Super Pollo

I never thought I’d say a place was better than El Pollo Rico. Lets get real too, the chicken is not as good as EPR, when EPR is at it’s best in my opinion. EPR has something ‘crack’like about the chicken that drives me to eat it off the bone. However, man those sides!!! The chicken fried rice with its fresh lime and (cilantro???) and plantain-​delish!
A

************UPDATE************************
New location
This location is closed. There is a sign directing customers to their new lcoation on George mason drive and Wilson Blvd.

I can’t believe Peruvian Chicken «A La Brasa» is not more widely popular outside the D.C. area. Super Pollo is so far the best I’ve had from among the competing chicken establishments, though I admit I have yet to try El Pollo Rico. Super Pollo uses a balanced, flavor rich combination of spices in their chicken to make it a nice combination of savory and spicy. The green salsa that comes on the side is also nice and spicy if you want to add a little more kick. The yucca fries and beans are also nicely prepared. Apparently they are soon moving to a new location at 5011 Wilson Blvd. I almost forgot to mention — being able to feed a family of five for 14.99, with leftovers, priceless.

I think most Peruvian chickens taste pretty similar. Super Pollo’s seasoning didn’t stand out among hundreds of roast chicken places dotted throughout DMV, but what did stand out was the way they season the chicken. Super Pollo stuffs some seasoning paste under the skin as well as all over the bird. Every part of the chicken was well marinated. The sides tasted ok and were generously portioned, but the star here was the chicken.

I’ve been going to the Sport and Health in Ballston Mall across the street from Super Pollo for many years. All that time I could smell the chicken from the parking structure. Well today after reading some of the other Unilocalers I decided to take the plunge and try it. I had a half chicken with rice and plantains, and the verdict… MMMMMMmmm, MMMmmmmm Good!
This will be a new favorite fast food place. Did I mention I stopped in on my way home from the gym, I spent maybe 5 minutes there while my goods packed in a to-​go container, and of course it was still piping hot when I got home and the meat pretty much just fell off the bones.

I have been to Super Pollo before my Unilocaling days and finally have gotten around to reviewing this for Unilocal.I’m a big fan of SP and have nothing more to say other that this place rocks!
Well I was on my regular walk the other day and decided to stop here for a bite. It was close to 9 PM on Sunday evening but this place was fairly busy which is always good :)
We ordered half chicken with sides of salad and plantains. Plantains were yummy but a tad bit too sweet for me.
Chicken was delicious — love the seasoning and moist for the most part. There was a tiny section of the middle portion of the breast which in my opinion was lacking some seasoning.
It was close to 10 PM by the time we were done with dinner but there was still a steady stream of people coming in for food (mostly takeout).

I live about a block away from this place, and I deliberately do not eat there regularly.
Why? Because I want every time to be… like the first time.
It’s so good. It’s how I know God wants us to eat chicken. It’s how chicken is *supposed* to taste. There can be no doubt here – if everything tastes like chicken, then everyONE would be 450lbs, because the chicken HERE is fan-​fucking-​tastic. Just the smell from the street is enough to set me to drooling.
Confession: sometimes I get hungry just looking at the chicken logo. That muscular body, the friendly but heroic posture, that chickeny countenance that beckons you inside to eat his less fitness-​minded breathren… it turns me on a little.
Everyone has their favorite sides. Mine are the black beans, the plantains, and the yucca, although their fries and fried rice are certainly not bad.
Super Pollo definitely follows the «do a few things, and do them WELL» philosophy that all my favorite hole-​in-​the-​wall restaurants do, too.
Oh my god, I want it now. I think writing this review means I deserve it tonight.

Just like the other location down the street, this place serves some of the best Peruvian Chicken I’ve ever had.
I ordered a whole chicken with 2 sides (Chicken Fried Rice and another item is $ 1 additional which is a bummer but totally worth it.) Their lentils were packed full of savory goodness as well.
My brother’s family was coming over so I thought a whole chicken would be enough (along with whatever other stuff my wife was going to prepare). On the way home I quickly had second thoughts and stopped by the other Super Pollo down the street to pick up another whole chicken with 2 sides. It was a good thing I did because everyone scarfed down those chickens.

All I can say about this place is that its good, cheap and delicious. The chicken is almost good as El Pollo Rico, but has all these wonderful sides and even fish that make up for it.
Today, me and my colleagues headed down to this place across from Ballston Commons and decided to eat in. I have been here on at least 5 occasions and they never seem to disappoint me. What I like most about this place besides their specialty chicken is their plantains. They are really good! Also, if you substitute your side with the plantains when you order a combo, its only $ 1 more. Today, I had the quarter white chicken with the chick peas (which is also one of my favorite sides here) and what else – the plantains!
In the past, a friend of mine encouraged me to try their fried fish and I was truly hooked and amazed that they do an equally good job of preparing this entrée. Its really moist and full of flavors with the spices that they add and I think I may have to go back and reminisce and try it again.
My coworkers really enjoyed the food as this was their first time! They will definitely be back again and hopefully I can tag along with them!

