Long Wait for Taste of Home Guatemalan Fried Chicken Draws a Crowd

Washington Post ^ | 10/17/03 | Annie Gowen

[Modernman]

There's ordinary fried chicken, and then there's Pollo Campero fried chicken, a crispy culinary treat many Central American immigrants say is without equal. They've been bringing takeout boxes from the Guatemalan fast-food chain on flights back to the United States for years -- some 3 million pieces of chicken a year.

So when the restaurant chain, as much an icon in Central America as McDonald's is in the United States, opened its first outlet in the Washington area this month, customers came from as far away as Georgia and New York and began lining up at 2 a.m. for the 10 a.m. opening.

[Modernman]

This has been somewhat of a phenomenon around here. I know the owner's daughter- she and her fiance are going through Pre-Cannae marriage counseling with me and my fiance. They're stunned at the incredible response they got. Last week, the wait was 4-6 hours to get in.

The chicken rocks, BTW.

[Just another Joe]

Flash Mob? ;^)

[Catspaw]

The chicken rocks, BTW.

That's what I was wondering, and it sounds tasty. Thanks for the culinary review--and much to the dismay of its neighbors, the restaurant will be busier than ever. With luck, they'll open other restaurants shortly.

[Modernman]

Flash Mob? ;^)

Heh.. well, it's a flash mob in slow-mo, if they're willing to stand around for 2 hours.

[Modernman]

That's what I was wondering, and it sounds tasty.

I was only able to get chicken because I know the owner's daughter-otherwise, I would have waited a few weeks before trying to buy some. I'm not waiting in line for 2 hours, no matter how good the chicken is.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

What makes it so delicious. How is it different from American fried chicken?

[Campion]

she and her fiance are going through Pre-Cannae marriage counseling with me and my fiance

"Cana" was a wedding at which Jesus was a guest, according to the Gospel of John.

"Cannae" was a battle between the Romans and Carthaginians in 216 BC, which the Carthaginians won decisively.

I'll let you decide what kind of counseling you're really getting. ;-) ;-)

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Pollo Campero ..."The choice of illegals"


I know I will get flamed... and I believe that the chicken is tasty...

But the article as a whole is gushing with diversity feel good-ism. Way over the top, IMO.

[Modernman]

What makes it so delicious. How is it different from American fried chicken?

It's spicier than, say, KFC. It's also not as heavily breaded as US fried chicken. Don't know if I like it more than KFC or Popeye's, but it's in the same category of liking.

[Modernman]

I'll let you decide what kind of counseling you're really getting. ;-) ;-)

Oops, typo... I think if we're having "Pre-Cannae" counseling, I'm most certainly the hapless roman legion while my fiance gets to trample me with war-elephants :-)

[Sunshine Sister]

I won't eat KFC anymore. The quality has done down hill big time!

[Modernman]

But the article as a whole is gushing with diversity feel good-ism.

It's also incredibly patronizing of the Post to use that tone- "Oh, look, how cute! Little brown people can make it in business, too!"

[Catspaw]

The article says that before the chicken is fried, it's injected with marinade. And I'm one that doesn't like too much breading on fried chicken.

I two-hour wait in line sounds excessive...but if I had a folding chair, it's doable :-))

[MineralMan]

"It's also incredibly patronizing of the Post to use that tone- "Oh, look, how cute! Little brown people can make it in business, too!"
"

Yeah, but they also reported the reaction of the neighbors, who don't seem to be amused at all the "little brown people."

[Modernman]

I won't eat KFC anymore. The quality has done down hill big time!

You'vre gotta find one store that still sells quality chicken and stick with it. My neighborhood KFC actually cares about customer service and selling quality, fresh chicken. A lot of the stores don't.

[MotleyGirl70]

So it's better than Kenny Roger's Roaster's?

"Kenny....Kenny...Kenny..."

[MineralMan]

"My neighborhood KFC actually cares about customer service and selling quality, fresh chicken. "

All the Kentucky Fried Colonel stores in my area close their doors about a year ago. No Popeye's either. It's a bummer.

[Modernman]

So it's better than Kenny Roger's Roaster's?

Oh, wow, I'd forgotten about their chicken. That stuff was so good....

[Catspaw]

The best local fried chicken for me is from the deli dept. at a local Copps supermarket (the east side store, not the west side store) in Green Bay. The coating is a little spicier, they cook small batches at a time, and it's delicious. And a whole lot cheaper.

[MotleyGirl70]

Oh, wow, I'd forgotten about their chicken. That stuff was so good....

Newman: "It's the wood that makes it good."