Pollo Express
Chicken restaurant · Pilsen
1315 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608
Highlights
Charcoal-grilled chicken, rice & beans, tortillas, salsa, pickled onions
Charcoal-grilled chicken, rice & beans, tortillas, salsa, pickled onions
"One of the best values left in the city, Pollo Express makes quite possibly the best pollo al carbon in the city. It doesn’t feel right as diners will walk away with huge meals, with tortillas, rice, and more. It doesn’t make sense because of the quality, quality, and price. But Pollo Express proves you can have it all. A second location recently opened in Ravenswood." - Eater Staff
"Pollo Express is a small, cash-only spot with only about eight tables and a short and to-the-point menu: Chicken. Granted, you can get it in a bowl, burrito, or quesadilla, and OK, steak is an option too, but the half or whole chicken order is the correct move. The meat is juicy and comes with a pile of soft tortillas, pickled onions, and salsa. Plus, if you go on Tuesdays or Thursdays, there’s a buy-one-get-one-free half-chicken deal, so you’ll be able to eat charcoal-grilled chicken every day of the week." - adrian kane, alyssa reyes, veda kilaru, john ringor
"Pollo Express is a cash-only spot in Pilsen with eight tables and a to-the-point menu: Chicken. Granted, you can get it in a bowl, burrito, or quesadilla, and OK, steak is an option too. But the half or whole chicken order is the correct move. The charcoaled meat has incredible flavor and comes with a pile of soft tortillas, pickled onions, and salsa if your CCO wants to branch out. And if you want to chase chicken with more chicken, go on Tuesdays or Thursdays when there’s a buy-one-get-one-free half-chicken deal." - adrian kane, veda kilaru
"Pollo al carbon is a delicacy in Mexican neighborhoods, and some of the best comes from Pollo Express, the family-friendly eatery on 18th Street. Perfectly seasoned and charred birds have sensational flavor. The combo meals come with fresh tortillas, rice, and beans — if customers are strategic they can get days of sustenance. Beware, they run out of chicken so don’t expect to get food if arriving late." - Eater Staff
"Occasionally a place is so fantastic, you don’t understand how you haven’t been eating there every week. And unless Pollo Express is already your Thursday post-gym dinner ritual (in which case, congratulations), you should make up for lost time. This small, cash-only spot has only about eight tables and a short and to-the-point menu: Chicken. Granted, you can get it in a bowl, burrito, or quesadilla, and OK, steak is an option too, but ordering the half or whole chicken is the correct move. The meat is juicy, and comes with a pile of soft tortillas, pickled onions, and salsa. Plus if you go on Tuesdays or Thursdays, there’s a buy-one-get-one-free half-chicken deal, so you’ll be able to eat charcoal-grilled chicken every day of the week." - Veda Kilaru
