Pollo Campero
4830 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL, 60630
Pollo Campero Menu
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Address :
4830 N Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL, 60630 - Phone (773) 282-1966
- Website https://www.campero.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
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Sara E.
As far as I'm concerned this chicken and the Burritos are out of this world! You must try it.
(4)Jennifer Q.
I was actually pretty impressed with this place. For a fast food joint, it offers a unique alternative to the same-old, same-old. Is it super authentic Latino food? No, not really. But if you are in a hurry and don't want a hamburger, it's a pretty good option, without having to go and wait at a regular restaurant. I got the grilled chicken -extra interesting that it was grilled with lime -never thought of that on chicken -so that was pretty cool. The sweet plantains were the real deal -though a little greasy. The yucca fries were a very "white people" version of yucca, but still interesting. The cashier was really friendly and I only waited maybe 5-6 minutes for my order. Again, it's fast food. But an interesting option if you want to try something different in a hurry!
(4)Rosa J.
This place doesn't have much to write home about. However, when you are traveling from work and want something to eat...super-sonic quickly...then you can count on this place. They have weekday daily special, which comes with an entree and a fountain soda. For under $5, it's a deal. Food is fine. Of course it's not gourmet-quality. They do have pretty decent empanadas, which I recommend. It's quick, clean, friendly place to be. I believe they do have wifi available, but SB is next door and occasionally you get the wifi signal from there. This place isn't really competitive to other restaurants in Albany Park, but kudos to awesome Sunday hours (opening until 2200 hour). With that being said, I'm grateful because there are very limited choices left when you get home at 2030 hour on a Sunday.
(3)Fasa E.
Whoa that fried chicken though! The chicken is perfectly breaded and is so freaking tasty!!!! The sides are so-so, except for their plantains that shiz is yummmmy!
(5)Raul I.
Good service. Clean location. GREAT tasting food. Love Pollo Campero, how this chain has not expanded all over the city I do not know, but this place would totally kick KFC's and Popeyes' butt. Great chicken with great side options (beans, rice, plantains) and a good selection of salsas to choose from at the salsa bar. This specific location has plenty of sit down (dine-in) tables and a parking lot outside. The parking lot is shared by local businesses, so it can get full at times, especially weekends or during rush hour weekdays. This location also does NOT have a drive-thru, so plan to get out of the car to get to this tasty chicken.
(4)Christopher S.
If you go into this Pollo Campero right now, you'll know why the franchise is struggling in Chicago. The chicken is delicious, don't get me wrong, but the staff has little or know idea what they're doing. They forgot to put items in the bag that I paid for, they took forever and the cashier didn't even know the menu. Me: what sauces come with the strips? Cashier: what sauces? Me: it says strips come with sauce Cashier: we don't have sauces. Me: OK. Cashier: oh wait lemme check.... We got three. Me: OK. What are they? Cashier: I think chipolte mayo and something else. I also order a dessert that she didn't know they didn't actually have, at least I got a refund for that item. I got all the way home and found out half my girlfriend's meal was missing. Again, the chicken is delicious but it's not inexpensive and if you have to deal with horrible service and missing items what is the point? The store on Narragansett closed. I wonder if they had the same problems. It's interesting to me that for a place the had lines out the for and around the corner when it opened, it only ever has four or less customers in it at any given time and everyone waits and waits and waits..... The last two I was there it was a lame experience. I hope their management can turn it around cause the chicken is really good. Shame they can't keep it together.
(2)Jeff G.
2.5 rounded up. it's a fast food joint and the chicken was ok but i thought the options for sides were really limited.
(3)Giovanni D.
I gave 4 stars because, I like el pollo loco more than this chicken place. This food chain offers hispanic style chicken, grilled or fried. They have combo meals with different sides. I recommend yuca fries and campero rice. There is a salsa bar to compliment your chicken. For dessert, I suggest sweet stix! They are fried tortilla with cinnamon and sugar alongside of dulce de leche dip
(4)Jonathan P.
Food is good perfectly crispy chicken. The place always has a lot if people which is good for business. Smart marketing in opening this place in a very Latino populated community.
(3)Tina B.
How To Eat Like A Real Mutha(- Shut yo-I'm Just Talking About Chicken): 1. Grab screaming, crabby baby, bring him to the car and wrestle him into his strappy seat. Pretend it doesn't hurt too bad when he kicks you in the eye with his baby-shoed foot. 2. Drive. What is far enough to lull him to sleep with this drive... Mars Cheese Castle? No, maybe not that far. Pollo Campero? Yes! Yes. Okay, drive the almost 25 miles from your house to Pollo Campero. Yes, later, when your child is a angst-ridden pre-teen, he will charge that you love Pollo Campero more than him. Based on that eye-kicking a few minutes ago, you might not know how you feel about that... You will hear every other word on NPR interspersed with baby shrieks. It's like real world Mad Libs. 3. The baby is blissfully asleep. Alas, no drive-thru. Okay, dad will go in first and place his order, come back to the car, then mom will go in and place hers and come back to the car. Mom will still have to order for dad because he will like what her food looks like more than his. Whatever... 4. Rip the hot, oily skin directly from three pieces at once and cram all the way into mouth. Repeat. Stare at stuff in front of you as eyes glaze over. Dip chicken into mashed potatoes and gravy. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. 5. Give baby the rest of your food, because he woke up starving from all of the earlier crying and flailing. 6. Take the rest of the chicken and continue on to Mars Cheese Castle after all, because you clearly didn't drive far enough.
(4)Demetrio P.
Honest to say, I've had Pollo Campero chicken several times and it's just nothing special, just okay. I do like one thing, the take home salsa / sauce bar. Other than that, I'll stick to Popeyes, KFC, or even Brown's when in the mood for convenient fried chicken. Overall, okay food, okay service, okay prices.
(3)Donaye N.
Chicken's pretty good...very tasty! Loved the sweet plaintains!
(3)Joseph O.
Apparently, you can't get served here if you don't speak Spanish. I waited and waited and waited while the Spanish-speaking couple in front of me had the entire freakin' menu explained to them. It isn't that difficult. Also, why does it take the entire front crew to do the explaining? This isn't the first time I've been rebuffed here. The last time I went in, I waited several minutes for someone to take my order, and no one did. I was the only one in line! The manager was standing ten feet away. I was too pissed to say anything to him because I thought I would lose my temper and really let him have it. That was several months ago, and I finally decided to give them another chance, and this happens! As far as the food goes, I can only go on memory from just after the place opened years ago. The chicken was heavily brined, which kept the meat moist, but otherwise I felt it was good, but unexceptional. I hated the Campero rice; better stuff can be found at any halfway decent taqueria. I love fried chicken, and I wanted to try this place again, but I guarantee I will never walk into a Pollo Campero ever again. The best fried chicken in the world isn't worth this crappy service.
(1)Jennifer P.
If Pollo Campero was good at one time, then it has gone down in quality. What I really wanted was a bucket of fried chicken. What I ended up with was 16 pieces of dry chicken where somehow the batter was not fully cooked and oozed out when biting into some of the pieces. My guess would be that the chicken had been sitting under a heat lamp, long enough to dry out the meat, but not hot enough to cook the rest of the batter. The sides here were memorable. The beans and rice are high in sodium and very tasty. The coleslaw is fantastic. Hence two stars instead of one. It's not enough to bring me back. The location was convenient and I was hoping I wouldn't have to travel far for good fried food. Eat here if you must. I believe the restaurant is generally clean and well maintained. Just don't expect a unique experience.
(2)Yanyao N.
Fried chicken AND empanadas? Yes, and yes. Can I just eat here and pretend that I'm in Breaking Bad? I bet Los Pollos Hermanos was like this. Unfortunately, no Gus Fring look-a-like spotted here when I visited, but the staff were welcoming and friendly. The Latin twist is a nice change from the KFC/Popeye's chains - there are plantains, rice, beans on the menu, and a salsa bar at the restaurant. I tried the chicken bowl and all the empanadas as a snack and loved it all. Next time, I've got my eye on a big bucket of fried chicken.
(4)L M.
This place was incredibly busy and chaotic when we went (speaking to its popularity) but I was not impressed. I had the chicken bowl and we got chicken tenders for the kids. I wish I'd tried the yucca fries. I thought the chicken bowl was pretty unimpressive, and the tenders were anything but. The place seemed really grimy to me. They need to clean behind the booths. Desperately. I won't be back to find out if they have.
(2)Georgia P.
This review is for the customer service. I did not appreciate the fact that I was ignored and passed over while waiting in line simply because I do not speak Spanish. And when I asked the cashier if I could order he motioned to the other cash register, but the employee working that station was helping bag food. I was unable to order because instead of taking the next person in line the cashier took the whole group behind me. If you make a mistake like that the least you could do is apologize.
(1)Jamal A.
Not more than three stars. The chicken was not fresh but it had nice tropical flavor. Their portions are small. This place needs to be more busy to serve fresher food and still think they are expensive.
(3)Damian P.
Okay dare I say it? I came back to Pollo Campero after a long hiatus since the partner was in the mood for it. Mind you, we live on Chicago's South Side near Midway. But this time I am glad I did come down. I had a 3 piece white meat (I never knew the difference), and it was really good. He had me try this drink that according to him was made from the flower of the chestnut. Wow, it was so good and the chicken this time around was really good so I am glad I came back. Service also was impeccable and I have to admit, it was awesome this time around. I totally like this location vs the Narraganset location due to it being overcrowded and not looking so sanitary. Although it was cold outside and slushy the day we went, the floor was clean and the whole place was fresh. Give them a try and please make sure you try the Yucca fries because they are not the typical fries and the way they make them is really nice.
(4)Rico T.
