Yummy Pollo (Peruvian Charcoal Chicken)

Sometimes, while visiting towns, you have to ask a local where to eat. Some suggestions work out, and others don’t. Well, my buddy, Karl, had a pretty good suggestion for a recent trip to Louisville. My wife and I stopped by Yummy Polo to give it a try. Yummy Polo is a Peruvian-style charcoal-fired rotisserie chicken, slowly char-broiled and paired with southern-style mouthwatering sides—big flavors, big servings, designed to hit anyone’s spot. I had the Half dark chicken with cilantro rice and chickpeas. The rice was cooked well, buttery, and had a hint of salt. I wasn’t getting much cilantro flavor, but it was still tasty. The chickpeas were tender but still had a nice chew to them; the sauce they were cooked in had some subtle heat on the back end, and the dish needed a little salt. The chicken was very tender and juicy, and it was a good-sized portion. The skin was the star of the show; it was crispy and popped from the salt and spices. My wife and I both agreed that we could eat just a plate of the skin by itself. My wife tried the Half white chicken with chicken fried rice and green beans. The rice was cooked well and had a good flavor, but this dish tasted as if it had been sitting out for a while. The green beans were cooked perfectly, neither mushy nor overcooked, and they had a mild yet pleasant flavor, with a hint of sweetness on the finish, which was unexpected but not unwelcome. The chicken is where it was—tender, salty, juicy, and packed with flavor. Again, the skin was the star of the show and the money. Each dish was served with a green sauce and a mayo sauce. The green sauce was likely cilantro-based, adding a hint of heat to the dish, while the mayo sauce was creamy and sweet. The real trick was to mix them, which offered the best of both worlds and made a fantastic bite. The flavors, juiciness of the chicken, the crunch of the skin, and those sauces, that is the stuff dreams are made of. Yummy Polo offers their chickens in quarter, half, or whole portions. They have several sides, most of which are in a southern style. They offer a selection of desserts and various bread options. The restaurant is small; if there is a line, it’s worth the wait. They also offer several varieties of soda and teas from a cooler or a Pepsi fountain machine. The Fat Man says that Yummy Polo is Fat Man Approved with 2 chins.

I ordered a pick up order here but ended up dining in instead. The staff were nice and very accommodating. I ordered the 1/4 white meat meal with fried yuca, chicken fried rice, and add pita bread. The chicken was delicious. Hot, nice flavor, juicy on the inside with a nice crisp outside. The chicken fried rice was a little dry imo but the fried yuca were hot and delicious. I'd definitely return

This may very well be the Captain America of chicken. I'm surprised that there are not more locations. I have had Peruvian chicken in a couple different states but this by far kills everyone. I've had rotisserie chicken/ Peruvian chicken in Atlanta, Texas Nashville, Florida and the flavor of this chicken is captivating. There's flavor all the way down to the bone. The owner is exceptionally nice. Makes you feel at home. Yummy Pollo has us as customers for life.

It's a simple place, they focus on the food and the kindness towards customers. Yummy pollo is definitely one of the best meals in Louisville. $30 fed 3 adults with leftovers.

Excellent roasted chicken. Very fresh and like the name says it is yummy. There is a great selection of sides to choose from. The yucca fries were hot and tasty. The chick peas had a great flavor to them and I loved the cilantro rice. The mashed potatoes were made from fresh potatoes and not the box kind. The service was quick and the food was fresh. What I also really appreciated was that the tables and restaurant were clean. I’ve been in several places where it seems like they have a hard time cleaning but not here. This place was recommended by a friend and it was not a let down. The sauce was awesome.

Excellent seasoning, fall off the bone chicken, and great sides to complete the meal. Highly recommended.

Excellent seasoning on the chicken, falling off the bone tender. Delicious sauces to accompany the meal. Yucca fries were delicious, I liked them better than the potato fries. Cilantro rice was nice. The owner is very sweet, personable and informative! He should open another location in Dayton! 😆🥰

We stopped in for lunch at Yummy Pollo, and it was fantastic! The Peruvian charcoal chicken was flavorful and tender — perfectly seasoned without being overwhelming. The sides and sauces were fresh, tasty, and complemented the meal beautifully. I have a dairy allergy, and the owner personally took the time to explain ingredients and make sure I had plenty of safe (and delicious) options. That level of care and customer service was outstanding. The food felt both nutritious and high-quality, and the whole experience was easy, welcoming, and satisfying. Highly recommend for anyone looking for authentic, flavorful Peruvian chicken with great service.

