El Pollo Rico

The OG when it comes to Peruvian chicken! If you know, you know! Everybody else is copycats in my opinion. Simplicity on the side menu options allows them to focus on their continued quality and chicken. And adding to that, you are out of the door much quicker. They have been making the same quality since "Circuit City" was open. I love the kind family atmosphere ! 👌🏾

Perfect place for chicken, fries, rice and beans! Was hot and ready to be eaten within a few minutes! I would come back although it’s an hour or two from home, as I just come passing by sometimes.

Since coming here in the mid 90's, the char-broiled chicken is top-notch till this day. The recipe's secret is what makes it a original and stands out from other Peruvian chicken shacks such as Sardi's and Crisp and Juicy to name a few. Located in only 1 location in the heart of Wheaton, MD, the food is what keeps me coming for all these years. Dining area is small due to the fact that takeout or delivery is what it's based on this business. Ever want TRUE Peruvian char-broiled chicken? Check this place out at least once in your lifetime.

Great food for an amazing prize!!! Strongly recommend. We stayed around the area for vacation and this was the spot we went for dinner. We ordered online for pickup, had the family meal (both dark and white meat), which includes 3 large sides. The chicken had so much flavor and their sauces were delicious! Service was quick and easy. (PS: You guys have to open up a spot here in New Jersey!)

The best Peruvian rotisserie chicken I've ever had. I keep coming back for about 30 years and the quality is top notch.

The best Peruvian chicken in the DC metro area. This is the place that first started the rotisserie chicken 🍗. All the others copied. There are some others that are real good but this is the original. Must try. Hope you like it as much as my family and I do.

Visiting Maryland for work and some colleagues took me to El Pollo Rico for dinner. Never would have found or gone to this place on my own, so I’m grateful that they took me here. Definitely not the place to go if you’re prissy or even expect your restaurants not to look like a dive bar and be covered in a layer of grime and bathroom doors not locking and your fellow diners looking real sketch. Considering that potatoes have been cultivated by Peruvians for 10,000 years I don’t know why I was surprised that they were fried to perfection. I love fries, but I hate most fries at restaurants, especially those wedge slices because they are never crispy enough. These fries where perfectly crispy outside and soft on the inside and were very airy. I’m amazed. The chicken was perfectly cooked, seasoned and was very moist. The rice was good and the beans looked like perfection. Nice beautifully brown color to the beans and broth but would have benefited from some more salt. Overall, I would recommend this place and wish there was one close to home for me.

Quick, tasty and affordable. I’m hardly ever disappointed. Service is great once you know what you want. Check the menu out before ordering. Atmosphere is comfortable.

The flavors on the chicken are truly unique and remarkable. The wall of rotisserie chickens tells you this place is popular. I did not care for the slaw but the fries were amazing.

I ordered takeaway here. I got the 1/4 chicken dark, cole slaw, and house salad. There definitely was flavor on the chicken but one spice/herb threw it off a bit and I almost questioned if the owners are from the culture they're cooking. I guess not all Peruvian chicken has the same flavor profile. Major complaint is the cole slaw. It was basically a cole slaw sloppy soup, pretty gross. And the house salad, why would there not be a house made dressing. Disappointing.

Very unassuming spot. But the chicken here is so flavorful and juicy. Don't even need sauce really. Idk what seasoning they use but it's great. The perfect combo would be Sardis sauce and arroz chaufa with Pollo Rico chicken. Staff were friendly and quick. Definitely would go back.

El Pollo Rico was my guilty pleasure when visiting family (It was close by so I ordered ubereats a second time! ) Location is nice, inviting, smelling of delicious rotisserie chicken. You order the size of chicken you want, sides, and drinks. It's great for families! Peruvian rotisserie chicken reminds me a lot of Bolivian flavors and it was delicious! Their picante was delicious, yuca frita is my weakness, and Inca Cola was refreshing. I was most definitely a happy customer and would most definitely be ordering again when back in town! :)

So good!! No frills, quick service, some of the best Peruvian chicken I've had. A whole chicken and 2 sides for for $21 total. We got the rice and beans. The beans were delicious on top of the rice. The green and yellow sauces were great together as well. We didn't try the yuca this time, but will definitely be back!

If you are looking for something yummy and cost effective, please stop by this spot! You will eat well and feel completely satisfied with the taste! I ALWAYS GET FOOD FROM HERE WHEN I HAVE OUT OF TOWN GUESTS. They live this local business and I LOVE TO SUPPORT THEM!