I've been in the parking lot of this place & have seen long lines here at any given time of the day. Finally, I decided to try it. Am I missing something? Why would people wait in long lines to consume average food? The fried chicken was tasty, but just okay. Same goes for pretty much everything else I consumed, including the salsas. Prices were decent & the space was clean. It felt like......McDonalds! Then it hit me: I'm in the Hispanic equivalent of McDonalds. It all became clear as a shot of fine agave tequila. I'd go back, but only if I pass up a mom & pop taqueria.
(3)Bill M.
I was so looking forward to Pollo Campero moving into my 'hood. Sure, some may have been excited about the Starbucks opening next door in this still-under-construction strip mall, but for me I was getting pumped up about the Guatemalan-style fried chicken. I actually waited about 30 minutes in line during its opening day in July for a take-out order (the wait for a table was longer - the interior is not that large). The crowds have died down a bit since then, but they do a brisk business luring the Latino population (and this particular Asian guy) to this spot. This is the second Pollo Campero to open in Chicago. What makes the chicken special? It is crunchy, spicy, and juicy without going overboard on any of these attributes. They have a great selection of side orders like yucca fries, tostones, and sweet plantains along with more "common" ones like beans, Spanish rice, and mashed potatoes. They also have a salsa bar where you can scoop up different salsas, cilantro, and lime wedges to add a bit of kick to your flavorful chicken. While the main reason to come here is the fried chicken and the latin-style sides, they also have a serviceable burrito, and some salad and bowl-style dishes that I've not tried. The mango juice is pretty tasty, and they also have horchata, tamarindo, and some cashew-fruit drink called maranon that I will have to try. The flan is not bad, but they are ready-made containers and not "fresh". If you are lucky, the life-size yellow Pollo Campero character will greet you at your table and perhaps give you a high-five, though its appearance frightened a young tyke during my last visit. The one time I dined here, I sat next to the mural of one of the great pyramids in Tikal, Guatemala, and I think that made my dining experience complete.
(5)Nancy H.
Meh. Chicken joint (grilled and fried), Latin style. Meaning, complimentary tortillas (or biscuits), rice, beans w/bacon, yucca fries, and plantains on the menu. Also, there's a free salsa bar with diced onions and jalapenos. The grilled chicken skin is surprisingly crispy with a hint of lime flavor. The fried chicken skin isn't heavily battered, and in fact, reminds me of shake & bake but better. Fried chicken only comes in dark meat. I'd much rather prefer Popeye's with some hot sauce. The grilled chicken was better than the fried, while the rest of the sides (rice, beans w/bacon, plantains) were just ok. Eating the chicken inside the tortilla kind of masked its flavor, so I wouldn't recommend that. The best thing there were the yucca fries - thick cut, moist, and absolutely delicious with the dipping sauce! This place has a touch of class serving you on real plates and silverware and actually delivering your food to your table.
(3)Simone T.
This place is WELL above average for a fast food chain. Keeping that in mind, it's not fancy, just good food. I had the worst cold this week; one afternoon I ordered a bowl of their chicken tortilla soup to go & added a bunch of salsa, pico de gallo, cilantro, onions & tomatillo sauce from the condiment bar. For under $5, it hit the spot and kept me going well into the evening. The chicken & black beans along with plantains are two good side dishes. The chicken is pretty good too. Courteous staff, inexpensive - but not "cheap" - good food.
(4)Douglas B.
Having had this from the original locations in Guatemala, I have to say that they have done a pretty good job of keeping it real. As Marlo L. mentioned before, we also would bring a box of chicken with us on the plane back to Chicago. Never failed. However they do sell you a six pack of Guatemalan beer at the restaurant, makes it that much better. The chicken is delicious and juicy. They have a unique way of flash frying the chicken. They say they dont fry it, not sure how it's done then. I dont like how they have had to "Americanize" everything else around the chicken. The bowls and the grilled chicken and the salads... thats not what I remember PC for. The sides are great, only place i can get some killer beans and tortillas with my chicken. It is a bit pricey, the chicken cannot be that expensive. But you do pay a little more for the classic table side service. All in all great place. Always reminds me of Guatemala and my family.
(4)Pam D.
Christopher and I stopped at Pollo Campero today on our way to visit Jean C. Walking through the door, there was a rather strong odor of chicken grease. We should have gone elsewhere, but ... oh well. I ordered the personal meal, basically chicken, a biscuit and I picked out a side of plantains. I didn't see that you could choose fried or grilled chicken. They gave me grilled which is fine, but would have been nice if they asked what i wanted. Chris ordered the Campero bowl, which is grilled or fried chicken (they didn't ask him either for his choice), rice, beans, chopped onions, cilantro and fresh salsa. Sounds good? Was pretty much tasteless. My chicken was ok, but with all the really good chicken options around, we won't be back.
(2)Melanie V.
Watch out, Popeyes! You've got some SERIOUS competition from Pollo Campero! The skin is amazingly seasoned and crispy. The meat is delicious and juicy. If you get a family style dinner, you get your choice of tortillas, rolls or biscuits. We opted for the Hawaiian-esque style rolls. As for sides, the plantains and rice were just sooo good. Yum. My starving friend and I basically devoured the food..and were seriously satisfed afterwards. Don't forget to stock up on salsa at the yummy salsa bar. My personal favorite was the tomatilla and the jalapenos. Awesome! For 8 pieces of chicken, 2 sides and 4 rolls, the total came out to about 20 bucks! A little steeper than Popeyes or KFC, but the flavorful goodness is worth it!
(4)Janet W.
Expectations people. This is fast food fried chicken. Super yummy and crispy, not a lot of batter like KFC etc. Loved the fried plaintains as a side. Mine were a little dry, but some of my husband's were not. Note to Pollo Campero, if you are reading, keep the plaintains moist please. Anyway the 2 piece meal of chicken comes with roll or tortillas. I'd recommend the tortillas, as the roll is basically generic white bread. It comes with a little tub of sour cream, which was yummy with the warm tortilla. The horchata was not great. It had a funny taste to it, compared to other burrito places we have gotten horchata. We may try one again at some pt, but otherwise we'll skip it. We will definitely be back for the yummy salty crispy fried chicken+sweet plaintain fast food experience.
(4)Matthew S.
Don't cry for me Guatemala! The truth is I puked this food up. All through my wild days, I drank mojitos , shoulda had chicken fingers - And not nasty burritos. I bet even Evita would have hated this food. Though she was from Argentina, not Guatemala. This was nothing to write home about. I went here for a fundraiser to send a school group to Guatemala to have a 'cross cultural experience'. Excellent. I showed up ready to eat. The food was bland - and there was corn mixed with the rice I ordered, as well as little pieces of pork (which was not noted on the menu). I was super jazzed that they had flan. It was served in a little plastic cup, with a pullback tinfoil lid. GROSS! I didn't really puke the food up. I kind of wanted to. But then I started to think about how much trouble making myself throw up is. You have to wait until your home, and then get your glass of water ready - and then make sure the toilet is clean. Then you can just stick that toothbrush down your throat and have at. Works like a charm, but my eyes always water. This time, I didn't have the energy. Plus then I thought about Karen Carpenter, and got all "Oooh! I don't wanna be skinny like that" - needless to say, I digested this stuff, and let nature take its course. And fortunately, I'm very regular... I ended up just throwing it away...but I stayed and chatted with my friend. I think learning about Guatemalans is very important. Skip Pollo Compero. You won't be missing much. At all. It's fast food style, served on plastic trays. Then you put a number on your table, and wait for someone to find you and they bring out your food. There is a soda machine for you to get your own drinks... I didn't care for this at all. I want to say "hurray" for this place, but I can only muster an "eh" and a shrug.
(2)Y V.
Mmm... crispy chicken skin! I've been back to this location a few times and I love their fried chicken thighs and wings. The chicken is moist, flavorful, and the crispy skin is the best part. No heavy breading or weird batter here - just lightly seasoned and fried. Pair that with sweet plantains and a biscuit and you have a fast food meal that actually tastes like real food. I've tried my bf's chicken tenders, which were pretty good (I prefer chicken on the bone, though). I haven't tried the other side dishes, other than their tostones and french fries, but someone told me that the rice & black beans were kind of bland. They have a salsa table with three different kinds of salsas (red, green tomatillo, and chipotle), as well as limes, chopped onion, and cilantro. I'm sure the rice & beans would taste better with a little salsa and cilantro. I wasn't crazy about their prepackaged flan, either. But I go here mainly for their fried chicken and sweet plantains and have never been disappointed.
(4)Mike O.
I'm dropping 2 stars on this place. I was over in the mall on Pulaski & Lawrence where the Staples store is located. I haven't had yucca fries for some time, so I thought I'd come here again to fulfill my craving. To my disappointment, yucca fries are off their menu now! My favorite Pollo Campero item, no less... So I settled on fried plantains, which were decent, and Campero beans, which are more like a bean soup than the usual Mexican beans. The other change is that their serving size has shrunk for the "personal meals". Used to be 2 side dishes included, now it's only 1. And I thought I got more than 2 small tortillas last time. Only thing not to shrink was the price. With drink and 3 pieces of dark meat plus an extra side, I was over $9. No wonder I was only one of 5 customers sitting there though it was almost noon on a Friday. The lines sure have gone down since the busy grand opening craze the place experienced. For a fast food chicken place, service is above average since they bring you the food to the table. The staff asks if you need anything else, but I figure they are so bored given the slow volume of customers that it at least keeps them occupied. Smaller meals and no yucca fries are a deal-breaker for me. Sorry, Pollo Campero, but I won't be returning anytime soon.
(2)Jay O.
I've been here about 4 times in the last 5 years. I live a few hours away but, if I find myself within 10 miles and its lunchtime, I make my way here. The food's always amazing and has been consistent since I first came. The service not so much. Visited today for lunch and the counter guys had no idea what was going on. It's chicken. You take it from the bin, put it on a plate with a side and bring it to the counter. It shouldn't take 10 minutes when there are only 3 people in the restaurant. Come for the great chicken. Just don't expect competent service.