Ask for the special sauce! The owner couldn't be nicer and the food couldn't be better. Unreal chicken

Sometimes, while visiting towns, you have to ask a local where to eat. Some suggestions work out, and others don't. Well, my buddy, Karl, had a pretty good suggestion for a recent trip to Louisville. My wife and I stopped by Yummy Polo to give it a try. Yummy Polo is a Peruvian-style charcoal-fired rotisserie chicken, slowly char-broiled and paired with southern-style mouthwatering sides--big flavors, big servings, designed to hit anyone's spot. I had the Half dark chicken with cilantro rice and chickpeas. The rice was cooked well, buttery, and had a hint of salt. I wasn't getting much cilantro flavor, but it was still tasty. The chickpeas were tender but still had a nice chew to them; the sauce they were cooked in had some subtle heat on the back end, and the dish needed a little salt. The chicken was very tender and juicy, and it was a good-sized portion. The skin was the star of the show; it was crispy and popped from the salt and spices. My wife and I both agreed that we could eat just a plate of the skin by itself. My wife tried the Half white chicken with chicken fried rice and green beans. The rice was cooked well and had a good flavor, but this dish tasted as if it had been sitting out for a while. The green beans were cooked perfectly, neither mushy nor overcooked, and they had a mild yet pleasant flavor, with a hint of sweetness on the finish, which was unexpected but not unwelcome. The chicken is where it was--tender, salty, juicy, and packed with flavor. Again, the skin was the star of the show and the money. Each dish was served with a green sauce and a mayo sauce. The green sauce was likely cilantro-based, adding a hint of heat to the dish, while the mayo sauce was creamy and sweet. The real trick was to mix them, which offered the best of both worlds and made a fantastic bite. The flavors, juiciness of the chicken, the crunch of the skin, and those sauces, that is the stuff dreams are made of. Yummy Polo offers their chickens in quarter, half, or whole portions. They have several sides, most of which are in a southern style. They offer a selection of desserts and various bread options. The restaurant is small; if there is a line, it's worth the wait. They also offer several varieties of soda and teas from a cooler or a Pepsi fountain machine. The Fat Man says that Yummy Polo is Fat Man Approved with 2 chins.

Still my favorite lunch spot years later. Many other chicken joints have opened up, but none can hold a candle to this little hole in the wall. I Love Pollo and Carali's are poor imitations.

This place is hitting on ALL cylinders! Well done, Yummy Pollo, well done! The chicken is juicy, fresh, tasty and not greasy. The prices are very reasonable for the amount of food.

A halal Peruvian chicken joint that reminds me of Peri Peri style chicken. Not in the flavor profile, but the presentation of highlighting the chicken and having various sides accompanying it. The flavors were great and the portions were large. The owner also came by and spoke with us! Can't wait to come back.

the chicken and the owner left me emotional by how amazing they both were. After eating my meal there, I ordered another whole-ahh chicken to go

Great food, both rice types are wonderful. Definitely will come back if I come back to Louisville

This little gem will surprise you! I tried it first time to-go. Prices are fair, nothing special. But the good was seasoned well. Service was a tad slow like my online order says come at 7:30 I waited another 15-20. I'll try it again, it's in my line up when I want to mix things up and have different flavors.

Best Peruvian-style charcoal-fired rotisserie chicken. Service is swift, the restaurant is clean and has a friendly environment.

Ordered the 1/2 dark meat with steak fries and cole slaw via uber eats on a monday night. Food came very quickly...almost too quickly. Like the chicken had been sitting there for a while under lamps waiting to be immediately shipped out. While the charred skin was tasty, the chicken meat itself was dry. The Cole slaw was actually the best thing of all.