I knew this was going to be good the moment I stepped out of the car and saw the billowing smoke that smelled of charcoal in the parking lot.
After we walked inside, I’m pretty sure Jeff W rolled his eyes when I said, «So, uh, half chicken or quarter chicken?» The answer was obvious by the tone of his reply: «Seriously?»
So I ordered my –half– chicken with fries and coleslaw even though a recommendation of fried rice was on the table. We sat at a booth near the window and set to work. I initially attempted to use my knife and fork but soon realized that this was more of a just use your hands kind of dinner. No one here would be judging me for it, so I did. The chicken was delicious. Full of wonderful flavor, crisp skin, juicy meat, I can see why everyone raves about SP. My sides were equally as good — fries were lightly salted and crisp and coleslaw was just right.
Super Pollo –almost– makes me want to visit Virginia more frequently.

Alrite, I’ve been to both Super Pollo and Pollo Rico. I’ll admit it, I’m a Pollo Rico fan, but thats because the chicken, in my humble opinion, is better there. The chicken at Super Pollo is a little too much charcoal for my taste, maybe a little too much heat while cooking (just a slight bit drier than Pollo Rico), but the spice, flavor, and presentation is very similar and only a nitpicker could find differences.
The money thing that keeps me thinking about Super Pollo (and makes it better), are the sides. Yes, you can actually judge two places that serve identical main features based on the sides. And let me tell you, if youve never had Peruvian chicken, the main feature is pretty damn hard to look past.
The fried yucca is just great here. Oh yeah, and the mustard here is a already pre mixed with the green stuff, which is a no-​brainer you would do if they were separated — nice touch. The Yucca really helps to complete the experience (so do the fries).
The slaw here is a little less mayo/​watery, which makes a really great palate cleanser from the salty goodness of the chicken.
Lastly though, is the plantains. Although a little toooo greasy for me, the plantains were delightfully sweet and just made that whole sweet+salty thing PERFECT. They’ve also got other sides, but I’d focus on plantains and yucca.
Price? About the same. Overall conclusion? Being that the chicken is the main feature here, I had to give it a star less (buts its more like 5.0 vs 4.95) compared to Pollo Rico. But, if you are a Peruvian Chicken virgin, either one is an AMAZING choice.

I’ve been hearing about the great peruvian chicken debate for a long time now, and i feel like i can finally get involved. I have finally eaten «real» peruvian chicken… and loved it.
I got the half chicken with coleslaw and mashed potatoes and a drink, as did the bf, so together the total was only $ 20! Thats such a good deal for the massive amount of food we ate. The chicken was incredible. It was juicy and full of flavor. I loved it. I felt a little weird using my hands to eat it, but oh well. Its a good thing it wasn’t a first date!
But what really won me over were the sides. yea the chicken was good, but i need more than meat! I opted for the mashed potatoes (are you suprised?) and the cole slaw. The mashed potatoes were actually decent, in the mom’s home cooking kind of way. while i prefer mine with garlic and chunky, these were really creamy and rich and smooth. i was honestly impressed. And the cole slaw was definitely pretty good! I was suprised.
And the best part of the meal… it tasted just as delicious when i ate the other half the chicken and cole slaw (i never leave mashed potatoes!) for dinner the next night :)

My boyfriend and I ate here last night for dinner. I was enticed by the «cheap eats» in Arlington. Cheap/​yummy/​moderately healthy food can be hard to come by these days.
The chicken was yummy, but the sides weren’t anything to write home about. Except for the yucca. I LOVE yucca! yum yum yum!
I also had the chick peas (they were out of plantains, which was a HUGE disappointment) and they were flavored with Middle Eastern spices. They were OK, just not my cup of tea.
My boyfriend had mashed potatoes and corn. The corn had been frozen (according to him) and the potatoes were of the instant variety. They weren’t that good. He even said they tasted like «Army potatoes». I would go back, provided they had my plantains. And 17 $ for two people and two bottled drinks ain’t too bad.

