El Inka Peruvian Cuisine

Pollos a la Brasa El Inka Has Closed in Gresham | Eater Portland

"I was saddened to learn that Pollos a La Brasa El Inka, Gresham’s classic spot for pollo a la brasa that had been operating for almost ten years, has powered down its rotisserie after posting two farewell messages on Facebook—first in Spanish, then an English translation that reads, "We never wanted to say goodbye, we did not dare, but it was to continue feeding the pain, stoking the fire that lacerated our wounds," and, "Hope is the last thing that is lost." Calls and messages to the restaurant have gone unanswered. The tiny storefront tucked in a strip mall had been a Portland-area favorite: Brian Panganiban called it a "stalwart" in 2016, saying El Inka "still handily smacks down the new Peruvian entrants" and is worth the drive to Gresham; Portland Monthly called its pollo a la brasa "rotisserie chicken at its finest," and Eater PDX contributor Krista Garcia placed it on her must-try Latin American map. Its closure arrives amid a rough year for Portland’s small Peruvian scene—La Leña and Paiche have also closed—and restaurateurs like Nick Zukin lamented the loss, tweeting, "There is no justice in the world. This was really about the only rotisserie chicken in Portland I ate." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden