Restaurant review: El Pollo Guapo
Overview of El Pollo Guapo
A small chain with one location in the Charleston area and three in Connecticut, El Pollo Guapo is a fast-casual neighborhood joint that specializes in flavorful rotisserie chicken dishes.
Atmosphere and Ambiance: ★★★☆☆
There is seating inside, but we recommend dining on the large outdoor porch, which has beautiful tile floors, plenty of greenery, and pops of vibrant color! The porch is split into two sides, with ample seating. There are both booths and tables available.
We’ve eaten here twice now, and both times, noise levels and crowds were at a minimum, making the experience feel cozy and enjoyable!
Service Experience: ★★★☆☆
A seat-yourself restaurant, find a table then head to the counter. Staff was friendly and ordering was simple.
We brought the drinks out ourselves, and our food was quickly brought to our table by a cheerful waiter shortly thereafter.
On one occasion our order came out perfectly. On another, cheese was left on the tacos when we requested it be excluded. Not a deal breaker by any means, but something to note if you plan on making special requests.
Menu Offerings: ★★★★☆
El Pollo Guapo has a large menu centered around rotisserie chicken and zesty spices. They focus on using high-quality ingredients to create dishes like tacos, burritos, and bowls, all bursting with fresh flavors. The menu also features a variety of sides, salsas, and beverages, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy. There are green bowls to accommodate vegetarians, and while ordering, the staff seemed open to reasonable requests.
Food Quality: ★★★★☆
Let’s start with the drinks! We ordered the frozen limeade, which was sweet yet zesty, refreshing, and a must-try on hot summer days! We’ve reordered it on our last visit as well, and it was just as good as we remembered.
When the food came out, we were immedately impressed by the colorful presentation. The tacos are on the smaller side, but fully filled, and we always order several to experience the various flavors.
Our favorite dishes that we’d absolutely recommend include:
Damn, that’s a spicy taco: rotisserie chicken, soft corn tortilla, spicy slaw, grilled corn, pico de gallo, queso fresco (excluded), pickled onion, sriracha
Hola guapo taco: rotisserie chicken, soft corn tortilla, avocado, pico de gallo, queso fresco (excluded), grilled red onion, garlic lime aioli
House fries: chili-lime seasoning
Cleanliness and Hygiene: ★★★★☆
The inside of the restaurant feels surprisingly sterile. There was a lack of culinary aroma that one might expect in a kitchen. Restrooms, if needed, were clean. It’s good to know hygiene is prioritized, but to experience the casual, playful and friendly atmosphere, we chose to eat outside.
Pricing and Value: ★★★★☆
A budget-friendly, casual eatery the price for two people averages $35-40 before tip. You receive good value for the money, and it’s more than worth the price.
Final Thoughts
This is a great place to stop for lunch or an al-fresco summer dinner on the way to or from Folly Beach. It’s family-friendly, but also a nice outdoor hang-out for small groups, couples, and solo diners alike.
We’re highly likely to be back again, especially during the wamer months.
Overall, we rate El Pollo Guapo an average of 3.6 out of 5 stars. Ratings are graded based on expectations within the restaurants own category. Three stars is average/neutral, while anything above exceeds our expectations, and anything below leaves something to be desired.
Tell us your thoughts!
Have you dined at El Pollo Guapo? What did you think? Leave a comment with your feedback or experiences below!
Has our restaurant review enticed you to visit El Pollo Guapo? Visit the Charleston location at: 1130 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412
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