Pollo Campero

Intimidation stopped us from trying this place years ago… our loss! Fresh, responsibly sourced & authentic flavors, in a nice fast food setting, but there is no «fast food chain» feel here… truly delicious.

Stopped by yesterday for lunch. I love this place the food is always hot and fresh and the service is always great!

I was happy to see this place 5 minutes from my job. There was one in Chicago that I never had a chance to try because it was on the north side and I was a south sider. So finally I had my opportunity. Now that I have had it, I’m giving it a 3-​star review, not for the food (because it is outstanding) but for the service. Food gets a 5, service a 1.
Ok, this is a fast-​food, restaurant. A decent one, but FAST FOOD nonetheless. When I walked in… oh boy, was it CROWDED. That was a good thing, means the food is good, right? But it was very disorganized. You couldn’t tell where the actual line to order was, because there were a group of maybe 7 – 8 people just hovering around the register. I tried to politely ask them if they were in line, but I got blank stares. Then when I finally DID figure out where the line was, people started cutting in front of me. OK.
I ordered. Since I’d never been here before, I wanted to try a little of everything — empanadas, the chicken bites, and a bowl. Figured this would get me 3 meals. Now, I just wanted the bites, not the meal, and I said just the bites. But the lady at the counter insisted on asking me what my side was. I said. Ok, I went with yucca fries. I got spicy empanadas and I wanted a grilled bowl, but she said they only had fried chicken. OK, seems a little weird in a bowl, but I’ll roll with it. I asked for extra cilantro-​lime sauce.
At this time I sat down to wait. It took 30 minutes to get my food. I kid you not. 15 minutes to figure out where the line was, with customers who refused to budge or respond when I asked politely if they were in line, and then 30 minutes for food. From a fast food place. All the while, an employee started vacuuming by the check out line. A man had to pull a little girl out of the way before this employee vacuumed over her foot. It was so loud, all the while another employee was bellowing out order numbers that no one could here over the vacuum! I appreciate a clean restaurant, but maybe, wait until the crowd has died down just a little bit before you start vacuuming around people. Anyway, somehow I managed to hear my order called. I headed to the car then something told me to check my order before heading home. I checked the bag and they forgot my cilantro sauce. I went back in, waited another 5 minutes. Got the sauce and grumbling to myself, headed home.
The food. The fried chicken was phenomenal. The seasoning blend was similar to KFC — if KFC actually were as good as they pretend they are. The empanadas were ridiculously good for a fast food chain. Ridiculous. I would by those in a 12-​pack. The dipping souce with it was a sweet, spicy chipotle dip and it was mouthwatering. But the bowl… I was apprehensive of fried chicken working in the bowl, but it did! So good! The cilantro sauce put it over the top. I had a happy belly.
Will I go back? Yes, but just the drive thru. The dining room was a mess. Disorganized and incohesive. I think next time, I will just brave the drive-​thru. Hopefully no cars will try to cut me off in line. And this way, if I am waiting for a half-​hour, at least I’ll be sitting down in my car listening to music. With no vacuum in my ear.

Their chicken is almost as good as Chick Fil A’s, and by far superior to KFC and Popeye’s. It’s dirt cheap so give it a try if you’re near it.

I tried this fast food restaurant today and I will definitely be going again! I ordered the mixed box of fried and grilled chicken and a side of rice. Both the grilled and fried chicken exceeded my expectations, as it was hot juicy and perfectly seasoned. The next time I visit I try the yuca fries and plantains! I can’t wait!

First time trying this place during my lunch break. It’s like the Latin version of Popeyes. The chicken was extremely tasteful! I ordered the 2 piece dinner which includes a thigh, a leg, fries and a roll. The total price of the meal of was $ 5.49. I’ll definitely be back to Pollo Campers again!

I love this restaurant! Great price, fast service, and best fried chicken in town. Next time if you’re thinking about going to a fast food restaurant, I would recommend checking this out.

I had the grilled chicken breast it was over cooked dried out. Expensive for what it is. I don’t recommend this place. The only redeeming quality of was the unique sides. The yucca fries were pretty good. They came with a mayonnaise based sauce. I don’t see what others are raving about.

This is a chain chicken place from Guatemala. They have both grilled and fried chicken. They’re both delicious. Their fried chicken is better than any American fast food chicken place. Their grilled chicken is delicious but not as good as the chain El Pollo Loco (closed down) or the chain Pollo tropical but still good so it’s a must try. They have plenty of delicious sides to choose from. Make sure you order some yucca fried or fried yucca (forgot what they called them here). They’re delicious. If you’re ever in Buford hwy area, definitely check this place out.

