Pollo Chapin

Yikes. I hate beating up a place that has such rave reviews from everyone else, but Unilocal is all about honest reviews, right? Well here it goes…
We each got the two piece meal, I got the egg noodles and mac and cheese, she got fries, ordered well done. The chicken was hot and crispy, with a very good flavor. It saved this place from getting two stars.
The chicken noodle soup, egg noodles, and mac were all waaaaay overcooked, nearly inedible. The soup broth tasted great, but picking around mush noodles was annoying. The egg noodles had a good flavor, but really nothing better than the tub of macaroni salad that you buy at any grocery store. Jalapeño mac was fairly generic as well. Allison’s «well done» fries came out limp and unsalted. I think we each ate just one.
Service probably wasn’t worth the four dollar tip we left. The TV was BLARING some Spanish language evangelistic bullshit. Oh and it was hot as hell in there because they don’t have air. Or fans. Or windows that open.
Yeah, the chicken was good, but I’m not going back. Sorry guys.

Really great chicken! It’s a very small family operation in SW Detroit. I’ll be going back!

The place doesn’t look like much inside or out, neither does the neighborhood for that matter but the food is top notch. Had a tamale, piece of chicken and a side of cabbage salad. Lunch came with chicken noodle soup. I got a taste of the jalapeño mac & cheese. The chicken could have been fried by someone from KY. It was just like mother used to make. The service was slow and she got a my order wrong, but it was well meaning and with a smile, so no worries. We came in with a big group and it likely caught them off guard. Love it. Will do it again. We had a Guatemalan in our group and he said that the food was typical of his cuisine, so he attested to its authenticity. We all left full and happy.

Fantastic chicken. not the scrawny all skin pieces you get at chains. Very moist and fried to perfection. Super nice people and you can tell a family business.

Pollo Chapin is absolutely one of the best finds in Detroit!
Hidden in a little house on Junction, it holds an incredible kitchen, serving up amazing South American delights.
Their fried chicken is absolutely incredible. Super juicy, spicy, action packed pollo! We could barely get the stuff home without tearing into a wing and drummy! They serve really nice sides– great mixed veggies, tasty rice and beans, nice vinegary coleslaw and PLANTAINS. Oh their plantains are the bomb! I smother them in hot sauce as «dessert.» Another stellar item is their tamales… dense pillows of masa, enveloping more of that delicious chicken, in a delicious sauce. Yum yum yum.
It’s a great spot for an amazing, inexpensive meal. Feed your whole family for $ 20!
SUPER BUENO!

A quaint and delicious restaurant located in Southwest Detroit. The food and portions were perfect, as well as the service. I would definitely return.

Don’t know what the five star reviews were about… The chicken was good, nothing exceptional. Its a take out place that has several tables, if you want to dine in, as me and a couple friends did. The Mac N Cheese was good, nothing exceptional, and the same with the black beans. One of the previous reviews said all the drinks were bottled, but that has changed, they now serve a pitcher of tap water to your table. It tastes terrible, like rusty pipes! UGH! Buy the bottled water or juices. The server’s were nice. A place you can get reasonably priced chicken and sides to go, at a decent price.

I move from Detroit, Michigan and drove to Texas and cant find a place like this the chicken is extremely good, and the service is friendly and good they make you feel like home, I can’t find a place like this here, sometimes i wish they fex me some chicken and some homemade Guatemala food. That’s why I give it five stars
i

Sorry guys I went to this place with high hopes after reading all the Unilocal reviews and I have to say I was very disappointed. I showed up and ordered a meal for one with couple pieces of chicken and a side of beans. It seems like all the food was already prepared earlier in the day and they just stuck it in the microwave to warm it up. While I was waiting I noticed there was a bug (looked like a roach) climbing up the wall behind the register. I had already ordered my food and I hate being rude so I didn’t cancel my order, needless to say I did not try the food was not risking it. I got my carry out order and left, threw it out in the parking lot of another nearby restaurant. So I can’t rate the food but as far as the preparation and establishment goes I give it one star. I’ll stick to better cleaner establishments in the area.

