Pollo Tote

Tacos were pretty good. One of the few places to get good Mexican food in the area. The beans tasted great and the pico is really fresh. I always look for the simple things when eating at a Mexican joint and this place hit the spot

So, I used to go to this place when it was El Pollo Rico and loved it. Then they closed, and became Pollo Tote. Ok, so it just looked like they repainted and rebranded, I got excited to have my pollo asada al carbon back and gave it a try. First time I tried, they had a huge «Now open!» banner and a lit open sign only to tell me they were opening the next week. So I came back a few weeks later.
I was so disappointed. I ordered my usual, the mixed plate with carne y pollo. The price was the same, but the portions were tiny! Where I used to get a breast and a leg, I just got a breast, and the carne was half the size. I also didn’t get rice and beans, which was a huge letdown since the beans were one of the reasons I went there in general before! So half the food or less, same price, and the quality just wasn’t on par with what it used to be either.
I’m reasonable, though. New management, maybe they are working out the kinks, or maybe they just had a bad day right? So I went again. Pulled up to the drive thru, and nothing. And nothing. And nothing. We sat there for 10 or so minutes. Then I pulled up to the window to order. I really wanted some pollo asada al carbon! Get to the window, one of the kitchen guys looks at us, and walks away without saying anything or even acknowledging us. Second guy in the kitchen comes in, sees us, and says something to the girl working the register who is talking to a family up front. She gives us a half wave and turns back to the family. Fair enough, she can’t leave them in middle of ordering. Then she starts taking another family’s order. Five minutes later, she starts taking the order for a guy that obviously has no idea what he wants because she’s standing there while he reads the menu, then she starts pointing and explaining it. We sat for another five minutes (long after the SO had lost all patience, to the point that I was getting in trouble for waiting so long) before I finally just pulled away, sans chicken.
So yeah, strike three. Maybe I’ll try again some time, since there aren’t exactly a plethora of pollo asada al carbon places in the BCS area. Maybe not, though. I don’t know if I want to be disappointed again.

I had eaten at this place a few times when it was El Pollo Rico and had watched as I passed by once that place closed as it slowly transformed visually not much at all… When it finally opened as Pollo Tote, I told my wife that we had to go try it out. However, we just couldn’t arrange a meet-​up time to get there together and I finally caved and went in by myself.
Glad I finally went!
Very friendly staff, very very good food.
I have tried the masala and the shrimp tacos. I liked them both — but the shrimp taco was really fantastic! Also I was given a choice of red or green sauce and I chose red. I am unsure exactly what the red sauce is — but considering I found myself actually eating it straight off the spoon — I suggest not changing that mixture of ingredients.
I believe my exact feeling when I was finished eating my lunch was disappointment… — …that I didn’t have more. I was full, I just liked the taste that much. Cooler heads prevailed and I did not order more right then to over-​fill myself…
However, I went back that evening to get MORE. Yeah — I caved (AGAIN!)
This time I got masala, carne asada and TWO SHRIMP tacos. The masala taco was a little more ‘liquidy’ than the lunch one, but same great taste. The shrimp taco — still fantastic. I did not particularly love the carne asada taco — but I think it may have been because I wanted to eat the second shrimp taco and I might have been getting full at the same time (four tacos really is WAY more than I should have gotten.)
I did get the green and the red (you didn’t think I would do without a sauce I raved about a couple of paragraphs back, did you?) sauces — the green was good — better with the beef for me than the red was… but the red sauce still won the day.
I’ll be back there to try out more things. My advice as of NOW: try the shrimp taco and get some red sauce…

FOOD:
Chicken masala taco: This Indian/​Mexican fusion food had great flavor, but was a tad salty. Good amount of meat for the size. You get the option to choose either a flour or corn tortilla.
Carne asada torta combo: The carne asada was good & tender. The torta wasn’t as flavorful as I’d like. The fries tasted fresh but I wish they fried it a bit longer to make it crispier.
OVERALL: I hope this place lasts as the taco that I had was good.
EJ PT

Wow! What a crazy Unilocal listing. Two of the most prominent Unilocal reviewers in Aggieland nailed this place with FTR’s that appeared to the FTR with receipt as proof (photo) and then the other person (not me) claiming they ate there after thus showing an error in the listing. And then both reviews were tossed off (hehe «He said tossed off») to the previous restaurant El Pollo Rico that closed some time ago. ( Unilocal error and total mess)
Yes I was the 1^st person to eat here and did upload my receipt which I do not see now. I am sure I must have it and will get around to that if needed. It proves it.
Anyway, I have eaten here twice since, used the drive through which is fast enough to be expected as I could see them fresh grilling the meats to order as should be. This isn’t fast food.
These are bad ass tacos. The only thing I have ever ordered.
The Unilocal score of this restaurant shows a huge flaw in Unilocal,Best of the Brazos, The Eagle, The Battalion, Good Bull Hunting (if you could ever take them seriously) in that the reviews are for different types of food.
I had the tacos. 5 stars. Service 5 stars. Price for value 5 stars. (Three times and most of the taco menu now) (Get napkins!)
So someone else ordered chicken and someone else ordered a burger and gave less than 5 stars.
People whom comment on food should have to know enough before opening their mouths on social media (pun intended).
SO, the tacos are killer! Don’t know about the other foods so you will want to read the reviews of others.
Reviews by Doc X. are particularly worthy of reading. Old Skool.
Timothy L. ~ Sorry if my review and photos let you down, but we didn’t eat the same things. You review was excellent and I don’t plan on ordering what you did now. Thank you. What I can suggest is just order one single Pastor on flour as it comes or add avocado. Onions and cilantro only. That is a wicked monster of a taco right there. I’m going to try them again by asking that they add fresh diced jalapenos which would finish it off as a local winner.
Service and wait time do not ultimately matter when it comes to food quality and in my own personal experience this Taqueria is producing top notch, cutting edge Indian-​Tex-​Mex Fusion as the 1^st taco!
5 Stars are correct (for tacos).
Greg D.
Taco Monster of Texas (Originated in Aggieland)

Just tried this after Greg D’s glowing review, but came out a little disappointed.
My girlfriend got their ¼ chicken, I tried the chipotle burger. I’m a sucker for burgers so I was hoping it’d be good.
The chicken came out on a plate with the fajitas wrapped in foil and a lime on top. Pretty cool. My girlfriend didn’t think much of it though, she said it reminded her of rotisserie chicken from grocery stores.
My burger was okay, the sauce was nice but the bun felt flat and the burger felt average. Nothing notable about it over the burgers in the area.
Overall we came out full but not satisfied by the experience. Though I will say the food came out fast and the cashier was nice. The lack of satisfaction could be from our choices, as Greg’s food looked wonderful, so I’m hopeful to try this place again and have a more positive experience.
If you come here, try the tacos, you might be happier.