Cuando te pegue la nostalgia nada le gana a pollo campero. Rico pollo, con papillas y pan.

What a great little hidden place, for me at least, off the beaten track. However, it is actually really close if you know which side road to take. I ordered a chicken bowl, which had rice, pinto beans, chicken, and seasoning. The three components were all very flavorful. I am used to eating something like this with black beans, but I have become a fan of the pinto beans and I think that people are missing out. I really wanted to try the empanadas that they were advertising, but they had already sold out and told us to come back later as they were preparing more. This tells me 2 things: 1) They must be really good if they sold out that quickly and 2) they are made fresh vs. coming uin frozen and being dropped in a fryer. I settled on the yucca fries. However, I should not say settled. The yucca fried were delish!!! I am not sure if I liked the dipping sauce as it was a mix of ketchup and mayo or at least looked/​tasted like that. I wish it came with some type of garlicy green sauce instead. Would I go back, without a doubt!
Oh, and they have a drive thru!

Grilled chicken Not as good as el Pollo loco but still good. Fried chicken is good and fried yuca is done perfect. Good fast food with a dine in feel (real knives, plates and forks and someone walking around asking if everything is OK) cheap too. If you like this try Pollo tropical.

KFC done Latin style. The fried chicken reminded me a lot of the popcorn chicken you get at bubble tea places — sort of the same spices. Overall good, tasty, and juicy chicken. This is also a good place to get sides you can’t get most places– like fried plantains.
Service is exceptional for fast food. You order at the counter and then they bring it out to you.

The CFA of Central America! I won’t claim it’s the best fried chicken you’ll ever have, but it’s pretty damn good. Pollo Campero used to have cult status when there weren’t any locations in the US. Families would buy bags and bags and bring them on the place to share with their families in the US after visiting CA.
I love coming here as it reminds me of my time spent in Central America as well as some generally good fried chicken for super cheap. Yucca fries are good if you’re looking for something french fry like, otherwise get the plaintains. Sweet, gooey and delicious. ALSO, make sure to get the fried chicken pieces (dark meat!) and not strips. The strips are good, but the chicken pieces are even better!

I think Pollo Campero is one of the best fast food fried chicken spots in the ATL. I love the latin spices that they use. I haven’t tried their grilled chicken yet but plan to in one of my future visits. I didn’t give my rating five stars because I wasn’t impressed with their side items. I’ve had better tasting rice and coleslaw at Popeye’s. But I will say that that their plantains were tasty and I love the salsa bar selections that they offer as condiments.

I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting much when we pulled into the drive-​thru late one night as a last resort dinner option, but they’ve kept me coming back.
As their name entails, chicken is the name of their game; Pollo Campero is most definetely a fast food restaurant — it’s a bit reminiscent of Chick-​fil-​a, if Chik-​Fil-​a were Latin influenced. Campero offers two types of chicken, grilled or fried, in breast, wing, leg, or thigh. In addition, they also serve chicken sandwiches, strips, chicken bowls, grilled chicken salad, and chicken burritos. Their only non-​chicken options are their sides:
–Rice and Beans
–Sweet Plantains
–Yuca Fries
–Pinto Beans
–Mashed potatoes w/​gravy
–Coleslaw
–French Fries
There’s also a small salsa bar next to the drink dispenser, and each order comes with your choice of tortillas or a dinner roll.
I’ve tasted both the grilled and fried chicken options and they’re tasty. The chicken is always well seasoned and full flavored, not to mention tender.
Where Pollo Campero falters is their side options; I’ve tried about half of the items on their menu (the Yuca fries, rice and beans, mashed potatoes, and the plantains) and they all left a lot to be desired, the yuca and plantains were tough, overcooked or seemingly left under a heat lamp for too long. The mashed potatoes were grainy and the gravy was watery.
The staff is friendly, the service is prompt and efficient. Pollo Campero is my new go-​to for food on the go, I’ll just stick with the chicken from now on.