Had Yummy Pollo last night! It's seriously some of the best chicken in town. The flavors rs are so good and the charred outside of the chicken is crisp and flavorful. I crave this sometimes. I love Peruvian spices and this way of charring the chicken. I also had the pasta salad which is very good and the cilantro rice. I prefer white rice which they used to have and I love cilantro but it's heavy cilantro on their rice. Very good meal. I always get the white meat and either 1/4 chicken or half. Sometimes the quarter chicken is not enough. I did clean this 1/2 chicken pretty good. Great meal!! Love this place!

Awesome rotisserie chicken - the best Peruvian recipe! Wish we could've gone again during our visit.

Food is organic, and delicious! Owner is friendly and enthusiastic about creating delicious food. I hope they franchise!

I love this place for a quick, delicious lunch/dinner. The chicken is cooked perfectly, the sides are all great (the yuca fries are so good!), and I always ask for a few extra sauces so I can take some home because they're so tasty. The owner is so kind and always makes sure people are enjoying themselves.

I really like this place. The chicken was very flavorful and moist, and dipping sauces were amazing. That green sauce was killer. Yum!!! I think this is definitely my favorite of the rotisserie chicken places around KY. The chicken here is not too salty and it tastes so fresh. I will definitely be back and recommend you try it too!

Favorite Peruvian chicken restaurant in town hands down. No other restaurant in Louisville can compare. I've been going here since my undergrad days at Bellarmine University (short drive from campus). The chicken is always juicy, flavorful, and never disappoints. I love to pair my chicken with their rice and pasta salad on the side. 10/10 would definitely recommend!

Pretty darn good! Authentic friendly fast and helpful service. The yucca fries are amazing! I had r the dark half chicken and it was cooked the way Zi would expect. Be sure to try a sweet to finish up your meal.

Finally was able to try this spot and it was pretty darn good! Not quite at that amazing level but still very solid overall. The sides were what held it back for me, they were just average. I got the chicken fried rice & pasta salad. My rice was basically room temp and really dry. The pasta salad was tastier for sure but nothing crazy good (Although I'd get it again). However, I will admit this place does chicken right!! Usually I'm not much of a bone in guy, but damn it was juicy, flavorful and fall off the bone good. Skin was crispy and had some good spices. Also, both sauces were fantastic....Make sure to get a bunch of extras for sure. Overall, definitely a local and low key spot with some excellent roasted chicken that blows the doors off anything in the grocery stores. Always good to have other options than fried too and this spot is up there with the best in the city no doubt. I'll be back!

If you like rotisserie chicken, this is your place. Excellent. The chicken is Cage free & antibiotic free --all natural. Crispy skin & great sides. This little place is a gem.

I ordered from DoorDash so I cannot comment on the actual place but I was very pleased with the food. It was ready quick and still hot when it arrived at my work. I ordered the half white chicken with fried rice and green beans. Let me just say... I'm sold. I thought it all tasted great. The white meat I'm sure is a tad dry compared to the dark meat but even being white meat is was very well prepared. My favorite part about the meal was that it wasn't heavy. They seem to use very minimum amounts of oils or butter which I really prefer when I'm ordering out for lunch at work. It came with a green sauce that had a little kick to it and then the white-ish sauce tasted like a seasoned mayo but not sure what's in it. White Chicken - 9/10 Green Beans - 9/10 Fried Rice 9/10 I wanted to rank the food higher but giving myself room to return for better food! Highly recommend trying this place and top on my list for work lunch meals for when I forget mine.

If you love that fiery charcoal taste then Yummy Pollo is for you! The prices are great for the amount of food you get. The chicken is pretty good, but as mentioned if you are not a fan of this particular taste then you want to stay away. I got the rice for a side and thought it was good. My favorite was probably the sauces. I'm not kidding, I dipped the chicken in them also poured it over my rice, delish!

Years later and I still love frequenting this place. The owner is the nicest guy ever and his pride in his food is rightfully unmatched. The food is more than delicious and is all homemade with the best ingredients. Definitely my favorite lunch spot--I could eat it everyday.