(4)April P.
So many different kinds of fried chicken are there? Well, a heck of a lot! Lately, we have been huge Crisp favorites, but sometimes ya gotta change it up a bit. So we head to Priscilla's for some the soul food version, or to Popeye's for a fast food staple. So here's a new one: Latin fried chicken. It's crispy on the outside without having an inch of batter/breading, but at the same time, keeping the inside it's juicy. The pieces are fairly large in size. They have a great "salad bar" option of salsa verde, rojo and pico de gallo salsa to top the great chicken. A box 20 piece special for $20.
(5)Jean Z.
Hot. Fresh. BUSY! There's a tent outside for to-go orders! Food takes a long time to be packaged for you to go, but if you're eating in, they bring the food to your table. This place is a mexican KFC. Beans and rice, Pico sauce and other salsas where you'd expect to find bbq and ketchup! Try the bowl, or a bucket of chicken. Yummy! Good to-go food. Small eat in area. HUGE business. Very loud inside. This owner is def living the American Dream. One store at brickyard and this is #2.
(4)Marlo P.
I love me some fried chicken. I had some PC chicken straight from Guatemala and El Salvador before they had all those laws against bringing food into airplanes and EVERY TIME someone I knew was going there I told them to bring some of that chicken back. When I heard that they were opening one in Chicago I was ecstatic! This was before I knew about Yelp and all that good stuff. I waited in line. I waited some more. They had a big chicken dancing in the front and they had bars to guide you through the lines. Then I got there and was so in love. I'm a sucker for their fried chicken and their plantains and I go there whenever I can to pick me up some good fried chicken and plantains. I had to give it four stars though. I don't know what it is but the ones from Guatemala tasted better. But I may be just saying that because it originated there and my mind doesn't want to believe that they can even replicate it anywhere else away from Central America. HAHA!
(4)Eduardo M.
This is the best fast food fried (and grilled) chicken in Chicago. I don't say this lightly, as I do still have Popeye's cravings now and then. This is a fast food joint, so you walk up to the counter, order your food and they bring it out. Drinks are pretty good - I've had the horchata on a couple of occasions, and that can vary in taste - it was excellent today tho'.... The fried chicken skin is crispy and super flavorful. You'll pick the bones clean, like the barbarians you secretly wish you were. The grilled is also excellent, and puts me in serious doubt when I get the fried stuff. Just go there. they have a parking lot if you drive (we do, from the office, and it is worth it). And it is near all sorts of public transit. Oh, and on a side note, to all my friends here in gringolandia, if you mispronounce "Pollo Campero", it humorously translates to "Chicken With Dog" - but this doesn't mean there are dogs anywhere near this most delicious lunch spot.
(4)Jason M.
This place is like Baja Fresh if Baja Fresh were good. Think fresh ingredients, free refills and a salsa bar. Yes, please. It is a diamond in the rough of Albany Park The best part; sweet plantains. That's right as a side you keep 4 giant platanos maduros and a little sour cream to boot. Bienvenidos la comida de Guatemala. Te necesito.
(4)Robert S.
Pollo Campero has quite possibly the tastiest chicken strips that I've ever had! There must be a magic spice in there. The sauces with them are ok, and the other food is ok, but nothing special. The place has cool decor and gives the feeling of being somewhere else... definitely a place to check out if you're in the neighborhood. It's not worth a trip across town for though.
(4)Jonathan C.
Where did this place come from? I used to have to drive to Brickyard to get this very unique South American style fried chicken. This place gets points for originality, because the chicken tastes like no one elses. It is quite delicious and heavily seasoned, it is similar to the colonel's orginal recipe in form and texture although the spices are different, very flavorful. It loses some ground in that the chicken is on the small side, and does not go cold very well, surprisingly. My advice is to eat in and not box it. The eat in location is very nice, always clean, and service is good, they bring you the food and they use real silverware. The tortillas are a different touch, but I haven't had any sides that stand out. Portions are on the small side and it can be pricey. Definitely glad to see another take on Fried Chicken though. Update on Sides: Mashed potatoes good. Biscuit good and buttery only when warm, as soon as they cool the get kind of hard and unappetizing, they are really kind of greasy.
(4)Dawn G.
5-Stars? Really? Reading these reviews had me so filled with optimism. I was stuck in the standard Lawrence Avenue traffic cluster$#%& and knew this was nearby. It was the height of lunch-time so I wasn't sure how long of a wait it would be, but any excuse to get off of Lawrence Ave was a good one. I was prepared for battle. Only 1 table with people. No need for armor. It was OK. I certainly didn't achieve anywhere near the crunchy chicken skin fat nirvana I was hoping for, but it was alright. It did, however, make me lust for Hourglass's chicken...and watermelon soju. ...well. It was the traffic, actually, that made me lust for the soju.
(3)Jeff L.
I came here back in 2007 on a trip to Chicago. This was arguably the best fried chicken I've had (fast-food wise). You could smell the fried chicken from a block away and the chicken seasoning that they use is very different yet tasty from what I'm used to. I can't remember what I had for sides but remember that it was very different from your typical fried chicken fast food restaurant. We have a couple of Pollo Campero's in L.A, and hope to check these out soon.
(4)iddells E.
This is where we're getting our fried chicken from now on! Forget KFC and Popeye's...Pollo Campero's chicken is more tasty (but more expensive). They have a nice selection of sides, which includes plantains (yum!!!), rice, yucca, and I forget the others. Also, I love their salsa bar. They even serve chicken wraps and chicken bowls, which come with grilled chicken, rice, beans, diced tomatoes, and cilantro. The chicken bowl was ok and the bf really enjoyed the chicken wrap. But from now on, I'll just get chicken. I took my mom here last week and she loved it because it reminded her of how they cook chicken in the Philippines. So tasty!! I will definitely come back over and over again!
(4)Steve P.
This place is a healthier alternative to fast food. You can get tasty grilled chicken, beans and rice. They have a small sauce buffet to add to your dish. All for under 10 bucks. I usually alternate between the Campero bowl or the Caribbean bowl which both have the rice bean chicken combo with your preference of beans. You basically order, pay, and they bring you the food to your table. They have a soda fountain for free refills. They play salsa music overhead which makes it more interesting. The grilled chicken is very tender. I order extra chicken for more protein and because it tastes good.
(4)Bianca J.
I am a huge fan of El Pollo loco (yes, I know it's a chain but I barely eat fast food and you can do much worse). El Pollo Campero is like the Carribean equivalent with fried chicken (the also offer grilled, but fried is the especialidad) which is crispy, juicy, and crazy delicious, and an adventurous list of sides including buttery biscuits, sweet plantains or tostones (salty plantain chips), yuca fries, cole slaw, black beans and so forth. You can't do better than this when it comes to fast food! Edit: I've knocked off a star because it was less awesome on the second visit. The chicken strips meal had only 3 strips, and the mashed potatoes sucked. Oh well. Get the real fried chicken.
(4)Christopher L.
Pollo Campero has the best fried chicken around! Campero bowl is pretty dang good too. The only place other than White Castle to be smart enough to have grape soda on tap! It's also happens to be close to Admiral... so I hear...
(4)Maggie B.
Considering the dearth of fried chicken places on the north side worth going to, this is a welcome breath of fresh air! The last time my husband and I had a fried chicken craving, we wound up at the Lincoln/Peterson KFC and were promptly sick afterwards. We also tried the chicken from Pete's Pizza and were sorely disappointed. Pollo Campero served us nothing we didn't like. The chicken was moist on the inside, crispy and not greasy on the outside. The yuca fries and plantains were fabulous. I got a mango drink for the ride home, it's delicious. This is our new go-to chicken place! The place is clean, and the staff are friendly and say thank you. This alone makes it stand out. I've never been to the one at Brickyard but I hope this friendly customer service attitude doesn't fade over time. Oh, and for the people who keep calling this place Mexican, it is Guatemalan, and has been around since the 70's - it started franchising in other countries in the mid 90's. There is a great history section on their website if you want more information.
(5)T.J. S.
This place is just ok. For some reason it takes forever once you order your food. Be prepared to spend at least a half hour to 45 minutes eating or waiting on your food there.
(3)Dan E.
I ate at the store on Narragansett when it first opened and my opinion hasn't changed with this store. Even though it is immensely popular I am not a fan. The chicken is supposedly marinated. I find it dry and greasy. Other than the novelty of the side dishes, they are average. As someone else mentioned the desserts seem mass produced and substandard. Normally I am relatively easy to please but I don't know what I'm missing about this place. Note: this chain is from Guatemala and not Mexico as some of the other reviewers have noted.
(2)Michael W.
There is this odd quailty recently when I come to this location. I can't tell if it's me or the atmosphere. Thankfully, nothing is wrong or odd or different about the food. IT'S STILL DELICIOUS. During my last visit it took awhile for the food to arrive and that was after I was stared at sideways for trying to order chicken ala carte rather than within some predetermined meal deal. Sometimes you don't want any damn sides. Just gimme the chicken chica. I don't know, it just feels like things are moving in slow motion here. Where is that Fast Forward button?
(4)D. G.
Not a fan of the food here in general, but we end up here once in awhile due to lack of choice in the area, and due to the fact it's next to Starbucks. Usually I'll get the Caribbean Bowl it's the only thing I've found I like there. They have gotten my order wrong and gave me fried versus grilled chicken more then once. There isn't anything wrong with the food per-say, but it's definately nothing special. Last time we were there the guy at the counter was making the same joke to everyone who came in the door.
(3)Jacob J.