We just got 5 whole chickens. They were delicious as always. This is the best Peruvian chicken spot in the DMV. The yuca and plantains are the best.

Been here dozens of times over the years. And the rumors are true. Easily the best pollo a la brasa place in the area. Chicken and sauces are reliably excellent and very reasonably priced. Feeding a family of four with room to spare for $22 is something you can't even do at McDonalds these days. Sides are limited in variety, but they're ok. Only gripe is the fried yuca is often chewy, hard, and/or dry. But skip that menu item, and you'll be fine.

Consistent great service and food! We been a fan since moving to Silver Springs 7 years ago. We highly recommend the family meal with two sides--a great value!

My go to spot every time I'm visiting Silver Spring. I used to live here 20 years ago and have been to their other spot across University until it got burn down one day. The food is just as I remember the smell is unique right up your nose when you walk in. The service is quick and direct to point. It has this homie feel where family can gets together pulling a couple tables and just feast. I love this place and I highly recommended to anyone who lives in the area.

I have been coming here since I was a little girl and it is literally the best flavor in the area. It's straight to the point but everything is always fresh, fries cooked perfectly, sauces are delicious, chicken has the best flavor! A lot of popular spots are good but Pollo Rico has always had the best flavor that gets all the way into the meat. Idk if they marinate it for longer or what. But we always say other spots don't compare to Pollo Rico! Never close please my son is now addicted too

Bueno, pero se a puesto mucho más caro 1/4 pollo casi $10/11 no vale la pena. Mejor comprar un pollo entero en el mercado. Cuando habrieron un cuarto estaba 7$. No regresaria.

As far as I can remember the original Peruvian chicken place in the area and still the best after all these years. When younger and in need of quick, inexpensive good food living in that area it was either Pollo Rico or Mario's. Cravings for Mario's waned, but am still ADDICTED to Pollo Rico and now my kids are too. Chicken stellar sodes: papas/yucca/plantain all good. New Ice Cream flavors lucuma or cherimoya superb if in stock and where else can you wash it down with a nice chiccha morada ?

I got nervous when I saw Mike B.'s poor review, but we tried it anyway because we were nearby, hubby wanted chicken, and I'm really glad we did. Mike, I think you went on an off day and should give them another shot. Either that, or other options are just out of this world if this is the worst of them. Our chicken was very flavorful, great "smoky" flavor and plenty moist. While the rice was plain white, when you put the red beans on top the juice soaks in for a great effect. I loved the french fries, they hit my sweet spot for steak fries (I'm pretty picky about fries.) I thought the coleslaw was super creamy and didn't have the bitter taste some store-bought coleslaws do. Our plan on a future visit is to get a half chicken meal instead of two quarter chickens and then get a side of yucca fries or plantains on the side, since those aren't an option with the meal. I couldn't actually finish all the fries and hubs couldn't finish the rice and beans, so splitting three sides instead of having two each would be not only more cost effective but also less wasteful. It's not really an ambience place, but they had plenty of tables for dining in. Pro tip - Check out the Ethiopian grocer across the parking lot if you need any spices, he had a great selection and was very friendly. I was bummed the game store across the parking lot was closed on Sunday. We'll have to go back on a Saturday next time.

*Covid-19 take-out review* Good food. Great prices. After getting a little lost, I found my way into this basement eatery! I entered from the back of the business after being "greeted" by several panhandlers! Parking is somewhat limited. I wanted to check this place out after a great review by fellow Yelper, Sandra! A few evenings ago, I placed an online order for a quarter chicken with a double order of fries! It only cost $8.27! What a deal. The chicken was very flavorful and I was satisfied with my meal! My food was ready upon my arrival. I can't wait to come back here for my Peruvian chicken cravings! Beware, that great sauce is really hot! My kinda hot though. Don't get it if heat isn't your thing!

Is the chicken good? Yes, the best. Is the service fast? Absolutely. Are you concerned that the owner (prior owner?) was raided and that the place has a tax-fraud history that involves tax fraud and harboring illegals? Well ... the chicken is still great, the people are nice, and I rarely see the guy who went to the big house. So - eat your chicken and help this place. Sure, there is Crisp and Juicy nearby, but the chicken here is better. https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/md/news/archive/ElPolloRicoRestaurantOwnerSentencedinSchemetoLaunderMoneyandHarborIllegalAliens.html

This is an excellent chicken shop and probably the best one in the area out of many. I haven't had it for two years and was so impressed when I ordered it on Postmates back then. I look forward to eating their excellent chicken again

Best way to feed a large family for a fraction of the price. Food is tasty, fresh and not too bad in the health department. The chicken, salad and rice is my family's go to. Thanks el pollo rico!!