Went around 12 for lunch with coworker and it was delicious and quick. the chicken was very well seasoned and the rice and yuca fries were on point as well. was packed for lunch time with a good vibe. wood recommend. #yummychicken

I was a bit peer pressured to go here after I mentioned another rotisserie place in town. So, I drove out of my way to give it a go. I must've walked in at just the right time because I walked straight up to the window to order and then immediately there was a solid line behind me of probably 6 people. The staff didn't see too friendly... cashier seemed annoyed that he was even having to work; however, my order was a carry-out so I was in and out of the restaurant in no time. There was plenty of room inside to sit and eat if wanting and they even had a couple umbrellaed tables outside to enjoy on the sidewalk. I got a half chicken with green beans, veggies, and a side of fried rice. This is a lot of food for just me but I already knew that I was going to make 2 meals out of it (lunch and dinner that day). I'd say everything was ok... none of it really impressed me. Chicken seemed a tad dry. Green beans seemed to be lacking a good flavor. Definitely not something I'd drive out of my way for again.

Yummy Pollo is yummy as can be! The service and food continues to be exceptional and filling! Parking is easy, ordering ahead is easy and dine in is easy! I cannot recommend this spot enough!

"This is the best chicken I have ever had." That these words were uttered about the fictional Los Pollos Hermanos is confirmation that there is no Yummy Pollo in the Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul universe (or at least that Lalo never made his way to Louisville). This is a true gem of a spot. Charcoal roasted chicken, always tender, juicy, and beautifully seasoned (flavorful, not spicy). Get the half mix for the full experience (or get a whole chicken, no one will judge). Good variety of simple, homemade sides. The chickpeas are always a winner, mashed potatoes and gravy are likewise a go to option, and the piece de resistance is the chicken "fried" rice...it's just plain delicious, and it's not actually fried (though you might not be able to tell). Throw in an alfajore for dessert (shortbread cookies filled with Dulce de Leche and sprinkled with a bit of coconut...I don't like coconut but love these cookies). The owner is great. Always friendly and welcoming, and you can tell that he puts heart into everything he does there and takes true pride in what he and his team do. The dine-in space isn't very large, but the food travels well. Check this place out, you will not regret it...and may quickly become one of the many regulars. Just added some recent photos.

Beyond great place! Food is amazing! Centered on rotisserie chicken. Many main protein options as long as it is chicken, hence the name. But for me the stars of the plate were the sides! The cilantro rice, potato salad, pasta salad and Cole slaw looked superb. I had rice and potato salad and I confirm the flavor Note, this is chicken on the bone, so be ready to use some napkins and go to flavor town. Parking is plenty in the plaza and location is great right off the highway. I'll be back to try other configurations

Stopped in for lunch FINALLY after Yummy Pollo being on my list for years. (What took me so long?!) Boy, was I missing out. The food is *chef's kiss* I appreciate the no-frills style. The space is functional and clean, with a TV in the dining area. The menu is simple and straight-forward. Ian opted for half mixed chicken with a side of mashed potatoes with gravy and cilantro lime rice. I got a quarter white chicken with green beans and cilantro lime rice. They asked us if it was our first time here and were so kind to explain everything to us! I love love love the green sauce - it's got some spice and it was delicious mixed in with my chicken and rice. I can't wait to come back and try the other sides! And the Alfajore cookie... I mean. I have no words. I'll be dreaming of that delectable dessert for maybe the end of time. The food was hot, delicious, healthy, and affordable. The staff were kind and friendly. I don't think it gets much better than that.

By far one of the best Peruvian chicken places in Louisville. This restaurant is perfect for a fulfilling lunch or to go dinner option. The owner is incredibly friendly and goes above and beyond to make sure your experience is satisfactory. The food is absolutely amazing! 10/10 experience.

Yummy Pollo certainly lived up to its name! We were passing through and looking for dinner and this place caught our eye! The chicken was deliciously prepared and the green sauce was to die for! The owner came over to our table to chat with us and answer any questions, which was very nice! Would definitely come back here if we drive through Louisville in the future!

The best fried chicken I've ever had!! The chicken is so soft, but crispy on the outside, tender on the inside; Perfectly cooked with fresh ingredients, it is definitely a must try kind of place. It serves with Yuka and their home-made special sauce, it's amazing!!! The owner is so friendly, he remembers everyone by their names, i can tell there are a lot of regulars here. There are plenty of seats indoor, clean and inviting atmosphere. Highly recommended!!