Came here with friends since I was eyeballing it for a very long time. This place definitely didn’t disappoint. The chicken is the main event and it was very good. I’m glad for pioneering spots like this. The area is definitely on the up and up. I like it as well since there is a lack of snooty «AMERICANS» that have no tastebuds. Viva Pollo Chapin!

This place is just delightful. We checked it out based on the strength of the Unilocal reviews and I’ve been back 3 times since, and every time has been great. This place is laid back and casual and you aren’t coming here for the décor or ambience, just great, simple food that tastes like someone’s grandma made. It’s the most homemade tasting food I’ve ever had in an restaurant. You’ll feel like you left the country, because the staff and most of the patrons, and the children that are sometimes hanging out speak only fragmented English, but they are very sweet and friendly and the language barrier is easily made up for.
I am not a big fried chicken eater, I mean I’ll have it from time to time, but it’s never something I crave or have much of an opinion about. That changed after eating here. While I’ve tried a couple other entrees, and plan to try even more, the fried chicken here MUST be experienced. It’s juicy, and flavorful and the flavor goes all the way down to the bone, unlike any other fried chicken I’ve ever had. I recently took a friend here who’s a very adventurous eater and goes to restaurants daily, and she was picking at the bones, something she never does.
The entrees come with chicken noodle soup that comes in a styrofoam bowl which somehow just seems appropriate for this place The soup is a bit on the salty side, but it’s delicious. There are pickled veggies in a mason jar which I didn’t try the first few times because the jar didn’t come with its own utensils. But I tried them the last time i was there and they were excellent.
There is a choice of sides which they call «salads’ and several of them are fresh veggie slaws. The curtido, with beets and cabbage, is one of my favorites and I would normally never eat either of those veggies. There’s also this very light and fresh cilantro and cabbage salad that is a perfect summer dish. If you can’t choose, order extra sides, they are inexpensive and worth a try. Or ask if they can bring you samples of the things you are unfamiliar with. The mac-​and-​cheese has just a bit of jalapeño and is great, and the potato salad is the best I’ve tried.
Basically everything I’ve tried has been really, really, would-​order-​again, good. Everything there feels like comfort food and you leave feeling better for having stopped by.
The most unbelievable thing is that when we get the bill for two people, our total is around $ 15! It’s insane. It’s a little out of the way for us, but we have already been back a few times and this place is going to become part of our regular rotation. I also appreciate that they have a parking lot right next to the entrance.

My son has been bragging about this place for ages so he finally convinced my wife and I to accompany him to Pollo Chapin.
It’s a cute little place amidst a neighborhood I’d rather avoid.
It appears to be family owned and run. I believe it’s Guatemalan food.
I had a couple pieces of chicken, some macaroni & cheese, you automatically get chicken noodle soup (without ordering it).
The chicken was good, not amazing. Better than KFC and Popeyes, but not much.
The mac n cheese was pretty bad. The cheese was thin and they made it with some kind of peppers that ruined the flavor. The chicken noodle soup was pretty good.
I admit, I’m a spoiled food junkie and expect a lot. To me, this places food was merely average at best. I wouldn’t return. My son loves the place.
The cool thing that happened was, the waiter noticed I didn’t eat my mac n cheese. He asked me why and I told him I just didn’t like it. The old lady came out from the back and asked me the same thing. After hearing that, she went in the back and brought me out a place of cole slaw (which was good) and some cooked vegetables (which my wife ate). Very very kind of her.
Some very nice people run this place and deserve a pat on the back for having a place like this in a neighborhood that is so downtrodden! I wish them good fortune.

