Sabroso Grill

Stopped by today on 3÷15÷2012. They no longer exist. closed. There is a new place «The Burger Lounge» that has taken over its spot. I’ll miss you Sabroso. Your chicken was so delicious and juicy!

With your tasty steak tacos (small, but cheap), you lured me in. Very tender, well-​marinated meat. Fresh ingredients. Dry tortillas, but all is forgiven for that incredible green salsa you served with it. Was that some habanero mixed in there?
Visit two is where it all fell apart. I decided to go with the steak platter… and then I saw the chefs commit a cardinal sin in food service. A customer brought their plate up because their beans were cold, fork still in it and all.
Did the server throw out said cold, partially eaten beans? Yes. He did. Right back into the pile of the rest of the black beans, in full view of multiple customers, the last person’s saliva all mixed in.
«Maybe it was just a one-​off?» I thought. «A moment of insanity given how busy they seem to be tonight?» But no, as my mouth dropped open a little, I watched another server scrape some other food from a plate he got the order wrong on back into the serving container as well.
It all came crumbling down, pretty fantastically. They didn’t have the veggies that I ordered. They ran out of forks and knives. Oh, and then they ran out of steak. At 7:00 PM. One of the prime times for people to be ordering in.
It pains me to say this after those tacos, but I won’t be back. Too many other good, well-​run places to eat without having to question whether or not the place is going to be raided by health inspectors anytime soon.

summary: excellent Peruvian chicken, ample portions, friendly service
Visited Sabroso for dinner take-​out on 10÷28÷11. Whole chicken with two large sides was enough food for a family of four. The chicken, yuca, and plantains all were very good, and the side sauces were great. For $ 15, the meal is an excellent value, too. The staff was friendly and quick.
Close-​by parking street parking before 7pm is very limited because of the restaurant ‘s busy Colesville Rd. location, but there’s an alley off Georgia Ave. (just north of the Colesville Rd. intersection) where you can park and enter the restaurant from a rear door.

2.5 stars. The chicken and steak were super dry. The skin on the chicken did have a nice peppery flavor but the seasoning did not go beyond the skin. The chicken was a difficult to eat given that is was so dry but the mustard sauce they provided did make it more enjoyable. The side of veggies were also disappointing given that they literally had no seasoning on them and were uncooked.
$ 1 per ounce of meat?! Dang, that was pricey! Given my carne-​asada snobby ways, I had to try it, but at a buck per ounce I thought it was a bit expensive and NOT worth it. The meat was low-​grade quality, not marinated well and super dry.

Do NOT let the exterior fool you. This place is FANTASTIC. I’ve lived in the area for over a year and only recently discovered how tasty (and inexpensive) the food is. Fast service, delicious sides, and don’t even get me started on the chicken. For under 10 bucks you can get half a chicken, two sides, and a drink. Can’t top that.

YAY for Sabroso Grill!
So happy we discovered this place. Delicious, smoky flavored, juicy chicken… I always get a quarter with 2 sides. crispy hot yucca, my favorite and usually a salad or black beans and rice. Many other good looking sides to choose from, though.
Helpings are generous and the price can’t be beat.
Service is quite cheerful.
My best friend lives in WV, and every time she drives down for a visit, the first place she wants to go is SABROSO!

2^nd time here and the food was just as tasty as I remembered. Will most definitely have to come back again!

Hmmm… where do I begin? My boyfriend and I each had the 5oz Churrasco steak and got sides to share.
The steak was cooked to perfection, the Yucca frita was not too greasy and the chimmichurri was on POINT (my Dad’s side of the fam is from Argentina so I like to think I’m an expert on chimmichurri… hehe)!
We also had plantains ans rice which were excellent as well. Even better… they have Coke in glass bottle which is made with… REAL SUGAR!
The ambiance is nice… high ceilings, yellow walls, cool artwork. Not what one would expect considering the inexpensive fare.
I’ve been a fan of Crisp and Juicy for some years now but Sabroso grill is truly a gem. The only thing Crisp and Juicy has up on them is the Alfajar cookies but Sabroso grill has Dulce de Leche cheesecake which I may at have to get to go next time since I was stuffed by the end of the meal.

I enjoyed the chicken at this location but the skin was not «to die for» or similar. All of the sides looked delicious. I tried the cole slaw, the plantains, and the corn. It was very enjoyable. It was a little expensive but certainly manageable for lunch.
The atmosphere is right on for lunch. It’s not located very far from the metro so it’s a good walk before and after the meal. I would definitely go back because the food was so good. I have a difficult time describing food outside of using words like ‘delicious’, but I’ll be happy to use delectable in this situation. Also, it smells as good as it tastes in this place.
There is a restroom! There’s good music. Lots of space for folks to sit and enjoy their lunch on a busy or carefree afternoon.