So many great reviews on this place yet this was my first time visiting. It's a pretty small location with limited seating, however I was fine getting my food to go. I ordered the chicken with chick peas and veggies. The chicken was grilled to perfection. It easily came off the bone and each bite was more succulent then the previous. I love chick peas and the way these were prepared was so pleasing to my palate. I honestly have no complaints and am happy to find another healthy option for meals for my family. The restaurant says the meat is antibiotic free and no pesticides were used on raising the meat. I appreciate that since do much of our food now has been treated and shipped from all over the world. Parking was quick for me but this place gets busy at lunch time so carpool and get there early.

Service was fast and friendly! Food was excellent! The chicken was tender and juicy. We got the chickpeas and the yuca fries and they were delicious! I'm usually not a chickpeas person but theirs changed my mind. Make sure you get the sauces with the chicken.

This is so good. I had been here once and since then, I had dreams of this chicken. I get a half chicken so I can take some home. It is so moist and delicious. I like the yuca fries. The rice is dry. Not a fan of coleslaw. Besides the chicken and the yuca fries, the next best thing is the sauces. I usually get a couple extra of each. So delicious. This place can get busy at lunch so get there early.

I feel like this is an unpopular opinion because I've always heard good things about Yummy Pollo, but I was left a little disappointed. I want to try it again and maybe order something else that will change my mind. I did a takeout order, and when I got there (it wasn't busy inside), it wasn't ready despite it saying that it was. So I waited while they got everything ready for me. I wasn't particularly paying attention to what they were putting into the box as they had my order right in front of them, but I eventually found out they put the wrong rice in there. I ordered the chicken fried rice and they gave me the cilantro lime rice. I am one of those weird people who thinks cilantro tastes EXACTLY like soap, so I do not want it in/on anything! So, I didn't even touch the rice. I also ordered the chickpeas as a side, but those fell flat for me. Maybe it's just my taste buds, but the taste didn't sit right with me. What I will say though is that the chicken (I got the 1/4 dark) was very juicy and seasoned really well. And the yucca fries that I got as another side were awesome! Those totally made up for the other two sides. Hopefully my next experience will be a little better!

Yummy Pollo is simple, delicious food, and it's easy to see why it has such a great reputation on and off Yelp. The food is not pretentious or over-the-top. It's just ... well ... yummy. When you walk in, you come up to the counter to put together your order. I prefer to get the quarter white charcoal chicken with two sides (steak fries and cilantro lime rice). The Peruvian charcoal chicken has some light seasoning on the outside, and the rotisserie gives it a nice, fire-grilled taste. It's cooked perfectly through the piece of chicken. And putting its own spin on the sides, Yummy Pollo makes theirs Southern inspired. The steak fries are large and fried, and the cilantro lime rice is light on the ingredients in its name. But it works. The yuka is also a nice choice of side if you're looking for something a bit different. Another reason Yummy Pollo stands out: It's consistent. I've had meals from here on a few occasions, and each has been as good as the last. Yummy Pollo is located in a strip mall near the Watterson at Newburg. My biggest complaint had been that it wasn't opened later on weekdays, but this has been remedied. It's now open until 8 p.m. Yummy Pollo also delivers via Yelp. You have no excuses -- if you haven't yet, give Yummy Pollo a try.

Really helpful staff if you've never been here before. The chicken is DELICIOUS!!! I've never had chickpeas as good as what they serve! Will definitely come back

Yummy Pollo lives up to its name! The chicken is delicious! Came here for Saturday lunch with friends and we each got the lunch special of a quarter chicken with an extra piece and two sides. It was a ton of food! The sides are were great I had read lots of reviews on the cilantro lime rice and chickpeas so I choose those. My lunch mates got the pasta salad, fried rice, yuca fries and potato salad. Everyone has trouble deciding their favorite as it was all so good. The dipping sauces are made fresh daily and you can tell. For $10 you get a ton of delicious foods- we will be back!

