believe it took me so long to find. Incredibly authentic and greater flavor on all the fixins. Desserts were also tight to def. loved the leche asado and the flan. Service bend over backwards to make sure my family and I had a great experience. read more

Excellent chicken and magical sauce! Affordable as well. Definitely recommend it! read more

The Charcoal Peruvian chicken is outstanding! Price and taste is on point! Side note- the white Peruvian sauce is the same Halal sauce that the Chicken and Rice guys use! Full chicken + Salad and Rice for $17.00...what??? The portion size was adequate for 2 dinners and 3 lunches. Machu Picchu FTW read more

ok, first of all, the service here is UNBELIEVABLE. I was so impressed with the patience our waitress had. We had to explain the menu to a couple of people that don't read English well so it took us a while and the waitress was SO PATIENT and SO FRIENDLY. I am IN AWE. ok, onto the food. We got four combo grilled chicken plates and had french fries, sweet potatoes and tacu tacu rice. The chicken was SO WELL SEASONED AND TENDER, not dry AT ALL. I think I could eat 3 pieces of the 1/4 chicken it was so good. They came with side salad but we also ordered a house salad on top of that. I was decently full after eating a 1/4 chicken and french fries and salad but if you are someone that has a bigger appetite, go with the 1/2 chicken or even whole chicken! We ordered three desserts among the 4 of us (tres leches cake, rice pudding and a combination rice pudding dish that I've forgotten the name of). The desserts were really good too. I loved my tres leches cake but was already really full so felt a bit too stuffed at the end. I am definitely returning and will be paying a visit to their other resto: Machu Picchu soon!!!!! read more

Chicken was awesome. Extremely flavorful and tender. Purple corn drink was exotic and excellent (if u like sweet drinks). Plantains were made to perfection. Simple dining concept, wouldn't bring a first date here unless they crave Peruvian. read more

This is really a 3.5. So the food here was just ok. Honestly the chicken did not really blow my mind the way one would expect from a place called machu CHICKEN. I th ink the rotisserie chicken from market basket could actually compete with it on a good day. Unfortunately their chicken costs almost 3x th2 market basket one. I did like the sauces they provided. They actually tasted quite good with the fries. Especially the green sauce. I never tried anything but the chicken so no comments on other meats. This place needs to lower the price for their foods by about 30%. Maybe then I'll increase my rating. Final grade: C I'd come back if all meals were free read more

Pro's Food (Great Peruvian food, seasoned well and completely delicious) Cost (Affordable and cheap; 1/4 chicken with side salad and starch [fries, sweet potatoes, yuca, etc], for just $5.99) Seating (Good amount of seating since crowds do more take out at times) Desert/Drinks (Classic latin drinks [Purple Corn juice] and deserts [tres leche cake and flan] Con's None so far. That's why they receive a 5 star from me. read more

Excellent meat, best grilled steak I've had in a long time! We were there on a Saturday night and there was also live music - the guitarist was hilarious (apart from being a good singer). Loved the traditional outfits as well! read more

I'm giving this place a four stars because it's authentic Peruvian flavors. The food was delicious fresh and quick. Service was ok. I didn't like that they add 18% tip even if your group is small. I don't think they should determine what the tip should be. The customer should decide. read more

The chicken here rocks and is easily among the tastiest white meat in the area. Additionally, whereas many fries/yuca restaurants in the US have been plagued by the sogginess epidemic--the Bubonic Food Plague of our times--Machu Chicken rises above like a Frycook Master Warrior to produce crispy yuca goodness from the heavens, seasoned with salt to near perfection. But where Machu Chicken wins above all is in the sauces...ohhh mannn, the sauces. You could put those sauces on dog food and it would taste good. So why 4 stars? Well, it's because the pork tamale appetizer was horrible, possibly because they invest more of their time in perfecting the feature menu items. The chicken, yuca and sauces hit all the pleasure centers of the brain, so if they remove the tamale from the menu, I'd give em 6 stars. And if you do get the pork tamale, put some sauce on it...yumzies. read more