This place is one of those gems you stumble upon and are just left feeling glad you took the chance in trying it out.
Kind of a dive hidden in the side-​streets in Detroit’s Mexicantown, Pollo Chapin is apparently labeling themselves as «Fast Food» on the sign. I can tell you that it is far from that. By that, I don’t mean it is slow, what I mean is the quality of the food, the warm service, amazing flavor leaves one feeling like a good home cooked meal.
This was our first visit, the waitress asked us as she seated us. She brought out a sampler of nearly all of the sides you can add to your combos, as they are different. This sampler was huge.
After that she brought us a sort of spicy chicken noodle soup, which was delicious. This was accompanied by a Large jar of pickled vegetables, which we didn’t have a utensil to dig with, so we didn’t try them.
They are famous for their fried chicken, and I can see why. I ordered a three piece combo, which included two of the homemade sides. The breast was enormous and moist, and the skin is fried perfectly as to not be greasy/​oily and retain the flavor. For my sides, I chose the potato salad, which had a peppery heat to it, and the Curtido Chapin, which is like a pickled salad of beets, bell peppers, cabbage (?), in a vinegary spicy juice. SO GOOD! All of the sides were amazing though. My girlfriend also got the 3 piece combo, with the Mac and cheese, which had Jalapeño bits in it, and was delicious, and a sort of cabbage slaw which i didn’t see listed on the menu, but was in our sampler. We both had chicken left for takeout. A 2-​piece combo would have been enough.
Drinks are only bottled, including the water, though they do bring glasses of ice.
The best part, aside from the amazing food… It was under $ 20 for the two of us. We will be back.

#8 entrée, chicken enchiladas with two sides, salad, chicken noodle soup, and some cinnamon sugar crispy thingys for under 6 bucks!
Silly me, I didn’t order the fried chicken, which of course is their claim to fame. Looks like I’ll be going back soon!

I concur with the rest of you, Staff was unbelievable, The bit of pepper in the Mac n Cheese, great. The dark meat was very good, while the white, was just like most white meat to me, dry.
Definitely worth a visit.

The main draw of this spot according to Unilocal,is the fried chicken. I had a rare hangover so, obviously a combo of fried chicken and home style Mexican sounded nothing less than amazing. Duh. Unfortunately for my waistline, I had made an excellent choice. My eating partner and I opted for a 2 piece fried chicken, a cheese enchilada, some tamales, a mac and cheese with jalapeños, and the hot dog sandwich– whatever that was. All came with choices of two salads and we went for the cold pasta and beet salads. The fried chicken was unreal! Flavorful way past the skin– a good thing since I can’t bring myself to eat more than a little of that. They brined well. The beet salad was cold and well-​seasoned, and so was the pasta. The pasta side was a definite winner. The enchiladas and tamales were both fresh and the flavors were vibrant. The jar of homemade pickles at each table featured cucumber, carrot and onion. A+ on that recipe. Tart and spicy. The finest part of the meal though– the thing I’m still craving even as I type– was the freaking hot dog sandwich. The sub style bun was just perfect– soft, chewy and dense but not hard to tear. Clearly fresh baked. The hot dog is sliced and THEN grilled so it’s crispy all over, then it’s placed on top of fresh slices of avocado, pickled cabbage, thousand island dressing AND ketchup and mustard. I’d never have imagined such a combo or that it would or could be so delectable. It is the finest sandwich I’ve come across in a very, very long time. I’d serve it at my wedding. Seriously. Fuck the fried chicken. Get the hot dog sam. Get it.

Dear fellow Unilocalers, I HEART you! Yes, your reviews were enough to have me salivating like Pavlov’s dog for fried chicken. So on my way to Eastern Market, I made a side trip to Pollo Chapin.
The cute little yellow house is in a not so good part of the neighborhood so I recommend parking in the lot versus on the street. I went before noon so there was plenty of parking. I don’t recommend petting the pit bull in the next yard either.
I ordered the 3 piece dinner, 2 sides and a lime Jarritos. The waitress was pleasant and explained what ingredients were in the sides. We got this party started with hot, chicken noodle soup. As my Unilocaler peeps say, the flavor is great, the noodles are mush. It was a perfect start to the 33* day! Then our delicious chicken arrived. My Unilocal app locked up taking a pic so you’ll have to trust me on the details. Three pieces of the most flavorful, moist on the inside, dreamily crunchy… just typing this is making me drool! In the supporting roles, side dishes egg noodles were a delicious although mysterious with their peppery crunchy goodness. My second side was refried pinto beans… mmmm! At the end of the meal we were brought hot tortilla chips with cinnamon sugar and honey, delish!
Pollo Chapin is a small place that is big on flavor. We were so addicted, we ordered chicken to go for a snack later. I highly recommend this place even if it involves a detour to get there. You will thank me and your fellow Unilocaler buddies for it later. Yes, you will!