I have eaten here about four times and have yet to be disappointed.
The service here is top-​notch, quick, and the food is delicious. The chicken is char-​grilled (or fried) and is always fresh, hot, and very well seasoned.
I have yet to try the fried chicken (and probably won’t because I’m such a fan of the grilled), but usually my order consists of ¼ piece leg and thigh, yucca fries, tortillas, and a soft drink. You can choose to get a Latin-​influenced drink, but note that it will cost extra. You do get a choice of corn tortillas or dinner roll, but I always get the tortillas.
There’s a great salsa [sauce] bar to the left of the ordering station — a stop here is a must. I grab a little chicken, roll it in a piece of tortilla, and dip it into the tomatillo sauce which is my favorite. Delicious.
If you opt for eat-​in, you can grab a number and head over to your seat. Your meal is usually brought to you if they have enough staff on hand. If they don’t have enough staff, they’ll ask you to wait by the register. If you do receive sit-​down service, remember to tip a few dollars.

I don’t need to say much, considering all my fellow Unilocalers pretty much have expressed my sentiments (and if you want the juicy details, check out Daniel B’s review, which is as thorough as you would expect a review of his to be).
I dropped by on a rainy evening after work for the BuHi UYE and was one of the first to arrive, after fighting traffic from the Perimeter area. Ugh. Don’t even get me started.
Before the event, I made sure to check out the website, to see if I could gauge the healthfulness of the food and find the nutritional facts. I won on both counts and was ecstatic to find that the joint had grilled chicken options for semi-​health nuts like me.
I got the rice bowl with grilled chicken, which came out within 5 minutes. I loaded up on 2 of the spicier salsas at the salsa bar by the cash register and enjoyed the combo of rice, beans, and colorless (but cooked) chicken. They load the chopped onion/​cilantro salsa without warning, so if you are not a huge onion fan (such as myself), be sure to tell them that you’d rather they hold onto the raw onion concoction. By the way – there really is no waiter service, but since our group was so large, we were checked on frequently. The service was friendly, fast, and not in-​your-​face.
I did not get to try any of the juices, but seeing the reviews on here, I think I may make at least another trek to a Pollo Campero (no promises about it being this one) for the sole purpose of sampling one of these beverages.
I shared some tres leches cake and flan with William G. (Bill, you are such an enabler! :P) and felt that the tres leches was lacking milky oomph. The flan wasn’t incredible, but considering the price and where you are, it’s a decent dessert option.
For a fast food joint, this place churns out food that won’t completely kill you and tastes quite fresh and yummy. You should check out their Latin spin on fast food.

My experience at Pollo Campero was completely unexpected and exceeded my expectations. Originally, I suggested to Daniel B to have a UYE at Pollo Campero almost as a joke since we had a UYE at Pizza Patron. But we were all amazing at how good the food was for a fast-​food joint.
Pollo Campero is like the Latino version of KFC. They have fried and grilled chicken, sandwiches, and salads. In addition, they have some classic Latino sides such as rice, beans, yucca fries, and fried plantains.
I ordered the grilled chicken with a side of Campero beans (recommended by the cashier) and a side salad, along with the complimentary corn tortilla. The grilled chicken is REALLY good. It has a nice lemon and herb flavor, and the chicken was very moist. The beans were very tasty, and I’m glad I got this instead of the rice. Actually, I liked dipping my corn tortilla in the bean’s juices — yum. And the salad had tortilla strips on top which added a nice crunch.
In addition, this place is super speedy! Our dinner started at 7:30pm, but I got there 10 minutes early and found that some of the other Unilocalers had already almost finished their dinner HAHA! Apparently they hadn’t been there for too long, but the food came out almost instantly.
Overall, this is a great place to grab a quick tasty meal for cheap on Buford Highway.
[18 of 100]

Pollo Campero seems like a new fast-​food joint near the South side of Buford Hwy. It used to be a ghetto Popeye’s back then. Now it’s a clean, nice, Mexican-​inspired, chicken fast food place.
Instead of the good-​old, traditional Amurican sides, you get some cool Latin American sides. You can get beans, beans and rice, yucca, and plantains for your sides. I thought that was cool.
For you chicken, the main entrée, you can choose between grilled and fried. I opted for the grilled way. When you order a combo, you can choose between a dinner roll or a tortilla to have some starch with your food.
The chicken seemed tough. Maybe the overcooked it. It did taste seasoned though at least. The yucca was also overcooked and tasted bland. The beans did taste good. I thought that was the best food on their menu.
Their tortillas tasted stale and came straight from the bag. My server actually forgot to give me tortillas. I think that was a good thing. You can do without it.
For drinks, you can get mango juice, tamarind juice, horchata, or jamaica. If these exotic drinks aren’t for you, they have a regular soda fountain filled with Coke products.
The servers here are sweet and nice. They even picked up our trays for us when we finished eating. I love it when fast food places do that.
In the end, it’s just a fast-​food place. This place doesn’t serve high class food like Chick Fil a does. I give it about 2 stars for the food. But I’ll be nice and stick an extra star on there for the service, Latin-​American inspired menu items, and cleanliness.