El Pollo who?
I was at Conte’s on a Thursday night for a cycling thing with the team. As I walked outside to get into the car, this glorious, glorious scent was in the air. I immediately remembered Super Pollo was just a block over and wondered how it could be that at 8pm, I’d find Eau de Pollo in the air. I followed the nose and was ready to try this bird that all my fellow Unilocalers are so f’in crazy for.
I’d been here when the Carnie Crew came in for the chicken judging competition, but sadly, didn’t have anything to eat because I was on my way to a crab boil. After looking at the scoring sheets and hearing their feedback, I *knew* one day I was going to have my chance to experience Ms. Peruvian Chicken Universe. And what an experience she was; this was a girl on girl situation that was worthy of five stars.
I walked in to a nearly empty restaurant. Walked up to the counter to get a ¼ white. The guy behind the counter, the one in charge of giving you your order, gave me a nice big smile. I gave him a nice big smile back, told him what I wanted, and he pulled a piece that was the size of Russia and asked me if that piece was ok. Was it ok?!? Seriously. Yes. Put it on my plate. I got rice and beans for the side, trying to see if they resembled Pollo Tropical down in FL.
The chicken was unbelievably moist, right down to the bone. The seasoning was spot on perfect. It doesn’t get any better than this and I would have to say it’s the best Peruvian chicken place I’ve ever been to (that honor used to go to Pollos a la Brasa in downtown LA). What made it the best are the two crucial things: flavor and moisture. Super Pollo gets both of these things right, ten times over from El Pollo Rico. Don’t get me wrong, EPR is very good, but I don’t ever recall their chicken being as moist. The rice and beans were nothing to write home about; standard stuff there.
It also heats up very well. I was starving after getting my car serviced and remembered I had left overs in the fridge. I nuked that baby and it was just as good as it was the night before.
So the summary is this: if you’re in the mood for chicken, give Super Pollo a try. After all, if you’re going to EPR, then you may as well travel a few extra minutes and go to Super Pollo. You won’t regret it – it’s HELLA good.

Excellent chicken. It’s smoky, juicy, and absolutely flavorful. Fried yucca’s excellent as well. Haven’t tried the other sides, but will do so in the near future. The green sauce is spicy and wonderful, while the yellow sauce is just a combo of mayo and mustard, but it is tasty as well. This place gets extra points for having Diet Inca Cola, accepting credit cards, having a parking lot, and being so close to home! We’ve tried food at The Chicken Place and Super Pollo is definitely better overall (the chicken skin at TCP is crispier but the meat is dry)! :)
Note: We’ve been told to try El Pollo Rico nearby just for comparison purposes. We’ll do that and post again! :)

The last time I went into this building, it was actually a Roy Rogers. One day in 1999 I was jonesing for a Gold Rush chicken sandwich, and lo and behold it was shut down with a sign bearing the Golden Arches telling me to get McBent. Later, it became some sort of Tandoori restaurant that was about as popular as a fart in church, seeing as how it closed down in about a year. Super Pollo, however, seems built to last.
Seriously… the line during the Saturday lunch rush must’ve been about 20 people deep (and wrapping around the restaurant) and never let up. Good thing the Unilocal Carnivore Crew got here right before the lunch rush. You see, the YCC decided to visit both Super Pollo and El Pollo Rico back to back in order to settle the question of which Peruvian chicken joint is el supremo.
It was about time. Loyalties were to be tested. Lines were to be drawn. Families were to be torn apart. Brother was to part with brother. Houses were to be divided. Kind of like a Civil War movie, only without handlebar mustaches and horses.
For about $ 9, I got a quarter-​dark chicken, two sides (fries and fried rice) and a Coke. Do yourself a favor and take a pass on the fries… they really aren’t any good. The fried rice was definitely better, but had a hint of ginger to it (not a fan of ginger, though they use it sparingly in the rice). You get a good-​sized cut of chicken and it literally falls off the bone. Very tender and juicy. With each order you get a cup of mustard/​mayo sauce and some sort of green sweat-​inducing sauce. Both really add to the flavor of the chicken.
The staff kept things moving quickly and were friendly, even after dealing with the massive line and a particularly obnoxious woman three places up from me who I quickly named «Cookie the Wonderbitch.»
The verdict: it’s hard to judge Super Pollo and NOT compare it to El Pollo Rico. You almost have to. It’s kind of like that nutcase in your Philosophy 101 class who just loves taking wildly unpopular positions, like how Stalin made the USSR a world power and kinda neglects that whole genocide thing. On its own, Super Pollo is pretty good, but (here goes the inevitable comparison) if you have a choice in the matter, I’d probably steer you towards EPR. Having said that, you can get a decent meal (and they serve beer and wine here too!) for around $ 10. And in this area, you can’t beat that with a bat :)
Please see my EPR review for a rundown on major chicken joints in the Arlington area.