How did I forget to write this review. Ahhhh chicken coma for three weeks is how.
It’s so moist, and it’s not greasy. oh mah gerd I want to eat it up right now. Corn was corn, pasta slaw (Egg Noodles is the menu name), yum! My brother had the black beans and the jalapeño mac ‘n cheese. I’m going to get that next time.
Best part is the fact that the cost is just on # of pieces. Three piece meal you can have three breasts, three thigh, three whatever man!!! No up charge, no fancy politics. Under 8 bucks for the three piece with two sides.

Pretty rare to hit two Unilocal Suggestions on my bucket list in one day, but we did!
Pollo Chapin & Nevería La Michoacana
Pollo Chapin
Must first chat about the WONDERFUL & OUTGOING STAFF!
Jasmine, this very sweet gal, knew we were new by our wide eyed looking of being inside grandmas house, she patiently explained almost everything
5 Stars /​A+ for her + a 33% tip
She brought us both a ‘free’ bowl as 1^st time guest of a very hearty chicken soup, with big chunks of tender chicken, egg noodles & great broth
A+
She knew we were curious & adventurous, even trying the ‘Liquid Fire’ on the table
[ Carrots –Onions –Jalapenos Marinated in Jalapeño juices ]
she also brought us at no charge a sampler platter of salads & Spanish rice
Cole slaw
Potato Salad
Beets & Cabbage
Spanish Rice
We both ordered the 3 piece pollo with 2 salads & a starch
[ Starch choices were, roll, corn or flour tortillas ]
$ 7.25
B+
I paid an extra .50 cents to make mine spicey
and that was not a good move, as the sauce was good, but too much made my chicked ‘very’ soggy, no worries live & learn
C+
She also brought us a «Free Dessert»
Like a baked tortilla, with honey & lightly powdered
A
one note:
there is or was no AC or fans and on a 75 degree day it was more than warm
also they have a private off-​street parking lot .
Although we were at Vernor & Clark, we were actually only 3 – 4 minutes off of I-​75

I can’t believe that I’ve never reviewed this place before.
Pollo Chapin is a unique restaurant. Here you get «Mexican food» with a Guatemalan tinge to it and strangest of all… fried chicken.
When you visit Pollo Chapin here’s what you need to do.
#1: Definitely dig into the jar of pickled veggies that they bring to your table. I don’t care how much a glass jar with veggies and a fork jammed into the jar freaks you out… eat! The peppers, carrots, and onions our fantastic with a nice snap to the bite and a variable ‘hot” factor.
#2: Order anything from the small choice of Mexican food. It’s prepared fresh and every dish has it’s own character and taste.
#3: Get Mac and Cheese as a side dish. It’s creamy and full of jalapeño peppers to clear what ails you.
#4: Get at least 1 piece of their fabulous fried chicken. It’s perfectly seasoned thru and thru; crispy with a slight hint of paprika and hot pepper.
#5: Almost forgot… enjoy the bowl of chicken soup that they serve you when you arrive. It’s wonderfully hearty and as much of their food, has a bit of a hot spice to it.
You really can’t go wrong with Pollo Chapin. It’s one of those rare finds that really doesn’t seem to fit with where it’s at.
Oh… did I mention … .it’s cheap and the small staff goes out of their way to be friendly and accommodating.
Search it out and eat!