Update 8/28/07 Went back with a fam that saw all the reviews online and wanted to see what it was all about. This time had a bit of everything they offer. Everyone thought the meal was forgettable. Cole slaw is not Cole slaw. We agreed it might taste better as a topping on a fish sandwich. It tastes like tartar sauce. Biscuits were so blah. Beans were OK, too soupy like a salsa soup, but its got bacon! Flan seemed like it was a cheap ass version from a dollar store. You can get a better kind at Dominick's. Someone mentioned that this place is the answer to Chicken on the North side.. You need a reality check. Remember that this area is full of little spots that offer a variety of tasty chicken. You want kick ass broasted chicken, head to Charcoal Delights. Want something different that you might dream about, try La Brasa Roja. Want something extra tasty crispy, try the wings at Time cafe. Also, two out of two times I had to check my order. There is a ton of business going on here. The downside is that, its always busy. But, the employees don't check up on what they are doing. I was shorted two pieces, missing a flan and a side. To rectify the order took half as much time as it took for the food to arrive. ************************************* More like 2.5 stars from me. The chicken is broasted. Compared to Charcoal Delight, Pollo C would come in ninth. The Mexican sides are worth checking out. The typical American sides aren't. Food is soo bland. Even the red & verde salsa doesn't offer enough heat to keep me excited about the food. I had a four piece meal with fried plantains, yucca fries, mash pot. and a dinner roll. The roll was cold. Yucca fries & plantains were yum. Mashed potatoes w/ gravy was so bland. I left it. Spent about $8 on this combo meal. This here is probably alot cheaper than KFC and better for you. The tastes and overall aren't enough to bring me back for seconds. My friend tried the grilled chicken bowl. He was neither here or there about it. If you like spicy, I recommend taking a bottle of Cholula hot sauce or even Louisiana style. The inside is very bright colored and the staff are all cheery eyed and HELPFUL. A cashier over charged me. I handed the receipt back to another cashier. While I waited, the manager rung up a refund for me. More than one cashier came over to find out if I had been helped. Even after it, another cashier asked if everything was OK and if someone had given me my refund. Awesome. If you stop in. Grab a table first. They go QUICK. Order, take your number to your table. The food is delivered. When you're done just go. During your meal, an associate will come over and see if they clean up anything for you and ask how you enjoyed your meal.
(1)Tom Z.
I had the fried chicken and thought it was OK. The chicken was tasty and moist. I also had the mashed potatoes, they were alright. It was very busy inside, but the employees were very quick and friendly. I prefer Popeye's for fried chicken and think Popeye's has some of the best mashed potatoes. I may go back to Pollo Campero to try some of the other things offered.
(3)Britt C.
Y-U-M! I really try to stay away from fried chicken, and fast food in general, but this place is so tasty. The chicken is slightly spicy, so much tastier than other chains, as other raters have mentioned. Definitely go for the beans with bacon and peppers, and the plantains, and tortillas instead of biscuits so you can make yourself a fried chicken taco with something from their salsa and pico de gallo bar. The yucca fries were ok, (fried and salted, how can you go wrong?). It is fast food, not exactly an out of your way dinner place, but if you're craving fried chicken as I do on occasion, this is the place to go.
(4)Brian C.
Well, I think this is the most underrated fast food chicken in Chicago. I had the fried chicken and it was incredible. It wasn't seriously greasy, like the Popeye's that I've always loved. Instead, it's just a nice understated fried chicken, and juicy without the grease. And the sweet plantains, damn that's good stuff. The service was very good, also. The lady behind the counter was very helpful, and told me I couldn't lose with the fried chicken. And she was right. Also, she brought out some grilled chicken for me to try, free of charge. I only wish they had a location that was closer to me, and that didn't require fighting heavy traffic to get there.
(4)Url R.
Beats the Colonel and Popeyes hands down. For sides, get the Campero Beans (Lotsa bacon), tortillas and sweet Plantains for your sides. Avoid the Salad. The bowls are pretty good alternatives, but the chicken is what makes this place shine. The Yucca fries are now off the menu so that itself deserves a one star deduction. Make sure to get 2 or 3 different salsas from the salsa bar to dip the tortillas in. The desserts are nothing to write home about.
(3)Millie R.
This place had a huge hype when it first opened in the Brickyard area. In fact, people waited ours in line to eat. I'm not understanding why? Both times I went, the food was bland including the chicken! Isn't this their specialty? Even after adding salsa to my meal it still didn't taste any better. Apparently, this place is a big chicken franchise in Guatemala. Perhaps someday I will give this place a third chance...in Guatemala!
(1)L T.
For me, the only improvement this place could make would be to install a drive-thru ;) We've never eaten in, we always order to-go. The food is consistently delicious, service is always pleasant and fairly quick. Delicious chicken - fried or grilled, and we love the black beans and rice and mashers. There is a parking lot (though it can sometimes be frustrating).
(5)Minerva R.
When I first saw the crazy chicken billboard above the restaurant, I thought it was funny. When I ordered my first meal there (in the Brickyard Court), they only had the fried chicken version. Later on, the menu offered two versions, broiled or fried. I love the broiled one, with its spices. It's better than KFC, in my opinion, and more juicy. The Campero bean is its signature food. It's the best baked beans I've tasted. I order a large portion always. Of course, it also offers your typical Hispanic food choices, like side orders of tortillas, yellow rice, etc. I always go there for the CHICKEN and beans. The best in Chicago.
(5)Larry G.
I took a ride up with my little brother (also an avid fan of fried chicken) on a Monday night. We arrived at approximately nine p.m. -- the place was still doing very steady business but no lines or anything. The waitress said there were insane lines over the weekend. (There is in fact table service. You get your own soda, but they serve your food on plates with silverware and whatnot. I tipped the girl but I'm not sure what the typical practice of Campero patrons is in that regard.) The chicken -- not the very best I've ever had but better than KFC and Popeye's so far as fast food chains go. Not nearly as breaded as what you'll find at the other locations. The chicken itself is high quality and the skin is very good. I expected there to be a little more kick to it, to be honest. We just had the eight piece combo, so I can't speculate as to the chicken strips but I've read that they are good. The rest of the menu -- the beans were very good, in my opinion. Had chili peppers and bacon in them with a nice broth. The biscuits were average. The other sides all looked very good, but we didn't have them. The menu has a couple nice looking salads, some grilled chicken items, and burritos. They also plan to start breakfast service at this location in the near future. The verdict -- I can't say whether I'll be making a point of trekking all the way out to one of the current locations. It's much better than KFC or Popeye's but not so totally awesome as to merit a separate trip. The quality of the food is higher than KFC and Popeyes and the service is better; I would judge it comparable to Panera or Chipotle, apples to oranges. I also think it is better than Harolds, but I'm really not a Harold's fan. (For me, there is only one fried chicken place in the world that would merit a special trip -- a place called Chicken Stop on 1st Avenue in the mid 90s in New York City. The place is an unbelievably dirty hole in the wall that serves up some of the most ridiculously good fried chicken you will ever have in your life. And if you ate there regularly, your life would be relatively short, because they probably use enough salt to de-ice a 747 on every piece of chiekn there.)
(4)Nikkie H.
In my neighborhood there's not a ton of choices for friend chicken, so I was happy to see a new face in the area. However, the food left a bit to be desired. Since I'm a traditional kind of person, I went with the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn bread. The chicken was a bit greasy, the potatoes were bland and the corn bread was just "eh." I believe they're building a Brown's Chicken on the corner of Pulaski and Montrose next to the Dunkin' Donuts. We'll see if I like that any better.
(3)Linda M.
I first tried this chain in Guatemala and fell in love, and was excited to hear that they were opening one her in Chicago. I made the mistake of trying to go opening week and the line was around the block for days. I was finally able to try the stateside version about a month after it opened. Not too shabby. The Latino sides and rice are a nice change of pace. The salsa bar has been revamped for the American palate-so not as good as I remember. Have been back several times and was never really disappointed. I don't crave it with mouth watering intensity, but still very good
(3)Sara E.
As far as I'm concerned this chicken and the Burritos are out of this world! You must try it.
(4)Jacqueline S.
I love the chicken from Pollo Campero! I also really like the Campero beans, the tostones, yucca, and the sweet plantains. The rice is okay (my boyfriend likes the rice but not so much the beans so it just depends on what you like) and I don't really like the tortillas (I forgot why - I think because they are flour and seem microwaved) but I do like the dinner rolls. I tried the maranon drink here for the first time ever and I like it! I would go here over Popeye's, KFC, or Brown's. I want to try breakfast here.
(4)kiley w.
never been here, but had cary out. Best fast food fried chicken I ever had. Nice and cripy but not too greasy. Had quite a few sides too, even fried bananas; and they were all good. Didn't care much for the cole slaw though. Definitely gonna get food from here again.
(4)trisha f.
Easily the best Chicken that I have had in my life. It tastes exactly as advertised, Crunchy & Juicy, and so flavorful. I now understand why so many people have been talking about it. Wow! Try the sweet plantains and Campero Beans (which Chicago Magazine voted best in Chicago). Worth the drive, but I can't wait until there is one closer to my home. Open more please.
(5)Justin R.
I rate it a three, food was better than you'd think, for a fast food type of place. I had never been to this chain before, which is like a mexican style fried chicken fast food eatery. They were out of beans when I went, the biscuit was dry but everything else was fine. Although like every other fast food restaurant I've ever been to, they were stingy as hell with the little tiny tubs of ranch.
(3)John F.
Convenient, yes. Reasonable, yes. Overly hyped, definitely. Okay fast food chicken with nice Mex/Guat side dishes but nothing to wait in line for.
(3)John P.
When it's good, it's some of the better fried chicken you can get. It's a great change of pace from familiar American fried chicken. They've also got a great set of sides to go along with your chicken. The only real downside is that there is a lack of consistency with the product. Sometimes the chicken is as juicy as you can imagine. Other times the chicken is really dry. It's a gamble each time you go, but I keep going back because it's just that good when things are right.
(4)Ed P.
