Pollo Chapin is a brightly painted converted house in an otherwise colorless neighborhood. Altho, others before me extol the fried chicken I cannot say it is the best I ever had. The pieces are large and flavor does penetrate thru the golden brown coating. The white meat was quite dry making me glad that my order also had two thighs. The potato salad was one of the best I ever had paling any served at Jewish delis in New York City. The famed macaroni and cheese was sold out by the time we got there. The table curtido was so good I purchased a large jar to take home. I made the mistake of ordering curtido as my second side. It was at least not the same as in the jar on the table but also not as good. The chicken soup was not particularly flavorful and the thick noodles were over cooked and mushy. As noted many times the server was excellent and my table left her a hefty tip in appreciation. I would recommend Pollo and I will go back if I ever return to Detroit. read more

Man.... dat chicken.... expertly seasoned and spiced. Perfectly curnch and juicy...awesome and amazing. Had some plantains for dessert they were delicious. The service was personable, attentive and efficient. I will definitely be coming back in as this is delicious and delivers a lot of bang for the buck. I cannot recommend it enough!! read more

I was really excited about Pollo Chapin after reading all of the great reviews on Yelp but I'm afraid I went away disappointed. The best thing about the place: the incredibly low prices and decent portion sizes. But the most important thing to me is taste and Pollo Chapin didn't do it for me. Granted I haven't had their fried chicken yet, so I am willing to give it another go but I wasn't a huge fan of their other food. The chicken in the tamales and burritos was tender and good. But I didn't like the sauce over the burritos. I definitely tasted that adobo sauce that comes with Chipotle peppers in a can and I'm not a huge fan of that flavor. It was too strong of a taste for me. It overpowered everything else. I love banana leaf-wrapped tamales, but Chapin's were too soft for my taste. I have tasted banana leaf tamale perfection and its name is Pilar's (http://www.yelp.com/biz/pilars-tamales-ann-arbor). So overall the food was good and definitely cheap, but I've had better and I don't think I'll be returning any time soon. Plus, the server didn't seem that friendly. read more

I move from Detroit , Michigan and drove to Texas and cant find a place like this the chicken is extremely good, and the service is friendly and good they make you feel like home, I can't find a place like this here,sometimes i wish they fex me some chicken and some homemade Guatemala food . That's why I give it five stars i read more

I was really excited for the mac n' cheese, but it was truly mediocre. The woman working was nice, friendly & cute; so it's hard to give it a 2-star rating, but "meh. I've experienced better." is completely appropriate. I liked the private parking, but the mac n' cheese wasn't outstanding & the other items on the menu didn't look all that appealing either. With so many delicious options in Mexicantown, I likely won't be returning to Pollo Chapin. read more

I concur with the rest of you, Staff was unbelievable, The bit of pepper in the Mac n Cheese, great.The dark meat was very good, while the white, was just like most white meat to me, dry. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Okay now listen up folks this place is real authentic guatemalan style fried chicken. I have lived in Guatemala and this place is the only place I have found that is for real. First the name of this place drew my attention. Pollo Chapín (Chapín is a adjective that Guatemalans use to describe themselves and other things that are uniquely Guatemalan. Guatemalans call themselves chapines.) Have you ever heard of Pollo Campero? It is a fried chicken chain that originated in Guate that makes KFC really mean Kentucky Fried Caca (poop!) Pollo Chapín is better because it is down home cooking and not mass produced. Pollo Campero is still good though lol. The owners are Guatemalan, this is NOT a Mexican place. If you really want to get some treats ask for the Atol, there are all kinds of variety of this thick filling beverage, usually drank hot for breakfast. Guatemalan atoles are traditional cornstarch-based thick hot drinks, yet atoles can also be made from, dried green beans (habas) rice and milk, liquified plantains as in atol de platano or arroz con leche and oatmeal flour ex. atol de avena. You can see all the different types of atol here: http://antiguadailyphoto.com/2008/04/06/guatemalan-cuisine-atol-blanco-anyone/ In Guate (abbreviation for Guatemala city) at the bus stop you can see women selling different types of atoles, the most well known one is atol blanco (white atol) I asked in Spanish for atol blanco and the owner was so happy she gave me and my friend some for free to taste it. It is not on the menu, I was thrilled felt like I was back in Guatemala again. I have really missed their food. They have Gautemalan tamales which are not like the Mexican ones at all, they are steamed in a banana leaf and the masa is moist and soft, it is almost like eating a savory custard. It usually has chicken in it and sometimes pork. The fragrant banana leaf really makes it special. Tamales are usually eaten around Christmas and are black (with a chocolate mole-type sauce), and red. Their are also chuchitos, tamalitos and many other variances that there just isn't enough time and space to go into. You could litterally write a bound volume about the variety of tamales that are out there in Guatemala and Mexico. The only Mexican tamale that is close to what the Guatemalan ones taste like is a tamal oaxaqueño which is one of the southern states of Mexico so the food is very much influenced by the indigenous people (for example, the Zapotec and the Mixtec are the two main groups but there are many others), . You have to try it. Don't let the silken texture of it fool you into thinking it is more healthy it is not, this is a very rich dish. So don't go overboard. I learned the hard way in Guatemala! Only eat one at a time and one is usually way more than enough! They also have curtido (guatemalan pickled vegetables) and remolachas, which is pickled beet salad (my favorite!) which you usually see on enchiladas (which are totally different from Mexican ones) or tostadas. See those here: http://antiguadailyphoto.com/tag/tostadas/ You can have the pickled vegetables as a side dish to accompany your tamal. I wish they served other platos típicos like: pepían (,http://antiguadailyphoto.com/2007/01/27/guatemalan-cuisine-pepian/) kak'ik (http://antiguadailyphoto.com/2008/08/02/guatemalan-cuisine-the-kakik/) and Jocón (http://antiguadailyphoto.com/tag/jocon/) but these dishes are labors of immense love and tastiness that there just isn't enough time to make when you are frying the best chicken in town! Ok I have gotten way off base here. It was so exciting to find this place. I went to it in July and I wasn't yelping yet so wasn't able to post my rave review yet. Bottom line: *You need to eat the chicken like all species of chicken are going to be wiped out tomorrow and today is the last day to taste real good fried chicken. *You need to try the atol blanco and let the creamy, sweet, buttery, aromatic warmth fill your belly * You must also have the remolacha (pickled beet salad) with a tamal Then you have gotten a little taste of what Guatemala has to offer to the culinary world....You get a real taste of the Maya in Guatemalan food. I encourage all to go there and see for themselves! read more