I never thought I could eat good pollo a la brasa while jammin’ to Depeche Mode outside of my home. That is, until I dined in at Sabroso Grill.
The song was Enjoy the Silence, but I was really just enjoying the chicken. Although I must admit, it was pretty quiet in there. So quiet in fact that I actually for the first time, listened to the words to that song. There is much more to that song apparently then my little 8 year old mind could wrap around at the time. Who knew I would have this moment while chompin’ on some yucca?
Anyway, I’m pretty picky with my Peruvian chicken having grown up in the area where it comes a dime a dozen, but I gotta admit that Sabroso Grill’s is pretty tasty. And I have no idea what they are feeding those chicken, but my quarter chicken was huge. With two sides of my choice served up with it, my entire meal sans drink came to just around $ 6.
I’ve also had the steak salad which is also quite good. In fact, for a pretty simple salad I found it rather fresh and filling.
The casual dining environment makes the restaurant perfect for carryout or for a quick bite should you choose to dine in.
And hey, how can I not love a place that bumps some good 80s music. My mom always told me it’s rude to dance while I’m eating, but sometimes it’s just necessary.

To echo others’ reviews, great chicken at great prices. The skin (DO NOT PULL OFF AND DISCARD… YOU MUST EAT!) is a bit more charred and seasoned than that of nearby Crisp and Juicy’s chicken (me also likey), which may or may not be your cup of tea. The sides I’ve tried are excellent as well — the fried root veggies (fried yucca or fries) are always crispy without being greasy; fried plantains are always satisfying; the cilantro rice is yummy when topped with beans (the staff is always super nice to ask whether you want beans on your rice without it counting as an extra side). If you’ve got room, try the tres leches cake cup from the dessert fridge — seriously tasty! And it comes in a cup!
If you’re feeling like chicken might be a bit much, the Sabroso salad is also very tasty — light but filling. They also have churassco with chimchurri if you’re not in the mood for chicken — but, er, why are you here if you’re not?!
Sabroso is an especially perfect place to grab a tasty dinner if you’re catching a flick at the AFI (right across the street). The service is walk-​up-​and-​order/​pickup, and the staff is always efficient and nice. There is plenty of eat-​in space with booths and tables. It’s oddly never crowded (true that it’s nothing special in the décor department), but you and friends should seriously consider staying for the sit-​down experience. Why? Whoever’s music playlist is playing over the speaker system has ALWAYS been amazing. Seriously! I’ve always been amazed that the great tunes playing at Sabroso. Just a little added plus to the chicken feast. Thumbs up, Sabroso! I will keep coming back again and again.

Without a doubt one of the best finds this year. If you are close, stop in!
This place is literally a hole-​in-​the-​wall, but the food will knock your socks off.
Chicken is to die for, although they only have it on the bone, those who like boneless are out of luck. The steak with sauce is orgasmic and the sides are plentiful and choices abound.

I feel like a betrayer of the downtown wheaton ghetto-​chicken but this is definitely my favourite peruvian joint in the DMV.
1. Their vast choices of sides. It’s not just rice, beans, fries and yucca. They ALSO have plantains, corn, steamed veggies, baked red potatoes, etc. I love choices. Healthy and delicious choices at that.
2. They also have steak with this chimchurri sauce on it. It’s tender and flavourful. AFFORDABLE TOO!
3. The chicken. Well, you KNOW it’s good if its peruvian chicken. Juicy, OH SO YUM.
4. Their baked empanadas. Don’t grab and bite on the go. These empanadas are filled with juicy chicken soup. You need a spoon. The crust is slightly sweet and buttery. OH YUM.
5. Their tiramisu is also pretty good. Not the best, but cmon. It’s a peruvian chicken joint.
6. Their chicken noodle soup is out of this world. It’s made from the rotisserie chicken.
The guys behind the counter are also very friendly and accommodating.
sometimes have gift certificates for them. GO GET IT AND EAT.

Huge portions seem to be the norm here. The beef and chicken were both «Muy Sabroso», or really tasty. What stood out? The perfect fries, to be honest. The beef is cooked only one way so forget your preference unless it’s medium well to well done.
They have a limited menu, and can do volume in a short period of time in here. It seems odd that they don’t have any tables/​seats in the picture windows (formerly maybe a display area?). High ceilings Almost TOO high; the art is hung, well, WAY up there.
Nice people. Clean.
Am I coming back? You betcha.

The LEGENDS ARE TRUE. I finally made it to Sabroso Grill and now I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that this place has a lower rating than Chicken on the Run in Bethesda. I went there and it was mediocre at best. I explained that maybe it had to do with getting take-​out and the wait to eat it. I did the same thing with Sabroso’s chicken and it was still hot, moist, and the flavor was as I remember it from Peru (not exactly the same style though).
And for those who may think I’m just taking this opportunity to trash another establishment and boost this one, I’m not. I don’t think that my review is the make or break for either of these places.
On to the chicken. The white meat was moist and not dry at all. The flavor combination on the skin definitely infiltrates the meat itself and I thank them for that. The skin was crispy and delicious, bursting with flavor.
The sides. I tried the yucca fries and the pinto beans. The fries were crispy and really didn’t make me miss regular french fries. The pinto beans were the only weak link. They were not bad, but they weren’t anything to write home about.
Overall this place is absolutely awesome and the price really can’t be beat. They (comparing to other reviews) have raised the prices slightly, so its now 5.30 for a ¼ and 2 sides. A whole bird and two large sides is only 13.95!!! What a freakin deal.
When I’m in the area putting down a pint at the Quarry House, I’ll stop over here. Too bad I couldn’t join the recent UYE to do just that.