Excellent food! Friendly, prompt service! Close proximity to the airport, made for a great lunch before our trip.

Just down home roasted chicken with a large variety of sides. Service is quick so you can get in and out. You can also dine in at numerous tables inside. Great for a quick stop and back to the shop.

We have been waiting for the perfect time to try this restaurant and tonight was the night! We ordered from the Clover app that Yummy Pollo has started using during Covid-19. It was an easy app process and the menu online is simple. Chicken, sides, drinks and dessert. We picked up the food curbside. Had to call a couple times before getting through to someone. Then staff brought the order to our car. We ordered the whole chicken with two sides (cilantro rice and chick peas) and also the yuca fries. Our total was only $22 (before tip) so you can't beat the price for a family of four. I wasn't sure how the chicken would arrive, but it was quartered for easy serving. The sides just came in a regular to-go box. Portions weren't huge, but only the adults ate the sides. The chicken was very good, and had a crispy flavorful skin. The cilantro rice was delicious and paired well with the chick peas. The yuca fries were good, but they probably are better fresh at the restaurant since they are fried.

The chicken is just good! Juicy and Moist! The owner is awesome and i killed my plate

Great! One of the best meals I've eaten! Owner takes pride in his recipes and the service. Chicken is moist and tasty, with yuca and slaw on pita how can you go wrong!! So good if you're in the area, I highly recommend this one. Don't leave without the dessert another customer recommended them, and they were right.

The reviews overhype this place in my opinion. The chicken was good but not great. The sides were meh. I was excited because it sounded a bit different but all of the food was basically standard American food that taste like what you'd expect from a home-cooked cafeteria-style place.

I have not been to the actual restaurant, but I've had their food via DoorDash. The chicken was good, I'd say it has room for improvement seasoning wise but over all good. The sides though we're a bit sub par. We got fries and green beans with out meal and they were almost flavorless. The wife ordered a side salad and it was lettuce only, no other toppings so that was a bit disappointing. But i would be willing to go back for the chicken again.

The owner is the heart of this restaurant. He is genuinely happy to meet and welcome every customer and you can tell he is very passionate about his business. I think I would keep coming back even if the food was bad just because of that, but luckily the food is also AMAZING. I am a very picky eater and I have liked everything I've tried at Yummy Pollo (except for the green sauce which is too spicy for my taste - I definitely recommend loading up on the yellow sauce though). The chicken is juicy and all of the food looks and tastes fresh. Depending on what sides you get, this can be a super healthy meal! I've been a few times during the pandemic and I was very pleased with the safety precautions (I placed my order online from the car and picked it up right outside the entrance). Please support this local gem!

This was a planned stop on my road trip so I didn't just stumble on it after doing my research. The place is in a strip mall with a little patio in front that doesn't look like much from the road. The inside is not very large with bright red and green walls and tables/chairs. The charcoal rotisserie is the center piece of the place and it's proudly displayed. All this place does is chicken and only chicken with sides. You chose white or dark and the size of the chicken and pick two sides that comes with a roll. I chose the two piece dark and I was asked if I wanted the special for 70 cents more which was an extra piece of chicken which I did. The people behind the counter were super wonderful with way too much enthusiasm, the register guy had to be the owner with that over the top great attitude. The extra piece I was thinking a leg or thigh, nope it was a whole pin wheel with the leg and thigh and I chose pasta salad and cilantro/lime rice. The chicken was nicely seasoned and very delicious/moist with that charcoal flavor, man that's fuc%ing delicious. The best way to describe it is rotisserie chicken crashed into back yard bbq grill. The pasta salad was just ok but the cilantro/lime rice the best that I have had, very tasty and I want to figure out how to copy it. This was probably the best place to eat at on my trip and I would recommend stopping by if your in the area and it's right off the highway. WOW I'm really going to miss this place because I don't live anywhere close to it.

When you are craving the best chicken and healthiest meal you can have nothing else compares. Make this a weekly stop. Try paring the chickpeas and cilantro rice together. It is yummy for sure

The chicken here is really good, has nice flavor and is not too dry! They have a nice variety of sides here as well. The portions were really big and the service was fast. I would definitely recommend this place.