The main draw of this spot according to Yelp, is the fried chicken. I had a rare hangover so, obviously a combo of fried chicken and home style Mexican sounded nothing less than amazing. Duh. Unfortunately for my waistline, I had made an excellent choice. My eating partner and I opted for a 2 piece fried chicken, a cheese enchilada, some tamales, a mac and cheese with jalapeños, and the hot dog sandwich- whatever that was. All came with choices of two salads and we went for the cold pasta and beet salads. The fried chicken was unreal! Flavorful way past the skin- a good thing since I can't bring myself to eat more than a little of that. They brined well. The beet salad was cold and well-seasoned, and so was the pasta. The pasta side was a definite winner. The enchiladas and tamales were both fresh and the flavors were vibrant. The jar of homemade pickles at each table featured cucumber, carrot and onion. A+ on that recipe. Tart and spicy. The finest part of the meal though- the thing I'm still craving even as I type- was the freaking hot dog sandwich. The sub style bun was just perfect- soft, chewy and dense but not hard to tear. Clearly fresh baked. The hot dog is sliced and THEN grilled so it's crispy all over, then it's placed on top of fresh slices of avocado, pickled cabbage, thousand island dressing AND ketchup and mustard. I'd never have imagined such a combo or that it would or could be so delectable. It is the finest sandwich I've come across in a very, very long time. I'd serve it at my wedding. Seriously. Fuck the fried chicken. Get the hot dog sam. Get it. read more

Been here on several occasions and will keep returning. The food is excellent and the service is like eating at grandmas. My co-worker and I always order a 3-piece meal with spanish rice and beans. All meals start off with a noodle soup, which is hot (temp) and flavorful. The chicken is great. I have never left this place hungry, and that says a lot. read more

Just go, its about the best fried chicken ever. The sides are spot on the soup is awesome, just close your browser and get up and go.

Just had dinner at Pollo Chapin last night. I found the restaurant and the staff to be very charming and welcoming. Our server was so nice and we totally enjoyed the Guatemalan xylophone/tourism video they were playing in the dining room. My friend and I both had the Pollo Chapin two-piece chicken dinner. The chicken was good, but not out of this world. However, I have really not eaten much fried chicken in my life, so maybe I don't know any better! What really blew my mind though was the Curtido Chapin (one of my two sides). What a delicious pickled beet and cabbage salad... Yum! My friend got black beans as one of her sides and declared them the best part of her meal-- until dessert came at least. The free dessert of fried tortilla pieces with sugar and honey was SO GOOD. All in all, I will go back to Pollo Chapin, but I'm ordering the tamales next time. read more

The food is very good, chicken is moist and flavourful, skin not overly breaded and crispy. The rice and Mac and cheese are great too. I've only done takeout and they use the microwave like crazy there. I was standing there waiting for my order and all I heard were microwaves going off, doors opening and closing. The BIGGEST problem is that i saw them microwave styrofoam and plastic sour cream containers! I don't care how good the food is, proper cooking/heating/handling of it is priority, at least to me. read more

Best bang for your buck, and probably best fried chicken in Detroit.