This is the greatest peruvian chicken experience I’ve had. From the portions to the char to the flavor and even to the sides, it’s all exceptional. For I think $ 9 or so I got a soda and a half chicken with two sides and it is a MASSIVE amount of food. The chicken is as good as chicken can get. Crispy, delicious skin with juicy and flavorful meat. Blows EPR out of the water and is even a notch up from my beloved Super Pollo. I kept burping afterwards I think so that the smell and flavor would return. It was the meal that kept on feeding.
For sides, I got plantains and rice and beans. The plantains were just perfection and came in a heaping pile. The rice was kinda plain but was just filler when paired with the beans. I also tried their fried yucca which is also the best I’ve had. At a lot of places it’s really starchy and dry but here it is just crispy, light, and delicious.
If I worked or lived in the area, I’d be here at least twice a week. I’ll take any chance I can to return.

Yes, a vegetarian can be sated in a Peruvian chicken joint! Joint is hardly the best way to describe this place either. It is very stylish inside with warm mustard colored walls adorned with artwork. The cafeteria style tables are sponge painted for an artsy touch.
As Gloria L. mentioned, as a vegetarian, you could go with the three sides for $ 4.50. However, if you do that then you’ll miss out on their golden, baked-​to-​perfection vegetable empanada. It’s filled with spinach, mushrooms and cheese. It was perfection. I had one along with a [small] side of fried plantains. Believe me, a small side ($ 1.39) is all you need with plenty to share. The bestest (Yes, I know that’s not a real word but if Jason Mraz can use it, so can I) part is that I had a Valpak coupon for an empanada and a drink for $ 1.99! Are you jealous? You should be. That’s a steal of a deal! Don’t disregard those blue envelopes so quickly, my friend.
Hint #1: You can print the same coupon online at
Hint #2: There is free parking in back only after 7 pm and all day Sunday, but the door is not marked.
Hint #3: It’s the blue one.

This is a good place for a great price. The chicken is good, not the best out there but much better then all the other «Peruvian Chicken» places I have tried out…
Gotta love the plantains in the green sauce, i don’t know how I lived without this before…
The lunch special of ¼ chicken, 2 sides and drink for under $ 6 is unbeatable in Downtown Silver Spring!!!

Stop nr. 4b on Summer Resolution Tour 2009
(Stop 4a was walking along a closed-​to-​traffic Sligo Creek Parkway — very cool!)
*4.5 stars*
I’d been wanting to try Sabroso for quite a while. I love me some Peruvian chicken, but for whatever reason I’d just not had the chance to stop here. I made up my mind yesterday that this would definitely be today’s stop for my Summer Resolution Tour. I was also able to convince a few friends to join me – a couple of 40somethings and their adorable 4 and 6 yr olds, one of whom is notoriously picky eaters.
Between us we had both the chicken and steak, along with fries, rice and plantains. I wouldn’t say this is the best chicken I’ve had — it was a bit too fatty and greasy for my taste, but it was still very good. The fries were loved by all, the rice was good — particularly in combo w/​the plantains. I wasn’t a fan of the steak, but that’s not really my specialty. The picky 6 year old declared it delicious though.
And you just have to love the price. $ 5.35 for a ¼ chicken and 2 sides. I think steak was only $ 6+. Service was friendly and quick, and this place definitely has more atmosphere than, say, El Pollo Rico, though I still love ERP. Sabroso, however, is more convenient for me and I’ll definitely be back.

When Su K. posted the «Emergency Chicken Outing» to Sabroso Grill, I sighed to myself thinking that chicken sounded really good but I couldn’t get to Silver Spring to meet up with them. I jokingly posted that he could deliver to me in Bethesda … and then he DID!
About an hour after giving him my order, I walked downstairs to find Mr. K waiting with my food and drink in hand. I had ¼ chicken white with red skin potatoes and corn on the cob. Thankfully there was still meat on the bones so Su didn’t snack on it on the drive over. Hehe. Everything was still fairly warm upon arrival but I mean, no big — just a zap in the microwave and it’s all hot and toasty again.
The chicken was excellent. Lightly seasoned, juicy, fresh and tasty. Potatoes were good as was the corn. Corn could have used a little seasoning but not a total dealbreaker. Sauces were alright — but as Su mentioned in his review, not very flavorful.
So, to sum it up…
5 stars for Su’s delivery service. ;-D
4.5 stars for the food