Usually I've come here and the food is pretty good but today waiting for my order watching them power wash the floors behind the counter where they prepare the food at 8:00 pm while all the food is out and there's people still eating that's discuss thing watching the mist fly up into the air, got my food but lost my apatite.
(1)Damian P.
Okay dare I say it? I came back to Pollo Campero after a long hiatus since the partner was in the mood for it. Mind you, we live on Chicago's South Side near Midway. But this time I am glad I did come down. I had a 3 piece white meat (I never knew the difference), and it was really good. He had me try this drink that according to him was made from the flower of the chestnut. Wow, it was so good and the chicken this time around was really good so I am glad I came back. Service also was impeccable and I have to admit, it was awesome this time around. I totally like this location vs the Narraganset location due to it being overcrowded and not looking so sanitary. Although it was cold outside and slushy the day we went, the floor was clean and the whole place was fresh. Give them a try and please make sure you try the Yucca fries because they are not the typical fries and the way they make them is really nice.
(4)Rico T.
I've been in the parking lot of this place & have seen long lines here at any given time of the day. Finally, I decided to try it. Am I missing something? Why would people wait in long lines to consume average food? The fried chicken was tasty, but just okay. Same goes for pretty much everything else I consumed, including the salsas. Prices were decent & the space was clean. It felt like......McDonalds! Then it hit me: I'm in the Hispanic equivalent of McDonalds. It all became clear as a shot of fine agave tequila. I'd go back, but only if I pass up a mom & pop taqueria.
(3)Simone T.
This place is WELL above average for a fast food chain. Keeping that in mind, it's not fancy, just good food. I had the worst cold this week; one afternoon I ordered a bowl of their chicken tortilla soup to go & added a bunch of salsa, pico de gallo, cilantro, onions & tomatillo sauce from the condiment bar. For under $5, it hit the spot and kept me going well into the evening. The chicken & black beans along with plantains are two good side dishes. The chicken is pretty good too. Courteous staff, inexpensive - but not "cheap" - good food.
(4)Douglas B.
Having had this from the original locations in Guatemala, I have to say that they have done a pretty good job of keeping it real. As Marlo L. mentioned before, we also would bring a box of chicken with us on the plane back to Chicago. Never failed. However they do sell you a six pack of Guatemalan beer at the restaurant, makes it that much better. The chicken is delicious and juicy. They have a unique way of flash frying the chicken. They say they dont fry it, not sure how it's done then. I dont like how they have had to "Americanize" everything else around the chicken. The bowls and the grilled chicken and the salads... thats not what I remember PC for. The sides are great, only place i can get some killer beans and tortillas with my chicken. It is a bit pricey, the chicken cannot be that expensive. But you do pay a little more for the classic table side service. All in all great place. Always reminds me of Guatemala and my family.
(4)Pam D.
Christopher and I stopped at Pollo Campero today on our way to visit Jean C. Walking through the door, there was a rather strong odor of chicken grease. We should have gone elsewhere, but ... oh well. I ordered the personal meal, basically chicken, a biscuit and I picked out a side of plantains. I didn't see that you could choose fried or grilled chicken. They gave me grilled which is fine, but would have been nice if they asked what i wanted. Chris ordered the Campero bowl, which is grilled or fried chicken (they didn't ask him either for his choice), rice, beans, chopped onions, cilantro and fresh salsa. Sounds good? Was pretty much tasteless. My chicken was ok, but with all the really good chicken options around, we won't be back.
(2)Melanie V.
Watch out, Popeyes! You've got some SERIOUS competition from Pollo Campero! The skin is amazingly seasoned and crispy. The meat is delicious and juicy. If you get a family style dinner, you get your choice of tortillas, rolls or biscuits. We opted for the Hawaiian-esque style rolls. As for sides, the plantains and rice were just sooo good. Yum. My starving friend and I basically devoured the food..and were seriously satisfed afterwards. Don't forget to stock up on salsa at the yummy salsa bar. My personal favorite was the tomatilla and the jalapenos. Awesome! For 8 pieces of chicken, 2 sides and 4 rolls, the total came out to about 20 bucks! A little steeper than Popeyes or KFC, but the flavorful goodness is worth it!
(4)Janet W.
Expectations people. This is fast food fried chicken. Super yummy and crispy, not a lot of batter like KFC etc. Loved the fried plaintains as a side. Mine were a little dry, but some of my husband's were not. Note to Pollo Campero, if you are reading, keep the plaintains moist please. Anyway the 2 piece meal of chicken comes with roll or tortillas. I'd recommend the tortillas, as the roll is basically generic white bread. It comes with a little tub of sour cream, which was yummy with the warm tortilla. The horchata was not great. It had a funny taste to it, compared to other burrito places we have gotten horchata. We may try one again at some pt, but otherwise we'll skip it. We will definitely be back for the yummy salty crispy fried chicken+sweet plaintain fast food experience.
(4)Matthew S.
Don't cry for me Guatemala! The truth is I puked this food up. All through my wild days, I drank mojitos , shoulda had chicken fingers - And not nasty burritos. I bet even Evita would have hated this food. Though she was from Argentina, not Guatemala. This was nothing to write home about. I went here for a fundraiser to send a school group to Guatemala to have a 'cross cultural experience'. Excellent. I showed up ready to eat. The food was bland - and there was corn mixed with the rice I ordered, as well as little pieces of pork (which was not noted on the menu). I was super jazzed that they had flan. It was served in a little plastic cup, with a pullback tinfoil lid. GROSS! I didn't really puke the food up. I kind of wanted to. But then I started to think about how much trouble making myself throw up is. You have to wait until your home, and then get your glass of water ready - and then make sure the toilet is clean. Then you can just stick that toothbrush down your throat and have at. Works like a charm, but my eyes always water. This time, I didn't have the energy. Plus then I thought about Karen Carpenter, and got all "Oooh! I don't wanna be skinny like that" - needless to say, I digested this stuff, and let nature take its course. And fortunately, I'm very regular... I ended up just throwing it away...but I stayed and chatted with my friend. I think learning about Guatemalans is very important. Skip Pollo Compero. You won't be missing much. At all. It's fast food style, served on plastic trays. Then you put a number on your table, and wait for someone to find you and they bring out your food. There is a soda machine for you to get your own drinks... I didn't care for this at all. I want to say "hurray" for this place, but I can only muster an "eh" and a shrug.
(2)Ed P.
Usually I've come here and the food is pretty good but today waiting for my order watching them power wash the floors behind the counter where they prepare the food at 8:00 pm while all the food is out and there's people still eating that's discuss thing watching the mist fly up into the air, got my food but lost my apatite.
(1)Jennifer Q.
I was actually pretty impressed with this place. For a fast food joint, it offers a unique alternative to the same-old, same-old. Is it super authentic Latino food? No, not really. But if you are in a hurry and don't want a hamburger, it's a pretty good option, without having to go and wait at a regular restaurant. I got the grilled chicken -extra interesting that it was grilled with lime -never thought of that on chicken -so that was pretty cool. The sweet plantains were the real deal -though a little greasy. The yucca fries were a very "white people" version of yucca, but still interesting. The cashier was really friendly and I only waited maybe 5-6 minutes for my order. Again, it's fast food. But an interesting option if you want to try something different in a hurry!
(4)Rosa J.
This place doesn't have much to write home about. However, when you are traveling from work and want something to eat...super-sonic quickly...then you can count on this place. They have weekday daily special, which comes with an entree and a fountain soda. For under $5, it's a deal. Food is fine. Of course it's not gourmet-quality. They do have pretty decent empanadas, which I recommend. It's quick, clean, friendly place to be. I believe they do have wifi available, but SB is next door and occasionally you get the wifi signal from there. This place isn't really competitive to other restaurants in Albany Park, but kudos to awesome Sunday hours (opening until 2200 hour). With that being said, I'm grateful because there are very limited choices left when you get home at 2030 hour on a Sunday.
(3)Jennifer P.
If Pollo Campero was good at one time, then it has gone down in quality. What I really wanted was a bucket of fried chicken. What I ended up with was 16 pieces of dry chicken where somehow the batter was not fully cooked and oozed out when biting into some of the pieces. My guess would be that the chicken had been sitting under a heat lamp, long enough to dry out the meat, but not hot enough to cook the rest of the batter. The sides here were memorable. The beans and rice are high in sodium and very tasty. The coleslaw is fantastic. Hence two stars instead of one. It's not enough to bring me back. The location was convenient and I was hoping I wouldn't have to travel far for good fried food. Eat here if you must. I believe the restaurant is generally clean and well maintained. Just don't expect a unique experience.
(2)Yanyao N.
Fried chicken AND empanadas? Yes, and yes. Can I just eat here and pretend that I'm in Breaking Bad? I bet Los Pollos Hermanos was like this. Unfortunately, no Gus Fring look-a-like spotted here when I visited, but the staff were welcoming and friendly. The Latin twist is a nice change from the KFC/Popeye's chains - there are plantains, rice, beans on the menu, and a salsa bar at the restaurant. I tried the chicken bowl and all the empanadas as a snack and loved it all. Next time, I've got my eye on a big bucket of fried chicken.
(4)L M.
This place was incredibly busy and chaotic when we went (speaking to its popularity) but I was not impressed. I had the chicken bowl and we got chicken tenders for the kids. I wish I'd tried the yucca fries. I thought the chicken bowl was pretty unimpressive, and the tenders were anything but. The place seemed really grimy to me. They need to clean behind the booths. Desperately. I won't be back to find out if they have.
(2)Georgia P.
This review is for the customer service. I did not appreciate the fact that I was ignored and passed over while waiting in line simply because I do not speak Spanish. And when I asked the cashier if I could order he motioned to the other cash register, but the employee working that station was helping bag food. I was unable to order because instead of taking the next person in line the cashier took the whole group behind me. If you make a mistake like that the least you could do is apologize.
(1)Jamal A.