Overrated and overpriced. The sides were very meh, and the chicken had been sitting in a hot box for a long time. Maybe it was just an off experience, but there are better local chicken places. read more

Sooo, I read other reviews and decided to stop on by... It was ok, the chicken noodle soup was great, chicken burritos were uneventful. Mac & cheese is worth going back for, the fried chicken was sorta meh. The price is definitely right but I can't say I'd actually 'recommend' it to anyone. I mean Chicken Soup + Mac & Cheese what am I all of a sudden back in kindergarten? The staff was VERY nice but it's just not worth the drive to the area when there are a lot better options. Sorry Yelpers but I dissent, two stars is pushing it! Not a good overall experience regardless of the price... read more

The carpet is gone now just a nice tile floor. The chicken is still tops in Detroit, SO STOP IN AND GET SOME:)))))))))))))))))))

The fried chicken is great and all, but I love the jalapeno mac and cheese. It's not what I would call gourmet, it just tastes good. I kind of haunts me. If I lived closer I would be fatter. read more

This is not a Mexican restaurant. It's Guatemalan. I went again this weekend and had my usual tamal with the cabbage salad. Can't get enough of them! But this time I also tried their chicken. It was crispy and juice and nicely done, not covered by greasy bread crumbs (yuk!). The servers are nice and I've had nice chats with the owner. Now it's just a few months till they make atol de elote (a thick and hot corn drink) again. I was told that they don't make it once the weather warms up as people don't order this hot drink... read more

My son and I had always wanted to try this place. We have friends that swear by it. I must say the fried chicken is among the very best I have ever had. I loved the jar of vinegared veggies on the table and it was sure spicy enough! The macaroni and cheese was creamy and good with that touch of jalapeno to give it a kick. Best of all, this place is downright cheap. We had 2 full chicken dinners and drinks and our total bill was $14. I had to leave a big tip because I felt embarrased to pay so little for food so good. The only reason why I'm not giving it four stars is for cleanliness. The table was a bit on the sticky side and I really dislike eating from styrofoam. Otherwise, this place is great. read more

Sufficiently superlative words fail me here. I had the mac and cheese and a chicken breast, and both were delicious. Jalapeno bits really gave the mac a kick. Bonus chicken soup was tremendous and gratis honey drizzled tortillas rounded out the perfect meal, all for about $5. I rarely tip 90%, but this was amazing. Safe parking if you're not used to neighborhoods off Vernor. read more

My favorite restaurant in Detroit. Well, my favorite one I can afford regularly. The food is good. It all has chicken, obviously. I usually get the chicken burritos. They feed you A LOT for A LITTLE. It is awesome. Meals are $5-8 and they come with two sides which already is awesome BUT if you dine in you also get 1) a bowl of chicken noodles soup, 2) access to a jar of delicious spicy pickled vegetables, and 3) a small plate of sopapillas for you table at no extra charge apart from your generous tip to your waitress. BEST PLACE. read more

I don't want to just echo other reviews, but the chicken IS great. Not overly flavored. It's perfectly made for using the not-too-hot sauce residing on your table. The sides are truly special. Mac and cheese (w/ a hint of jalapenos), potato salad, beets and cabbage, fries...all are choices you won't be disappointed with. I appreciate the homey atmosphere, from the chicken soup you're served while you hear your chicken order freshly hitting the fryer in the kitchen, to the owner's two girls that my 5-year-old daughter played with on the swing set outside after dinner. May Pollo Chapin remain in our food landscape for years to come! read more

Really great chicken! It's a very small family operation in SW Detroit. I'll be going back!

The place doesn't look like much inside or out, neither does the neighborhood for that matter but the food is top notch. Had a tamale, piece of chicken and a side of cabbage salad. Lunch came with chicken noodle soup. I got a taste of the jalapeno mac & cheese. The chicken could have been fried by someone from KY. It was just like mother used to make. The service was slow and she got a my order wrong, but it was well meaning and with a smile, so no worries. We came in with a big group and it likely caught them off guard. Love it. Will do it again. We had a Guatemalan in our group and he said that the food was typical of his cuisine, so he attested to its authenticity. We all left full and happy. read more

Ordered a 12 piece set of fried chicken. It was mediocre at best. The chicken was not fresh and the seasoning is simple. Service was great but if you're looking for fried chicken go somewhere else. read more