Great chicken and great sides. It's a good portion for a good price. The restaurant isn't fancy on the inside but the customer service is great and so is the food. I recommend stopping by .

Food is always good here and love going there when I crave Peruvian chicken. They are the originals so you can't go wrong

My family's favorite Peruvian chicken place in the area. We're convinced that they have a "secret" ingredient that they add to their chicken that can't be duplicated. All of their sides are worth trying...fried yucca is great and the tangy Coleslaw is wonderful, black beans are very tasty. You won't be disappointed.

El Pollo Rico has THE best chicken I've ever had and I'm happy to be home again after living on the West Coast for 8yrs and missing it for so long. When I say the chicken is specially seasoned and paired with the steak fries is mouth watering!! The sauces are always my fave and goes perfect with EVERYTHING!!

Solid Peruvian chicken joint. Chicken is seasoned well and falls off the bone. Yuca fries were crunchy, French fries were just ok but wow they are generous with the servings. We also got house salad with our meal and it was surprisingly okay! Good food for good value. A go to spot if you're near by.

It's o.k. Standard Peruvian chicken joint turning out standard fare. Tried chicken, tamale and empanada. Price is on the lower side when compared to other chains. Chicken is precooked and comes out of a warmer. Chicken is juicy enough but can never tell how long it's been in the warmer. Sides are good and serving size. Staff is polite and provide condiments as requested. This place is busy and parking in the plaza is available.

El pollo Rico is the OG of Peruvian chicken restaurants. I've frequented them when they were at there old location before the fire/relocation. Ever since they had the issue with IRS and started taking credit cards I've had no so great experiences. The chicken is great when it's fresh. Unfortunately they have a bad habit of making as much chicken as they can and store the chicken in a warmer. Sides such as the French fries and yuca is 90% of the time a miss. It's either over fried and oily or dry as hell. They could do so much bettter but their just isn't any love in the food and you can tell. The sauces are the only consistent thing they make and no one makes it better. They have their sauce recipes down.

Awesome, delicious, good prices, homestyle food except you don't make food this tasty at home usually

Empanadas are the best along with the sweet corn tamales. The chicken comes with spicy green sauce and a mild aioli. Don't forget the plantains!

I was craving Peruvian chicken, i decided to give this place a call! Order ahead of time, although the line was short, it seemed like a long wait. I decided to buy the whole chicken and three large sides. I got steak fries as my side. Their steak fries do not disappoint, super delicious even when warmed up. The chicken was also delicious and seasoned well, honestly you can never go wrong with Peruvian chicken. Also it came with 4 green sauces and 4 yellow sauces! Green sauces are spicy and yellow is mild, i personally love both! I think with the new COVID-19 hours they close at 8pm, but the earlier you come in the better, as when i called they said sometimes in the evening they run out of chicken.

Great chicken for the price, the seasoning is solid and the sauces are tasty. Don't expect any ambiance, it's best for takeout but a lot of meat for the dollar!

This was great take out/delivery. The chicken was excellent. The beans were surprisingly good. We enjoyed the plantains and the small is a generous portion. The chicken empanada was a yum treat as was the elote. The order can wicked fast and was super well priced.

This place has the best Peruvian chicken! I always stop by when I'm in the area. The chicken is tender, flavorful and the green sauce is yummy.

A community staple and a go to when you are looking for some fresh chicken and fried yucca! The chicken does not disappoint, well seasoned and good quality. Keep in mind that fried yucca is not a regular side so you will be charged additional for that. I decided to get the empanada and I would not recommend that -- crust is doughy rather than flaky. Overall, I have had a good experience here. I recommend calling ahead and placing an order so that food is ready upon arrival.

Delicious chicken and sides and reasonable prices. They're super fast and there's usually a line but it goes quick! Popular place!

Hubby, son and I were in the area to pick up some things from Dick's Sporting Goods at Wheaton mall. It was a bit late so we decided to pick up dinner while we were out. Checked the internet for the best spots in the area and this spot jumped up. As we walked through the door, I was a bit impressed to see one of the workers wiping down the handle rails and floor with bleach. With COVID-19 on the rise, can't be too safe. Now on to the food. The chicken was delicious, a bit salty for me but still really good. I got a 1/2 chicken with salad and cole slaw. The cole slaw has to be one of the best that I've tasted. It wasn't dry and didn't have too much vinegar. My hubby raved about the french fries. He got 1/2 dark chicken with fries. He even went back and got another order of fries. The food never made it home. We ate in the parking lot. My son is really funny about what he eats and didn't want to get anything. I only ate 1/4 chicken. Let's just say he crushed the rest of my food. Will definitely revisit when in the area.