Not more than three stars. The chicken was not fresh but it had nice tropical flavor. Their portions are small. This place needs to be more busy to serve fresher food and still think they are expensive.
(3)Fasa E.
Whoa that fried chicken though! The chicken is perfectly breaded and is so freaking tasty!!!! The sides are so-so, except for their plantains that shiz is yummmmy!
(5)Christopher S.
If you go into this Pollo Campero right now, you'll know why the franchise is struggling in Chicago. The chicken is delicious, don't get me wrong, but the staff has little or know idea what they're doing. They forgot to put items in the bag that I paid for, they took forever and the cashier didn't even know the menu. Me: what sauces come with the strips? Cashier: what sauces? Me: it says strips come with sauce Cashier: we don't have sauces. Me: OK. Cashier: oh wait lemme check.... We got three. Me: OK. What are they? Cashier: I think chipolte mayo and something else. I also order a dessert that she didn't know they didn't actually have, at least I got a refund for that item. I got all the way home and found out half my girlfriend's meal was missing. Again, the chicken is delicious but it's not inexpensive and if you have to deal with horrible service and missing items what is the point? The store on Narragansett closed. I wonder if they had the same problems. It's interesting to me that for a place the had lines out the for and around the corner when it opened, it only ever has four or less customers in it at any given time and everyone waits and waits and waits..... The last two I was there it was a lame experience. I hope their management can turn it around cause the chicken is really good. Shame they can't keep it together.
(2)Jeff G.
2.5 rounded up. it's a fast food joint and the chicken was ok but i thought the options for sides were really limited.
(3)Giovanni D.
I gave 4 stars because, I like el pollo loco more than this chicken place. This food chain offers hispanic style chicken, grilled or fried. They have combo meals with different sides. I recommend yuca fries and campero rice. There is a salsa bar to compliment your chicken. For dessert, I suggest sweet stix! They are fried tortilla with cinnamon and sugar alongside of dulce de leche dip
(4)Jonathan P.
Food is good perfectly crispy chicken. The place always has a lot if people which is good for business. Smart marketing in opening this place in a very Latino populated community.
(3)Raul I.
Good service. Clean location. GREAT tasting food. Love Pollo Campero, how this chain has not expanded all over the city I do not know, but this place would totally kick KFC's and Popeyes' butt. Great chicken with great side options (beans, rice, plantains) and a good selection of salsas to choose from at the salsa bar. This specific location has plenty of sit down (dine-in) tables and a parking lot outside. The parking lot is shared by local businesses, so it can get full at times, especially weekends or during rush hour weekdays. This location also does NOT have a drive-thru, so plan to get out of the car to get to this tasty chicken.
(4)Michael W.
There is this odd quailty recently when I come to this location. I can't tell if it's me or the atmosphere. Thankfully, nothing is wrong or odd or different about the food. IT'S STILL DELICIOUS. During my last visit it took awhile for the food to arrive and that was after I was stared at sideways for trying to order chicken ala carte rather than within some predetermined meal deal. Sometimes you don't want any damn sides. Just gimme the chicken chica. I don't know, it just feels like things are moving in slow motion here. Where is that Fast Forward button?
(4)D. G.
Not a fan of the food here in general, but we end up here once in awhile due to lack of choice in the area, and due to the fact it's next to Starbucks. Usually I'll get the Caribbean Bowl it's the only thing I've found I like there. They have gotten my order wrong and gave me fried versus grilled chicken more then once. There isn't anything wrong with the food per-say, but it's definately nothing special. Last time we were there the guy at the counter was making the same joke to everyone who came in the door.
(3)Maggie B.
Considering the dearth of fried chicken places on the north side worth going to, this is a welcome breath of fresh air! The last time my husband and I had a fried chicken craving, we wound up at the Lincoln/Peterson KFC and were promptly sick afterwards. We also tried the chicken from Pete's Pizza and were sorely disappointed. Pollo Campero served us nothing we didn't like. The chicken was moist on the inside, crispy and not greasy on the outside. The yuca fries and plantains were fabulous. I got a mango drink for the ride home, it's delicious. This is our new go-to chicken place! The place is clean, and the staff are friendly and say thank you. This alone makes it stand out. I've never been to the one at Brickyard but I hope this friendly customer service attitude doesn't fade over time. Oh, and for the people who keep calling this place Mexican, it is Guatemalan, and has been around since the 70's - it started franchising in other countries in the mid 90's. There is a great history section on their website if you want more information.
(5)T.J. S.
This place is just ok. For some reason it takes forever once you order your food. Be prepared to spend at least a half hour to 45 minutes eating or waiting on your food there.
(3)Dan E.
I ate at the store on Narragansett when it first opened and my opinion hasn't changed with this store. Even though it is immensely popular I am not a fan. The chicken is supposedly marinated. I find it dry and greasy. Other than the novelty of the side dishes, they are average. As someone else mentioned the desserts seem mass produced and substandard. Normally I am relatively easy to please but I don't know what I'm missing about this place. Note: this chain is from Guatemala and not Mexico as some of the other reviewers have noted.
(2)Bill M.
I was so looking forward to Pollo Campero moving into my 'hood. Sure, some may have been excited about the Starbucks opening next door in this still-under-construction strip mall, but for me I was getting pumped up about the Guatemalan-style fried chicken. I actually waited about 30 minutes in line during its opening day in July for a take-out order (the wait for a table was longer - the interior is not that large). The crowds have died down a bit since then, but they do a brisk business luring the Latino population (and this particular Asian guy) to this spot. This is the second Pollo Campero to open in Chicago. What makes the chicken special? It is crunchy, spicy, and juicy without going overboard on any of these attributes. They have a great selection of side orders like yucca fries, tostones, and sweet plantains along with more "common" ones like beans, Spanish rice, and mashed potatoes. They also have a salsa bar where you can scoop up different salsas, cilantro, and lime wedges to add a bit of kick to your flavorful chicken. While the main reason to come here is the fried chicken and the latin-style sides, they also have a serviceable burrito, and some salad and bowl-style dishes that I've not tried. The mango juice is pretty tasty, and they also have horchata, tamarindo, and some cashew-fruit drink called maranon that I will have to try. The flan is not bad, but they are ready-made containers and not "fresh". If you are lucky, the life-size yellow Pollo Campero character will greet you at your table and perhaps give you a high-five, though its appearance frightened a young tyke during my last visit. The one time I dined here, I sat next to the mural of one of the great pyramids in Tikal, Guatemala, and I think that made my dining experience complete.
(5)Nancy H.
Meh. Chicken joint (grilled and fried), Latin style. Meaning, complimentary tortillas (or biscuits), rice, beans w/bacon, yucca fries, and plantains on the menu. Also, there's a free salsa bar with diced onions and jalapenos. The grilled chicken skin is surprisingly crispy with a hint of lime flavor. The fried chicken skin isn't heavily battered, and in fact, reminds me of shake & bake but better. Fried chicken only comes in dark meat. I'd much rather prefer Popeye's with some hot sauce. The grilled chicken was better than the fried, while the rest of the sides (rice, beans w/bacon, plantains) were just ok. Eating the chicken inside the tortilla kind of masked its flavor, so I wouldn't recommend that. The best thing there were the yucca fries - thick cut, moist, and absolutely delicious with the dipping sauce! This place has a touch of class serving you on real plates and silverware and actually delivering your food to your table.
(3)Y V.
Mmm... crispy chicken skin! I've been back to this location a few times and I love their fried chicken thighs and wings. The chicken is moist, flavorful, and the crispy skin is the best part. No heavy breading or weird batter here - just lightly seasoned and fried. Pair that with sweet plantains and a biscuit and you have a fast food meal that actually tastes like real food. I've tried my bf's chicken tenders, which were pretty good (I prefer chicken on the bone, though). I haven't tried the other side dishes, other than their tostones and french fries, but someone told me that the rice & black beans were kind of bland. They have a salsa table with three different kinds of salsas (red, green tomatillo, and chipotle), as well as limes, chopped onion, and cilantro. I'm sure the rice & beans would taste better with a little salsa and cilantro. I wasn't crazy about their prepackaged flan, either. But I go here mainly for their fried chicken and sweet plantains and have never been disappointed.
(4)Mike O.
I'm dropping 2 stars on this place. I was over in the mall on Pulaski & Lawrence where the Staples store is located. I haven't had yucca fries for some time, so I thought I'd come here again to fulfill my craving. To my disappointment, yucca fries are off their menu now! My favorite Pollo Campero item, no less... So I settled on fried plantains, which were decent, and Campero beans, which are more like a bean soup than the usual Mexican beans. The other change is that their serving size has shrunk for the "personal meals". Used to be 2 side dishes included, now it's only 1. And I thought I got more than 2 small tortillas last time. Only thing not to shrink was the price. With drink and 3 pieces of dark meat plus an extra side, I was over $9. No wonder I was only one of 5 customers sitting there though it was almost noon on a Friday. The lines sure have gone down since the busy grand opening craze the place experienced. For a fast food chicken place, service is above average since they bring you the food to the table. The staff asks if you need anything else, but I figure they are so bored given the slow volume of customers that it at least keeps them occupied. Smaller meals and no yucca fries are a deal-breaker for me. Sorry, Pollo Campero, but I won't be returning anytime soon.
(2)Eduardo M.
This is the best fast food fried (and grilled) chicken in Chicago. I don't say this lightly, as I do still have Popeye's cravings now and then. This is a fast food joint, so you walk up to the counter, order your food and they bring it out. Drinks are pretty good - I've had the horchata on a couple of occasions, and that can vary in taste - it was excellent today tho'.... The fried chicken skin is crispy and super flavorful. You'll pick the bones clean, like the barbarians you secretly wish you were. The grilled is also excellent, and puts me in serious doubt when I get the fried stuff. Just go there. they have a parking lot if you drive (we do, from the office, and it is worth it). And it is near all sorts of public transit. Oh, and on a side note, to all my friends here in gringolandia, if you mispronounce "Pollo Campero", it humorously translates to "Chicken With Dog" - but this doesn't mean there are dogs anywhere near this most delicious lunch spot.