A combination of American and Mexican food gone bad, Old fried chicken, and Weird potato salads! think about it several times before you decide to take the risk .... the only positive thing is that is very cheap,but still not worth your time.. there is nothing good coming out of that kitchen! read more

Fantastic chicken.. not the scrawny all skin pieces you get at chains. Very moist and fried to perfection. Super nice people and you can tell a family business. read more

Don't know what the five star reviews were about........The chicken was good, nothing exceptional. Its a take out place that has several tables, if you want to dine in, as me and a couple friends did. The Mac N Cheese was good, nothing exceptional, and the same with the black beans. One of the previous reviews said all the drinks were bottled, but that has changed, they now serve a pitcher of tap water to your table. It tastes terrible, like rusty pipes! UGH! Buy the bottled water or juices.The server's were nice. A place you can get reasonably priced chicken and sides to go, at a decent price. read more

very nice friendly business. the chicken was very good! the mac and cheese was good but definitely some kind of processed cheese perhaps, but still good! the chicken noodle soup as a free appetizer was a strange but nice touch. i was not very excited when it came in a Styrofoam bowl, but served with a metal spoon. also the fruit and yogurt dish at the end was delicious. it consisted of peaches, pineapple, apples, raisins, shredded carrot, yogurt and i even think i saw some sesame seeds, it was flavored with cinnamon like a horchata rice drink. it was served on a normal plate with plastic forks however.. how do they decide these cutlery and dish combinations? i will never know. the little girls sitting watching futbol (on Superbowl sunday) was adorable and sort of refreshing as i don't really enjoy football. if you go expecting a mediocre dining experience you will be pleasantly pleased which is what i did. i really felt like i was in the living room of someone family, which was sort of nice. read more

I was very eager to try this place after seeing the reviews of this place. I really did teeter back and forth between a 3 and a 4. I went with 4 due to the absolutely gracious and warm waitress. Initial impression; its a converted house, in a seemingly bad area to a suburbanite. However, the parking lot is fenced and I felt no qualms about leaving my car there. I was, I admit, underwhelmed by the selection available on the menu. I was there for the fried chicken. She cooked up 12 pieces from scratch for us 45 minutes from closing time. The chicken is broaster style and on par easily with any self respecting broaster chicken area in Downriver, perhaps with a hint of extra spiciness. I was expecting mind blowing chicken, what i got was good tasty chicken. The jalapeno mac and cheese was a hit with my dining companions and one of our party forgo the fried chicken and got chicken flautas and was fairly happy with them. The waitress threw in a bowel of their chicken noodle soup. Very good. The broth was superlative, had a hint of citrus to it, but the waitress denied any citrus product in it. The only thing that would improve that soup would be big juicy chunks of chicken and making home made noodles. I could drink that stuff like coffee all winter long. Biggest drawback was the dirth of variety. Skimpy selection of appetizers. No salsa and chips to snack upon. (I know they do chicken with a latin slant here, but come on--gringos in Mexican town WANT salsa and chips--toss a chicken and avocado mince on top and charge me 5.99. I'm ok with that.) We ordered 12 pieces of chicken 2 big plump breasts, 2 thighs, 4 wings, 4 drumsticks; flauta dinner, 3 cans of soda, side of beans (I didn't like them--my boyfriend said they were the best he's ever had, Flauta dinner, 2 sides of mac n cheese, and 3 flan for less than 31 dollars. AMAZING! Included in that price. 3 bowls of soup and their version of sopapillas. The flan was ok, homemade obviously, not cloyingly sweet, but it lacked the silky texture of a commercial preparation. Well worth the drive for the food and value. read more

Read several reviews and thought I'd try this place out. It was wonderful! Had Fried Chicken and the Mac & Cheese with the Beet and cabbage salad. Everything was very good... The soup was wonderful and the dessert was good to.. The spicy pickled vegetables in the jar on the table were very good and different. Staff was friendly and the place was quaint and pleasant. Will go back again for sure... read more

A quaint and delicious restaurant located in Southwest Detroit. The food and portions were perfect, as well as the service. I would definitely return. read more

What can I say about Pollo Chapin, when it first opened up I didn't think I would be working there. I started as a costumer as we all know it. Then I got a phone call from the place because they were looking for waitresses.. Its an amazing place to work at and go out to eat with the family, we get different types of people and even people that live 6-5 hours away but they go just to eat their amazing food. They treat you like family, even though my family is very close with the owner but still they treat you as if you were part of the own family. Im glad to say that I enjoy working their and also because Im also going to have a 1 year there. I would like for you or anyone thats reading this review to come out this sunday, its an awesome day to come because every May Detroit does this thing about Cinco de Mayo, its hosted in Vernor Street its great to go and then go dine in for a piece of chicken at Pollo Chapin. read more