There she is
DC Unilocal’s Ms. Peruvian Chicken Universe World
Our panel of 10 judges from DC Unilocal’s Carnivore Crew have spoken: Super Pollo is better than El Pollo Rico.
Food — $ 4.83 for a ¼ chicken dark, $ 5.02 for ¼ chicken white, and $ 7.30 for ½ chicken (all served with 2 sides). I ordered the ½ chicken and my wife ordered the ¼ chicken dark. For sides we ordered:
Fried Rice — too much ginger for my taste (and add $ 1 for this one)
Yucca — Mmmmm! This stuff certainly isn’t yucka! Crispy and not overly starchy
Soup — Chicken noodle soup with the flavors of an Indian or Kebab place. Puzzling to find at a Peruvian joint, but tasty nonetheless.
Corn — Those were the 3 sides we wanted, so for the 4^th, I figured may as well see if PC W. is right and she is! That is how I imagine corn would be after one pass through your digestive system.
Ms. Super Pollo wasn’t much of a looker — her skin was overly tan and her breasts and thighs weren’t eye popping, but once the competition began, she commanded the stage and the Carnivore Crew was in awe. Her meat was moist and flavorful, her skin felt so right on my lips and even better on my tongue. She was served with the mayo and green chili sauces and they accompanied her very well. Note: the chili sauce here made Monty C. sweat.
Location — Super Pollo looks like a barn… on fire! I was driving down N. Randolph St and all I had to do was follow the smoke. Note: if you’re on the inside looking out, it will look foggy/​hazy outside — this is the sign of excellent Peruvian chicken. They use only lump charcoal, which I wholeheartedly approve of. They also have a water cooler and typically, stores put out those tiny Dixie cups that are more like shot glasses, but Super Pollo puts out 12oz cups, which means less walking for me, which means I am grateful. The parking lot for Super Pollo is larger than EPR’s. Finally, we came in at 1pm and there was almost no line. Around 1:30, the line became 15 Hispanics deep and seemed that way for the duration of our meal.
Oh, and I almost forgot, here’s her crown.
o o o
|\/\/\/|
Congratulations!

I arrived around 1pm as part of the DC Unilocal’s carnivore crew review of Super Pollo vs El Pollo Rico shootout. Most of us ordered at least half a chicken with sides. I picked yucca and plantains as my sides. The total was $ 10.52 which is an exceptional bargain for all that food.
I found the chicken to be tasty but a bit over seasoned (a bit too salty). I tasted more of the seasoning than I did the chicken. And the seasoning was uneven in spots. The skin of the chicken looked blackened and soggy, but it wasn’t burnt so it was just looks. It still tasted pretty good.
The sides were a hit and miss. The yucca was very crisp on the outside with tender insides. The plantains however was a little lacking. I found them to be overly ripe. The green picante sauce had a good kick and was flavorful.
Maybe I’m being overly critical, but this was a comparative and so I have to point out the details.
I should also mention that the entry to this place has a sloping entry ramp that is not kind to low riding vehicles.

$ 5 gets you ¼ piece of juicy, herb-​crusted chicken and two sides.
I love having options and Super Pollo has many more side options than at El Pollo Rico (whose chicken I find to be drier and drier with each subsequent visit). I went with the corn on the cob and the chicken soup. The corn on the cob was overcooked because it was sitting in a container of water to keep it warm. The chicken soup is literally Pollo a la Brasa in liquid form. It’s like they made a stock out of the herbs they use to marinate the chicken. The end product is a salty, aromatic broth. Yum.
This is my new favorite peruvian chicken joint. If you’re into desserts, they have flan and tres leches cake.

I give it 5 stars even though sometimes I don’t want to know what their kitchen must look like in the back.
This is one of my favorite places to get chicken in Ballston (and man, so I miss it here in Boston!). I usually got the ¼ or ½ chicken with some combination of plantains (they’re a like a buck extra but I love ‘em anyway), soup, and rice. Sometimes I even splurged and got all three sides — whoa, it’s a total of $ 6!!! You can take a date there, or take it out and you can get it all for less than $ 10. Ok, maybe it’s not the ideal date place, but it’s been known to be a date place sometimes…
Stick to the chicken. I’ve tried the other stuff and they’re good, but they’re not super-​delicious-​goodness of rotisserie chicken good!
Bring cash — they charge you 29 cents if you use a credit card for any purchases under a certain amount.
I advise you do take out — I have eaten there and watched the Spanish– language soap operas that play on their TV, but you don’t go to this place for the ambiance or dining facilities.
They did just raise their prices so I don’t think you can get your meal for under $ 5 but these are the times. Shell out the $ 6 and get a great take out Peruvian chicken meal.
(You can try Pio Pio and El Pollo Rico and see for yourself — I know some people differ on their reviews so try it out. It won’t bust your wallet, but it might bust your stomach to eat so much goodness.)
Super Pollo, I miss you!