Richard L.
Yelp
I've never been so conflicted about a Peruvian Chicken joint until now. Typically I reach for the yucca first - check the consistency and crunch, move onto a piece of chicken breast - check for moistness and flavor, and finally dip that piece of chicken in the green and white sauces - check, got my score. For Spin Pollo though, it was a mixed bag but generally in a good way.
First off, the Peruvian Chicken. As usual, I'll get my 1/2 chicken with 2 sides. The chicken breast was hot out of their rotisserie (had to wait 15 min while more chicken was being finished), which probably helped it not get overcooked and dried out. Even after a 10-15 min ride home from the take-out, it was still juicy and relatively warm/hot. While it did have flavor, it wasn't nearly as strong and full of spice, as some of the other Peruvian Chicken joints that are "super" in the area (if you know, you know). Dipping in the white and green sauces, they were pretty standard although the green was probably on the lower end of my favorite green sauces. It was just a bit too watery and lacking in a good spice/kick.
The yucca unfortunately lacked the outer crunch and inner softness that I like (and that most would). Perhaps it was the take-out and the lack of airflow in the container, which made the yucca be a little soggy. However, I surmised that had I eaten it at the restaurant it would have been piping hot and a nice airy crisp on the outside. I will have to give them a pass on this, although I would highly recommend they poke some holes in the container to allow the moisture to escape and not build up inside.
Finally, I must admit I've been on a Lomo Saltado (LS) binge of late. After discovering how tasty it is and suitable for my "Asian" tastes. Quick history detour - even though I'm not fully read up on this - but basically this dish came to be after some fusion of Chinese and Peruvian tastes came together and bam, the result is Lomo Saltado. So the LS here was solid, but I was a little disappointed in how "soupy" the sauce was, instead of being more thick and "saucy." It also seemed a bit lacking in the portion size compared to some of the other places I've been to in the area. Again, not a big deal as it was still generally considered by my stomach to be ample food, but just something to note.
All said, I'm sure I'll hit up Spin Pollo again due to its location, and hopefully next time the yucca won't be as mushy and soggy. For LS though, I may opt to get that at a different location if that's what I'm craving.
TL;DR: Generally good Peruvian Chicken, although the spices/flavor are not as strong/complex/deep as some of the other joints. Great for those who don't want all them spices, but for those (like me) who want that extra Peruvian spice, it was a little lackluster. The yucca probably is really good when fresh out of their fryer, but by the time I got the take-out home the yuccas were a bit sad.