Just order some chicken and let the food do the talking. I have been eating here for 10yrs and food is still the same amazing quality. Same goea for the sides and sauces. Recommend sides - yucca fries, rice and red beans. If you like chicken, this is as good as it gets for spit roasted chicken.

My husband grew up in Silver Spring and has been going to Pollo Rico for over 20 years and after moving to FLorida 6 years ago still hasnt been able to find another Peruvian spot that even comes close. We are moving to New Jersey and after driving from FL to NJ (covid) we decided to stop in Maryland JUST for POLLO RICO! We were nervous that they might be closed down like so many small businesses these days but they were still standing strong and just as we remembered it, they did NOT DISAPPOINT! The staff was friendly and welcoming and place was clean... We ordered their half Chicken (10*!) which was suuuper flavorful, and soooo juicy! Hubby loves to mix the green and yellow sauce together to create the best balance of spicy but not overly spicy sauce! Their steak fries is to dieeee for, they are crunchy, but soft and potatoey, NOT oily (10*) and their Cole slaw was (10*), the rice unfortunately was just kinda mehhh (2*) there was nothing necessarily wrong (but as a Latina who looooves RICE) with it but there also was nothing memorable or even favorable about it....With that being said we will have NO PROBLEM driving the 2 and a half hours it will take from NJ to MD for their ahhhhhhmazing food! Thank you Pollo Rico for continuing to broaden your menu but also keeping your staple menu PERFECT! WE WILL BE BACK! DELICIOSO, compliments para todos especialmente los cocineros...

Place was very clean. Food was hot and fresh. Quick place to grab a bite. Parking sucks but worth coming in..

Pollo Rico is a solid Peruvian chicken place and an overall good value. That said, Super Pollo (Quincy St) makes better chicken, but Pollo Rico has better sides. But why listen to me- order half a chicken from each and make it a battle of rich vs super (chicken).

Great food. Amazing sauces. Enough for 2 meals. Best of all it was delivered warm.

Great food, delivers fast, and flavor is consistent. Delicious and healthy! My lady is from Nicaragua and she loves it too.

Always delicious. Just wish they had more sides options that weren't all carbs, salad, green vegetables.

I've been going to El Pollo Rico since high school. That speaks volumes because I graduated in the '90s. They never disappoint, and the prices are reasonable. I personally think it's the best poll la Brasa in the area.

I was there today to order something to go and the lady was rushing me to order, and that was not ok. I told her i wanted the beans separate but she put it on top of my rice. I asked her for salad and i didnt get that. She was rushing me to order and thats was not ok

Great spot in Wheaton. Phenomenal prices for the amount of food and the quality is apparent. Haven't ventured out from the half chicken, yucca, rice and beans, but I'm always beyond satisfied with that. Staff is very friendly and the restaurant is noticeably clean. I always look forward to coming in the area so I can have lunch here.

My favorite latin chicken in Wheaton, the food is delicious. They do have tables to dine in however the take out is quick and what i do most often. They have family meals and you choose your sides. The yuca and plantain are my favorite sides and are excellent. The chicken is always hot and very tasty. Definitely recommended.

Family Favorite. I have been going to El Pollo Rico for almost 20 years (late 2000). This is my go to Peruvian chicken spot. The chicken is always seasoned well and juicy. Best I like that they cut my chicken in front of me. The French fries and slaw are the BEST! That was my go to cravings during pregnancy. I always get papaya drinks as well (household favorite and the only place I buy them, when we have this meal). In the old location we had it once per week. Now in the new location and since The pandemic, We eat this at least once per month. By far Pollo Rico is the most requested when friends and family visit from out of town (Cali, Texas, Jamaica, Virginia, Sierra Leone). The family that owns and runs this place are very nice. I am always glad to see the dad is well and at the register when I go in. He runs a tight ship.

Delicious and affordable, what more can you ask for? I always get dark meat chicken with rice or French fries and always leave satisfied. You can smell the chicken cooking from down the street and around the corner, so you know the food is well seasoned and flavorful. I stop in at least once a week and probably will do so for the foreseeable future!

Best pollo La brasa in the area. It speaks for itself. There aren't words to describe. Just go get you some.

Food is very nice. The chicken has lots of flavor. The service has been efficiently organized so it is very quick.