(4)Jason M.
This place is like Baja Fresh if Baja Fresh were good. Think fresh ingredients, free refills and a salsa bar. Yes, please. It is a diamond in the rough of Albany Park The best part; sweet plantains. That's right as a side you keep 4 giant platanos maduros and a little sour cream to boot. Bienvenidos la comida de Guatemala. Te necesito.
(4)Robert S.
Pollo Campero has quite possibly the tastiest chicken strips that I've ever had! There must be a magic spice in there. The sauces with them are ok, and the other food is ok, but nothing special. The place has cool decor and gives the feeling of being somewhere else... definitely a place to check out if you're in the neighborhood. It's not worth a trip across town for though.
(4)Tina B.
How To Eat Like A Real Mutha(- Shut yo-I'm Just Talking About Chicken): 1. Grab screaming, crabby baby, bring him to the car and wrestle him into his strappy seat. Pretend it doesn't hurt too bad when he kicks you in the eye with his baby-shoed foot. 2. Drive. What is far enough to lull him to sleep with this drive... Mars Cheese Castle? No, maybe not that far. Pollo Campero? Yes! Yes. Okay, drive the almost 25 miles from your house to Pollo Campero. Yes, later, when your child is a angst-ridden pre-teen, he will charge that you love Pollo Campero more than him. Based on that eye-kicking a few minutes ago, you might not know how you feel about that... You will hear every other word on NPR interspersed with baby shrieks. It's like real world Mad Libs. 3. The baby is blissfully asleep. Alas, no drive-thru. Okay, dad will go in first and place his order, come back to the car, then mom will go in and place hers and come back to the car. Mom will still have to order for dad because he will like what her food looks like more than his. Whatever... 4. Rip the hot, oily skin directly from three pieces at once and cram all the way into mouth. Repeat. Stare at stuff in front of you as eyes glaze over. Dip chicken into mashed potatoes and gravy. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. 5. Give baby the rest of your food, because he woke up starving from all of the earlier crying and flailing. 6. Take the rest of the chicken and continue on to Mars Cheese Castle after all, because you clearly didn't drive far enough.
(4)Jay O.
I've been here about 4 times in the last 5 years. I live a few hours away but, if I find myself within 10 miles and its lunchtime, I make my way here. The food's always amazing and has been consistent since I first came. The service not so much. Visited today for lunch and the counter guys had no idea what was going on. It's chicken. You take it from the bin, put it on a plate with a side and bring it to the counter. It shouldn't take 10 minutes when there are only 3 people in the restaurant. Come for the great chicken. Just don't expect competent service.
(4)April P.
So many different kinds of fried chicken are there? Well, a heck of a lot! Lately, we have been huge Crisp favorites, but sometimes ya gotta change it up a bit. So we head to Priscilla's for some the soul food version, or to Popeye's for a fast food staple. So here's a new one: Latin fried chicken. It's crispy on the outside without having an inch of batter/breading, but at the same time, keeping the inside it's juicy. The pieces are fairly large in size. They have a great "salad bar" option of salsa verde, rojo and pico de gallo salsa to top the great chicken. A box 20 piece special for $20.
(5)Jean Z.
Hot. Fresh. BUSY! There's a tent outside for to-go orders! Food takes a long time to be packaged for you to go, but if you're eating in, they bring the food to your table. This place is a mexican KFC. Beans and rice, Pico sauce and other salsas where you'd expect to find bbq and ketchup! Try the bowl, or a bucket of chicken. Yummy! Good to-go food. Small eat in area. HUGE business. Very loud inside. This owner is def living the American Dream. One store at brickyard and this is #2.
(4)Marlo P.
I love me some fried chicken. I had some PC chicken straight from Guatemala and El Salvador before they had all those laws against bringing food into airplanes and EVERY TIME someone I knew was going there I told them to bring some of that chicken back. When I heard that they were opening one in Chicago I was ecstatic! This was before I knew about Yelp and all that good stuff. I waited in line. I waited some more. They had a big chicken dancing in the front and they had bars to guide you through the lines. Then I got there and was so in love. I'm a sucker for their fried chicken and their plantains and I go there whenever I can to pick me up some good fried chicken and plantains. I had to give it four stars though. I don't know what it is but the ones from Guatemala tasted better. But I may be just saying that because it originated there and my mind doesn't want to believe that they can even replicate it anywhere else away from Central America. HAHA!
(4)Demetrio P.
Honest to say, I've had Pollo Campero chicken several times and it's just nothing special, just okay. I do like one thing, the take home salsa / sauce bar. Other than that, I'll stick to Popeyes, KFC, or even Brown's when in the mood for convenient fried chicken. Overall, okay food, okay service, okay prices.
(3)Donaye N.
Chicken's pretty good...very tasty! Loved the sweet plaintains!
(3)Joseph O.
Apparently, you can't get served here if you don't speak Spanish. I waited and waited and waited while the Spanish-speaking couple in front of me had the entire freakin' menu explained to them. It isn't that difficult. Also, why does it take the entire front crew to do the explaining? This isn't the first time I've been rebuffed here. The last time I went in, I waited several minutes for someone to take my order, and no one did. I was the only one in line! The manager was standing ten feet away. I was too pissed to say anything to him because I thought I would lose my temper and really let him have it. That was several months ago, and I finally decided to give them another chance, and this happens! As far as the food goes, I can only go on memory from just after the place opened years ago. The chicken was heavily brined, which kept the meat moist, but otherwise I felt it was good, but unexceptional. I hated the Campero rice; better stuff can be found at any halfway decent taqueria. I love fried chicken, and I wanted to try this place again, but I guarantee I will never walk into a Pollo Campero ever again. The best fried chicken in the world isn't worth this crappy service.
(1)Jonathan C.
Where did this place come from? I used to have to drive to Brickyard to get this very unique South American style fried chicken. This place gets points for originality, because the chicken tastes like no one elses. It is quite delicious and heavily seasoned, it is similar to the colonel's orginal recipe in form and texture although the spices are different, very flavorful. It loses some ground in that the chicken is on the small side, and does not go cold very well, surprisingly. My advice is to eat in and not box it. The eat in location is very nice, always clean, and service is good, they bring you the food and they use real silverware. The tortillas are a different touch, but I haven't had any sides that stand out. Portions are on the small side and it can be pricey. Definitely glad to see another take on Fried Chicken though. Update on Sides: Mashed potatoes good. Biscuit good and buttery only when warm, as soon as they cool the get kind of hard and unappetizing, they are really kind of greasy.
(4)Dawn G.
5-Stars? Really? Reading these reviews had me so filled with optimism. I was stuck in the standard Lawrence Avenue traffic cluster$#%& and knew this was nearby. It was the height of lunch-time so I wasn't sure how long of a wait it would be, but any excuse to get off of Lawrence Ave was a good one. I was prepared for battle. Only 1 table with people. No need for armor. It was OK. I certainly didn't achieve anywhere near the crunchy chicken skin fat nirvana I was hoping for, but it was alright. It did, however, make me lust for Hourglass's chicken...and watermelon soju. ...well. It was the traffic, actually, that made me lust for the soju.
(3)Jeff L.
I came here back in 2007 on a trip to Chicago. This was arguably the best fried chicken I've had (fast-food wise). You could smell the fried chicken from a block away and the chicken seasoning that they use is very different yet tasty from what I'm used to. I can't remember what I had for sides but remember that it was very different from your typical fried chicken fast food restaurant. We have a couple of Pollo Campero's in L.A, and hope to check these out soon.
(4)iddells E.
This is where we're getting our fried chicken from now on! Forget KFC and Popeye's...Pollo Campero's chicken is more tasty (but more expensive). They have a nice selection of sides, which includes plantains (yum!!!), rice, yucca, and I forget the others. Also, I love their salsa bar. They even serve chicken wraps and chicken bowls, which come with grilled chicken, rice, beans, diced tomatoes, and cilantro. The chicken bowl was ok and the bf really enjoyed the chicken wrap. But from now on, I'll just get chicken. I took my mom here last week and she loved it because it reminded her of how they cook chicken in the Philippines. So tasty!! I will definitely come back over and over again!
(4)Steve P.
This place is a healthier alternative to fast food. You can get tasty grilled chicken, beans and rice. They have a small sauce buffet to add to your dish. All for under 10 bucks. I usually alternate between the Campero bowl or the Caribbean bowl which both have the rice bean chicken combo with your preference of beans. You basically order, pay, and they bring you the food to your table. They have a soda fountain for free refills. They play salsa music overhead which makes it more interesting. The grilled chicken is very tender. I order extra chicken for more protein and because it tastes good.
(4)Bianca J.
I am a huge fan of El Pollo loco (yes, I know it's a chain but I barely eat fast food and you can do much worse). El Pollo Campero is like the Carribean equivalent with fried chicken (the also offer grilled, but fried is the especialidad) which is crispy, juicy, and crazy delicious, and an adventurous list of sides including buttery biscuits, sweet plantains or tostones (salty plantain chips), yuca fries, cole slaw, black beans and so forth. You can't do better than this when it comes to fast food! Edit: I've knocked off a star because it was less awesome on the second visit. The chicken strips meal had only 3 strips, and the mashed potatoes sucked. Oh well. Get the real fried chicken.
(4)Christopher L.
Pollo Campero has the best fried chicken around! Campero bowl is pretty dang good too. The only place other than White Castle to be smart enough to have grape soda on tap! It's also happens to be close to Admiral... so I hear...
(4)Britt C.