This is one of those places you don't really want to review because you don't want anyone else to discover it. This place is unbelievable. Best pollo a la brasa I've had outside Peru, and at a great price (for the US, not for Peru). Get the whole or half chicken with fried yucca. Make sure you try the yellow and green sauces, they are amazing. I wasn't a huge fan of the quinoa or empanadas. Just get the chicken. read more

Machu Chicken has added breakfast/brunch on Saturdays/Sundays and we couldn't be happier!!!! I went in today and had the El Inca omelette and was not disappointed. Perfectly cooked, seasoning was well balanced, broccoli and sweet potato slices were freshly cooked - just delicious! The service was great but a bit too ambitious/overly attentive but once the excitement wears off, that will balance out as well - plus better than being ignored. The food came within a reasonable time and at 1:15 I was in/out of there within 30-45 minutes (which was great for the schedule I had today.) Breakfast/brunch is served 9am-2pm Sat and Sun. Go check it out - I'll certainly be there next weekend! read more

It used to be the best chicken in town. They still have their best in Boston from a few years ago. We recently visited the place and found the pollo a la brasa really tasteless. Any supermarket rotisserie chicken would be better than what we got served (I wonder if that's what they are serving now). The owner used to make his special marinate but it seems he doesn't do it anymore. Not even the sauces can hide a tasteless chicken. We have been coming to this place since they first open in the early 2000's and the quality was excellent. Not anymore read more

This review is for the casual lunch place, not the fancier restaurant around the corner that is apparently owned by the same people. Good points: -Friendly, prompt lunch service -Tasty chicken that fell off the bone Room for improvement: -Admittedly I'm not a connoisseur of Peruvian food. However, I've had empanadas that I liked much, much better. The meat was ground to a pulp, dry and there was a hard boiled egg inside too. ...maybe I just don't like Peruvian empanadas. -The salad wasn't much of a salad. Moral of the story: If want to split a tasty whole chicken (and not much else) with someone and/or are really down with chicken livers, gizzard, etc., go for it. Otherwise, I don't recommend it and I'd say it's not worth the money. read more

The food here is FANTASTIC. Im afro-carribbean and some of the menu items were just so familiar and reminiscent of my mom. Theres a stew with beans, yucca, and beef that is must try. I went for dinner and lunch. At dinner time a musician plays the panflute and it sets a really nice atmosphere. Be aware though that the lunch menu is the same price as dinner, which to me makes no sense (i went for lunch under the impression they were different). Also, i dont know what the other review bought, but theres nothing on the menu i saw for $7. (Tangent: And to give a place a lower rating because you're too intimidated or close-minded to try things on the menu is both idiotic and unberlame. Why the hell even go to a Peruvian restaurant if you dont want to try Peruvian food? And then why write a review stating im too scared to try Peruvian food but if i werent this restuarant would be awesome?) read more

I've lived here 6 years and NEVER been here? WTF is wrong with me? I got the 1/2 chicken for 6 bucks with sweet fried Potatoes. I wasn't sure what exactly that meant but I gave it a short. It was like chips made out of Sweet Potato and they were awesome! The chicken was delicious-a perfect portion size. Finally-price? 6 bucks? Serious! And came with a salad too (not advertised on Foodler!). It also came with some type of dipping sauce-which was green and spicy..I wasn't sure if this was for the potatoes or chicken. Anyhow, it was good (tasted like spicy cucumber). Damn. This beats any Boston market meal by a million. I don't know why they call it Peruvian Chicken on Foodler-but who the crap cares. Here's the link to order on foodler! https://www.foodler.com/MA/Somerville/Deli/Peruvian-Charcoal-Chicken-&-Grill/4951.html read more

This place is amazing! It might be the best food you can get for the price. I went there with a friend on Sunday. We shared an Empanada for appertizer, and a flan for dessert. We also each ordered a drink. For the entry dish, I had the machu chicken with Yucca fries for only $9. She had a sandwish with fries. They fried their Yucca perfectly! Everything together plus tips costed $40. After the meal, my friends and I were so full we could not stand up. The waiters are super friendly. The interior decor was lovely, too. read more

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Wait, stop! Don't call Dominos! Call Machu Chicken instead! You can't go wrong. Get the chicken sandwich. It's unreal. Seriously. read more