Pollo Campero is actually pretty good. El Pollo Loco and Pollo Tropical don’t have anything on this place. Pollo Campero is the world’s largest Latin chicken chain. It’s a mix between fast food and fast casual. The ordering process, delivery time, and prices are like a fast food joint (there’s even a drive-​thru), but the food is personally served to your table on a tray with real plates and silverware like a fast casual restaurant.
I had dinner here last night with a group of 12 for our latest Buford Highway UYE (
). We showed up unannounced. The manager and staff were friendly and accommodating to our large group. I was pleasantly surprised with the entire experience including the service, the quality of the food and establishment, and the speed at which the food hit our table. After 28 BuHi UYEs with large groups, Pollo Campero easily wins for fastest food delivery time. In some cases, people received their orders almost instantly.
«Pollo Campero» roughly translates as country chicken. They serve all sorts of chicken: fried chicken, grilled chicken, chicken sandwiches, chicken strips, chicken bowls, and chicken burritos. You can choose which pieces of chicken you get (e.g. leg, thigh, breast, wing). Most of the aforementioned items cost only $ 6.00−7.00 each and include a side and fountain drink.
Note on the fountain drinks: In addition to the self-​serve fountain machine with sodas, you can choose any of the fresh Latin drinks (agua frescas) behind the counter. They include tamarindo (tamarind drink), horchata (sweet cinnamon rice drink), and jamaica (purple hibiscus tea). I recommend these over the self-​serve fountain drinks.
Family meals are available. You can order up to a 16-​piece chicken meal with 4 sides for $ 32.99 (serves 7 – 8 people). You can also order a whole grilled chicken for $ 11.99 (or with two sides for $ 17.99). Sides include Latin dishes such as seasoned pinto beans («Campero Beans»), black beans and white rice, seasoned rice, yuca fries, and sweet plantains, and American sides like mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, and fries. If you’re looking to eat healthy, salads are also offered.
A self-​serve salsa bar is located next to the ordering counter. Last night, it contained five different types of salsas: jalapeño, pico de gallo, cilantro/​onion, roasted tomatillo, and chipotle.
I ordered the #4 ¼ Grilled Meal ($ 5.99). It came with a grilled chicken leg and thigh (other option is breast and wing), a side (I chose Campero Beans), and a drink (I chose horchata). The meal was delicious. Everyone in our group who ordered the grilled chicken was surprised at how tasty it was. The chicken was well seasoned and marinated. It was tender and juicy — perfectly moist. It’s almost like eating rotisserie chicken.
The dish also came with a fresh slice of lime and a choice of a dinner roll or two corn tortillas. Lime was not necessary for the chicken, though. The skin already had an appetizing tanginess to it. I went with corn tortillas in lieu of bread and the tortillas were mostly unmemorable, except for the fact that each set of two was individually wrapped and heated in plastic bags.
The Campero Beans were quite flavorful. Campero Beans are slow-​cooked pinto beans simmered with smoked bacon, chorizo, onions, garlic, tomatoes, jalapenos, and a special seasoning. They were certainly hearty and satisfying and I recommend them.
Drink-​wise, I tried two of the agua frescas listed above: the horchata and jamaica. Both drinks seemed more processed than what an independent, perhaps more «authentic» Latin joint would serve, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The horchata was super sweet and consistently silky smooth throughout. Often times, horchata can have a powdery texture because the drink isn’t mixed all the way through. Not here. The jamaica was fruity and also very sweet. I liked both drinks.
The store is bright and clean and decorated in bold burnt orange colors. You wouldn’t think it from passing this place on the road, but Pollo Campero is probably one of the nicest, if not the nicest, fast food joints on Buford Highway. It’s probably 10 times cleaner than the Taco Bell next door.
Service was excellent. Apart from receiving our orders super quick, staff periodically checked on our tables, asked if we needed anything, and took away finished plates. At the end of our meal, the manager checked on us one last time and thanked us for coming.
Overall, Pollo Campero gets a solid 4 stars out of me. I had a good experience and the food was good value for the money. I’ll be back.