BITES ON A BUDGET is a toothsome and tasty series where members of the OC family forage for great food––under $10!
One of the most talked-about lunch spots in the city doesn't serve trendy dishes or hip marketing. Call it loco, but Señor Pollo only offers brilliantly simple Peruvian rotisserie chicken that's good for the soul and has all of my stomachs growling for more. This bird doesn't blog or tweet, but it waits on a rotisserie all day and lets the flavor do the talking. It's a meal that has its own groupies, including OC's own Carol Lim, so I went to see what all the fuss is about.
I ordered Señor Pollo's famous lunch special: $8.50 for a quarter of a chicken that comes with two sides. There are twelve different options of sides, ranging from healthy options like salad to Latin American favorites like fried yuca and plantains. Most of the sides are prepared fresh for each order, so you can be sure your lunch won't be spoiled by cold fries or soggy veggies. To sample Señor Pollo's range, I ordered the nondescript but healthy steamed vegetables and the sweet fried plantains.
The service was speedy and before I knew it, I had a plate of freshly cooked, homemade-tasting grub in front of me. My chicken was succulent and sensationally seasoned—it really lived up to its reputation as top bird in the lunch game. My friend who ate with me tried it and exclaimed, "I don't even like chicken and this is amazing!" The vegetables were tasty, but it was the fried plantains that stole the show. I've eaten more plantains than I care to think about, and have never eaten fried plantains of the sweet variety that stood out like these did. They were soft but not slimy, crunched with each bite, and were sweeter than candy. I definitely recommend them as a must-try. ¡Riquísimo!
Señor Pollo
221 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10003
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One of the most talked-about lunch spots in the city doesn't serve trendy dishes or hip marketing. Call it loco, but Señor Pollo only offers brilliantly simple Peruvian rotisserie chicken that's good for the soul and has all of my stomachs growling for more. This bird doesn't blog or tweet, but it waits on a rotisserie all day and lets the flavor do the talking. It's a meal that has its own groupies, including OC's own Carol Lim, so I went to see what all the fuss is about.
I ordered Señor Pollo's famous lunch special: $8.50 for a quarter of a chicken that comes with two sides. There are twelve different options of sides, ranging from healthy options like salad to Latin American favorites like fried yuca and plantains. Most of the sides are prepared fresh for each order, so you can be sure your lunch won't be spoiled by cold fries or soggy veggies. To sample Señor Pollo's range, I ordered the nondescript but healthy steamed vegetables and the sweet fried plantains.
The service was speedy and before I knew it, I had a plate of freshly cooked, homemade-tasting grub in front of me. My chicken was succulent and sensationally seasoned—it really lived up to its reputation as top bird in the lunch game. My friend who ate with me tried it and exclaimed, "I don't even like chicken and this is amazing!" The vegetables were tasty, but it was the fried plantains that stole the show. I've eaten more plantains than I care to think about, and have never eaten fried plantains of the sweet variety that stood out like these did. They were soft but not slimy, crunched with each bite, and were sweeter than candy. I definitely recommend them as a must-try. ¡Riquísimo!
Señor Pollo
221 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10003
MAP