Y-U-M! I really try to stay away from fried chicken, and fast food in general, but this place is so tasty. The chicken is slightly spicy, so much tastier than other chains, as other raters have mentioned. Definitely go for the beans with bacon and peppers, and the plantains, and tortillas instead of biscuits so you can make yourself a fried chicken taco with something from their salsa and pico de gallo bar. The yucca fries were ok, (fried and salted, how can you go wrong?). It is fast food, not exactly an out of your way dinner place, but if you're craving fried chicken as I do on occasion, this is the place to go.
(4)Brian C.
Well, I think this is the most underrated fast food chicken in Chicago. I had the fried chicken and it was incredible. It wasn't seriously greasy, like the Popeye's that I've always loved. Instead, it's just a nice understated fried chicken, and juicy without the grease. And the sweet plantains, damn that's good stuff. The service was very good, also. The lady behind the counter was very helpful, and told me I couldn't lose with the fried chicken. And she was right. Also, she brought out some grilled chicken for me to try, free of charge. I only wish they had a location that was closer to me, and that didn't require fighting heavy traffic to get there.
(4)Jacob J.
Update 8/28/07 Went back with a fam that saw all the reviews online and wanted to see what it was all about. This time had a bit of everything they offer. Everyone thought the meal was forgettable. Cole slaw is not Cole slaw. We agreed it might taste better as a topping on a fish sandwich. It tastes like tartar sauce. Biscuits were so blah. Beans were OK, too soupy like a salsa soup, but its got bacon! Flan seemed like it was a cheap ass version from a dollar store. You can get a better kind at Dominick's. Someone mentioned that this place is the answer to Chicken on the North side.. You need a reality check. Remember that this area is full of little spots that offer a variety of tasty chicken. You want kick ass broasted chicken, head to Charcoal Delights. Want something different that you might dream about, try La Brasa Roja. Want something extra tasty crispy, try the wings at Time cafe. Also, two out of two times I had to check my order. There is a ton of business going on here. The downside is that, its always busy. But, the employees don't check up on what they are doing. I was shorted two pieces, missing a flan and a side. To rectify the order took half as much time as it took for the food to arrive. ************************************* More like 2.5 stars from me. The chicken is broasted. Compared to Charcoal Delight, Pollo C would come in ninth. The Mexican sides are worth checking out. The typical American sides aren't. Food is soo bland. Even the red & verde salsa doesn't offer enough heat to keep me excited about the food. I had a four piece meal with fried plantains, yucca fries, mash pot. and a dinner roll. The roll was cold. Yucca fries & plantains were yum. Mashed potatoes w/ gravy was so bland. I left it. Spent about $8 on this combo meal. This here is probably alot cheaper than KFC and better for you. The tastes and overall aren't enough to bring me back for seconds. My friend tried the grilled chicken bowl. He was neither here or there about it. If you like spicy, I recommend taking a bottle of Cholula hot sauce or even Louisiana style. The inside is very bright colored and the staff are all cheery eyed and HELPFUL. A cashier over charged me. I handed the receipt back to another cashier. While I waited, the manager rung up a refund for me. More than one cashier came over to find out if I had been helped. Even after it, another cashier asked if everything was OK and if someone had given me my refund. Awesome. If you stop in. Grab a table first. They go QUICK. Order, take your number to your table. The food is delivered. When you're done just go. During your meal, an associate will come over and see if they clean up anything for you and ask how you enjoyed your meal.
(1)Tom Z.
I had the fried chicken and thought it was OK. The chicken was tasty and moist. I also had the mashed potatoes, they were alright. It was very busy inside, but the employees were very quick and friendly. I prefer Popeye's for fried chicken and think Popeye's has some of the best mashed potatoes. I may go back to Pollo Campero to try some of the other things offered.
(3)Url R.
Beats the Colonel and Popeyes hands down. For sides, get the Campero Beans (Lotsa bacon), tortillas and sweet Plantains for your sides. Avoid the Salad. The bowls are pretty good alternatives, but the chicken is what makes this place shine. The Yucca fries are now off the menu so that itself deserves a one star deduction. Make sure to get 2 or 3 different salsas from the salsa bar to dip the tortillas in. The desserts are nothing to write home about.
(3)Millie R.
This place had a huge hype when it first opened in the Brickyard area. In fact, people waited ours in line to eat. I'm not understanding why? Both times I went, the food was bland including the chicken! Isn't this their specialty? Even after adding salsa to my meal it still didn't taste any better. Apparently, this place is a big chicken franchise in Guatemala. Perhaps someday I will give this place a third chance...in Guatemala!
(1)L T.
For me, the only improvement this place could make would be to install a drive-thru ;) We've never eaten in, we always order to-go. The food is consistently delicious, service is always pleasant and fairly quick. Delicious chicken - fried or grilled, and we love the black beans and rice and mashers. There is a parking lot (though it can sometimes be frustrating).
(5)Minerva R.
When I first saw the crazy chicken billboard above the restaurant, I thought it was funny. When I ordered my first meal there (in the Brickyard Court), they only had the fried chicken version. Later on, the menu offered two versions, broiled or fried. I love the broiled one, with its spices. It's better than KFC, in my opinion, and more juicy. The Campero bean is its signature food. It's the best baked beans I've tasted. I order a large portion always. Of course, it also offers your typical Hispanic food choices, like side orders of tortillas, yellow rice, etc. I always go there for the CHICKEN and beans. The best in Chicago.
(5)Jacqueline S.
I love the chicken from Pollo Campero! I also really like the Campero beans, the tostones, yucca, and the sweet plantains. The rice is okay (my boyfriend likes the rice but not so much the beans so it just depends on what you like) and I don't really like the tortillas (I forgot why - I think because they are flour and seem microwaved) but I do like the dinner rolls. I tried the maranon drink here for the first time ever and I like it! I would go here over Popeye's, KFC, or Brown's. I want to try breakfast here.
(4)kiley w.
never been here, but had cary out. Best fast food fried chicken I ever had. Nice and cripy but not too greasy. Had quite a few sides too, even fried bananas; and they were all good. Didn't care much for the cole slaw though. Definitely gonna get food from here again.
(4)trisha f.
Easily the best Chicken that I have had in my life. It tastes exactly as advertised, Crunchy & Juicy, and so flavorful. I now understand why so many people have been talking about it. Wow! Try the sweet plantains and Campero Beans (which Chicago Magazine voted best in Chicago). Worth the drive, but I can't wait until there is one closer to my home. Open more please.
(5)Larry G.
I took a ride up with my little brother (also an avid fan of fried chicken) on a Monday night. We arrived at approximately nine p.m. -- the place was still doing very steady business but no lines or anything. The waitress said there were insane lines over the weekend. (There is in fact table service. You get your own soda, but they serve your food on plates with silverware and whatnot. I tipped the girl but I'm not sure what the typical practice of Campero patrons is in that regard.) The chicken -- not the very best I've ever had but better than KFC and Popeye's so far as fast food chains go. Not nearly as breaded as what you'll find at the other locations. The chicken itself is high quality and the skin is very good. I expected there to be a little more kick to it, to be honest. We just had the eight piece combo, so I can't speculate as to the chicken strips but I've read that they are good. The rest of the menu -- the beans were very good, in my opinion. Had chili peppers and bacon in them with a nice broth. The biscuits were average. The other sides all looked very good, but we didn't have them. The menu has a couple nice looking salads, some grilled chicken items, and burritos. They also plan to start breakfast service at this location in the near future. The verdict -- I can't say whether I'll be making a point of trekking all the way out to one of the current locations. It's much better than KFC or Popeye's but not so totally awesome as to merit a separate trip. The quality of the food is higher than KFC and Popeyes and the service is better; I would judge it comparable to Panera or Chipotle, apples to oranges. I also think it is better than Harolds, but I'm really not a Harold's fan. (For me, there is only one fried chicken place in the world that would merit a special trip -- a place called Chicken Stop on 1st Avenue in the mid 90s in New York City. The place is an unbelievably dirty hole in the wall that serves up some of the most ridiculously good fried chicken you will ever have in your life. And if you ate there regularly, your life would be relatively short, because they probably use enough salt to de-ice a 747 on every piece of chiekn there.)
(4)Nikkie H.
In my neighborhood there's not a ton of choices for friend chicken, so I was happy to see a new face in the area. However, the food left a bit to be desired. Since I'm a traditional kind of person, I went with the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn bread. The chicken was a bit greasy, the potatoes were bland and the corn bread was just "eh." I believe they're building a Brown's Chicken on the corner of Pulaski and Montrose next to the Dunkin' Donuts. We'll see if I like that any better.
(3)Linda M.
I first tried this chain in Guatemala and fell in love, and was excited to hear that they were opening one her in Chicago. I made the mistake of trying to go opening week and the line was around the block for days. I was finally able to try the stateside version about a month after it opened. Not too shabby. The Latino sides and rice are a nice change of pace. The salsa bar has been revamped for the American palate-so not as good as I remember. Have been back several times and was never really disappointed. I don't crave it with mouth watering intensity, but still very good
(3)Justin R.
I rate it a three, food was better than you'd think, for a fast food type of place. I had never been to this chain before, which is like a mexican style fried chicken fast food eatery. They were out of beans when I went, the biscuit was dry but everything else was fine. Although like every other fast food restaurant I've ever been to, they were stingy as hell with the little tiny tubs of ranch.
(3)John F.
Convenient, yes. Reasonable, yes. Overly hyped, definitely. Okay fast food chicken with nice Mex/Guat side dishes but nothing to wait in line for.
(3)John P.
When it's good, it's some of the better fried chicken you can get. It's a great change of pace from familiar American fried chicken. They've also got a great set of sides to go along with your chicken. The only real downside is that there is a lack of consistency with the product. Sometimes the chicken is as juicy as you can imagine. Other times the chicken is really dry. It's a gamble each time you go, but I keep going back because it's just that good when things are right.
(4)